Ginkgo biloba extract (GbE) attenuates obesity and anxious/depressive-like behaviours induced by ovariectomy

Abstract

While several pieces of evidence link obesity and mood disorders in menopause, the mechanisms involved are not yet fully understood. We have previously demonstrated that Ginkgo biloba extract (GbE) both attenuated diet-induced obesity of male rats and restored serotonin-induced hypophagia in ovariectomized female rats. The present study aimed at exploring whether GbE treatment ameliorates ovariectomy-related obesity and anxious/depressive-like behaviours. Wistar female rats were either ovariectomized (OVX) or sham-operated (Sham). After 2 months, either 500 mg/kg of GbE or vehicle were administered daily by gavage for 14 days. Anxious/depressive-like behaviours were assessed by the Elevated Plus Maze and the Forced Swim Tests, respectively. Ovariectomy caused high visceral adiposity, hyperleptinemia, and hypercholesterolemia, and increased the anxiety index (p = 0.048 vs. Sham + GbE) while it decreased the latency to immobility (p = 0.004 vs. Sham). GbE treatment in OVX rats improved body composition, adiponectin levels and blood lipid profile. It also reduced the anxiety index (p = 0.004) and increased the latency to immobility (p = 0.003) of OVX rats. Linear regression analysis demonstrated that leptin (p = 0.047) and total cholesterol levels (p = 0.022) were associated with anxious-like behaviours while body adiposity (p = 0.00005) was strongly associated with depressive-like behaviours. The results showed that GbE therapy was effective in attenuating the deleterious effects of ovariectomy on body composition, lipid profile, and anxious/depressive-like behaviours. Further studies are warranted to better understand the therapeutic potential of GbE in menopause.

A Single Dose of Ginkgo biloba Extract Induces Gene Expression of Hypothalamic Anorexigenic Effectors in Male Rats

“…Indeed, this hypothesis is aligned with previous studies from our group in which the GbE 14-day supplementation reduced food intake, body weight gain, and visceral adiposity in DIO rats [15,16,18]. We have also reported that GbE modulated hypothalamic and hippocampal anorexigenic mechanisms after a 14-day treatment protocol, supporting a hypothesis for a time-dependent hypophagic effect [17][18][19][20][21]. That the GbE effect is time-dependent was also suggested in studies evaluating the modulation of memory.…”

“…It is possible that the beneficial effects of GbE on glucose and cholesterol metabolism, insulin signaling, visceral adiposity, and energy homeostasis previously observed in both the DIO [15,16] and ovariectomized rats [20] might be related to the early modulation of the POMC pathway (Figure 5). dependent hypophagic effect [17][18][19][20][21]. That the effect is time-dependent was also suggested in studies evaluating the modulation of memory.…”

“…In ovariectomized rats (OVX), GbE also decreased food intake and improved the body composition and lipid profile, which might have been resulted, at least in part, from the stimulation of the serotonergic system, since the GbE supplementation improved the serotonin levels in the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) [ 19 , 20 ]. In addition, the modulation of serotonergic system activity in the hippocampus through the re-establishment of 5-HT1A and 5-HT1B receptor levels [ 21 ] might be also involved in the improvement of anxious- and depressive-like behaviors observed after GbE supplementation [ 20 ].…”

“…In ovariectomized rats (OVX), GbE also decreased food intake and improved the body composition and lipid profile, which might have been resulted, at least in part, from the stimulation of the serotonergic system, since the GbE supplementation improved the serotonin levels in the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) [ 19 , 20 ]. In addition, the modulation of serotonergic system activity in the hippocampus through the re-establishment of 5-HT1A and 5-HT1B receptor levels [ 21 ] might be also involved in the improvement of anxious- and depressive-like behaviors observed after GbE supplementation [ 20 ]. Additionally, the GbE supplementation exerted an important modulatory effect on leptinergic signaling, as observed by the reduction in leptin serum levels as well as the restoration of hippocampal leptin receptors, reinforcing the capacity of GbE to enhance anorexigenic responses [ 20 , 21 ].…”

“…In addition, the modulation of serotonergic system activity in the hippocampus through the re-establishment of 5-HT1A and 5-HT1B receptor levels [ 21 ] might be also involved in the improvement of anxious- and depressive-like behaviors observed after GbE supplementation [ 20 ]. Additionally, the GbE supplementation exerted an important modulatory effect on leptinergic signaling, as observed by the reduction in leptin serum levels as well as the restoration of hippocampal leptin receptors, reinforcing the capacity of GbE to enhance anorexigenic responses [ 20 , 21 ].…”