Clorogenic acid is a polyphenolic substance found in many plants, and is one of the most abundant phytochemicals in herbs and fruit. It has antioxidant properties and may also act as an anti-inflammatory. Crataegus pinnatifida (Hawthorne) is a source of chlorogenic acid, where it is found in high concentrations in the fruit (berries). The anti-stress and antidepressant effects of chlorogenic acid extracted from Crataegus pinnatifida fruit have been investigated on animals. In one study, mice were exposed to stress for 2 weeks and the physiological changes associated with this stress were observed. The stress caused detrimental changes to brain chemistry that included a reduction in brain-derived neurotrophic factor, a reduction in neuronal regeneration as well as an increase in monoamine oxidase B levels. Administration of 30 mg of chlorogenic acid or whole Crataegus pinnatifida fruit significantly attenuated these negative changes and also significantly reduced the depressive-like behaviour in the mice.
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