TAMEC: a new analogue of cyclomyrsinol diterpenes decreases anxiety- and depression-like behaviors in a mouse model of multiple sclerosis

Abstract

Objectives

There is a significant prevalence of affective disorders including depression and anxiety in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), resulting in reduced quality of life. Since the current treatments are not generally effective, further studies are needed to find appropriate drugs to alleviate anxiety and depression symptoms in these patients.

Methods

The effects of a new analog of cyclomyrsinol diterpenes (TAMEC) isolated from Euphorbia sogdiana on the anxiety (open field and elevated plus maze test) and depressive-like behaviors (sucrose preference test and forced swim test) in EAE-induced C57BL/6 mice (EAE; a mouse model of MS) were investigated. Hippocampal tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-10 levels were also measured by ELISA.

Results

The results indicated that TAMEC treatment reduced anxiety and depression-like behavior. This drug also decreased the levels of TNF-α and IL1β and increased IL-10 level in the hippocampus.

Discussion

Taken together, our findings demonstrate that the drug we used here can reduce anxiety and depression-like symptoms in EAE-induced mice. However, more studies are still needed to validate, expand, and generalize these data.

Keywords:

• Cyclomyrsinol diterpenes
• anxiety
• depression
• EAE

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank ‘Salari Institute of Cognitive and Behavioral Disorders (SICBD)’ for its support with animal model and behavioral experiments.