The Potential of Parsley Polyphenols and Their Antioxidant Capacity to Help in the Treatment of Depression and Anxiety: An In Vivo Subacute Study

Abstract

Depression and anxiety are major mental health problems in all parts of the world. These illnesses are associated with a number of risk factors, including oxidative stress. Psychotropic drugs of a chemical nature have demonstrated several side effects that elevated the impact of those illnesses. Faced with this situation, natural products appear to be a promising alternative. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anxiolytic and antidepressant effects of the Petroselinum sativum polyphenols in vivo, as well as its correlated antioxidant properties in vitro. Anxiolytic activity of the extract (50 and 100 mg/kg) was evaluated using the open field and the light-dark chamber tests, while the antidepressant activity was evaluated using the forced swimming test. The antioxidant activity of the extract was evaluated by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical test and the FRAP (iron-reducing capacity) test. The phenolic extract showed very powerful anxiolytic and antidepressant-like effects, especially at a dose of 100 mg/kg, decreasing the depressive behavior in mice (decreased immobility time) and also the anxiolytic behavior (tendency for discovery in the center and illuminated areas) better even than those of paroxetine and bromazepam (classic drugs) concomitant with those results the extract also showed an important antioxidant capacity. These preliminary results suggest that Petroselinum sativum exhibits anxiolytic and antidepressant potential for use as a complement or independent phytomedicine to treat depression and anxiety.

Keywords: Petroselinum sativum; antidepressant-like; antioxidant; anxiolytic; herbal medicine; natural products; pharmacology; polyphenol.

Figure 1

Antioxidant activity of PSPE during the DPPH test. PSPE: Polyphenolic fraction of P. sativum, BHT: Butylated hydroxytoluene.

Figure 2

Antioxidant activity of PSPE during the FRAP test. PSPE: Polyphenolic fraction of P. sativum, BHT: Butylated hydroxytoluene.

Figure 3

Variation in immobility time during three weeks of treatment in control and treated mice (*** p ≤ 0.001 in comparison to negative controls, ≠≠≠ p ≤ 0.001 in comparison to positive controls). PSPE: Polyphenolic fraction of P. sativum.

Figure 4

Variation in time spent at the center of the open field during the four-week treatment in control and extract-treated mice (* p ≤ 0.05, *** p ≤ 0.001 in comparison to negative controls, ≠≠ p ≤ 0.01 and ≠≠≠ p ≤ 0.001 in comparison to positive controls). PSPE: Polyphenolic fraction of P. sativum.

Figure 5

Variation in the number of tiles traversed during the open-field test over the four weeks of treatment in control and treated mice (* p ≤ 0.05, ** p ≤ 0.01, *** p ≤ 0.01 in comparison to negative controls, ≠ p ≤ 0.05, ≠≠≠ p ≤ 0.001 in comparison to positive controls). PSPE: Polyphenolic fraction of P. sativum.

Figure 6

Variation in time spent in the lighted chamber during the three weeks of treatment in control and treated mice (*** p ≤ 0.001 in comparison to negative controls, ≠≠ p ≤ 0.01 and ≠≠≠ p ≤ 0.001 in comparison to positive controls). PSPE: Polyphenolic fraction of P. sativum.

Figure 7

Variation in the number of transitions during the four weeks of treatment in control and treated mice (** p ≤ 0.01 and *** p ≤ 0.001 in comparison to negative controls, ≠ p ≤ 0.05, ≠≠ p ≤ 0.01 and ≠≠≠ p ≤ 0.001 in comparison to positive controls). PSPE: Polyphenolic fraction of P. sativum.