• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.15 no.11
• /
• pp.6739-6745
• /
• 2014

Acer tegmentosum Maxim (AT) is a species of the maple genus, which is native to North-Eastern China and Korea. Traditionally, AT has been already used for pain relief in Korea. On the other hand, its antidepressant-like activity and related molecular mechanisms is not completely understood. Using the Forced Swimming Test (FST), the effects of a subacute treatment with AT(100, 200, and 400 mg/kg, p.o.) on the immobility and FST-induced changes to the immune parameters, cortisol, ACTH, and cytokine, in rats were investigated. The tendency of immobility showed a dose-dependent decrease in FST. The levels of cortisol, IL-6 and $IL-1{\beta}$ in the peripheral blood were increased significantly after FST exposure. Overall, these results suggest that AT treatment can decrease the immobility time and the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the FST, suggesting that the anti-inflammatory effects of AT might be involved in the antidepressant-like effect.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.79-83
• /
• 2013

The purpose of the present study was to examine the effect of Lycii Radicis Cortex (LRC) and betaine (BT) on immobility and neurochemical change in the forced swimming test (FST) in the rat. LRC, BT or fluoxentine was administered intraperitoneally to Sprague-Dawley rats three times (1, 5 and 23.5 h) before the FST. To investigate antidepressant-like effect, serotonin (5-HT) and norepinephrine (NE) were examined in the hippocampus and hypothalamus of rats. LRC (100 mg/kg) and BT (30, 100 mg/kg) significantly decreased the immobility time in the FST. LRC (100 mg/kg) significantly increased both 5-HT and NE levels in the hypothalamus of rats exposed to FST. BT (100 mg/kg) significantly increased 5-HT levels in the hypothalamus and hippocampus of rats. Taken together, these results demonstrated that improvement in the behavioral changes after LRC and BT administration may be mediated by elevation of 5-HT level in the hypothalamus and hippocampus, indicating a possible antidepressant-like activity. The present results suggest that the efficacy of LRC and BT in an animal model of depression may provide anti-depressant effects in human, which remains to be determined.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.37 no.2
• /
• pp.36-44
• /
• 2023

Essential oils and aromatherapy have traditionally been used for the treatment of anxiety and depression with few side effects. This study aimed to investigate the effects of essential oils from six herbal prescriptions known to be effective in treating anxiety and depression in Korean medicine. The neuroprotective and anti-neuroinflammatory effects of six essential oils, including Gamisachil-tang (GMSCT), Guibi-tang (GBT), Sihogayonggolmoryeo-tang (SYM), Danchisoyosan (DCSYS), Sihosogansan (SHSGS), and Soyosan (SYS), were examined in PC12 and BV2 cells. In corticosterone (CORT)-stimulated PC12 cells, all six essential oils ameliorated the CORT-induced decrease in cell viability at a concentration of 10 ㎍/ml. GMSCT, GBT, and SHSGS recovered CORT-induced cytotoxicity at concentrations of 1 ㎍/ml and 10 ㎍/ml. In lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated BV2 cells, GBT (10 ㎍/ml) decreased interleukin (IL)-1β production, whereas SHSGS (1 ㎍/ml) inhibited tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α production. In the MK-801-induced anxiety in zebrafish, electroencephalogram (EEG) assessment indicated that GMSCT and SHSGS induced recovery in the delta and beta power densities and reduced theta/beta and delta/beta ratios. DCSYS and SYS decreased theta power density and theta/beta ratio, whereas GBT and SYM showed no effects on EEG signals. In the tail suspension test (TST) in mice, GBT, DCSYS, SHSGS, and SYS exhibited antidepressant-like effects by decreasing immobility time. These results suggest that the essential oils from the six herbal prescriptions, except SYM, may have beneficial effects on anxiety and/or depression. Further studies should be conducted to investigate the molecular signaling pathways that mediate the effects of these essential oils on anxiety and depression.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
• /
• v.5 no.1
• /
• pp.83-92
• /
• 1994

Paroxetine is a potent and selective serotoin re-uptake inhibitor. It is well known as an effective and safe antidepressant and increasingly used for neurotic or non-psychotic depression with anxiety symptoms. The present study assessed antidepressant and antianxiety efficacy and tolerability of paroxetine against placebo in child-adolescent and adult depressive neurosis patients. 232 subjects aged 8-55 years and meeting DSM-III-R criteria for depressive neurosis or dysthymia were divided into 8 subgroups according to their sex and age(8-11 yeard old, 12-17 years old, 18-35 years old and 36-55 years old subgroup in each male and female group). In each subgroup, the randomly assigned half of the patients were treated with paroxetine(10-30mg/day) and the others with placebo for the first 2 weeks in double blind fashion. After 1 week of drug-washout period, paroxetine and placebo groups were crossed over. The depression and anxiety symptoms were assessed with Hamilton Depression Scale(HDS) and Hamilton Anxiety Scale(HAS) at baseline and every 1 week during the trial periods. The levels of reduction in HDS and HAS scores from baseline after 2-week trial were compared between paroxetine- and placebo- treated periods by paired t-test. In all the 8 subgroups, statistically significant differences between paroxetine and placebo were found on the antidepressant efficacy after 2-week treatment. The antidepressant efficacy of paroxetine compared to placebo was most prominent in child and adolescent female groups. On anxiety symptoms, paroxetine was also significantly more effective than placebo. The antianxiety efficacy of paroxetine compared to placebo was most prominent in male and female child groups and young adult female group aged 18-35 years. As for the adverse effects of paroxetine, 3 out of 232 subjects reported mild indigestion and abdominal pain. however, in all the 3 cases, the symptoms improved without reduction of dosage or discontinuation of the drug. In conclusion, paroxetine showed significantly higher antidepressant and antianxiety efficacy compared to placebo in child-adolescent and adult depressive neurosis patients after 2-week treatment. Further trials of paroxetine in depressive neurosis are warranted to elucidate the long-term antidepressant and antianxiety efficacy of paroxetine.

• Herbal Formula Science
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.155-167
• /
• 2010

Objectives : In order to investigate the antidepressant effects of Forsythiae Fructus(FF), we performed the Forced Swimming Test(FST). Also the expressions of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), c-Fos and tyrosine hydroxylase(TH) were measured by immunohistochemical method at paraventricular nucleus(PVN), ventral tegmental area(VTA) and locus coeruleus(LC). Methods : Spraque-Dawley rats were administered FF extract(100 mg/kg, 400 mg/kg) intragastrically three times prior to the FST. Results : The duration of immobility in the FST was significantly decreased in the FF 100 mg/kg, 400 mg/kg groups(p<0.05). The expression of CRF was significantly reduced in the FF 100 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg groups(p<0.001). c-Fos expression was significantly decreased at PVN in the FF 100 mg/kg group(p=0.069). TH expression at VTA was significantly increased in the FF 100 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg groups(p<0.05). TH expression at LC was not significantly changed(p=0.346). Conclusion : According to the results, it can be suggested that Forsythiae Fructus has antidepressant effect via the decreased immobility through the reduction of CRF and c-Fos expression at PVN.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
• /
• v.11 no.1
• /
• pp.14-25
• /
• 2004

The current understanding of the mechanisms of pharmacotherapy for depression is characterized by an emphasis on increasing synaptic availability of serotonin, noradrenaline, and possibly dopamine, while minimizing side effects. The acute effects of current available effective antidepressants include blocking selective serotonin or noradrenaline reuptake, alpha2 autoreceptors or monoamine oxidase. Although efficacious, current treatments often produce partial or limited symptomatic improvement rather than remission. While current pharmacotherapies target monoaminergic systems, distinct neurobiological underpinnings and other systems are likely involved in the pathogenesis of depression. Recently, several promising hypotheses of depression and antidepressant action have been formulated. These hypotheses are largely based on dsyregulation of neural plasticity, CREB, BDNF, corticotropin-releasing factor, glucocorticoid, hypothalamic-pituitary adrenal axis and cytokines. Based on these new theories and hypotheses of depression, a number of new and novel agents, including corticotropin-releasing factor antagonists, antiglucocorticoids, and substance P antagonists show a considerable promise for refining treatment options for depression. In this article, the current available pharmacotherapies, current understanding of neurobiology and pathogenesis of depression and new and promising directions in pharmacological research on depression will be discussed.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.14 no.2
• /
• pp.114-118
• /
• 2006

Depression is a very difficult disease to be cured because several nervous systems are involved. In the present study, we evaluated the effects of Keum-Ryung-Ja-San (KRJS), a traditional herbal prescription, on depressive behaviors in mice using the forced swimming test. KRJS was given 1 h prior to the forced swimming test (50, 100, 200, an400 mg/kg, p.o.). The duration of immobility time in the forced swimming test was significantly reduced by KRJS treatment (200 mg/kg, P<0.05) and similar effects were observed with a classical antidepressant, imipramine (15 mg/kg, i.p.). With subchronic administrations of KRJS and its constituents at several doses for 1 week, a decreased duration of immobility time was observed with KRJS and Corydalis ternata (200 mg/kg, p.o. P<0.05). These results suggest that KRJS may have antidedpressive activities and CT may contribute to the antidepressive activity of KRJS.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
• /
• v.24 no.1
• /
• pp.141-150
• /
• 2009

Objectives : The investigation of the antidepressant effects of Citri Reticulatae Viride Pericarpium (CR) Methods : we performed the forced swimming test. Also the expression of Tyrosine Hydroxylase (TH) was measured with immunohistochemical method at the Ventral Tegmental area (VTA), Locus coeruleus (LC). The Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH) level was measured in plasma. Results: 1. The duration of immobility in the forced swimming test was significantly decreased in the CR 100 mg/kg, CR 400 mg/kg groups, comparing with the control group (p < 0.05, p < 0.001). 2. TH expressions in the VTA, LC were significantly reduced in the CR 100mg/kg and CR 400mg/kg treated group, comparing with the control group (p < 0.05, p < 0.001). 3. ACTH expression in plama was significantly reduced in the CR 100 mg/kg treated group, comparing with the control group (p < 0.05). Conclusions : According to the above results, it can be considered that Citri Reticulatae Viride Pericarpium has antidepressant effect through the reduction of TH expression at VTA, LC and ACTH level in plasma.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
• /
• v.8 no.1
• /
• pp.85-95
• /
• 2001

This study was designed to examine the effects of two antidepressant drugs on the expression of c-fos mRNA in cultured embryonic rat hippocampal neurons. The drugs used were imipramine and amitriptyline. On the fourth day of culture, hippocampal neurons were treated with variable concentrations of each drug. Competitive RT-PCR(Reverse Transcriptase-PCR) analysis was used to quantify the c-fos mRNA expression induced by each drug. Experimental results showed that acute and direct treatment with imipramine and amitriptyline with relatively low concentrations(imipramine ${\leq}10{\mu}M$, amitriptylne ${\leq}10{\mu}M$) had no inductive effect on the expression of c-fos mRNA in the rat hippocampal neurons. However, after treatment with relatively high concentrations(imipramine ${\geq}100{\mu}M$, amitriptyline ${\geq}100{\mu}M$) c-fos mRNA was not detected. These findings suggest the followings. Firstly, the action mechanisms of these drugs on the hippocampal neurons might not be mediated by c-fos but by other immediate-early genes(IEGs). Secondly, their actions may be mediated indirectly via other areas of the brain. Thirdly, the expression of c-fos might be inhibited by high concentrations of these drugs, or the high concentrations could induce cell death. Finally, though cell death remains to be confirmed, the inhibition of c-fos induction or cell death could play a role in the cognitive impairments known to be adverse effects of some antidepressants. This study is believed to be a first step toward understanding the mechanisms of learning and memory. Further studies are needed to investigate the expression of various IEGs and changes in the hippocampal neurons of rat resulting from chronic treatment with antidepressant drugs.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
• /
• v.27 no.1
• /
• pp.27-35
• /
• 2020

Objectives Ketamine has been reported to have antidepressant effects or psychotomimetic effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the behavioral effects of ketamine treatment at various sub-anesthetic doses in adolescent and adult naïve mice. Methods In each experiment for adolescent and adult mice, a total of 60 male Institute of Cancer Research mice were randomly divided into 6 groups, which were intraperitoneally treated with physiological saline, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 mg/kg ketamine for consecutive 3 days. At 1 day after last injection, the locomotor and depressive-like behaviors were evaluated in mice, using open field test (OFT) and forced swim test (FST), respectively. Results In case of adolescent mice, ketamine dose was negatively correlated with total distance traveled in the OFT (Spearman's rho = -0.27, p = 0.039). In case of adult mice, we found significant positive correlation between ketamine dose and duration of immobility in the FST (Spearman's rho = 0.45, p < 0.001). Immobility time in the 50 mg/kg ketamine-treated mice was significantly higher compared to the saline-treated mice (Dunnett's post-hoc test, p = 0.012). Conclusions We found that the repeated treatment with ketamine could decrease the locomotor or prolong the duration of immobility in mice as the dose of ketamine increased. Our findings suggest that sub-anesthetic doses of ketamine might induce schizophrenia-like negative symptoms but not antidepressant effects in naïve laboratory animals.