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.

(E)-2-decenoic acid is a stereoisomer of the corresponding medium-chain fatty acid in the trans configuration. This compound excreted by the caries bacterium Streptococcus mutants and inhibits the morphological transition from yeast to hyphae, an important virulence trait, in the opportunistic fungus Candida albicans. As a component of royal jelly it exhibits estrogenic effect by activation of estrogen receptor beta. Ethyl ester of trans-2-decenoic acid exerts neurotrophin-like neurotrophic activities in animal models of stress-induced anxiety-like, cerebral infarction and spinal cord injury.