Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research

Original Research Article | OPEN ACCESS

Puerarin mitigates symptoms of depression in ovariectomized female rats by regulating hippocampal cAMP-CREB-BDNF signaling pathway

Rui Liu¹, Yubo Li², Zheng Wang¹, Jinfeng Li¹, Yuan Liang², Min Li¹

For correspondence:- Min Li Email: yymvy3@163.com

Accepted: 25 June 2021 Published: 29 July 2021

Citation: Liu R, Li Y, Wang Z, Li J, Liang Y, Li M. Puerarin mitigates symptoms of depression in ovariectomized female rats by regulating hippocampal cAMP-CREB-BDNF signaling pathway. Trop J Pharm Res 2021; 20(7):1403-1409 doi: 10.4314/tjpr.v20i7.12

© 2021 The authors.
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Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the effect of puerarin on the symptoms of depression in ovariectomized female rat model, and the mechanism of action involved.

Methods: Ninety healthy female Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were assigned to five groups: sham, model, low-dose puerarin, medium-dose puerarin, and high-dose puerarin groups, with 18 rats per group. Changes in the levels of dopamine (DA), norepinephrine (NA), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), and apoptosis-related proteins were determined and compared.

Results: Compared with the sham group, vertical and horizontal scores, and levels of DA, NA, 5-HT, Bcl-2, p-CREB and BDNF in the model group were significantly decreased. On the other hand, duration of immobility in forced swimming was prolonged, while the concentrations of caspase-1 and ASC increased significantly (p < 0.05). Compared with the model group, with increase in pueraria dose, vertical and horizontal scores, and expression levels of DA, NA, 5-HT, Bcl-2, p-CREB and BDNF of rats were gradually increased, duration of immobility in forced swimming was gradually shortened, and the expression levels of Caspase-1 and ASC w decreased gradually, relative to model group (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: Puerarin mitigates depression-like behavior of ovariectomized-depression rats by activating cAMP-CREB-BDNF signaling pathway. Thus, this compound is a potential new lead in the development of drugs for the treatment of depression in ovariectomized women.

Keywords: Puerarin, cAMP-CREB-BDNF signaling pathway, Ovariectomized, Depression rats