Epicatechin treatment generates resilience to chronic mild stress-induced depression in a murine model through a modulatory effect on KAT

Abstract

Several studies have proposed that cocoa products enriched in flavonoids reduce anxiety and depressive symptoms. (-)–Epicatechin (Epi), a flavonoid present in high concentrations in cocoa, is associated with many effects of dark chocolate and has been postulated to function as an exercise mimetic. Physical exercise is used as an adjuvant treatment for many patients with depression. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of Epi on resilience to depression-like behaviour in a murine model. Male mice were randomly selected and divided into four groups (n = 8/group). At the age of 8–9 weeks, the mice were subjected to chronic mild stress (CMS), and the two groups were treated with Epi for five weeks. Epi was administered by oral gavage twice daily for 5 weeks. The control group was housed under conditions without stress and Epi treatment. Depressive-like behaviour was evaluated by performing sucrose preference and open field tests. Interestingly, Epi reduced anhedonia and anxiogenic behaviour in the murine stress model. Our results provide evidence that Epi induces resilience to stress-induced depression through a modulatory effect on aminotransferase KAT.