Effect of Allium macrostemon on a rat model of depression studied by using plasma lipid and acylcarnitine profiles from liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry.

•Effect of Allium macrostemon on depression rats were investigated by LC/MS-based plasma lipid and acylcarnitine profilings.•Several lysophosphatidylcholines were increased, some phosphatidylcholines and triglycerides were decreased in the plasma of depression rats.•Most medium- and long-chain acylcarnitines were elevated in the plasma of depression rats.•Treatment with A. macrostemon restored these aberrant metabolisms to the control levels, confirming its anti-depressive effect.•Metabolic profiling method was a useful tool to investigate depression and the anti-depressive effect of traditional Chinese medicine.