Recent Research Progress on the Antidepressant-like Effect and Neuropharmacological Potential of Gastrodia elata Blume

Purpose of Review: Depression is a difficult and currently incurable mood disorder and the conventional therapies used as treatment are unsatisfactory nowadays. Therefore, there is an urgent demand to find alternative or complementary approaches to deal with depression. Gastrodia elata Blume (GE) is not only a traditional Chinese medicine but also a food material that has been widely used in treating numerous neurological disorders in East Asia, including migraine, seizure, and mood disorders. In the present review article, we summarized the antidepressant-like effects of GE that have been reported in animal studies and elucidate its cellular mechanisms. Recent Findings: GE and its active compounds, gastrodin, 4-hydroxybenzyl alcohol, vanillin, and their derivatives have recently been reported to have intensive antidepressant-like effects in several animal models of depression, such as the forced swim test, the tail suspension test, and the chronic mild stress. The molecular mechanisms of GE-induced antidepressant-like effect are likely through regulation of neurotransmitters, antioxidation, antiinflammation, modulation of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, neurotrophic effects, regulation of stem cell, and enhancement of neuroplasticity and neuroprotection. Summary: GE and its bioactive components have been shown to possess antidepressant-like effects in several well-conducted animal studies. Additionally, GE has been applied to manipulate mood disorders in Chinese medicine for many years. However, more accurate and specific initial targeting of the mechanism of action of GE, as well as the application of clinical trials, are warranted and deserve further investigation.