Quercetin improves mood-related behaviors in mice subjected to paradoxical sleeplessness

Context: Food supplements are a widely consumed class of pharmaceuticals. Quercetin (QCT) is a bioflavonoid with reported benefits in various disease conditions. Aims: The present study sought to evaluate the potential protective role of QCT against anxiety-like and antisocial behavior in mice exposed to persistent wakefulness. Settings and Design: The sleep deprivation protocol used in this research was the multiple platforms over the water model. Subjects and Methods: Thirty male albino mice were randomly divided into five groups, each consisting of six mice: Group 1 was considered the naive group; Group 2 was considered the model control. Groups 3 and 4 received QCT (25 and 50 mg/kg; p. o.) and Group 5 received astaxanthin (50 mg/kg; p. o.) in addition to being sleep-deprived respectively. The mice in groups 2–5 received their respective treatment for 7 days but were subjected to a 72 h sleep deprivation from day 4. On day 8, behavioral activities were monitored, and then, animals were sacrificed 1 h after the drug administration. Brain samples were subsequently collected for the biochemical and histopathological analysis. Statistical Analysis Used: One-way analysis of variance. Results: The results indicate that persistent wakefulness-induced anxiety such as symptoms and depression-like behavior in mice. In addition, oxidative stress was significant in sleep-deprived group with an enhancement in activity of prooxidants. However, upon pre-treatment with QCT, such behaviors and suppression of antioxidant molecules were reversed. Conclusions: In conclusion, the present finding showed that QCT could attenuate the impairment of antioxidant enzymes, reduce anxiety, and depression-like behaviors caused by sleep deprivation in mice.