title: Pharmacological experimental study of the anti-depressant effect of total saikosaponins.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chai Hu has the hepato-protective, choleretic, anti-tussive, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, hypotensive, hypolipidemic, and anti-tumor pharmacological effects. In this study, the objective of this paper was to study the anti-depressant effect of total saikosaponins.
  
  
  METHODS
  Total saikosaponins were extracted by reflux method, and were identified by thin layer chromatography (TLC). The anti-depressant effect of total saikosaponins was investigated in vitro by tail suspension test, forced swimming test, and reserpine antagonism test in mice.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two times of reflux extraction, temperature of 70°C, and extraction time of 4hrs, for each extraction could improve the yield of saikosaponins. Each treatment group (100, 200, and 300 mg/kg), could significantly shorten the immobility time of mice in the tail suspension test in a somewhat dose-dependent manner. The total saikosaponins antagonized the reserpine-induced akinesia, and ptosis in mice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Total saikosaponins have an anti-depressant effect.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Education, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
authors.forename: Chunmei
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.affiliation: Fusong Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fusong 134500, China.
authors.forename: Haijun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ding
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019417:Hindlimb Suspension; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D009828:Oleanolic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D012503:Saponins / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D012503:Saponins; D009828:Oleanolic Acid; C025759:saikosaponin D
keywords: forced swimming test; tail suspension test; total saikosaponins