Adaptogenic Potential of Triethylene Glycol and Quercetin in Stressed Mice

Objective: To compare physiological stress response modulating potentials of triethylene glycol and quercetin in mice. Methods: Effects of single and 10 daily oral doses (5, 20, 100 and 400 mg/kg/ day) of quercetin and triethylene glycol (TEG) to male mice on foot shock stress induces transient hyperthermia and on basal rectal temperatures and body weight changes and of their 11 daily doses in tail suspension test and on pentobarbital induced sedation were compared. In further experiments, the effects of their 11 and 12 daily minimally effective stress response suppressing doses (5 mg/kg/ day) in two versions of the marble burying test for anxiolytics were assessed. Results: Dose dependant efficacies of quercetin and TEG for suppressing transient hyperthermia triggered by 1 min duration of foot shock stress increased with increasing numbers of their daily dose and body weight losses and slight elevation of basal core temperatures triggered by daily handling and occasional foot shocks were also antagonized by both of them. Significant effects of even the lowest tested (5 mg/kg/day) doses of both of them were observed after their 11 daily doses in tail suspension test in mildly stressed mice, bur after such treatments only quercetin had statistically significant effects in one of the two versions of the marble burying tests in stressed mice. Conclusion: Fairly low daily, but not single, oral doses of quercetin and TEG desensitize physiological stress responses of male mice triggered by occasional exposures to short duration of foot shocks. Both of them possess daily dose dependant antidepressant like activities and after their low stress response suppressing doses only quercetin possess some anxiolytics like activity in stressed mice.