• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.171-183
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• 2005

Objective : The Korean famous medicinal prescription of Subi-jeon was investigated for their antidepressant effects by tail suspension test, hot plate test, reserpine-induced hypothermia test. In addition, the monoamine oxidase activity was determined in vivo. Methods : The methanol extract reduced dose-dependently the duration of immobility in the tail suspension test, by 31.4 and 34%(p<0.05) at doses of 500mg/kg and 1g/kg, respectively, compared with control group. In comparison with this, the effect of the water extract was very weak. Results : 1. In the hot plate test, the methanol extract potently increased the jump latency time(p<0.05) compared to the control group, exhibiting the inhibition rate of 197% and 256% at doses of 500mg/kg and 1g/kg(per os), respectively, which is more effective than the water extract. 2. Both extracts suppressed the fall of body temperature induced by reserpine(reserpine-induced hypothermia) in a dose-dependent manner, showing the less effect at lower doses and better effect at higher doses compared to the water extract. 3. Both extracts inhibited the brain monoamine oxidase activity in an in vivo assay compared to the control group, the activity of water extract was better than that of the methanol extract. Conclusion : The prescription of Subi-jeon can be useful for the prevention and treatment of depression.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.143-148
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• 2009

Objectives : Anxiety and depression are stress-related disorders. Their prevalence are increasing rapidly. Ginseng is the root of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer (Araliaceae) which has been used for many centuries in asian region. Anxiolytic effect is one of the popular effects of ginseng. Several studies reported saponin fraction of ginseng, including ginsenoside, is a major ingredient of anxiolytic effect. In present study, we investigated anxiolytic-like and antidepressant-like effect of non-saponin fraction in mice. Material and Method : Mice were divided into five groups. Experimental groups were administered non-saponin fractions (25 mg/kg; nsp25, 50 mg/kg; nsp50, 100 mg/kg; nsp100) respectively once a day in the morning at 9am for 1 week. Then, we performed elevated plus-maze (EPM) test for investigating the anxiolytic-like effect and forced swimming test (FST) for investigating the antidepressant-like action. Results : Non-saponin fraction 50 mg/kg group increased frequency and time spent (p<0.05) in open arm on EPM test and decreased immobility time (p<0.05) on FST compared with control group. Conclusions : We suggest that non-saponin fraction has anxiolytic-like effect and antidepressant like effect in mice.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.666-674
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• 2022

Background: Ginsenosides and their metabolites have antidepressant-like effects, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. We previously identified 14-3-3 ζ as one of the target proteins of 20 (S)-protopanaxadiol (PPD), a fully deglycosylated ginsenoside metabolite. Methods: Corticosterone (CORT) was administered repeatedly to induce the depression model, and PPD was given concurrently. The tail suspension test (TST) and the forced swimming test (FST) were used for behavioral evaluation. All mice were sacrificed. Golgi-cox staining, GSK 3β activity assay, and Western blot analysis were performed. In vitro, the kinetic binding analysis with the Biolayer Interferometry (BLI) was used to determine the molecular interactions. Results: TST and FST both revealed that PPD reversed CORT-induced behavioral deficits. PPD also ameliorated the CORT-induced expression alterations of hippocampal Ser9 phosphorylated glycogen synthase kinase 3β (p-Ser9 GSK 3β), Ser133 phosphorylated cAMP response element-binding protein (p-Ser133 CREB), and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Moreover, PPD attenuated the CORT-induced increase in GSK 3β activity and decrease in dendritic spine density in the hippocampus. In vitro, 14-3-3 ζ protein specifically bound to p-Ser9 GSK 3β polypeptide. PPD promoted the binding and subsequently decreased GSK 3β activity. Conclusion: These findings demonstrated the antidepressant-like effects of PPD on the CORT-induced mouse depression model and indicated a possible target-based mechanism. The combination of PPD with the 14-3-3 ζ protein may promote the binding of 14-3-3 ζ to p-GSK 3β (Ser9) and enhance the inhibition of Ser9 phosphorylation on GSK 3β kinase activity, thereby activating the plasticity-related CREBeBDNF signaling pathway.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.280-320
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• 2023

Purpose: This study was conducted to assess the antidepressant effects of capsaicin in chronic depressive rats and elucidate the mechanism underlying its effects. Methods: Male Wistar rats (280~320 g, 8 weeks of age) were subjected to depression induced by chronic unpredictable mild stresses. The rats were exposed to 8 kinds of stresses for 8 weeks. In the last 2 weeks, fluoxetine or capsaicin was injected subcutaneously. The dose of fluoxetine was 10 mg/kg (body weight), while the doses of capsaicin consisted of low (1 mg/kg), middle (5 mg/kg), and high (10 mg/kg). The forced swim test (FST) was conducted to evaluate the immobility time of rats. The immobility time indicates despair, one of symptoms of depression. The change of tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) in the dorsal raphe was investigated using immunohistochemistry. In the hippocampus cornu ammonis (CA) 1 and 3, glucocorticoid receptor (GR) expression was measured. Results: The immobility time in the FST was significantly lower (p < .05) in the low-dose (M = 32.40 ± 13.41 seconds) and middle-dose (M = 28.48 ± 19.57 seconds) groups than in the non-treated depressive rats (M = 90.19 ± 45.34 seconds). The amount of TPH in the dorsal raphe was significantly higher (p < .05) in the middle-dose (M = 249.17 ± 35.02) and high-dose (M = 251.0 ± 56.85) groups than in the non-treated depressive rats (M = 159.78 ± 41.16). However, GR expression in the hippocampus CA1 and CA3 did not show significant differences between the non-treated depressive rats and the capsaicin-injected rats. Conclusion: This study suggests that capsaicin produces an antidepressant-like effect on chronic unpredictable mild stress-induced depression in rats via the serotonin biosynthesis pathway.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.876-880
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• 2011

Gammakdaejo-Tang (GMT) is a traditional oriental medicinal formula, a mixture of 3 crude drugs, and it has been clinically used for treating mild depressive disorders. The purpose of the study was to examine the effect of Gammakdaejo-Tang (GMT) on repeated stress-induced alterations of learning and memory on a passive avoidance test (PAT) test and also the anxiety-related behavior on the elevated pulse maze (EPM) in ovariectomized female rats. We assessed the changes in the reactivity of the cholinergic system by measuring the immunoreactive neurons of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) in the hippocampus after behavioral testing. The rats were exposed to the immobilization (IMO) stress for 14 days (2hours/day), and Gammakdaejo-Tang (400 mg/kg, p.o.) was administered 30 min before IMO stress. Treatments with GMT caused significant reversals of the stress-induced deficits in learning and memory on a working memory test, and it also produced an anxiolytic-like effect on the EPM, and increased the ChAT reactivities (p<0.001, respectively). These results suggest that Gammakdaejo-Tang might prove to be an effective antidepressant agent.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.131-139
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• 2000

Even the pharmacotherapy is more effective than placebo for the treatment of depression, the outcome of pharmacoltherapy remains unsatisfactory for many patients. Apart from side effects, there are two major limitations of antidepressant therapy. One is the delayed onset of improvement and another is partial response. In order to address these clinical dilemmas, many psychiatrists more commonly employ add-on therapy. In past, the practice of using multiple drugs to enhance treatment response was called polypharamcy, and was disparaged as poor clinical practice. However, with improved understanding of how drugs affects the central nervous system and increased communication in journals and on computer networks about the relative merits of specific combinations, the scientific basis for the combining drugs is being defined. Indeed, the use of multiple medications as a stratege to enhance response has become both acceptable and widespread now a days. It is now referred to more positively as add-on therapy, co-medication, combination therapy, or drug augmentation. Thus, as the methods of practical strategies for treatment of depression, switching classes antidepressant drugs, combination therapy, augmentation strategies and brief treatment algorithm will be presented with items of considerations. However, when combination of drugs being tried, knowledges about the action of mechanism, pharamcokinetics, and pharmacodynamics are essential to cope with the possible adversive reactions and to get the appropriate responses for the treatment of depressive symptoms.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.131-138
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• 1990

Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) causes intractable pain which disturbs sleep and daily life. Numerous drugs and treatment strategies have been introduced for the management of PHN. However, no single regimen has proved to be effective. I analysed 38 patients with PHN. Amitriptyline, a tricyclic antidepressant and chlorpromazine were most commonly prescribed. Stellate ganglion blocks for the head and neck pain and epidural blocks for the rest part of the body were most frequently given. Triamcinolone acetate was administered epidurally in most of the cases or by iontophoresis on the affected skin area in two cases. Complications were related to the technique of the nerve block and the side effects of drugs administered. Repeated nerve blocks with tricyclic antidepressant and steroid therapy were thought to be the most effective for the treatment of postherpetic pain.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.59-69
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• 2006

Bidirectional relationships exist between cancer and depression; the prevalence of depression in cancer patients is higher than in the general population, and depression predicts cancer progression and mortality. The mechanisms through which depression contributes to the progression of cancer are related with dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and impairment of immune function. However, depression in cancer patients tends to be underdiagnosed and not appropriately treated. The methods of diagnosis and assessment of depression in cancer patents have been debated because physical symptoms of depression mimic both cancer symptoms per se and the side effects of cancer treatment. Many studies have shown that various psychosocial and/or pharmacological interventions are effective at improving de-pressive symptoms and quality of life in cancer patients. Furthermore, antidepressant treatments are effective for various physical symptoms related to cancer, such as fatigue, anorexia, pain, hot flashes, and itching. This article reviews and discusses current knowledge about depression in cancer patients.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.163-173
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• 2009

Objectives : The goal of this study was to investigative the effect of Gardeniae Fructus (GF)as antidepressant in the forced swimming test(FST) model rats. Methods : The expressions of corticotropin-releasing factor(CRF), tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and c-fos were measured by immunohistochemical method at paraventricular nucleus(PVN), locus coeruleus (LC) and ventral tegmental area(VTA). Results : The duration of immobility in FST was significantly decreased in the GF 100mg/kg groups (p<0.05). CRF expression was significantly decreased at PVN in the GF 100 mg/kg and 400mg/kg treated group in comparison with the control group, respectively (p<0.01). c-fos expression was decreased at PVN in the GF 100 mg/kg treated group with no significance. TH expression was significantly decreased in the GF 100 mg/kg and 400mg/kg treated group in comparison with the control group, at LC and VTA respectively (p<0.001). Conclusion : According to the results, it can be considered that Gardeniae Fructus has antidepressant effect by showing the reduction of immobility in FST through the reduction of CRF, TH expression.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.129-140
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• 2009

Objectives : The goal of this study was to investigate the effect of Moutan Cortex as antidepressant in forced swimming test(FST) model. Methods : The expressions of corticotropin-releasing Factor(CRF), c-Fos and tyrosine hydroxylase(TH) were measured with immunohistochemical method at paraventricular nucleus (PVN), locus coeruleus(LC) and ventral tegmental area(VTA). Results : The duration of immobility in the forced swimming test was significantly decreased in the Moutan Cortex 100 mg/kg treated group in comparison with the control group(p<0.01). CRF and c-Fos expressions at PVN were decreased in the Moutan Cortex 100mg/kg treated group in comparison with the control group. But only the expression of c-Fos was shown the significance(p<0.05). TH expressions at LC and VTA were significantly decreased in the Moutan Cortex 100mg/kg and 400mg/kg treated group in comparison with the control group(p<0.001). Conclusion : According to the results, Moutan Cortex has the antidepressant effect by showing the reduced immobility through the reduction of c-Fos expression at PVN and the reduction of TH expression at LC and VTA.