Traditional Chinese herbal formula, Fuzi-Lizhong pill, produces antidepressant-like effects in chronic restraint stress mice through systemic pharmacology

作者：Fangyi Zhao, Jingjing Piao, Jinfang Song, Zihui Geng, Hongyu Chen, Ziqian Cheng, Ranji Cui, Bingjin Li · 发表于：Journal of Ethnopharmacology · 年份：2024 · DOI：10.1016/j.jep.2024.119011 · 被引用次数：11 · 研究领域：Plant-based Medicinal Research、Medicinal Plants and Bioactive Compounds、Alkaloids: synthesis and pharmacology

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Fuzi-Lizhong pill (FLP) is a well-validated traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula that has long been used in China for gastrointestinal disease and adjunctive therapy for depression. In our previous study, we reported that the principal herb of FLP, Aconitum carmichaelii Debx. (Fuzi), exhibits antidepressant-like effects. However, there have been no reports on whether FLP produces antidepressant-like effects and its potential molecular mechanisms. AIM OF THE STUDY: We aim to demonstrate the antidepressant-like effects of FLP in chronic restraint stress (CRS) mice and to explore the associated molecular mechanisms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The active components and probable molecular targets of FLP, as well as the targets related to depression, were identified through network pharmacology. A protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was generated using the overlapping targets, followed by the visualization as well as identification of the core targets associated with the antidepressant-like action of FLP. Subsequently, KEGG and GO enrichment analyses were conducted. UHPLC-MS/MS was employed to further detect the active compounds in FLP. Molecular docking was applied to assess the connections between the active components as well as the core targets. The efficacy of FLP in treating depression and its molecular mechanisms were examined using western blotting, ELISA, 16S rRNA sequencing, HE staining, Nissl staining, and Golgi-Cox staining in a C...