ABSTRACT
Objective To study the antidepressant effect of total timosaponin(TT)and its mechanism.Methods The antidepressant effect of TT was examined by mice forced swimming test(FST),learned helplessness(LH)experiment,chronic mild stress(CMS)model,yohimbine induced lethality test and 5-HTP induced head-twitches test.Results TT(25 or 50 mg?kg-1,ig,qd?14 d)markedly shortened the immobility time in the FST,but didn't affect the autonomic activity.TT(12.5,25 or 50 mg?kg-1,ig,qd?14 d)significantly decreased the number of escape deficits in the LH mice.TT(25 or 50 mg?kg-1,ig,qd?21 d)markedly enhanced the locomotor activity and increased consumption of sucrose solution in CMS mice.TT(50 mg?kg-1,ig,qd?14 d)enhanced the mortality of mice after administration of yohimbine for 4 h,and distinctly increased the head-twitch number in the 5-HTP induced head-twitches test.Conclusion TT has antidepressant effects in various depression mouse models.Its mechanism may be related to the reinforcement of NE and 5-HT nerves system.