Total Flavonoids Extracted from Xiaobuxin-tang on the Hyperactivity of Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal Axis in Chronically Stressed Rats

Overview

Journal Evid Based Complement Alternat Med

Specialty Rehabilitation Medicine

Date 2009 Dec 24

PMID 20028718

Citations 10

Authors

Lei An

You-Zhi Zhang

Xin-Min Liu

Neng-Jiang Yu

Hong-Xia Chen

Nan Zhao

Li Yuan

Yun-Feng Li

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Our previous studies have demonstrated that the total flavonoids (XBXT-2) isolated from the extract of Xiaobuxin-Tang (XBXT), a traditional Chinese herbal decoction, ameliorated behavioral alterations and hippocampal dysfunctions in chronically stressed rats. Studies over the last decades have suggested that the hyperactivity of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is one of the most consistent findings in stress-related depression. Herein, we used the same chronic mild stress model of rats as before to further investigate the effect of XBXT-2 on the hyperactivity of HPA axis, including the stress hormones levels and glucocorticoid receptors (GRs) expression. Our ELISA results showed that chronic administration of XBXT-2 (25, 50 mg kg(-1), p.o., 28 days, the effective doses for behavioral responses) significantly decreased serum corticosterone level and its upstream stress hormone adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) level in chronically stressed rats. Furthermore, western blotting result demonstrated XBXT-2 treatment ameliorated stress-induced decrease of GRs expression in hippocampus, an important target involved in the hyperactivity of HPA axis. These results were similar to that of classic antidepressant imipramine treatment (10 mg kg(-1), p.o.). In conclusion, the modulation of HPA axis produced by XBXT-2, including the inhibition of stress hormones levels and up-regulation of hippocampal GRs expression, may be an important mechanism underlying its antidepressant-like effect in chronically stressed rats.

Citing Articles

Unraveling the Complex Interplay Between Neuroinflammation and Depression: A Comprehensive Review.

Salcudean A, Popovici R, Pitic D, Sarbu D, Boroghina A, Jomaa M Int J Mol Sci. 2025; 26(4).

PMID: 40004109 PMC: 11855341. DOI: 10.3390/ijms26041645.

Cerebrolysin Use in Patients with Liver Damage-A Translational Study.

Morega S, Gresita A, Mitran S, Musat M, Boboc I, Gheorman V Life (Basel). 2022; 12(11).

PMID: 36362945 PMC: 9695462. DOI: 10.3390/life12111791.

Nutraceutical Interventions for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Animal Models: A Focus on the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis.

Cai M, Park H, Yang E Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2022; 15(7).

PMID: 35890196 PMC: 9324528. DOI: 10.3390/ph15070898.

Effect of Polyphenol-Rich Dark Chocolate on Salivary Cortisol and Mood in Adults.

Tsang C, Hodgson L, Bussu A, Farhat G, Al-Dujaili E Antioxidants (Basel). 2019; 8(6).

PMID: 31146395 PMC: 6616509. DOI: 10.3390/antiox8060149.

Computer-assisted prediction of atherosclerotic intimal thickness based on weight of adrenal gland, interleukin-6 concentration, and neural networks.

Meng L, Zou Y, Shan M, Zhang M, Qi R, Yu Z J Int Med Res. 2019; 48(1):300060519839625.

PMID: 31039661 PMC: 7140207. DOI: 10.1177/0300060519839625.

References

Lucassen P, Muller M, Holsboer F, Bauer J, Holtrop A, Wouda J . Hippocampal apoptosis in major depression is a minor event and absent from subareas at risk for glucocorticoid overexposure. Am J Pathol. 2001; 158(2):453-68. PMC: 1850286. DOI: 10.1016/S0002-9440(10)63988-0. View

Przegalinski E, Budziszewska B, Siwanowicz J, Jaworska L . The effect of repeated combined treatment with nifedipine and antidepressant drugs or electroconvulsive shock on the hippocampal corticosteroid receptors in rats. Neuropharmacology. 1993; 32(12):1397-400. DOI: 10.1016/0028-3908(93)90036-3. View

Willner P . Chronic mild stress (CMS) revisited: consistency and behavioural-neurobiological concordance in the effects of CMS. Neuropsychobiology. 2005; 52(2):90-110. DOI: 10.1159/000087097. View

Lanfumey L, Mongeau R, Cohen-Salmon C, Hamon M . Corticosteroid-serotonin interactions in the neurobiological mechanisms of stress-related disorders. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2008; 32(6):1174-84. DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2008.04.006. View

Ito N, Nagai T, Oikawa T, Yamada H, Hanawa T . Antidepressant-like Effect of l-perillaldehyde in Stress-induced Depression-like Model Mice through Regulation of the Olfactory Nervous System. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2008; 2011:512697. PMC: 3136537. DOI: 10.1093/ecam/nen045. View

Webster M, Knable M, OGrady J, Orthmann J, Weickert C . Regional specificity of brain glucocorticoid receptor mRNA alterations in subjects with schizophrenia and mood disorders. Mol Psychiatry. 2002; 7(9):985-94, 924. DOI: 10.1038/sj.mp.4001139. View

Mason B, Pariante C . The effects of antidepressants on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Drug News Perspect. 2007; 19(10):603-8. DOI: 10.1358/dnp.2006.19.10.1068007. View

Brouwer J, Appelhof B, van Rossum E, Koper J, Fliers E, Huyser J . Prediction of treatment response by HPA-axis and glucocorticoid receptor polymorphisms in major depression. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2006; 31(10):1154-63. DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2006.08.001. View

Butterweck V, Hegger M, Winterhoff H . Flavonoids of St. John's Wort reduce HPA axis function in the rat. Planta Med. 2004; 70(10):1008-11. DOI: 10.1055/s-2004-832631. View

10.

Pittenger C, Duman R . Stress, depression, and neuroplasticity: a convergence of mechanisms. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2007; 33(1):88-109. DOI: 10.1038/sj.npp.1301574. View

11.

Paskitti M, McCreary B, Herman J . Stress regulation of adrenocorticosteroid receptor gene transcription and mRNA expression in rat hippocampus: time-course analysis. Brain Res Mol Brain Res. 2000; 80(2):142-52. DOI: 10.1016/s0169-328x(00)00121-2. View

12.

Linkowski P, Mendlewicz J, Leclercq R, Brasseur M, Hubain P, Golstein J . The 24-hour profile of adrenocorticotropin and cortisol in major depressive illness. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1985; 61(3):429-38. DOI: 10.1210/jcem-61-3-429. View

13.

Sapolsky R . Glucocorticoids and hippocampal atrophy in neuropsychiatric disorders. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2000; 57(10):925-35. DOI: 10.1001/archpsyc.57.10.925. View

14.

Muller W . Current St John's wort research from mode of action to clinical efficacy. Pharmacol Res. 2003; 47(2):101-9. DOI: 10.1016/s1043-6618(02)00266-9. View

15.

Gronli J, Murison R, Fiske E, Bjorvatn B, Sorensen E, Portas C . Effects of chronic mild stress on sexual behavior, locomotor activity and consumption of sucrose and saccharine solutions. Physiol Behav. 2005; 84(4):571-7. DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2005.02.007. View

16.

Peiffer A, Veilleux S, Barden N . Antidepressant and other centrally acting drugs regulate glucocorticoid receptor messenger RNA levels in rat brain. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 1991; 16(6):505-15. DOI: 10.1016/0306-4530(91)90034-q. View

17.

Willner P . Validity, reliability and utility of the chronic mild stress model of depression: a 10-year review and evaluation. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 1998; 134(4):319-29. DOI: 10.1007/s002130050456. View

18.

Budziszewska B . Effect of antidepressant drugs on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity and glucocorticoid receptor function. Pol J Pharmacol. 2003; 54(4):343-9. View

19.

Juruena M, Cleare A, Pariante C . [The hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis, glucocorticoid receptor function and relevance to depression]. Braz J Psychiatry. 2005; 26(3):189-201. DOI: 10.1590/s1516-44462004000300009. View

20.

An L, Zhang Y, Yu N, Liu X, Zhao N, Yuan L . Role for serotonin in the antidepressant-like effect of a flavonoid extract of Xiaobuxin-Tang. Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 2008; 89(4):572-80. DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2008.02.014. View