Antidepressant-like effect of the saponins part of ethanol extract from SHF.
BACKGROUND
Suanzaorenhehuan Formula (SHF) has been used for treating depression-like disorders for many years in China. The saponins part of the SHF (SSHF) extract was the antidepressant effective component.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the antidepressant-like effect of SSHF and its possible mechanisms.


METHODS
Experimental approaches including the forced swim test (FST), the tail suspension test (TST) and unpredictable chronic mild stress (UCMS) were used to evaluate the effects of SSHF. The possible mechanisms were explored by measuring monoamine neurotransmitter in mice frontal cortex and hippocampus, testing monoamine oxidase enzyme (MAO) activities, antioxidant enzyme activities and free radicals levels in the brains of UCMS-exposed mice.


RESULTS
The results showed that SSHF (10, 20, 40mg/kg) significantly decreased the immobility period in FST and TST in mice after two-week treatment. Whereas, SSHF had no significant effect on locomotor activity in mice. It was also found that the serotonin (5-HT) and noradrenaline (NE) levels in the hippocampus and frontal cortex were significantly increased only in 40mg/kg SSHF treated mice. In addition, SSHF (10, 20, 40mg/kg) significantly inhibited monoamine oxidase-A (MAO-A) and monoamine oxidase-B (MAO-B) after 21-day UCMS exposure. SSHF (10, 20, 40mg/kg) significantly decreased the nitrous oxide (NO) levels, and increased the activities of total antioxidant capability (T-AOC), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX), and catalase (CAT) in different degrees in the brains of UCMS-exposed mice.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggested that SSHF may effectively produce an antidepressant-like effect, which appeared to involve the serotonergic, noradrenergic, monoamine oxidase enzyme and antioxidant systems.
Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450000, PR China.
Yan
Y
Liang
Tianjin Key Laboratory on Technologies Enabling Development of Clinical Therapeutics and Diagnostics, School of Pharmacy, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, PR China.
Xu
X
Yang
Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450000, PR China.
Xiaojian
X
Zhang
Tianjin Key Laboratory on Technologies Enabling Development of Clinical Therapeutics and Diagnostics, School of Pharmacy, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, PR China.
Hongquan
H
Duan
Tianjin Key Laboratory on Technologies Enabling Development of Clinical Therapeutics and Diagnostics, School of Pharmacy, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, PR China.
Meina
M
Jin
Tianjin Key Laboratory on Technologies Enabling Development of Clinical Therapeutics and Diagnostics, School of Pharmacy, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, PR China.
Yan
Y
Sun
Department of Pharmacy/Tianjin Neurological Institute, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin 300052, PR China.
Hengjie
H
Yuan
Tianjin Key Laboratory on Technologies Enabling Development of Clinical Therapeutics and Diagnostics, School of Pharmacy, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, PR China.
Junqiang
J
Li
Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450000, PR China. Electronic address: zdyuedongqi@163.com.
Yuedong
Y
Qi
Tianjin Key Laboratory on Technologies Enabling Development of Clinical Therapeutics and Diagnostics, School of Pharmacy, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, PR China. Electronic address: qiaowei@tmu.edu.cn.
Wei
W
Qiao
D000818:Animals; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D003863:Depression / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000737:chemistry*; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D008995:Monoamine Oxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D008996:Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D009609:Nitrous Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D012503:Saponins / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism; D012997:Solvents / Q000737:chemistry*; D013550:Swimming
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D008996:Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors; D012503:Saponins; D012997:Solvents; C574129:suanzaorenhehuan; D012701:Serotonin; D000431:Ethanol; D002374:Catalase; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D008995:Monoamine Oxidase; D009609:Nitrous Oxide; D009638:Norepinephrine
Antidepressant; Antioxidative enzyme; Monoamine oxidase; Saponins part; Suanzaorenhehuan Formula