Extract of nelumbins semen for the treatment of depression

Abstract

Disclosed are a Nelumbinis Semen extract for treating depression, method of preparing the extract, and a pharmaceutical composition and a health food, comprising the extract. The Nelumbinis Semen extract is prepared by extracting Nelumbinis Semen with an alcohol or an alcohol solution. The Nelumbinis Semen extract has been demostrated using animal behavioral, bio-chemical and molecular biological methods to have strong antidepressive activity, as well as inhibiting immune suppression caused by depression, leading to normal immune responses, and reducing side effects of conventional antidepressants, thereby ensuring safety. Thus, The Nelumbinis Semen extract is useful for preparing a composition or health food for treating depression.

1 . A Nelumbinis Semen extract having antidepressive activity, which is prepared by extracting Nelumbinis Semen with an alcohol or an alcohol solution.  
   
   
       2 . The Nelumbinis Semen extract according to  claim 1 , wherein the alcohol or alcohol solution is selected from the group consisting of 10-100% ethyl alcohol and 10-100% methyl alcohol.  
   
   
       3 . The Nelumbinis Semen extract according to  claim 2 , wherein the alcohol or alcohol solution is 70-100% ethyl alcohol.  
   
   
       4 . A method of preparing a Nelumbinis Semen extract comprising: 
 1) extracting Nelumbinis Semen with an alcohol or an alcohol solution; and    2) filtering and concentrating a resulting extract.    
   
   
       5 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the extraction of Nelumbinis Semen is selected from the group consisting of cold extraction (maceration), reflux extraction and ultrasonic extraction.  
   
   
       6 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the extraction is ultrasonic extraction.  
   
   
       7 . A pharmaceutical composition for treating depression, comprising the Nelumbinis Semen extract of  claim 1  as an effective component.  
   
   
       8 . A health food for treating depression, comprising the Nelumbinis Semen extract of  claim 1  as an effective component.  
   
   
       9 . The method according to  claim 4 , further comprising freeze-drying a resulting concentrate.  
   
   
       10 . A Nelumbinis Semen extract prepared by the method of  claim 4.