Objective: To study the antidepressant-like effect of the coupled drug dispensing of Bupleuri Radix and Paeoniae Radix Alba

single use of Bupleuri Radix and single use of Paeoniae Radix Alba in different doses. Method: Male ICR mice were divided into 11 groups: control group

fluoxetine (0.015 g·kg-1) group

the coupled drug dispensing of Bupleuri Radix and Paeoniae Radix Alba (1∶1) in high

middle and low doses (32

16

8 g·kg-1) groups

single use of Bupleuri Radix in high

middle and low doses (32

16

8 g·kg-1)

single use of Paeoniae Radix Alba in high

middle and low doses (32

16

8 g·kg-1) groups. The open field test (OFT) was used to exclude false-positive results at 7 d after the administration (ig).And the tail suspension test (TST) and the forced swimming test (FST) were used to study the antidepressant-like effect of different groups. Result: There was no significant difference in different groups in the experiment of OFT. Different groups reduced the immobility time both in the TST and FST. Most obviously in the coupled drug dispensing of Bupleuri Radix and Paeoniae Radix Alba(1∶1) in high doses (32 g·kg-1)

in the TST

the immobility time was (51.3 ± 31.7) s

and in the FST

the immobility time was (86.3±25.9) s. Compared with the control group

the coupled drug dispensing of Bupleuri Radix and Paeoniae Radix Alba(1∶1) in high doses (32 g·kg-1) had significant difference in TST and FST test (P<0.01). In addition

the results of the TST were in agreement with those in the FST. Conclusion: The results suggested that the coupled drug dispensing of Bupleuri Radix and Paeoniae Radix Alba

single use of Bupleuri Radix and single use of Paeoniae Radix Alba in different doses performed antidepressant-like effect

while there was difference in the antidepressant-like effect.