Depression is a common psychiatric disorder with a rising incidence year by year. In addition to the common chemical drugs

the clinical application of traditional Chinese medicines has drawn much attention for depression. As a classic prescription for dispersing stagnated liver and relieving depression

Xiaoyaosan has a good antidepressant effect in experimental and clinical studies. The papers in last ten years were reviewed and the results showed that Xiaoyaosan had good antidepressant effect in the different depression-like animal model

and the antidepressant mechanism was related to modulation of monoamine neurotransmitter levels

effect on neurotrophic factors and the related pathways

regulation of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis function

inhibition of the inflammatory response and anti-oxidation activity

et al. The papers of the nearly five years showed that Xiaoyaosan or its derivatives alone and Xiaoyaosan combined with western medicine or with other therapies were widely used in clinical treatment of various patients with depression

with reliable curative effect and few adverse reactions. The basic research status of Xiaoyaosan's antidepressant effect from the view of disassembled prescription and the components isolated from Xiaoyaosan was summarized for the first time

and the results showed that Bupleuri Radix

Angelicae Sinensis Radix

Paeoniae Radix Alba

Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma and Menthae Haplocalycis Herba were the main effective components for its antidepressant effect.