1. Background
2. Objectives
3. Materials and Methods
3.1. Animals
3.2. Grouping of Samples
3.3. EPM Test
3.4. Open-Field Test
3.5. Statistical Analysis
4. Results
4.1. Elevated Plus Maze Test
4.1.1. Single-Dose Administration of Ellagic Acid in Doses of 3, 10, 30, 100 mg/kg and Diazepam in Doses of 1, 3, 5 mg/kg
A) Percentage of time spent in EPM open arm in different groups (n = 8): control (Veh), received a single dose of EA (3, 10, 30 and 100 mg/kg, i.p.), DZP (1, 3 and 5 mg/kg, i.p.). *P < 0.05, ***P < 0.001, vs. control. B) Number of entries in EPM open arm in different groups (n = 8): control (Veh), received a single dose of EA (3, 10, 30 and 100 mg/kg, i.p.), DZP (1, 3 and 5 mg/kg, i.p.). *P < 0.05, ***P < 0.001, vs. control. C) Number of open arm entries in the EPM test in different groups (n = 8): Control (Veh), EA (30 mg/kg., i.p.), Diazepam (5 mg/kg, i.p.) and Flumazenil (3 mg/kg, i.p.). ***P < 0.001, vs. control and aaaP<0.001, vs. DZP. D) Percentage of time in open arm latency in different groups (n = 8). Control (Veh), EA (30 mg/kg., i.p.), Diazepam (5 mg/kg, i.p) and Flumazenil (3 mg/kg, i.p.). ***P < 0.001, vs. control and aaaP < 0.001, vs. DZP Abbreviations: DZP = diazepam, EA = ellagic acid, FLU= flumazenil, Veh = vehicle. Data in all sections, A - D, reported as mean ± SEM and analyzed using one-way ANOVA test followed by post Hoc Tukey’s test.
4.1.2. Co-Administration of Diazepam (5 mg/kg) with Flumazenil (3 mg/kg) and Co-Administration of Effective Dose of Ellagic Acid (30 mg/kg) With Flumazenil (3 mg/kg).
| veh | EA30 mg | FLU + DZP | FLU + EA | DZP5 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open entries | 2.462 ± 0.2683 | 6.75 ± 0.9545 b | 0.555 ± 0.17 c | 1.8 ± 0.53 d | 10.3 ± 1.14 b |
| Ppen time % | 7.563 ± 1.277 | 50.1 ± 5.834 b | 11.1 ± 6.80 c | 10 ± 3.584 d | 72.1 ±12.4 b |
| Close entries | 11.58 ± 1.145 | 6.125 ± 1.083 e | 12.56 ± 3.024 | 11.25 ± 3.7 f | 3.25 ±0.94 |
| Time close% | 92.58 ± 7.866 | 49.85 ± 2.933 b | 79.13 c ± 7.44 | 90.29 ± 3.2 d | 28.55 ± 6.9 b |
| Total arm entries | 14.042 ± 1.4133 | 12.875 ± 2.0375 | 13.11 ± 3.2 | 13.05 ± 4.3 d | 13.54 ± 2.0892 |
aGroups: Control (Veh), Diazepam (5 mg/kg, I.P.), Ellagic acid (30 mg/kg, I.P.), Diazepam + flumazenil (5 mg/kg, I.P. and 3 mg/kg, I.P., respectively), Flumazenil + Ellagic acid (3 mg/kg, I.P. and 30 mg/kg, I.P., respectively).
bP < 0.001 vs. control.
cP < 0.001 vs. Diazepam (5mg/kg).
dP < 0.001 vs. EA (30 mg/kg).
eP < 0.05 vs. control.
fP < 0.05 vs. EA (30 mg/kg).
4.1.3. Co-Administration of Ineffective Dose of Ellagic Acid (10 mg/kg) With Ineffective Dose of Diazepam (1 mg/kg) on EPM Test Parameters
A) Percentage of time spent in open arm between different groups (n = 8): control (Veh), EA (10 mg/kg), Diazepam (1 mg) and EA + Diazepam, 10 mg/kg and 1 mg/kg, respectively). * P < 0.05, ***P < 0.001, vs. control and aaP < 0.01, vs. EA (30 mg/kg). B) Number of entrance between different groups (n = 8): control (Veh), EA (10 mg/kg), Diazepam (1 mg) and EA + Diazepam, 10 mg/kg and 1 mg/kg, respectively). **P < 0.01, vs. control and aaP < 0.01, vs. EA (30 mg/kg). C) Number of entries in open arm in EPM between control and chronic administration of EA (10 mg/kg/day. i.p.) (n = 8). *P < 0.05. D) Percentage of time spent in open arm in EPM between control and chronic administration of EA (10 mg/kg/day. i.p.) (n = 8). *P < 0.05. Abbreviations: DZP = diazepam, EA = ellagic acid, Veh= vehicle. Data in all sections, A - D, reported as mean ± SEM and analyzed using one-way ANOVA test followed by post Hoc Tukey’s test.
| Veh | EA10 mg | DZP1 mg | DZP1+ EA10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open entries | 2.462 ± 0.2683 | 4.273 ± 0.7018 | 5 ± 0.6853 | 12.5 ± 5.23b,c |
| Open time % | 7.563 ± 1.277 | 21.99 ± 3.036 | 33.54 ± 8d | 56 ± 10.6e,f |
| Close entries | 11.58 ± 1.145 | 8.25 ± 0.836 | 6.077 ± 1.643d | 1.6 ± 0.68e,f |
| Time close% | 92.58 ± 7.866 | 77.5 ± 7.237 | 66.02 ± 9.059 | 44.37 ± 8.93b |
| Total arm entries | 14.042 ± 1.4133 | 12.523 ± 1.5378 | 11.077 ± 2.3283 | 14.125 ± 5.9087 |
aGroups: Control, Diazepam (1 mg/kg, I.P), Ellagic acid (10 mg/kg, I.P), Diazepam + EA (1 mg/kg, I.P and 5 mg/kg, I.P, respectively). Data reported as mean ± SEM and analyzed using one-way ANOVA followed by post Hoc Tukey’s test. (DZP = diazepam, EA = Ellagic acid) (n = 8).
bP < 0.01 vs. control.
cP < 0.05, vs. EA (10 mg/kg).
dP < 0.05 vs. control
eP <0.001 vs. control.
fP < 0.01, vs. EA (10 mg/kg).
4.1.4. Chronic (10 Days) Administration of Effective Dose of Ellagic Acid (30 mg/kg, i.p.) on EPM Test
aGroups: control (veh) and chronic administration of EA (10 mg/kg/day. i.p.) (n = 8).
bData reported as mean ± SEM and analyzed using one-way ANOVA followed by post Hoc Tukey’s test. (EA = ellagic acid, Veh= vehicle).
cP < 0.05.
dP < 0.01.
4.2. Motor Activity in Open Field Test
4.2.1. Effect of Different Doses of Ellagic Acid (3, 10, 30 and 100 mg/kg) and Diazepam (1, 3 and 5 mg/kg) on Motor Activity in Open Field Test
A) Comparison of ambulation activity between different groups in the open field test (n = 8). *P < 0.05, **P < 0.05, vs. control. B) Comparison of sniffing activity between different groups in the open field test (n = 8). C) Comparison of grooming activity between different groups in the open field test (n = 8). *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001, vs. control. D) Comparison of rearing activity between different groups in the open field test (n = 8). ***P < 0.001, vs. control. Abbreviations: DZP = diazepam, EA = ellagic acid, Veh = vehicle. Control (Veh), received a single dose of EA (3, 10, 30 and 100 mg/kg, ip), Diazepam (1, 3 and 5 mg/kg, i.p.). Data reported as mean ± SEM and analyzed using one-way ANOVA test followed by post Hoc Tukey’s test.
4.2.2. Effect of Chronic Administration of Ellagic Acid (30 mg/kg/day, 10 Days, orally by Gavage) on Motor Activity in Open Field Test
A) Effect of 10 days of ellagic acid (30 mg/kg) administration on grooming activity in open field test (n = 8). B) Effect of 10 days ellagic acid (30 mg/kg) administration on rearing activity in open field test (n = 8). C) Effect of 10 days ellagic acid (30 mg/kg) administration on ambulation activity in open field test (n = 8). D) Effect of 10 days ellagic acid (30 mg/kg) administration on sniffing activity in open field test (n = 8). **P < 0.01. Abbreviations: EA = ellagic acid, Veh = vehicle. Data in all sections, A - D, reported as mean ± SEM and analyzed using one-way ANOVA test followed by post Hoc Tukey’s test.



