scholarly journals Evaluation of the Therapeutic Potential of Oral Phycocyanin-Rich Spirulina Extract in Neuropsychiatric Disorders.

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Donen ◽  
Tzuri Lifschytz ◽  
Gilly Wolf ◽  
Hagar Ben- Ari ◽  
Amit Lotan ◽  
...  

Aim: Spirulina is a microalga that is widely used as a food supplement and is regarded as having performance enhancing and health promoting properties. We conducted a preliminary evaluation of the possible antidepressant, anti-anxiety, pro-socialization and cognition-enhancing effects of Spirulina in mouse models Methods: Sixty male BalbC mice aged 3 weeks were administered phycocyanin-rich Spirulina extract [PRSE, 545 mg/kg], fluoxetine [20 mg/kg] or water orally for 5 weeks. During the last 2 weeks of the experiment a series of behavioral-cognitive tests was performed to evaluate motor activity, antidepressant and anti-anxiety effects, socialization and cognitive effects. Effects of PRSE and fluoxetine were compared to those of water. Results: There was a significant effect of PRSE in the activity domain, manifesting as an increase in velocity in the open field [p=0.0007 vs. water]. Fluoxetine significantly enhanced immobility in the tail suspension test and the forced swim test reflecting the known antidepressant effect of this compound, but not PRSE. There were no significant effects of PRSE in tests of anxiety, socialization or cognition. Conclusions: The most striking observation in this study was that PRSE significantly enhanced activity in the open field test. Further studies are indicated to confirm and extend this finding and investigate possible mechanisms of action. The results of the current study do not support sporadic reports of possible antidepressant or cognition-enhancing effects of PRSE. Nevertheless, additional studies are indicated using depression models rather than naïve mice, alternative mouse strains, using additional cognitive tests, and administering higher PRSE doses.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Donen ◽  
Tzuri Lifschytz ◽  
Gilly Wolf ◽  
Hagar Ben-Ari ◽  
Amit Lotan ◽  
...  

Aim: Spirulina is a microalga that is widely used as a food supplement and is regarded as having performance enhancing and health promoting properties. We conducted a preliminary evaluation of the possible antidepressant, anti-anxiety, pro-socialization and cognition-enhancing effects of Spirulina in mouse models. Methods: Sixty male BalbC mice aged 3 weeks were administered phycocyanin-rich Spirulina extract (PRSE, 545 mg/kg), fluoxetine (20 mg/kg) or water orally for 5 weeks. During the last 2 weeks of the experiment a series of behavioral-cognitive tests was performed to evaluate motor activity, antidepressant and anti-anxiety effects, socialization and cognitive effects. Effects of PRSE and fluoxetine were compared to those of water. Results: There was a significant effect of PRSE in the activity domain, manifesting as an increase in velocity in the open field (p=0.0007 vs. water). Fluoxetine significantly enhanced immobility in the tail suspension test and the forced swim test reflecting the known antidepressant effect of this compound, but not PRSE. There were no significant effects of PRSE in tests of anxiety, socialization or cognition. Conclusions: The most striking observation in this study was that PRSE significantly enhanced activity in the open field test. Further studies are indicated to confirm and extend this finding and investigate possible mechanisms of action. The results of the current study do not support sporadic reports of possible antidepressant or cognition-enhancing effects of PRSE. Nevertheless, additional studies are indicated using depression models rather than naive mice, alternative mouse strains, using additional cognitive tests, and administering higher PRSE doses.


Author(s):  
Jessica MacGregor

gene in humans have been shown to predict non-responsiveness to antidepressant drugs; suggesting that FGF2 is required for antidepressants to work. In this study, we hypothesized that antidepressants will not work in rodents that lack the FGF2 gene. Hence, we tested antidepressant treatment in transgenic mice that had the FGF2 gene knocked out. Chronic unpredictable stress (CUS) has been used for several decades to produce a reliable depressive and anxious phenotype in mice. This study followed a CUS paradigm and used fluoxetine (Prozac) as antidepressant treatment. Mice received daily fluoxetine administration beginning on week three of CUS and continued until the end of week five to provide an antidepressant effect and reverse the effects of stress. To test for levels of anxiety and depression, a battery of behavioral tests was conducted which began from the least stressful (i.e. sucrose preference test, open field maze, elevated plus maze) to the most stressful test (forced swim test) to prevent testing carry-over effects. AnyMaze software was used to measure behavior in the open field and elevated plus mazes by recording the amount of time each mouse spent in certain parts of the maze. Future studies will examine brain changes associated with FGF2 gene deletion – particularly in astrocyte cells – which might be necessary for successful antidepressant action. Hopefully, this will elucidate novel therapeutic targets for antidepressant and anti-anxiety medication. 


Author(s):  
Chiranjeevi Bonda ◽  
Sudhir Pawar ◽  
Jaisen Lokhande

Background: The aim of the study was to evaluate the antidepressant effect of opioid analgesic tramadol using forced swim test and tail suspension test models.Methods: The antidepressant effect was assessed by recording the immobility time in Forced swim test (FST) and Tail suspension test (TST). The mice were randomly divided into five groups. Mice belonging to group I was given normal saline (0.1ml/kg) which acted as control. Group II received imipramine (15mg/kg) considered as the standard drug tramadol was given in graded dose (10, 20 and 40 mg/kg) to mice of groups III, IV, V respectively. All drugs were administered intraperitoneally for seven successive days; test was done on 7th day.Results: Tramadol and Imipramine showed antidepressant activity when compared to control. There is dose dependent increase in antidepressant activity of tramadol. The antidepressant activity of imipramine was significantly (P<0.05) more than tramadol at dose 10 and 20 mg/kg but antidepressant activity with tramadol 40mg/kg was comparable to imipramine treated mice.Conclusions: The results of this study indicated the presence of antidepressant activity of tramadol at 40mg/kg.


Dose-Response ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 155932581989126 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hafiz Muhammad Asif ◽  
Abdul Hayee ◽  
Muhammad Rahil Aslam ◽  
Khalil Ahmad ◽  
Abdul Sattar Hashmi

The present work was carried out to assess the Onosma bracteatum anxiolytic and antidepressant properties. Swiss albino mice (male) were fed orally with hydroalcoholic extract at different doses 50, 100, and 200 mg 1 hour prior to test with the standard diazepam and fluoxetine. Anxiolytic and antidepressant activities were evaluated by using open field, elevated plus maze, force swimming, and tail suspension test. Results of open field test showed an increase in number of line crossing as well as number of rearing in dosage-dependent design. Although results of elevated plus maze test evidently showed antianxiety effect of O bracteatum by increasing the time spent in open arms along with decreasing the time spent in closed arms in dosage-dependent way. For the evaluation of antidepressant effect, O bracteatum diminished the immobility time and expanded mobility time in forced swim model in dosage-dependent way. Likewise, O bracteatum expanded time span of mobility along with diminished immobility time in tail suspension method in dosage-dependent way. Outcome demonstrated that plant at the dose of 200 mg/kg body weight showed significant potential which was similar to that standard diazepam and fluoxetine. Hence, O bracteatum may be used as potent natural psychotherapeutic agent against the mental disorders.


2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gaurav Gupta ◽  
Tay Jia Jia ◽  
Lim Yee Woon ◽  
Dinesh Kumar Chellappan ◽  
Mayuren Candasamy ◽  
...  

The present study was designed to evaluate the acute and chronic antidepressant effect of genistein in combination with amitriptyline in mice. Animals were divided into six groups (n=6) for treatment with water, genistein, or amitriptyline, either alone or in combination for ten days. Animals were subjected to locomotor activity testing; tail suspension test (TST); and forced swim test (FST) and immobility time was recorded on day one and day ten. Acute treatment of all treatment groups did not significantly reduce the immobility time (p>0.05). Chronic treatment of combination of genistein (10 mg/kg) and amitriptyline (5 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg) significantly reduced the immobility time as compared to control group (p<0.001) and was comparable to amitriptyline alone (10 mg/kg). However, no changes in anti-immobility activity in combination of subeffective doses of genistein (5 mg/kg) and amitriptyline (5 mg/kg) were observed. Genistein at its standard dose (10 mg/kg) rendered synergistic effects in combination with subeffective dose of amitriptyline (5 mg/kg) and additive effects in combination with therapeutic dose of amitriptyline (10 mg/kg).


Author(s):  
Mansi J. Shah ◽  
Geetha M. ◽  
Rahul H. D. ◽  
Shashikala G. H.

Background: Ondansetron and granisetron are selective 5-HT receptor antagonists used as antiemetics. The present study as aimed at comparing the antidepressant activity of ondansetron and granisetron in animal experimental models.Methods: The study was done after obtaining approval from the institutional animal ethical committee of JJM Medical college, Davangere and CPCSEA. A total of 24 mice of either sex and of weight between 20-40g were included in the study. The antidepressant activity of ondansetron and granisetron was evaluated in mice using forced swim test model (FST) and tail suspension test model (TST). In both the experimental models animals were divided into 4 groups and received the following drugs- Group 1 (control) - normal saline 10mg/kg i.p, Group 2 (standard)-fluoxetine 10mg/kg i.p, Group 3(test drug 1), ondansetron 2mg/kg i.p, Group 4 (test drug 2)- granisetron 0.5mg/kg i.p. The duration of immobility was noted and compared amongst the 4 groups in both the models 60 min after drug administration. The observations were analysed using ANOVA (one way) and post hoc Tukey’s test.Results: The test drugs showed significant reduction in duration of immobility in both the models. In FST and TST models, granisetron (0.5mg/kg i.p) showed a significant reduction in immobility period of 10.33 sec and 67 secs respectively when compared to ondansetron (2mg/kg i.p) and the standard drug fluoxetine (10mg/kg i.p).Conclusions: The results of study suggest that granisetron may be useful as a potential candidate for treatment of depression. Hence further animal studies with different model for depression and clinical studies should be conducted in order to choose the better drug for treatment PONV which is often associated with depression.


2021 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wenjuan Hou ◽  
Huan Ma ◽  
Yufeng Xun ◽  
Xin Zhang ◽  
Wenqi Cai ◽  
...  

In the regulation of emotional and social behaviors, both oxytocin (OT) and vasopressin (AVP) are sex specific. Although significant sex differences have been reported in the context of behavioral and hormonal responses to social stress, such differences in response to chronic social defeat stress (CSDS) and the underlying neural mechanisms remain largely unknown. By investigating monogamous mandarin voles (Microtus mandarinus), CSDS was found to decrease the percentages of time spent in the central area of the open field, in the open arms of the elevated plus maze, as well as in the light area of the light and dark boxes in both male and female voles. CSDS also increased the observed level of social withdrawal in both sex groups. However, CSDS exposure increased the percentages of immobile time in both the tail suspension test and the forced swim test and reduced the locomotor activity in the open field (in females only). Along with these behavioral changes, the oxytocin receptor (OTR) levels in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) were significantly lower in CSDS-exposed voles of both sexes; however, in males, the levels of OTR in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) were reduced. CSDS-exposed males showed lower levels of V1aR in the NAc than CSDS-exposed females. Furthermore, induced by a single social defeat event, CSDS reduced c-Fos and OT double labeling in the PVN of females but increased c-Fos and AVP double-labeled neurons in the PVN of males exposed to a single social defeat event. Collectively, the present study indicates that OT and AVP systems may play important regulatory roles in the sex differences of behavioral performances in response to CSDS. These findings suggest mandarin voles as a useful animal model for studying sex-specific behavioral performance and the underlying neurobiological mechanisms of stress-related mental disorders in preclinical studies.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lanying Liu ◽  
Zhilu Zou ◽  
Jiangwei Yang ◽  
Xiaoqi Li ◽  
Boran Zhu ◽  
...  

Background: Recent studies suggest that gut microbiota was associated with the bidirectional gut-brain axis which could modulate neuropsychological functions of the central nervous system. Gut microbiota could produce gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) that could modulate the gut–brain axis response. Jianpi Jieyu (JPJY) decoction, a traditional Chinese formula, is mainly composed of Astragalus membranaxeus and Radix Pseudostellariae. Although the JPJY decoction has been used to treat the depression in China, the potential action of its antidepressant has not been well understood. Thus this study was aim to investigate the role of JPJY improve gut microbiota homeostasis in the chronic stress induced depressive mice.Methods: The antidepressant effect of JPJY on chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) mice was evaluated by using sucrose preference test, tail suspension test and forced swim test. Fatigue-like behaviors were evaluated using degree of redness, grip strength test, and exhaustive swimming test. The new object recognition test was used to evaluate cognition performance. Fecal samples were collected and taxonomical analysis of intestinal microbial distribution was conducted with 16S rDNA. Serum level of GABA was measured using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The expression of GluR1 and p-Tau protein in the hippocampus was determined using Western blotting.Results: The dose of 9.2 g/kg JPJY produced antidepressant-like effects. JPJY and its major components also modulated gut microbiota diversity in the CUMS mice. Serum level of GABA and the expressions of hippocampal GluR1 and p-Tau were reversed after the administration of JPJY in CUMS mice.Conclusion: JPJY regulates gut microbiota to produce antidepressant-like effect and improve cognition deficit in depressive mice while its molecular mechanism possibly be enhanced NR1 and Tau expression in hippocampus and increased GABA in serum.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-18
Author(s):  
Francis Ackah Armah ◽  
Isaac Tabiri Henneh ◽  
Isaac Kingsley Amponsah ◽  
Robert Peter Biney ◽  
Fynn Malcolm ◽  
...  

Background. The present study aimed at validating the traditional use and toxicity profile of a methanolic extract of the aerial parts of Psychotria ankasensis in alleviating depression and anxiety disorders. Method. The antidepressant effect of methanolic extract of Psychotria ankasensis (PAE 30, 100, and 300 mg/kg, p.o.) was assessed in mice using the forced swim test (FST) and the tail suspension test (TST). The plant's anxiolytic potential was also evaluated in mice using the elevated plus-maze (EPM) and the open field tests (OFT). The subchronic toxicity was assessed via oral administration of PAE at doses of 100, 300, and 1000 mg/kg in rats for 28 days. Results. PAE 100 and 300 mg/kg showed antidepressant-like properties by significantly (at least p < 0.05 ) decreasing the frequency and duration of immobility in FST and TST. PAE (100 and 300 mg/kg) also showed a significant (at least p < 0.05 ) anxiolytic effect in both EPM and OFT. In the EPM test, Emax for PAE and diazepam were 92.52 ± 40.11% and 85.95 ± 45.92%, respectively, whereas Emax was approximately 100% for both test drugs in the OFT. Subchronic administration of PAE did not reveal any toxic effects with respect to organ weight index, haematological, serum biochemical, and histopathological parameters. Conclusions. Methanolic extract of P. ankasensis exhibited antidepressant-like and anxiolytic-like effects devoid of significant toxicity at the doses tested in murine models.


Author(s):  
Tulika Singhal ◽  
Saroj Kothari

Background: Depressive disorder is a prevalent psychiatric disorder, which affects 21% of the world population. Many drugs which are available as effective antidepressants produce various side effects like sedation weight gain postural hypotension etc., so there is need to develop novel compounds with minimized side effects. Hence this study was aimed to investigate the antidepressant activity of DHA, an omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid in albino mice.Methods: Animals were divided into four groups, consisting six mice in each group. Out of these, group I served as control (2% gum acacia), group II and III received test drug in two different doses 200mg/kg and 300mg/kg respectively and group IV received fluoxetine (20mg/kg) as standard drug. To determine the antidepressant-like activity, we used forced swim test and tail suspension test in mice. These methods are based on the observation that a mouse show alternating agitation and immobility; the immobility is indicative of a state of depression.Results: DHA produced significant antidepressant effect at all the doses, as indicated by reduction in immobility times as compared to control in both FST and TST. (P˂0.05) The efficacy of DHA at dose of 300 mg/kg was comparable with that of fluoxetine. DHA at 200mg/kg dose showed significantly less antidepressant activity compared to fluoxetine. (P˂0.05).Conclusions: The result specifies that compared to two doses of DHA (200mg/kg and 300mg/kg), higher dose of DHA found as an effective dose for treating depression produced due to stress.


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