Lin Shih-Hang, Chou Mei-Ling, Chen Wei-Cheng, Lai Yi-Syuan, Lu Kuan-Hung, Hao Cherng-Wei, Sheen Lee-Yan
Institute of Food Science and Technology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Institute of Food Science and Technology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Food and Beverage, New Taipei Municipal Tamsui Vocational High School, New Taipei City, Taiwan.
J Ethnopharmacol. 2015 Dec 4;175:266-72. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2015.09.018. Epub 2015 Sep 25.
Depression is a serious psychological disorder that causes extreme economic loss and social problems. However, the conventional medications typically cause side effects that result in patients opting to out of therapy. Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis L., MO) is an old and particularly reliable medicinal herb for relieving feelings of melancholy, depression and anxiety. The present study aims to investigate the antidepressant-like activity of water extract of MO (WMO) by evaluating its influence on the behaviors and the relevant neurotransmitters of rats performed to forced swimming test.
Two phases of the experiment were conducted. In the acute model, rats were administered ultrapure water (control), fluoxetine, WMO, or the indicated active compound (rosmarinic acid, RA) three times in one day. In the sub-acute model, rats were respectively administered ultrapure water (control), fluoxetine, or three dosages of WMO once a day for 10 days. Locomotor activity and depression-like behavior were examined using the open field test and the forced swimming test, respectively. The levels of relevant neurotransmitters and their metabolites in the frontal cortex, amygdala, hippocampus, and striatum were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography.
In the acute model, WMO and RA significantly reduced depressive-like behavior but the type of related neurotransmitter could not be determined. The results indicated that the effect of WMO administration on the reduction of immobility time was associated with an increase in swimming time of the rats, indicative of serotonergic neurotransmission modulation. Chromatography data validated that the activity of WMO was associated with a reduction in the serotonin turnover rate.
The present study shows the serotonergic antidepressant-like activity of WMO. Hence, WMO may offer a serotonergic antidepressant activity to prevent depression and to assist in conventional therapies.
抑郁症是一种严重的心理障碍，会导致巨大的经济损失和社会问题。然而，传统药物通常会产生副作用，导致患者放弃治疗。香蜂草（Melissa officinalis L.，MO）是一种古老且特别可靠的药用植物，可缓解忧郁、抑郁和焦虑情绪。本研究旨在通过评估其对强迫游泳试验大鼠行为及相关神经递质的影响，来研究MO水提取物（WMO）的抗抑郁样活性。
实验分两个阶段进行。在急性模型中，大鼠在一天内接受三次超纯水（对照）、氟西汀、WMO或指定的活性化合物（迷迭香酸，RA）。在亚急性模型中，大鼠分别每天接受一次超纯水（对照）、氟西汀或三种剂量的WMO，持续10天。分别使用旷场试验和强迫游泳试验检测运动活性和抑郁样行为。通过高效液相色谱分析额叶皮质、杏仁核、海马体和纹状体中相关神经递质及其代谢物的水平。
在急性模型中，WMO和RA显著降低了抑郁样行为，但无法确定相关神经递质的类型。结果表明，给予WMO对减少不动时间的作用与大鼠游泳时间的增加有关，表明5-羟色胺能神经传递受到调节。色谱数据证实，WMO的活性与5-羟色胺周转率的降低有关。
本研究表明WMO具有5-羟色胺能抗抑郁样活性。因此，WMO可能具有5-羟色胺能抗抑郁活性，可预防抑郁症并辅助传统治疗。
