Abstract: In order to clarify the protective effect of bilobalide(BB) on depressed mice as well as its mechanism, BB with a purity of 98.21% was prepared from 40% BB by molecular imprinting solid phase extraction (MISPE). Thirty-six ICR mice aged six-to-eight weeks were randomly divided into six groups: control group, model group, fluoxetine group(10 mg/kg), low, middle and high dose groups of BB(3.5, 7.0 and 14.0 mg/kg). Except for the control group, the depression models of mice were established by chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) model. In the course of the experiment, the changes of depression in mice after BB intervention were observed, and the body weight of mice was recorded. At the end of the experiment, the contents of inflammatory factors in serum, monoamine neurotransmitters in brain and brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF) in hippocampus were measured. The results showed that BB could improve the depression of mice, significantly reduce the contents of tumor necrosis factor- $ \alpha $(TNF- $ \alpha $) and interleukin-6(IL-6), increase the contents of
Keywords: bilobalide(BB); chronic unpredictable mild stress(CUMS) model; antidepressant; monoamine neurotransmitters; brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF)