Complement Factor D (CFD) bound by Saikosaponin D (SSD) extracted from Bupleuri Radix might drive the anti-depression network to function

Bupleuri Radix, a famous Chinese herbal medicine called Chai-Hu, has been widely used to treat depression like syndromes over a long history. Although associated clinical evidences has been accumulated and studied, its molecule level therapeutic mechanism is still obscure which blocks the understanding and new drug discovery against major depression. In this study, focused on the active compounds extracted from Bupleuri Radix reported with anti-depression effects, target proteins were determined. Following these targeted proteins, protein-protein regulating network towards proteins participated in the anti-depression processes e.g. serotonin secretion and positive regulation of dopamine secretion was constructed. As a result, together with other 12 regulated proteins, targeted protein of Complement Factor D (CFD) which is bound with Saikosaponin D (SSD) was recognized as a candidate biomarker driving the anti-depression network to function. The primary results were also validated with bioinformatics tools (e.g. DAVID and PANTHER) and PubMed collected literatures.