Neuroprotective effects of goji berry (Lycium barbarum L.) polysaccharides on depression-like behavior in ovariectomized rats: behavioral and biochemical evidence.

AIM: To assess the protective effects of goji berry (Lycium barbarum L.) polysaccharides (LBP) on depression-like behavior in ovariectomized rats and to elucidate the mechanisms underlying these effects. METHODS: One hundred female Wistar albino rats (three months old) were randomly assigned either to ovariectomy (n=50) or sham surgery (n=50). After a 14-day recovery period, the groups were divided into five treatment subgroups (10 per group): high-dose LBP (200 mg/kg), low-dose LBP (20 mg/kg), imipramine (IMP, 2.5 mg/kg), 17-beta estradiol (E2, 1 mg/kg), and distilled water. Then, rats underwent a forced swimming test. We also determined the levels of serum antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and malondialdehyde), E2 levels, hippocampal brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), 5HT2A receptor, and transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL)-positive cells. RESULTS: Both low-dose LBP and imipramine decreased depression-like behavior by increasing serum superoxide dismutase activity and by decreasing serum malondialdehyde level. Furthermore, low-dose LPB, high-dose LBP, and imipramine increased the number of 5-HT2A receptor- and BDNF-positive cells but decreased the number of TUNEL-positive cells in the hippocampus. CONCLUSION: This is the first study to show the antidepressant effect of LBP. Although additional research is needed, LBP may be considered a potential new antidepressant.

Phenolic Content, Antibacterial and Antioxidant Potential of Several Edible Agaricomycetes Mushrooms Sold in Public Bazaar in Bolu, Turkey.

Edible mushrooms are important natural foods that have been used since ancient times due to their delicious taste, high nutritional value, and various biological activities. In this study, antibacterial (against 10 different human pathogens) and antioxidant potentials (free radical scavenging activity and total phenol-flavonoid content) of 13 different wild-growing and the most popular edible mushrooms (Lactarius salmonicolor, L. deliciosus, L. volemus, L. piperatus, Boletus edulis, Marasmius oreades, Agaricus campestris, Tricholoma terreum, Hydnum repandum, Coprinus comatus, Ramaria sp., Cantharellus cibarius, and Pleurotus ostreatus) sold in a public bazaar in Bolu-Turkey were evaluated. Strong antibacterial capacities were observed with all tested Lactarius species, as well as M. oreades, A. campestris, T. terreum, H. repandum, and Ramaria sp. Significant antibacterial potentials of T. terreum and C. comatus against Staphylococcus epidermidis, Serratia marcescens, and Proteus vulgaris were observed for the first time. H. repandum strongly inhibited all tested Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, S. epidermidis, and Streptococcus pyogenes). It was remarkable to reveal strong growth inhibition of M. oreades against S. aureus (29.33 ± 1.11 mm) for the first time. The highest total phenolic content was revealed with L. delicious (193.42 ± 0.77 mg GAE/g dw and 198 ± 0.79 mg TAE/g dw), while L. salmonicolor had the highest total flavonoid content (358.33 ± 15.27 mg CE/g dw). B. edulis demonstrated the strongest antioxidant activity with the lowest IC50 value (4.48 ± 0.04 µg/mL). Moreover, L. deliciosus and M. oreades also had high antioxidant potential with the lowest IC50 values (4.76 ± 0.01 µg/mL and 4.77 ± 0.02 µg/mL, respectively). Total phenolic contents of tested mushrooms were highly correlated with their antioxidant capacities. L. delicious is the most well-known and the most delicious mushroom sold in Bolu's public bazaar. The obtained results for this mushroom were notable in terms of the greatest total phenol-flavonoid content and strong antioxidant capability. The antioxidant capacity and polyphenol content of L. deliciosus, M. oreades, H. repandum, A. campestris, and B. edulis, as well as their antibacterial activity, were quite outstanding, and our findings demonstrated the importance of these mushrooms as nutraceutical products.

Anxiolytic, antioxidant, and neuroprotective effects of goji berry polysaccharides in ovariectomized rats: experimental evidence from behavioral, biochemical, and immunohistochemical analyses.

Recent studies have indicated that polysaccharides, the main component of the Lycium barbarum L. fruit, have beneficial effects (e.g., anxiolytic, antioxidant, and neuroprotective) on humans and rodents. However, the effects of different dosages of such polysaccharides on ovariectomized rats and their underlying mechanisms in the brain have not been evaluated in the literature. Here, we aimed to evaluate the effects of the high and low doses of polysaccharides obtained from Lycium barbarum fruits (HD-LBP and LD-LBP, respectively) on anxious behaviors via behavioral (using the OFT and EPM), biochemical (using ELISA), and immunohistochemical (using immunohistochemical staining) measures in detail. Two weeks after ovariectomy, the rats were randomly assigned to either the treatment conditions [control (DW, 3 mL/kg, p.o., per day), LD-LBP (20 mg/kg, 3 mL/kg, p.o., per day), HD-LBP (200 mg/kg, 3 mL/kg, p.o., per day), 17 ß-ES (1 mg/kg, 3 mL/kg, p.o., per day), DZ(1 mg/kg, 3 mL/kg, p.o., per day)] or operation type [SHAM (pseudo-ovariectomized) and OVX (ovariectomized)]. The treatments were applied for 30 consecutive days, and then serum and brain tissue samples of all rats were collected. Biochemical (SOD, CAT, GPX, MDA, and 17 ß-ES) and immunohistochemical (BDNF, SER, and apoptosis) analyses of the samples were performed as well. The rats administered HD-LBP and LD-LBP were less anxious than the control groups. The HD-LBP-treated rats had high levels of SOD and low levels of MDA in their serum samples. Moreover, HD-LBP and drug-treated groups had a high number of SER receptors and BDNF-positive cells and a low number of TUNEL-positive cells in their hippocampal brain tissues. The HD-LBP treatments decrease anxious behavior by increasing antioxidant enzyme activities, hippocampal SER and BDNF neurotransmitter levels and decreasing the TUNEL-positive cell count of ovariectomized rats. Given these findings, we suggest that menopause-induced symptoms of anxiety can be reduced by polysaccharides obtained from goji berry fruits, and that these findings will be beneficial for the production studies of natural herbal-origin antianxiety (anxiolytic) drugs in the future.