Antidepressant mechanism of Xiaoyaosan: A perspective from energy metabolism of the brain and intestine.
10.1016/j.joim.2025.07.009
- Author:
Meng-Ting XIAO
1
;
Sen-Yan WANG
1
;
Xiao-Ling WU
1
;
Zi-Yu ZHAO
1
;
Hui-Min WANG
1
;
Hui-Min LIU
1
;
Xue-Mei QIN
2
;
Xiao-Jie LIU
3
Author Information
1. Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, Shanxi Province, China; Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, Shanxi Province, China; Key Laboratory of Effective Substances Research and Utilization in TCM of Shanxi Province, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, Shanxi Province, China.
2. Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, Shanxi Province, China; Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, Shanxi Province, China; Key Laboratory of Effective Substances Research and Utilization in TCM of Shanxi Province, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, Shanxi Province, China. Electronic address: qinxm@sxu.edu.cn.
3. Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, Shanxi Province, China; Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, Shanxi Province, China; Key Laboratory of Effective Substances Research and Utilization in TCM of Shanxi Province, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, Shanxi Province, China. Electronic address: liuxiaojie@sxu.edu.cn.
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Brain energy metabolism;
Concomitant symptoms;
Depression;
Intestinal energy metabolism;
Traditional Chinese medicine;
Xiaoyaosan
- MeSH:
Animals;
Energy Metabolism/drug effects*;
Antidepressive Agents/therapeutic use*;
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use*;
Brain/drug effects*;
Male;
Depression/metabolism*;
Rats;
Rats, Sprague-Dawley;
Intestines/drug effects*;
Hippocampus/drug effects*
- From:
Journal of Integrative Medicine
2025;23(6):706-720
- CountryChina
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE:This study investigated the antidepression mechanisms of Xiaoyaosan (XYS), a classic Chinese prescription, from the perspective of energy metabolism in the brain and intestinal tissues.
METHODS:Chronic unpredictable mild stress model-a classic depression rat model-was established. Effects of XYS on behaviors and gastrointestinal motility of depressed rats were investigated. Effects of XYS on energetic charge (EC), adenosine triphosphate-related enzymes, and key enzymes of energy metabolism in both hippocampus and jejunum tissues of depressed rats were investigated using high-performance liquid chromatography, biochemical analysis, and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, respectively. Spearman correlation analysis was conducted to construct a correlation network of "behavior-brain energy metabolism-intestinal energy metabolism" of depression.
RESULTS:XYS significantly reduced the abnormal behaviors that observed in depressed rats and increased the EC and the activity of Na+-K+-adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) and Ca2+-Mg2+-ATPase in hippocampus and jejunum tissues of depressed rats. XYS restored the key energetic pathways that had been interrupted by depression, including glycolysis, tricarboxylic acid cycle, and oxidative phosphorylation. Furthermore, XYS exhibited antidepressive effects in terms of regulating energy metabolism in tissues of both brain and intestine.
CONCLUSION:XYS significantly corrected the disturbances in EC and energy metabolism-related enzymes of both brain and intestinal tissues, alleviating both core and concomitant symptoms of depression. The current findings underscore the role of energy metabolism in the antidepressive activity of XYS, providing a fresh perspective on depression, and novel research strategies for revealing the mechanism of actions of traditional Chinese medicines on multi-site and multi-symptom diseases. Please cite this article as: Xiao MT, Wang SY, Wu XL, Zhao ZY, Wang HM, Liu HM, Qin XM, Liu XJ. Antidepressant mechanism of Xiaoyaosan: A perspective from energy metabolism of the brain and intestine. J Integr Med. 2025; 23(6):706-720.
