Anti‐depressant Effects of Aqueous Extract from Acanthopanax senticosus in Mice

In this paper, the anti‐depressant effects of Acanthopanax senticosus extract (ASE) were studied using animal models of depression including the forced swimming and tail suspension tests. The anti‐depressive mechanism of ASE was explored by monitoring the levels of monoamine neurotransmitters including 5‐hydroxytrylamine (5‐HT), norepinephrine (NE), and dopamine (DA), as well as cAMP response element‐binding (CREB) protein expression in the whole brain of mice following the tail suspension test. Our results showed that intragastric administration of ASE at a dose of 2000 mg/kg for seven days significantly reduced the duration of immobility in both the forced swimming test and the tail suspension test. These results indicate that ASE possesses antidepressant‐like properties. Pre‐treatment with 2000 mg/kg of ASE for seven days significantly elevated the levels of 5‐HT, NE, and DA in the whole brain of mice. Moreover, ASE at doses of 1000 and 2000 mg/kg significantly up‐regulated the level of CREB protein. Taken together, these findings suggest that the anti‐depressive mechanism of ASE may be mediated via the central monoaminergic neurotransmitter system and CREB protein expression. Therefore, administration of ASE may be beneficial for patients with depressive disorders. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.