title: The antidepressant effect of Cynanchum auriculatum in mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Antidepressant effects of various plants are generally attributed to their anti-inflammation and antioxidant activities. Cynanchum auriculatum Royle ex Wight (Asclepiadaceae) is a traditional medicinal plant in China and India used for immunological regulation, anti-inflammation, and antioxidant purposes. However knowledge about its antidepressant activity has been poorly investigated.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the antidepressant activities of the total glycosides of C. auriculatum (TGC) and its CHCl₃/MeOH (10:1) fractions (TGC-D and TGC-E) in mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  TGC, TGC-D and TGC-E (20, 40 and 80 mg/kg) were intragastrically administered to mice twice a day for 5 days. The tail suspension test, forced swimming test, and locomotor activity test in mice were used to evaluate the effect of C. auriculatum. The inhibition of [³H]-serotonin reuptake in rat brain synaptosomes was detected to investigate their mechanism.
  
  
  RESULTS
  TGC, TGC-D and TGC-E (80 mg/kg) decreased the immobility time by 61.7, 64.5, and 61.9% in tail suspension test. TGC (80 mg/kg), TGC-D (80 mg/kg) and TGC-E (20 mg/kg) decreased the immobility time by 32.6, 47.3, and 48.7% in forced swimming test. TGC (80 mg/kg) and TGC-E (20 and 40 mg/kg) decreased the crossing distances by 28.8, 29.5, and 36.2% in locomotor activity test. TGC, TGC-D and TGC-E (10 mg/L) inhibited serotonin reuptake by 7.4, 4.5, and 71.1% in rat brain synaptosomes, and IC₅₀ value of TGC-E was 5.2 mg/L.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TGC, TGC-D and TGC-E have potential antidepressant activities. The antidepressive effect of TGC-E maybe attributed partly by the inhibiting effect on serotonin reuptake.
authors: State Key Laboratory for Bioactive Substances and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, P.R. China.
authors: Cheng-Xue
authors: CX
authors: Ji
authors: Xin-Ya
authors: XY
authors: Li
authors: Shao-Bo
authors: SB
authors: Jia
authors: Li-Li
authors: LL
authors: Liu
authors: Yong-Chang
authors: YC
authors: Ge
authors: Qing-Xiong
authors: QX
authors: Yang
authors: Jian-Jun
authors: JJ
authors: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D002681:China; D031105:Cynanchum / Q000737:chemistry*; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D055808:Drug Discovery; D020834:Ethnopharmacology; D006027:Glycosides / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D027343:Rhizome / Q000737:chemistry*; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013574:Synaptosomes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D006027:Glycosides; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012701:Serotonin; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors