Antidepressant-like Effect of Fuzi Total Alkaloid on Ovariectomized Mice

Abstract

Abstract. Recent studies in vivo and vitro have shown that Fuzi polysaccharide has an antidepressant-like effect. Polysaccharide and total alkaloid are the two most important components of Fuzi. However, little is known about the antidepressant-like effect of Fuzi total alkaloid. To investigate the antidepressant-like effect of Fuzi total alkaloid, behavioral studies were performed in the open field test and forced swimming test. Repeated intragastric administration of Fuzi total alkaloid for 7 days (10 mg/kg) to normal mice decreased immobility time compared to the vehicle group. Furthermore, repeated administration of Fuzi total alkaloid (10 or 30 mg/kg) to ovariectomized mice also decreased immobility time in a dose-dependent manner. However, these antidepressant-like behavioral effects were not simply due to locomotor hyperactivity. Further experiments showed that Fuzi total alkaloid enhanced the ratio of phospho-CREB/CREB (cAMP response element-binding) and BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor) protein level in the frontal cortex and hippocampus in ovariectomized mice but not in normal mice. These results indicate that the CREB-BDNF pathway may be involved in the antidepressant-like effect of Fuzi total alkaloid in ovariectomized mice.

Berberine produces antidepressant-like effects in ovariectomized mice

“…Our findings indicate that berberine may have antidepressant effects, based on its ability to decrease the immobility time in the forced swimming test in OVX mice without affecting body weight. These results are consistent with previous report indicating that ovariectomy increases the immobility in the forced swimming test, and that Fuzi total alkaloid extract exerted antidepressant-like effects in this model 4 . In addition, there were no body weight changes between OVX animals and sham animals 7 days after ovariectomy, but there were changes 21 days after ovariectomy (data not shown here).…”

“…Therefore, the present study aimed to identify a new potential antidepressant drug with fewer side effects. In our previous study the total Fuzi alkaloid extract produces antidepressant-like effects 4 . Therefore, in this study, the antidepressant-like effect of berberine, another specific alkaloid, was investigated in ovariectomized (OVX) mice.…”

“…The surgical procedure for the ovariectomy followed the method outlined by Liu et al . 4 , in which the bilateral ovarian resection was performed (9 weeks). Briefly, each mouse (female) was anesthetized with chloral hydrate (10%) 41 .…”

Anticonvulsant Effects of Fuzi Total Alkaloid on Pentylenetetrazole-Induced Seizure in Mice

“…Previous reports from our group and others show that chronic administration of Fuzi total alkaloid (FTA) or polysaccharide extracted from Fuzi produces antidepressant-like effects as tested in the forced swimming test (2,3). Furthermore, other in vitro evidence suggests that the membrane excitability of hippocampus neurons is decreased by various kinds of aconitum alkaloids, such as lappaconitine, 6-benzoylheteratisine, and 1-benzoylnapelline (4 -6).…”

“…Fuzi (Radix Aconiti Lateralis Preparata) is extensively used as treatment of mood disorder in Chinese medicine (2,3). Previous reports from our group and others show that chronic administration of Fuzi total alkaloid (FTA) or polysaccharide extracted from Fuzi produces antidepressant-like effects as tested in the forced swimming test (2,3).…”