Comparative analysis of antidepressant-like effects of five herbal essential oils on mice with reserpine-induced depression

The antidepressant-like effects of five herbal essential oils (EOs), Jasminum sambac (Linn.) Aiton essential oil (JSEOs), Magnolia denudata Desr. essential oil (MDEOs), Rosa rugosa Thunb. essential oil (RREOs), Aloysia citriodora Ortega ex Pers. essential oil (ACEOs) and Abies balsamea (L.) Mill. essential oil (ABEOs) were evaluated. By virtue of a reserpine-induced depression mouse model, the antidepression activities and mechanisms of these EOs were explored. The results indicated that the inhalation of EOs significantly ameliorated depression-like behaviors in reserpine-induced depression mice, including a decrease in anxiety and immobility time. JSEOs and ABEOs significantly attenuated reserpine-induced depression-like behaviors, particularly the decreased body weight and immobility time, as determined by tail suspension and forced swimming tests. Furthermore, RT-qPCR and western blotting analyses indicated that the EOs influenced brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), serotonin1A (5-HT1A), and inflammatory cytokine levels. ACEOs attenuated reserpine-induced hippocampal and neuronal damage, significantly increased glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and 5-HT1A levels, and suppressed the inflammatory response. These results provide new insights into the antidepressant effects of herbal EOs and suggest that the five EOs evaluated in this study are potential nutraceuticals for the treatment of depression.