Positive Health Online

Abstract

CRUPI and COLLEAGUES, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine and Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Messina, Italy.

Background

Extracts of Hypericum perforatum (St. John's wort) have been traditionally recommended for a wide range of medical conditions, in particular mild-to-moderate depression. The present study was designed to investigate the effect of Hypericum perforatum treatment in a mouse model of anxiety/depressive-like behaviour, induced by chronic corticosterone administration.

Methodology

CD1 mice were submitted to 7 weeks corticosterone administration and then behavioural tests as Open Field (OF), Novelty-Suppressed Feeding (NSF), Forced Swim Test (FST) were performed. Cell proliferation in hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG) was investigated by both 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) and doublecortin (DCX) immunohistochemistry techniques and stereological procedure was used to quantify labelled cells. Golgi-impregnation method was used to evaluate changes in dendritic spines in DG. Hypericum perforatum (30 mg/Kg) has been administered for 3 weeks and then neural development in the adult hippocampus and behavioural changes have been examined.

Results

The anxiety/depressive-like state due to chronic corticosterone treatment was reversed by exogenous administration of Hypericum perforatum; the proliferation of progenitor cells in mice hippocampus was significantly reduced under chronic corticosterone treatment, whereas a long term treatment with Hypericum perforatum prevented the corticosterone-induced decrease in hippocampal cell proliferation. Corticosterone-treated mice exhibited a reduced spine density that was ameliorated by Hypericum perforatum administration.

Conclusion

These results provide evidence of morphological adaptations occurring in mature hippocampal neurons that might underlie resilient responses to chronic stress and contribute to the therapeutic effects of chronic Hypericum perforatum treatment.

References

Crupi R, Mazzon E, Marino A, La Spada G, Bramanti P, Battaglia F, Cuzzocrea S and Spina E. Hypericum perforatum treatment: effect on behaviour and neurogenesis in a chronic stress model in mice. Source BMC Complementary & Alternative Medicine. 11:7, 2011. Other ID Source: NLM. PMC3041724. 2011