Antidepressant-like Effects of Schisandra chinensis Baillon Water Extract on Animal Model Induced by Chronic Mild Stress

Depression is one of the most common neuropsychiatric disorders and has been associated with the neuroendocrinesystem and alterations in behavior. Schisandra chinensis Baillon is one of major medicinal plants used as a Koreamedicine and food sources, and has been processed in the fields of various food products and medicinal herbs. The chronicmild stress (CMS) protocol is widely used to evoke depressive-like behaviors in laboratory mice or rat. The CMS procedureinduced some behavioral changes that are compatible with the common expectations, i.e. ‘anhedonic’ behavior and canaffect corticosterone level. The present study, Schisandra chinensis extract administration by daily gavage from the 3 weeksexhibited an antidepressant-like effect on CMS-induced depression in mice. Schisandra chinensis extract administration atdose of 200㎎/㎏ significantly increased the sucrose consumption, and decreased the immobility durations in forced swimtest and tail suspension test. Furthermore the corticosterone level decreased than control group. In conclusion, Schisandrachinensis extract showed antidepressant-like effects on sucrose preference test, forced swimming test and tail suspension testbased on CMS model.