Several studies have proposed that cocoa products-enriched in flavonoids reduce anxiety and depressive symptoms. (-)–Epicatechin (Epi), a flavonoid present in high concentration in cocoa, has been associated with many dark chocolate effects and has been postulated as an exercise mimetic. Physical exercise is used as an adjuvant treatment for many depressive patients. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of Epi on resilience in depression-like behavior in a murine model. Male mice were randomly selected and divided into four groups (n = 8/group). Beginning at the age of 8-9 weeks, the mice were subjected to Chronic Mild Stress (CMS) and/or treatment Epi for five weeks. Epi was administered by oral gavage twice daily/5 weeks. The control group was housed in conditions without stress and Epi treatment. Depressive behavior was evaluated by sucrose preference and open field tests. Interestingly, Epi reduced anhedonia and anxiogenic behavior in the murine stress model. These results suggest that Epi induces resilience to stress-induced depression. Furthermore, our findings propose that muscles respond to Epi treatment according to their type of metabolism and that kynurenine aminotransferases (KATs) could play a role in modulating this response.

几项研究表明，富含类黄酮的可可产品可以减轻焦虑和抑郁症状。(-)–表儿茶素 (Epi) 是可可中高浓度存在的类黄酮，与许多黑巧克力效应相关，并被认为是一种运动模拟物。体育锻炼被用作许多抑郁症患者的辅助治疗。本研究旨在评估 Epi 对小鼠模型抑郁样行为恢复能力的影响。随机选择雄性小鼠并分为四组（n = 8/组）。从 8-9 周龄开始，小鼠接受慢性轻度应激 (CMS) 和/或 Epi 治疗五周。Epi通过口服强饲法施用，每天两次/5周。对照组被安置在没有压力和 Epi 治疗的条件下。通过蔗糖偏好和旷场测试来评估抑郁行为。有趣的是，Epi 减少了小鼠应激模型中的快感缺失和焦虑行为。这些结果表明 Epi 可以增强对压力引起的抑郁症的抵抗力。此外，我们的研究结果表明，肌肉根据其代谢类型对 Epi 治疗做出反应，并且犬尿氨酸转氨酶 (KAT) 可以在调节这种反应中发挥作用。