Analysis of Mechanism of Antidepressant Effect of Sophora flavescens Seed Extract / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo explore the antidepressant effect of Sophora flavescens seed extract and its molecular mechanism. MethodA mouse depression model was established by intraperitoneal injection of lipopolysaccharide（LPS）， and normal group， model group， fluoxetine group（2.5 mg·kg-1）， and S. flavescens seed low， medium and high dose groups（200， 400， 800 mg·kg-1） were set up for 7 d of consecutive gavage. Then the antidepressant effect of S. flavescens seed extract was evaluated by using open field test， elevated plus maze test and forced swimming test. Pathological morphological changes in the hippocampal tissue was observed by hematoxylin-eosin（HE） staining. Protein expression levels of G1/S-specific cyclin D1（Cyclin D1）， Wnt1， β-catenin and phosphorylated glycogen synthase kinase-3β（p-GSK-3β） in mouse brain tissues were detected by Western blot. Hippocampal cell apoptosis was detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate（dUTP） nick end labeling（TUNEL）. ResultThe results of mouse behavioral experiments showed that compared with the normal group， the speed of movement in the open field and the distance of movement in the central area of the open field， and the time spent on the open arms of the elevated plus maze were significantly reduced in the model group（P<0.01）， while immobility time in the forced swimming test was significantly increased（P<0.05）. Compared with the model group， the S. flavescens seed medium and high dose groups had increased speed of movement in the open field test and time spent on the open arms of the elevated plus maze test（P<0.05， P<0.01）， and decreased immobility time in the forced swimming test（P<0.05）， the distance of movement in the central area of the open field test increased in the high dose group（P<0.05）. HE staining results showed that compared with the normal group， the hippocampal neuron structure of mice in the model group was damaged. Compared with the model group， after treatment of S. flavescens seed extract， the pathological state of the mouse hippocampal neuron structure was alleviated， and the neurons increased， were neatly arranged， and the cytoplasm was clear. Western blot results showed that the protein expression levels of Wnt1 and β-catenin in mouse brain tissue were significantly decreased（P<0.01）， while the protein expression levels of Cyclin D1 and p-GSK-3β were significantly increased（P<0.01） after LPS injection. Compared with the model group， protein expression levels of Wnt1 and β-catenin in brain tissue of S. flavescens seed medium and high dose groups were significantly increased（P<0.01）， while the protein expression levels of Cyclin D1 and p-GSK-3β were significantly decreased（P<0.01）. TUNEL staining results showed that the hippocampal cell apoptosis rate in the model group was significantly increased compared with that of the normal group（P<0.01）， while the hippocampal cell apoptosis rate in the S. flavescens seed medium and high dose groups was significantly decreased compared with that of the model group（P<0.01）. ConclusionS. flavescens seed extract can effectively improve the severity of depression in LPS-induced depressed mice， and its molecular mechanism is related to the regulation of neuroinflammation and hippocampal neuronal apoptosis mediated by Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.

Combination of Geniposide and Eleutheroside B Exerts Antidepressant-like Effect on Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Depression Mice Model / 中国结合医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To study the antidepressant-like effect and action mechanism of geniposide and eleutheroside B combination treatment on the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced depression mice model.@*METHODS@#Depression mice model was established by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injection. Totally 48 mice were randomly divided into 6 groups (8 rats per group) according to a random number table, including normal, model, fluoxetine (20 mg/kg), geniposide (100 mg/kg) + eleutheroside B (100 mg/kg), geniposide + eleutheroside B + WAY 100635 (0.03 mg/kg), geniposide + eleutheroside B+ N-methyl-D-aspartic acid receptor (NMDA, 75 mg/kg) groups, respectively. After continuous administration for 10 days, autonomic activity tests after 30 min of administration were performed on the 10th day. On the 11th day, except for the normal group, the mice in the other groups were intraperitoneally injected with LPS (1 mg/kg), and the behavioral tests were performed 4 h later. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF- α) and interleukin-1 β (IL-1 β) levels in mice serum. The mRNA expression of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) and nuclear transcription factor (NF- κB) were detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Western-blot analysis was used to detect IDO and NF- κB protein expressions in hippocampus tissue.@*RESULTS@#Compared with the normal group, a single administration of LPS increased the immobility time in the forced swimming test (FST) and tail suspension test (TST, P<0.01), without affecting autonomous activity. Compared with the model group, fluoxetine and geniposide + eleutheroside B administration significantly improved the immobility time of depressed mice in the FST and TST, decreased serum IL-1 β content, inhibited the expression levels of NF- κ B gene and protein in hippocampus tissues (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Compared with the model group, geniposide + eleutheroside B treatment significantly reduced serum TNF-α content and inhibited IDO mRNA and protein expressions in hippocampus (P<0.05 or P<0.01). In addition, NMDA partly prevented the inhibition of IDO mRNA expression by geniposide + eleutheroside B; NMDA and WAY-100635 also partly prevented the reduction of IL-1 ß content induced by geniposide + eleutheroside B treatment (P<0.05 or P<0.01).@*CONCLUSIONS@#The combination of geniposide and eleutheroside B showed a certain antidepression-like effect. Its main mechanism of action may be contributed to inhibiting the activation of NF- κB, decreasing the proinflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α, IL-1 β, and inhibiting in the neuroinflammatory reaction. Additionally, it also affects tryptophan metabolism, reduces the expression of a key enzyme of tryptophan metabolism, IDO. And this antidepressant-like effect may be mediated by 5-hydroxytryptamine and glutamate systems.

Effects of the mulberry leaf extract on depression-like behavior in mice / 国际药学研究杂志

Objective: To investigate the antidepressant effect and mechanism of the extract of mulberry leaf(EML). Methods: Male BALB/c mice were randomly assigned to receive EML(100, 200 and 400 mg/kg)or vehicle for 7 days or single administration by intragastric(ig)route. The effect of EML on spontaneous activity in mice was evaluated using the open field test. The anti-depressant activity of EML was evaluated using the tail suspension test and forced swimming test. After single ig administration of EML (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg), the effects of EML on the function central monoaminergic nervous system were evaluated using the 5-hydroxy-L-tryptophan(5-HTP)induced head-twitch test, yohimbine toxicity potentiation test and reserpine test in mice. Results: In the behavioral despair model, the continuous administration of EML(100 mg/kg)for 7 days significantly reduced the immobility time in the tail suspension test and forced swimming test. Compared with the vehicle group, the inhibitory rates of immobility time were 35.5% and 41%(P<0.05, P<0.01)in the tail suspension test and forced swimming test, respectively. The single treatment with EML(400 mg/kg)also significantly reduced the immobility time in the tail suspension and forced swimming test, and the inhibitory rates of immobility time were 29.1% and 35.3%, respectively(P<0.05). The results of spontaneous activity test showed that EML had no excitatory or inhibitory effect on the central nervous system in mice. In the 5-HTP induced head-twitch test in mice, the single treatment with EML(100 mg/kg)significantly increased the number of head-twitches in mice. In the yohimbine toxicity potentiation test, the single treatment with EML(100, 200 and 400 mg/kg)had no significant effect on the mortality rate in yohimbin-treated mice. In the reserpine test, compared with the model group, the single treatment with EML(400 mg/kg)antagonized reserpine induced ptosis (P<0.05)and had no significant effect on the decrease in rectal temperature and akinesia. Conclusion: EML showed antidepressant effect, and the action mechanism was likely related to the enhancement of the function of serotonergic nervous system.

Research progress on chemical constituents and pharmacological activities of Areca catechu / 中草药

Areca catechu is a traditional Chinese medicine and an important medicine and food homologous variety, it’s widely distributed in tropical and subtropical provinces in southern China and other countries in South Asia and Southeast Asia. The fruitage of A. catechu is not only a kind of great fruit widely eaten to welcome guests, but also its peels and seeds can be used as medicines. Arecae Semen is one of the four precious “Southern Medicine” in China. Modern studies have shown that A. catechu contains alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids, terpenoids and other chemical constituents. It has multiple activities in promoting digestion, lowering blood pressure and anti-depressant, anti-oxidation, anti-inflammatory, anti-parasitic and bacteriostatic activities etc. In this paper, the research progress of chemical constituents and pharmacological activities of A. catechu in recent years was summarized, which provided research basis for the edible safety, research and development of traditional Areca products.

Ketamine exhibit antidepressant effect through regulating sleep-wake rhythm and synaptic homeosta-sis / 中华行为医学与脑科学杂志

A single infusion of ketamine has sustained antidepressant effects and significantly de-creases the risk of suicide,and the effects can last up for 7-10 days,but the underlying mechanism is un-clear. The mechanism was reviewed underlying the antidepressant effects of ketamine,and found that ket-amine may exert its antidepressant effect by regulating sleep/wake cycle,synaptic pruning,molecular path-ways,and neural circuits for treatment-refractory depression. Further studies are needed to investigate the ge-netic,molecular mechanisms underlying the sustained antidepressant effect of ketamine,and the associated imaging findings through in vivo imaging of animals and imaging genetics techniques,explore the optimal time for administration of ketamine,and then provide accurate scientific basis for enhancing its anti-depressant effect.

Research progress on Gastrodia elata prevention and treatment neuropsychiatric diseases / 中草药

Gastrodia elata is a kind of precious Chinese materia medica, which showed good effect in the treatment of headache, improve learning and memory, antidepressant, and other neuropharmacology effects. In this paper, the neuropharmacology effects and corresponding chemical constituents of G. elata in the last ten years were summarized and sorted by referring the literature of CNKI and PubMed, as well as inquired the development of G. elata related drugs and health care products in the official website of the Chinese Food and Drug Administration, which provides reference to develop nervous and mental diseases products of G. elata.

The antidepressant effect and mechanism of traditional Chinese formula Yueju Pill based on drug pair / 中国药理学通报

Aim To explore the antidepressant mecha-nism and laws of traditional Chinese formula Yueju Pill by taking drug pair as the breakthrough point. Meth-ods On the basis of anti-depressant activities of Yueju Pill, the combination of different herbs was obtained by the successively disassembling, and the key drug pair was obtained through the acute administration of Yueju Pill in mice. In addition, chronic unpredictable mild stress model was established to further verify the anti-depressant effect of key drug pair, and to explore its molecular mechanism. Results The drug pair of zhizi and chuanxiong was necessary to anti-depression effect of Yueju Pill, and the immobility time of TST and FST was significantly reduced. As expected, the expres-sions of IL-6 and TNF-a and p-NF-kBp65, P-IkBa were obviously lower than those in model group, but the expressions of BDNF and TrkB were up-regulated than those in model group. Conclusions The drug pair of zhizi and chuanxiong is necessary for traditional Chinese formula Yueju Pill for the antidepressant effect. It is assumed that the antidepressant effect and mechanism of zhizi and chuanxiong are connected with cytokine IL-6, TNF-a and protein expressions of p-NF-kBp65, P-IkBa, and BDNF.

Research Progress on Yueju Pill in the Treatment of Depression and Associated Traditional Chinese Medicine Connotation / 世界科学技术-中医药现代化

Depression has become a serious disease affecting the health of Chinese people. Yueju pill has shown a unique rapid and lasting anti-depression effect, and Yueju pill can rapidly improve Parkinson's disease with depression.The drug pair of Fructus Gardeniae and Rhizoma Ligustici Chuanxiong is necessary for traditional Chinese formula Yueju Pill for antidepressant effect. Recent studies have found the antidepressant effect of Yueju pills at regular doses, and an integrative pharmacological method was adopted to predict the targets and pathways of Yueju pill and explore its molecular mechanism for depression. In recent years, there has been an increasing number of clinical studies on the treatment of depression with Yueju pills and significant therapeutic effects. A new clinical study found that Yueju pill may have antidepressant effects and increase serum BDNF concentration. This paper reviewed the recent research progress of Yueju pill in the treatment of depression in recent 5 years.

Cordycepin Produces An Antidepressant Effect Via Activating Synaptic Plasticity / 世界科学技术-中医药现代化

Available antidepressants are based on the tricyclic and monoamine oxidase inhibitor which were discovered more than sixteen years ago.These antidepressants were found to promote serotonin or noradrenaline function in the brain to produce a antidepressant effect.Although newer agents are more specific,but unfortunately,the issues of slower effect,low-response rate and side-effect are still unsolved.Cordycepin is the main effective component of Cordyceps Militaris which has been used as a Chinese herb and food for hundreds of years.This review summarizes the antidepressant effect and the involved mechanisms of Cordycepin,and provides a novel concept on the research and development of antidepressants by using Chinese herb.

Total flavonoids extracted from xiaobuxin-tang on hyperactivity of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in mouse learned helplessness model / 中国药理学通报

Aim To investigate the effect of the total flaconoids extracted from Xiaobuxin-Tan g ( XBXT-2 ) on the hyperactivity of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in mouse learned helplessness model. Methods Learned helplessness was induced by inescapable foot shock stress over 1h session for 5 days. After screen-ing, we divided learned helplessness mice into five groups:IS, inescapable shock;Dlx, dulxetine(20 mg ·kg-1);XBXT-2(25,50 mg·kg-1). Latency to es-cape shocks and escape failure had been recorded. During the test, Dlx(20 mg·kg-1 ) and XBXT-2(25, 50 mg·kg-1 ) were administered intragastrically once daily for four days. Serum corticosterone level and ad-renocorticotropic hormone ( ACTH ) level were meas-ured by ELISA, and expression of glucocorticoids re-ceptor ( GR) α/β and brain-derived neurotrophic fac-tor ( BDNF ) in hippocampus was determined using Western blot method. Results XBXT-2 (25,50 mg· kg-1 ) or duloxetine treatment showed antidepressant effect in mouse learned helplessness model, as demon-strated by the decreased escape failure and escape la-tency. Our ELISA results showed that XBXT-2 or du-loxetine significantly decreased serum corticosterone level and its upstream stress hormone ACTH level in learned helplessness mice. Furthermore, Western blot result demonstrated XBXT-2 treatment increased GRs and BDNF expression in hippocampus. Conclusions XBXT-2 produces significant antidepressant effect on learned helplessness mice. In addition, the modulation of HPA axis produced by XBXT-2 may be important mechanism underlying its antidepressant-like effect in mouse learned helplessness model.

Effect of the volatile oil of Myristica fragrans Houtt on behaviors in despaire depressed mice / 中华行为医学与脑科学杂志

Objective To observe the antidepressant effect of the volatile oil of Myristica in mice and investigate its mechanism.Methods Healthy male Kunming mice were divided into control group,fluoxetine hydrochloride group,high,medium and low dose group,and all of the mice were gavaged for 7 days.The role of antidepressant on the mice were observed with tail suspension tests and forced swimming tests.Then serotonin(5-HT),dopamine(DA) and norepinephrine (NE) in the brain of the mice were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Results Compared with the control group((82.60 ± 24.70)s),the medium dose group could shorten the immobility time of the tail suspension tests ((54.40± 15.87) s),and showed statistical significance (P＜ 0.05).The content of 5-HT,DA,NE in the brain of the medium group were (19.35±2.79) ng/ml,(12.16±0.71)pg/ml,(0.27±0.12) ng/ml,and control group were (14.95±4.83) ng/ml,(11.32±0.95) pg/ml,(0.20±0.11) ng/ml.Compared with the control group,the content of 5-HT of the medium dose group was increased and showed statistical significance(P＜0.05).Conclusion The volatile oil of Myristica fragrans Houtt has antidepressant effect,and may be related to raising the content of 5-HT,DA,NE in the brain of the mice,especially 5-HT.

Dissociated Antidepressant and Analgesic Effects of Intravenous Ketamine in Patients with Chronic Pain / 대한정신약물학회지

OBJECTIVE: Recent studies about low-dose ketamine therapy have found significant improvement of depressive symptoms within a few hours or days. This study was designed to investigate the effect of ketamine on mood in patients with chronic pain. METHODS: Forty subjects with chronic pain were recruited from the pain clinic of the Ajou University Hospital. The Beck Depression Inventory was used to evaluate mood in each patient, and then the patients received ketamine hydrochloride (1.2 mg/kg, average) intravenously over the course of 1 hour. Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for depression, anxiety, and pain were completed by the subjects just before and 3 hours after ketamine infusion. RESULTS: VAS scores for depression, anxiety, and pain were significantly decreased after ketamine infusion. VAS for depression, anxiety, and pain showed significant correlation with each other before ketamine infusion; however, correlations of the VAS scores for pain with the other two visual scale measures were absent at post-ketamine administration while the correlation between depression and anxiety following ketamine infusion was maintained. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this is the first report about the antidepressant effect of intravenous ketamine, which is separated from its analgesic effect in patients with chronic pain. This result raises the possibility that the antidepressant effect of ketamine is generated by a mechanism different from that of the analgesic effect in human.

A Multicenter Study on Effects of Nefazodone(Serzone TM) on Depression, Anxiety, Sleep, Sexual Functions, and Quality of Life in Patients with Depression / 대한정신약물학회지

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to determine effects of nefazodone on depression, anxiety, sleep and sexual function in depressive patients. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This is an open, non-comparative, multi-center study. Antidepressant and other clinical effects of nefazodone were evaluated in 230 patients of 26 centers, aged 14 years or more, who met DSM-IV criteria to major depressive disorder or dysthymic disorder and didn't have other psychiatric disorders and were physically healthy. The clinical efficacy was assessed at week 1, 2, 4 and 8 using Clinical Global Improvement (CGI), Hamilton Depression Scale (HAM-D), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), State and Trait Anxiety Inventory-State Anxiety (STAI-SA). Other clinical effects were assessed with Weekly Sleep Questionnaire, Sexual Functioning Questionnaire and GHQ-QOL-12, a scale for quality of life. Adverse drug reactions were checked with a questionnaire. Post-treatment effects of drug were compared with pre-treatment baseline condition. RESULTS: The response rates by Clincal Grobal Improvement and HAM-D after 8 weeks treatment were 62.4% and 75.2% respectively. Comparing to baseline, nefazodone was proved to have significantly higher antidepressant and antianxiety effects in depressive patients and it improved also sleep, sexual functions and quality of life. Both patients and physicians satisfied with the effects of drug. Adverse drug reactions were a few and not serious, and most of them disappeared as treatment continued. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that not only nefazodone has antidepressant effects and antianxiety effects, but also it improves sleep disturbance, sexual dysfunction and the quality of life in depressive patients. Adverse drug reactions were a few and not serious.

Antidepressant Effects of Mirtazapine in Patients with Major Depression / 대한정신약물학회지

OBJECTIVES: Mirtazapine is a newly introduced antidepressant in Korea. The purpose of this study is to evaluate effectiveness and safety of mirtazapine as an antidepressant for the first time in Korean patients with major depression. METHODS: This study is an open, non-comparative, multicenter study treated with mirtazapine for 6 weeks in patients with DSM-IV diagnosis of major depression who have 17-item HAMD score> or = 18 and who are between 18 and 65 years of age. Mirtazapine was administered 30 mg orally as an initial dose and could be increased to 45 mg from the 14th day of treatment, depending on the therapeutic responses of subjects. The clinical efficacy of mirtazapine was assessed at the baseline and at the 1st, 2nd, 4th, and 6th week of treatment. To assess the clinical efficacy of the drug, well-trained psychiatrists have evaluated subjects using 17-item HAMD and CGI on each evaluation periods. Also, for the evaluation of subjective symptoms of patients, BDI was used. Adverse experiences associated with mirtazapine were evaluated on each visit, with recordings of blood pressure, heart rate and weight. The responders were defined as patients with > or = 50% decrease from baseline in total 17-item HAMD scores and remitted patients with a total 17-item HAMD score of < or = 7. RESULTS: Out of 79 subjects enrolled, 45 were completed this study. After 6 weeks, the score of 17-item HAMD, CGI and BDI demonstrated statistically significant decrease compared with at the baseline. This decrease was observed as early as the 1st week of mirtazapine treatment. Moreover, the meaningful reduction in each total scores of these different parameters on each evaluation period could be detected, except in case of 2-4 week and 4-6 week of BDI. The responder rate was 15.6% at the first week of mirtazapine treatment, 88.9% at the 6th week. The rate of remission was 2.2% at the first week and 60.0% at the 6th week. The most frequent adverse events during 6 weeks were somnolence(31.6%), drowsiness(19%) and weight gain(17.7%). Aside from sedation and weight gain, anticholinergic, cardiovascular and stimulating side effects are less than 10%, and no one complained about sexual dysfunction. The dropouts(34 subjects, 43%) were caused by adverse events(38.2%), insufficient compliance(35.3%) and uncooperation with the study(20.6%). CONCLUSION: Mirtazapine has shown to have superior antidepressant effect in this study. Especially, this effect appeared from the early treatment phase, the 1st week of treatment. The most frequent adverse events reported were somnolence, drowsiness and weight gain. Anticholinergic, cardiovascular, stimulating adverse events as well as sexual dysfunction were rarely reported, and there was no clinical significant change on physical examinations. Therefore this study showed that mirtazapine is a superior and safe antidepressant in patients with major depression.

Antidepressant Effects of Mirtazapine in Patients with Major Depression / 대한정신약물학회지

OBJECTIVES: Mirtazapine is a newly introduced antidepressant in Korea. The purpose of this study is to evaluate effectiveness and safety of mirtazapine as an antidepressant for the first time in Korean patients with major depression. METHODS: This study is an open, non-comparative, multicenter study treated with mirtazapine for 6 weeks in patients with DSM-IV diagnosis of major depression who have 17-item HAMD score> or = 18 and who are between 18 and 65 years of age. Mirtazapine was administered 30 mg orally as an initial dose and could be increased to 45 mg from the 14th day of treatment, depending on the therapeutic responses of subjects. The clinical efficacy of mirtazapine was assessed at the baseline and at the 1st, 2nd, 4th, and 6th week of treatment. To assess the clinical efficacy of the drug, well-trained psychiatrists have evaluated subjects using 17-item HAMD and CGI on each evaluation periods. Also, for the evaluation of subjective symptoms of patients, BDI was used. Adverse experiences associated with mirtazapine were evaluated on each visit, with recordings of blood pressure, heart rate and weight. The responders were defined as patients with > or = 50% decrease from baseline in total 17-item HAMD scores and remitted patients with a total 17-item HAMD score of < or = 7. RESULTS: Out of 79 subjects enrolled, 45 were completed this study. After 6 weeks, the score of 17-item HAMD, CGI and BDI demonstrated statistically significant decrease compared with at the baseline. This decrease was observed as early as the 1st week of mirtazapine treatment. Moreover, the meaningful reduction in each total scores of these different parameters on each evaluation period could be detected, except in case of 2-4 week and 4-6 week of BDI. The responder rate was 15.6% at the first week of mirtazapine treatment, 88.9% at the 6th week. The rate of remission was 2.2% at the first week and 60.0% at the 6th week. The most frequent adverse events during 6 weeks were somnolence(31.6%), drowsiness(19%) and weight gain(17.7%). Aside from sedation and weight gain, anticholinergic, cardiovascular and stimulating side effects are less than 10%, and no one complained about sexual dysfunction. The dropouts(34 subjects, 43%) were caused by adverse events(38.2%), insufficient compliance(35.3%) and uncooperation with the study(20.6%). CONCLUSION: Mirtazapine has shown to have superior antidepressant effect in this study. Especially, this effect appeared from the early treatment phase, the 1st week of treatment. The most frequent adverse events reported were somnolence, drowsiness and weight gain. Anticholinergic, cardiovascular, stimulating adverse events as well as sexual dysfunction were rarely reported, and there was no clinical significant change on physical examinations. Therefore this study showed that mirtazapine is a superior and safe antidepressant in patients with major depression.

Antidepressant effect of Epimedium brevicornum extracts / 中草药

Objective To study antidepressant effects of Epimedium brevicornum extracts.Methods(Behavioral) despair models of male mice,tails suspension test(TST),and forced swimming test(FST) were used to evaluate the effects of E.brevicornum extracts on behavioral,monoamine oxidas(MAOA) and monoamine oxidase B(MAO-B) activities in brain and liver tissue,and MDA level in liver tissue of mouse.Reserpine antagonistic model was also used to investigate possible antidepressant mechanisms of E.brevicornum extracts.Results The extracts of E.brevicornum(25,50, 100,and 200 mg/kg) significantly reduced the duration of murine immobility in TST and FST,inhibited MAO-A and MAO-B activities in brain and liver of mice,and reversed the elevated liver MDA level in mice in TST.There was no significant amelioration in the decreases of body temperature in mice of Reserpine antagonistic model.Conclusion(E.brevicornum) extracts possesses the definite antidepressant properties.