BDNF and major depressive disorder: Studies have also shown that AVLE improved depression behaviors in mice, regulated levels of monoamine and dopamine, and increased expression of BDNF [24, 25]. In vitro, AV extract (25, 50, and 100 μg/mL) suppressed the apoptosis of corticosterone-treated PC12 cells and upregulated BDNF expression [26].