Objective: To observe the effect of Nutmeg Wuwei pills on the depressive behavior and the monoamine neurotransmitters of depression rat model andexplore the mechanism. Method: Sixty male SD rats were randomly divided into normal group

model group

fluoxetine group(3.6 mg·kg-1) and Nutmeg Wuwei pills low

medium and high dose groups(0.2

0.4

0.8 g·kg-1)

10 rats in each group. After 21 days

behavior evaluation was made through observing the rats weight

open-field experiment and sugar consumption experiment. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) method was used for determination of the content of the rat hippocampus 5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT)

norepinephrine(NE) and dobaamine(DA). Result: Compared with normal group

the scores of horizontal activity and vertical activity

sugar consumption were decreased significantly in the model group. Compared with model group

fluoxetine group and Nutmeg Wuwei pills groups got significantly higher scores of horizontal activity

vertical activity and sugar consumption. Nutmeg Wuwei pills could increase hippocampus 5-HT

NE and DA content

especially which was significant in the medium and high dose groups (P <0.05

P <0.01). Conclusion: Nutmeg Wuwei pills can improve abnormal behavior of depressive model rats and improve the neurotransmitter NE

5-HT

DA. The anti-depressive mechanism is mainly due to increasing the cerebral monoamine neurotransmitters concentration in the brains.