Abstract
Objective: The purpose of this study was to reseach antidepressant effect and influence on monoamines of Sayuksan which is thought to have some antidepressant according to oriental medicine theory. Methods: We used "forced swimming test(FST)" to know antidepressant effect of Sayuksan and HPLC to check the influence on monoamines and their metabolites(norepinephrine, dopamine, DOPAC, HVA, serotonin. 5-HIAA) of Sayuksan after divided into cerebral cortex, striatum, hypothalamus and hippocampus Results: In the study of antidepressant effect by "forced swimming test(FST)" method, Sayuksan had a significant antidepressant effect. In the study of influence on monoammes by HPLC, Sayuksan mainly increased dopamine and serotonin signigficantly among monoamines in 4 parts of rat's brain above-mentioned. Conclusion: These results suggest that Sayuksan has antidepressant effect that may be related with the increase of dopamine and serotonin as its mechanism.