The possible anti-depressant effect of certain natural products in diabetic rats / Salma Ahmed Salah Elmarasy ; Supervised Sanaa A. Kenawy, Osama A. Elshabrawy , Aiman S. El-Khatib

Thesis (Ph.D.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Pharmacy - Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology

This study aimed to investigate the possible anti-depressant effect of hesperidin (Hsp) and alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced-diabetic rats. Additionally, the effect of Hsp and ALA on hyperglycaemia, oxidative stress, inflammation, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and brain monoamines content in diabetic rats was also assessed. Fluoxetine (Flu) and pioglitazone (Pio) were used as standard anti-depressant and anti-diabetic drugs, respectively. Male Wistar rats in the experimental groups were rendered hyperglycaemic with a single intraperitoneal dose of STZ (52.5 mg/kg). The normal group received the vehicle only. Hyperglycaemic rats were orally treated with Hsp (25, 50, 100mg/kg/day), ALA (50, 100, 200 mg/kg/day), Flu (5mg/kg/day), and Pio (30 mg/kg/day) 48 h after the STZ injection, for 21 consecutive days. The normal and STZ control groups received similarly the vehicle (distilled water), for 21 consecutive days.Behavioral and biochemical parameters were then assessed. Results of the present study revealed thatHsp exerted its anti-depressant effect in STZ-induced diabetic rats as it reversed the increase in immobility time in the forced swimming test, at least in part, via its modulatory effect on hyperglycaemia, its anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, alteration of BDNF content, and activation of the brain's monoaminergic system. All of these effects of Hsp were similar to those observed with the established anti-depressant Flu

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