title: Pretreatment with curcumin attenuates anxiety while strengthens memory performance after one short stress experience in male rats.
abstract: It is observed that memories are more strengthened in a stressful condition. Studies have also demonstrated an association between stressful events and the onset of depression and anxiety. Considering the nootropic, anxiolytic and antidepressant-like properties of curcumin in various experimental approaches, we appraised the beneficial effects of this herb on acute immobilization stress-induced behavioral and neurochemical alterations. Rats in test group were administrated with curcumin (200mg/kg/day), dissolved in neutral oil, for 1 week. Both control and curcumin-treated rats were divided into unstressed and stressed groups. Rats in the stressed group were subjected to immobilization stress for 2h. After stress, the animals were subjected to behavioral tests. Immobilization stress induced an anxiogenic behavior in rats subjected to elevated plus maze test (EPM). Locomotor activity was also significantly increased following the acute immobilization stress. Pre-administration of curcumin prevented the stress-induced behavioral deficits. Highest memory performance was observed in stressed rats that were pre-treated with curcumin in Morris water maze (MWM). Brain malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activities were also estimated. Present study suggests a role of antioxidant enzymes in the attenuation of acute stress induced anxiety by curcumin. The findings therefore suggest that supplementation of curcumin may be beneficial in the treatment of acute stress induced anxiety and enhancement of memory function.
authors: Neurochemistry- and Biochemical Neuropharmacology Research Unit, Department of Biochemistry, University of Karachi, Karachi, 75270, Pakistan. Electronic address: saida-h1@hotmail.com.
authors: Saida
authors: S
authors: Haider
authors: Neurochemistry- and Biochemical Neuropharmacology Research Unit, Department of Biochemistry, University of Karachi, Karachi, 75270, Pakistan.
authors: Fizza
authors: F
authors: Naqvi
authors: Neurochemistry- and Biochemical Neuropharmacology Research Unit, Department of Biochemistry, University of Karachi, Karachi, 75270, Pakistan; Department of Biochemistry, Jinnah University for Women, Karachi-74600, Pakistan.
authors: Zehra
authors: Z
authors: Batool
authors: Neurochemistry- and Biochemical Neuropharmacology Research Unit, Department of Biochemistry, University of Karachi, Karachi, 75270, Pakistan; Department of Biochemistry, Liaquat College of Medicine and Dentistry, Darul-Sehat Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors: Saiqa
authors: S
authors: Tabassum
authors: Neurochemistry- and Biochemical Neuropharmacology Research Unit, Department of Biochemistry, University of Karachi, Karachi, 75270, Pakistan.
authors: Sadia
authors: S
authors: Sadir
authors: Neurochemistry- and Biochemical Neuropharmacology Research Unit, Department of Biochemistry, University of Karachi, Karachi, 75270, Pakistan.
authors: Laraib
authors: L
authors: Liaquat
authors: Neurochemistry- and Biochemical Neuropharmacology Research Unit, Department of Biochemistry, University of Karachi, Karachi, 75270, Pakistan.
authors: Faizan
authors: F
authors: Naqvi
authors: Department of Biochemistry, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center (JPMC), Karachi, Pakistan.
authors: Nudrat Anwer
authors: NA
authors: Zuberi
authors: Neurochemistry- and Biochemical Neuropharmacology Research Unit, Department of Biochemistry, University of Karachi, Karachi, 75270, Pakistan.
authors: Hina
authors: H
authors: Shakeel
authors: Neurochemistry- and Biochemical Neuropharmacology Research Unit, Department of Biochemistry, University of Karachi, Karachi, 75270, Pakistan.
authors: Tahira
authors: T
authors: Perveen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001007:Anxiety / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D003474:Curcumin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects*; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D018697:Nootropic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012149:Restraint, Physical; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D018697:Nootropic Agents; D003474:Curcumin
keywords: Acetylcholinesterase; Acute immobilization stress; Curcumin; Memory; Oxidative stress