Turmeric Component Acts as Natural Antidepressant in Animal Study

By VRP Staff

A new animal study indicates that the turmeric-derived component curcumin may act as a natural antidepressant.

Mice were subjected to a forced swim test, which is used as an animal model of depression because the length of time the rodents swim before giving up is an indication of the animal’s mental state. Biochemical and neurochemical indicators of mood in the animals (monoamine oxidase-MAO-enzyme inhibitory activity and neurotransmitter levels estimation) were also measured.

Curcumin dose dependently inhibited the immobility period, increased serotonin as well as dopamine levels and inhibited the monoamine oxidase enzymes (both MAO-A and MAO-B) in the mice. Curcumin also enhanced the antidepressant effect of antidepressant drugs. Furthermore, a combination of curcumin and various antidepressant drugs resulted in synergistic increase in serotonin levels.

According to the researchers, “The study provides evidences for mechanism-based antidepressant actions of curcumin.”

Reference:

Kulkarni SK, Bhutani MK, Bishnoi M. Antidepressant activity of curcumin: involvement of serotonin and dopamine system.

Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2008 Sep 3. Published Online Ahead of Print.