Exploring the transformative impact of traditional Chinese medicine on depression: Insights from animal models

Table 1 List of additional herbal treatments that exhibit antidepressant-like effects

Ref.	Herbs	Herbal constituents	Administration dosage	Models	Mechanism of action
Terpenes and phenylpropanoids
Alotaibi et al[78], 2022	Illicium dunnianum Tutch.	Macranthol	10, 20, 40 mg/kg, p.o.	CUMS mice	BDNF
Dai et al[56], 2022	Magnolia officinalis Rehd et Wils.	Honokiol	2, 4, 8 mg/kg, i.g.	CUMS mice	The HPA axis/BDNF
Zhao et al[40], 2023	Psoralea corylifolia Linn.	Bakuchiol analogs	0.03-333 μM	Tr-CHO cells	Monoamine
Zeng et al[79], 2021	Hemsleya amabilis Diels	Cucurbitacin IIa	2.5, 5 mg/kg, i.p	CUMS mice	BDNF
Chen et al[80], 2023	Crocus sativus L.	Crocin	12.5, 25, 50 mg/kg, i.p.	Rats	BDNF
Adam et al[116], 2023	Perilla frutescens (L.) Britt.	Rosmarinic acid	5 and 10 mg/kg, i.p.	CUS Rats	BDNF
Carbohydrates
Bildziukevich et al[117], 2023	Acanthopanax Miq.	Chiisanoside	2.5 and 5 mg/kg, i.p	LPS-induced mice	BDNF
Salehi et al[118], 2023	Aconitum carmichaelii Debeaux	Fuzi polysaccharide 1	50, 100 mg/kg, i.p.	Mice	BDNF
Li et al[119], 2022	Morinda officinalis How	Oligosaccharide	5, 10, 125, 500 mM	CORT-induced PC12	The HPA axis
Alkaloids
Salehi et al[118], 2023	Aconitum carmichaelii Debeaux	Total alkaloid	10, 30 mg/kg, i.g.	Ovariectomized mice	BDNF
Ali et al[120], 2023	Stephania tetrandra S. Moore	Tetrandrine	10, 20, 40 mg/kg, i.g.	CUMS Rats	Monoamine/BDNF
Shayganfard[121], 2023	Berberis aristata Linn.	Berberine Chloride	5, 10, 20 mg/kg, i.p	Male albino mice	Monoamine
Sun et al[122], 2023	Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi	Baicalein	1, 2, 4 mg/kg, i.p.	CUMS mice	BDNF
Flavonoids
Yu et al[123], 2022	Pueraria lobate (Willd.) Ohwi	Puerarin	60 and 120 mg/kg, i.g	CUS Rats	Monoamine/the HPA axis
Yu et al[123], 2022	Pueraria lobate (Willd.) Ohwi	Pueraria isoflavone	10 and 100 mg/kg	Ovariectomy mice	BDNF
Wang et al[124], 2021	Apocynum venetum L.	Flavonoid Extract	25, 50, 100 mg/ml	CORT-induced PC12	BDNF
Mu and Ma[125], 2022	Gastrodia elata Bl.	Gastrodin	50, 100, 200 mg/kg, i.p.	CUS Rats	BDNF
Glycosides
Nagakura[126], 2022	Gentiana lutea L.	Gentiopicroside	50, 100, 200 mg/kg, i.g.	Reserpine-induced mice	Glutamate transmission
Yin et al[127], 2023	Paeonia lactiflora Pall.	Total glycosides	160 mg/kg, p.o.	CORT-induced rats	BDNF
Sánchez et al[128], 2023	Rhodiola rosea L.	Salidroside	20, 40 mg/kg, p.o	Behavioral despair rats	The HPA axis/BDNF
Saponins
Liu et al[129], 2023	Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bunge	YY-23	20 mg/kg, i.g.	CMS mice	Glutamate transmission
Zhuang et al[58], 2023	Bupleurum chinense DC.	Saikosaponin D	0.75 and 1.50 mg/kg, i.g.	CUMS rats	The HPA axis
Yoon et al[130], 2023	Panax ginseng C.A. Mey.	Ginsenoside Rg1	40 mg/kg, i.p.	CUMS rats	BDNF
Tian et al[131], 2023	Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bunge	Sarsasapogenin	12.5, 25, 50 mg/kg, p.o.	CUMS mice	Monoamine

CUMS: Chronic unpredictable mild stress; BDNF: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor; HPX: Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal; CUS: Chronic unpredictable stress; CORT: Corticosterone.