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

E-ISSN： 1873-4286|23|34|5180-5190

ISSN： 1381-6128

Source： Current Pharmaceutical Design, Vol.23, Iss.34, 2018-01, pp. : 5180-5190

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Abstract

Depression is a common psychiatric disorder and a leading cause of disability worldwide. TraditionalChinese 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. Theexploration 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 treatingdepression, review the literatures of clinical trials in treating depressive disorders, and to list the possible mechanismsinvolved during the treatment. Besides, we will analyze the limitations of present studies and the obstaclesin the modernization of traditional Chinese medicine.