Evaluation of the Phytochemistry and Antidepressant-Like Effect of Cinnamomum verum Essential Oil in Male Mice

Abstract

Background and Aim: Previous studies have reported the antioxidant, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective effects of Cinnamomum verum (CV). Hence, the phytochemistry and antidepressant-like effects of the CV essential oil were investigated in the present study by the forced swimming test (FST) and tail suspension test (TST) in male mice. Materials and Methods: Seventy-two male NMRI mice (20-30 g) were randomly divided into the control or vehicle (10 ml/kg, i.p.), the fluoxetine (20mg/kg, i.p.), the imipramine (30mg/kg, i.p.), and the CV essential oil (5, 10 & 20 mg/kg, i.p.) groups. The immobility, swimming, and climbing times of the mice in FST, as well as the immobility time in TST were determined and recorded. Results: Based on the GC-MS analysis, the main component was cinnamaldehyde (87.42%). Furthermore, all doses of the CV essential oil decreased immobility times in FST (P< 0.001 and P<0.05, respectively) and TST (P<0.001). Moreover, all doses of the essential oil increased swimming time (P< 0.01 and P<0.001), but the climbing time was only increased by 10 and 20 mg/kg of the essential oil (P< 0.01 and P<0.001, respectively). Conclusion: According to the findings of the present study, the major components of the CV essential oil (e.g. cinnamaldehyde) are likely to have antidepressant effects due to its monoaminergic mechanism. Nevertheless, further studies are required to determine its exact mechanism of action.

Keywords

• antidepressant, cinnamomum verum, forced swimming test, tail suspension test, monoaminergic system, mice