| Summary: | 碩士 === 國立臺灣大學 === 食品科技研究所 === 101 === According to the World Health Organization (WHO) statistics in 2008, major depressive disorder will become the first leading disability disease in the world in 2030. Therefore, it is necessary for investigating the pathophysiology of depression and the antidepressant therapeutics. However, depression pathologies are multifactorial. Monoamine dysregulation hypothesis is one of major causes of depression. The antidepressants used in clinics nowadays bring a lot of side effects. Thus, looking for the alternative therapies and prevention strategies for depression are very important issues. Melissa officinalis L. (Lemon balm), herbal medicine, has traditionally been attributed with sedative, sleep aid and memory enhancing effects. In a previous study, it was demonstrated that rosmarinic acid which is one of phenolic acids in lemon balm produces antidepressive-like and neuroprotective activities. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate the antidepressant effects of water extract lemon balm and rosmarinic acid by evaluating the animal behavior in forced swimming test and the content of monoamine neurotransmitters in brain. Our results showed that in acute and subacute test, water extract of lemon balm and rosmarinic acid exhibited significantly reduction of immobility time in forced swimming test, and increased swimming time in subacute test. Further analysis on monoamines indicated that the water extract of lemon balm and rosmarinic acid significantly decreased the monoamines turnover rate in acute test. In subacute test, the water extract of lemon balm not only markedly decreased the monoamines turnover rate but increased monoamines. In conclusion, water extract of lemon balm has antidepressant like effects possibly via the regulation of monoamine neurotransmitters. Moreover, rosmarinic acid might be active compound in lemon balm.
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