The antidepressant potential of (R)- (-)-Carvone involves antioxidant and monoaminergic mechanisms in mouse models

Carvone (CV) is a monoterpene in some essential oils that has therapeutic uses. The current study was undertaken to assay the antioxidant and antidepressant activities of CV and its possible mode of action using tail suspension test (TST) and open-field test (OFT). The acute toxicity of the CV was assessed by Lorke's method. Several doses of CV (25–100 mg kg−1) were injected 1 hour prior to TST. To evaluate the possible mode of action, receptor antagonists were administered 1 hour prior to the CV treatment (100 mg kg −1), and after 30 min, the TST was conducted. Moreover, the animal's serum catalase (CAT), glutathione (GSH), and nitric oxide(NO) were measured. The LD50 of CV was 3.807 g kg−1. Moreover, the CV increased serum CAT and GSH and decreased NO levels. The 50 and 100 mg kg−1 of CA have potential antidepressant activity and decresed the numbers of crossings and rearings in OFT. Our results indicate that haloperidol, sulpiride, SCH23390, ketanserin WAY100135, yohimbine, prazosin, p-chlorophenylalanine (pCPA), and reserpine inhibited the antidepressant potential of CV (100 mg kg−1). The simultaneous use of a sub-dose of CV (25 mg kg−1) with fluoxetine (5 mg kg−1) enhances the antidepressant-like response. The CV presumably exerts antidepressant potential by acting as an antioxidant and enhancing dopamine, noradrenaline, and serotonin in synaptic clefts. Besides, the reduction in locomotor activity is indicative of the sedative effects of CV. These results promote the use of CV in commercial combinations as an adjuvant agent with traditional antidepressant agents.