ANTIDEPRESSANT EFFECT OF METHANOL EXTRACT OF TAPINANTHUS DODONEIFOLIUS (DC) DANSER INVOLVES NEUTROTROPHIC AND NEUROENDOCRINE SYSTEMS FOLLOWING CHRONIC STRESS IN MICE
NURA BELLO*, AISHATU SHEHU, IDRIS MOHAMMED MAJE, MOHAMMED GARBA MAGAJI
Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
Afr. J Pharm Res Dev; Volume 13(3): 223-234 (2021)
ABSTRACT
The antidepressant effect of Tapinanthus dodoneifolius in mouse despair model has been reported. This study investigates mechanism(s) of its activity using the chronic mild stress model. Chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) was used to induce depression in mice for five weeks. Forty-eight animals were grouped into six groups of eight animals each involving five stress groups and one unstressed group. Weekly weighing was carried out for all the groups. Behavioural tests including tail suspension (TST), open field test (OFT) and sucrose consumption test (SCT) were carried out at base line, 2 weeks and at completion. The stressed groups were treated orally for three weeks starting from second week with graded doses (250, 500 and 1000 mg//kg) of the extract, fluoxetine and distilled water respectively. At the end of the fifth week, all the animals were euthanized and their brains were isolated. The brains were subjected to biochemical assay using ELISA kits for cortisol, brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and cytokines (IL-1 and IL-6) respectively. The extract produced a significant (p < 0.05) reduction in immobility time, ambulation, and anhedonia. Also, the extract significantly (p < 0.05) ameliorates CUMS-induced reduction in brain BDNF level and increased brain cortisol level. However, the brain cytokines level was not significantly affected. The study revealed that the extract relieves depressive-like state through the mitigation of despair and anhedonia likely through the neuroendocrine and neurotrophic mechanisms.
Email of correspondence: nb32321@gmail.com
KEYWORDS: Depression; Despair; Anhedonia; brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF); Cortisol;
Cytokines.