Protective effect of Lycium Barbarum polysaccharides on dextromethorphan-induced mood impairment and neurogenesis suppression.
Brain research bulletin September 1, 2017 Kevin Kai-Ting Po, Joseph Wai-Hin Leung, Jackie Ngai-Man Chan et al.
Dextromethorphan (DXM), a common ingredient in cough medicine, is abused by adolescents and can cause euphoria, dissociation, hallucinations, and depressive symptoms with chronic use. Lycium barbarum (wolfberry), a traditional Chinese medicine for neurodegenerative diseases, may reduce depression-like behavior. In a rat study, DXM-treated animals showed increased depression-like and social anxiety-like behaviors after two weeks. Co-treatment with Lycium barbarum polysaccharide (LBP) reduced these adverse effects. Histological analysis revealed that LBP did not promote hippocampal neurogenesis alone but lessened the suppression of neurogenesis caused by DXM. These findings suggest wolfberry could be an adjunct treatment for mood disturbances during cough syrup abuse rehabilitation.