Seahorse treatment improves depression-like behavior in mice exposed to CUMS through reducing inflammation/oxidants and restoring neurotransmitter and neurotrophin function.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Seahorses (Hippocampus erectus), belonging to syngnathidae of syngnathiformes, are a traditional Chinese medicine for increasing and balancing vital energy within the body and brain, as well as calming mood and improving sleep. AIM OF THE STUDY: Based on the hypothesis of monoamine neurotransmitter deficiency, current antidepressant treatments, with many side effects, are ineffective. Thus, novel hypotheses, inflammation, oxidative stress and neurotrophin dysfunction were proposed. Since seahorses can modulate immune function, reduce oxidants and nourish brain function, it may effectively treat depression. Therefore, this study aimed to detect the predominant chemical characterization of seahorses and investigate the mechanism by which seahorses exert antidepressant effects by using a chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS)-induced model of depression. METHODS: Control and CUMS-exposed mice were fed normal or seahorse diet (0.018 g seahorses power) for 8-weeks. After behavioral tests, serum corticosterone, hippocampal expression of CD11b, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and the concentration of interleukin (IL)-1ß and monoamine neurotransmitters were measured, while amygdala IL-1ß and IL-10, anti-oxidative and oxidative enzyme were also studied. Then main phytoconstituents of seahorses was analyzed using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) methods. RESULTS: Compared to controls, sucrose preference, exploration in open field, social interaction, entry numbers into and times spent on the open arms of elevated plus maze were significantly decreased, while immobility times in forced-swimming was increased in CUMS mice. These changes were associated with significantly reduced levels of serotonin, noradrenaline and dopamine, also expressions of GFAP and BDNF. Moreover, CUMS elevated IL-1ß concentrations and reactive oxygen species (ROS), while decreased IL-10 concentration and anti-oxidative super oxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase. Seahorse diet significantly reversed anxiety- and depression-like behaviors, which were correlated with reducing IL-1ß and ROS, but increasing neurotransmitter concentrations and BDNF expression. Several compounds were found in seahorses, including docosahexaenoic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid, bis(2-ethylheptyl) phthalate, chrysophanol, and hypoxanthine. CONCLUSION: Seahorses could attenuate the CUMS-induced anxiety- and depression-like behaviors by reducing oxidative stress and inflammation, and normalizing neurotransmitter and neurotrophin function, which are possibly due to the activities of one or more or mixture of these identified compounds.

Optimization of vinegar-steaming process for Wuweizi (Fructus Schisandrae Chinensis) with response surface method.

OBJECTIVE: To optimize the vinegar-steaming process of Wuweizi (Fructus Schisandrae Chinensis) using the response surface method (RSM) based on the Box-Behnken design. METHODS: A regression model was constructed with the response variables, the content of Deoxyschizandrin, and the three explanatory factors: length of steaming time, the quantity of vinegar and length of moistening time to evaluate the effects on the processing of Wuweizi (Fructus Schisandrae Chinensis). RESULTS: There was a linear relationship between the content of Deoxyschizandrin and the three explanatory factors. When the steaming time was 5.49 h, with 2.365 g of vinegar added and a moistening time of 4.13 h, the content of Deoxyschizandrin reached the maximum predicted value of 0.1076%, and under the conditions the average content of Deoxyschizandrin was 0.1058%. CONCLUSION: The correlation coefficient of the nonlinear mathematical model was relatively high and the model matched the data well, potentially providing a method for the study of the steaming process.