An Assessment of Antidepressant and Antioxidant Activities of Bifidobacterium Infantis in Rats

Abstract

Bifidobacterium infantis is a member of the Bifidobacteria family, a strain of bacteria that is normally found in the human intestines, they possess several remarkable abilities such as affecting tryptophan metabolism. Manipulation of tryptophan levels, acutely or chronically, by depletion or supplementation, is an experimental procedure for modifying peripheral and central serotonin levels. Serotonin interruption plays a key role in pathophysiology of depressive disorders. The objective of this study was to detect the antidepressant and antioxidant effect of Bifidobacterium infantis in management of depression state which correlated with oxidative stress. The effect was assessed by measuring whole blood serotonin, serum malondialdehyde, serum nitric oxide and whole blood glutathione peroxidase levels. This study was conducted on 100 healthy male rats divided into 5 groups (20 rats/group): control group (distilled water) and depressed group (exposed to forced swim test daily for 14 days), prophylactic group (treated with Bifidobacterium infantis every morning and 2 hours later exposed to forced swim test), treatment group with Bifidobacterium infantis (exposed to forced swim test daily for 14 days then treated with Bifidobacterium