Antidepressant-like Effect of Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck Essential Oil and Its Main Component Limonene on Mice

Abstract

The present study investigated the antidepressant-like effects of navel orange [Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck] essential oil (OEO) and its main components using the chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) model mice and explored its possible mechanisms. The results indicated that OEO inhalation significantly ameliorated the depression-like behaviors of CUMS mice with decreased body weight, sucrose preference, curiosity, and mobility as well as shortened immobile time and attenuated dyslipidemia. Limonene was the most abundant compound in the sniffing OEO environment and mice brain after sniffing, and it was not metabolized immediately in the brain. In addition, limonene inhalation significantly restored CUMS-induced depressive behavior, hyperactivity of hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis, and the decrease of monoamine neurotransmitter levels, with downregulation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and its receptor expression in the hippocampus. Thus, the study indicates that the improvements in neuroendocrine, neurotrophic, and monoaminergic systems are related to the antidepressant effects of limonene.

Lemon essential oil ameliorates age-associated cognitive dysfunction via modulating hippocampal synaptic density and inhibiting acetylcholinesterase

“…The monoterpenes exert activity of affecting emotions by directly acting on the olfactory nerve and central nervous system [38]. However, scarce detailed investigation was found in this area [39].…”

Biological Properties of a Citral-Enriched Fraction of Citrus limon Essential Oil

“…According to the literature, LEO has versatile therapeutic activities on the digestive apparatus and the cardiovascular, nervous, and immune systems [ 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 ]. To date, most studies are centered on the functional analysis of whole LEO, highlighting its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties specifically related to the presence of linalool [ 11 ] and limonene [ 20 ].…”

Regular exposure to a Citrus-based sensory functional food ingredient alleviates the BOLD brain responses to acute pharmacological stress in a pig model of psychosocial chronic stress

“…Acute anxiolytic-like and sedative effects have also been observed with inhalation of Citrus sinensis in rodents [24,25]. Impacts of a prolonged exposure through inhalation to Citrus extracts have also been investigated in chronic stress models and showed anxiolytic-and antidepressant-like effects [26][27][28]. Several physiological parameters altered in chronic stress and mood disorders can also be regulated by Citrus extracts, such as HPA axis activity [28,29], monoaminergic systems [26,28], and neurogenesis [30,31].…”