The anti-depressive effect of Rehmanniae Radix Preparata via anti-inflammatory activity

Upon discovering the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of Rehmanniae Radix Preparata (RRP, also known as Chinese Foxglove), a common plant ingredient in traditional medicinal treatment of endocrine and gynecological diseases, Kim & Chong (2022) postulated that RRP may possess anti-depressive properties. Thus, the authors conducted experiments on the use of RRP on BV2 microglial cells that had inflammation and depression induced using lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Upon further investigation, it was observed that RRP suppressed the release of nitrite (and in turn, the release of inflammation-inducing free radicals) and inflammatory cytokines (namely, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-6) in treated BV2 microglial cells. In their animal experiments, the authors observed that mice treated with RRP scored better on forced swimming test (FST) and open field test (OFT) than mice injected with LPS, in addition to demonstrating inhibited mitogen-activated protein kinase and nuclear factor-κB activity (MAPKs and NF, activated by LPS), and reduction in cerebral TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, and IL-6 levels. The authors thus conclude that their study demonstrates the anti-neuroinflammatory and antidepressant properties of RRP seen via inhibition of MAPKs and NF-κB.[NPID: Rehmanniae Radix Preparata, RRP, anti-neuroinflammatory effect, anti-depressive effect, inflammatory cytokine, microglia cell]

Year: 2022

Reference: Kim, E., S., and Chong, M. (2022). The Journal of Korean Medicine 2022; 43(1): 99-111.