Spectrum-effect relationship between GC-MS fingerprints and antidepressant-like effect of Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill. essential oil

Abstract The present study aimed to evaluate the antidepressant-like effect of essential oils from Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill. (SEO) and its possible mechanisms of SEO. Behavioral despair mouse model in vivo and H2O2-induced PC12 cells model in vitro were employed. And the potential effective components were identified by the spectrum-effect relationships analysis. SEO significantly decreased the immobility time in the forced swimming test and tail suspension test, which indicated a promising antidepressant-like effect of SEO in depressed mice. The decreased levels of SOD, GSH, and CAT, and increased levels of MDA were significantly reversed by SEO treatment, which showed good antioxidant activities both in vitro and in vivo. Besides, SEO significantly promoted the nuclear translocation of Nrf2 and the expression of HO-1 in depressed mice and H2O2-induced PC12 cells. The histopathological examination results showed a potential neuronal protective effect of SEO in the hippocampus and cortex. Furthermore, the upregulation of PI3K/AKT/GSK3β signaling was observed after SEO treatment. Additionally, based on the spectrum-effect relationship analysis, 9 peaks were identified positively correlated with the antioxidant activity of SEO. These results suggested that SEO upregulated the PI3K/AKT/GSK3β signaling, and then promoted Nrf2/HO-1 pathway to improve the oxidative stress status and exerted the antidepressant-like effects.