Escitalopram or novel herbal treatments differentially alter cytokine and behavioral responses to immune challenge

•Effects of escitalopram or herbal treatment on the response to LPS were assessed.•Escitalopram augmented LPS-induced TNFα and altered the kinetics of IL-1β secretion.•Escitalopram marginally reduced sickness behavior.•Herbal treatment abolished LPS-induced IL-1β and TNFα secretion.•Herbal treatment diminished LPS-induced sickness behavior.

Studies suggest that inflammation is involved in the pathophysiology of depression. The present study examined the effects of the commonly used antidepressant escitalopram, in comparison with a novel herbal treatment (NHT) consisted of Crataegus pinnatifida, Triticum aestivum, Lilium brownii and Fructus Ziziphus jujuba, on cytokine and behavioral responses to an immune challenge. Escitalopram augmented lipopolysaccharide-induced tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α peripheral secretion and induced a faster kinetics of interleukin-1β secretion, while marginally reducing sickness behavior. NHT, on the other hand, completely abolished lipopolysaccharide-induced interleukin-1β and TNFα peripheral secretion and diminished sickness behavior. These findings may have implications for the treatment of depressive symptoms associated with immune activation.

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