*2.2. Preparation of CHFs and CORT*

All CHFs used in this study were prepared using the water decocting method from dried medical herbs purchased in the form of prepared slices. Water was added to the mixture of prepared slices of the herbs in a 1:10 (g/mL) ratio of materials to liquid and boiled for 2 h. The decoction was collected and the same amount of water was added to the residue. Then, the mixture was boiled for another 2 h. Next, the decoctions were combined and concentrated to a constant volume. The water extract was centrifuged (13,000 rpm, 10 min, 4 ◦C) to separate any insoluble materials, and then the supernatant was filtered through a 0.2 μm syringe filter before use. The prepared water extract was frozen at −20 ◦C for storage. Four Chinese medicine herbs, *P. ginseng*, *A. sinensis*, *P. tenuifolia* Willd, and *Z. spinosae* Semen, were included in PAPZ (Table 1). The dosage of PAPZ described in this paper was in the form of equivalent dry herb amount.

Corticosterone (CORT) powder was suspended in 0.9% (w/v) physiological saline with 0.1% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) acting as a cosolvent


**Table 1.** Chinese herbs included in PAPZ.
