Effect of Vaccinium macrocarpon on MK-801-induced psychosis in mice

• Published in: Indian journal of pharmacology Vol. 50; no. 5; pp. 227 - 235
• Main Authors: Shukla, Disha, Maheshwari, Rajesh, Patel, Kirti, Balaraman, R, Sen, Ashim
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: India Wolters Kluwer India Pvt. Ltd 01-09-2018; Medknow Publications and Media Pvt. Ltd; Medknow Publications & Media Pvt. Ltd; Medknow Publications & Media Pvt Ltd
• Subjects: Acids; Albinism; Animal cognition; Brain research; Care and treatment; Cranberries; Drug dosages; Enzymes; Flavonoids; Health aspects; Laboratories; Patient outcomes; Pharmacy; Psychosis; Psychotic disorders; Psychotropic drugs; Schizophrenia; Studies; United States > US; India; MK-801; Aqueous cranberry extract; gamma-aminobutyric acid; dopamine; rota-rod test; psychosis
• ISSN: 0253-7613; 1998-3751
• DOI: 10.4103/ijp.IJP_74_17

OBJECTIVES: This study was aimed to investigate the effect of aqueous cranberry extract (ACE) on MK-801-induced psychosis in mice.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: MK-801-treated mice were administered ACE (1 and 2 g/kg, p.o.) for 14 days. Various behavioral parameters and neurochemical estimations such as dopamine (DA), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), norepinephrine (NE), gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), glutamate, and glycine as well as markers of oxidative stress such as nitrite levels were measured.
RESULTS: Psychosis-induced mice showed a significant elevation of immobility time in forced swim test, locomotor activity, and reduction in time of permanency in rota-rod test, escape latency time in Cook's pole test while treatment with ACE showed a significant alteration in above-mentioned behavioral parameters in MK-801-induced psychosis. Moreover, MK-801-induced psychosis in the mice showed a significant increase in DA, 5-HT, and NA levels and decrease in GABA, glutamate, and glycine levels in the brain. In contrast, treatment with ACE at both doses remarkably altered the neurochemical parameters. In addition, ACE-treated mice showed a substantial reduction in acetylcholinesterase, D-amino acid oxidase enzyme activity, and nitrite levels which were elevated by the administration of MK-801.
CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with ACE once for 14 days (1 and 2 g/kg) significantly ameliorated the behavioral symptoms in experimentally induced psychosis by virtue of neuromodulation and decreased oxidative stress.