Evaluation of the anxiolytic and antidepressant activities of aucubin in mice

Abstract

Aucubin, an active plant constituent used in natural medicine, exerts wide-ranging biological effects. However, there have been few reports on the anxiolytic and antidepressant activities of aucubin. The objective of this study was to evaluate the anxiolytic and antidepressant effects of this compound in mice, which were assayed using elevated plus maze (EPM), light/dark box, forced swimming, and tail suspension tests. Mechanisms of action underlying the observed behaviors were examined using high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection to determine the levels of five neurotransmitters in the brains of treated mice. In the open arm EPM test, the administration of aucubin promoted significant increases in the percentage of open arm entries and time spent in the open arms. Results of the light/dark box test revealed a clear increase in the amount of time spent in the light chamber, whereas in the forced swimming and tail suspension tests, aucubin was found to significantly reduce the duration of immobility. Neurochemical evaluations revealed significant changes in the levels of neurotransmitters in cerebral tissue. Collectively, these findings indicate that aucubin has potential anxiolytic and antidepressant activities and that the underlying mechanism may be related to alterations in neurotransmitter levels.