Cinnamic aldehyde treatment alleviates chronic unexpected stress-induced depressive-like behaviors via targeting cyclooxygenase-2 in mid-aged rats

Cinnamic aldehyde is a major constituent of Cinnamomum cassia, which has exhibited excellent anti-inflammatory activities as a COX-2 inhibitor. In the present study, we investigated the potential antidepressant effect of cinnamic aldehyde in mid-aged rats. Treatment with cinnamic aldehyde (45, 90 mg/kg) reversed the behaviors abnormalities, and decreased the COX-2 protein and activity (but not COX-2 mRNA expression) and PGE2 concentration in frontal cortex and hippocampus of stressed rats. These results showed that cinnamic aldehyde exerted antidepressant-like effects in stressed mid-aged rats, and its mechanisms of action appear to decrease COX-2 protein and activity. Together, targeting COX-2 system might be benefit to the depression, especially elderly individuals.205