Kochia Scoparia Seed Infusion Ameliorates Behavioral Impairment in Rats Subjected to Calorie-Dense Diet

Abstract Aim The current study aimed to assess the effects of aqueous Kochia scoparia seeds infusions (KSSls) on the behavioral indices of anxiety, depression, and spatial memory impairment in rats receiving a calorie-dense diet (CDD). Materials and Methods Five groups (n = 10 each) of male Wistar rats were used. For ten weeks, the control group received a standard laboratory diet, and the other groups – CDD. KSSls were prepared at increasing strengths by soaking 1.5, 3.0 and 6.0 g Kochia scoparia seeds in 100 ml of boiling water and were given orally ad libitum to groups named CDD+1.5KSSl, CDD+3KSSl and CDD+6KSSl, respectively. The anxiety-like behavior was assessed by the open field test (OFT) and the social interaction test (SlT), the depression-like state – by the forced swim test (FST), and the spatial memory – by the object location test (OLT). Results KSSl-treated animals spent more time in the central zone in the OFT and demonstrated lower immobility time in the FST compared to the CDD group. As revealed by the OLT, CDD induced the impairment of the spatial memory of the rats and the highest strength of KSSl prevented the changes. Conclusion Our results suggest that KSSl might exert anxiolytic-like, antidepressant-like and memory-enhancing effects in rats receiving a calorie-dense diet.