Pycnogenol Ameliorates Depression-Like Behavior in Repeated Corticosterone-Induced Depression Mice Model

Abstract EN

Oxidative stress is considered to be a mechanism of major depression.

Pycnogenol (PYC) is a natural plant extract from the bark of Pinus pinaster Aiton and has potent antioxidant activities.

We studied the ameliorative effect of PYC on depression-like behavior in chronic corticosterone- (CORT-) treated mice for 20 days.

After the end of the CORT treatment period, PYC (0.2 mg/mL) was orally administered in normal drinking water.

Depression-like behavior was investigated by the forced swimming test.

Immobility time was significantly longer by CORT exposure.

When the CORT-treated mice were supplemented with PYC, immobility time was significantly shortened.

Our results indicate that orally administered PYC may serve to reduce CORT-induced stress by radical scavenging activity.