Abstract
The aim of the present work is to evaluate the putative antidepressant-like effects of pomegranate fruit extract including seeds (PFE) on the performance of male mice in the forced swimming test (FST), after acute administration, after short-term treatment (7 days) and, after repeated administration in a 24-h period (24, 12 and 1 h before swimming test). A single dose (20 ml/kg p.o.) of PFE, in male mice provoked a significant reduction of the immobility time. Such effect was also observed with short-term treatment (7 days) with doses of 1 and 10 ml/kg/day of PFE. Moreover, it was noted that there were important differences in the onset of the antidepressant-like effect in the FST, depending on the modality of treatment with PFE. Both efficacy and potency were higher when repeated administration of PFE was used, and surprisingly the dose of 10 ml/kg (24, 12 and 1 h before swimming test) was as effective as Fluoxetine. In the same way, the short term administration (7 days) improved significantly efficacy and potency of the PFE in comparison to a single dose treatment. These results indicate an antidepressant-like profile of action for PFE which deserves further research.
Highlights
Depression is a major disease affecting nearly 13% - 20% of the population [1]
The seeds of the fruit containing the intact juice sacs were manually separated from the pericarp, and the whole juice extracted by the aid of electric juicer so that seeds break
Short-term treatment (7 days) induced a decrease of the immobility time when the animals were exposed to the forced swimming test (FST) after dosing orally, once a day, with 1 (p < 0.001) and 10 (p < 0.001) ml/kg of pomegranate fruit extract including seeds (PFE) (Figure 1)
Summary
90% of patients with depressive symptoms suffer from mild to moderate depression, while only 10% are severely depressed. (2014) The Antidepressant-Like Effects of Punica granatum (Pomegranate) Extract in Mice. Additional treatment strategies with fewer side effect profile, credible benefits and moderate costs are of particular interest [2] [3]. In the search for new molecules useful for the treatment of neurological disorders, medicinal plant research, worldwide, has progressed constantly, demonstrating the pharmacological effectiveness of different plant species in a variety of animal models [4]. At the present time, forced swimming test (FST) is the most widely used model for assessing potential antidepressant activity in rodents, following acute and short-term treatment [5]
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