The anti-depressant effect of Nelumbinis semen on the rats under chronic mild stress inducing depression-like symptom

We recently found Nelumbinis Semen (Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn) to have an antidepressant effect on rats under a forced swim-induced depression-like symptom [1] as well as a chronic mild stress (CMS)-induced depression-like symptom [2] through increase of serotonin concentration in hippocampus [3]. There have been no mechanism indications, however, of an antidepressant effect and resolution of sexual dysfunction, a representative adverse effect presented in commonly used anti-depressants by treatments with Nelumbinis Semen. Thus, anti-depression molecular mechanism and resolution of sexual dysfunction of Nelumbinis Semen on the rats under chronic mild stress (CMS) inducing depression-like symptom for 8 weeks were investigated through sexual behaviors of rats, the change of serotonin receptor density, change of protein expression in brain compared to the effects of two well-known anti-depressants, St. John's Wort and Prozac. Nelumbinis Semen reversed sexual dysfunction rat induced by CMS. In molecular mechanism of Nelumbinis Semen in anti-depression, Nelumbinis Semen increased the density of serotonin receptor 1A (5-HT1A) and six important proteins involved in anti-depression, pCREB, BDNF, adenylosuccinate synthetase, MAP kinase, aldehyde dehydrogenase and cytochrome C oxidase in brain. Those results suggest that Nelumbinis Semen may reverse the damaged brain and anti-depressant adverse effects induced by depression through serotonin-induced neuronal cell growth and protection, and unknown mechanism.

Acknowledgements: This work was supported by the Korea Science and Engineering Foundation (KOSEF) grant funded by the Korea government (MEST) (No. R13–2007–019–00000–0).

References: 1. Kang, M. et al. (2005) The American Journal of Chinese Medicine 33:205–213

2. Jang, C.G. et al. (2004) Arch Pharm Res 27:1065–1072

3. Kang, M. et al. (2005) Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology 57:651–656