Escitalopram or novel herbal treatments differentially alter cytokine and behavioral responses to immune challenge

Studies suggest that inflammation is involved in the pathophysiology of depression. The present study examined the effects of the commonly used antidepressant escitalopram, in comparison with a novel herbal treatment (NHT) consisted of Crataegus pinnatifida, Triticum aestivum, Lilium brownii and Fructus Ziziphus jujuba, on cytokine and behavioral responses to an immune challenge. Escitalopram augmented lipopolysaccharide-induced tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α peripheral secretion and induced a faster kinetics of interleukin-1β secretion, while marginally reducing sickness behavior. NHT, on the other hand, completely abolished lipopolysaccharide-induced interleukin-1β and TNFα peripheral secretion and diminished sickness behavior. These findings may have implications for the treatment of depressive symptoms associated with immune activation.