title: Evaluation of antidepressant-like activity of novel water-soluble curcumin formulations and St. John's wort in behavioral paradigms of despair.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Curcumin is the active principle of Curcuma longa, one of the widely used components in the traditional system of medicine in India. Despite its efficacy in experimental studies aiming at neuronal disorders like depression, curcu-min's poor water solubility challenges the production of therapeutic formulations. This study investigates the antidepressant-like activity of novel water-soluble curcumin formulations, dispensed in three different concentrations. Further, the study comparatively evaluates St. John's wort (SJW), another herbal preparation.
  
  
  METHODS
  These compounds were evaluated in the forced swimming test in mice, and the corresponding changes in the neurotransmitter levels were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three water-soluble curcumin formulations, C-5, C-20 and C-50 (50-200 mg/kg p.o.) decreased the immobility period, and increased serotonin and dopamine levels in the brain tissues. A subeffective dose (50 mg/kg) of these formulations enhanced the antidepressant-like effect of classical antidepressants with varied mechanisms of action. In addition, an SJW dose of 25 mg/kg showed a significant antidepressant-like effect in all the behavioral studies and also significantly increased brain neurotransmitter levels, especially that of serotonin. The effects produced by C-5 were comparable with those of SJW and fluoxetine, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In all these observations, the water-soluble formulations showed a significant antidepressant-like effect, including enhancement of neurotransmitter levels as compared to the similar dose of a conventional curcumin preparation. Thus, these formulations may be used as a novel treatment option in the management of mental depression.
authors.affiliation: Pharmacology Division, University Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India. skpu@yahoo.com
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Kulkarni
authors.forename: Kiran Kumar
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Akula
authors.forename: Jayant
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Deshpande
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001679:Biogenic Amines / Q000378:metabolism; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical / Q000379:methods*; D003474:Curcumin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000523:psychology; D020902:Hypericum / Q000737:chemistry*; D046353:Immobility Response, Tonic / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012995:Solubility; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D001679:Biogenic Amines; D010936:Plant Extracts; D003474:Curcumin