The purpose of this study is to investigate the alleviating effect and mechanism of Acanthopanax senticosus polysaccharides (ASP) on anxiety- and depression-like behaviors in mice with DSS-induced colitis. Mice were divided into the Control group, DSS group, ASP-L group, ASP-H group and mesalazine group. The effects were evaluated by observing general conditions, conducting behavioral tests and performing RT-qPCR detection. The results showed that mice in the DSS group exhibited colitis symptoms such as weight loss, diarrhea and hematochezia, accompanied by obvious anxiety- and depression-like behaviors. Meanwhile, the expressions of IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α in colon tissues were increased, and the expression of BDNF in cerebral cortex was decreased. ASP could improve the above symptoms in a dose-dependent manner, reduce the levels of inflammatory factors and up-regulate the expression of BDNF, with the effect of high-dose ASP being similar to that of mesalazine. These findings indicate that ASP may alleviate colitis and its accompanying mental and behavioral abnormalities by inhibiting intestinal inflammation and regulating central nervous factors, providing experimental basis for the treatment of related diseases.

Sun Yufei, Wang Jiachen, Zhao Zhihao. Study on the Mechanism of Acanthopanax Senticosus Polysaccharides Alleviating Anxiety- and Depression-like Behaviors in DSS-induced Colitis Mice. Academic Journal of Medicine & Health Sciences (2025), Vol. 6, Issue 8: 55-61. https://doi.org/10.25236/AJMHS.2025.060807.

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