TY - JOUR
T1 - Anxiolytic and antidepressants’ effect of Crataegus pinnatifida (Shan Zha)
T2 - biochemical mechanisms
AU - Nitzan, Keren
AU - David, Dekel
AU - Franko, Motty
AU - Toledano, Roni
AU - Fidelman, Sharon
AU - Tenenbaum, Yaarit Simchon
AU - Blonder, Maya
AU - Armoza-Eilat, Shir
AU - Shamir, Alon
AU - Rehavi, Moshe
AU - Ben-chaim, Yair
AU - Doron, Ravid
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2022, The Author(s).
PY - 2022/5/19
Y1 - 2022/5/19
N2 - Depression and anxiety disorders are highly prevalent. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the current first-line treatment for depression, but they have pronounced limitations. Traditional Chinese medicine can serve as a safe and effective alternative to conventional drugs, particularly since many herbal remedies have already been approved for human use as food additives, making the transition from bench to bedside more efficient. We previously demonstrated that a novel herbal treatment (NHT) induces anxiolytic- and antidepressant-like effects. NHT consists of four herbs: Crataegus pinnatifida (Shan Zha), Triticum aestivum (Fu Xiao Mai), Lilium brownii (Baihe), and the fruit of Ziziphus jujuba (Da Zao). In the current study, we examined the antidepressant-like and anxiolytic-like activities of each individual herb on stressed mice and compared those to the effects of NHT and escitalopram. We show here that Shan Zha is sufficient to produce an anxiolytic and antidepressant-like effect similar to NHT or the escitalopram through activation of 5-HT1A receptor and an elevation in BDNF levels in the hippocampus and Pre-frontal cortex (PFC). Chronic treatment with Shan Zha did not alter serotonin transporter levels in the PFC, as opposed to escitalopram treatment. These results were confirmed in vitro, as none of the herbs blocked SERT activity in Xenopus oocytes. Notably, Shan Zha is sold as a nutritional supplement; thus, its transition to clinical trials can be easier. Once its efficacy and safety are substantiated, Shan Zha may serve as an alternative to conventional antidepressants.
AB - Depression and anxiety disorders are highly prevalent. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the current first-line treatment for depression, but they have pronounced limitations. Traditional Chinese medicine can serve as a safe and effective alternative to conventional drugs, particularly since many herbal remedies have already been approved for human use as food additives, making the transition from bench to bedside more efficient. We previously demonstrated that a novel herbal treatment (NHT) induces anxiolytic- and antidepressant-like effects. NHT consists of four herbs: Crataegus pinnatifida (Shan Zha), Triticum aestivum (Fu Xiao Mai), Lilium brownii (Baihe), and the fruit of Ziziphus jujuba (Da Zao). In the current study, we examined the antidepressant-like and anxiolytic-like activities of each individual herb on stressed mice and compared those to the effects of NHT and escitalopram. We show here that Shan Zha is sufficient to produce an anxiolytic and antidepressant-like effect similar to NHT or the escitalopram through activation of 5-HT1A receptor and an elevation in BDNF levels in the hippocampus and Pre-frontal cortex (PFC). Chronic treatment with Shan Zha did not alter serotonin transporter levels in the PFC, as opposed to escitalopram treatment. These results were confirmed in vitro, as none of the herbs blocked SERT activity in Xenopus oocytes. Notably, Shan Zha is sold as a nutritional supplement; thus, its transition to clinical trials can be easier. Once its efficacy and safety are substantiated, Shan Zha may serve as an alternative to conventional antidepressants.
KW - Animals
KW - Anti-Anxiety Agents/pharmacology
KW - Antidepressive Agents/pharmacology
KW - Crataegus
KW - Mice
KW - Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins
KW - Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors/pharmacology
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85130339423&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1038/s41398-022-01970-6
DO - 10.1038/s41398-022-01970-6
M3 - ???researchoutput.researchoutputtypes.contributiontojournal.article???
C2 - 35589704
AN - SCOPUS:85130339423
SN - 2158-3188
VL - 12
JO - Translational Psychiatry
JF - Translational Psychiatry
IS - 1
M1 - 208
ER -