Rosemary tea consumption results to anxiolytic- and anti-depressant-like behavior of adult male mice and inhibits all cerebral area and liver cholinesterase activity; Phytochemical investigation and in silico studies

Our aim was to investigate the possible effects of regular drinking of Rosmarinus officinalis L. leaf infusion on behavior and on AChE activity of mice. Rosemary tea (2% w/w) phytochemical profile was investigated through LC/DAD/ESI-MSn. Adult male mice were randomly divided into two groups: "Rosemary-treated" that received orally the rosemary tea for 4 weeks and "control" that received drinking water. The effects of regular drinking of rosemary tea on behavioral parameters were assessed by passive avoidance, elevated plus maze and forced swimming tests. Moreover, its effects on cerebral and liver cholinesterase (ChE) isoforms activity were examined colorimetricaly. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of diterpenes, flavonoids and hydroxycinnamic derivatives in rosemary tea; the major compounds were quantitatively determined. Its consumption rigorously affected anxiety/fear and depression-like behavior of mice, though memory/learning was unaffected. ChE isoforms activity was significantly decreased in brain and liver of "rosemary treated" mice. In order to explain the tissue ChE inhibition, principal component analysis, pharmacophore alignment and molecular docking were used to explore a possible relationship between main identified compounds of rosemary tea, i.e. rosmarinic acid, luteolin-7-O-glucuronide, caffeic acid and known AChE inhibitors. Results revealed potential common pharmacophores of the phenolic components with the inhibitors. Our findings suggest that rosemary tea administration exerts anxiolytic and antidepressant effects on mice and inhibits ChE activity; its main phytochemicals may function in a similar way as inhibitors. © 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved

Cerebral Area Differential Redox Response of Neonatal Rats to Selenite-Induced Oxidative Stress and to Concurrent Administration of Highbush Blueberry Leaf Polyphenols

Our goal was to delineate the mechanisms of selenite-induced oxidative stress in neonatal rats and investigate the potential of blueberry leaf polyphenols to counteract the induced stress. Vaccinium corymbosum leaf decoction (BLD) was analyzed by UPLC-MS and LC-DAD, along with its in vitro antioxidant activity (DPPH radical scavenging, FRAP, ferrous chelation). Newborn suckling Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups: ‘Se’ and ‘SeBLD’ received 20 μmol Na2SeO3/kg BW subcutaneously (PN day 10); ‘SeBLD’ received 100 mg dry BLD/kg BW intraperitoneally (PN11 and 12) and Group ‘C’ received normal saline. Βiochemical analysis revealed tissue-specific effects of selenite. Brain as a whole was more resistant to selenite toxicity in comparison to liver; midbrain and cerebellum were in general not affected, but cortex was moderately disturbed. Liver lipid peroxidation, GSH, SOD, CAT, GPx were significantly affected, whereas proteolytic activity was not. BLD, which is rich in chlorogenic acid and flavonols (especially quercetin derivatives), exerted significant antioxidant protective effects in all regions. In conclusion, we provide for the first time an insight to the neonatal rat cerebral and liver redox response against a toxic selenite dose and blueberry leaf polyphenols. © 2015, Springer Science+Business Media New York