Antidepressant-Like Effect of Selected Egyptian Cultivars of Flaxseed Oil on a Rodent Model of Postpartum Depression

Flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) is a multipurpose crop with health promoting potential. This study was undertaken to investigate the fatty acid profile and yield of fixed oil of six Egyptian flaxseed cultivars. The selected cultivars with the highest content of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) (G9 and G10) were assessed for their antidepressant-like effect in rat model of postpartum depression (PPD) induced by hormone-simulated pregnancy followed by hormone withdrawal and compared to fluoxetine. As compared to control group, administration of G9 and G10 (270 mg/kg/day, p.o) for two weeks during the postpartum period can alleviate anxiety and depressive-like behaviors and biochemical changes in PPD-induced rats. This was confirmed by evaluation of anxiety-like behaviors (elevated plus maze, open field test, and forced swim test tests), in addition to biochemical analysis (brain monoamine oxidase-A, corticosterone level, proinflammatory cytokines, and hippocampal redox state). In conclusion, flaxseed oil of Egyptian cultivars G9 and G10 exhibited significant antidepressant-like effect in rat model of PPD without affecting locomotor activity. At the treatment doses, the antidepressant-like activity of Giza 9 oil is comparable to fluoxetine

Potential anti-acne loaded nanogel formulations of Origanum majorana L. and Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat. essential oils

Abstract Acne is a highly prevalent skin disease with a great psychological impact on patients as self-perception, self-confidence, and depression. This work aimed to develop an anti-acne preparation from active anti-bacterial medicinal plants to circumvent the severe side effects and drug resistance commonly reported with topical erythromycin anti-acne preparations. Essential oils: Salvia officinalis L. (sage), Rosmarinus officinalis L. (rosemary), Commiphora myrrha Nees Engl. (myrrh), Origanum majorana L. (marjoram), Pelargonium zonale L. L’Hér. ex Aiton (geranium) and Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat. (chrysanthemum) were extracted by hydrodistillation and analyzed using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The anti-acne activities of the oils against Cutibacterium acnes ATCC 6919 were evaluated by microdilution methods to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC). The most active essential oils were loaded in a film-forming nanogel prepared with chitosan, pluronic F127 and glycerol in the ratio of 3:1:1, prior to investigation in a murine acne in vivo model. Marjoram and chrysanthemum oils showed the highest antimicrobial activity against C. acnes (MIC = 0.156% v/v and 0.125% v/v, respectively). GC/MS of the actives showed that gamma-terpinene (26.46%) and terpinen-4-ol (22.24%) were the predominant constituents in marjoram, whereas chrysanthenone (32.79%) was the main component in chrysanthemum. The formulated essential oil-loaded film-forming nanogels of both oils exhibited significant anti-acne activity in mice via reducing the bacterial loads, activating the antioxidant nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2 (Nrf2) pathway and inhibiting the inflammatory tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) pathway. Further studies should be designed to evaluate the clinical evidence for the use of marjoram and chrysanthemum oil products in acne treatment. Graphical Abstrac