Borneol enhances the antidepressant effects of asiaticoside by promoting its distribution into the brain.

•Borneol in the asiaticoside-borneol formula promotes asiaticoside distribution into the rat brain.•The combination of borneol and asiaticoside significantly reduces the immobility time of rats in FST, while asiaticoside or borneol shows no significant effects.•The combination of borneol and asiaticoside significantly increases the ratio of time in center to that in periphery in the OFT, while asiaticoside or borneol shows no significant effects.