Pharmacological, Neurochemical, and Behavioral Mechanisms Underlying the Anxiolytic- and Antidepressant-like Effects of Flavonoid Chrysin

Abstract

Chrysin (5,7-dihydroxyflavone) is a flavonoid isolated from plants, such as Passiflora coerulea, Passiflora incarnata, and Matricaria chamomilla. This natural molecule exerts diverse pharmacological effects, which includes antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, neuroprotective, and anti-apoptotic effects. Additionally, in brain structures, such as the hippocampus, prefrontal cortex, raphe nucleus, and striatum, involved in the physiopathology of anxiety and depression disorders, several neuropharmacological activities, including the activation of neurotransmitter systems (GABAergic, serotonergic, dopaminergic, and noradrenergic), neurotrophic factors, such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor and the nerve growth factor, and some signaling pathways are affected. The results showed that the anxiolytic and antidepressant-like effects of chrysin occurs through its interaction with specific neurotransmitter systems, principally the GABAergic and the serotonergic, and activation of other neurotrophic factors. However, it is not possible to discard the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of chrysin while producing its anxiolytic- and antidepressant-like effects. Although these results have been obtained principally from pre-clinical research, they consistently demonstrate the potential therapeutic use of flavonoid chrysin as an anxiolytic and antidepressant agent. Therefore, this flavonoid could be considered as a promising novel therapy for anxiety and depression disorders.

The Effect of Oral Chamomile on Anxiety: A Systematic Review of Clinical Trials

“…From the remaining 31, 21 were eliminated after the full-text screening process for the following reasons: Four were animal studies [ 24 25 26 27 ]; 1 was a study protocol [ 28 ]; 3 used duplicated datasets [ 29 30 31 ]; 5 were irrelevant to the subject [ 21 32 33 34 35 ]. Eight studies were reviews [ 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 ]. The inclusion process of this systematic review is presented in Figure 1 .…”

Common herbs for stress: The science and strategy of a botanical medicine approach to self-care

“… 33 Despite the lack of adverse effects reported in these limited studies there are still a few cautions to consider. Passionflower does contain the flavonoid 5,7-dihydroxyflavone, 34 more commonly called chrysin which has been shown to inhibit the enzyme aromatase, affecting the conversion of testosterone to estradiol, 35 and prolonged use should be contraindicated in individuals with hormone-balance conditions such as Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS).…”

Chrysin Attenuates Oxidative Stress to Alleviate Sevoflurane-Induced Cognitive Impairments in Aged Rats

“…Chrysin (5,7-dihydroxy flavones) is a naturally-occurring flavone found in flowers, honey, mushrooms, and propolis [ 11 ]. The anxiolytic [ 12 ], antioxidant [ 13 ], antidiabetogenic [ 14 ], anti-cancer [ 15 ], and antiestrogenic [ 16 ] properties of chrysin have been reported. For example, antiaging effect of chrysin has been investigated in d-galactose-induced aging model in rats [ 13 ].…”