A valepotriate-enriched fraction from Valeriana glechomifolia decreases DNA methylation and up-regulate TrkB receptors in the hippocampus of mice

Behav Pharmacol. 2020 Jun;31(4):333-342. doi: 10.1097/FBP.0000000000000534.

Abstract

DNA methylation, an epigenetic modification that mediates gene silencing, has been shown to play a role in the neurobiology of major depression. Studies suggested that terpenes inhibit DNA methylation and increase gene expression. The present study investigated the involvement of DNA methylation in the antidepressant-like activity of diene valepotriates, non-glicosilated carbocyclic iridoids that comprise a family of terpenes obtained from Valeriana glechomifolia. The antidepressant-like effect of diene valepotriates acute administration (5 mg/kg, p.o.) in mice submitted to the forced swimming test was followed by a decrease in global DNA methylation in animals' hippocampus (but not in the pre-frontal cortex). Mice pretreatment with anysomicin (a protein synthesis inhibitor) and K252a (an inhibitor of Trk receptors) attenuated diene valepotriates-induced antidepressant-like effect in the forced swimming test. Diene valepotriates elicited an upregulation in the TrkB receptor and a tendency to increase BDNF levels in mice hippocampus. These results demonstrate that DNA methylation could be an in vivo molecular target of diene valepotriates. The diene valepotriates-triggered reduction in hippocampal DNA methylation is accompanied by increased protein synthesis, which is involved in its antidepressant-like activity. Furthermore, BDNF-mediated TrkB signaling may contribute for diene valepotriates antidepressant-like effect.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anisomycin / pharmacology
  • Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / metabolism
  • Carbazoles / pharmacology
  • DNA Methylation / drug effects*
  • Hippocampus / metabolism*
  • Indole Alkaloids / pharmacology
  • Iridoids / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Iridoids / pharmacology*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Plant Extracts / chemistry
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology*
  • Prefrontal Cortex / metabolism
  • Receptor, trkB / biosynthesis*
  • Up-Regulation / drug effects
  • Valerian / chemistry*

Substances

  • Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor
  • Carbazoles
  • Indole Alkaloids
  • Iridoids
  • Plant Extracts
  • valtrates (combination)
  • Anisomycin
  • staurosporine aglycone
  • Receptor, trkB