hypericum and Fatigue-Syndrome--Chronic

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is an illness characterized by persistent and relapsing fatigue, often accompanied by numerous symptoms involving various body systems. The etiology of CFS remains unclear; however, a number of studies have shown that oxidative stress may be involved in its pathogenesis. In the present study, a mouse model of CFS was used in which mice were forced to swim for one 6-minute session on each day for 15 days and the immobility period was recorded. There was a significant increase in immobility period in saline-treated mice on successive days. Intraperitoneal treatment with the potent antioxidants carvedilol (5 mg/kg) and melatonin (5 mg/kg) produced a significant reduction in immobility period. Similar results were observed with herbal preparations administered orally: Withania somnifera (100 mg/kg), quercetin (50 mg/kg), and St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum L., 10 mg/kg). Biochemical analysis revealed that chronic swimming significantly induced lipid peroxidation and decreased glutathione (GSH) levels in the brains of mice. The rats also showed decreased levels of antioxidant defense enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase. Co-administration of antioxidants carvedilol, melatonin, W. somnifera, quercetin or St. John's wort significantly reduced lipid peroxidation and restored the GSH levels decreased by chronic swimming in mice. Further, the treatment increased levels of SOD in the forebrain and of catalase. The findings strongly suggest that oxidative stress plays a significant role in the pathophysiology of CFS and that antioxidants could be useful in the treatment of CFS.

Topics: Animals; Antioxidants; Brain; Carbazoles; Carvedilol; Catalase; Disease Models, Animal; Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic; Glutathione; Hypericum; Lipid Peroxidation; Male; Melatonin; Mice; Oxidative Stress; Phytotherapy; Plant Extracts; Propanolamines; Quercetin; Superoxide Dismutase; Swimming; Withania

The present study was carried out using mice model of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) in which mice were forced to swim everyday for 7 days for a 6 min session. There was a significant increase in despair behavior (immobility period) in saline treated mice on successive days. Treatment with potent antioxidants carvedilol (5 mg/kg, i.p.) and melatonin (10 mg/kg, i.p.) produced a significant reduction in immobility period. Similar results were observed with herbal products St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum L) (10 mg/kg, p.o.) and GS-02 (20 mg/kg, p.o.). Fluoxetine, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor produced a significant effect only on first and second day of its treatment. Biochemical analysis revealed that chronic swim test significantly increased lipid peroxidation and catalase levels in whole brains of mice. There was a decrease in the levels of super oxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione reductase (GSH) in the brain. Administration of carvedilol, melatonin, GS-02 and St. John's Wort restored the levels of lipid peroxidation and glutathione. The enzymes SOD and catalase were also restored. Fluoxetine affected the biochemical variables not to the same extent as other treatments. The findings of the present study suggest that oxidative stress might play a significant role in the pathophysiology of CFS. Thus antioxidants and herbal products like St. Johns wort and GS-02 could be useful in the treatment of CFS.

Topics: Animals; Antioxidants; Brain; Carbazoles; Carvedilol; Catalase; Disease Models, Animal; Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic; Fluoxetine; Glutathione; Glutathione Reductase; Hypericum; Lipid Peroxidation; Male; Melatonin; Mice; Oxidative Stress; Phytotherapy; Propanolamines; Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; Superoxide Dismutase; Swimming