Reduction of anxiety-like and depression-like behaviors in rats after one month of drinking Aronia melanocarpa berry juice.
The treatment of mood and anxiety disorders by nutraceuticals is gaining growing awareness. Berries of Aronia melanocarpa (Black chokeberry) and their extracts, exceptionally abundant in diverse phenolic compounds, have become famous for the highest in vitro antioxidant activity among fruits and notable health benefits (e.g. anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, cardioprotective). This study was designed to investigate the behavioral effects of month-long unlimited consumption of Aronia master juice (AJ) and/or juice reconstruct without polyphenols (RJ), in young male rats. AJ was initially evaluated for its content of phenolic compounds by spectrophotometric assays and HPLC-DAD. Rats that were supplied with three various water concentrations of AJ and RJ, respectively: 20% + 0% (ARO group), 5% + 15% (RAJ) and 0 + 20% (PLC), were compared with those which consumed only water (CTL). Daily drinking of AJ solution was significantly elevated from the second or third week onward, which was most expressed in the ARO group. Only this group displayed behavioral variations, manifested by certain hyperactivity in open field tests and prominent reductions of anxiety-like behaviors in the elevated plus maze. The ARO rats also expressed an alleviation of depression-like behavior in forced swimming tests. These findings demonstrate the beneficial behavioral effects of the one-month-long free drinking of phenolic-rich AJ in rats (>20 ml per kg b. mass daily) that may be recognized as stimulating, anxiolytic-like and antidepressant-like. The in vitro assays suggested that MAO-A/MAO-B inhibitions by the phenolic compounds of AJ might be the possible in vivo mechanisms for such behavioral actions.
Department of Biochemistry, Institute for Biological Research "S.Stanković", University of Belgrade, Bul. Despota Stefana 142, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia. mitomic@ibiss.bg.ac.rs.
Mirko
M
Tomić
Department of Biochemistry, Institute for Biological Research "S.Stanković", University of Belgrade, Bul. Despota Stefana 142, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia. mitomic@ibiss.bg.ac.rs.
Đurđica
Đ
Ignjatović
Department of Biochemistry, Institute for Biological Research "S.Stanković", University of Belgrade, Bul. Despota Stefana 142, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia. mitomic@ibiss.bg.ac.rs.
Gordana
G
Tovilović-Kovačević
Department of Biochemistry, Institute for Biological Research "S.Stanković", University of Belgrade, Bul. Despota Stefana 142, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia. mitomic@ibiss.bg.ac.rs.
Dijana
D
Krstić-Milošević
Centre of Excellence in Nutrition and Metabolism, Institute for Medical Research, University of Belgrade, Tadeuša Košćuška 2, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia.
Slavica
S
Ranković
Centre of Excellence in Nutrition and Metabolism, Institute for Medical Research, University of Belgrade, Tadeuša Košćuška 2, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia.
Tamara
T
Popović
Centre of Excellence in Nutrition and Metabolism, Institute for Medical Research, University of Belgrade, Tadeuša Košćuška 2, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia.
Marija
M
Glibetić
D000818:Animals; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001007:Anxiety / Q000178:diet therapy*; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D003863:Depression / Q000178:diet therapy*; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry*; D000067030:Fruit and Vegetable Juices / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D008995:Monoamine Oxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D008996:Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D046936:Photinia / Q000737:chemistry*; D010805:Physical Conditioning, Animal; D059808:Polyphenols / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D008996:Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors; D059808:Polyphenols; D008995:Monoamine Oxidase