Background

Lycium barbarum (Wolfberry) extract has been shown to be effective in neuroprotection against aging or neural injury. Knowledge of its potential roles and biological mechanisms in relieving mental disorders, however, remains limited.

Purpose

To investigate the potency of Lycium barbarum glycopeptide (LbGp) in alleviating anxiety disorders and the related biological mechanisms.

Methods

LbGp was administrated to mice subjected to 14 days of chronic restrain stress (CRS) via the intragastric route. The anxiolytic effect was evaluated by a battery of behavioral assays. The morphology of neurons and glial cells was evaluated, and cortical neuronal calcium transients were recorded in vivo. The molecular mechanism of LbGp was also investigated.

Results

LbGp effectively relieved anxiety-like and depressive behaviors under CRS. Mechanistic studies further showed that LbGp treatment relieved oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). In particular, the ferroptosis pathway was inhibited by LbGp, revealing a previously unrecognized mechanism of the anxiolytic role of wolfberry extract.

Conclusion

In summary, our results supported the future development of LbGp to prevent or ameliorate stress-induced anxiety disorders. Our work provides a promising strategy for early intervention for pateitents with mental disorders by applying natural plant extracts.

中文翻译：

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枸杞（枸杞）糖肽通过调节内侧前额叶皮质的氧化应激和铁死亡来预防应激性焦虑症

背景

枸杞（枸杞）提取物已被证明可有效保护神经免受衰老或神经损伤。然而，对其在缓解精神障碍方面的潜在作用和生物学机制的了解仍然有限。

目的

探讨枸杞糖肽 (LbGp) 缓解焦虑症的功效及相关生物学机制。

方法

通过胃内途径将 LbGp 施用于遭受 14 天慢性束缚应激 (CRS) 的小鼠。通过一系列行为测定评估抗焦虑作用。评估了神经元和神经胶质细胞的形态，并在体内记录了皮层神经元钙瞬变。还研究了 LbGp 的分子机制。

结果

LbGp 有效缓解了 CRS 下的焦虑样和抑郁行为。机理研究进一步表明，LbGp 治疗可减轻内侧前额叶皮层 (mPFC) 中的氧化应激和脂质过氧化。特别是，铁死亡途径被 LbGp 抑制，揭示了枸杞提取物抗焦虑作用以前未被认识的机制。

结论

总之，我们的结果支持 LbGp 的未来发展，以预防或改善应激性焦虑症。我们的工作为通过应用天然植物提取物对精神障碍患者进行早期干预提供了一种有前途的策略。