Study on the antidepressant effect of total polysaccharides and total glycosides from raw and processed Cistanche deserticola

CHANG Yuan; SU Guoming; ZHU Yuejian; YIN Lei; LIU Guowei; JIA Tianzhu; LIU Pengpeng; SHI Ji

doi:10.13506/j.cnki.jpr.2025.02.001

Abstract：Objective To explore the mechanism of total polysaccharides and total glycosides of Cistanche deserticola before and after processing in improving depression-like behavior of rats.Methods 81 rats were randomly divided into blank control group(K),model group(M),positive drug group(Y),raw total polysaccharide group(ST),total polysaccharides of the processed Cistanche deserticola group(ZT),raw total glycoside group(SG),total glycosides of the processed Cistanche deserticola group(ZG),raw total polysaccharide total glycoside combined administration group(SS)and product total polysaccharide total glycoside combined administration group(ZZ).The depression model was established by daily subcutaneous injection of corticosterone in all groups except the blank control group.The body weight of rats was recorded and behavioral tests such as sucrose preference test,open field test and forced swimming test were performed.The levels of ACTH,IL-6,and BDNF in serum and 5-HT,AEA,and GABA in hippocampus were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(Elisa).The mRNA expression of BDNF,TrκB and p-TrκB in hippocampus was detected by RT-PCR.The protein expressions of BDNF,TrκB,p-TrκB and GR in hippocampus were detected by Western blotting.Results Compared with the model group,the behavioral indicators such as sucrose preference,open field test and forced swimming of the raw and synthetic Cistanche deserticola treatment groups were significantly improved,and both of them could significantly reduce the serum levels of ACTH and IL-6 in rats,and increase the serum levels of BDNF and the hippocampal levels of 5-HT,AEA and GABA.The relative mRNA expression of BDNF,TrκB and p-TrκB was significantly increased,and the protein expression of BDNF,TrκB,p-TrκB and GR was significantly increased.Conclusion Processed Cistanches deserticola can enhance the antidepressant effect,and its mechanism may be related to alleviating inflammation,improving central nervous system abnormalities,and activating BDNF/TrκB signaling pathway.