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BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies
Published in: BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies 1/2011

Open Access 01-12-2011 | Research article

Hypericum perforatum treatment: effect on behaviour and neurogenesis in a chronic stress model in mice

Authors: Rosalia Crupi, Emanuela Mazzon, Angela Marino, Giuseppina La Spada, Placido Bramanti, Fortunato Battaglia, Salvatore Cuzzocrea, Edoardo Spina

Published in: BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies | Issue 1/2011

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Abstract

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 behavior, induced by chronic corticosterone administration.

Methods

CD1 mice were submitted to 7 weeks corticosterone administration and then behavioral 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 labeled 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 behavioral 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.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Hypericum perforatum treatment: effect on behaviour and neurogenesis in a chronic stress model in mice
Authors
Rosalia Crupi
Emanuela Mazzon
Angela Marino
Giuseppina La Spada
Placido Bramanti
Fortunato Battaglia
Salvatore Cuzzocrea
Edoardo Spina
Publication date
01-12-2011
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies / Issue 1/2011
Electronic ISSN: 2662-7671
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6882-11-7

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