In the present study, abietic acid was evaluated for antidepressant-like activity in normal mice and chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) -induced depressed mice. Swiss albino male mice were subjected to CUMS for 21 successive days. Abietic acid (7.5, 15, and 30 mg/kg, p.o.) and fluoxetine (20 mg/kg, p.o.) per se were given for 3 successive weeks to separate groups of normal mice and CUMS-induced depressed mice. Tail suspension test (TST) and sucrose preference test were employed to study the effect of the drugs on the depressive-like behavior of mice. CUMS produced depressionlike behavior in mice. In TST, the immobility period was significantly decreased by abietic acid (30 mg/kg) and fluoxetine in normal mice as well as in CUMS-induced depressed mice as compared to their respective control groups. A decrease in sucrose preference due to CUMS was significantly restored by abietic acid (15 and 30 mg/kg) and fluoxetine. Locomotor activities of mice were not significantly changed by abietic acid and fluoxetine. Plasma nitrite, brain monoamine oxidase -A (MAO-A) activity, and brain malondialdehyde were significantly decreased; and brain catalase activity and reduced glutathione levels were significantly increased by abietic acid (15 and 30 mg/kg) and fluoxetine in both normal mice and CUMS-induced depressed mice. CUMS-induced increase in plasma corticosterone levels was significantly lowered by abietic acid (15 and 30 mg/kg) and fluoxetine. Abietic acid exerted significant antidepressant-like activity in both normal mice and CUMS-induced depressed mice possibly through mitigation of oxidative stress and decrease of brain MAO-A activity. Additionally, lowering of plasma corticosterone concentration by abietic acid in CUMS-induced depressed mice might also contribute to its antidepressant-like effect.
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