Chlorogenic Acid from Hawthorn Berry -Crataegus pinnatifida Fruit- Prevents Stress Hormone_Induced Depressive Behavior- Through Monoamine Oxidase B_reactive Oxygen Species Signaling in Hippocampal Astrocytes of Mice

Authors
DW Lim, T Han, J Jung, Y Song, MY Um, M Yoon, YT Kim, S Cho, I-H Kim, D Han, C Lee, J Lee

Lab
Division of Functional Food Research, Korea Food Research InstituteJeollabuk_do, Republic of Korea

Journal
Molecular Nutrition & Food Reseaerch

Abstract
ScopeOxidative stress has been implicated in mental disorders, including depression. Chlorogenic acid (CGA), a phenolic compound abundant in herbs and fruits, has been reported to have antioxidant and free_radical scavenging properties. In this study, we investigated the antidepressant_like effects and active mechanisms of CGA from the extract of Crataegus pinnatifida (CP) fruit.
Methods and resultsDepression_like phenotypes were induced in mice by daily injection of stress hormone for 1–2 weeks. The brains of these animals exhibited reduced brain_derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression and increased astrocytic hypertrophy, which are typical markers of depression in animal models. Stress hormone injection 1) upregulated monoamine oxidase B (MAOB) expression and 2) reduced spine numbers along neuronal dendrites, which indicates synaptic depression. The oral administration of CGA (30 mg/kg) or CP (300 mg/kg) prevented MAOB activation following reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and had an ameliorative effect on depressive behavioral tests (e.g., tail suspension and forced swim tests). In vitro assays performed on cultured C8_D1A cells revealed that CGA and CP inhibited MAOB activity and ROS production.
ConclusionOur study indicates that CGA and CP extracts prevented depressive behavior and thereby have potential as natural antidepressants.

BIOSEB Instruments Used:
Tail Suspension Test - Wireless (BIO-TST5)