Research progress on classical traditional Chinese medicine formula Lily Bulb and Rehmannia Decoction in the treatment of depression

J Cellular Molecular Medi

Wang

et al. 2019

Self Cite

Depression is the most frequent psychiatric disorder in the world. Recent evidence has shown that stress‐induced GABAergic dysfunction in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) contributed to the pathophysiology of depression. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying these pathological changes remain unclear. In this study, mice were constantly treated with the chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) till showing depression‐like behaviours expression. GABA synthesis, release and uptake in the NAc tissue were assessed by analysing the expression level of genes and proteins of Gad‐1, VGAT and GAT‐3 by qRT‐PCR and Western blotting. The miRNA/mRNA network regulating GABA was constructed based on the bioinformatics prediction software and further validated by dual‐luciferase reporter assay in vitro and qRT‐PCR in vivo, respectively. Our results showed that the expression level of GAT‐3, Gad‐1 and VGAT mRNA and protein significantly decreased in the NAc tissue from CUMS‐induced depression‐like mice than that of control mice. However, miRNA‐144‐3p, miRNA‐879‐5p, miR‐15b‐5p and miRNA‐582‐5p that directly down‐regulated the expression of Gad‐1, VGAT and GAT‐3 were increased. In the mRNA/miRNA regulatory GABA network, Gad‐1 and VGAT were directly regulated by binding seed sequence of miR‐144‐3p, and miR‐15b‐5p, miR‐879‐5p could be served negative post‐regulators by binding to the different sites of VGAT 3′‐UTR. Chronic stress causes the impaired GABA synthesis, release and uptake by up‐regulating miRNAs and down‐regulating mRNAs and proteins, which may reveal the molecular mechanisms for the decreased GABA concentrations in the NAc tissue of CUMS‐induced depression.

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Behavioural Assessmentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The molecular mechanism underlying GABAergic dysfunction in nucleus accumbens of depression‐like behaviours in mice

J Cellular Molecular Medi

Wang

et al. 2019

Self Cite

“…Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) may provide prospective alternatives to depression therapeutics. Based on the TCM theory, depressive symptoms are often described as “epilepsy”, “insomnia”, “hysteria”, “lily disease” and “sensation of gas rushing.” In particular, the characteristics of “lily disease” is closely associated with the clinical symptoms of depression in terms of diet, spirit, sleep, behavior and feelings . In addition, the classical herbal formula of lily bulb and Rehmannia decoction (LBRD), recorded in the Synopsis of Prescriptions of the Golden Chamber by Zhang Zhongjing in the early third century, is a specialized formula for the treatment of “lily disease.”…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Antidepressant mechanism of classical herbal formula lily bulb and Rehmannia decoction: insights from gene expression profile of medial prefrontal cortex of mice with stress‐induced depression‐like behavior

Genes Brain and Behavior

Chi

Pan

et al. 2020

Self Cite

According to traditional Chinese medicine, lily bulb and Rehmannia decoction (LBRD) is a specialized formula for the treatment of "lily disease", the symptoms of which resemble the clinical manifestations of major depression. However, the molecular basis of the antidepressant mechanism of LBRD and the quality marker ingredients of LBRD remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the quality marker ingredients of LBRD and to show the molecular mechanism of its antidepressant activities. In this study, we adopted the chronic unpredicted mild stress paradigm to construct a depression model. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to determine the levels of the main markers in LBRD. The underlying mechanism of LBRD was explored by measuring neurotransmitter and cytokine levels using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and by quantifying differentially expressed gene (DEG) of transcriptome in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) tissue through RNA sequencing. HPLC results showed that the average levels of quality marker ingredients of LBRD (ferulic acid, dioscin, verbascoside and catalpol) were 0.00079%, 0.00039%, 0.7% and 1.6% (w/w), respectively. LBRD intervention significantly attenuated the depressive phenotype compared with that in the depressed group. LBRD treatment altered the enriched DEGs in the signaling pathways of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glutamate neurotransmitter, synaptic plasticity and axon guidance, circadian rhythm and neural-immunity. GABAergic and glutamatergic synapses as well as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)/TrkB-dependent phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin-1 (mTOR1), might be the main

“…Recently, TCM herbs have received an increasing amount of attention [33]. Many common Chinese herbal formulas for treating depression have been reported over the years [13,14], but the effect of aqueous HG extract on depression has not been reported previously. us, we explored the effect of HG against depression using animal behaviors and the related mechanisms.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, reported antidepressant therapies have undesirable related adverse side effects [12]. erefore, the search for new antidepressants with no or fewer side effects continues and some herbal medicines could be successful alternatives for treating patients with depression [13,14].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn Stems (Hegeng) Improved Depression Behavior in CUMS Mice by Regulating NCAM and GAP-43 Expression

Cao

Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine

et al. 2020

Background. Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn stem (Hegeng [HG]) is a traditional Chinese medicine that is used to treat mental symptoms in East Asia. However, scientific evidence is generally lacking to support this traditional claim. Aim of the Study. This study’s aim is to investigate the antidepression effect of HG and to further explore the possible molecular mechanisms that are involved in its actions. Materials and Methods. HG aqueous extract was administered intragastrically for 21 days after the chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) procedure, and its effect on memory, learning, and emotion was assessed using animal behavioral tests. HG aqueous extract was characterized using HPLC. Immunofluorescence was used to measure the neural cell-adhesion molecule (NCAM) and growth-associated protein-43 (GAP-43) expression. Results. Depression-like behaviors increased in the CUMS group compared with the control (CON) group, while they were reduced in the high-dose HG (H-HG) and fluoxetine (FLU) groups (p<0.05). Additionally, NCAM and GAP-43 expression was reduced in the CUMS group compared with the CON group, but it increased in the H-HG and FLU groups (p<0.05). Conclusions. These findings show the potential antidepressant effects of HG through mechanisms involving regulation of NCAM and GAP-43. This provides a new theoretical basis for its potential application as an antidepressant-like agent.