Abstract: Objective:To investigate the effects of spina date seed (SDS)and albizzia julibrissin flower(AJF) water extracts on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and inflammatory factors(IF) in the anxiety depression model rats. Methods:A total of 80 Wistar rats were randomly divided into blank group(n=10),model group(n=10), low dose of SDS group(n=10),high dose of SDS group(n=10), low dose of AJF group(n=10),high dose of AJF group(n=10),low dose of SDS-AJF group(n=10),and high dose of SDS-AJF group(n=10).The rat models of anxiety depression were induced by chronic restraint stress,solitary cage and corticosterone(CORT) subcutaneous injection.The forced swimming test (FST) was used to observe the immobility time of forced swimming of the rats in various groups;Elevated plus maze test (EPM) was used to observe the open arm entry(OE),close arm entry(CE),open arm entry time(OT), and close arm entry time(CT) of the rats in various groups.The total entry of open arms and close arms(TE),OE% and OT% were calculated.ELISA method was used to detect the levels of serum corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH),CORT,inflammatory factors interleukin-1β(IL-β) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) of the rats in various groups.HE staining was used to observe the morphology of hippocampal neurons of the rats in various groups. Results:Compared with model group,the immobility time of forced swimming of the rats in low dose of SDS-AJF group,high dose of SDS-AJF group,high dose of SDS group and high dose of AJF group was decreased (P<0.05 or P<0.01);compared with low dose of SDS group and low dose of AJF group, the immobility time of forced swimming of the rats in low dose of SDS-AJF group was shortened (P<0.05 or P<0.01);compared with high dose of SDS group and high dose of AJF group,the immobility time of forced swimming of the rats in high dose of SDS-AJF group was shortened(P<0.05 or P<0.01). Compared with model group,the OE% and OT% of the rats in low dose of SDS-AJF group,high dose of SDS-AJF group,high dose of SDS group and high dose of AJF group were increased (P<0.05 or P<0.01);compared with low dose of SDS group and low dose of AJF group,the OE% and OT% of the rats in low dose of SDS-AJF group were increased(P<0.05 or P<0.01);compared with high dose of SDS group and high dose of AJF group,the OE% and OT% of the rats in high dose of SDS-AJF group were increased (P<0.05 or P<0.01).Compared with model group,the levels of serum CRH, ACTH, CORT, IL-1β, and IL-6 of the rats in low dose of SDS-AJF group,high dose of SDS-AJF group,high dose of SDS group and high dose of AJF group were decreased(P<0.05 or P<0.01);compared with low dose of SDS group and low dose of AJF group,the levels of serum CRH, ACTH, CORT, IL-1β and IL-6 of the rats in low dose of SDS-AJF group was decreased(P<0.05 or P<0.01);compared with high dose of SDS group and high dose of AJF group,the levels of serum CRH, ACTH, CORT, IL-1β, and IL-6 of the rats in high dose of SDS-AJF group was decreased(P<0.05 or P<0.01).The HE staining results showed that the hippocampal neurons of the rats in model group were loosely arranged, and a large number of nerve cells were degenerated and the cell layer was reduced. The degeneration of hippocampal neurons of the rats in low and high doses of SDS-AJF groups were significantly relieved, and the nerve cells were arranged closely and the cell layer was clear. Conclusion:Combination of SDS and AJF can improve the behavior of the rats with anxiety depression,protect the hippocampal neurons of rats, reduce the inflammatory response, and adjust the disorder of HPA axis.

Key words: spina date seed, albizzia julibrissin flower, anxious depression, hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis, inflammatory factor