Apple cider vinegar attenuates lipopolysaccharide-induced neurobehavioral deficits in mice

Purpose: Apple cider vinegar (ACV), an acidic solution usually obtained from apple’s fermentation, is rich in polyphenols, compounds whose protective effects against neurodegenerative diseases is well documented. In view of this, the present study sought to evaluate the potential of ACV to attenuate lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced neurobehavioral deficits. Methods: Twenty-four Swiss mice randomly grouped into four (n = 6) were used for the study. Group 1 received normal saline, group 2 (LPS control) also received normal saline, while groups 3 and 4 respectively received ACV (10 mL/kg) for 7 days. LPS (0.5 mg/kg) was injected into animals in groups 2 and 4. Twenty-four hours (24 h) later, neurobehavioral deficits were evaluated in the animals using open field test (OFT), walk beam test (WBT), elevated plus maze (EPM), and forced swimming test (FST). Proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-6) and nitrite, as well as malondialdehyde, reduced glutathione, and catalase activity, were assayed as biomarkers of brain inflammation and oxidative stress, respectively. Results: The WBT, EPM, and FST analyses showed that pretreatment with ACV significantly (P < 0.05) attenuated LPS-induced motor incoordination, anxiety- and depressive-like effects respectively. Similarly, ACV significantly attenuated LPS-induced increase in TNF-α, IL-6, malondialdehyde, and nitrite levels. Besides, ACV markedly ameliorated LPS-induced decline in reduced glutathione concentration and catalase activity in the brains of mice. Conclusion: The outcome of this study showed that ACV attenuated LPS-induced anxiety- and depressive-like behaviors in mice. This effect is likely due to inhibition of oxidative stress and proinflammatory cytokines. © 2020, Springer Nature Switzerland AG.