Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39981856›Full record

ArticleCNS neuroscience & therapeutics2025

Xiao-Chai-Hu-Tang Ameliorates Depressive Symptoms via Modulating Neuro-Endocrine Network in Chronic Unpredictable Mild Stress-Induced Mice.

Ying Feng, Wenkai Wang, Yingru Zhang, Yuanyuan Feng, Yiyang Zhao, Zhaozhou Zhang, Yan Wang

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in CNS neuroscience & therapeutics, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Review
  3. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Ying FengDepartment of Medical Oncology, Shuguang Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Wenkai WangDepartment of Medical Oncology, Shuguang Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Yingru ZhangDepartment of Medical Oncology, Shuguang Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Yuanyuan FengDepartment of Medical Oncology, Shuguang Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Yiyang ZhaoDepartment of Medical Oncology, Shuguang Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Zhaozhou ZhangDepartment of Medical Oncology, Shuguang Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Yan WangDepartment of Medical Oncology, Shuguang Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.ORCID 0000-0001-9365-1440

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China 82074232National Natural Science Foundation of China 82122075Shanghai Frontier Research Base of Disease and Syndrome Biology of Inflammatory Cancer Transformation 2021KJ0312Shanghai Municipal Education Commission and Shanghai Education Development Foundation 21SG43
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveXiao-Chai-Hu-Tang (XCHT) has been demonstrated to exert an antidepressant effect during long-term clinical practices. However, the potential mechanisms of XCHT remain unknown. This study aims to investigate the effect of XCHT on chronic unpredictable mild stress-induced mice with depressive-like behaviors and to explore the underlying mechanisms.

methodsThe active compositions and potential related targets of XCHT in the brain were obtained through UPLC-Q-TOF-MS, network pharmacology, and bioinformatics analyses, verified by experimental validation. Then, the protein-protein interaction (PPI), Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses, and molecular docking were used to predict the core targets and mechanisms of XCHT on depression. After being treated with XCHT standard decoction, based on enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), non-targeted metabolism, targeted LC-MS analyses, RNA-seq, quantitative RT-PCR, immunofluorescence, and western blotting were determined to clarify the mechanism of XCHT in the treatment of anxiety and depression disorder.

resultsIn total, 166 active ingredients and 525 related targets of XCHT were detected and selected from the network databases. The inflammatory response and metabolism of neurotransmitters were the main related signaling pathways predicted by KEGG enrichment analyses. Behavioral testing shows that XCHT has antidepressant effects, and untargeted metabolomic studies showed it significantly reduced levels of the neurotoxic substance quinoline acid. Combining the results of molecular docking, RNA-seq, and western blot revealed that XCHT regulated nerve regeneration via BDNF/TrkB/CREB and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways. Immunofluorescence analysis revealed that XCHT downregulated the chronic stress-induced activation of microglia and astrocytes in the hippocampus.

conclusionXCHT exerts antidepressant functions by modulating neuroinflammation and neuroregeneration.

Indexed as

Antidepressive AgentsDepressionDrugs, Chinese HerbalNeurosecretory SystemsStress, PsychologicalAnimalsBrainMaleMiceMice, Inbred C57BLMolecular Docking SimulationAntidepressive AgentsDrugs, Chinese Herbaldepressionmolecular dockingnerve regenerationnetwork pharmacologyneuroinflammationRNA sequencingXiao‐Chai‐Hu‐Tang

Identifiers

PMID39981856
PMCPMC11843474

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.