Chaenomeles is a group of plants belonging to the Rosaceae (rose) family of plants. The plants can be found growing naturally in Korea, China and Burma. In these countries, Chaenomeles plants are used in traditional medicine systems for a variety of ailments including the treatment of low mood and anxiety. The polyphenol content of the fruit of the plant is known to be high. One species of Chaenomeles, Chaenomeles maulei has been investigated for its mood elevating properties. In one study, fruit juice from Chaenomeles maulei was administered to rats before they were exposed to experimental stress. In comparison to control animals not given the fruit juice, the treatment animals exhibited reduced behavioural despair and increased social interaction. The study authors concluded that fruit juice from Chaenomeles maulei was effective at elevating the mood of the animals and that it may possess anxiolytic and antidepressant properties, perhaps because of the polyphenols it contains.
Chaenomeles plants may be effective against mood disorders such as anxiety and depression because of the phytochemicals they possess. In particular, the plants contain flavonoids of the flavan-3-ol subgroup. These plants may give extracts of the plant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects that result in mood elevating effects. Image from: CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=369092.
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