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Review
. 2023 Feb 8:13:934199.
doi: 10.3389/fphar.2022.934199. eCollection 2022.

Mechanisms of paeoniaceae action as an antidepressant

Wanxu Guo  1 , Xiaoxiao Yao  1 , Ranji Cui  1 , Wei Yang  1 , Lei Wang  1
Affiliations
Review

Mechanisms of paeoniaceae action as an antidepressant

Wanxu Guo et al. Front Pharmacol. .

Abstract

Paeoniflorin (PF) has been widely used for the treatment of depression in mice models, some Chinese herbal compound containing PF on treating depression, such as Xiaoyao San, Chaihu-Shugan-San, Danggui Shaoyao San etc. Many experiments are also verifying whether PF in these powders can be used as an effective component in the treatment of depression. Therefore, in this review the antidepressant effect of PF and its mechanism of action are outlined with particular focus on the following aspects: increasing the levels of monoamine neurotransmitters, inhibiting the HPA axis, promoting neuroprotection, enhancing neurogenesis in the hippocampus, and elevating levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). This review may be helpful for the application of PF in the treatment of depression.

Keywords: antidepressant; apoptosis; depression; neuroinflammation; neuroprotection; paeoniflorin.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
DA, dopamine; MAO, monoamine oxidase; NE, noradrenaline; PF, paeoniflorin; 5-HT, serotonin; 5-HT1AR, 5-HT1A receptor; 5-HT2AR, 5-HT2A receptor.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
ACTH, adrenocorticotropic hormone; CORT, corticosterone; CRH, corticotropin-releasing hormone; HPA, hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal; GC, glucocorticoid; PF, paeoniflorin.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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