Molecules, Vol. 24, Pages 3700: PI3K –AKT Signaling Activation and Icariin: The Potential Effects on the Perimenopausal Depression-Like Rat Model

Molecules, Vol. 24, Pages 3700: PI3K–AKT Signaling Activation and Icariin: The Potential Effects on the Perimenopausal Depression-Like Rat Model Molecules doi: 10.3390/molecules24203700 Authors: Li-Hua Cao Jing-Yi Qiao Hui-Yuan Huang Xiao-Yan Fang Rui Zhang Ming-San Miao Xiu-Min Li Icariin is a prenylated flavonol glycoside isolated from Epimedium herb, and has been shown to be its main bioactive component. Recently, the antidepressant-like mechanism of icariin has been increasingly evaluated and demonstrated. However, there are few studies that have focused on the involvement of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/serine-threonine protein kinase (AKT) signaling in mediating the perimenopausal depression effects of icariin. Perimenopausal depression is a chronic recurrent disease that leads to an increased risk of suicide, and poses a significant risk to public health. The aim of the present study was to explore the effect of icariin on the expression of the PI3K–AKT pathway related to proteins in a rat model of perimenopausal depression. Eighty percent of the left ovary and the entire right ovary were removed from the model rats. A perimenopausal depression model was created through 18 days of chronic unpredictable stimulation, followed by the gavage administration of target drugs for 30 consecutive days. We found that icariin administered at various doses significantly improved the apparent symptoms in the model rats, increased the o...
Source: Molecules - Category: Chemistry Authors: Tags: Article Source Type: research