Lycium Barbarum L. (Goji Berry) fruits improve anxiety, depression-like behaviors, and learning performance: The moderating role of sex

• Main Authors: Karakaş, Fatma Pehlivan, Coşkun, Hamit, Sağlam, Kadir, Bozat, Bihter Gökçe
• Other Authors: BAİBÜ, Fen Edebiyat Fakültesi, Biyoloji Bölümü, BAİBÜ, Fen Edebiyat Fakültesi, Psikoloji Bölümü, BAİBÜ, Lisansüstü Eğitim Enstitüsü, Fen Bilimleri, Biyoloji Ana Bilim Dalı, orcid:0000-0001-5245-6294, orcid:0000-0002-5509-8717
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2016
• Subjects: Lycium Barbarum (Goji Berry); Anxiety; Depression; Spatial Memory; Wistar Albino Rat (Rattus Rattus); Rattus rattus
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12491/2998; https://app.trdizin.gov.tr/makale/TWpFME56TXdNQT09

The aim of this research was to investigate the effects of the methanol extract obtained from Lycium barbarum fruits on anxiety, depression-like behaviors, and spatial memory in Wistar albino rats. A total of 28 rats were selected, randomly assigned to four experimental groups, and tested by means of the open field and elevated plus maze tests for anxiety-like behaviors, the forced swim test for depression-like behaviors, and the Morris water maze test for spatial memory. The findings demonstrated that in the open field, L. Barbarum-administered rats spent more time at the center and showed more mobility and velocity than controls. In the elevated plus maze, L. Barbarum-administered rats spent more time in the open arms, spent less time in the closed arms, and showed more mobility and velocity. In the Porsolt test, L. Barbarum-administered rats showed less immobility. In the Morris water maze, L. Barbarum-administered rats took more time to find the platform. However, females were better at finding the platform than males. The methanol extract of L. Barbarum fruits decreased anxiety and depression-like behaviors and interacted with sex on spatial memory.