Abstract
Stress can lead to inflammation, accelerated aging, and some chronic diseases condition. Mentha arvensis (MA) is a traditional medicine having antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. The present study investigated the anti-stress role of MA and fermented MA (FMA) extract in immobilized rats. We studied the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation in RAW 264.7 cells and rats were immobilized for 2 h per day for 14 days using a restraining cage. MA (100 mg/kg) and FMA (100 mg/kg) were orally administered to rats 1 h prior to immobilization. Using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis, we determined the rosmarinic acid content of MA and FMA. The generation of malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) in RAW 246.7 cells were suppressed by both MA and FMA. In rats, MA and FMA notably improved the body weight, daily food intake, and duodenum histology. MDA and NO level were gradually decreased by MA and FMA treatment. MA and FMA significantly controlled the stress-related hormones by decreasing corticosterone and β-endorphin and increasing serotonin level. Moreover, protein expression levels of mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPK) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) were markedly downregulated by MA and FMA. Taken together, MA and FMA could ameliorate immobilized-stress by reducing oxidative stress, regulating stress-related hormones, and MAPK/COX-2 signaling pathways in rats. Particularly, FMA has shown greater anti-stress activities than MA.
Highlights
Stress has been a significant impact on human health globally, causing several psychosomatic disorders [1] and pathological conditions, like coronary artery diseases, cancer, and diabetes mellitus, [2] and accompanying body-weight loss
The evidence stated that acute stress is associated with the release of oxidative free radicals that facilitate the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) cascade in the hippocampus of stress rats [11,12]
The rosmarinic acid peak was observed at 22.6 min, and the pattern of the UV spectrum was consistent, which confirmed that the material used in the experiment was Mentha arvensis (MA)
Summary
Stress has been a significant impact on human health globally, causing several psychosomatic disorders [1] and pathological conditions, like coronary artery diseases, cancer, and diabetes mellitus, [2] and accompanying body-weight loss. Evidence indicated that experimental animals repeatedly exposed to stress conditions can have altered cellular and hormonal immunity [7] as well as affected intestine microbiota [8]. Stress induces sympathetic stimulation and enhances metabolic rate, which can produce excess free radicals and lead to oxidative damage of lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids [9]. Exposure to acute stress like immobilization prompts the overexpression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the CNS and triggers the transcription factor NF-κB-mediated pathways inducing expression of cyclooxygenase (COX-2), among other inflammatory mediators [10]. The evidence stated that acute stress is associated with the release of oxidative free radicals that facilitate the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) cascade in the hippocampus of stress rats [11,12]. Immobilization is a suitable and easy method to cause physical stress, which leads to restricting mobility and aggression in an animal model [2] and is widely accepted for studying stress-induced alterations [13]
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