• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.57-68
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• 2018

Objectives: To experimentally assess the anti-depressant effects of Gammakdaejo-tang Complex Extracts (GMDJ-Tang) in rats. Methods: Twenty Wistar Hannover (160~170 g) stressed rats were treated with different concentrations of GMDJ-Tang extracts i.e., 0, 62.5 mg/kg, 125 mg/kg, and 250 mg/kg. Chronic mild stress was induced by food deprivation, empty bottles, forced swimming, flickered light, tilt cages, shaking cages, high density breeding, water deprivation, and by soaking the litter cover according to fixed schedule. Blood and brain tissue samples were collected for biochemical analysis. Tests included serotonin and ELISA assays. Results: GMDJ-tang increased the weight of treated rats as well as levels of serotonin, BDNF and TrkB; however, the differences were not significant. In contrast, the extracts significantly decreased blood glucose in stressed rats. GMDJ-tang extracts did not significantly impact Serum AST, ALT, leukocytes, erythrocytes and thrombocytes when comparing treatment groups to control rats. Likewise, hemoglobin, hematocrit and PLT increased in treatment groups following treatment with GMDJ-tang, but this change was without significance. Conclusions: These results suggest that GMDJ-tang can alleviate chronic mild stress in rats, possibly through anti-depressant activity.