Cydonia oblonga Mill. Fruit Extract Ameliorates Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Depression-like Behaviors in Mice by Modulating Inflammation, Metabolites and Gut Microbiota
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Mill. fruit (HECO) in alleviating lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced depression-like behaviors in mice. METHODS: Mice were treated with HECO (600 mg/kg, p.o.) for 21 consecutive days. From day 14 to day 21, depression-like behavior was induced by LPS (2.0 mg/kg injected i.p.). Behavioral parameters and biochemical markers were then assessed. Gut microbiota composition was analyzed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and serum metabolites were profiled through untargeted metabolomics. RESULTS: HECO improved LPS-induced behavioral alterations, including increased locomotor activity in the open-field test and decreased immobility time in the forced swimming test and tail suspension test, and reduced serum IL-6 levels in LPS-treated mice. Furthermore, HECO markedly upregulated the expression of occludin and ZO-1 in the hippocampus and inhibited neuroinflammation by suppressing activation of the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway. HECO significantly increased the relative abundance of Deferribacterota in LPS-induced mice. A total of 262 differential metabolites were identified between the LPS and HECO groups, with the top potential biomarkers predominantly categorized into lipids, flavonoid-containing phenylpropanoids, organic acids, and peptides. CONCLUSIONS: HECO improved depression-like behavior in LPS-induced mice, potentially through modulation of gut microbiota and serum metabolites, attenuation of systemic inflammation, and inhibition of the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway in the hippocampus.
Source: Nutrients
DOI: 10.3390/nu18142322
Institutions: Xinjiang Hetian College, Jiangnan University
Language: English
Subfield: Biological Psychiatry
Field: Neuroscience
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,499
Award: G8795846509
OpenAlex ID: W7169021705