Effects of Chrysin on Serum Corticosterone Levels and Brain Oxidative Damages Induced by Immobilization in Rat

Background: Chrysin (CH) is one of the main flavonoids of vegetables, fruits, and plants, the neuroprotective effect of which has been demonstrated in this study. Objective: The aim of the current investigation is the evaluation of the impact of chrysin (CH) on serum corticosterone level. Additionally, depression due to chronic stress was studied in animal models. Methods: The rats were restrained for 1 hour daily for 3 weeks. During these weeks, all animals were daily injected with either vehicle or CH (10, 20, 30 μg/kg). Results: Present data indicated that the serum corticosterone levels markedly elevated in the stressed group versus the non-stressed group (p<0.001). The serum corticosterone levels were significantly lower in the stress-exposed rats administered with CH versus the stress-exposed non- CH-treated rats (p<0.05). In addition, immobility time significantly increased in the rats submitted to restraint stress versus the non-stressed group (p<0.001). Also, the number of crossing significantly decreased in the rats submitted to restraint stress versus non-stressed rats (p<0.001). The immobility time and the number of crossing were also reduced in the CH-administrated stressed rats (30 mg/kg) versus non-treated stressed group (p<0.001, p<0.05, respectively). CH also ameliorated the MDA and GSH content as well as antioxidant enzymes activities in stressed rats (p<0.05). Conclusion: The present study suggested that CH might be useful for the management of depressant-like effects induced by chronic stress via decreasing oxidative damage in the brain.