Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior 2010-09-01

Anxiolytic-like effect of the monoterpene 1,4-cineole in mice.

Patrícia Bezerra Gomes, Mariana Lima Feitosa, Maria Izabel Gomes Silva, Emmanuelle Coelho Noronha, Brinell Arcanjo Moura, Edith Teles Venâncio, Emiliano Ricardo Vasconcelos Rios, Damião Pergentino de Sousa, Silvânia Maria Mendes de Vasconcelos, Marta Maria de França Fonteles, Francisca Cléa Florenço de Sousa

Index: Pharmacol. Biochem. Behav. 96(3) , 287-93, (2010)

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Abstract

Recent studies have shown that some monoterpenes exert anxiolytic- and depressant-like actions, however, these effects from monoterpene 1,4-cineole are still unknown. This work aimed to study the effects of 1,4-cineole in classic animal models for depression- and anxiety-like behavior, specifically the elevated plus maze (EPM), hole board, open field, pentobarbital sleeping time, forced swimming, tail suspension and rota rod tests. 1,4-Cineole was administered orally to mice (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg), while diazepam (1 or 2 mg/kg) and imipramine (10 or 30 mg/kg) were used as standard drugs. 1,4-Cineole (400 mg/kg) modified all parameters observed in the EPM, while no significant variation was observed on general motor activity in the open-field test. In the hole-board assay, 1,4-cineole induced increase on the number of head dips. Forced swimming and tail suspension tests showed that cineole (200 and/or 400 mg/kg) was able to promote significant increase on the immobility time, while a decreased sleep latency was observed (200 and 400 mg/kg ) on the pentobarbital sleeping time. Cineole had no effect on the motor coordination of animals in the rota rod test. The results suggest that 1,4-cineole presents potential anxiolytic-like action consistent with possible general depression of the CNS.2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.