Aloe-emodin alleviates CUMS-induced depressive-like behavior in male C57BL6 mice via neuroinflammation

experiments. Results indicate that aloe-emodin significantly ameliorates depressive-like behaviour in CUMS-induced depressed mice, enhances sucrose preference, reduces immobility time, and mitigates neuronal damage. Mechanistic studies have shown that the ameliorative effect of aloe-emodin on depression-like behaviour in CUMS mice is associated with the activation of the PI3K/AKT pathway and the inhibition of the NF-κB signalling pathway. Furthermore, this compound downregulates the CD68/Iba1 ratio in microglia, thereby inhibiting their excessive activation. ELISA assays further confirmed that aloe-emodin significantly reduces the expression levels of inflammatory cytokines in mouse serum and hippocampal tissue, ultimately exerting an anti-neuroinflammatory effect. In summary, aloe-emodin effectively alleviates depression-like behaviour, a phenomenon associated with the regulation of the PI3K/AKT/NF-κB signalling pathway and the inhibition of glial cell-mediated neuroinflammation, thereby laying a scientific foundation for the development of functional foods with aloe-emodin as the key ingredient.