%0 Journal Article %T Phytomedicine Fructus Aurantii-derived two absorbed compounds unlock antidepressant and prokinetic multi-functions via modulating 5-HT3/GHSR. %A Zhao Q %A Liu J %A Chen L %A Gao Z %A Lin M %A Wang Y %A Xiao Z %A Chen Y %A Huang X %J J Ethnopharmacol %V 323 %N 0 %D 2024 Apr 6 %M 38185260 %F 5.195 %R 10.1016/j.jep.2024.117703 %X BACKGROUND: Fructus Aurantii (FA), a well-known phytomedicine, has been employed to evoke antidepressant and prokinetic multi-functions. Therein, systematically identifying bioactive components and the referred mechanism is essential for FA.
OBJECTIVE: This study was planned to answer "2 W" (What and Why), such as which components and pathways contribute to FA's multi-functions. We aimed to identify bioactive compounds as the key for opening the lock of FA's multi-functions, and the molecule mechanisms are their naturally matched lock cylinder.
METHODS: The phytochemical content of FA extract was determined, and the compounds were identified in rats pretreated with FA using liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry (LC-MS). The contribution strategy was used to assess bioactive compounds' efficacy (doses = their content in FA) in model rats with the mechanism. The changes in functional brain regions were determined via 7.0 T functional magnetic resonance imaging-blood oxygen level-dependent (fMRI-BOLD).
RESULTS: Eight phytochemicals' content was detected, and merely six components were identified in rats in vivo. Meranzin hydrate + hesperidin (MH), as the primary contributor of FA, exerted antidepressant and prokinetic effects (improvement of indexes for immobility time, gastric emptying, intestinal transit, CRH, ghrelin, ACTH, DA, NA, 5-HT, CORT, and 5-HT3) by regulating 5-HT3/Growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHSR) pathway. These results were validated by 5-HT2A, 5-HT3, and GHSR receptor antagonists combined with molecule docking. MH restored the excessive BOLD activation of the left accumbens nucleus, left corpus callosum and hypothalamus preoptic region.
CONCLUSIONS: Absorbed MH accounts for FA's anti-depressant and prokinetic efficacy in acutely-stressed rats, primarily via 5-HT3/GHSR shared regulation.