Centella lujica® Supplement Ameliorates Depressive and Anxiety-Like Behaviour in Stressed Mice

Depression and anxiety are prevalent neuropsychiatric disorders often exacerbated by chronic stress, necessitating the exploration of effective, natural therapeutic alternatives. Centella lujica, a known species within the Centella genus, has shown potential neuroprotective properties due to its antioxidant and anxiolytic compounds. This study investigated the effects of Centella lujica supplementation on depressive- and anxiety-like behaviours in mice subjected to 14 days chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS), a validated model of stress-induced mood disorders. Sixty adult male mice were divided into five groups: group 1 served as control, group 2 CUMS group, Groups 3 and 4 received 50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg of Centella lujica, respectively, while group 5 received 10 mg/kg of imipramine. Behavioural assessments predictive of depression and anxiety were conducted using the social interaction test (SIT), elevated plus maze (EPM), light and dark transition test (LDT), and hole board test (HBT) as well as histological examination of the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus were carried out. Mice treated with C. lujica showed improved social interaction, reduced anxiety-like behavior in the EPM and LDT, and increased exploratory behavior in the HBT indicating reduced depressive- and anxiety-like behaviours. Histological analysis of the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex revealed improved neuronal integrity in the treatment groups. These findings suggest that Centella lujica possesses promising antidepressant and anxiolytic properties, likely mediated through its antioxidant and neuroprotective mechanisms, and may serve as a potential adjunct in the management of stress-related mood disorders. These changes were statistically significant (p < 0.05), indicating robust behavioral effects.