title: Control of stress-induced depressive disorders by So-ochim-tang-gamibang, a Korean herbal medicine.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  So-ochim-tang-gamibang (SOCG) is a Korean herbal medicine formula that has been applied to treat depressive moods and depression associated somatoform pain. This decoction consists of Cyperus rotundus L. (Cyperi Rhizoma), Lindera aggregata (Sims) Kosterm. (Linderae Radix), Aquilaria agallochum (Lour.) Roxb. ex Finl. (Aquilariae Resinatum Lignum), Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. (Glycyrrhizae Radix) Platycodon grandiflorum (Jacq.) A. DC. (Platycodi Radix), and Citrus aurantium L. (Aurantii Fructus). The aim of this study is to assess antidepressant-like effects of SOCG and to investigate its possible cellular and molecular mechanisms.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using chronic restraint stress animal model, effects of SOCG on depressive-like behaviors, corticosterone, and hippocampal expressions of a neurotrophic factor and an apoptotic marker, were investigated. Mice were exposed to restraint stress 6h per day over a period of two weeks, and orally administrated either SOCG (30, 100, or 300mg/kg/day). The depressive-like behaviors were analyzed by forced swimming test and open field test. The serum levels of corticosterone were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Expressions of caspase-3 and BDNF in the hippocampus were analyzed by immunofluorescence. Further, effects of SOCG were examined in corticosterone-treated PC12 cells. Cellular toxicity was determined by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide and lactate dehydrogenase assays. Real-time PCR was applied to investigate the cellular expression levels of Bax, Bcl-2, and BDNF. The levels of caspase-3 and BDNF were examined by Western blotting.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Administration of SOCG not only reduced immobility time of restraint-stressed mice in a dose-dependent manner, but also significantly increased the distance mice moved and the number of crossings in the open field test. Further, SOCG significantly reduced the serum level of corticosterone and expression of caspase-3, while increased expression of BDNF in vivo. SOCG increased cell viability in corticosterone treated PC12 cells, which was accompanied by decreased caspase-3 expression and the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 mRNA expression as well as increased BDNF expression in vitro.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Taken together, our data suggested that SOCG may have potential as an antidepressant agent controlling depressive behaviors and corticosterone-induced neuronal damage caused by chronic stress.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pharmacology, College of Korean Medicine, Daejeon University, Daejeon 34520, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jung Eun
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuropsychiatry, Dunsan Korean Medicine Hospital of Daejeon University, Daejeon 35235, South Korea.
authors.forename: Dae-Myung
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pharmacology, College of Korean Medicine, Daejeon University, Daejeon 34520, South Korea.
authors.forename: Eunho
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chun
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Daejeon University, Daejeon 34520, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jeong June
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Daejeon University, Daejeon 34520, South Korea.
authors.forename: Ji Hye
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.affiliation: Institute of Traditional Medicine and Bioscience, Daejeon University, Daejeon 34520, South Korea.
authors.forename: Seunghyung
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pharmacology, College of Korean Medicine, Daejeon University, Daejeon 34520, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jaemin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Son
authors.affiliation: College of Pharmacy, Gachon University, Incheon 21999, South Korea.
authors.forename: Moonho
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Do
authors.affiliation: College of Pharmacy, Gachon University, Incheon 21999, South Korea.
authors.forename: Sun Yeou
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Daejeon Korean Medicine Hospital of Daejeon University, Daejeon 34623, South Korea.
authors.forename: Yang-Chun
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuropsychiatry, Dunsan Korean Medicine Hospital of Daejeon University, Daejeon 35235, South Korea. Electronic address: npjeong@dju.ac.kr.
authors.forename: In Chul
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pharmacology, College of Korean Medicine, Daejeon University, Daejeon 34520, South Korea. Electronic address: mirimj@dju.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Mirim
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D007723:Korea; D008297:Male; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D016716:PC12 Cells; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D012149:Restraint, Physical; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D010936:Plant Extracts; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; C000621168:so-ochim-tang-gamibang; C052617:Bcl2 protein, mouse; D053148:Caspase 3; D003345:Corticosterone
keywords: Corticosterone; Costunolide (PubChem CID: 5281437); Depression; Linderane (PubChem CID: 5386162); Liquiritin (PubChem CID: 503737); Naringin (PubChem CID: 442428); Neuronal damage; Nootkatone (PubChem CID: 1268142); Platycodin D (PubChem CID: 162859); So-ochim-tang-gamibang; Stress