Bupleuri Radix Associated Prescriptions Against Depression： A Review
10.13422/j.cnki.syfjx.20241827
- VernacularTitle:柴胡类方抗抑郁研究进展
- Author:
Congwei LI
1
;
Mingliang QIAO
2
;
Peiyuan ZHAO
3
;
Bing LI
1
;
Yi MENG
2
Author Information
1. Second Clinical School of Medicine， Henan University of Chinese Medicine， Zhengzhou 450003， China
2. Henan Province Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine， Zhengzhou 450003， China
3. Henan University of Chinese Medicine， Zhengzhou 450046， China
- Publication Type:Review
- Keywords:
Bupleuri Radix associated prescriptions;
depression;
pharmacology;
clinical;
mechanism
- From:
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae
2025;31(10):295-304
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
In today's society， depression is a kind of highly prevalent chronic mental illness. It leads to a high disability rate and a heavy economic burden. Depression is defined by fundamental symptoms of low mood and diminished pleasure. Its causes and mechanisms remain unclear， and it presents a broad spectrum of symptoms and a persistent nature that significantly impacts both physical and mental well-being. Treatment in Western medicine primarily focuses on alleviating symptoms， yet it entails numerous adverse effects and contraindications. Traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） treatment is based on resolving depression， which is often accompanied by soothing liver， and the key medicine is Bupleuri Radix. Bupleuri Radix associated prescriptions refer to a class of prescriptions using Bupleuri Radix as the sovereign medicinal or having a high dose of Bupleuri Radix， which are widely used in the field of anti-depression. Previous studies from animal experiments， clinical research， and modern pharmacological research have confirmed that Bupleuri Radix associated prescriptions have precise anti-depression efficacy in multiple ways and at multiple levels， but lack a comprehensive and systematic summarization. This paper summarized and analyzed the literature related to the clinical application and mechanism of action of Bupleuri Radix associated prescriptions in anti-depression treatment. The results showed that the anti-depression mechanism of the Bupleuri Radix associated prescriptions （such as Xiaochaihu Tang， Xiaoyao San， Sini San， Chaihu Shugan San， and Chaihu jia Longgu Muli San） was associated with the effects of regulating monoamine neurotransmitters， the brain-derived neurotrophic factor （BDNF）， intestinal flora， and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal （HPA） axis， inhibiting inflammatory responses， and modulating related signaling pathways. Applying them in clinical practice can effectively alleviate patient symptoms， lower the TCM syndrome score and the severity of depression， and also reduce adverse reactions. This underscores advantages of TCM in depression treatment， which offers patients a secure， effective， and more individualized alternative treatment regimen. On this basis， the shortcomings of current studies and the future trend were analyzed. This study aimed to provide an evidence-based medicine basis for the research and development of novel antidepressant medications.
