1,3-Dicaffeoylquinic Acid as an Active Compound of Arctium lappa Root Extract Ameliorates Depressive-Like Behavior by Regulating Hippocampal Nitric Oxide Synthesis in Ovariectomized Mice.
Dong Wook LimMinji KimMinseok YoonJaekwang LeeChangho LeeMin Young UmPublished in: Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland) (2021)
Menopause is a risk factor for depression. Although 1,3-dicaffeoylquinic acid (1,3-diCQA), a phenolic compound in Arctium lappa (A. lappa) root, has various health benefits, its effects on menopausal depression remain to be determined. Therefore, this study investigates the antidepressant-like effects of 1,3-diCQA from an A. lappa root extract (AE) and the associated molecular mechanisms. Ovariectomized (OVX) mice were orally administered AE for 20 weeks, following which depression-like behaviors were assessed. Although the mice exhibited depression-like behaviors, AE administration mitigated these symptoms by activating the ERK-CREB-BDNF pathway and increasing nNOS levels in the hippocampus. Similarly, a significant increase in nNOS-derived NO production and activation of the ERK-CREB-BDNF pathway was observed in the primary hippocampal neurons. Although this stimulatory effect of 1,3-diCQA was not significantly affected by treatment with estrogen receptor agonist or antagonist, it was inhibited by 7-NI, an nNOS inhibitor. Moreover, mice treated with 1,3-diCQA exhibited a marked improvement in their forced swimming test and tail suspension test immobility, while pretreatment with 7-NI reversed the antidepressant-like effects of 1,3-diCQA. Our results suggest that 1,3-diCQA regulates nNOS in an estrogen recepters-independent manner to increase NO production in OVX mice.
Keyphrases
- high fat diet induced
- nitric oxide
- depressive symptoms
- nitric oxide synthase
- sleep quality
- signaling pathway
- major depressive disorder
- cell proliferation
- public health
- spinal cord
- bipolar disorder
- spinal cord injury
- stress induced
- metabolic syndrome
- brain injury
- hydrogen peroxide
- risk assessment
- anti inflammatory
- adipose tissue
- social media
- health promotion