A traditional Chinese medicine composition for treating depression

Abstract

The present application relates to a kind of traditional Chinese medicine composition for treating depression, relate to the technical field of traditional Chinese medicine, by weight parts, the traditional Chinese medicine composition for treating depression includes the following raw materials: 50~80 parts of hair and 10~25 parts of Chinese hackberry.The traditional Chinese medicine composition provided by the present application is mainly hair and supplemented with appropriate Chinese hackberry, both are used in combination, can treat depression together, and the effect of anti-stress depression is remarkable, formula is simple, drug is safer, provides a new means for the treatment of depression patients.

Description

A traditional Chinese medicine composition for treating depression Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of traditional Chinese medicine technology, and in particular to a traditional Chinese medicine composition for treating depression. Background Technology

[0002] Depression is a common affective disorder characterized by a significant and persistent change in mood (elevation or depression), often accompanied by corresponding changes in thinking and behavior. Clinically, it can be divided into several types, such as endogenous depression, psychogenic depression, and secondary depression. The central symptom is depressed mood, manifested as pessimism and despair, loss of interest in daily life, lethargy, and decreased appetite. In severe cases, it can even lead to recurrent suicidal thoughts or behaviors, causing significant distress to the patient's life and family.

[0003] There are three main categories of Western medicines for treating depression: monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), tricyclic antidepressants, and heterocyclic antidepressants. MAOIs, first discovered in the 1950s, were quickly replaced by tricyclic antidepressants due to their severe toxic side effects. Tricyclic antidepressants are currently the most widely used antidepressants, including amitriptyline, doxepin, and imipramine, and are suitable for various types of depression, but withdrawal syndrome is common when abruptly discontinued. Heterocyclic antidepressants include mianserin, fluoxetine, paroxetine, and sertraline. Depression is a chronic disease, and long-term use of Western antidepressants presents many problems, such as slow onset of action, high cost, and significant side effects, including cardiotoxicity, liver toxicity, and other serious allergic reactions. Therefore, due to its unique advantages, traditional Chinese medicine has received increasing attention and research in the treatment of depression in recent years.

[0004] *Picris hieracioides* L., a plant belonging to the genus *Picris* in the family Asteraceae, is also known as hairy lotus. The whole plant is used medicinally; it has a bitter and pungent taste and is cool in nature. It possesses properties such as clearing heat and detoxifying, removing blood stasis and relieving pain, and promoting urination. Clinical studies have shown that it can be used to treat patients with hyperglycemia and hypertension.

[0005] *Cyclocarya paliurus* (Batal.) Il jinsk., a deciduous tree belonging to the genus *Cyclocarya* in the family Juglandaceae, has its bark, roots, and leaves used medicinally. It is bitter, pungent, and neutral in nature, and enters the lung and liver meridians. Health tea made from the tender leaves of *Cyclocarya paliurus* in early spring has the functions of lowering blood pressure, blood sugar, and blood lipids. It also has unique effects on enhancing human immunity, anti-oxidation, and anti-aging, making it widely applicable.

[0006] Currently, there are no reports in existing technologies of using a combination of *Corydalis yanhusuo* and *Eucommia ulmoides* for the treatment of depression. Summary of the Invention

[0007] To address the above problems, the present invention provides a traditional Chinese medicine composition for treating depression.

[0008] This invention provides a traditional Chinese medicine composition for treating depression, comprising the following raw materials in parts by weight:

[0009] 50-80 portions of hairy cabbage and 10-25 portions of Eucommia ulmoides.

[0010] Furthermore, the traditional Chinese medicine composition for treating depression comprises the following raw materials in parts by weight:

[0011] 74 portions of *Hedyotis diffusa* and 18.5 portions of *Eucommia ulmoides*.

[0012] Furthermore, the weight ratio of the hairy cabbage to the eucommia ulmoides is 4:1.

[0013] Furthermore, the preparation method of the traditional Chinese medicine composition for treating depression includes the following steps:

[0014] The hairy cabbage and the Eucommia ulmoides were crushed and mixed to obtain a mixture;

[0015] The mixture was added to water and extracted under reduced pressure to obtain an extract.

[0016] The extract was concentrated and dried to obtain the traditional Chinese medicine composition for treating depression.

[0017] Further, the step of adding the mixture to water for vacuum extraction to obtain the extract includes the following processes:

[0018] The mixture is added to water and soaked at room temperature to obtain a soaking solution;

[0019] The soaking solution was subjected to reduced pressure extraction for 1 to 2 hours at a temperature of 45 to 55°C and a pressure of 4 to 9 kPa, and then filtered. This process was repeated 1 to 3 times, and the filtrates were combined to obtain the extract.

[0020] Furthermore, the temperature for the vacuum extraction is 51°C.

[0021] Furthermore, the pressure for the decompression extraction is 7 kPa.

[0022] Furthermore, the soaking time at room temperature is 6 to 12 hours.

[0023] Furthermore, the weight ratio of the mixture to the water is 1:(6-10).

[0024] The technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present invention have at least the following advantages compared with the prior art:

[0025] This invention provides a traditional Chinese medicine composition for treating depression. The composition is mainly composed of *Corydalis yanhusuo* and supplemented with an appropriate amount of *Eucommia ulmoides*. The combination of the two can treat depression and has a significant effect on anti-stress depression. The formula is simple and safer to use, providing a new approach for the treatment of depression patients. Attached Figure Description

[0026] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

[0027] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, for those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0028] Figure 1 is a schematic flowchart of the preparation method of the traditional Chinese medicine composition for treating depression provided in an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0029] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0030] Unless otherwise specified, all raw materials, reagents, instruments and equipment used in this invention can be purchased from the market or prepared by existing methods.

[0031] This invention provides a traditional Chinese medicine composition for treating depression, comprising the following raw materials in parts by weight:

[0032] 50-80 portions of hairy cabbage and 10-25 portions of Eucommia ulmoides.

[0033] This invention provides a traditional Chinese medicine composition for treating depression. The composition is mainly composed of *Corydalis yanhusuo* and supplemented with an appropriate amount of *Eucommia ulmoides*. The combination of the two can treat depression and has a significant effect on anti-stress depression. The formula is simple and safer to use, providing a new approach for the treatment of depression patients.

[0034] In some specific embodiments, the traditional Chinese medicine composition for treating depression comprises the following raw materials in parts by weight:

[0035] 74 portions of *Hedyotis diffusa* and 18.5 portions of *Eucommia ulmoides*.

[0036] In some specific embodiments, the weight ratio of the hairy cabbage to the Eucommia ulmoides is 4:1.

[0037] In some specific embodiments, as shown in Figure 1, the preparation method of the traditional Chinese medicine composition for treating depression includes the following steps:

[0038] The hairy cabbage and the Eucommia ulmoides were crushed and mixed to obtain a mixture;

[0039] The mixture was added to water and extracted under reduced pressure to obtain an extract.

[0040] The extract was concentrated and dried to obtain the traditional Chinese medicine composition for treating depression.

[0041] In some specific embodiments, the step of adding the mixture to water for vacuum extraction to obtain the extract includes the following process:

[0042] The mixture is added to water and soaked at room temperature to obtain a soaking solution;

[0043] The soaking solution was subjected to reduced pressure extraction for 1 to 2 hours at a temperature of 45 to 55°C and a pressure of 4 to 9 kPa, and then filtered. This process was repeated 1 to 3 times, and the filtrates were combined to obtain the extract.

[0044] In some specific embodiments, the temperature of the depressurization extraction is 51°C.

[0045] In some specific embodiments, the pressure of the decompression extraction is 7 kPa.

[0046] In some specific embodiments, the room temperature soaking time is 6 to 12 hours.

[0047] In some specific embodiments, the weight ratio of the mixture to the water is 1:(6-10).

[0048] It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified or limited, the raw materials used in the traditional Chinese medicine composition for treating depression and its preparation method provided in the embodiments of the present invention can all be commercially available products; at the same time, the process steps and parameters involved can all be carried out in accordance with existing traditional Chinese medicine composition preparation processes or using existing equipment in a conventional operating manner.

[0049] The present invention will be further illustrated below with reference to specific embodiments. It should be understood that these embodiments are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Experimental methods in the following embodiments, unless otherwise specified, are generally performed according to national standards. If no corresponding national standard exists, then generally accepted international standards, conventional conditions, or conditions recommended by the manufacturer are followed.

[0050] Example 1

[0051] This example provides a traditional Chinese medicine composition for treating depression, which, by weight, consists of the following raw materials: 74 parts of *Corydalis yanhusuo* and 18.5 parts of *Eucommia ulmoides*.

[0052] The preparation method of the above-mentioned traditional Chinese medicine composition for treating depression includes the following steps:

[0053] Step (1): Crush and mix the dried whole plant of *Hedyotis diffusa* and the dried leaves of *Eucommia ulmoides* to obtain a mixture;

[0054] Step (2): Add the mixture obtained in step (1) to water and soak at room temperature for 8 hours. The weight of water added is 8 times that of the mixture to obtain the soaking solution.

[0055] Step (3): At a temperature of 51℃ and a pressure of 7kPa, the soaking solution obtained in step (2) was subjected to vacuum extraction for 1.5 hours and then filtered. The extraction was repeated twice, and the filtrates were combined to obtain the extract.

[0056] Step (4): The extract obtained in step (3) is concentrated under reduced pressure and dried to constant weight to obtain the traditional Chinese medicine composition for treating depression.

[0057] Example 2

[0058] This example provides a traditional Chinese medicine composition for treating depression, which, by weight, consists of the following raw materials: 50 parts of *Hedyotis diffusa* and 10 parts of *Eucommia ulmoides*.

[0059] The preparation method of the above-mentioned traditional Chinese medicine composition for treating depression includes the following steps:

[0060] Step (1): Crush and mix the dried whole plant of *Hedyotis diffusa* and the dried leaves of *Eucommia ulmoides* to obtain a mixture;

[0061] Step (2): Add the mixture obtained in step (1) to water and soak at room temperature for 8 hours. The weight of water added is 8 times that of the mixture to obtain the soaking solution.

[0062] Step (3): At a temperature of 55℃ and a pressure of 9kPa, the soaking liquid obtained in step (2) was subjected to vacuum extraction for 1.5 hours and then filtered. The extraction was repeated twice, and the filtrates were combined to obtain the extract.

[0063] Step (4): The extract obtained in step (3) is concentrated under reduced pressure and dried to constant weight to obtain the traditional Chinese medicine composition for treating depression.

[0064] Example 3

[0065] This example provides a traditional Chinese medicine composition for treating depression, which, by weight, consists of the following raw materials: 50 parts of *Hedyotis diffusa* and 12.5 parts of *Eucommia ulmoides*.

[0066] The preparation method of the above-mentioned traditional Chinese medicine composition for treating depression includes the following steps:

[0067] Step (1): Crush and mix the dried whole plant of *Hedyotis diffusa* and the dried leaves of *Eucommia ulmoides* to obtain a mixture;

[0068] Step (2): Add the mixture obtained in step (1) to water and soak at room temperature for 8 hours. The weight of water added is 8 times that of the mixture to obtain the soaking solution.

[0069] Step (3): At a temperature of 55℃ and a pressure of 9kPa, the soaking liquid obtained in step (2) was subjected to vacuum extraction for 1.5 hours and then filtered. The extraction was repeated twice, and the filtrates were combined to obtain the extract.

[0070] Step (4): The extract obtained in step (3) is concentrated under reduced pressure and dried to constant weight to obtain the traditional Chinese medicine composition for treating depression.

[0071] Example 4

[0072] This example provides a traditional Chinese medicine composition for treating depression, which, by weight, consists of the following raw materials: 80 parts of *Corydalis yanhusuo* and 25 parts of *Eucommia ulmoides*.

[0073] The preparation method of the above-mentioned traditional Chinese medicine composition for treating depression includes the following steps:

[0074] Step (1): Crush and mix the dried whole plant of *Hedyotis diffusa* and the dried leaves of *Eucommia ulmoides* to obtain a mixture;

[0075] Step (2): Add the mixture obtained in step (1) to water and soak at room temperature for 8 hours. The weight of water added is 8 times that of the mixture to obtain the soaking solution.

[0076] Step (3): At a temperature of 45℃ and a pressure of 4kPa, the soaking solution obtained in step (2) was subjected to vacuum extraction for 1.5 hours and then filtered. The extraction was repeated twice, and the filtrates were combined to obtain the extract.

[0077] Step (4): The extract obtained in step (3) is concentrated under reduced pressure and dried to constant weight to obtain the traditional Chinese medicine composition for treating depression.

[0078] Comparative Example 1

[0079] This example provides a traditional Chinese medicine extract for treating depression, which is made from *Hedyotis diffusa*.

[0080] The preparation method of the above-mentioned traditional Chinese medicine extract for treating depression includes the following steps:

[0081] Step (1): Crush and mix the dried whole plant of *Hedyotis diffusa* to obtain a mixture;

[0082] Step (2): Add the mixture obtained in step (1) to water and soak at room temperature for 8 hours. The weight of water added is 8 times that of the mixture to obtain the soaking solution.

[0083] Step (3): At a temperature of 51℃ and a pressure of 7kPa, the soaking solution obtained in step (2) was subjected to vacuum extraction for 1.5 hours and then filtered. The extraction was repeated twice, and the filtrates were combined to obtain the extract.

[0084] Step (4): The extract obtained in step (3) is concentrated under reduced pressure and dried to constant weight to obtain the Chinese herbal extract for treating depression.

[0085] Comparative Example 2

[0086] This example provides a traditional Chinese medicine extract for treating depression, which is made from Cyclocarya paliurus.

[0087] The preparation method of the above-mentioned traditional Chinese medicine extract for treating depression includes the following steps:

[0088] Step (1): Crush and mix the dried Eucommia ulmoides leaves to obtain a mixture;

[0089] Step (2): Add the mixture obtained in step (1) to water and soak at room temperature for 8 hours. The weight of water added is 8 times that of the mixture to obtain the soaking solution.

[0090] Step (3): At a temperature of 51℃ and a pressure of 7kPa, the soaking solution obtained in step (2) was subjected to vacuum extraction for 1.5 hours and then filtered. The extraction was repeated twice, and the filtrates were combined to obtain the extract.

[0091] Step (4): The extract obtained in step (3) is concentrated under reduced pressure and dried to constant weight to obtain the Chinese herbal extract for treating depression.

[0092] Comparative Example 3

[0093] This example provides a traditional Chinese medicine composition for treating depression and its preparation method. The only difference from Example 1 is that, by weight, the traditional Chinese medicine composition for treating depression is composed of the following raw materials: 18.5 parts of *Corydalis yanhusuo* and 74 parts of *Cyclocarya paliurus*; the remaining steps and parameters are the same.

[0094] Comparative Example 4

[0095] This example provides a traditional Chinese medicine composition for treating depression and its preparation method. The only difference from Example 1 is that the extraction temperature in step (3) is 85°C and the extraction pressure is 50 kPa; the other steps and parameters are the same.

[0096] Test case

[0097] This example will use the traditional Chinese medicine compositions or extracts for treating depression obtained in Examples 1-4 and Comparative Examples 1-4 to test the efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine in treating depression, specifically including the following procedures:

[0098] 1) Test animals and grouping: SPF-grade male Wistar rats, weighing 180.1–200.4 g, were acclimatized to normal feeding for one week before the experiment, with free access to food and water. They were randomly divided into a blank control group (1 group, no modeling, no drug administration, administered 0.9% saline at 10 ml / kg via gavage), a model control group (1 group, modeling, no drug administration, administered 0.9% saline at 10 ml / kg via gavage), and experimental groups (8 groups, modeling, drug administration, each group administered test sample solution at 10 ml / kg via gavage; the test sample solution was prepared by diluting the traditional Chinese medicine compositions or extracts for treating depression obtained in Examples 1–4 and Comparative Examples 1–4 to 4 g / kg crude drug (raw material) with 0.9% saline), with 10 rats in each group.

[0099] 2) Chronic stress-induced depression model: Except for the blank control group, rats were subjected to chronic stress stimulation including 24-hour water deprivation, 24-hour food deprivation, 12-hour day-night reversal, 6-hour restraint, 18-hour cage tilt at 45 degrees, 24-hour wet cage, and 24-hour exposure to unfamiliar objects. Each stimulation involved only one stimulus, randomly arranged and continuous. Drug administration began simultaneously with model establishment, once daily, for a 3-week stress cycle. During this period, mice in the blank control group received no stress, had free access to food and water, and were normally fed. At the end of drug administration, the mice underwent a forced swimming test.

[0100] 3) Forced Swimming Test: Rats were placed in a transparent glass container (60cm × 30cm) filled with water, ensuring that their limbs and tails did not touch the bottom of the container. The water temperature was (25±1)℃. Rats were observed for 6 minutes, and the cumulative immobility time of each rat in the last 4 minutes was recorded. A rat was considered immobile when it kept its head above water for breathing, floated without struggling, and exhibited only minor paw movements. The total immobility time in the last 4 minutes of the 6-minute test was recorded and analyzed using ANY-maze software.

[0101] 4) Data analysis and results: The test data were analyzed by software and expressed as mean ± variance. The results of the forced swimming immobility test of rats in each group on day 21 are shown in Table 1.

[0102] Table 1

[0103] Group | Fixed Time (mean ± variance) | Blank Control Group | 63.51 ± 4.18 | Model Control Group | 128.24 ± 5.07 | Example 1 Group | 79.92 ± 3.95 | Example 2 Group | 102.10 ± 5.13 | Example 3 Group | 90.38 ± 4.46 | Example 4 Group | 105.85 ± 5.79 | Comparative Example 1 Group | 115.49 ± 5.52 | Comparative Example 2 Group | 120.67 ± 6.20 | Comparative Example 3 Group | 112.73 ± 4.91 | Comparative Example 4 Group | 107.08 ± 4.66 surface

[0104] Table 1 shows that, compared with the blank control group, the forced swimming immobility time of rats in the model control group was significantly increased. Compared with the model control group, the traditional Chinese medicine composition or extract provided in the embodiments and comparative examples of this invention can reduce the forced swimming immobility time of rats to a certain extent, but the traditional Chinese medicine composition provided in the embodiments of this invention has the most significant reducing effect, and the traditional Chinese medicine composition provided in Example 1 has the best effect. The experimental results show that the composition of this invention has a definite antidepressant effect, and the combination of *Cynanchum paniculatum* and *Eucommia ulmoides* shows a strong synergistic effect, which is significantly effective in treating stress-induced depression and can provide a new approach for the treatment of depression patients.

[0105] Various embodiments of the present invention may exist in the form of a range; it should be understood that the description in the form of a range is merely for convenience and brevity and should not be construed as a hard limitation on the scope of the invention; therefore, it should be considered that the range description has specifically disclosed all possible subranges and single numerical values ​​within that range. For example, it should be considered that the range description from 1 to 6 has specifically disclosed subranges such as from 1 to 3, from 1 to 4, from 1 to 5, from 2 to 4, from 2 to 6, from 3 to 6, etc., and single numbers within the range, such as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, regardless of the range. Furthermore, whenever a numerical range is referred to herein, it means including any referenced number (fraction or integer) within the range referred to.

[0106] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of the present invention, enabling those skilled in the art to understand or implement the invention. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be implemented in other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, the present invention is not to be limited to the embodiments shown herein, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features claimed herein.

Claims

1. A traditional Chinese medicine composition for treating depression, characterized in that, The traditional Chinese medicine composition for treating depression is made from the following raw materials in parts by weight: 50-80 parts of *Hedyotis diffusa* and 10-25 parts of *Eucommia ulmoides*.

2. The traditional Chinese medicine composition for treating depression according to claim 1, characterized in that, The traditional Chinese medicine composition for treating depression is made from the following raw materials in parts by weight: 74 parts of *Hedyotis diffusa* and 18.5 parts of *Eucommia ulmoides*.

3. The traditional Chinese medicine composition for treating depression according to claim 1, characterized in that, The weight ratio of the hairy cabbage to the eucommia ulmoides is 4:

1.

4. The traditional Chinese medicine composition for treating depression according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The preparation method of the traditional Chinese medicine composition for treating depression includes the following steps: crushing and mixing *Corydalis yanhusuo* and *Eucommia ulmoides* to obtain a mixture; adding the mixture to water for vacuum extraction to obtain an extract; concentrating and drying the extract to obtain the traditional Chinese medicine composition for treating depression.

5. The traditional Chinese medicine composition for treating depression according to claim 4, characterized in that, The step of adding the mixture to water for vacuum extraction to obtain the extract includes the following process: adding the mixture to water for room temperature soaking to obtain a soaking solution; extracting the soaking solution under vacuum for 1 to 2 hours at a temperature of 45 to 55°C and a pressure of 4 to 9 kPa, filtering, repeating 1 to 3 times, and combining the filtrates to obtain the extract.

6. The traditional Chinese medicine composition for treating depression according to claim 5, characterized in that, The temperature for the vacuum extraction was 51°C.

7. The traditional Chinese medicine composition for treating depression according to claim 5, characterized in that, The pressure for the decompression extraction was 7 kPa.

8. The traditional Chinese medicine composition for treating depression according to claim 5, characterized in that, The soaking time at room temperature is 6 to 12 hours.

9. The traditional Chinese medicine composition for treating depression according to claim 5, characterized in that, The weight ratio of the mixture to the water is 1:(6~10).

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