ABSTRACT
Alcohol (ethanol) is among the most popularly consumed beverages globally. Ethanol was earlier demonstrated to elicit cognitive impairment and depressive-like effects in both human and animal studies. Rutin (R) is known for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and anti-depressive properties, among others. Herein, we investigate the impact of rutin on ethanol-induced cognitive impairment and depressive-like effects in rats and the involvement of the indoleaminergic pathway. Three groups of eight rats each were orally exposed to drinking water (group 1), ethanol (5 g/kg body weight)-group 2 (via oral gavage), and ethanol + R (5 g/kg body weight + 50 mg/kg body weight)-group 3 (via oral gavage) for 35 days. Results showed that exposure to ethanol significantly (p < 0.0001) reduced spontaneous alternation in the Y-maze and increased immobility time in the tail suspension test (TST), which indicates cognitive impairment and depressive-like behavior in rats. We observed increased IDO activity/expression, and inflammatory responses, with attendant disruption in antioxidant systems and concomitant elevation in malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus. Following rutin co-exposure, an ethanol-mediated increase in indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase [IDO] activity/expression and decrease in antioxidant enzymes, in addition to an increase in markers of inflammatory response and MDA production, was significantly (p < 0.0001) prevented compared with controls. Additionally, altered behavioral indices were prevented by rutin co-exposure. Taken together, these findings reveal the involvement of the indoleaminergic pathway in rutin preventive influence against ethanol-induced cognitive impairment and depressive-like behavior in rats.
