Provincial Key Lab. of the Conservation and Exploitation Research of Biological Resources in Anhui, Life Science College of Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, Anhui 241000, China; Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Yijishan Hospital of Wannan Medical College, Anhui Provincial Center for Drug Clinical Evaluation, Wuhu, Anhui 241001, China.
Department of Neurology, Yijishan Hospital of Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, Anhui 241001, China.
Int Immunopharmacol. 2019 Feb;67:13-21. doi: 10.1016/j.intimp.2018.11.052. Epub 2018 Dec 6.
Helicid (4-formylphenyl-β-D-allopyranoside) is a bioactive constituent of Helicid nilgirica Bedd that has been used in Chinese traditional herbal medicine to treat headache, insomnia, and depression. However, the underlying mechanisms of these effects are unclear. We have now investigated the effect of helicid on depression-related behaviors in rats exposed to chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) and have also explored possible underlying mechanisms that involve neurotrophin expression. After 6 weeks isolation, body weight and sucrose preference were significantly reduced in rats with CUMS-induced depression compared with controls. The CUMS rats also showed significant inhibition of locomotory parameters in open field tests (involving behavioral assays). Helicid significantly regulated levels of corticosterone (CORT), inflammatory cytokines and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT). Helicid also reversed CUMS-induced decreases of 5-HT1A receptor expression and promoted brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression in the hippocampus The significant reversal of depressive-like behaviors by helicid is similar to that achieved by fluoxetine. The antidepressive effects are likely attributable to the promotion of hippocampal neurotrophin expression through activation of the serotonergic system. Helicid thus has potential for treating depressive disorders.
Helicid（4-甲酰基苯基-β-D-吡喃半乳糖苷）是 Helicid nilgirica Bedd 的一种生物活性成分，在中国传统草药中用于治疗头痛、失眠和抑郁症。然而，这些作用的潜在机制尚不清楚。我们现在研究了 Helicid 对慢性不可预测轻度应激（CUMS）暴露大鼠抑郁相关行为的影响，并探讨了可能涉及神经营养因子表达的潜在机制。在 6 周的隔离后，与对照组相比，CUMS 诱导的抑郁大鼠的体重和蔗糖偏好明显降低。CUMS 大鼠在旷场试验（涉及行为测定）中的运动参数也明显受到抑制。Helicid 显著调节皮质酮（CORT）、炎症细胞因子和 5-羟色胺（5-HT）的水平。Helicid 还逆转了 CUMS 诱导的海马 5-HT1A 受体表达减少，并促进了脑源性神经营养因子（BDNF）的表达。Helicid 对抑郁样行为的显著逆转与氟西汀相似。抗抑郁作用可能归因于通过激活 5-羟色胺能系统促进海马神经营养因子的表达。因此，Helicid 具有治疗抑郁症的潜力。
