The protective effects of apple pectin and citrus pectins on post-cerebral I/R depression in mice: The role of NF-κB-p65 and pSTAT3 pathways

Abstract

One of the serious consequences of brain stroke is depression, which affects a large number of patients. Finding new compounds that have antidepressant properties in these conditions can be very important. Therefore, in the present study, the antidepressant effects of apple pectin (AP) and citrus pectin (CP) in mice after induction of cerebral ischemia were studied. Seven days before transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO) and three days thereafter, mice were given orally AP and CP by gavage (50 and 100 mg/kg). Forced swim test (FST), inclined beam-walking test and open field test were used to evaluate the behaviors of mice. Levels of IL-1β, INF-γ, TNF-α, IL-6 NF-κB-p65 and pSTAT3 were studied using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and the gene expressions of NF-κB-p65 and pSTAT3 were studied by qRT-PCR. Induction of cerebral I/R injury resulted in depressive-like behaviors in mice, which were confirmed by FST, inclined beam-walking test and OFT. However, beneficial effects of AP and CP were observed in reducing depressive-like behaviors in mice. The downregulation of proinflammatory cytokines and NF-κB-p65 and pSTAT3 proteins were observed as a result of oral AP and CP administration in cerebral I/R mice. AP and CP have antidepressant-like effects on cerebral I/R- induced depression due to reduced inflammation in the brain hippocampus.