Eugenia uniflora fruit extract exerts neuroprotective effect on chronic unpredictable stress-induced behavioral and neurochemical changes

The aim of the current study was to evaluate the effect of chronic administration of Eugenia uniflora fruit extract on behavioral parameters, oxidative stress markers, and acetylcholinesterase activity in an animal model of depression, which was induced by chronic unpredictable stress (CUS). Mice were divided into six groups as follows: control/vehicle (water), control/fluoxetine (20 mg/kg), control/extract (200 mg/kg), CUS/vehicle, CUS/fluoxetine (20 mg/kg), and CUS/extract (200 mg/kg). Animals of the CUS group were exposed to a series of stressors for a period of 21 days. Vehicle, fluoxetine, and hydroalcoholic extract were administered daily by gavage. Results showed that E. uniflora treatment: (a) prevented the depressant-like effect induced by CUS; (b) regulated the activity of acetylcholinesterase; (c) reduced oxidative damage to lipids and reactive oxygen species production, in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus; and (d) prevented the reduction of glutathione peroxidase in the hippocampus of animals subjected to CUS protocol. Taken together, our findings suggested that E. uniflora extract exerts a neuroprotective effect by preventing oxidative damage and decreasing CUS-induced acetylcholinesterase activity, thus, ameliorating depressive-type behavior. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: E. uniflora fruit extract revealed an antidepressant-like effect and prevented the oxidative damage as well as cholinergic alterations caused by chronic stress in mice. Therefore, we believe that the results obtained in this study can be used to develop an alternative therapy for the management of depressive disorders.

Keywords: acetylcholinesterase; depression; native Brazilian fruit; neuroprotective; oxidative damage.