Investigation of the anxiolytic effects of linalool, a lavender extract, in the male Sprague-Dawley rat.
The purpose of our study was to investigate the anxiolytic effects of linalool and its potential interaction with the GABAA receptor in Sprague-Dawley rats. Lavender has been used traditionally as an herbal remedy in the treatment of many medical conditions, including anxiety. Linalool is a major component of the essential oil of lavender. Forty-four rats were divided into 4 groups: control, linalool, midazolam (positive control), and flumazenil and linalool. The behavioral and the neurohormonal/physiological components of anxiety were evaluated. The behavioral component was examined by using the elevated plus maze (open arm time/total time) and the neurohormonal/physiological component by measuring serum catecholamine and corticosterone levels. Data analysis was performed using a 2-tailed Multivariate Analysis of Variance and Sheffe post-hoc test. Our data suggest that linalool does not produce anxiolysis by modulation of the GABAA receptor; however, linalool may modulate motor movements and locomotion.
Cline
Michael
M
US Army Graduate Program in Anesthesia Nursing, William Beaumont Army Medical Center, El Paso, Texas, USA.
Taylor
John E
JE
Flores
Jesus
J
Bracken
Samuel
S
McCall
Suzanne
S
Ceremuga
Thomas E
TE
D000080462:Acyclic Monoterpenes; D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000931:Antidotes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001007:Anxiety / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000097:blood; D005442:Flumazenil / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018757:GABA Modulators / Q000627:therapeutic use; D027523:Lavandula; D008124:Locomotion / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D008874:Midazolam / Q000627:therapeutic use; D039821:Monoterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000187:drug effects; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000097:blood; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000187:drug effects
D000080462:Acyclic Monoterpenes; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D000931:Antidotes; D018757:GABA Modulators; D039821:Monoterpenes; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; D005442:Flumazenil; C018584:linalool; D008874:Midazolam; D009638:Norepinephrine; D004837:Epinephrine