For example, Xiaoyaosan effectively regulated hippocampal levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and its receptors and consequently helped reduce stress-induced depression14; Xiaoyaosan increased the key parameters of the elevated plus maze (EPM) test that are negatively associated with anxiety-like behaviour, which was reported to restore the balance of α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptor signalling associated with rapid antidepressant responses in stress-exposed rats15, 16. This evidence concerns the gene BDNF and Anxiety.