Antidepressant-Like Effect of Terpineol in an Inflammatory Model of Depression: Involvement of the Cannabinoid System and D2 Dopamine Receptor
In Summary
Terpineol is a compound naturally present in the essential oils of several plants, such as eucalyptus, mugwort, and cannabis and is also synthesized and added to food as a flavoring substance. It is mainly known for anti-inflammatory and antifungal properties.
Researchers hypothesized that terpineol may have antidepressant effects because of the “neuroinflammation” hypothesis of depression. A growing body of research has demonstrated that the activation of immune cells in blood and the inflammation of brain cells likely contribute to the development of the major depressive disorder - the most severe form of depression. One example is that in animal studies, depressive-like behavior is observed after administration of proinflammatory substances.
To test this possibility, scientists at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil, studied both the curative and preventive effects of terpineol in a mice model exhibiting depressive-like symptoms following administration of proinflammatory chemicals. They observed antidepressant effects when mice were treated with terpineol both before and after depression-inducing proinflammatory substances. More importantly, when the cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2 were blocked, such effects were lost.
The scientists concluded that terpineol induces anti-inflammatory effects through activation of cannabinoid receptors in the body. These findings highlighted the unexpected power and promising applications in depression therapy of terpineol - a natural constituent of several plants including cannabis.
Researchers hypothesized that terpineol may have antidepressant effects because of the “neuroinflammation” hypothesis of depression. A growing body of research has demonstrated that the activation of immune cells in blood and the inflammation of brain cells likely contribute to the development of the major depressive disorder - the most severe form of depression. One example is that in animal studies, depressive-like behavior is observed after administration of proinflammatory substances.
To test this possibility, scientists at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil, studied both the curative and preventive effects of terpineol in a mice model exhibiting depressive-like symptoms following administration of proinflammatory chemicals. They observed antidepressant effects when mice were treated with terpineol both before and after depression-inducing proinflammatory substances. More importantly, when the cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2 were blocked, such effects were lost.
The scientists concluded that terpineol induces anti-inflammatory effects through activation of cannabinoid receptors in the body. These findings highlighted the unexpected power and promising applications in depression therapy of terpineol - a natural constituent of several plants including cannabis.