protective effects of greater lizardfish (saurida tumbil) protein hydrolysates against depression and anxiety in male mice

Aquatic organisms that account for almost half of the world’s biodiversity provide valuable sources of bioactive compounds exhibiting a number of physiological and health promoting functions, which make them promising ingredients for application in food and pharmaceutical. saurida tumbil protein hydrolysate was prepared by papain enzyme hydrolysis and its anti-depressant and anti-anxiety effects were investigated in male mice. fifty male mice were randomly assigned into control (c), chronic resistant stress induced depression and anxiety (crs) and intervention (crs mice receiving fish protein hydrolysate (fph) at 100, 300 and 600 mg/kg) groups. normal saline and fph were given to the mice 30 min before inducing crs by gavage for 21 days. anxiety and depression were evaluated by elevated plus-maze and open field tests. total antioxidant capacity (tac) and malondialdehyde (mda) level of mice serum were determined. the treatment of crs mice with fph significantly ameliorated the negative effects of crs and significantly increased the number of entering into the open arms and also the time elapsed in the open arms of the elevated plus-maze (p<0.05). fph administration also significantly increased the number of crossed squares and the number of grooming and rearing in open field tests (p<0.05). the administration of fph at all studied doses to crs mice increased tac (p<0.05) and decreased mda level (p>0.05). in conclusion, s. tumbil protein hydrolysate showed anti- depressant and anti-anxiety effects possibly through its antioxidant activity, which can be suggested for enrichment or designing human functional foods.