Exploring Molecular Mechanisms of Traditional Persian Medicine-based Herbal Remedies for Depression: A Network-based Study
Authors: Firouzabadi negar , Sakhteman Amirhossein , Heydari Mahmoud , Mohseni Parnaz , Mosaddeghi Pouria , Kabiri Maryam , Zamaninasab AmirAli , Zarshenas Mohammad M. 
Published: October 2023

Background:

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a prevalent mental health condition
that affects a significant portion of the general population. Despite the availability of pharmacological,
psychological, and novel neurological approaches, optimal outcomes are only
achieved in roughly 50% of patients. Traditional Persian Medicine (TPM) recommends a holistic
approach to cure diseases based on the etiologic cause of malfunctions. This study aimed to
explore the potential of integrating TPM and systems pharmacology approaches for the management
of MDD.

background:

Depression is considered one of the most prevalent mental illnesses worldwide. Depression and the effectiveness of antidepressants are both influenced by genetic factors. Various anti-depressant remedies have been listed in Traditional Persian medicine (TPM) manuscripts, which may be useful as adjuvant therapy in the treatment of depression. The use of network-based studies is becoming more and more crucial for comprehending how medications apply their pharmacological actions. The growing fields of systems pharmacology (SP) and bioinformatics make use of computing to comprehend how drugs function at cellular and molecular levels. A common biological route that involves protein-protein (drug-target) interactions can be mechanistically understood using SP.

Methods:

A network-based investigation was conducted to explore the molecular mechanisms
of TPM-based herbal remedies for depression. The study utilized a network pharmacology
approach to identify active compounds, targets, and pathways involved in the treatment of
depression. The study also conducted a literature review to identify the effectiveness of TPMbased
remedies in treating depression.

objective:

The objective of the current study was to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying TPM approach in the treatment of depression.

Results:

The study identified several active compounds, targets, and pathways involved in the
treatment of depression by TPM-based herbal remedies. The study also identified several TPMbased
remedies with anti-inflammatory properties that may be effective in treating depression.
The literature review supported the potential of TPM remedies for the management of MDD.

Conclusion:

The integration of TPM and systems pharmacology may provide a holistic insight
into the management of MDD. The study's findings suggest the potential of TPM-based remedies
with anti-depressant properties, and further research is needed to understand the molecular
mechanisms underlying their effectiveness. Integrating TPM-based remedies with bioinformatics
may provide a complementary therapeutic avenue to MDD management and improve the
quality of life for MDD patients.

result:

According to our study, many phytochemicals found in the plants used to make TPM-based prescriptions may impact various genes linked to depressive disorders.

conclusion:

The findings of these investigations suggested that many of the identified herbal remedies may have the potential to treat depression by activating a number of different pathways. The current study encourages further study of TPM as a model for creating efficient complementary therapies.