Study of the Effects of Cordia myxa Fruit Extract on Induced Animal Model of Depression in Male Rats

Depression is one of the most common mental illnesses. Herbal medications such as ginseng and peony have recently gained popularity in treating depression due to their safety, efficacy, and cost-effectiveness. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the actions of Cordia myxa (C. myxa) fruit extract on the model of chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) and antioxidant enzymes system in male rats' brains. Sixty male rats were divided into six groups (n=۱۰). Group ۱ (control) was neither exposed to CUMS nor received any treatment, while group ۲ was exposed to CUMS for ۲۴ days with normal saline treatment for ۱۴ days, group ۳ was exposed to CUMS for ۲۴ days and received ۱۰ mg/kg fluoxetine daily on day ۱۰ for ۱۴ days, and group ۴, ۵, and ۶ were exposed to CUMS for ۲۴ days and received C. myxa extract (۱۲۵, ۲۵۰, and ۵۰۰ mg/kg, respectively) on day ۱۰ for ۱۴ days. The antidepressant effect of fluoxetine and C. myxa extract was evaluated using a forced swim test (FST). At the end of the experiments, animals were sacrificed by decapitation; and antioxidant enzyme levels, catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays kits (ELISA) on rats’ brain tissues. All groups subjected to CUMS showed a significant rise in duration of immobility on the tenth day compared to day zero. The CUMS showed a decrease in antioxidant enzyme levels, and groups treated with extract showed significant rise in enzyme levels (SOD and CAT) compared to group ۲. According to this recent study, C. myxa may have an antidepressant-like action.

Keywords:

Chronic unpredictable mild stress , depression , cordia myxa , Superoxide dismutase , catalase , antioxidant enzyme system