Jieyu Anshen Granule, a Chinese Herbal Formulation, Exerts Effects on Poststroke Depression in Rats

Abstract

Jieyu Anshen granule (JY) is a traditional Chinese medicine formula for treating depression and anxiety. e aim of the study was to observe the effects of JY on poststroke depression (PSD) and investigate the underlying mechanism. PSD rat model was developed by middle cerebral artery occlusion following chronic unpredictable mild stress in conjunction with isolation rearing. We performed behavioral tests, Western blot, ELISA, and BrdU/NeuN staining. Treatment with JY showed significant antidepressant effect in open-field and sucrose preference tests, as well as significant improvement in beam-walking, cylinder, grip strength, and water maze tests. In addition, treatment with JY could restore the levels of neurotransmitters and decrease the levels of hormone and inflammation cytokines in serum and brain. Treatment with JY also showed significant regulation in the expression of neurotransmitter receptors and NF-κB/IκB-α signaling in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. Moreover, the numbers of newborn neurons in the hippocampus were increased by treatment with JY. Our results suggest that JY could ameliorate PSD and improve the neurological and cognitive functions. e antidepressive effect may be associated with the modulation of JY on monoamine system, neuroendocrine, neuroinflammation, and neurogenesis.

Poria cocos water-soluble polysaccharide modulates anxiety-like behavior induced by sleep deprivation by regulating the gut dysbiosis, metabolic disorders and TNF-α/NF-κB signaling pathway

“…6,7 These drugs are often associated with high disease-relapse rates, and several side effects such as nausea, headache, somnolence, and dry mouth are observed. 8 Moreover, the cure rate achieved using antidepressant drugs is low, their side effects are high, and they are expensive. 9 Poria cocos (P. cocos) is an edible mushroom with medicinal properties and a long history of use in Asian countries such as China, Japan, and Korea.…”

“…6,7 These drugs are often associated with high disease-relapse rates, and several side effects such as nausea, headache, somnolence, and dry mouth are observed. 8 Moreover, the cure rate achieved using antidepressant drugs is low, their side effects are high, and they are expensive. 9…”

The Effects of Tai Chi on the Executive Functions and Physical Fitness in Middle-Aged Adults with Depression: A Randomized Controlled Trial

“…Our findings are similar to those of a previous study [ 50 ], which found that a combination of Tai Chi and health education and drug therapy could alleviate symptoms of geriatric depression. Interestingly, compared with the potential side effects of antidepressants [ 35 , 37 ], the Tai Chi program was relatively safer and had no adverse effects on depression symptom mitigation [ 35 , 65 ].…”

“…A meta-analysis confirmed that antidepressants only have a small effect on psychomotor speed and delayed recall and do not significantly affect executive function or cognitive control [ 34 ]. Additionally, antidepressant medications have poor adherence, low rates of remission, high dropout rates [ 35 ], and side effects, which include weight gain [ 36 ], nausea, headaches, somnolence [ 37 ], increased diabetes risk, and sexual dysfunction [ 38 ]. Aside from cognitive dysfunction, studies observed that physical fitness, such as peak oxygen consumption, maximal workload, and individual anaerobic threshold, endurance capacity, and lower and upper limb strength were significantly decreased in depressed patients, compared with healthy controls [ 39 ].…”

Safflower extract improves depression in mice by inhibiting the TLR4-NLRP3 inflammation signaling pathway

“…Previous related studies have shown that CUMS is widely used in establishing animal behavioral models of depression with satisfying effectiveness and reliability (8).…”