A red pomegranate fruit extract-based formula ameliorates anxiety/depression-like behaviors via enhancing serotonin (5-HT) synthesis in C57BL/6 male mice

This study investigated the anti-anxiety/anti-depression potential of a formula containing red pomegranate fruit extract(RPFE;40%,m/m),Lactobacillus rhamnosus(JB-1)(34%,m/m),magnesium gluconate(25%,m/m)and vanillin(1%,m/m).The RPFE formula(dose:2.0,1.5 or 1.0 mg/g·day)reversed behavioral dysfunctions and body weight gain induced by chronic restraint stress combined with corticosterone injection in C57BL/6 male mice.The RPFE formula exhibited the abilities to normalize the levels of serum infl ammatory cytokines(NF-κB,TNF-α,IL-6,IL-1βand IFN-γ)and malondialdehyde(MDA),and activities of superoxide dismutase(SOD),catalase(CAT)and nitric oxide synthase(NOS),as well as relieve the injury of hippocampal neurons.The serotonin(5-HT)levels in hippocampus were increasingly enhanced,which might be mediated by reducing the activity of indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase(IDO)and increasing the activity of tryptophan hydroxylase(TPH).Thus,the neuroprotective and ameliorating effects on anxiety/depression-like behaviors resulting from the RPFE formula ingestion were possibly related to serotonergic activation,which might be mediated via anti-infl ammatory and anti-oxidant actions.