Potential antioxidant and anxiolytic effects of (+)-limonene epoxide in mice after marble-burying test

The present study evaluated anxiolytic activity of (+)-limonene epoxide (EL), through the marble burying test (MBT) assay, and the antioxidant potential in vitro and in vivo in mice hippocampus of adult mice subjected to experimental anxiety protocol. For behavioral studies, and in vivo antioxidant...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Pharmacology, biochemistry and behavior biochemistry and behavior, 2014-03, Vol.118, p.69-78
Main Authors: de Almeida, Antonia Amanda Cardoso, de Carvalho, Rusbene Bruno Fonseca, Silva, Oskar Almeida, de Sousa, Damião Pergentino, de Freitas, Rivelilson Mendes
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
(+)-Limonene epoxide
Animals
Anti-Anxiety Agents - pharmacology
Antioxidant
Antioxidants - pharmacology
Anxiety
Anxiety - drug therapy
Anxiety - metabolism
Anxiety - psychology
Catalase - metabolism
Diazepam - pharmacology
Flumazenil - pharmacology
Free Radical Scavengers - pharmacology
Hippocampus - drug effects
Hippocampus - metabolism
Male
Mice
Monoterpenes - pharmacology
Oxidative stress
Reactive Nitrogen Species - metabolism
Reactive Oxygen Species - metabolism
Superoxide Dismutase - metabolism
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:The present study evaluated anxiolytic activity of (+)-limonene epoxide (EL), through the marble burying test (MBT) assay, and the antioxidant potential in vitro and in vivo in mice hippocampus of adult mice subjected to experimental anxiety protocol. For behavioral studies, and in vivo antioxidant analyses, mice were treated orally with 0.05% Tween 80 dissolved in 0.9% saline solution (vehicle), ascorbic acid 250mg/kg, diazepam (2mg/kg) and EL (25, 50 and 75mg/kg). Results suggest an anxiolytic effect of (+)-limonene epoxide. A reduction in number of buried marbles in groups treated with EL doses of 25, 50 and 75mg/kg was observed when compared with diazepam and vehicle groups. This reduction was observed after treatments with single and repeated doses, reinforcing the hypothesis of anxiolytic effect. The anxiolytic effect was reversed by pretreatment with flumazenil (25mg/kg, o.r) in the same way as it was observed with diazepam (2mg/kg, o.r, positive control), suggesting that these drugs possess a similar mechanism of action. In antioxidant tests in vitro, the concentrations from 0.9 to 7.2μg/ml were tested. The results of in vitro antioxidant tests demonstrated a 50% inhibitory effective concentration of 0.7342, 1.296 and 1.169μg/ml against the formation of nitrite ion, hydroxyl radical and reactive substances to thiobarbituric acid, respectively. The treatment with EL reduced the lipid peroxidation level and nitrite content, suggesting an antioxidant role in vivo since it was able to reduce the formation of reactive species derived from oxygen and nitrogen. Furthermore, the EL increased activity of enzymes catalase and superoxide dismutase in mice hippocampus, suggesting that their role may be due to antioxidant upregulation of these enzymes. [Display omitted] •(+)-Limonene epoxide reduced the lipid peroxidation level and nitrite content.•(+)-Limonene epoxide increased catalase and superoxide dismutase activities.•Treatment with (+)-limonene epoxide reduced the number of marbles buried.•(+)-Limonene epoxide shows antioxidant and anxiolytic effects.
ISSN:0091-3057
1873-5177
DOI:10.1016/j.pbb.2014.01.006