title: Fucosterol, a sterol extracted from Sargassum fusiforme, shows antidepressant and anticonvulsant effects.
abstract: We previously showed that extracts of Sargassum fusiforme significantly reduce immobility time in the forced swim test and tail suspension test, suggesting that these extracts possess antidepressant-like effects. Here, fucosterol extracted from S. fusiforme was evaluated for antidepressant and anticonvulsant activities in mice. Fucosterol (10, 20, 30 and 40mg/kg) significantly shortened immobility time in the forced swim test and tail suspension test for30min after treatment but had no effect on locomotor activity in the open field test. Fucosterol significantly increased serotonin, norepinephrine and the metabolite 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid in mouse brain, suggesting that the effects of fucosterol may be mediated through these neurotransmitters. As assessed using maximal electroshock, fucosterol (20, 40, 100mg/kg) possessed anticonvulsant activity, whereas rotarod toxicity test results indicated that fucosterol did not induce neurotoxicity at the same dose levels in mice. Thus, fucosterol may be a useful antidepressant adjunct candidate for treating depression in patients with epilepsy. A significant increase in hippocampal brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels was found in the fucosterol 20mg/kg group (P<0.05). Our findings suggested that fucosterol may possess an antidepressant-like effect, which may be mediated by increasing central BDNF levels.
authors.affiliation: Food and Pharmacy College, Zhejiang Ocean University and Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Marine Biomedical Products, Zhejiang, Zhoushan 316022, China.
authors.forename: Xing-Hua
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Zhen
authors.affiliation: Yanbian University School of Medicine, Jilin 133000, Yanji, China.
authors.forename: Ying-Chun
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Quan
authors.affiliation: Yanbian University School of Medicine, Jilin 133000, Yanji, China.
authors.forename: Hai-Ying
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: Food and Pharmacy College, Zhejiang Ocean University and Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Marine Biomedical Products, Zhejiang, Zhoushan 316022, China.
authors.forename: Zheng-Shun
authors.initials: ZS
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.affiliation: Food and Pharmacy College, Zhejiang Ocean University and Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Marine Biomedical Products, Zhejiang, Zhoushan 316022, China. Electronic address: Youle1960@163.com.
authors.forename: You-Le
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Qu
authors.affiliation: Food and Pharmacy College, Zhejiang Ocean University and Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Marine Biomedical Products, Zhejiang, Zhoushan 316022, China. Electronic address: glp730@163.com.
authors.forename: Li-Ping
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Guan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015306:Biogenic Monoamines / Q000378:metabolism; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000378:metabolism; D044647:Sargassum / Q000737:chemistry*; D012640:Seizures / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013265:Stigmasterol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013550:Swimming
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D015306:Biogenic Monoamines; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; C015896:fucosterol; D013265:Stigmasterol
keywords: Forced swim test; Fucosterol; Maximal electroshock seizure; Neuro-transmitters; Sargassum fusiforme; Tail suspension test