title: Antioxidant activity of Citrus limon essential oil in mouse hippocampus.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Citrus limon (L.) Burms (Rutaceae) has been shown in previous studies to have various biological functions (anti-inflammatory, antiallergic, antiviral, antimutagenic, and anticarcinogenic). However, traditional uses in folk medicine suggest that C. limon may have an effect on the central nervous system (CNS).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study investigated the effects of C. limon essential oil (EO) on lipid peroxidation level, nitrite content, glutathione reduced (GSH) concentration, and antioxidant enzymes [superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, and glutathione peroxidase (GPx)] activities in mice hippocampus.
  
  
  METHODS
  Swiss mice were treated with the suspension of 0.5% Tween 80, in distilled water used as vehicle (i.p., control group) and with EO in three different doses (0.05, 0.1, or 0.15 g/kg, i.p., EO 50, EO 100, and EO 150 groups, respectively). After the treatments, all groups were observed for 24 h. The enzyme activities as well as the lipid peroxidation, nitrite, and GSH concentrations in mice hippocampus were measured using spectrophotometric methods and the results were compared with values obtained from control group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  EO of C. limon treatment significantly reduced the lipid peroxidation level and nitrite content but increased the GSH levels and the SOD, catalase, and GPx activities in mice hippocampus.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings strongly support the hypothesis that oxidative stress in hippocampus can occur during neurodegenerative diseases, proving that hippocampal damage induced by the oxidative process plays a crucial role in brain disorders, and also imply that a strong protective effect could be achieved using EO of C. limon as an antioxidant.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Research in Experimental Neurochemistry of Federal University of Piaui, Teresina, Piaui, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lidianne Mayra Lopes
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Campêlo
authors.forename: Fabrício Custódio Moura
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Gonçalves
authors.forename: Chistiane Mendes
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Feitosa
authors.forename: Rivelilson Mendes
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: de Freitas
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002957:Citrus / Q000737:chemistry*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D051379:Mice; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D013053:Spectrophotometry
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D009822:Oils, Volatile