The Effects of Rhodiola rosea on SerTand 5-HT2BGene Expression and Anxiety-Related Behaviors in Drosophila melanogaster
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Authors
Erickson, Isabelle
Boharski, Emma
Date of Issue
2025-04-25
Type
Presentation
Language
en_US
Subject Keywords
Other Titles
Abstract
Rhodiola rosea is a homeopathic supplement that is proposed to enhance resilience to stress and alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression. While the use of homeopathic supplements like Rhodiola rosea has grown in popularity, their safety, efficacy, and mechanisms of action remain poorly understood due to lack of oversight by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Previous research has highlighted a correlation between R. rosea and serotonin pathways, providing a possible anxiety management option for the 19.1% of adults in the U.S. who suffer from anxiety disorders (NIH, 2017). This study aimed to explore the effects of R. rosea on expression of the SerT and 5-HT2B genes, which are involved in serotonin transport, along with anxiety-related behaviors in Drosophila melanogaster. We hypothesized that D. melanogaster treated with R. rosea would have increased SerT and 5-HT2B expression and would exhibit reduced anxiety-like behaviors, including increased locomotion, wall climbing, and socialization. To test this hypothesis, flies were randomly assigned to either a control group under standard conditions or a treatment group cultured in the presence of R. rosea. Both groups were exposed to stressful conditions via exposure to a 20hr-4hr light-dark cycle. To determine the effects of R. rosea on D. melanogaster, gene expression was measured using RT-qPCR for SerT and 5-HT2B, and behavior was observed using RING, wall-following, and socialization assays. The results of this study showed that R. rosea treatment in D. melanogaster neither impacted expression of SerT and 5-HT2B, nor improved performance in the anxiety-related behavioral assays.