title: Effects of the total flavonoid extract of Xiaobuxin-Tang on depression-like behavior induced by lipopolysaccharide and proinflammatory cytokine levels in mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Xiaobuxin-Tang (XBXT), a traditional Chinese herbal decoction, has been used for the treatment of depressive disorders from ancient clinic. The aim of the study was to explore the involvement of inflammation or inflammatory markers in the antidepressant-like effects of XBXT-2.
  
  
  METHODS
  Depression-like behavior was induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 0.2mg/kg, i.p) in tail suspension test (TST) and forced swimming test (FST) in mice. The effects of the total flavonoids (XBXT-2) extracted from XBXT (25, 50, and 100mg/kg, p.o.) and duloxetine (DLX, 10mg/kg, p.o.) on the immobility time in TST and FST were determined 24h after LPS pretreatment. The locomotor activity was also determined to eliminate the false-positive activity. Additionally, in order to further evaluate the effect of XBXT-2 on inflammation, the levels of brain proinflammatory cytokines including IL-1β and TNF-α were assessed by ELISA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The pretreatment with LPS significantly increased the immobility time in TST and FST in mice, as well as the brain levels of IL-1β and TNF-α. XBXT-2 (25, 50, and 100mg/kg, p.o.) administration decreased the duration of immobility in TST and FST, and normalized the cytokines levels. The positive control DLX (10mg/kg, p.o.) exerted similar effects. Meanwhile, neither LPS pretreatment nor drugs treatment had any effect on mouse locomotor activity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that inflammation and inflammatory cytokines may be involved in the antidepressant-like effects of XBXT-2.
authors.affiliation: School of Food and Chemical Engineering, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China; Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing 100850, China.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: An
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing 100850, China; Department of Pharmacy, Dalian Municipal Friendship Hospital, Dalian 116100, China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Children׳s Memorial Research Center, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Song-Tao
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing 100850, China.
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Xue
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing 100850, China.
authors.forename: Neng-Jiang
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing 100850, China.
authors.forename: Hong-Xia
authors.initials: HX
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing 100850, China.
authors.forename: Li-Ming
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing 100850, China.
authors.forename: Nan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing 100850, China. Electronic address: lyf619@aliyun.com.
authors.forename: Yun-Feng
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing 100850, China. Electronic address: zhyouzhi@aliyun.com.
authors.forename: You-Zhi
authors.initials: YZ
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D003863:Depression / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019417:Hindlimb Suspension; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000378:metabolism; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D008297:Male; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D013550:Swimming; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D005419:Flavonoids; C587672:IL1B protein, mouse; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C532342:xiaobuxin-tang
keywords: Antidepressant; Cytokine; Inflammation; XBXT-2