There are couple of findigs from different studies. Quite interesting, but to replicate them, we need high dosages 100/200/400 mg/kg. No toxicity is reported, mild hepatic edema.
“In our present study, CTE significantly improved depression-like behaviors in rats under CUS by regulating neurotransmitters and neurotrophins in hippocampus.”
“CTE exerted potent antidepressant activities via restoring the level of 5-HT, BDNF, and SCFAs, and modulating the relative abundance of gut microbiota in genus level in CUS rats. Correlation analysis revealed that altered gut microbiota genera were also substantially with changed neurotransmitters, neurotrophins, and SCFAs levels. Therefore, CTE was identified as a potential therapeutic agent for depression targeting the microbiota–gut–brain axis.”
"The level of DA and NE in the central nervous system was measured to determine the nerve excitability. After 4 weeks of tail suspension test, compared to the stress groups, the DA level of groups treated with moderate dosage C. deserticola Y.C.Ma was upregulated significantly each by 43.5%; the DA level of groups treated with moderate dosage C. tubulosa was upregulated significantly, too (Figure 5(a)). The level of NE was mildly upregulated in the groups treated with decoction of both herbs compared to the stress groups, and no statistical difference was found (Figure 5(b)). These results might explain the molecular mechanism of antidepressant effect of herb Cistanche . "
" Daily administration of CT extract throughout Aβ 1-42 infusion periods ameliorated the cognitive deficits, decreased amyloid deposition and reversed cholinergic and hippocampal dopaminergic dysfunction caused by Aβ 1-42. Donepezil also ameliorated the cognitive dysfunction, but only blocked the amyloid deposition and cholinergic dysfunction caused by Aβ 1-42.
We suggest that CT extract, containing enough echinacoside and acteoside, ameliorated the cognitive dysfunction caused by Aβ 1-42 via blocking amyloid deposition, reversing cholinergic and hippocampal dopaminergic neuronal function."
"The effect of Cistanche Tubulosa extract (CT Ext.) on the gene expression of
3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β-HSD), an enzyme that is responsible for the
synthesis of testosterone, and 5α-reductase-2 and aldo-keto reductase, enzymes that
are responsible for the synthesis of dihydrotestosterone was examined. Cistanche
Tubulosa extract (400 mg/kg) was administered to mice once daily for two weeks and
liver RNA was extracted. DNA micro array analysis was conducted on one specimen in
each group of mice. In the specimen of mice receiving Cistanche Tubulosa extract, the
genetic expression of 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β-HSD) was enhanced by 1.5
times. Meanwhile, the genetic expression of 5α-reductase-2 and aldo-keto reductase,
was doubled (Fig. 37). Meanwhile, gene expression not being analyzed by micro array
was analyzed by RT-PCR with exception on C17-20 lyase. As illustrated in Fig. 38,
genetic expression of P450 SCC, 17α-hydroxylase, 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase,
and 5α-reductase-2 was enhanced. In particular, gene expression of 5α-reductase-2 was
15 times higher as compared to the control. The enhancement of genetic expression by
Cistanche Tubulosa extract (400 mg/kg) on enzymes responsible for the production of
male hormone suggested the positive effect of Cistanche Tubulosa Extract on male
hormone production. "
"Antidepressant-Like Effects of Cistanche tubulosa Extract on Chronic Unpredictable Stress Rats Through Restoration of Gut Microbiota Homeostasis
Growing evidence shows that neuropsychiatric disorders, such as depression, are linked with gut microbiome through the gut–brain axis. Cistanches Herba is well known for the treatment of “kidney-yang” deficiency in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), and has been used for treatment of neurodegenerative diseases in recent years. In this study, chronic unpredictable stress (CUS)-induced depression model was established to explore the impact of Cistanche tubulosa extract (CTE) on behavioral tests, monoamine neurotransmitters and neurotrophic factors in hippocampus and colon, gut microbiota composition, and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) production. Moreover, correlation analysis was used to evaluate the functional relationship between altered gut microbiota, changed neurotransmitters and neurotrophins in hippocampus and colon, and disturbed concentration of SCFAs. CTE significantly improved depression-like behaviors in rats under CUS. Brain level of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression in CUS rats were restored by CTE. The relative abundance of gut microbiota and the concentrations of acetate and hexanoic acid could also be modulated by CTE treatment. We further showed that the application of CTE in CUS rats led to strong correlation among disrupted gut microbiota composition, hippocampus neurotransmitter levels, and production of neuroactive metabolite SCFAs . Altogether, these results identify CTE as a potential treatment for depressive symptoms by restoring homeostasis of gut microbiota for microbiota–gut–brain axis disorders, opening new avenues in the field of neuropsychopharmacology. "
“ECH combined with hypothalamic AR in the pocket of Met-894 and Val-713 to inhibit the transfer of AR from the cytoplasm to nuclei in the hypothalamus. While negative feedback of sex hormone regulation was inhibited, positive feedback was stimulated to increase the secretion of luteinizing hormone and testosterone subsequently enhancing sperm quantity. [3].”
