Antidepressant-Like Activity of Naringenin, an Important Agro-Industrial Resource, Complexed with β-Cyclodextrin

The objective of this work was to investigate the effect on the central nervous system (CNS) of naringenin (NR) and of the inclusion complex obtained with its incorporation into β-cyclodextrin (NR-βCD) in mice, using experimental models. The possible participation of the monoaminergic system in the antidepressant activity of NR was also studied. NR and NR-βCD, when administered acutely (20 and 40 mg/kg, p.o.), produced a significant reduction in the immobility time (<i>p</i> < 0.05), an effect comparable to imipramine (30 mg/kg, p.o.). The reduction in immobility time observed after NR treatment (20 mg/kg, p.o.) was prevented by pretreatment with haloperidol (0.2 mg/kg, i.p., a D₂ receptor antagonist) and yohimbine (Yob) (1 mg/kg, i.p., an α₂-adrenoceptor antagonist), but not with ondansetron (1 mg/kg, i.p., a 5-HT3 receptor antagonist). In summary, NR and NR-βCD produced an antidepressant-like effect with no change in locomotor activity. Furthermore, this anti-immobility effect seems to be mediated by interaction with dopaminergic and noradrenergic systems.