Evaluation of antidepressant effect of angiotensin receptor blocker telmisartan in albino mice

Background: Depression and hypertension are common morbidities which are seen in elderly and also one leads to the other. Present antidepressant drugs are known for its side effects and there is a necessary for newer drugs with lesser adverse effects. Telmisartan being a widely used antihypertensive drug and with multiple additional properties like peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma activity along with blunting of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system can be a potential drug for depression. Hence this study is aimed to evaluate the antidepressant activity of angiotensin receptor blocker telmisartan in animal models.Methods: As per protocol submitted to ethics committee, 24 male albino mice weighing between 20-30grams of either sex were selected and divided into 4 groups consisting of 6 each. They were housed in cages with food and water ad libitum. Animals were kept in ambient temperature and humidity, with a 12-hour light and 12-hour dark cycle. Group 1 and group 2 were administered distilled water and fluoxetine 10 mg/kg respectively only on day 15, whereas group 3 and group 4 received telmisartan per orally 1 mg/kg and 2 mg/kg respectively for 15 days once daily. All animals were tested on day 15 using tail suspension test for antidepressant effect.Results: There was significant reduction in the immobility time in telmisartan group when compared to the control group and this time was comparable with the immobility time of standard drug fluoxetine. Decrease in immobility time was found to statistically significant by using one-way ANOVA followed by Bonferroni post hoc test.Conclusions: As evident from our study, telmisartan can be a newer target for antidepressant effect.

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Antidepressant effect of methanol extract of smokeless tobacco and identification of its bioactive components

Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research ◽

10.4314/tjpr.v18i5.24 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (5) ◽

pp. 1083-1088

Author(s):

Siddig I. Abdelwahab ◽

Syam Mohan ◽

Manal M.E. Taha ◽

Waquar Ahsan ◽

Mohammed Al Bratty ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Normal Control ◽

Bioactive Compounds ◽

Smokeless Tobacco ◽

Methanol Extract ◽

Forced Swim Test ◽

Normal Control Group ◽

Antidepressant Effect ◽

Control Group ◽

Standard Drug ◽

Immobility Time

Purpose: To investigate the antidepressant effect of methanol extract of smokeless tobacco and identify its bioactive compounds. Methods: Adult Wistar rats were randomly assigned to five groups of five rats each: normal control group, standard (reference) control group as well as 100, 200 and 500 mg/kg extract group. The extract, standard drug (imipramine) and normal saline were administered via the intraperitoneal (i.p.) route. The rats were subjected to forced swim test (FST) and tail suspension test (TST) to assess the antidepressant effect of methanol extract of smokeless tobacco. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used to identify the bioactive compounds of the extract. Results: The oral LD50 of the extract was > 2000 mg/kg. Significant decrease in immobility time was observed after single administration of imipramine (p < 0.05). The extract significantly and dosedependently decreased the immobility time, but increased climbing and swimming times, when compared with normal control group (p < 0.05). The immobility time of stressed rats regardless of sex was significantly and dose-dependently lowered, relative to normal control group (p < 0.05). Four major compounds were identified in the extract: nicotine (45.88 %); 1,5-dimethyl-2-pyrrolidinone (23.00 %), nhexadecanoic acid (11.31 %) and vitamin A aldehyde (9.38 %). Conclusion: These results demonstrate that the methanol extract of smokeless tobacco possesses antidepressant and mood-elevating effects in rats. However, its use should be discouraged since it contains a number of hazardous and carcinogenic components such as N-nitroso compounds and benzo(a)pyrene which are categorized as Class-I carcinogens.

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Synergistic Anxiolytic Effect of Curcumin and Zinc on Acute and Chronic Models of Anxiety in Mice

JOURNAL FOR CLINICAL AND DIAGNOSTIC RESEARCH ◽

10.7860/jcdr/2020/45405.14157 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Isswariya Anandan ◽

Nitya Selvaraj ◽

R Meenakshi ◽

Meher Ali Rajamohammad ◽

Nishanthi Anandabaskar ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Zinc Chloride ◽

Antidepressant Drugs ◽

Anxiolytic Effect ◽

Synergistic Action ◽

Control Group ◽

Standard Drug ◽

Swiss Albino Mice ◽

Chronic Models ◽

Albino Mice ◽

Light Dark Box

Introduction: Anxiety disorders being ranked at sixth position in the global burden of diseases is affecting over 250 million people. Curcumin, an active phytochemical flavonoid, has shown to induce the monoamine neurotransmitter serotonin, a prominent neurotransmitter in modulating the brain state in anxiety. Also, evidences reveal that zinc plays a key role in human neurodevelopment and supplementation of zinc enhanced the efficacy of antidepressant drugs through synergistic action. Aim: To evaluate the synergistic antianxiety effect of curcumin and zinc on acute and chronic models of anxiety in male swiss albino mice. Materials and Methods: A total of 36 male Swiss Albino mice, weighing 20-30 g, were randomly grouped to six groups, such that each group consisted of six mice. Group 1 served as control. Group 2 received standard drug diazepam 3 mg/kg Intra Peritoneal (IP). Group 3 and 4 received curcumin at doses of 5 and 10 mg/kg, respectively. Group 5 and 6 received curcumin at doses 5 and 10 mg/kg per oral (p.o) along with zinc chloride 10 mg/kg IP, respectively. The anxiolytic effect was studied in two validated models of anxiety such as Elevated Plus Maze (EPM) test and light/dark box test. Each animal was tested initially in the EPM followed by light/dark box test after administration of drug/vehicle one hour prior to the experiment in acute study. Following a washout period of one week, the animals were utilised for the study of chronic anxiolytic effect wherein the drugs were administered once daily for 14 days. Results: Curcumin at doses of 5 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg with zinc chloride 10 mg/kg showed a significant increase in the number of entries and time spent in open arm in EPM both on acute and chronic administration (p<0.001). In the light/dark box test, curcumin at doses of 5 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg when given along with zinc chloride 10 mg/kg significantly increased the number of entries and time spent in the light compartment both in acute and chronic models (p<0.001). Conclusion: The anxiolytic effect of synergistic action of curcumin and zinc was efficacious in both acute and chronic models of anxiety in mice.

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Decreased angiotensin receptor 1 expression in ± AT1 Knockout mice testis results in male infertility and GnRH reduction

Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology ◽

10.1186/s12958-021-00805-1 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Fangfang Zhao ◽

Yun Zou ◽

Hui Li ◽

Yaheng Zhang ◽

Xuele Liu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Male Infertility ◽

Angiotensin Receptor Blocker ◽

Sperm Morphology ◽

Receptor Blocker ◽

Control Group ◽

Angiotensin Receptor ◽

Chain Reaction ◽

Hpg Axis ◽

Knock Out ◽

Polymerase Chain

Abstract Background This study aimed to detect the effect of angiotensin receptor 1 (AT1) knock out (KO) on spermatogenesis and hypothalamic-pituitary–gonadal (HPG) axis hormone expression. Methods Normal C57BL/6 male mice were used as control group or treated with angiotensin receptor blocker, in addition heterozygous ± AT1KO mice were generated. After caged at a ratio of 2 to 1 with females, pregnancy rates of female mice were determined by detection of vaginal plugs. Deformity rate of spermatozoa was evaluated by eosin staining and morphology evaluation. The AT1 mRNA expression in the testes of male ± AT1KO mice was detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (QRT-PCR). Serum GnRH level was determined by ELISA. Results Compared to control, ± AT1KO mice showed reduced expression of AT1 in testes, pituitary and hypothalamus. In addition, decreased level of GnRH, but not follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) or luteinizing hormone (LH), in ± AT1KO mice was detected. Treatment with angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) did not have significant effects on HPG hormones. ± AT1KO mice exhibited male infertility and significant abnormality of sperm morphology. Conclusion Reduced AT1 knockout resulted in male infertility, potentially by inducing abnormal spermatogenesis. Both testis and HPG axis signaling may be involved.

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