The antidepressant-like effect of Cynanchum otophyllum#
YANG Qiongxiong1, HUANG Xiaoyan2*
(1. School of Chemistry and Material Science, Guizhou Normal University, GuiYang 550001;
2. School of Life Sciences, Guizhou Normal 5 University, GuiYang 550001)
Foundations: NSFC（No. 30760032), Foudantion of Science and Technology Department of Guizhou Province
([2007]No.2145), Sepcial Foundation for Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization of Guizhou Province (2008]
No.5022), Governor Foundation of Guizhou Province ([2007] No.34)
Brief author introduction:YANG Qing-xiong, (1971-), male, associate Prof..Research interest: Natrual product
Chemistry. E-mail: yangqx@gznu.edu.cn
Abstract: In the course of screening for antidepressant from medicinal plants by the despair mice
models, the total glycosides from Cynanchum otophyllum (TGCO) showed potent antidepressant effect
by using fluoxetine as positive control. The mice were administered intragastrically with TGCO once a
day for 5 days at doses of 10 mg/kg, 20mg/kg, 40mg/kg and 80mg/kg. Treating with TGCO
10 significantly decreased the mice immobility time in tail suspension test (40, 80mg/kg, p<0.01) and in
forced swim test (80mg/kg, p<0.01). Compared with blank control group, the treatment with TGCO
decreased the traveled distance during test without statistical significantly in the locomotor activity test.
Treating mice with TGCO at the doses of 40 and 80 mg/kg significantly antagonized reserpine-induced
ptosis and hypothermia, suggesting that the antidepressant effect of TGCO may be mediated via central
15 monoaminergic neurotransmitter system.
Keywords: Cynanchum otophyllum; total glycosides; antidepressant; forced swimming test; tail
suspension test ; locomotor activity test
0 Introduction
20 Depression is a heterogeneous disorder that often manifests with various symptoms at the
psychological, behavioral, and physiological levels. Although many antidepressant drugs have
been developed[1], treatment with those drugs is often accompanied by undesirable side-effects,
and a certain proportion of patients with depression shows a limited response to their medicinal
effects[2]. Thus, there is an urgent need for new antidepressant.
25 Cynanchum otophyllum Weight, is a folk medicinal plant endemic to Yunnan province of
China. Its root was used for the treatment of epilepsy, rheumatic pain, kidney weakness, and
muscle injures by the local people of its growing area. Based on the chemical and pharmacological
experiments, it has been developed as an anti-epilepsy remedy and put into industrial production
for many years in China[3, 4]. The C21 Steroidal glycosides were considered as effective ingredients
30 and otophyllosides A–M as main constituents were previously reported[5-8]. Modern
pharmacological studies have shown that this type of compounds has varieties of pharmacological
actions, including anti-tumor[9], Anti-acetylcholinesterase and anti-amnesic[10], Appetite
suppressant[11] and immunological activities[12]. Here, we report our screening results on the
antidepressant-like activity of the total steroidal glycosides extracted from roots of C. otophyllum,
35 in order to find antidepressant from medicinal plants.
1 Materials and methods
1.1 Animals
Male ICR mice (18～22g) were used in the TST and FST, supplied by Guiyang Medical
University (Guiyang, China). Mice (10 mice per group) were treated with TGCW, twice a day for
40 5 consecutive days, respectively. Animals were housed free access to food and water in a room
with 12:12 h light-dark cycle, lights on at 7:00 am, temperature (24-26 °C) and humidity (50-60%),
for a week before the experiment. All animals used in this study were treated humanely according
 to the ‘Principles of Laboratory Animal Care’ and the ‘Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory
Animals of Guizhou Normal University’. The experiments were carried out under the approval of
the Committee of Experimental Animal Administration 45 of the University.