Nanocurcumine Ameliorates Lipopolysaccharide-induced Depressivelike Behavior in Mice

Objective(s): Curcumin, a plant alkaloid from Curcuma longa, possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Recently, the antidepressant activities of curcumin were reported. Nevertheless, bioavailability of curcumin limits its therapeutic utility. Nanotechnology is a developing field that potentially enhances bioavailability and the plasma concentration of curcumin. This study investigates effect of acute intraperitoneal (i.p.) curcumin C3 complex nanoparticles on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced depressive-like behavior in a mouse model. Methods: Depression-like behavior was induced by LPS (0.83 mg/kg, i.p.). Twenty four hrs later, immobility time in forced-swimming test (FST) and tail suspension test (TST) was recorded as depression-like index. Locomotor activity also was evaluated in open field test (OFT). Curcumin and nanocurcumin were administered 75 min prior to the behavioral assessments. Results: LPS-treated mice remained considerably more immobile in FST and TST (P 0.01). On the other hand, nanocurcumin at doses 40 and 80 mg/kg, i.p., P 0.05 and P 0.01, respectively and curcumin at dose 80 mg/kg, i.p., P 0.05, markedly lowered the immobility in FST. Further, curcumin at dose 80 mg/kg, i.p. and nanocurcumin at doses 40 and 80 mg/kg, i.p. significantly lowered the immobility measure in TST, P 0.05, P 0.01 and P 0.001, respectively. Conclusions: Acute administration of nanocurcumin and curcumin reduced the index of immobility in FST and TST without influencing the general locomotor activity in OFT. Notably, nanocurcumin at lower doses compared with curcumin decreased the immobility figure in a dose-dependent manner. This neuroprotive effect of nanocurcumin would be related to its anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties as well as modulation of neurotransmitter levels in the brain.