Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Gut-Brain Axis01:22

Gut-Brain Axis

The gut–brain axis is a bidirectional communication system that connects the gastrointestinal tract and the brain. This interaction is mediated through multiple pathways, including the vagus nerve, hormonal signals, immune responses, and chemical messengers produced by gut microbes.Microbial Contributions to Brain FunctionGut microbiota contributes significantly to brain function by producing neuroactive compounds. These include neuroactive compounds that influence neurotransmitters such as...
Antidepressant Drugs: MAOIs and Other Agents01:23

Antidepressant Drugs: MAOIs and Other Agents

Atypical antidepressants, including bupropion (Wellbutrin), mirtazapine (Remeron), nefazodone (Serzone), trazodone (Desyrel), and vilazodone (Viibryd), offer unique mechanisms of action. Bupropion weakly inhibits dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake, aiding depression treatment and smoking cessation, with a low risk of sexual dysfunction. Mirtazapine enhances serotonin and norepinephrine neurotransmission, leading to sedation, increased appetite, and weight gain. As a result, it helps treat...
Depression: Overview01:18

Depression: Overview

Depression is a prevalent mental illness marked by persistent sadness and lack of interest in previously enjoyable activities. It can take several forms, including major depression, persistent depressive disorder, and bipolar I and II disorders. Symptoms range from emotional changes like chronic worry to physical changes like sleep disturbances and suicidal thoughts. From a neurobiological perspective, depression is believed to be triggered by abnormalities in the brain's prefrontal cortex,...
Depressive Disorders: Etiology01:27

Depressive Disorders: Etiology

Depressive disorders result from a complex interplay of biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors, each contributing uniquely to the development and persistence of the condition. Understanding these factors provides critical insight into the multifaceted nature of depression.
Biological Factors in Depression
Biological predispositions significantly influence the risk of developing depressive disorders. Genetic studies highlight the role of variations in the serotonin transporter...
G-protein Coupled Receptors01:21

G-protein Coupled Receptors

G-protein coupled receptors are ligand binding receptors that indirectly affect changes in the cell. The actual receptor is a single polypeptide that transverses the cell membrane seven times creating intracellular and extracellular loops. The extracellular loops create a ligand specific pocket which binds to neurotransmitters or hormones. The intracellular loops holds onto the G-protein.
Antidepressant Drugs: Overview01:25

Antidepressant Drugs: Overview

Antidepressant drugs are a class of medications primarily used for treating various mood disorders, including major depression, anxiety disorders, and other related conditions. These medicines work by modulating the neurotransmitter balance within the brain, alleviating depressive symptoms. Antidepressants can be broadly categorized into several groups according to their mechanism of action and chemical structure: Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs), Serotonin-Norepinephrine...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Impact of hepatotoxicity and lipid metabolism-related toxicity on survival and quality of life in patients with high-volume metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer treated with rezvilutamide in the CHART trial: a post hoc analysis.

BMC medicine·2026
Same author

Systematic Chemical Profiling of Allii macrostemonis Bulbus Based on Ultra-High-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Quadrupole-Exactive Orbitrap Mass Spectrometry.

Journal of separation science·2026
Same author

<i>Akkermans</i><i>ia muciniphila</i> NND9 Mitigates Ulcerative Colitis by Ameliorating the Gut Barrier <i>via</i> Suppressing DR5 Expression in a Mouse Model.

Microorganisms·2026
Same author

Enterolactone mitigates atherosclerosis by facilitating resolution of ferroptosis-associated intimal inflammation via the Keap1/Nrf2/GPX4 pathway.

Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology·2026
Same author

Secoisolariciresinol diglucoside resolves systemic and skin inflammation in psoriatic mice by ameliorating the gut microbiome and modulating immune responses.

Food & function·2026
Same author

A Cationic Eu-Based Metal-Organic Framework and Its Mixed Matrix Membranes for Sensitive Detection of Nitroaromatic Explosives.

Inorganic chemistry·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 31, 2026

Network Pharmacology and Validation of the Antidepressant Mechanisms of Qiangzhifang in a Chronic Restraint Stress-induced Depression Rat Model
08:15

Network Pharmacology and Validation of the Antidepressant Mechanisms of Qiangzhifang in a Chronic Restraint Stress-induced Depression Rat Model

Published on: June 6, 2025

Lignans Alleviate Depression by Modulating the Gut-Brain Axis: Effect and Mechanism Based on Multi-Omics Analyses.

Liang Liu1,2,3, Kun-Ru Tan4, Xing-Hua Zhang1,2,3

  • 1Genomics Research Center (Key Laboratory of Gut Microbiota and Pharmacogenomics of Heilongjiang Province, State-Province Key Laboratory of Biomedicine-Pharmaceutics of China), College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.

Biofactors (Oxford, England)
|May 29, 2026
PubMed
Summary

Flaxseed lignans show promise in treating major depressive disorder (MDD) by improving gut health and reducing neuro-inflammation. These natural compounds effectively alleviate depression symptoms and restore gut-brain axis balance.

Keywords:
Lignansdepressiongut microbiomegut–brain axisneuro‐inflammation

More Related Videos

Behavioral Disturbances: An Innovative Approach to Monitor the Modulatory Effects of a Nutraceutical Diet
07:05

Behavioral Disturbances: An Innovative Approach to Monitor the Modulatory Effects of a Nutraceutical Diet

Published on: January 3, 2017

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 31, 2026

Network Pharmacology and Validation of the Antidepressant Mechanisms of Qiangzhifang in a Chronic Restraint Stress-induced Depression Rat Model
08:15

Network Pharmacology and Validation of the Antidepressant Mechanisms of Qiangzhifang in a Chronic Restraint Stress-induced Depression Rat Model

Published on: June 6, 2025

Behavioral Disturbances: An Innovative Approach to Monitor the Modulatory Effects of a Nutraceutical Diet
07:05

Behavioral Disturbances: An Innovative Approach to Monitor the Modulatory Effects of a Nutraceutical Diet

Published on: January 3, 2017

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Microbiology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a debilitating illness with poorly understood pathogenesis and limited effective treatments.
  • The gut-brain axis and gut dysbiosis are increasingly recognized as critical factors in MDD development, contributing to neuro-inflammation.
  • Current MDD therapies offer symptomatic relief but lack curative effects.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the therapeutic potential of flaxseed lignans in ameliorating MDD.
  • To evaluate the effects of flaxseed lignans on gut microbiome composition and function.
  • To explore the impact of lignans on neuro-inflammation and the gut-brain axis in MDD.

Main Methods:

  • Human participants with MDD were treated with flaxseed lignans to assess changes in disease severity and gut microbiota.
  • An MDD mouse model was used to evaluate the behavioral, neural, and gut integrity effects of lignan treatment.
  • Biochemical analyses were performed to measure levels of neurotransmitters (5-HT, BDNF, GABA), inflammatory markers, and signaling pathways (IL-17/AP-1/NF-κB).
  • In vitro studies using BV-2 cells investigated the anti-inflammatory mechanisms of enterolactone, a specific lignan.

Main Results:

  • Flaxseed lignans significantly reduced MDD severity and altered gut microbiota structure in human participants.
  • In the MDD mouse model, lignans reversed depression-like behaviors, repaired neural and gut damage, and restored barrier integrity.
  • Lignan treatment increased levels of 5-HT, BDNF, and GABA, while significantly reducing microglial and systemic inflammation.
  • Mechanistically, lignans inhibited the IL-17/AP-1/NF-κB axis by interacting with Fos protein and reduced pro-inflammatory cytokines in BV-2 cells.

Conclusions:

  • Flaxseed lignans demonstrate potent antidepressant effects by modulating the gut-brain axis and resolving neuro-inflammation.
  • These findings suggest lignans can restore gut micro-environmental functionality and alleviate MDD symptoms.
  • Flaxseed lignans represent a promising therapeutic strategy for MDD prevention and treatment, offering a novel approach targeting the gut-brain axis.