Maryam Azarfarin - Drug Applied Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
Fereshteh Farajdokht - Neurosciences Research Center (NSRC), Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
Shirin Babri - Drug Applied Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
Farzad Salehpour - Neurosciences Research Center (NSRC), Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
Milad Taghizadeh - Neurosciences Research Center (NSRC), Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
Gisou Mohaddes - Drug Applied Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran

Objective(s):Chronic stress has been linked to the pathophysiology of mood disorders including anxiety and depression. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of troxerutin (TRX), as a flavonol, on stress-induced anxiety and depression.Materials and Methods: ۵۶ animals were randomly divided into seven groups (n=۸ per group) as follows: control, saline, TRX ۵۰, TRX ۱۵۰, TRX ۳۰۰, Diazepam, and Imipramine. Chronic mild stress (CMS) was induced by restraining animals in Plexiglas cylinders for ۱ hr each day for ۲۵ consecutive days. Different doses (۵۰, ۱۵۰, and ۳۰۰ mg/kg, oral gavage) of troxerutin was gavaged for ۱۴ consecutive days. At the end of treatments, anxiety- and depressive-like behaviors were tested using elevated plus-maze (EPM), open field test (OFT), and forced swimming test (FST). Results: CMS significantly increased immobility (P<۰.۰۵) and decreased swimming (P<۰.۰۱) time in FST. However, different doses of troxerutin significantly decreased immobility (P<۰.۰۱) and increased swimming (P<۰.۰۰۱) time. CMS also significantly (P<۰.۰۱) decreased the percentage of open arm entrance (%OAE), whereas troxerutin significantly increased both %OAE and percentage of open arm time (%OAT) in the EPM. Moreover, CMS significantly decreased time spent in the center (P<۰.۰۰۱) and the number of center entrances (P<۰.۰۱) in the OFT. However, troxerutin significantly increased time spent in the center and number of the entrances crossing. Furthermore, CMS significantly increased serum cortisol levels and troxerutin decreased it.Conclusion: Troxerutin demonstrated anxiolytic- and antidepressant-like activities in rodents, which supports the use of herbal medicine in the mood disorders.

Anxiety, Chronic mild stress, Cortisol, Depression, Troxerutin