Research article summary (published 24 Sep 2009):

Combined administration of the mixture of honokiol and magnolol and ginger oil evokes antidepressant-like synergism in rats.

Full Abstract

Magnolia bark combined with ginger rhizome is a common drug pair in traditional Chinese prescriptions for the treatment of depression. In the present study, we examined antidepressant-like effects of the mixture of honokiol and magnolol (HMM) from magnolia bark and essential oil from ginger rhizome (OGR) alone and in combination in chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) of rats. Behavioral (sucrose intake, immobility time of forced swimming test) and biochemical parameters [serotonin (5-HT) in prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, and striatum, gastric mucosa cholecystokinin (CCK) and serum gastrin (GAS) levels] were simultaneously examined in the CUMS rats. 20 mg/kg HMM alone, but not OGR, significantly increased sucrose intake and reduced immobility time in the CUMS rats. Moreover, 20 mg/kg HMM and 14 mg/kg OGR in combination exhibited significant synergistic effects on sucrose intake increase and immobility time reduction in the CUMS rats. HMM elevated 5-HT levels in various brain regions, and OGR reduced gastric mucosa CCK and serum GAS levels in the CUMS rats. These results suggested that the synergistic antidepressant-like effects of compatibility of HMM with OGR might be mediated simultaneously by regulation of the serotonergic and gastroenteric system functions. These findings also provided a pharmacological basis for the clinical application of this drug pair of magnolia bark and ginger rhizome in traditional Chinese medicine.

Author information

Author/s: Qiang, Li-Qin (LQ); Wang, Cai-Ping (CP); Wang, Fu-Meng (FM); Pan, Ying (Y); Yi, Li-Tao (LT); Zhang, Xian (X); Kong, Ling-Dong (LD);

Affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, People's Republic of China.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Archives of pharmacal research (Arch Pharm Res), published in Korea (South). (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-Sep; vol 32 (issue 9) : pp 1281-92

Dates: Created 2009/09/28; Completed 2009/10/15;

PMID: 19784585, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 10/15/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Animals Antidepressive Agents - pharmacology Biphenyl Compounds - administration & dosage; pharmacology Brain - drug effects Cholecystokinin - analysis Depression - drug therapy Drug Synergism Drug Therapy, Combination Gastric Mucosa - chemistry; drug effects

Gastrins - blood Ginger Lignans - administration & dosage; pharmacology Male Oils, Volatile - administration & dosage; pharmacology Rats Rats, Wistar Serotonin - analysis Swimming

Associated Chemicals: Antidepressive Agents (0) ; Biphenyl Compounds (0) ; Gastrins (0) ; Lignans (0) ; Oils, Volatile (0) ; honokiol (35354-74-6) ; Serotonin (50-67-9) ; magnolol (528-43-8) ; Cholecystokinin (9011-97-6)

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