Evaluation of Efficacy of Lycium Barbarum Polysaccharide in Patients With Major Depressive Disorder

Lycium barbarum, a traditional Chinese herbal medicine, is a commonly used herb in the traditional Chinese pharmacopoeia. Its main active ingredient, lycium barbarum polysaccharide (LBP), is reported to have neuroprotective effects. Animal studies suggested that LBP has neuroprotective effect on optic ganglion cells. In animal models of depression, LBP can improve depressive symptom by improving synaptic plasticity. However, its clinical effect remains to be studied. We will conduct a 6-week double-blind, randomized, placebo-con-trolled trial in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). The purpose of this clinical trial is to investigate the efficacy of LBP in patients with MDD.