Chinese Herbal Medicine for the Treatment of Depression: Applications, Efficacies and Mechanisms

Title:Chinese Herbal Medicine for the Treatment of Depression: Applications, Efficacies and Mechanisms

Volume: 23 Issue: 34

Author(s): Yuanyuan Wang, Menglin Li, Yan Liang, Yiting Yang, Zhe Liu, Keyu Yao, Zijie Chen and Shuangqing Zhai*

Affiliation:

• School of Basic Medical Science, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029,China

Keywords: Depression, traditional Chinese medicine, clinical trials, therapeutic mechanisms, modernization, review.

Abstract: Depression is a common psychiatric disorder and a leading cause of disability worldwide. Traditional Chinese medicine is one of the commonly used complementary and alternative medicine therapies for depression. Clinical trials have been carried out to assess the efficacy and safety of Chinese herbal medicine currently. The exploration of herbal mechanisms of action used for the treatment of depression has also received great attention. This study is performed to summarize the frequently used formulae, patent drugs and single herbs in treating depression, review the literatures of clinical trials in treating depressive disorders, and to list the possible mechanisms involved during the treatment. Besides, we will analyze the limitations of present studies and the obstacles in the modernization of traditional Chinese medicine.

Cite this article as:

Wang Yuanyuan , Li Menglin , Liang Yan , Yang Yiting , Liu Zhe , Yao Keyu , Chen Zijie and Zhai Shuangqing *, Chinese Herbal Medicine for the Treatment of Depression: Applications, Efficacies and Mechanisms, Current Pharmaceutical Design 2017; 23 (34) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1381612823666170918120018