Curcumin ameliorated the mercuric chloride induced depression and anxiety in female mice offspring.

Abstract In the present investigation, the effect of mercuric chloride on gestation and lactation periods in mice was studied. The animals were treated with 10 ppm of HgCl2 and its complications were evaluated by supplementing 150 and 300 ppm of curcumin, respectively. Results indicated that HgCl2 increased depression-like behavior in treated animals compared to control and effects of depression in offspring significantly (p˂0.001) enhanced. Interestingly, the Tail suspension test clearly confirmed that the administration of curcumin enhanced the immobility (p˂0.001). The results confirmed that the curcumin administered mice spent less time in the closed arm (P  The anxiety and depression behaviors disorder due to mercuric chloride exposure indicated its availability via placenta or/and milk during lactation. The treatment with curcumin improved anxiety and depression behaviors compared to Hg experimental group.