A Study of the Effect of <i>Citrus aurantium</i> L. Essential Oil on Anxiety and Its Interaction with GABAergic Pathways in Male Mice

Abstract

Anxiety is among the most common disorders affecting a great number of people. Different neurotransmitter systems, such as GABAergic system, play an important role in emergence of anxiety-related behaviors. In this study, we have investigated the effect of Citrus aurantium L. essential oil on anxiety and its interaction with GABAergic pathways. Male mice were assigned into control, sham, and experimental groups. Intraperitoneal injection of Citrus aurantium L . essential oil was applied at doses of 0.5, 2.5, and 5 percent for 5 days. Diazepam (0.1 mg/kg) was injected on the fifth day, thirty minutes before applying Citrus aurantium L . essential oil. The anxiety-related behavior of mice was then assessed using elevated plus-maze test. In groups receiving Citrus aurantium L . essential oil at doses of 2.5 and 5 percent, the percent time spent in the open arms increased significantly ( P < 0.001). The injection of diazepam alone or with Citrus aurantium L . essential oil resulted in increasing in the number of entries to the open arms and the percent time spent in the open arms ( P < 0.001). The results of this study show that Citrus aurantium L. essential oil can reduce anxiety-related behaviors in male mice thah may act via GABAergic system.