Gong G, Ganesan K, Wang Y, Zhang Z, Liu Y, Wang J, Yang F, Zheng Y. Ononin ameliorates depression-like behaviors by regulating BDNF-TrkB-CREB signaling in vitro and in vivo.
JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2024;
320:117375. [PMID:
37944872 DOI:
10.1016/j.jep.2023.117375]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Revised: 10/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE
Ononin is a flavonoid compound found in several medicinal plants, including Astragalus membranaceus, Sophora flavescens, and Ononis spinosa. These plants have been traditionally used in various parts of the world for their medicinal properties, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antitumor effects. Major depression is a common, long-lasting, and recurrent psychiatric disorder with a high suicide rate. Naturally occurring flavonoids treat depression via poorly understood mechanisms.
AIM OF THE STUDY
The present study aimed to determine whether ononin conferred an antidepressant-like effect in PC12 cell models and chronic mild stress (CMS)-induced depressive rat models and to explore its possible mechanisms.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Depression-related behaviors were measured using sucrose preference, tail suspension and open-field tests. Furthermore, to explore these mechanisms, we employed in vitro and in vivo assay methods, including neurite outgrowth, western blotting, quantitative RT-PCR, and staining methods.
RESULTS
Treatment with ononin or BDNF significantly increased PC12 cells' neuronal growth and differentiation. Furthermore, ononin promotes the activation of TrkB and growth factors and upregulates the PI3K/Akt and BDNF/TrkB/CREB signaling pathways. The in vitro results were consistent with CMS-induced depressive rat models, in which ononin treatment significantly decreased depression-like behaviors and activated TrkB, growth factors, and BDNF/TrkB/CREB signaling pathways in the frontal cortex and hippocampus. Depression-induced microscopic alterations in the frontal cortex and hippocampus of rats with CMS-induced depression were also mitigated following ononin treatment.
CONCLUSION
Based on these findings, we suggest that ononin is a promising antidepressant candidate for treating depression.
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