Systemic Administration of Curcumin Affect Anxiety‐Related Behaviors in a Rat Model of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder via Activation of Serotonergic Systems

Abstract

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a trauma-induced psychiatric disease characterized by impaired hyperarousal, fear extermination, depression, anxiety, and amnesic symptoms that may include the release of monoamines in the dread circuit. Curcumin (CUR), a major diarylheptanoid and polyphenolic component of Curcuma longa, reportedly possesses several pharmacological features, including antidiabetic, antiatherosclerotic, anticancer, and neuropsychiatric actions. But the anxiolytic-like effects of CUR and its mechanism of action in PTSD are unclear. The current research measured some anxiety-related behavioral responses to examine the effects of CUR on symptoms of anxiety in rats after single prolonged stress (SPS) exposure by reversing the serotonin (5-HT) dysfunction. Rats received CUR (20, 50, or 100 mg/kg, i.p., once daily) for 14 days after SPS exposure. Administration of CUR significantly increased the number of central zone crossings in the open field test and reduced grooming behavior in the elevated plus maze (EPM) test and increased the number of open-arm visits on the EPM test. CUR administration significantly reduced freezing response to contextual fear conditioning. CUR recovered neurochemical abnormalities and SPS-induced decreased 5-HT tissue levels in the hippocampus, amygdala, and striatum. These results suggested that CUR has anxiolytic-like effects on biochemical and behavioral symptoms associated with anxiety. Thus, CUR may be a useful agent to alleviate or treat psychiatric disorders similar to those observed in patients with PTSD.

Silibinin prevents depression-like behaviors in a single prolonged stress rat model: the possible role of serotonin

“…Sucrose intake was measured as described previously [24]. After the SPS, the confirmation of the unpleasant response to the stimulus, other than the depression-related behavioral changes, was determined through the change in the intake of 1% sucrose solution of the experimental animals.…”

“…Rats were subjected to contextual fear conditioning and extinction following SPS procedure. The contextual fear conditioning tests were performed as previously described [24]. Animals were condition to a sound while inducing shock.…”

“…Following the 14 days period designated to allow the development of PTSD, corticosterone (CORT) levels in the plasma, 5-HT level in the Hipp, PFC, striatum (STR), and Amg, and NE, DA, TRP, and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) levels in the Hipp were measured as described previously [24]. Each group (n = 4/group) were anesthetized through inhalation of isoflurane (Hanlim Pharm.…”

Benefits of curcumin in brain disorders

“…Curcumin has shown to possess a strong antidepressant activity in animal models of depression . It acts by inhibiting the expression of MAO‐A and MAO‐B enzymes which results in increase the levels of norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine .…”

“…Curcumin has shown to possess a strong antidepressant activity in animal models of depression. [104][105][106][107] It acts by inhibiting the expression of MAO-A and MAO-B enzymes which results in increase the levels of norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine. 108 Curcumin's antidepressant activity is produced by ERK regulated increase in the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression in the amygdala of mice.…”