Melissa officinalis extract improved high-fat-diet-induced anxiety-like behaviors, depression, and memory impairment by regulation of serum BDNF levels in rats

Objective: Melissa officinalis (MO) hydroalcoholic extract has shown neuroprotective effects. We assess the possible therapeutic effects of Melissa officinalis extract (MOE) on blood biochemical and Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) levels as well as neurobehavioral consequences of high-fat-diet (HFD)-induced obese rats.Materials and Methods: Eighty male Wistar rats weighing between ۱۸۰ and ۲۲۰ g were divided into two groups at the beginning of the experiment and fed with normal diet (ND) or HFD for ۵ weeks. Then, each group was divided into four subgroups (۱۰ rats in each group) and treated daily with MOE (۵۰, ۱۰۰, ۱۵۰ mg/kg, intraperitoneal) or vehicle for another two weeks. At the end of the experiments, fasting blood glucose (FBG), blood lipid profile, and serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels were measured. The sucrose preference test (anhedonia and depression), open field test (locomotor), elevated plus maze (anxiety), Y-maze (working memory), and Morris water maze test (spatial memory) were done.Results: Feeding with HFD for ۷ weeks caused obesity, anhedonia, anxiety, depression and learning and memory disorders in rats and a decrease in serum BDNF level. Administration of MOE at ۱۰۰ or ۱۵۰ mg/kg to HFD-fed rats decreased weight gain, FBG, and serum levels of total low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and increased serum BDNF levels. It also improved changes in locomotor activity, anxiety, depression, and learning and memory in HFD-fed rats.Conclusion: The results show that MOE has a therapeutic effect on model rats with HFD-induced metabolic and neurobehavioral abnormalities through regulation of BDNF secretion.

کلیدواژه ها:

Obesity ، Mellissa officinalis ، BDNF ، Rats