Anti-depressant Effect of Herbal Extracts in the Chronic Mild Stressed Rat

This study was performed to investigate the anti-depression effect of herbal extracts (Rehmanniae Radix Preparat, Corni Fructus, Lycii Fructus, Pinelliae Rhizoma, Nelumbinis Semen) in the chronic mild stressed rat. After adaptation period for 2 weeks, each herbal extract was administered to the rats divided 5 groups. For comparison, St. John's wart was administered to another group in the same environment. The chronic mild stress was induced to rats by overnight illumination for 2 days before the forced swimming test. Struggling time, first latency and rest duration were calculated during the forced swimming test to evaluate the anti-depressant effect. The results were as follows: 1. In the result of evaluation of the struggling time, there was no significance in Pinelliae Rhizoma (-1.1%), Corni Fructus (-3.9%), Rehmanniae Radix Preparat (15.2%), Lycii Fructus (4.9%), St. John's wart (25.2%). There was a significant increase only in Nelumbinis Semen (43.9%) (P=0.0037). 2. In the result of evaluation of the first latency time, there was no significance in Lycii Fructus (-21.37%), Rehmanniae Radix Preparat (38.4%), Pinelliae Rhizoma (65.5%), Corni Fructus (29.2%), St. John's wart (75.8%). There was a significant increase only in Nelumbinis Semen (90.2%) (P=0.0116). 3. In the result of evaluation of the first rest duration, there was no change in St. John's wart, and Decrease was shown in Pinelliae Rhizoma (62.4%), Corni Fructus (31.6%) Rehmanniae Radix Preparat (63.1 %), Lycii Fructus (12.4%), Nelumbinis Semen (59.0%), but there was no significance in all. 4. Nelumbinis Semen is considered to have a superior anti-depression effect than the other herbal extracts, and to have a superior and-depression effect than St. John's wart being used commonly.

Mild stressed rat을 이용한 수종한약의 항우울효과에 대한 실험적 연구