3-Nitropropionic Acid (aka beta-Nitropropionic acid) is a mycotoxin and potent mitochondrial inhibitor. It is produced by a number of fungi and found widely in food, in sugar cane, and in Japanese fungally fermented staples such as miso, soy sauce, and katsuobushi. beta-Nitropropionic acid is also present in some traditional Chinese medicines. beta-Nitropropionic Acid can be systematically administered to produce localized striatal neurodegeneration mimicking the pathological features of Huntington's disease.

Chelidonic acid (CA) is a γ-pyrone which is contained in the rhizome of Chelidonium majus L. It has multiple pharmacological effects including those of a mild analgesic, an antimicrobial, an oncostatic, a central nervous system sedative and the anti-inflammatory effect. Chelidonic acid evokes antidepressant-like effect through the up-regulation of BDNF in forced swimming test. Chelidonic acid administration significantly increased the mRNA expression of hippocampal estrogen receptor-β. The levels of hippocampal interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α were effectively attenuated by the administration of chelidonic acid. In addition, chelidonic acid significantly increased the levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin), dopamine, and norepinephrine compared with those levels for the mice that were administered distilled water in the hippocampus. Chelidonic acid might serve as a new therapeutic strategy for the regulation of depression associated with inflammation.