Evaluate neuroprotective effect of silibinin using chronic unpredictable stress (cus) model.

Chronic unpredictable stressors can produce a situation similar to clinical depression, and such animal models can be used for the preclinical evaluation of antidepressants. Many findings have shown that the levels of proinflammatory cytokines (e.g., TNF-α) and oxidative stress (increased lipid peroxidation, decreased glutathione levels, and endogenous antioxidant enzyme activities) are increased in patients with depression. Silibinin is the major active constituent of silymarin, a standardized extract of the milk thistle seeds, containing a mixture of flavonolignans consisting of silibinin, isosilibinin, silicristin, silidianin and exhibit antioxidant activity. Objectives The present study was designed to investigate the effect of silibinin on unpredictable chronic stressinduce behavioral and biochemical alterations in mice.

METHODS: Mice were subjected to different stress paradigms daily for a period of 45 days to induce depressive like behavior such as memory acquisition, and retention.

RESULTS: Chronic treatment with silibinin significantly reversed the unpredictable chronic stress-induced behavioral (improve memory function), biochemical changes (decreased glutathione levels, superoxide dismutas), and inflammation surge (serum TNF-α IL 1β) in stressed mice.

CONCLUSION: The study revealed that silibinin exerted effects in behavioral despair paradigm in chronically stressed mice, specifically by modulating central oxidative stress and inflammation.