Depression is a serious disorder that affects hundreds of millions of people around the world and causes poor quality of life, problem behaviors, and limitations in activities of daily living. Therefore, the search for new therapeutic options is of high interest and growth. Research on the relationship between depression and oxidative stress has shown important biochemical aspects in the development of this disease. Flavonoids are a class of natural products that exhibit several pharmacological properties, including antidepressant-like activity, and affects various physiological and biochemical functions in the body. Studies show the clinical potential of antioxidant flavonoids in treating depressive disorders and strongly suggest that these natural products are interesting prototype compounds in the study of new antidepressant drugs. So, this review will summarize the chemical and pharmacological perspectives related to the discovery of flavonoids with antidepressant activity. The mechanisms of action of these compounds are also discussed, including their actions on oxidative stress relating to depression.
BackgroundPlants of the genus Markhamia have been traditionally used by different tribes in various parts of West African countries, including Cameroun. Markhamia tomentosa (Benth.) K. Schum. (Bignoniaceae) is used as an antimalarial, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antioxidant and anti-Alzheimer agent. The current study was undertaken in order to investigate its anti-amnesic and antioxidant potential on scopolamine-induced cognitive impairment and to determine its possible mechanism of action.MethodsRats were pretreated with the aqueous extract (50 and 200 mg/kg, p.o.), for 10 days, and received a single injection of scopolamine (0.7 mg/kg, i.p.) before training in Y-maze and radial arm-maze tests. The biochemical parameters in the rat hippocampus were also assessed to explore oxidative status. Statistical analyses were performed using two-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s post hoc test. F values for which p < 0.05 were regarded as statistically significant.ResultsIn the scopolamine-treated rats, the aqueous extract improved memory in behavioral tests and decreased the oxidative stress in the rat hippocampus. Also, the aqueous extract exhibited anti-acetylcholinesterase activity.ConclusionsThese results suggest that the aqueous extract ameliorates scopolamine-induced spatial memory impairment by attenuation of the oxidative stress in the rat hippocampus.
In the present study, we investigated the effects of the Matricaria chamomilla (chamomile) hydroalcoholic extract on anxiety and depression using a scopolamine rat model. Behavioural procedures for anxiety and depression were assessed in rats using elevated plus maze and forced swimming tests. The chamomile extract (25 and 75 mg/kg b.w.) was given intraperitoneally once daily for 21 days, and scopolamine (0.7 mg/kg b.w.) was injected 30 minutes before the behavioural tests to induce anxiety and depression. The extract efficacy was matched by those elicited by diazepam (1.5 mg/kg b.w.) and tramadol (10 mg/kg b.w.) for anxiolytic and antidepressant studies. Our results demonstrated that the extract abolishes scopolamineinduced increasing of anxiety and depressive-like responses and exhibited therapeutic benefits for the management of psychological ailments.
RezumatÎn prezentul studiu, am investigat efectele extractului hidroalcoolic obținut din Matricaria chamomilla (mușețel) asupra comportamentului anxios și depresiv, utilizând un model animal indus cu scopolamină. S-au utilizat testele labirintului în cruce suspendat și înotului forțat pentru evaluarea comportamentului anxios și depresiv. Extractul de mușetel (25 și 75 mg/kg corp) a fost administrat intraperitoneal o dată pe zi timp de 21 de zile, în timp ce scopolamina (0,7 mg/kg corp) a fost injectată cu 30 de minute înainte de declanșarea testelor comportamentale pentru a induce anxietate și depresie. Eficacitatea anxiolitică și antidepresivă a extractului a fost comparată cu cea exercitată de diazepam (1,5 mg/kg corp) și de tramadol (10 mg/kg corp). Rezultatele experimentale indică faptul că extractul de mușețel manifestă efecte anxiolitice și antidepresive, și a prezentat beneficii terapeutice în gestionarea afecțiunilor psihice.
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