Water extract of Armillaria mellea (Vahl) P. Kumm. Alleviates the depression-like behaviors in acute- and chronic mild stress-induced rodent models via anti-inflammatory action

Yu-En Lin; Hsiang-Lan Wang; Kuan-Hung Lu; Yun-Ju Huang; Suraphan Panyod; Wei-Ting Liu; Shu-Hui Yang; Mei-Hsing Chen; Yun-Shen Lu; Lee-Yan Sheen

doi:10.1016/j.jep.2020.113395

Water extract of Armillaria mellea (Vahl) P. Kumm. Alleviates the depression-like behaviors in acute- and chronic mild stress-induced rodent models via anti-inflammatory action

J Ethnopharmacol. 2021 Jan 30:265:113395. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2020.113395. Epub 2020 Sep 19.

Authors

Yu-En Lin¹, Hsiang-Lan Wang², Kuan-Hung Lu³, Yun-Ju Huang⁴, Suraphan Panyod⁵, Wei-Ting Liu⁶, Shu-Hui Yang⁷, Mei-Hsing Chen⁸, Yun-Shen Lu⁹, Lee-Yan Sheen¹⁰

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Food Science and Technology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address: moon7993@hotmail.com.
² Institute of Food Science and Technology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address: jrpst93428@gmail.com.
³ Institute of Food Safety and Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address: a062016@gmail.com.
⁴ Institute of Food Science and Technology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address: d04641004@ntu.edu.tw.
⁵ Institute of Food Science and Technology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address: s.panyod@hotmail.com.
⁶ Taiwan Agricultural Research Institute, Council of Agricultural, Taichung, Taiwan. Electronic address: liuwt@tari.gov.tw.
⁷ Taiwan Agricultural Research Institute, Council of Agricultural, Taichung, Taiwan. Electronic address: debbie@fthes-tari.gov.tw.
⁸ Taiwan Agricultural Research Institute, Council of Agricultural, Taichung, Taiwan. Electronic address: mc423@tari.gov.tw.
⁹ Taiwan Agricultural Research Institute, Council of Agricultural, Taichung, Taiwan. Electronic address: yunsheng@tari.gov.tw.
¹⁰ Institute of Food Science and Technology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan; Center for Food and Biomolecules, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan; National Center for Food Safety Education and Research, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address: lysheen@ntu.edu.tw.

PMID: 32956757
DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2020.113395

Abstract

Ethnopharmacology relevance: Armillaria mellea (Vahl) P. Kumm. (AM) is an edible mushroom that has been reported as treatment for several neurological disorders, such as dizziness and epilepsy in Asia. Importantly, AM shares a symbiotic relationship with Gastrodia elata Blume (GE), a medicinal herb with antidepressant-like properties. Researchers believe that AM may possess pharmacological properties similar to GE due to their symbiosis, however, few studies have investigated the pharmacological effect of AM.

Aim of the study: The aim of this study was to explore the potential of AM as an antidepressant in forced-swimming test (FST) and unpredictable chronic mild stress (UCMS) rodent models and investigate its possible underlying mechanism.

Materials and methods: Rats were orally administrated with 250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg body weight (bw) water extract of AM (WAM) for 28 and 35 consecutive days prior to the FST and UCMS protocols, respectively. The cerebral serotonin (5-HT) and the metabolites in the frontal cortex of rats were measured. The brain was dissected and the blood was collected to investigate the levels of inflammatory-related signaling pathway.

Results: All doses of WAM reduced the immobility time in the FST without disturbing autonomic locomotion. All doses of WAM prevented stress-induced abnormal behaviors in the UCMS model, including decreased sucrose preference and hypoactivity. 500 and 1000 mg/kg bw WAM attenuated the stress-induced increases in IL-1β and TNF-α in the serum and cerebrum. 1000 mg/kg bw WAM alleviated brain inflammation by reducing the protein expression of ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1.

Conclusion: WAM exhibited acute and chronic antidepressant-like effects, and may result from the anti-inflammatory actions. Therefore, the development of AM as a dietary therapy or adjuvant for depression treatment should be considered.

Keywords: Armillaria mellea (Vahl) P. Kumm.; Depression; Inflammation; Microglia; Unpredictable chronic mild stress.

MeSH terms

Animals
Anti-Inflammatory Agents / administration & dosage
Anti-Inflammatory Agents / isolation & purification
Anti-Inflammatory Agents / pharmacology*
Antidepressive Agents / administration & dosage
Antidepressive Agents / isolation & purification
Antidepressive Agents / pharmacology*
Armillaria / chemistry*
Behavior, Animal / drug effects
Depression / drug therapy*
Depression / physiopathology
Disease Models, Animal
Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
Inflammation / drug therapy
Inflammation / pathology
Male
Rats
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Serotonin / metabolism
Stress, Psychological / drug therapy
Stress, Psychological / physiopathology
Swimming
Water

Substances

Anti-Inflammatory Agents
Antidepressive Agents
Water
Serotonin

Supplementary concepts

Armillaria mellea