Effect of herb pair of Bupleuri Radix and Paeoniae Alba Radix on single amine neurotransmitter in brain of CUMS depression model of rats / 中草药

ABSTRACT

Objective: To observe the change of single amine neurotransmitter content in brain of rats, to reveal the antidepressant mechanism of herb pair of Bupleuri Radix and Paeoniae Alba Radix. Methods: Chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) depression model was successfully established on rats. Rats were randomly divided into control, model, positive drug (fluoxetine hydrochloride 15 mg/kg), low-, mid-, and high-dose of herb pair of Bupleuri Radix and Paeoniae Alba Radix (crude drug of 8, 16, and 32 g/kg, Bupleuri Radix-Paeoniae Alba Radix ratio 1∶1), low-, mid-, and high-dose of Bupleuri Radix (crude drug 8, 16, and 32 g/kg) group, and low-, mid-, and high-dose of Paeoniae Alba Radix (crude drug 8, 16, and 32 g/kg) groups, which were ig given drugs for 14 d. After the administration, the brain tissue of rats was taken out. The monoamine neurotransmitter [norepinephrine (NE), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid, (5-HIAA)] content changes of material could be detected by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Results: Compaed with the model group, the contents of NE and 5-HT increased obviously, while the content of 5-HIAA decreased obviously in the hippocampus, cortex, and hypothalamus in the mid-, and high-dose of herb pair of Bupleuri Radix and Paeoniae Alba Radix group (P<0.05, 0.01); In the low-dose herb pair of Bupleuri Radix and Paeoniae Alba Radix groups, the decrease-contents of NE and 5-HT could be reversed of and the level of 5-HIAA could be decreased (P<0.05) in a varying degrees. Conclusion: The herb pair of Bupleuri Radix and Paeoniae Alba Radix, Bupleuri Radix, or Paeoniae Alba Radix could play the role of anti-depression by regulation of the manoamine neurotransmitter in the brain of rats. The anti-depressant effect of the herb pair of Bupleuri Radix and Paeoniae Alba Radix is better than that of Bupleuri Radix or Paeoniae Alba Radix.