Main Article Content

Effect of polyphenol extract from <i>Zanthoxylum bungeanum</i> Maxim. on endocrine hormones and monoamine oxidase activity in a mouse model of climacteric depression


Aiying Song
Qiang Zhang
Xiaoqing You
Xiangni Zou
Xiao Han
Yu Li
Yin Tang

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the effects of polyphenol extract from Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim. (ZPPC) on endocrine hormones, monoamine  oxidase activity and behavior in a mouse model of climacteric depression.
Methods: Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) female albino mice (n = 50) weighing 24 – 26 g (mean wt = 25.0 ± 1.0 g) were randomly assigned to five groups of ten rats each: normal control group, negative control, and ZPPC (50 mg/kg), ZPPC (100 mg/kg) and ZPPC (200 mg/kg) groups. Depression was induced in the mice via oral administration of moclobemide at a dose of 20 mg/kg, and intraperitoneal injection of imipramine (20 mg/kg) 1 h and 30 min, before treatment. Tail suspension, forced swimming and voluntary activity tests were performed on the mice. The activity of monoamine oxidase (MAO) in mouse brain and the levels of endocrine hormones were also determined.
Results: Treatment of depressed mice with ZPPC significantly and dose-dependently increased their tail suspension and immobility time (p < 0.05). The activity of monoamine oxidase in the brains of mice in the negative control group was significantly higher than that of normal control mice, but was significantly and dose-dependently reduced by ZPPC treatment (p < 0.05). Similarly, treatment of depressed mice with ZPPC significantly and dose-dependently reduced their serum adrenocorticotropin and corticosterone levels (p < 0.05).
Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that ZPPC exerts antidepressant effect via suppression of brain MAO activity.


Keywords: Climacteric depression, Endocrine hormones, Menopause, Monoamine oxidase, Polyphenols


Journal Identifiers


eISSN: 1596-9827
print ISSN: 1596-5996