The Journal of Korean Society of Menopause  2010;16(1):39-45

The Effect of Pomegranate on Depression, Anxiety, and Food Intake in Ovariectomized Rats.

Ki Hoon AHN 1 ; Kyong Wook YI ; Hyun Tae PARK ; Jung Ho SHIN ; Jun Young HUR ; Young Tae KIM ; Sun Haeng KIM ; Kyu Wan LEE ; Seung Hee KIM ; Chun Sik BAE ; Tak KIM

Affiliations

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Keywords

Pomegranate; Depression; Anxiety; Food intake

Country

Republic of Korea

Language

Korean

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether or not pomegranate extract can affect depression, anxiety, and food intake in ovariectomized rats. METHODS: Seventy-nine female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into six groups: A, no operation and no drug intake; B, sham operation and distilled water; C, ovariectomy and distilled water; D, ovariectomy and 10% dilute pomegranate extract; E, ovariectomy and 20% dilute pomegranate extract; and F, ovariectomy and 40% dilute pomegranate extract. Beginning 2 days after surgery, drugs were administrated for 4 weeks. After that, the rats were subjected to the elevated plus maze (EPM) test and forced swim test (FST). RESULTS: The 10% pomegranate extract had a lower % closed arm entry frequency in the EPM test. A pomegranate dose-dependent decrease in the duration of immobility duration in FST was shown. Pomegranate did not reverse ovariectomy-related hyperphagia and weight gain. CONCLUSION: Pomegranate extract improved depression and anxiety in a postmenopausal model with ovariectomized rats.