title: Antidepressant-like activity of turmerone in behavioral despair tests in mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The present study was undertaken to evaluate the anti-depressive activity of turmerone after one-week administration by using a mouse forced swimming test (FST) and tail suspension test (TST).
  
  
  METHODS
  Animals were divided into four groups (n = 10 /group): control (0.9% saline), the three doses of turmerone (1.25, 2.5, 5.0 mg/kg) for one-week treatment. To assess the effect of turmerone on locomotor activity, mice were evaluated in the open-field paradigm. Forced swimming test (FST) and Tail suspension test (TST) were used to take as a measure of antidepressant activity. The probable mechanisms of action of the anti-depressive effect of turmerone was also investigated by measuring the activity of monoamine oxidase-A and corticosterone levels in the blood and the levels of monoamines in the cortex, striatum, hippocampus and hypothalamus of the mice.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Turmerone (2.5, 5.0 mg/kg, p.o.) significantly reduced the immobility time of mice in both the FST and TST, but it did not significantly affect the ambulatory and total movements of mice. However, hyperactivity might explain the results. In addition, turmerone decreased the corticosterone level in the blood while it increased the levels of 5-HT in cortex, striatum, hippocampus, and hypothalamus, the level of NE in striatum and hippocampus, the levels of MHPG and DOPAC in hypothalamus, the level of 5-HIAA in striatum, and the level of DA in striatum, hippocampus, and hypothalamus. Turmerone (2.5, 5.0 mg/kg) decreased the activity of MAO-A in the frontal cortex and hippocampus of mouse brain.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  After one-week administration, turmerone produced antidepressant-like effects. The mechanisms of action of anti-depressive effect of turmerone seemed to involve an increase of the monoamines level decreasing the MAO-A activity and the stress of mice.
authors.forename: Jung-Chun
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.forename: Jen-Chieh
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Chia-Yu
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Hui-Chi
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Chinese Pharmaceutical Sciences and Chinese Medicine Resources, College of Pharmacy, China Medical University, No, 91, Hsueh-Shih Road, Taichung 404, Taiwan. df6689@yahoo.com.tw.
authors.forename: Lung-Yuan
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Wen-Huang
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Peng
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000378:metabolism; D030024:Curcuma / Q000737:chemistry*; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019417:Hindlimb Suspension; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism; D013550:Swimming
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D012701:Serotonin; D003345:Corticosterone