Xiaoyao San, a Chinese herbal formula, ameliorates depression-like behavior in mice through the AdipoR1/AMPK/ACC pathway in hypothalamus / 中西医结合学报

OBJECTIVE@#Depression and metabolic disorders have overlapping psychosocial and pathophysiological causes. Current research is focused on the possible role of adiponectin in regulating common biological mechanisms. Xiaoyao San (XYS), a classic Chinese medicine compound, has been widely used in the treatment of depression and can alleviate metabolic disorders such as lipid or glucose metabolism disorders. However, the ability of XYS to ameliorate depression-like behavior as well as metabolic dysfunction in mice and the underlying mechanisms are unclear.@*METHODS@#An in vivo animal model of depression was established by chronic social defeat stress (CSDS). XYS and fluoxetine were administered by gavage to the drug intervention group. Depression-like behaviors were analyzed by the social interaction test, open field test, forced swim test, and elevated plus maze test. Glucose levels were measured using the oral glucose tolerance test. The involvement of certain molecules was validated by immunofluorescence, histopathology, and Western blotting. In vitro, hypothalamic primary neurons were exposed to high glucose to induce neuronal damage, and the neuroprotective effect of XYS was evaluated by cell counting kit-8 assay. Immunofluorescence and Western blotting were used to evaluate the influences of XYS on adiponectin receptor 1 (AdipoR1), adenosine 5'-monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase (ACC) and other related proteins.@*RESULTS@#XYS ameliorated CSDS-induced depression-like behaviors and glucose tolerance impairment in mice and increased the level of serum adiponectin. XYS also restored Nissl bodies in hypothalamic neurons in mice that exhibited depression-like behaviors and decreased the degree of neuronal morphological damage. In vivo and in vitro studies indicated that XYS increased the expression of AdipoR1 in hypothalamic neurons.@*CONCLUSION@#Adiponectin may be a key regulator linking depression and metabolic disorders; regulation of the hypothalamic AdipoR1/AMPK/ACC pathway plays an important role in treatment of depression by XYS.

UPLC-PDA fingerprint of Xianling Gubao Capsules / 中国药学杂志

OBJECTIVE: To establish the ultra performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) fingerprint of Xianling Gubao Capsules (XLGB), and evaluate the product quality by chemometrics analysis method. METHODS: The method was developed on an ACQUITY UPLC BEH Shield RP18 column (2.1 mm×50 mm, 1.7μm) by gradient elution with acetonitrile-water [both containing 0.1% formic acid] as mobile phase at a flow rate of 0.5 mL· min-1. The column temperature was maintained at 30℃, and the detection wavelength was set at 246 nm during 0-4.6 min and 270 nm during 4.6-18 min. The main characteristic peaks were identified and assigned to individual herbs by comparing the retention time and UV absorption characteristics, combined with peak purity analysis. Furthermore, 16 batches of XLGB were evaluated by similarity assay, PCA, and PLS-DA. RESULTS: The UPLC fingerprint of XLGB was established and 27 main characteristic peaks were identified. The similarity of 16 batches of XLGB was about 0.959 to 0.988, and epimedin C, bakuchiol, psoralenoside, and isopsoralenoside from Epimedium breviornu Maxim and Psoralea corylifolia L were the main compounds causing the similarity difference. CONCLUSION: The method can be used for the quality control of XLGB with good specificity and efficiency, and this work provides the experimental basis to improve the overall quality control of XLGB.