Aster yomena Alleviates Chronic Unpredictable Mild Stress (CUMS)-Induced Depressive Cognitive Dysfunction by...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Pharmacology
• Natural Product Research

Background:

• Chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) induces depressive cognitive dysfunction.
• The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction are implicated in depression.
• The cholinergic system and synaptic plasticity are crucial for cognitive function.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effects of a 60% ethanolic extract of Aster yomena (EAY) on CUMS-induced depressive cognitive dysfunction.
• To investigate the underlying mechanisms of EAY's therapeutic effects.

Main Methods:

• Administration of EAY to rats subjected to CUMS.
• Behavioral tests: sucrose preference test (SPT), open field test (OFT), tail suspension test (TST), forced swimming test (FST), Y-maze, and Morris water maze (MWM).
• Biochemical analyses of HPA axis hormones, inflammatory markers, oxidative stress markers, and neurotransmitter levels.

Main Results:

• EAY significantly mitigated CUMS-induced depressive-like behaviors and improved cognitive function.
• EAY alleviated HPA axis hyperactivity, suppressed neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction via the TLR4/NF-κB pathway.
• EAY modulated the cholinergic system and synaptic plasticity-related factors.

Conclusions:

• EAY demonstrates antidepressant and cognitive-enhancing effects in a preclinical model of depression.
• EAY's therapeutic potential stems from its ability to regulate the HPA axis, reduce neuroinflammation and oxidative stress, and restore cholinergic and synaptic functions.
• EAY may serve as a natural therapeutic agent for preventing and treating major depressive cognitive impairment.