@article {2496, title = {Housing In An Enriched Environment Enhances The Neuroprotective Effect Of Celastrus Paniculatus And Tribulus Terrestris In An Animal Model Of Chronic Stress}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Journal}, volume = {17}, year = {2025}, month = {April 2025}, pages = {191-202}, type = {Original Article}, chapter = {191}, abstract = {

Introduction: Prolonged exposure to stress can contribute to depressive episodes. Preclinical studies have shown that stimuli like environmental enrichment (EE) can produce beneficial effects against stress by positively modulating neuroplasticity, neurochemistry, and behaviour. Hence, we explored whether exposure to EE can augment the neuroprotective activities of Celastrus paniculatus (CP) and Tribulus terrestris (TT) in stressed conditions. Materials and Methods: Rats were placed in immobilisation bags and stressed for two hours a day for ten days. After that, these stressed rats were treated by CP or TT, alone or in combination with enriched housing. Behavioural analysis in elevated plus maze, open field, forced swim and sucrose preference tests. The novel object recognition test and the rewarded alteration test on the T-maze were used to assess working memory. The brain-derived neurotrophic factor, interleukin-6, and tumour necrotic factor-alpha were measured in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortical tissues following stress and herbal treatment combined with an enriched environment. Results: We found that Celastrus paniculatus and Tribulus terrestris, combined with an enriched environment, produced a synergistic neuroprotective effect. CP + EE and TT + EE improved working memory and recognition memory in CIS animals, but they also reduced anxiety and depressive-like behaviours. TNF-α and IL-6 levels were decreased while brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels were raised in the frontal cortex and hippocampus regions, respectively. Conclusion: Our results show that living in an enriched environment can improve CP and TT neuromodulatory activities, highlighting the potential of combining sensory-motor interventions with herbal remedies for psychiatric disorders.

}, keywords = {Chronic Immobilization stress, Depression, Enriched Environment, Hippocampus, Neurotrophic factor, Pro-inflammatory cytokines}, doi = {10.5530/pj.2025.17.24}, author = {Babiker Bashir Haroun Barakaq and Bhagya Venkanna Rao and Tanuja Krishnamurthy and Ramya Vasudev} } @article {2255, title = {Mozart K488 Addition Can Improve Depressive-Like Behavior in Rats: In Search of Better Management}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Journal}, volume = {16}, year = {2024}, month = {April 2024}, pages = {348-354}, type = {Research Article}, chapter = {348}, abstract = {

Background: Fluoxetine is one of the medications used for the treatment of depression with several benefits, but some patients have a poor response to the drug. Several studies reported the use of Mozart music (K448) as an alternative therapy for treating the condition, yet the combination of Mozart and fluoxetine remains underexplored. In light of this, this study aims to assess the impact of combined fluoxetine and Mozart (K448) therapy on depressive-like behavior and associated hormonal changes in a rodent model subjected to Chronic Unpredictable Mild Stress (CUMS) conditions. Materials and Methods: The depression-induced animal model received one of these three specified treatments: fluoxetine (F), Mozart (M), or a combination of fluoxetine and Mozart (F+M). The depressive-like behavior was assessed using a 24-hour sucrose preference test (SPT). Additionally, after 21 days of treatment, plasma corticosterone levels and hippocampal melatonin levels were assessed. Statistical analysis using either ANOVA or Kruskal-Wallis tests was then performed. Results: The fluoxetine-Mozart group had higher SPT compared to CUMS group. However, they do not have a better result compared to other groups in terms of corticosterone and melatonin levels with values of respectively. Conclusion: The combined therapy of fluoxetine and Mozart improved depressive-like behavior.

}, keywords = {Corticosterone, Depressive-like behavior, Fluoxetine, Hippocampus, Melatonin, Mozart}, doi = {10.5530/pj.2024.16.53}, author = {Lisa Pangemanan and Irwanto and Margarita M. Maramis} } @article {2002, title = {The Antidepressant Effect of Fluoxetine and Mozart K448 Combination Therapy on Hippocampal Serotonin and BDNF Levels}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Journal}, volume = {15}, year = {2023}, month = {April 2023}, pages = {325-328}, type = {Original Article }, chapter = {325}, abstract = {

Despite the use of fluoxetine as a first-line therapy, some patients do not show a good therapeutic effect. Effective antidepressant therapy will reverse the low serotonin and BDNF levels found in depression. Mozart K. 448 was reported to yield a good therapeutic effect for depression. Based on findings, the combination of Mozart K. 448 and fluoxetine as a therapy for depression is very rare. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the effect of the combined therapy of fluoxetine and Mozart K. 448 on hippocampal serotonin and BDNF levels in an animal model of depression under CUMS conditions. In this study, the animal model of depression was administered three different treatments, i.e. fluoxetine, Mozart, or fluoxetine-Mozart combined therapy, respectively. Hippocampal serotonin and BDNF levels were assessed after 21 days of treatment. Statistical analysis was then carried out using T-test or Mann-Whitney test and ANOVA or Kruskal-Wallis. The fluoxetine-Mozart group has higher BDNF levels, but lower serotonin levels compared to other groups with values of 1,694{\textpm}0.215 and 44,533{\textpm}3,275, respectively.

}, keywords = {BDNF, Fluoxetine, Hippocampus, Mozart, Serotonin}, doi = {10.5530/pj.2023.15.48}, author = {Lisa Pangemanan and Irwanto Irwanto and Margarita M. Maramis} }