Antidepressant-like Effect of Seed Extract in Mice Model of Unpredictable Chronic Mild Stress.

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is one life-threatening disorder that is prevalent worldwide. The evident etiology of this disease is still poorly understood. Currently, herbal medicine is gaining more interest as an alternative antidepressant. , which is used in traditional medicine and contains a potential antidepressive compound, baicalein, could have an antidepressive property. An monoamine oxidase-A (MAO-A) inhibitory assay was used to preliminarily screening for the antidepressant effect of seed () extract. Mice were subjected to unpredictable chronic mild stress (UCMS) for 6 weeks, and the daily administration of extract started from week 4. The mechanisms involved in the antidepressive activity were investigated. The extract significantly alleviated anhedonia and despair behaviors in the UCMS-induced mouse model via two possible pathways: (i) it normalized the HPA axis function via the restoration of negative feedback (decreased FKBP5 and increased GR expressions) and the reduction in the glucocorticoid-related negative gene (SGK-1), and (ii) it improved neurogenesis via the escalation of BDNF and CREB expressions in the hippocampus and the frontal cortex. In addition, an HPLC analysis of the extract showed the presence of baicalin, baicalein, and chrysin as major constituents. All of the results obtained from this study emphasize the potential of extract containing baicalin and baicalein as an effective and novel alternative treatment for MDD.