Dendrobium officinale flos increases neurotrophic factor expression in the hippocampus of chronic unpredictable mild stress‐exposed mice and in astrocyte primary culture and potentiates NGF‐induced neuronal differentiation in PC12 cells

Abstract

Dendrobium officinale flos (DOF) is the flower of Dendrobium officinale Kimura et Migo, which is usually regarded as a by-product of Dendrobii Offcinalis Caulis. Based on its use as an alternative medicine, we evaluated the antidepressant-like effect of DOF extracts on chronic, unpredictable, mild stress-induced, depression-like behaviour in mice and tested the effects of DOF on the regulation of neurotrophic factors in mouse astrocyte primary cultures and PC12 cell lines. Oral treatment with DOF ethanol extract (DOF-E) could alleviate depression-like behaviours in stress-exposed mice, as evidenced by increased sucrose consumption and decreased immobile time in a forced swim test. In the hippocampus, DOF extracts increased the expression of NGF and BDNF, both at the transcriptional and protein levels. In astrocytes, DOF-E increased the expression of NGF and BDNF via a cAMP-dependent mechanism and regulated plasminogen and matrix metallopeptidase 9 (MMP-9), which are related to the metabolic regulation of neurotrophic factors. In PC12 cells, DOF-E induced the expression of neurofilaments and potentiated the induction of neurite outgrowth upon treatment with a low dose of NGF. Based on these findings, DOF might be used as a supplement for antidepressant therapy in patients with depression.

Bioactivities and Mechanism of Actions of Dendrobium officinale: A Comprehensive Review

“…Moreover, the flower of Dendrobium officinale was found to attenuate the depression-like behavior in mice with the increase in sucrose consumption and decrease in immobile time, which may be mediated by the increased expression of nerve growth factor (NGF) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in hippocampus. And the regulation of neurotrophic factor expression was also verified in astrocytes through a cAMP-dependent mechanism, plasminogen, and MMP-9 [98]. However, the capacity to cross the bloodbrain barrier determines the direct action of natural products in the central nervous system.…”

Chemical Constituents, Bioactivities, and Pharmacological Mechanisms of Dendrobium officinale: A Review of the Past Decade

“…In astrocytes, DOF-E inhanced the expression of NGF and BDNF via cAMP-dependent mechanism and altered plasminogen and MMP-9, which are associated with metabolic regulation of neurotrophic factors. In PC12 cells, DOF-E induced the expression of neurofilaments and potentiated the induction of neurite outgrowth at a low-dose NGF . In neonatal rat models of hypoxic-ischemic brain injury (HIBD), DOWE down-regulated cleaved caspase-3 and Bax and up-regulated Bcl-2, thereby reducing HIBD-induced neuronal apoptosis.…”

“…In PC12 cells, DOF-E induced the expression of neurofilaments and potentiated the induction of neurite outgrowth at a lowdose NGF. 135 In neonatal rat models of hypoxic-ischemic brain injury (HIBD), DOWE down-regulated cleaved caspase-3 and Bax and up-regulated Bcl-2, thereby reducing HIBD-induced neuronal apoptosis. In addition, the data indicated accelerated expressions of neurotrophic and K + -Cl −cotransporter 2, and decreased expressions of hypoxiainducible factor-1α and histone deacetylase 1.…”

Anti-cyclooxygenase, anti-glycation, and anti-skin aging effect of Dendrobium officinale flowers’ aqueous extract and its phytochemical validation in aging

“…However, as a medicinal by-product, the flowers of D. officinale are typically discarded and rarely studied. Recently, the flowers of D. officinale have been reported to be rich in nutrients and other chemical ingredients, including anthocyanins, flavonoids, and polysaccharides, and specific bioactivities have been elucidated, such as liver protection as well as hypoglycaemic, antioxidant, and antihypertensive effects (16)(17)(18). Therefore, it is necessary to establish reliable methods for component analysis of D. officinale flowers and expand its use for health-related products through comparison with stems.…”