The effects of apigenin,an active component of Polygonati Rhizoma,on depression-like behaviors induced by hindlimb unloading simulating microgravity in rats
10.16289/j.cnki.1002-0837.2025.01008
- VernacularTitle:黄精活性成分芹菜素对抗尾悬吊模拟失重诱发的大鼠抑郁行为研究
- Author:
Xiaoni DENG
1
;
Wenjuan ZHANG
;
Hong YU
;
Wenhui YANG
;
Hao ZHANG
;
Shuo GAO
;
Airong QIAN
Author Information
1. 西北工业大学生命学院,西安 710072
- Keywords:
systems pharmacology;
spaceflight weightlessness;
depression;
behavioral experiments;
hippocampus
- From:Space Medicine & Medical Engineering
2025;36(1):43-49
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective To screen antidepressant-active compounds from Polygonati Rhizoma and explore their effects and possible mechanisms against depression induced by simulated weightlessness.Methods A systems pharmacology approach was used to screen potential antidepressant-active compounds and their targets from Polygonati Rhizoma.The hindlimb unloading(HLU)rat model was employed for the study.Twenty-four healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups:control group(administered 0.5%carboxymethylcellulose by gavage),HLU group(hindlimb unloading),and HLU+treatment group(hindlimb unloading+active compound gavage),with 8 rats in each group.After 28 days of hindlimb unloading,depressive-like behaviors in rats were evaluated using the forced swimming test and tail suspension test.Hippocampal morphology was examined with H&E staining,and GO and KEGG enrichment analyses were conducted on the targets of active compounds.Results A total of 38 active compounds were screened from Polygonati Rhizoma,among which apigenin had an oral bioavailability of 23.06%and a drug-likeness score of 0.21.Compound-target network analysis indicated that apigenin had the highest degree and betweenness centrality values,suggesting it might be the key active component with antidepressant potential in Polygonati Rhizoma.In the forced swimming and tail suspension tests,rats in the HLU group showed a significant increase in immobility time compared to the control group,indicating successful establishment of the depression model.However,compared to the HLU group,rats in the HLU plus apigenin group exhibited significantly reduced immobility time.The H&E staining results of hippocampal tissue showed a significant reduction in the number of hippocampal neurons,along with numerous shrunken neurons and small vacuoles in nerve fibers in the HLU group.In contrast,the treatment group exhibited an increased number of hippocampal neurons,with improved cellular morphology.Target enrichment analysis indicated that apigenin targets were mainly involved in the regulation of apoptosis and cancer-related signaling pathways.Conclusion Apigenin significantly improved depressive-like behaviors in rats subjected to hindlimb unloading,and it has a protective effect on hippocampal tissue.It may provide a new natural active compound for the treatment of depression caused by spaceflight-induced weightlessness.
