Xie Ying, Zeng Zhaoxiang, Zhang Jinrong, Han Qiangqiang, Song Chengwu, Jin Shuna, Zhao Min
School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
School of Pharmacy, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
Front Mol Biosci. 2025 Apr 30;12:1595602. doi: 10.3389/fmolb.2025.1595602. eCollection 2025.
The increasing prevalence of depression profoundly affects female ovarian health. Although (CS) is acknowledged for treating reproductive disorders, its pharmacological mechanisms in depression-induced ovarian dysfunction remain insufficiently explored. This study investigated CS's effects in a chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) mouse model of depression. Mice were divided into control, CUMS model, CS treatment and estradiol treatment group. Behavioral and biochemical analyses assessed depressive-like behaviors and hormone levels. Untargeted metabolomics utilizing ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry was applied to identify differential metabolites of CS in the treatment of depression-induced ovarian dysfunction. These findings were confirmed through real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction assays. Based on the outcomes from behavioral and biochemical assays, CS effectively ameliorated the chronic unpredictable mild stress-induced reproductive ailment in mice. Ten differential metabolites were identified, highlighting the impact of CUMS and CS's ameliorative effects. Pathways linked to arachidonic acid metabolism, glycerophospholipid metabolism, linoleic acid metabolism, and steroid hormone biosynthesis were involved. Seven target genes further validated the metabolomic analysis. This study provides strong evidence of CS's therapeutic potential in alleviating depression-induced ovarian dysfunction, shedding light on its pharmacological mechanisms and supporting its use as a functional medical food.
抑郁症患病率的不断上升对女性卵巢健康产生了深远影响。尽管柴胡（CS）在治疗生殖系统疾病方面得到认可，但其在抑郁症诱发的卵巢功能障碍中的药理机制仍未得到充分探索。本研究调查了柴胡在慢性不可预测轻度应激（CUMS）抑郁症小鼠模型中的作用。将小鼠分为对照组、CUMS模型组、柴胡治疗组和雌二醇治疗组。通过行为和生化分析评估抑郁样行为和激素水平。利用超高效液相色谱结合四极杆飞行时间质谱的非靶向代谢组学方法，鉴定柴胡在治疗抑郁症诱发的卵巢功能障碍中的差异代谢物。这些发现通过实时定量聚合酶链反应分析得到证实。基于行为和生化分析的结果，柴胡有效地改善了慢性不可预测轻度应激诱导的小鼠生殖疾病。鉴定出十种差异代谢物，突出了CUMS的影响和柴胡的改善作用。涉及与花生四烯酸代谢、甘油磷脂代谢、亚油酸代谢和类固醇激素生物合成相关的途径。七个靶基因进一步验证了代谢组学分析。本研究为柴胡在缓解抑郁症诱发的卵巢功能障碍方面的治疗潜力提供了有力证据，阐明了其药理机制，并支持其作为功能性医疗食品的应用。
