AUTHOR=Almohaimeed Hailah M. , Hamed Shereen , Seleem Hanan S. , Batawi Ashwaq H. , Mohammedsaleh Zuhair M. , Balgoon Maha Jameal , Ali Soad S. , Al Jaouni Soad , Ayuob Nasra 

TITLE=An Ethanolic Extract of Cucurbita pepo L. Seeds Modifies Neuroendocrine Disruption in Chronic Stressed Rats and Adrenal Expression of Inflammatory Markers and HSP70

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Pharmacology

VOLUME=Volume 12 - 2021

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2021.749766

DOI=10.3389/fphar.2021.749766

ISSN=1663-9812

ABSTRACT=Background: Pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L.) was described to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-fatigue and antidepressant-like effect. The adrenal gland is an important stress-responsive organ that maintains homeostasis during stress.
Objectives: This study aimed to assess the effect of the administration of Cucurbita pepo L. (CP) extract on relieving the chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS)-induced behavioral and biochemical effect as well as its impact on the structure of the adrenal gland and explore the mechanism behind this impact.
Materials and methods: Forty male albino rats divided in 4 groups (n=10); control, CUMS, Fluoxetine-treated and CP-treated groups. Behavioral changes, corticosterone level pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-6 and oxidant/antioxidant profile were assessed in the serum at the end of the experiment. Adrenal glands were processed for histopathological and immunohistochemical assessment. Gene expression of Caspase-3, Ki67 and heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) were assessed in adrenal glands using-PCR.
Results: CP extract significantly reduced corticosterone level (p<0.001), immobility time (p<0.001), inflammatory and oxidative changes associated with CUMS-induced depression compared to the untreated group. CP extract alleviated CUMS-induced adrenal histopathological changes and significantly reduced (p<0.001) apoptosis and significantly up-regulated antioxidants levels in the serum. 
Conclusion: Cucurbita pepo L. effectively ameliorated the chronic stress-induced behavioral, biochemical as well as adrenal structural changes mostly through its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect.