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Anti-depressant effect of Paeonia lactiflora Pall extract in rats Yu, Xiao-hui; Song, Tao; Hou, Xiao-li; Sui, Yong; Li, Yan-ling; Hu, Dan; Wang, Xiao-hong; Xiao, Zheng-zheng; Wang, Rui-ren; Wang, Jin & Wang, Zhen Abstract Purpose: To explore the effect of Paeonia lactiflora Pall. extract on depression in rats. Methods: Various doses (150, 300 and 600 mg/kg) of Paeonia lactiflora Pall. extract (PLPE) were orally administered to three groups of rats of 10 each, respectively, suffering from depression for 14 days. Fluoxetine was used as positive control. Tail suspension, forced swimming and monoamine oxidase (MAO) tests were carried out on the rats. Results: A dose-dependent reduction in rat immobility was observed. The effect of PLPE at the highest dose (600 mg/kg) was more potent than that of the reference antidepressant, fluoxetine. PLPE, at a dose ≥ 150 mg/kg significantly inhibited MAO A activity in rat whole brain in a dose-dependent manner (p < 0.01); however, only oral administration of PLPE at a dose of 600 mg/kg produced observable MAO B inhibitory activity in rat brain (p < 0.01). Only fluoxetine showed a tendency to inhibit both MAO A and B activities in animal brain. Neither PLPE nor fluoxetine, at the doses tested, produced significant effects on locomotor activity. Conclusion: The results suggest that Paeonia lactiflora Pall is a potential agent for the treatment of depression in humans. Keywords Paeonia lactiflora; Depression; Tail suspension test; Forced swimming test

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