Antidepression Action of Curcumin and Its Mechanism

Objective To study the antidepression action of curcumin and to explore its mechanism. Methods Mouse reserpine-induced depression model and mouse tetrabenazine-induced acquired despair model were used to observe the effect of curcumin on relieving depression. According to the hypothesis of monoamine, the effect of curcumin on activating monoamine, and inhibiting reuptake of monoamine neurotransmitters and monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) were observed. Results Curcumin in the dose of 50 mg/kg and more can relieve melancholic symptoms in mice induced by reserpine and tetrabenazine. Curcumin had no direct activation on monoamine either had no obvious inhibition on reuptake of monoamine neurotransmitters of noradrenalin, 5-hydroxytriptamine and dopamine . However, Curcumin had an obvious effect on improving rat forelimb spasm induced by tryptamine hydrochloride. Conclusion Curcumin acts like a kind of monoamine oxidase inhibitor, which exerts antidepression action by inhibiting monoamine oxidase activity and increasing the concentration of monoamine neurotransmitter in brain.