Geranium oil and anise oil inhibit brain cerebral cortex and hippocampus inflammation in depressed animal model

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to check the geranium oil and anise oil effect to inhibit inflammation in brain cerebral cortex and hippocampus areas in depression.

Design/methodology/approach

Depression defined as psychiatric disease and chronic mild stress (CMS) model a well-known animal model of depression that represented major symptoms occurred in human depression. Geranium oil and anise oil selected for such a study to check their anti-inflammatory effect in brain tissues in depressed animal model.

Findings

The brain cerebral cortex and hippocampus neurotransmitters serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) and interleukin (IL)-10 significantly decreased (p < 0.001) while brain cerebral cortex and hippocampus IL-1ß, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and Ki-67 levels significantly increased (p < 0.001) in CMS rats compared to control. The oral intake of venlafaxine drug, anise oil and geranium oil significantly increased (p < 0.001) serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, GABA and IL-10 while significantly decreased (p < 0.001) IL-1ß, IL-6, TNF-α and Ki-67 levels to approach normal levels in brain cerebral cortex and hippocampus areas compared with CMS rats.

Originality/value

Antidepressants used in depression treatment but these drugs are either too expensive or had side effects. Folklore and complementary medicine used in different diseases treatment due to cheap and available source. Geranium oil and anise oil had anti-inflammatory effect in brain cerebral cortex and hippocampus areas in CMS rats.

Citation

Koriem, K.M.M., Fadl, N.N., El-Zayat, S.R., Hosny, E.N., Abbas El-Shamy, K., Arbid, M.S., Morsy, F.A. and El-Azma, M.H. (2021), "Geranium oil and anise oil inhibit brain cerebral cortex and hippocampus inflammation in depressed animal model", Nutrition & Food Science, Vol. 51 No. 2, pp. 439-456. https://doi.org/10.1108/NFS-05-2020-0159