Antidepressant effect of the extracts of Subi-jeon, a Korean medicinal prescription

수비전(壽脾煎) 추출물의 항우울 효과에 관한 연구

Objective : The Korean famous medicinal prescription of Subi-jeon was investigated for their antidepressant effects by tail suspension test, hot plate test, reserpine-induced hypothermia test. In addition, the monoamine oxidase activity was determined in vivo. Methods : The methanol extract reduced dose-dependently the duration of immobility in the tail suspension test, by 31.4 and 34%(p<0.05) at doses of 500mg/kg and 1g/kg, respectively, compared with control group. In comparison with this, the effect of the water extract was very weak. Results : 1. In the hot plate test, the methanol extract potently increased the jump latency time(p<0.05) compared to the control group, exhibiting the inhibition rate of 197% and 256% at doses of 500mg/kg and 1g/kg(per os), respectively, which is more effective than the water extract. 2. Both extracts suppressed the fall of body temperature induced by reserpine(reserpine-induced hypothermia) in a dose-dependent manner, showing the less effect at lower doses and better effect at higher doses compared to the water extract. 3. Both extracts inhibited the brain monoamine oxidase activity in an in vivo assay compared to the control group, the activity of water extract was better than that of the methanol extract. Conclusion : The prescription of Subi-jeon can be useful for the prevention and treatment of depression.