Abstract
Subjects and Methods: 42 adult female Wistar rats in six groups were used in this study. All animals received daily progesterone injections at a dose of 5 mg/kg intraperitoneally for 5 consecutive days. A hydroalcoholic extract of Quercus brantii (100mg/kg) and oil (45%) were administered simultaneously with PPD modeling by progesterone withdrawal. On day 8, depressive behavior was then assessed by a forced swim test. To investigate the role of the oxidant-antioxidant system, reduced glutathione (GSH), catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) have been assessed after the last injection.
Results: Statistical analysis showed that progesterone induced significant immobilization in the control group receiving saline (P<0.001) and in the vehicle group receiving sesame oil (P<0.001). The administration of hydroalcoholic oak extract (100 mg/kg) shortened the immobility time compared to the control group (P<0.05). The results of this study show that depression has no effect on locomotor activity. The hydroalcoholic extract of Quercus brantii (100mg/kg) significantly improved depression, decreased MDA and increased SOD. On the other hand, Quercus brantii oil (45%) has no significant effect on depression, but lowers MDA and increases catalase.
Conclusion: Q. brantii appears to be a natural source of antidepressant compounds that increase antioxidant levels, which is currently being investigated by our group
Keywords
Antioxidant Oxidative Stress Postpartum depression Q. brantii