Chinese herbal medicines promote hippocampal neuroproliferation, reduce stress hormone levels, inhibit apoptosis, and improve behavior in chronically stressed mice. (4th December 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sun, Gao-Ge; Shih, Jui-Hu; Chiou, Shih-Hwa; Hong, Chen-Jee; Lu, Shao-Wei; Pao, Li-Heng
• Is Part Of: Journal of ethnopharmacology. Volume 193(2016)
• Page Start: 159
• Page End: 168
• Publication Date: 2016-12-04
• Subjects: BDNF Brain-derived neurotrophic factor -- BrdU Bromodeoxyuridine -- CHM Chinese herbal medicine -- CMS Chronic mild stress -- EGF Epidermal growth factor -- EU Eucommia ulmoides Oliv. bark -- FGF Fibroblast growth factor -- FST Forced swimming test -- GDNF Glia-derived neurotrophic factor -- GR Glucocorticoid receptor -- HPLC High-performance liquid chromatography -- HPA Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal -- IHC Immunohistochemistry -- MTS 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium -- NGF Nerve growth factor -- NSC Neural stem cell -- Rf Retention factor -- SD Saposhnikovia divaricate -- SGZ Subgranular zone -- SNRI Serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor -- TLC Thin-layer chromatography -- UPLC Ultra-performance liquid-chromatography; Neural stem cell -- Hippocampus -- Chinese herbal medicine -- Anti-depression -- Neurogenesis; Ethnopharmacology -- Periodicals; Pharmacognosy -- Periodicals; Herbs -- Periodicals; Herbs -- Periodicals; Pharmacognosy -- Periodicals; Pharmacognosie -- Périodiques; Herbes -- Périodiques; 615.1
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2016.07.025
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0378-8741

Abstract

Abstract: Ethnopharmacological relevance: An efficacious antidepressant without unwanted side effects is need urgently at present. This study aimed to investigate whether treatment with four Chinese herbal medicines (CHMs), namely Radix Astragali, S aposhnikovia divaricate (SD), Eucommia ulmoides Oliv. bark (EU), and Corydalis yanhusuo W. T. Wang ( C. yanhusuo ), could reverse the effects of chronic mild stress (CMS) in a depression-like mouse model and the potential mechanism(s) of their action. Materials and methods: In vitro study, the proliferation of NSCs was assessed using the MTS assay. In vivo study, chronic mild stress (CMS) was used in mice for 14 days to establish a depression-like mouse model. Plasma corticosterone levels were assessed by UPLC coupled to a triple-quadrupole mass spectrometer. The forced swim test (FST) was used to assess the effects of the four CHMs on depression. BrdU incorporation and TUNEL staining were used to assay hippocampal precursor cell proliferation rate and apoptosis. Results: The CHMs included Radix Astragali, EU, C. yanhusuo, and SD were shown to promote neuroproliferation in vitro . In vivo study, oral administration of these four CHMs for 14 days reversed the elevated plasma corticosterone levels, body weight loss, decrease in proliferation of hippocampal precursor cells; they also inhibited hippocampal cell apoptosis, and exhibited an antidepressant-like effect in a depression-like mouse model induced by CMS. Conclusions: Our study indicates that each of these CHMs has the potential to ameliorate depression. The possible mechanisms of action include modulation of the HPA axis, reduction in stress hormone levels, inhibition of apoptosis, and promotion of hippocampal neuronal plasticity and neurogenesis. Graphical abstract: