Antidepressant-like activity of the aqueous extract of Allium macrostemon in mice.

J Ethnopharmacol

Department of Life and Nanopharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Kyung Hee University, Dongdaemoon-Ku, Seoul, Republic of Korea.

Published: September 2010

Aim Of The Study: The aim of this study was to identify the effects of water extracts of Allium macrostemon Bunge (AM-W), a traditional herb, in mice.

Materials And Methods: The antidepressant-like activities of AM-W were evaluated through behavioral despair in forced swimming test and tail suspension test. To elucidate the mode of action of the antidepressant-like effects of AM-W, new born cells in the subgranular zone and the granule cell layer were analyzed by immunostaining for incorporation of 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine (BrdU). In addition, the effects of AM-W on the expression levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) were investigated by western blotting and immunohistochemistry.

Results: The administration of AM-W reduced the immobility duration in the forced swimming test and tail suspension test (100 or 200 mg/kg, P<0.05). Sub-chronic administration of AM-W (100 or 200 mg/kg, p.o., for 14 days) increased the number of BrdU-incorporating cells. The percentage of BrdU-incorporating cells co-localized with NeuN was significantly increased after AM-W administration (100 or 200 mg/kg, P<0.05). Moreover, the expression levels of BDNF which is reported to be associated with neurogenesis were significantly increased in the hippocampus after administration of AM-W.

Conclusions: These results suggest that AM-W may be a good antidepressant, and that its mechanism of action may be related to its positive effects on neurogenesis and BDNF release.

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Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2010.07.015DOI Listing

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