Azadeh Salehi - Department of Biology, Izeh Branch, Islamic Azad University, Izeh, Iran
Zahra Rabiei - Medical Plants Research Center, Basic Health Sciences Institute, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran
Mahbubeh Setorki - Department of Biology, Izeh Branch, Islamic Azad University, Izeh, Iran

Objective(s): Long-term exposure to stress leads to memory deficits and certain mood disorders such as depression and anxiety. We aimed to study the effect of gallic acid (GA) on chronic restraint stress (CRS) induced anxiety and memory deficits in male BALB/c mice.Materials and Methods: Ninety male BALB/c mice were assigned to nine groups including caged control (CC): food-water deprived (FWD), under chronic restraint stress (CRS), CRS+ gallic acid (۵, ۱۰, and ۲۰ mg/kg), and gallic acid (۵, ۱۰, and ۲۰ mg/kg). Behavioral assays were performed after ۲۱ days of daily treatment with CRS and GA. Serum and brain levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and total antioxidant capacity (TCA) and serum corticosterone level were also measured. Results: Treatment of CRS mice with GA significantly improved passive avoidance memory in the shuttle box and ameliorated anxiety-like behaviors in the elevated plus maze (EPM) and open filed test (OFT). GA treatment significantly reduced elevated levels of serum and brain MDA and increased brain TCA. CRS and GA did not affect serum corticosterone levels. Treatment of healthy mice with GA had some adverse effects and induced some anxiety and oxidative stress. Conclusion: GA exerted protective effects against stress-induced mood and memory deficit disorders.

Anxiety, Gallic acid, MDA, Oxidative stress, Passive avoidance memory