title: Anxiolytic-like activity and GC-MS analysis of (R)-(+)-limonene fragrance, a natural compound found in foods and plants.
abstract: The traditional use of essential oils in aromatherapy has offered numerous health benefits. However, few scientific studies have been conducted with these oils to confirm their therapeutic efficacy. (+)-Limonene is a chemical constituent of various bioactive essential oils. The present study reports on the anxiolytic-like effects of (+)-limonene in an elevated maze model of anxiety in mice. At concentrations of 0.5% and 1.0%, (+)-limonene, administered to mice by inhalation, significantly modified all the parameters evaluated in the elevated plus maze test. The pharmacological effect of inhaled (+)-limonene (1%) was not blocked by flumazenil. Analysis of (+)-limonene using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) showed its volatility to be high. These data suggest possible connections between the volatility of (+)-limonene and its anxiolytic-like effect on the parameters evaluated in the elevated plus maze test. The data indicate that (+)-limonene could be used in aromatherapy as an antianxiety agent.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ciências Farmacêuticas da Universidade Federal da Paraíba, CEP 58051-970 João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil. naianagondim@gmail.com
authors.forename: Naiana G P B
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.forename: Damião P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: De Sousa
authors.forename: Flávia Cristina F
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Pimenta
authors.forename: Mateus F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Alves
authors.forename: Fábio S
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: De Souza
authors.forename: Rui O
authors.initials: RO
authors.lastname: Macedo
authors.forename: Ricardo B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Cardoso
authors.forename: Liana Clébia S L
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: de Morais
authors.forename: Margareth de Fátima F
authors.initials: Mde F
authors.lastname: Melo Diniz
authors.forename: Reinaldo Nóbrega
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: de Almeida
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001688:Biological Products / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D053138:Cyclohexenes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004347:Drug Interactions; D005442:Flumazenil / Q000494:pharmacology; D005502:Food; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D000077222:Limonene; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D010944:Plants / Q000737:chemistry*; D013729:Terpenes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014835:Volatilization
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D001688:Biological Products; D053138:Cyclohexenes; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D013729:Terpenes; D005442:Flumazenil; D000077222:Limonene