Effects of inhaled juniper volatile oil in amyloid beta (1-42)-induced anxiety and depression in laboratory rats

Juniper volatile oil is extracted from Juniperus communis L., of the Cupressaceae family, also known as common juniper. Also, in aromatherapy the juniper volatile oil is used against anxiety, nervous tension and stress-related conditions. The present study analysed the possible anxiolytic, antidepressant and antioxidant properties of the juniper volatile oil in beta-amyloid (1-42) rat model of Alzheimer's disease. The anxiolytic- and antidepressant-like effects of the juniper volatile oil were studied by means of in vivo (elevated plus-maze and forced swimming tests) approaches. Also, the antioxidant activity in the amygdala was assessed using superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and catalase specific activities, the total content of the reduced glutathione, protein carbonyl and malondialdehyde levels. The beta-amyloid (1-42)-treated rats exhibited the following: decrease of the exploratory activity, the percentage of the time spent and the number of entries in the open arm within elevated plus-maze test and decrease of swimming time and increase of immobility time within forced swimming test. Inhalation of the juniper volatile oil significantly exhibited anxiolytic- and antidepressant-like effects and also antioxidant potential. Our results suggest that the juniper volatile oil inhalation ameliorates beta-amyloid (1-42)-induced anxiety and depression and attenuated oxidative stress in the rat amygdala. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.