Lycium barbarum L. (goji berry) fruits improve anxiety, depression-like behaviors, and learning performance: the moderating role of sex

• Published in: TURKISH JOURNAL OF BIOLOGY
• Main Authors: Karakas, Fatma Pehlivan, Coskun, Hamit, Saglam, Kadir, Bozat, Bihter Gokce
• Other Authors: 0-Belirlenecek
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Tubitak Scientific & Technical Research Council Turkey 2016
• Subjects: Lycium barbarum (goji berry); anxiety; depression; spatial memory; Wistar albino rat (Rattus rattus); Rattus rattus
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12491/8956; https://doi.org/10.3906/biy-1507-114

WOS:000378689600006 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.