Therapeutic Effects of Nano-Phytosome of Curcumin on Anxiety-like Behaviors, Neuroinflammation and Biochemical Parameters in Rats Exposed to Stress

Curcumin and its nano-phytosome have anti-inflammation and antioxidant properties that may decrease the concentration of metabolic factors, inflammatory parameters and anxiety in stressed rats. However, the effects of administration of of curcumin on inflammation and anxiety have not still been investigated. This study was conducted to scrutinize the metabolic factors, anxiety-like behavior and inflammatory factors in rats exposed to stress and treated with nano-phytosome of curcumin. Eighty femalerats were divided into four groups (n=20), including 1 and 2) non-stressed rats treated with saline (negative control) and nanophytosome (N-nano), 3 and 4) stressed rats treated with saline (Positive control) and nanophytosome (P-Nano). The rats in stressed groups were exposed to stress for 13 days and then treated for 21 days. Anxiety‑like behavior and inflammatory factors of IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α and COX-2 and the concentration of glucose and triglycerides were assessed following the treatment with nano-phytosome. The results showed that the induction of stress increased anxiety symptoms (p < 0.05), the inflammation (p < 0.05) and blood parameters (p < 0.05), but the treatment with nano-phytosome of curcumin reduced anxiety symptoms (p < 0.05), the inflammation (p < 0.05) and blood parameters (p < 0.05). Overall, the induction of stress caused the inflammation and anxiety and increased the concentration of glucose and triglycerides. However, the treatment of the rats with nanophytosome of curcumin reduced adverse effects of the stress on inflammation and anxiety paramters. This study showed positive effects of curcumin for decreasing the inflammation and anxiety in the stressed rats, but clinical studies are required for its confirmation on human.