Antidepressant-Like and Antioxidant Effects of Plinia trunciflora in Mice

The jaboticaba tree, Plinia trunciflora (O. Berg) Kausel, is popularly named “jabuticabeira” in Brazil and is used in folk medicine to treat diabetes and chronic inflammation of the tonsils, but studies evaluating the central effects of this species are limited. This study evaluated the antidepressant-like and antioxidant effects of P. trunciflora (PT) aqueous extract, in which five different anthocyanins were identified. PT showed significant ferric-reduction power and DPPH radical scavenging activity in vitro and reduced lipid peroxidation both in vitro and ex vivo. At the behavioural level, PT (400 and 800 mg/kg, i.p.) dose-dependently reduced immobility time in the tail suspension test in Swiss male mice. The identification of bioactive compounds accompanied by the in vitro and ex vivo antioxidant activity of PT suggests that these activities might be related to the antidepressant-like activity of P. trunciflora

Hypolipidemic and antiatherogenic effects of Cynara scolymus in cholesterol-fed rats

ABSTRACT Cynara scolymus L., Asteraceae, are traditionally used to treat dyspepsia. This study evaluated the hypolipidemic and antiatherogenic effects of an aqueous extract prepared from the leaves of C. scolymus in rat's model. Hypercholesterolemic rats (1% cholesterol and 0.5% cholic acid for 15 days) were treated (0.5 ml/200 g) with extract of C. scolymus (150, 300, or 600 mg/kg p.o.; n = 6) or simvastatin (4 mg/kg p.o.; n = 6) once per day for 30 days along with hypercaloric diet. A control group (C) was given water (0.5 ml/200 g; n = 6). A high-cholesterol diet was maintained throughout the treatment period. Rats treated with extract of C. scolymus (150, 300, or 600 mg/kg) and simvastatin showed significant decreases in serum levels of total cholesterol (&#8722;46.9%, &#8722;51.9%, &#8722;44%, and &#8722;41.9%, respectively) and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C; &#8722;52.1%, &#8722;54.8%, &#8722;51.9%, and &#8722;46.7%, respectively), compared with group C (p < 0.005). Biochemical analyses revealed significant decrease in the concentration of IL-1, IL-6, TNF-&#945;, IFN-&#947;, C-reactive protein, oxidized-LDL, and antioxidized-LDL in rats treated with extract of C. scolymus (150, 300, or 600 mg/kg). There were no differences in serum ALT enzyme activity between the groups. Our results suggest that hypolipidemic and antiatherogenic effects could be related with the presence of polar substances present in aqueous extract of C. scolymus

Waterborne Risperidone Decreases Stress Response in Zebrafish

<div><p>The presence of drugs and their metabolites in surface waters and municipal effluents has been reported in several studies, but its impacts on aquatic organisms are not yet well understood. This study investigated the effects of acute exposure to the antipsychotic risperidone on the stress and behavioral responses in zebrafish. It became clear that intermediate concentration of risperidone inhibited the hypothalamic-pituitary-interrenal axis and displayed anxiolytic-like effects in zebrafish. The data presented here suggest that the presence of this antipsychotic in aquatic environments can alter neuroendocrine and behavior profiles in zebrafish.</p></div

Behavioral parameters of zebrafish in the novel tank test followed by an acute stress protocol.

<p>Total distance (A), mean speed (B), crossings between compartments (C), absolute turn angle (D), time spent in the bottom (E), and time in the upper (F). The data are expressed as the mean ± standard error of mean of 5–6 fish. * = p<0.05 compared to Risp 0, S- group; ^# = p<0.05 compared to Rips 0, S+ group. S- and S+ refer to non-stressed and stressed fish, respectively.</p

Whole-body cortisol concentrations in zebrafish exposed to risperidone followed by an acute stress test and respective controls.

<p>The values are expressed as the mean ± standard error of mean of 5–6 fish. Different small letters indicate significant group differences in each sampling time. The insert shows graphical demonstration of U-shaped dose response curve at the time of cortisol peak. S- and S+ refer to non-stressed and stressed fish, respectively.</p