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The effects of Valeriana officinalis L. hydro-alcoholic extract on depression like behavior in ovalbumin sensitized rats - PubMed

The effects of Valeriana officinalis L. hydro-alcoholic extract on depression like behavior in ovalbumin sensitized rats

Ali Neamati et al. J Pharm Bioallied Sci. 2014 Apr.

Abstract

Background: Neuroimmune factors have been considered as contributors to the pathogenesis of depression. Beside other therapeutic effects, Valeriana officinalis L., have been suggested to have anti-inflammatory effects. In the present study, the effects of V. officinalis L. hydro alcoholic extract was investigated on depression like behavior in ovalbumin sensitized rats.

Materials and methods: A total of 50 Wistar rats were divided into five groups: Group 1 (control group) received saline instead of Valeriana officinalis L. extract. The animals in group 2 (sensitized) were treated by saline instead of the extract and were sensitized using the ovalbumin. Groups 3-5 (Sent - Ext 50), (Sent - Ext 100) and (Sent - Ext 200) were treated by 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg of V. officinalis L. hydro-alcoholic extract respectively, during the sensitization protocol. Forced swimming test was performed for all groups and immobility time was recorded. Finally, the animals were placed in the open-field apparatus and the crossing number on peripheral and central areas was observed.

Results: The immobility time in the sensitized group was higher than that in the control group (P < 0.01). The animals in Sent-Ext 100 and Sent-Ext 200 groups had lower immobility times in comparison with sensitized group (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01). In the open field test, the crossed number in peripheral by the sensitized group was higher than that of the control one (P < 0.01) while, the animals of Sent-Ext 50, Sent-Ext 100 and Sent-Ext 200 groups had lower crossing number in peripheral compared with the sensitized group (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01 respectively). Furthermore, in the sensitized group, the central crossing number was lower than that of the control group (P < 0.001). In the animals treated by 200 mg/kg of the extract, the central crossing number was higher than that of the sensitized group (P < 0. 05).

Conclusions: The results of the present study showed that the hydro-alcoholic extract of V. officinalis prevents depression like behavior in ovalbumin sensitized rats. These results support the traditional belief on the about beneficial effects of V. officinalis in the nervous system. Moreover, further investigations are required in order to better understand this protective effect.

Keywords: Depression; Valeriana officinalis; forced swimming test; open-field; ovalbumin; sensitized.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: None declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1

Comparison of immobility times in the forced swimming test between five groups. Data are expressed as mean ± standard error of the mean (n = 10 in each group). **P < 0.01 comparison of sensitized group with control group, +P < 0.05 and ++P < 0.01 comparison of sensitized animals treated by 100 and 200 mg/kg of the extract respectively groups with non treated sensitized group. The two ANOVA followed by Tukey post hoc test. The criterion for the statistical significance was P < 0.05

Figure 2
Figure 2

Comparison of the number of crossing in the peripheral zone in the open-field test. Data are expressed as mean ± standard error of the mean (n = 10 in each group). **P < 0.01 comparison of sensitized group with control group, +P < 0.05 and ++P < 0.01 comparison of sensitized animals treated by 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg of the extract respectively, with non-treated sensitized group. The two ANOVA followed by Tukey post hoc test. The criterion for the statistical significance was P < 0.05

Figure 3
Figure 3

Comparison of the number of crossing in the central zone in the open-field test. Data are expressed as mean ± standard error of the mean (n = 10 in each group). ***P < 0.001 comparison of sensitized group with control group, +P < 0.05 comparison of sensitized animals treated by 200 mg/kg of the extract with non-treated sensitized group. The two ANOVA followed by Tukey post hoc test. The criterion for the statistical significance was P < 0.05

Figure 4
Figure 4

Comparison of the number of rearing in the open-field test. Data are expressed as mean ± standard error of the mean (n = 10 in each group). The two ANOVA followed by Tukey post hoc test. The criterion for the statistical significance was P < 0.05

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