Ishige foliacea ameliorates depressive-like behaviors in stress hormone treated mice

Abstract Chronic stress is an important factor to several physical and mental diseases. Ishige foliacea , edible brown seaweed, has various biological properties; however, its role in alleviating stress-induced depression remains unclear. Thus, the antidepressant-like effects of I. ethanolic extract (IE) were investigated using corticosterone (CORT)-treated HT22 cells CORT-induced depressive mice. IE significantly reduced production reactive oxygen species (ROS) inhibited monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity protein expression; furthermore, it up-regulated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) - cAMP response element-binding (CREB) brain derived neurotrophic (BDNF) signaling pathway. In mice, administration (500 mg/kg, bodyweight) exerted antidepressant according behavioral tests. addition, activated ERK CREB BDNF pathway owing CORT exposure hippocampus. Therefore, ROS MAO improved behaviors caused by hormones, which demonstrates therapeutic potential treatment depression.