Study on Antidepressant Activity of Pseudo-Ginsenoside HQ on Depression-Like Behavior in Mice

• Main Authors: Li-xue Chen, Zeng Qi, Zi-jun Shao, Shan-shan Li, Yu-li Qi, Kun Gao, Song-xin Liu, Zhuo Li, Yin-shi Sun, Ping-ya Li
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2019-03-01
• Series: Molecules
• Subjects: ginsenoside Rh2; (24R)-pseudo-ginsenoside HQ; (24S)-pseudo-ginsenoside HQ; LPS-induced depression
• Online Access: http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/24/5/870

Suppressive effects of ginsenoside Rh2 (Rh2), (24R)-pseudo-ginsenoside HQ (R-PHQ), and (24S)-pseudo-ginsenoside HQ (S-PHQ) against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced depression-like behavior were evaluated using the forced swimming test (FST) and tail suspension test (TST) in mice. Pretreatment with Rh2, R-PHQ, and S-PHQ significantly decreased immobility time in FST and TST with clear dose-dependence, and significantly downregulated levels of serum tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6, and upregulated superoxide dismutase activity in the hippocampus of LPS-challenged mice. Furthermore, R-PHQ and S-PHQ significantly increased the expression of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), tropomyosin-related kinase B (TrkB), sirtuin type 1 (Sirt1), and nuclear-related factor 2, and inhibited the phosphorylation of inhibitor of κB-α and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) in the hippocampus of LPS-challenged mice. Additionally, the antidepressant-like effect of R-PHQ was found related to the dopaminergic (DA), γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic, and noradrenaline systems, while the antidepressive effect of S-PHQ was involved in the DA and GABAergic systems. Taken together, these results suggested that Rh2, R-PHQ, and S-PHQ produced significant antidepressant-like effects, which may be related to the BDNF/TrkB and Sirt1/NF-κB signaling pathways.