ABSTRACT
Objective:To optimize proportion of couplet medicine of Bupleuri Radix and Scutellariae Radix in the treatment of anti-depression, and to explore the possible antidepressant mechanism of this couplet medicine. Method:The dosages of Bupleuri Radix and Scutellariae Radix in the 2015 edition of Chinese Pharmacopoeia were taken.According to U7(72) uniform design table, Bupleuri Radix and Scutellariae Radix were carried out into 7 groups.The chronic unpredictable mild depression model mice were induced by intragastric administration of decoction of this couplet medicine and the antidepressant effect was observed by the behavior tests, which included sucrose preference test, tail suspension test, forced swimming test and open field test(crossing scores).The regression equations were established by selecting the effective indexes.The experiments of retest were taken to check the results and the possible antidepressant mechanism was primarily investigated by measuring the phosphorylation level of cyclic adenosine monophosphate(cAMP)-response element binding protein(CREB) and expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF). Result:Compared with the blank group, sucrose preference rate of the model group was significantly decreased(PPPPPPPPPPPPPPConclusion:Compatibility of Bupleuri Radix and Scutellariae Radix can ameliorate depressive-like behavior of model mice, and the best antidepressant compatibility proportion of Bupleuri Radix and Scutellariae Radix is 1:1, the optimal amounts of them are about 5 g.The antidepressant effect may relate to promoting phosphorylation level of CREB and the expression of BDNF in the hippocampus.