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Title: Estrous cycle affects the neurochemical and neurobehavioral profile of carvacrol-treated female rats

Abstract

Carvacrol is the major constituent of essential oils from aromatic plants. It showed antimicrobial, anticancer and antioxidant properties. Although it was approved for food use and included in the chemical flavorings list, no indication on its safety has been estimated. Since the use of plant extracts is relatively high among women, aim of this study was to evaluate carvacrol effects on female physiology and endocrine profiles by using female rats in proestrus and diestrus phases. Serotonin and metabolite tissue content in prefrontal cortex and nucleus accumbens, after carvacrol administration (0.15 and 0.45 g/kg p.o.), was measured. Drug effects in behavioral tests for alterations in motor activity, depression, anxiety-related behaviors and endocrine alterations were also investigated. While in proestrus carvacrol reduced serotonin and metabolite levels in both brain areas, no effects were observed in diestrus phase. Only in proestrus phase, carvacrol induced a depressive-like behavior in forced swimming test, without accompanying changes in ambulation. The improvement of performance in FST after subchronic treatment with fluoxetine (20 mg/kg) suggested a specific involvement of serotonergic system. No differences were found across the groups with regard to self-grooming behavior. Moreover, in proestrus phase, carvacrol reduced only estradiol levels without binding hypothalamic estradiol receptors. Ourmore » study showed an estrous-stage specific effect of carvacrol on depressive behaviors and endocrine parameters, involving serotonergic system. Given the wide carvacrol use not only as feed additive, but also as cosmetic essence and herbal remedy, our results suggest that an accurate investigation on the effects of its chronic exposure is warranted. - Highlights: > Carvacrol induced a depressive-like phenotype in rats, depending on ovarian cyclicity. > Carvacrol selectively reduced serotonin content in female rats in proestrus phase. > Carvacrol reduced serotonin levels in areas belonging to the emotional circuit. > Carvacrol reduced plasma estradiol levels only during the proestrus phase.« less

Authors:
 [1]; ; ; ; ;  [1];  [2];  [3]
  1. Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Foggia, V. le Luigi Pinto 1, 71121 Foggia (Italy)
  2. Department of Pharmaco-Chemistry, University of Bari, 'A. Moro', Via Orabona 4, 70125, Bari (Italy)
  3. Department of Human Physiology and Pharmacology, Vittorio Erspamer, University of Rome 'La Sapienza', P. le Aldo Moro 5, 00185, Rome (Italy)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
21587834
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 255; Journal Issue: 2; Other Information: DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2011.06.011; PII: S0041-008X(11)00233-X; Copyright (c) 2011 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); Journal ID: ISSN 0041-008X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES; ANTIOXIDANTS; ESSENTIAL OILS; ESTRADIOL; ESTROUS CYCLE; FOOD; PLANTS; RATS; SEROTONIN; WOMEN; AMINES; ANIMALS; AROMATICS; AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM AGENTS; AZAARENES; AZOLES; DRUGS; ESTRANES; ESTROGENS; FEMALES; HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS; HORMONES; HYDROXY COMPOUNDS; INDOLES; MAMMALS; MAN; NEUROREGULATORS; OILS; ORGANIC COMPOUNDS; ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS; OTHER ORGANIC COMPOUNDS; PRIMATES; PYRROLES; RADIOPROTECTIVE SUBSTANCES; RESPONSE MODIFYING FACTORS; RODENTS; STEROID HORMONES; STEROIDS; SYMPATHOMIMETICS; TRYPTAMINES; VERTEBRATES

Citation Formats

Trabace, L, Zotti, M, Morgese, M G, Tucci, P, Colaianna, M, Schiavone, S, Avato, P, and Cuomo, V. Estrous cycle affects the neurochemical and neurobehavioral profile of carvacrol-treated female rats. United States: N. p., 2011. Web. doi:10.1016/j.taap.2011.06.011.
Trabace, L, Zotti, M, Morgese, M G, Tucci, P, Colaianna, M, Schiavone, S, Avato, P, & Cuomo, V. Estrous cycle affects the neurochemical and neurobehavioral profile of carvacrol-treated female rats. United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.taap.2011.06.011
Trabace, L, Zotti, M, Morgese, M G, Tucci, P, Colaianna, M, Schiavone, S, Avato, P, and Cuomo, V. 2011. "Estrous cycle affects the neurochemical and neurobehavioral profile of carvacrol-treated female rats". United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.taap.2011.06.011.
@article{osti_21587834,
title = {Estrous cycle affects the neurochemical and neurobehavioral profile of carvacrol-treated female rats},
author = {Trabace, L and Zotti, M and Morgese, M G and Tucci, P and Colaianna, M and Schiavone, S and Avato, P and Cuomo, V},
abstractNote = {Carvacrol is the major constituent of essential oils from aromatic plants. It showed antimicrobial, anticancer and antioxidant properties. Although it was approved for food use and included in the chemical flavorings list, no indication on its safety has been estimated. Since the use of plant extracts is relatively high among women, aim of this study was to evaluate carvacrol effects on female physiology and endocrine profiles by using female rats in proestrus and diestrus phases. Serotonin and metabolite tissue content in prefrontal cortex and nucleus accumbens, after carvacrol administration (0.15 and 0.45 g/kg p.o.), was measured. Drug effects in behavioral tests for alterations in motor activity, depression, anxiety-related behaviors and endocrine alterations were also investigated. While in proestrus carvacrol reduced serotonin and metabolite levels in both brain areas, no effects were observed in diestrus phase. Only in proestrus phase, carvacrol induced a depressive-like behavior in forced swimming test, without accompanying changes in ambulation. The improvement of performance in FST after subchronic treatment with fluoxetine (20 mg/kg) suggested a specific involvement of serotonergic system. No differences were found across the groups with regard to self-grooming behavior. Moreover, in proestrus phase, carvacrol reduced only estradiol levels without binding hypothalamic estradiol receptors. Our study showed an estrous-stage specific effect of carvacrol on depressive behaviors and endocrine parameters, involving serotonergic system. Given the wide carvacrol use not only as feed additive, but also as cosmetic essence and herbal remedy, our results suggest that an accurate investigation on the effects of its chronic exposure is warranted. - Highlights: > Carvacrol induced a depressive-like phenotype in rats, depending on ovarian cyclicity. > Carvacrol selectively reduced serotonin content in female rats in proestrus phase. > Carvacrol reduced serotonin levels in areas belonging to the emotional circuit. > Carvacrol reduced plasma estradiol levels only during the proestrus phase.},
doi = {10.1016/j.taap.2011.06.011},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/21587834}, journal = {Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology},
issn = {0041-008X},
number = 2,
volume = 255,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 2011},
month = {Thu Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 2011}
}