Lycopene Treatment Transposed Antidepressant-Like Action in Rats Provoked to Chronic Mild Stress
Venkata Naveen Kumar P*1, Elango P1, Asmathulla S2 and Kavimani S3

1Department of Pharmacology, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education And Research, Chennai.

2Department of Biochemistry, Sri  Manakula Vinayagar Medical College And Hospital Pondicherry.

3Department of Pharmacology, Mother Theresa Post Graduate And Research Institute of Health Sciences, Puducherry, India.

Corresponding Author Email: Drpelango@yahoo.com

Abstract: The present study aimed at evaluating the effects of lycopene on CMS-induced depressive-like behavioral changes in Wistar rats. In present study, rodents were selected randomly and grouped in to seven groups. Each group consists of six animals. All the groups are subjected to chronic mild stress in an unpredictable manner except the control group, which is free from stress. Behavioral changes induced during chronic mild stress were assessed by conducting the behavioral tests like forced swim test, sucrose preferences test, elevated plus maze test and open field tests in screening depressant and anxiety activity. The data analysis showed chronic mild stress produced depressive and anxiogenic behavior in the experimental rats. A significant increase in the immobility time and decrease in sucrose consumption in sucrose preference test are noted in CMS and vehicle groups. Similarly, in an elevated plus maze a significant decrease in the entries in the open arm and decrease in central square entries, and rearing behavior and increase in the duration of immobility were observed in open field test.Lycopene treatment for 6-weeks significantly decreased immobility time and increased in sucrose consumption observed in the forced swim test and sucrose preference test respectively. Lycopene significantly increased number of entries in the open arm of elevated plus maze and decreased grooming and freezing behavior in open field method.  lycopene supplemented dose of  5mg/kg showed an insignificant results in all the behavioral models (p>0.05).The data were expressed as Mean±SD.Data were analyzed and differences between the means were determined by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) Using graph pad prism version 5.03 statistical software. In all the tests, differences were considered significant if p<0.05 to be a statistical significant. lycopene possesses antidepressant and mild- anxiolytic activity which may be due to its antioxidant effect that might warrant further studies.

Keywords: Chronic Mild Stress; Elevated Plus Maze Test; Imipramine; Lycopene and Open Field Test

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