Antidepressant-like Effect of a Chalcone Compound, DHIPC and Its Possible Mechanism

DHIPC (2,4-dichloro-2´-hydroxyl-4´,6´-diisoprenyloxychalcone) is a new chalconecompound. In this study, its antidepressant-like activity of compound DHIPC was evaluated bythe forced swimming test and the tail suspension test in mice. The results showed that DHIPCsignificantly reduced the immobility time for 2 h after treatment through the oral administrationat dose of 10, 20, and 30 mg/kg in the forced swimming test and the tail suspension test,indicating a significant antidepressant-like effect. The maximal effect was obtained at 30 mg/kg, which is similar to the positive control fluoxetine. The main monoamine neurotransmittersand their metabolites in rat brain were also simultaneously determined. It was found thatDHIPC significantly increased the concentrations of the main neurotransmitters serotoninand noradrenalin, and also significantly increased 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid contents inhippocampus, hypothalamus, and cortex in brain part. So, the probable mechanism of action ofDHIPC is thought to be related to increase in serotonin and noradrenalin in the brain.