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. 2025 Jun 24;16(1):20250376.
doi: 10.1515/tnsci-2025-0376. eCollection 2025 Jan 1.

Antidepressant and neuromodulatory potential of hydroalcoholic extract of Helianthus annuus florets in mouse models of depression

Km Kajal  1 , Tarique Anwer  2 , Ankit Verma  1 , Mohammad Firoz Alam  3 , Saeed Alshahrani  3 , Muhanad Alhujaily  4 , Mohammed Naffaa Alruwaili  5 , Ali Assiry  6 , Abdullah Saleh Salem Alrashah  7
Affiliations

Antidepressant and neuromodulatory potential of hydroalcoholic extract of Helianthus annuus florets in mouse models of depression

Km Kajal et al. Transl Neurosci. .

Abstract

Background: Depression is a pervasive neuropsychiatric disorder having significant social and economic impacts and often linked to imbalances in neurotransmitter systems. Traditional herbal medicines have garnered attention for their potential antidepressant effects, with limited research on Helianthus annuus (sunflower) as a therapeutic option.

Objectives: The present study was carried out to investigate the anti-depressant and neuromodulatory potential of hydroalcoholic extract of Helianthus annuus (H. annuus) florets in mouse models of depression.

Methods: Depression was induced in rats by the forced swim test (FST) and tail suspension test (TST). The hydroalcoholic extract of H. annuus was used as the test drug given in the doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg, whereas fluoxetine was used as the standard drug.

Results: The results revealed that the H. annuus extract decreased the immobility time significantly as reflected in FST and TST. Treatment with H. annuus extract also demonstrated significant improvement in the swimming and climbing times as reflected in FST. Administration of H. annuus extract significantly improved neurotransmitter levels such as serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine, which were significantly lowered in depression control rats. The mean value of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances was significantly lowered after the administration of H. annuus extract. Additionally, the levels of glutathione, superoxide dismutase, and catalase were significantly increased after the administration of H. annuus extract. Additionally, the mean value of inflammatory cytokines, for example, tumour necrosis factor alpha and interleukin-6 were reduced significantly in groups treated with H. annuus extract.

Conclusions: The results suggest that H. annuus extract exhibited significant antidepressant and neuromodulatory potential by ameliorating behavioural parameters, oxidative stress, and inflammatory markers.

Keywords: Helianthus annuus; brain monoamines; depression; inflammatory markers; oxidative stress.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest: All authors state no conflict of interest.

Figures

None
Graphical abstract
Figure 1
Figure 1
Plant extraction and phytochemical analysis.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Illustrate FST (immobility, climbing, and swimming times).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Representative diagram of TST.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Level of MDA in the rat brain tissue. Group-2 shows → #### p < 0.0001 when it is compared with group 1. Group-3 shows → **p < 0.01 and group 4 shows → ****p < 0.0001 when it is compared with the diseased group. Group-5 shows → ****p < 0.0001 when it is compared with group 2.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Level of GSH in the rat brain tissue. Group-2 shows → #### p < 0.0001 when it is compared with group-1. Group-3 shows → **p < 0.01 and group 4 shows → ****p < 0.0001 when compared with group-2. Group-5 when compared with group-2 shows → ****p < 0.0001.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Level of SOD in the rat brain tissue. Group-2 shows → #### p < 0.0001 when it is compared with group-1. Group-3 shows → ns p > 0.05, and group 4 shows → ***p < 0.001 when compared with group-2. Group-5 when compared with group-2 shows → ****p < 0.0001.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Level of CAT in the rat brain tissue. Group-2 shows → #### p < 0.0001 when it is compared with group-1. Group-3 shows → ns p > 0.05, and group 4 shows → ****p < 0.0001 when compared with group-2. Group-5 when compared with group-2 shows → ****p < 0.0001.
Figure 8
Figure 8
Level of IL-6 in the serum sample. Group-2 shows → #### p < 0.0001 when compared with normal control. Groups-3 and 4 show → ****p < 0.0001 when compared with group 2. Group-5 when compared with group 2 shows → ****p < 0.0001.
Figure 9
Figure 9
Level of TNF-α. Group-2 shows → #### p < 0.0001 when compared with normal control. Group-3 shows → *p < 0.05 and group 4 shows → ****p < 0.0001 when compared with group 2. Group 5 when compared with group 2 shows → ****p < 0.0001.
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