Anxiolytic effects of short- and long-term administration of cacao mass on rat elevated T-maze test

Yamada, Takashi; Yumura, Yasushi; Okano, Yasuyo; Terashima, Takehiko; Yokogoshi, Hidehiko

doi:10.1016/j.jnutbio.2008.08.007

Cited by 27 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…In Wistar rats, a single dose of cacao mass showed anxiolytic effects, but 2-week consumption did not reduce anxiety-related behavior. Locomotor activity in the OF was unaffected in those rats [66]. Two-week cocoa polyphenolic extract treatment had an antidepressant-like effect in Wistar-Unilever rats subjected to a forced-swim test without accompanying changes in locomotion in the OF [67].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

(−)‐Epicatechin Prevents Blood Pressure Increase and Reduces Locomotor Hyperactivity in Young Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats

Kluknavsky

Bališ

Púzserová

et al. 2016

Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity

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This study investigated the effects of subchronic (−)-epicatechin (Epi) treatment on locomotor activity and hypertension development in young spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Epi was administered in drinking water (100 mg/kg/day) for 2 weeks. Epi significantly prevented the development of hypertension (138 ± 2 versus 169 ± 5 mmHg, p < 0.001) and reduced total distance traveled in the open-field test (22 ± 2 versus 35 ± 4 m, p < 0.01). In blood, Epi significantly enhanced erythrocyte deformability, increased total antioxidant capacity, and decreased nitrotyrosine concentration. In the aorta, Epi significantly increased nitric oxide (NO) synthase (NOS) activity and elevated the NO-dependent vasorelaxation. In the left heart ventricle, Epi increased NOS activity without altering gene expressions of nNOS, iNOS, and eNOS. Moreover, Epi reduced superoxide production in the left heart ventricle and the aorta. In the brain, Epi increased nNOS gene expression (in the brainstem and cerebellum) and eNOS expression (in the cerebellum) but had no effect on overall NOS activity. In conclusion, Epi prevented the development of hypertension and reduced locomotor hyperactivity in young SHR. These effects resulted from improved cardiovascular NO bioavailability concurrently with increased erythrocyte deformability, without changes in NO production in the brain.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

(−)‐Epicatechin Prevents Blood Pressure Increase and Reduces Locomotor Hyperactivity in Young Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats

Kluknavsky

Bališ

Púzserová

et al. 2016

Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity

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“…However, the low habituation level for distance travelled in the central zone and increased relative distance travelled in the central zone at two weeks post treatment suggest a delayed anxiolytic effect of Epi in young BHR. In a study with normotensive Wistar rats, a single-dose of cocoa had an anxiolytic effect with unchanged locomotor activity, whereas a two-week treatment period failed to affect the behaviour of the rats [46]. In a study with Wistar-Unilever rats, the administration of cocoa extract for two weeks had antidepressant effects [47].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

(–)-Epicatechin Reduces the Blood Pressure of Young Borderline Hypertensive Rats During the Post-Treatment Period

et al. 2020

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This study investigated the effects of (–)-epicatechin (Epi) in young male borderline hypertensive rats (BHR) during two weeks of treatment (Epi group, 100 mg/kg/day p.o.) and two weeks post treatment (PE group). Epi reduced blood pressure (BP), which persisted for two weeks post treatment. This was associated with delayed reduction of anxiety-like behaviour. Epi significantly increased nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activities in the aorta and left heart ventricle (LHV) vs. the age-matched controls without affecting the brainstem and frontal neocortex. Furthermore, Epi significantly reduced the superoxide production in the aorta and relative content of iron-containing compounds in blood. Two weeks post treatment, the NOS activities and superoxide productions in the heart and aorta did not differ from the age-matched controls. The gene expressions of the NOSs (nNOS, iNOS, eNOS), nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ) remained unaltered in the aorta and LHV of the Epi and PE groups. In conclusion, while Epi-induced a decrease of the rats’ BP persisted for two weeks post treatment, continuous Epi treatments seem to be necessary for maintaining elevated NO production as well as redox balance in the heart and aorta without changes in the NOSs, Nrf2, and PPAR-γ gene expressions.

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“…It has been reported that (−)-epicatechin consumption enhances cognition and spatial memory by increasing angiogenesis and neuronal spine density in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus (van Praag et al, 2007). On the other hand, short-term administration of cacao mass showed anxiolytic effects, with administration decreasing conditioned fear-related behavior (Yamada et al, 2009). Methylxanthines, the combination of caffeine and theobromine, are known as the psychopharmacologically active constituents of chocolate (Smit et al, 2004).…”

Section: Neurodegenerationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cocoa Phytochemicals: Recent Advances in Molecular Mechanisms on Health

Kim

Shim

et al. 2014

Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition

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Recent reports on cocoa are appealing in that a food commonly consumed for pure pleasure might also bring tangible benefits for human health. Cocoa consumption is correlated with reduced health risks of cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, atherosclerosis, and cancer, and the health-promoting effects of cocoa are mediated by cocoa-driven phytochemicals. Cocoa is rich in procyanidins, theobromine, (-)-epicatechin, catechins, and caffeine. Among the phytochemicals present in consumed cocoa, theobromine is most available in human plasma, followed by caffeine, (-)-epicatechin, catechin, and procyanidins. It has been reported that cocoa phytochemicals specifically modulate or interact with specific molecular targets linked to the pathogenesis of chronic human diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, obesity, diabetes, and skin aging. This review summarizes comprehensive recent findings on the beneficial actions of cocoa-driven phytochemicals in molecular mechanisms of human health.

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Anxiolytic effects of short- and long-term administration of cacao mass on rat elevated T-maze test

Cited by 27 publications

References 36 publications

(−)‐Epicatechin Prevents Blood Pressure Increase and Reduces Locomotor Hyperactivity in Young Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats

(−)‐Epicatechin Prevents Blood Pressure Increase and Reduces Locomotor Hyperactivity in Young Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats

(–)-Epicatechin Reduces the Blood Pressure of Young Borderline Hypertensive Rats During the Post-Treatment Period

Cocoa Phytochemicals: Recent Advances in Molecular Mechanisms on Health

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