In the current investigation, 5-epi-incensole (3) and 5-epi-incensole acetate (5) were synthesized from the most potent anti-depressant constituents incensole (1) and incensole acetate (2) of Boswellia papyrifera Hochst. The resulting compounds were evaluated for their ability to ameliorate depressive symptoms in forced swim test (FST) and tail suspension test (TST) in chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) induced depression paradigm. The results demonstrated that compounds 3 and 5 at the doses of 1 and 3 mg/kg administered for 28 days, significantly reduced the immobility time in FST and TST and were devoid of any effect on locomotor activity in the open field test (OFT). Both compounds 3 and 5 also reversed CUMS-induced reduction in the weight of animals and aversion in sucrose preference. The tested compounds also inhibited Monoamine oxidase-A (MAO) enzyme and increased the levels of brain noradrenaline (NA) and 5-Hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), decreased plasma corticosterone and pro-inflammatory cytokines including TNF-α, IL-6 in hippocampal homogenates. Compounds 3 and 5 also significantly reduced the increased lipid peroxidation and nitrite levels; decreased glutathione levels, and catalase activities in mice undergoing CUMS protocol. The binding mode of compounds 3 and 5 was predicted at the monoamine oxidase substrate binding site by molecular docking having docking scores of > -6 kcal/mol. Taken together these data revealed that compounds 3 and 5 exerted antidepressant-like effects in chronic unpredictable mild stress-induced depression paradigm and are likely mediated via modulating the central oxidative stress, MAO-A activity with a consequent increase in brain NA and 5-HT levels in inflammatory pathways.
Keywords: 5-epi-incensole (3) and 5-epi-incensole acetate (5); CUMS; CUMS’; Depression; Incensole; Incensole acetate; Monoamine oxidase; Synthesis.
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