Lycopene Alleviates Depression-Like Behavior in Chronic Social Defeat Stress-Induced Mice
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Lycopene is a natural plant extract widely studied for its powerful antioxidant and neuroprotective effects. Emerging evidence suggests that it also possesses potential antidepressant properties.
The results showed that CSDS induced synaptic plasticity impairments in the hippocampus but lycopene treatment significantly improved these synaptic deficits and reversed the depressive-like behaviors induced by CSDS. Moreover, lycopene treatment upregulated the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and reduced the activity of BDNF–TrkB/pTrkB pathway in the hippocampus. These molecular changes were consistent with changes in synaptic-related proteins, suggesting that lycopene may enhance synaptic plasticity via the BDNF–TrkB/pTrkB signaling pathway. This study explored the mechanisms underlying depressive-like behaviors induced by CSDS in mice and provided preclinical evidence that lycopene may serve as a potential antidepressant. It offers an effective avenue for the development of novel antidepressant therapies.
