Antidepressant-like effect of carvacrol (5-Isopropyl-2-methylphenol) in mice: involvement of dopaminergic system.
Carvacrol (5-isopropyl-2-methylphenol) is a monoterpenic phenol present in the essential oil of many plants. It is the major component of the essential oil fraction of oregano and thyme. In this study, the effect of carvacrol was investigated in two behavioral models, the forced swimming and tail suspension tests in mice, to investigate the possible antidepressant effect of this substance. Additionally, the mechanisms involved in the antidepressant-like effect of carvacrol in mice were also assessed. Carvacrol (cvc) was administered orally at single doses of 12.5, 25 and 50 mg/kg. The acute treatment of cvc decreased the immobility time in the forced swimming and tail suspension tests without accompanying changes in ambulation in the open-field test. The anti-immobility effect of carvacrol (25 mg/kg) was not prevented by pretreatment of mice with p-chlorophenylalanine, prazosin and yohimbine. On the other hand, the pretreatment of mice with SCH23390 or sulpiride completely blocked the antidepressant-like effect of carvacrol (25 mg/kg) in the forced swimming test. These results show that carvacrol presents antidepressant effects in the forced swimming and tail suspension tests; this effect seems to be dependent on its interaction with the dopaminergic system, but not with the serotonergic and noradrenergic systems.


BACKGROUND
Carvacrol; Antidepressant; Forced swimming; Tail suspension; Dopaminergic system.
Melo
Francisca Helvira Cavalcante
FH
Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Rua Cel. Nunes de Melo, Fortaleza, Brazil. helvira.melo@gmail.com
Moura
Brinell Arcanjo
BA
de Sousa
Damião Pergentino
DP
de Vasconcelos
Silvânia Maria Mendes
SM
Macedo
Danielle Silveira
DS
Fonteles
Marta Maria de França
MM
Viana
Glauce Socorro de Barros
GS
de Sousa
Francisca Cléa Florenço
FC
D058668:Adrenergic alpha-1 Receptor Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D058669:Adrenergic alpha-2 Receptor Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D001552:Benzazepines / Q000494:pharmacology; D000081007:Cymenes; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004298:Dopamine / Q000502:physiology*; D065127:Dopamine D2 Receptor Antagonists; D010134:Fenclonine / Q000494:pharmacology; D019417:Hindlimb Suspension; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D039821:Monoterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D011224:Prazosin / Q000494:pharmacology; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2 / Q000502:physiology; D013469:Sulpiride / Q000494:pharmacology; D013550:Swimming; D015016:Yohimbine / Q000494:pharmacology
D058668:Adrenergic alpha-1 Receptor Antagonists; D058669:Adrenergic alpha-2 Receptor Antagonists; D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D001552:Benzazepines; D000081007:Cymenes; D065127:Dopamine D2 Receptor Antagonists; D039821:Monoterpenes; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2; C534628:SCH 23390; D015016:Yohimbine; D013469:Sulpiride; C073316:carvacrol; D010134:Fenclonine; D004298:Dopamine; D011224:Prazosin