ABSTRACT
This study was aimed to observe effects of Albizia Julibrissin Flower Total Flavonoids (AJFTF) on the learning and memory abilities and plasma monoamine neurotransmitters 5-HT and NE content of depression model rats . A total of 90 SD rats were randomly divided into the normal group , model group , western medicine group ( Venlafaxine Hydrochloride 0 . 0125 g?kg-1 ) and high , middle and low dosage groups of AJFTF ( equivalent to the crude drug of 10 , 5 , 2 . 5 g?kg-1 ) . Depression model rats were induced by solitary cultiva-tion and chronic unpredictable stress . The learning and memory abilities of model rats were evaluated with the Morris water maze . And the plasma contents of 5-HT and NE were determined by enzyme-linked immunosor-bent assay ( ELISA ) . The results showed that AJFTF ( administered with high , middle and low dosage for 21 days ) significantly shortened the incubation period of the Morris water maze positioning and navigation ( P <0 . 05 or P < 0 . 01 ) , and increased the times of crossing the platform in space exploration ( P < 0 . 05 or P <0 . 01 ) . There was a certain dose-effect relationship . The AJFTF ( high , middle and low dosage ) increased the plasma contents of 5-HT and NE ( P < 0 . 05 ) . It was concluded that AJFTF can improve learning and memory abilities of depression model rats which indicates that AJFTF have potential antidepressant effects . Its action mechanism may be related to increase plasma monoamine neurotransmitter content of 5-HT and NE .