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. 2019 Nov 15:244:112088.
doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2019.112088. Epub 2019 Jul 16.

Cang-ai volatile oil improves depressive-like behaviors and regulates DA and 5-HT metabolism in the brains of CUMS-induced rats

Bojun Chen  1 , Jijun Li  2 , Yuhuan Xie  3 , Xi Ming  4 , Gang Li  1 , Jinjin Wang  1 , Meng Li  1 , Xiaohong Li  5 , Lei Xiong  6
Affiliations

Cang-ai volatile oil improves depressive-like behaviors and regulates DA and 5-HT metabolism in the brains of CUMS-induced rats

Bojun Chen et al. J Ethnopharmacol. .

Abstract

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Cang-ai volatile oil (CAVO) is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) inhalational preparation for the treatment of some depressive and emotive disorders.

Aim of the study: This research aimed to evaluate the efficiency and possible mechanism of intranasal CAVO administration on depression in chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS)-induced rats compared to lavender volatile oil (LVO) treatment after CUMS exposure and bilateral olfactory bulb impairment (OBI) in rats.

Materials and methods: Forty depressive-like model rats induced by CUMS were evaluated by the forced swim test (FST), open field test (OFT), and sucrose preference test (SPT). The model rats were divided into five groups: CUMS (n = 8), CAVOh + CUMS (n = 8), CAVOl + CUMS (n = 8), LVO + CUMS (n = 8), and OBI + CAVO + CUMS (n = 8). The CUMS-induced rats were treated for a period of 4 weeks. The other healthy rats were regarded as the control (CTR, n = 8) subjects. The levels of serotonin (5-HT) and dopamine (DA) and their respective metabolites homovanillic acid (HVA) and 5-hydroxyindol acetic acid (5-HIAA) were measured in brain tissue homogenates of CUMS-induced rats using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Results: CAVO ameliorated depressive-like behaviors (p < 0.05). The levels of DA in the CUMS group were lower than those in the CTR and CAVOh groups (**p < 0.01 and *p < 0.05). The levels of HVA were lower in the CUMS group than in the CTR, LVO, OBI + CAVOh and CAVOh groups (**p < 0.01 and *p < 0.05) and lower in the OBI + CAVOh group than in the CAVOh group (**p < 0.01). The levels of 5-HT in the CUMS group were lower than those in the CTR and CAVOh groups (**p < 0.01). The levels of 5-HIAA were lower in the CUMS and OBI + CAVOh groups than in the CTR, LVO and CAVOh groups (**p < 0.01).

Conclusions: CAVO can improve depressive-like behaviors concomitant with the regulation of DA and 5-HT metabolism in the brains of CUMS-induced rats.

Keywords: 5-HT; CAVO; CUMS-Induced rats; DA; Depression; Intranasal administration.

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