ABSTRACT
Objective: To explore the regulation of polar extract of Poria cocos on neurotransmitter and circadian rhythm metabolic pathway. Methods: Male SD rats were randomly divided into blank group, chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) model group, positive drug venlafaxine hydrochloride group (35 mg/kg), and polar extract of P. cocos group (15 g/kg). Rats were modeled and ig administrated for 28 d simultaneously, and the body weight, sugar preference rate, and opening behavior were observed dynamically after administration. The levels of tryptophan (Trp), 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HT), and 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid (5-HIAA), noradrenaline (NE), dopamine (DA), acetylcholiner (Ach), γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), glutamic acid (Glu), the proportion of GABA/Glu in serum were measured by LC-MS. The expression of key genes in the circadian rhythm pathway in liver tissue was detected by using qRT-PCR. Results: Polar extracts of P. cocos significantly improved the abnormality of the sugar preference rate and opening behavior. And polar extracts of P. cocos significantly restored the levels of 5-HT, 5-HIAA, Trp, NE, Ach, GABA, the proportion of GABA/Glu in serum and regulated the gene expression levels of Arntl, Per1, Per2, Per3, and Nr1d1 in hepatocyte. Conclusion: The polar extract of P. cocos could improve neurotransmitters and circadian rhythm disorders in CUMS rats through enhancing the 5-HT metabolic pathway, regulating Ach-NE signaling interaction and the equilibrium of proportion of amino acids neurotransmitter and restoring the expression levels of Arntl, Per1, Per2, Per3, and Nr1d1 involved in the circadian rhythm.