A Pilot Study of Antistress Effects of Vitamin B Complex and Agarwood Extract in an Animal Model with Parallel Observations on Depression in Human Subjects
Author(s): Asmaa Fathi Hamouda*, Asmaa Fathi Hamouda and Asmaa Fathi Hamouda
Abstract
Background: Depression leads to mood fluctuations and has several causes, such as genetics and chronic stress. Alternative treatments for depression include vitamin B and dietary interventions.
Method: We investigated the effects of vitamin B complex (Tri-B) and dietary agarwood extract (AW) against epinephrine-induced biochemical changes. We analyzed the constituents of AW with gas chromatography– mass spectrometry and performed an AutoDock analysis of the components of AW and Tri-B as potential ligands of the epinephrine receptor. We separately determined the effects of oral AW and intramuscular Tri-B injection on biochemical changes caused by epinephrine in rats. We also observed depression and biochemical changes in human volunteers with or without Tri-B treatment.
Results: The AutoDock outcomes confirmed the improvement in the rats’ biochemical status due to AW and Tri-B binding to the epinephrine receptor. The volunteers treated with Tri-B showed significant amelioration of depression.
Conclusion: Tri-B had a beneficial effect by reducing the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1 beta, cortisol, cyclooxygenase-2, lipid peroxidation, and nitric oxide in both rats and human volunteers.