title: Antidepressant-like effect of the extracted of Kai Xin San, a traditional Chinese herbal prescription, is explained by modulation of the central monoaminergic neurotransmitter system in mouse.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Kai Xin San (KXS) is a traditional Chinese herbal prescription for the treatment of depression-like disorders, anxiety, and impairment in learning and memory, however, there is very little scientific data concerning the efficacy of this.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The present study aimed to investigate the antidepressant potential of Kai Xin San and its possible mechanisms.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mouse models of depression including the tail suspension test (TST) and the forced swim test (FST) were used to evaluate the effects of KXS. A possible mechanism was explored in the tests of antagonism of reserpine-induced ptosis, akinesia and hypothermia and 5-HTP induced head-twitch response in mice. The contents of monoamine neurotransmitters including epinephrine (NE), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and dopamine (DA) in mice brain were determined by Elisa. Spontaneous motor activities of mice and rotarod test were performed to find whether KXS has excitatory or inhibitory actions on the central nervous system.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed that intragastric administration of KXS at 175, 350, 700, 1400 mg/kg/day or fluoxetine at 28 mg/kg/day for 3 days significantly reduced the duration of immobility in TST and FST, while it showed no effect on the spontaneous motor activity and rotarod performance in mice. However, the effect was not dose-dependent. The pre-treatment with KXS or fluoxetine for 3 days could elevate the contents of NE, 5-HT and DA in mice brain significantly. When the mice were treated with KXS (350 mg/kg, p.o) or desipramine (30 mg/kg, p.o) for 7 days, both of them could antagonize reserpine-induced ptosis, akinesia and hypothermia. The KXS (350 mg/kg) also increased the accumulative number of the 5-HTP-induced head twitch response in mice in 20 min when KXS at dosages of 175, 350, 700 and 1400 mg/kg/day were performed per os (p.o.) during a 1-day, 3-day or 7-day period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggested that KXS exerts antidepressant-like effect. A possible mechanism, at least in part, is via the central monoaminergic neurotransmitter system and 5-HT plays a major role.
authors.affiliation: Institutes of Clinical Pharmacology, Center of Pharmacy, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Jiang
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Juan-Juan
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Yin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D015306:Biogenic Monoamines / Q000378:metabolism*; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000523:psychology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005473:Fluoxetine / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000378:metabolism; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D015306:Biogenic Monoamines; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; C000605449:Kai-Xin-San; D005473:Fluoxetine; D012701:Serotonin; D004298:Dopamine; D009638:Norepinephrine