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Author Spotlight: Establishing a Rodent Model for Investigating Depression Factors in Traditional Mongolian Medicine
Published on: October 27, 2023
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Effect of Hesperidin on Chronic Unpredictable Mild Stress-Related Depression in Rats through Gut-Brain Axis Pathway
Hui-Qing Liang1,2, Shao-Dong Chen3, Yu-Jie Wang3
1School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, China.
Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine
|August 13, 2024
Summary
Hesperidin, found in Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium, effectively treats depression in rats by improving behavior and modulating the gut-brain axis. This natural compound impacts neurotransmitters, gut microbiota, and colon health, offering a promising therapeutic avenue.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology and Neuroscience
- Gut-Brain Axis Research
- Natural Product Therapeutics
Background:
- Depression is a complex disorder with significant impact on global health.
- The gut-brain axis, involving communication between the gut microbiota and the central nervous system, is increasingly recognized as a key player in depression.
- Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium, a traditional medicine, contains hesperidin, a flavonoid with potential therapeutic properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the antidepressant effects of hesperidin, a key component of Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium.
- To elucidate the underlying mechanisms of hesperidin's action on depression, with a specific focus on the gut-brain axis.
- To evaluate hesperidin's impact on behavior, neurotransmitter levels, gut microbiota composition, and colon histopathology in a rat model of depression.
Main Methods:
- A rat model of depression was induced using chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS).
- Behavioral assessments included the sucrose preference test (SPT), forced swim test (FST), and open field test (OFT).
- Levels of serotonin (5-HT) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) were measured using ELISA. Gut microbiota composition was analyzed via 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and colon tissues were examined histopathologically.
Main Results:
- Hesperidin treatment significantly ameliorated depressive behaviors in CUMS-exposed rats, improving body weight, sucrose preference, and reducing immobility time.
- Hesperidin upregulated the levels of serotonin (5-HT) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the brains of depressed rats.
- Hesperidin treatment positively modulated the gut microbiota, increasing the Shannon index and decreasing the Simpson index, while also improving colon tissue integrity.
Conclusions:
- Hesperidin exhibits significant antidepressant effects in a rat model of depression.
- The therapeutic mechanism of hesperidin involves the modulation of the gut-brain axis, including impacts on neurotransmitter levels, gut microbiota, and colon health.
- Hesperidin represents a potential natural therapeutic agent for depression, warranting further investigation.
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