Oral supplementation with geranium oil or anise oil ameliorates depressed rat-related symptoms through oils antioxidant effects.

Background Depression is a psychiatric disease condition and the chronic mild stress (CMS) model is a well-known and valuable animal model of depression. Geranium oil and anise oil were chosen for such a study. The aim of this research was to establish the geranium oil and anise oil effect to ameliorate CMS-related symptoms. Methods This research included 80 male albino rats each group of 10 rats and the animals were divided into two major groups: normal and CMS. The normal group was subdivided into four (control, geranium oil, anise oil and venlafaxine drug) subgroups treated orally with saline, geranium oil, anise oil and venlafaxine drug, respectively, for 4 weeks. The CMS group was subdivided into four (CMS without any treatment, CMS + geranium oil, CMS + anise oil and CMS + venlafaxine drug) subgroups treated orally with geranium oil, anise oil and venlafaxine drug, respectively, for 4 weeks. Results The sucrose consumption in sucrose preference test, the distance traveled test and center square entries test were decreased, while center square duration test, immobility time in tail suspension test and floating time in forced swimming test were increased in CMS. The superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione-S-transferase, glutathione reductase and catalase levels decreased but malondialdehyde and nitric oxide levels increased in brain cerebral cortex and hippocampus areas in CMS. The oral intake of geranium oil and anise oil pushes all these parameters to approach the control levels. These results were supported by histopathological investigations of both brain cerebral cortex and hippocampus tissues. Conclusions Geranium oil and anise oil ameliorate CMS-related symptoms and this effect were related to the antioxidant effects of oils.

The Role of Chlorogenic Acid Supplementation in Anemia and Mineral Disturbances Induced by 4-Tert-Octylphenol Toxicity.

4-tert-octylphenol (OP) is an endocrine-disrupting chemical that causes harmful effects to human health. Chlorogenic acid is the major dietary polyphenol present in various foods and beverages. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the protective role of chlorogenic acid in anemia and mineral disturbance occurring in OP toxicity in rats. Thirty-two male albino rats were divided into four equal groups (8 rats/group) as follows. The first (control) group was treated daily with an oral dose of 1 ml saline for two weeks. The second group was treated daily with an oral dose of 60 mg chlorogenic acid/kg body weight for two weeks. The third and fourth groups received daily intraperitoneal (ip) injections with 100 mg OP/kg body weight for two weeks; the fourth group was treated daily with an oral dose of 60 mg chlorogenic acid/kg body weight for three weeks starting one week before OP injections. The results revealed that OP induced significant decreases in hemoglobin, hematocrit, red blood cells, mean cell volume, mean cell hemoglobin, mean cell hemoglobin concentration, platelet count, white blood cells, lymphocyte and neutrophil percent, transferrin receptor, serum calcium, phosphorous, sodium, potassium, chloride, glutathione-S-transferase, glutathione peroxidase, catalase, glutathione reductase, and superoxide dismutase. Moreover, significant increases in serum hepcidin, ferritin, transferrin, erythropoietin, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, urea, creatinine, selenium, zinc, manganese, copper, iron, malondialdehyde, and protein carbonyl levels were found in OP groups. OP exposure also induced cell apoptosis. Chlorogenic acid pretreatment in OP-treated groups restored all the mentioned parameters to approach the normal values. In conclusion, chlorogenic acid protects from anemia and mineral disturbances in 4-tert-octylphenol toxicity by ameliorating oxidative stress and apoptosis.