Advances in the mechanisms of polysaccharides in alleviating depression and its complications.

Yuxi Guo, Xuefeng Chen, Wenbo Yao, Wenjuan Yang, Pin Gong, Zixuan Li, Yanping Wu, Jie Zhang, Jiating Wang, Fuxin Chen

Journal: Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology 2023;109():154566

PMID: 36610126

Full Text on Elsevier Science View on PubMed

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Depression is one of the most serious mental illnesses worldwide that endangers the health of people. The pathogenesis of depression is complex and is associated with abnormal neurotransmitter levels, activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, inflammation, and gut flora-related disorders. However, most of the current pharmacological therapies used to manage depression are inconsistent and are associated with side effects. Owing to their low toxicity and wide availability in nature, polysaccharides are gradually attracting attention and are being discovered to exert direct or indirect antidepressant effects.

PURPOSE

In this review, we have summarized the classification, dosage, and experimental models to study polysaccharides with antidepressant effects obtained from different sources. We have also reviewed the protective effects and underlying mechanisms of these polysaccharides in depression by modulating inflammation, the HPA axis, and intestinal flora.

METHODS

We searched the PubMed, Web of Science, and Google scholar databases and included studies that reported the use of polysaccharides in treating depression.

RESULTS

The unique benefits of natural polysaccharides as antidepressants lie in their potential to modulate inflammation, regulate the HPA axis, and regulate intestinal flora, giving full play to their antidepressant effects via multiple pathways and targets.

CONCLUSION

Natural polysaccharides may be a promising resource for use as adjuvant antidepressant therapy. Our study might therefore provide evidence for the development of polysaccharide resources as antidepressants.

Address: School of Food and Biological Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Xi'an 710021, China.; School of Food and Biological Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Xi'an 710021, China. Electronic address: [email protected].; Guangdong Engineering Research Center of Chinese Medicine & Disease Susceptibility, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China.; Guangdong Engineering Research Center of Chinese Medicine & Disease Susceptibility, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China. Electronic address: [email protected].; Department of Psychosomatic Medicine, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510000, China.; School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xi'an University of Science and Technology, Xi'an 710054, China.

DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2022.154566

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https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0944...

MeSH Terms: Humans, Depression, Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System, Pituitary-Adrenal System, Antidepressive Agents, Inflammation