ABSTRACT
Objective: To observe the material basis and mechanism of action of Kai-Xin-San (KXS) in regulating antidepression of neurotrophic factors. Methods: KXS eluted by ethanol on macroporous resin was prepared. The antidepressive effect of different components was compared by tailing suspension test and forced swimming test of mice. The levels of nerve growth factor (NGF) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in hippocampus were determined by ELISA. The rat astrocyte glioma C6 cell line and the rat adrenal pheochromocytoma PC12 cell line were used to evaluate the effects of different ethanol elution sites on the expression of NGF and BDNF and the differentiation of PC12 cells.Results: All of the ethanol elution components from KXS exerted anti-depressive effects by shorting the immobile time of tailing suspension and forced swimming of mice and 70％ ethanol elution components exerted best efficacy. This site also could increase expressions of NGF and BDNF on C6 glioma cell line. The 10％ ethanol elution site had the strongest ability to promote PC12 cell differentiation. Ginsenosides were the main effectuve ingredients for promoting the expression of neurotrophic factors. Conclusion: Regulation of neurotrophic factors might be the prominent action mechanism of KXS exerting anti-depressive effects.