title: Antidepressant-like effects of ginsenoside Rg3 in mice via activation of the hippocampal BDNF signaling cascade.
abstract: Current antidepressants are clinically effective only after several weeks of administration. Ginsenoside Rg3 is one component of ginsenosides, with a similar chemical structure to ginsenoside Rg1. Here, we investigated the antidepressant effects of Rg3 in mouse models of depression. The antidepressant actions of Rg3 were first examined in the forced swim test (FST) and tail suspension test (TST), and then assessed in the chronic social defeat stress (CSDS) model of depression. The changes in the hippocampal brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) signaling pathway after CSDS and Rg3 treatment were investigated. A tryptophan hydroxylase inhibitor and a BDNF signaling inhibitor were also used to determine the pharmacological mechanisms of Rg3. It was found that Rg3 produced antidepressant effects in the FST and TST without affecting locomotor activity. Rg3 also prevented the CSDS-induced depressive-like symptoms. Moreover, Rg3 fully restored the CSDS-induced decrease in the hippocampal BDNF signaling pathway, and use of the BDNF signaling inhibitor blocked the antidepressant effects of Rg3. In conclusion, ginsenoside Rg3 has antidepressant effects via promotion of the hippocampal BDNF signaling pathway.
authors.affiliation: Department of Burns and Plastic Surgery, Taizhou People's Hospital, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Medical College of Nantong University, No. 210 Yingchun Road, Taizhou, 225300, Jiangsu, China. youzhengchen@126.com.
authors.forename: Zhengchen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: You
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Qi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Jianhong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Zhikai
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, The Sixth People's Hospital of Nantong, Nantong, 226001, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, The Sixth People's Hospital of Nantong, Nantong, 226001, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Zhonghua
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Burns and Plastic Surgery, Taizhou People's Hospital, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Medical College of Nantong University, No. 210 Yingchun Road, Taizhou, 225300, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Chuanjun
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Burns and Plastic Surgery, Taizhou People's Hospital, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Medical College of Nantong University, No. 210 Yingchun Road, Taizhou, 225300, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Luozhu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D036145:Ginsenosides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D036145:Ginsenosides; C097367:ginsenoside Rg3
keywords: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor; Chronic social defeat stress; Depression; Ginsenoside Rg3