Evaluation of the antidepressant- and anxiolytic-like effects of a hydrophilic extract from the green seaweed Ulva sp. in rats.
Nutr Neurosci
; 21(4): 248-256, 2018 May.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-28102110
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES:
The green seaweed Ulva sp. contains a large amount of ulvans, a family of sulphated polysaccharides. The present study was designed to investigate in rats the antidepressant- and anxiolytic-like effects of a hydrophilic extract of Ulva sp. (MSP) containing about 45% of ulvans.METHODS:
After a 14-day administration of MSP at doses of 10, 20 and 40â mg/kg/day, 48 and 60 male adult Wistar rats were respectively tested in the elevated plus-maze (EPM) and the forced swimming test (FST). In the FST, MSP effects were compared to the reference antidepressant drug imipramine (IMI) (10â mg/kg/day). Acute and sub-chronic toxicities of the extract were also assessed in male and female rats following OECD guidelines.RESULTS:
MSP treatment did not modify anxiety-related behaviour in the EPM. In contrast, MSP induced a dose-dependent reduction of immobility behaviour in the FST. At the highest tested dose of 40â mg/kg, MSP displayed a significant antidepressant-like effect similar to IMI. MSP did not modify the exploratory behaviour of rats in the open field test and did not produce any toxic effect.DISCUSSION:
MSP may potentially represent a good adjunct or alternative to existing antidepressant therapeutics. Further studies are necessary to confirm the mechanism of action of MSP and its modulation of brain functioning.Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Banco de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Ansiolíticos
/
Extractos Vegetales
/
Ulva
/
Antidepresivos
Tipo de estudio:
Guideline
/
Qualitative_research
Límite:
Animals
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Nutr Neurosci
Asunto de la revista:
CIENCIAS DA NUTRICAO
/
NEUROLOGIA
Año:
2018
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Francia