Nasra Naeim Ayuob1, Alaa El-Din L Firgany2, Ahmed A El-Mansy3, Soad Ali4. 1. Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; Department of Histology and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Egypt. Electronic address: nasraayoub@man.edu.eg. 2. Department of Histology and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Egypt. 3. Department of Histology and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Egypt; Department of Basic Medical Science, Horus University, Egypt. 4. Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; Yousef Abdullatif Jameel Chair of Prophetic Medical Applications (YAJCPMA), Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Depression is one of the important world-wide health problems. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess the ameliorative effect of Ocimum basilicum (OB) essential oil on the behavioral, biochemical and histopathological changes resulted from exposure to chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS). It also aimed to investigate the underlying mechanism in an animal model of depression. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty male Swiss albino mice were divided into four groups (n=10): control, CUMS (exposed to CUMS for 4weeks), CUMS plus fluoxetine, and CUMS plus OB. At the end of the experiment, behavioral changes, serum corticosterone level, protein and gene expressions of brain derived neurotropic factor (BDNF) and glucocorticoid receptors (GR) in the hippocampus was all assessed. Immunoexpression of surface makers of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), Ki67, Caspase-3, BDNF and GR in the hippocampus were estimated. Data were analyzed by using the statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS). RESULTS: OB alleviated both behavioral and biochemical changes recorded in mice after exposure to CUMS. It also reduced neuronal atrophy observed in the hippocampal region III cornu ammonis (CA3) and dentate gyrus and restored back astrocyte number. OB decreased apoptosis in both neurons and glial cells and increased neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus in a pattern comparable to that of fluoxetine. Increased BDNF and GR gene and protein expressions seems to be behind the antidepressant-like effect of OB. CONCLUSION: Ocimum basilicum ameliorates the changes induced after exposure to the chronic stress. Assessing Ocimum basilicum efficacy on human as antidepressant is recommended in further studies.
BACKGROUND:Depression is one of the important world-wide health problems. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess the ameliorative effect of Ocimum basilicum (OB) essential oil on the behavioral, biochemical and histopathological changes resulted from exposure to chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS). It also aimed to investigate the underlying mechanism in an animal model of depression. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty male Swiss albino mice were divided into four groups (n=10): control, CUMS (exposed to CUMS for 4weeks), CUMS plus fluoxetine, and CUMS plus OB. At the end of the experiment, behavioral changes, serum corticosterone level, protein and gene expressions of brain derived neurotropic factor (BDNF) and glucocorticoid receptors (GR) in the hippocampus was all assessed. Immunoexpression of surface makers of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), Ki67, Caspase-3, BDNF and GR in the hippocampus were estimated. Data were analyzed by using the statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS). RESULTS: OB alleviated both behavioral and biochemical changes recorded in mice after exposure to CUMS. It also reduced neuronal atrophy observed in the hippocampal region III cornu ammonis (CA3) and dentate gyrus and restored back astrocyte number. OB decreased apoptosis in both neurons and glial cells and increased neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus in a pattern comparable to that of fluoxetine. Increased BDNF and GR gene and protein expressions seems to be behind the antidepressant-like effect of OB. CONCLUSION:Ocimum basilicum ameliorates the changes induced after exposure to the chronic stress. Assessing Ocimum basilicum efficacy on human as antidepressant is recommended in further studies.
Authors: Nasra N Ayuob; Maha J Balgoon; Soad Ali; Ibrahim S Alnoury; Hailah M ALmohaimeed; Amany A AbdElfattah Journal: Front Psychiatry Date: 2020-09-11 Impact factor: 4.157
Authors: Lucia Caputo; Marina D Reguilon; José Mińarro; Vincenzo De Feo; Marta Rodriguez-Arias Journal: Molecules Date: 2018-10-19 Impact factor: 4.411