Abstract: To investigate the antidepressant effect and the possible mechanism of emodin in animal model.Mail Kunming mice were randomly divided into 5 groups:Control group (normal saline),fluoxetine group (5 mg/kg),emodin groups (200,100,50 mg/kg).After oral administration for 7 days,the tail-suspending test (TST),the forced swimming test (FST) and reserpine-antagonism test were carried out to evaluate the antidepressant effects of emodin.In particular,reserpine (1 mg/kg) was given by intrapertioneal injection before the reserpine-antagonism test.Compared with the control group,the immobility time of TST and FST were shorted in emodin high dose group (P<0.05).Compared with the model group,emodin high dose could significantly reverse the ptosis,and decrease body temperature induced by reserpine in mice (P<0.05).The results showed that emodin possesses significant antidepressant effect,and the mechanism may be related to monoamine neurotransmitters．  

Key words: emodin, antidepressant effect, forced swimming test, reserpine