目的 研究表没食子儿茶素没食子酸酯（EGCG）的抗抑郁作用。方法 制备慢性温和不可预知应激（CUMS）刺激小鼠抑郁模型；通过旷场实验、体质量、糖水偏爱率、强迫游泳实验和悬尾实验静止时间等指标考察EGCG的抗抑郁作用；检测血清皮质酮（CORT）、促肾上腺皮质激素（ACTH）水平；检测海马组织丙二醛（MDA）水平及超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）和谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶（GSH-Px）活性；实时定量PCR（RT-PCR）检测海马组织中吲哚胺2，3-双加氧酶（IDO）、白细胞介素-1β（IL-1β）、IL-6 mRNA表达。结果 EGCG改善小鼠抑郁状态行为活动；降低血清CORT、ACTH水平；减少海马中MDA的量，提高SOD、GSH-Px活性，下调IDO、IL-6及IL-1β mRNA表达。结论 EGCG可改善小鼠抑郁症状，其机制可能与降低血清中CORT、ACTH水平，抑制海马中MDA的生成，促进SOD、GSH-Px分泌，以及下调IDO、IL-6、IL-1β基因表达有关。

Objective To observe the protective effects of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) on the depression. Methods The depressive mice model induced by chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) was established. The behavioristics of the mice exposed to various stress were tested form the open-field, body weight, sucrose preference, forced swimming and tail suspension test for investigating the antidepressant effect of EGCG. Meanwhile, serum CORT, ACTH levels, and the hippocampus MDA, SOD and GSH-Px were estimated. The mRNA expression of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), IL-1β, and IL-6 in the hippocampus tissue were detected by RT-PCR. Results EGCG improved the behavioristics of depressive mice, however, it ameliorated the serum CORT and ACTH levels. Moreover, EGCG increased the activity of SOD and GSH-Px, and reduced MDA, IDO, IL-6, and IL-1β expression on the mRNA levels in the hippocampus tissue. Conclusion EGCG could attenuate depressive status of mice, and the underlying mechanism may related to the reduction of serum CORT and ACTH, down-regulation of MDA, IL-1β, IL-6, and IDO, and up-regulation of SOD and GSH-Px in hippocampus.