Prolonged anxiolytic‐like activity of sandalwood (Santalum album L.) oil in stress‐loaded mice

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe fragrance of Santalum album L. (sandalwood) has been used as a sedative. However, few reports have investigated the anxiolytic activity of sandalwood fragrance. Therefore, in this study, we examined the anxiolytic‐like activity of hexane‐extracted sandalwood oil (SAO). Male ICR mice, aged 5 weeks at the start of each experiment, were used. To mimic its clinical use, the effect of SAO after stress loading was investigated. Mice were individually housed in cages for 1 week and subjected to loaded water‐immersion stress for 24 h. Next, SAO inhalation (i.h.) was initiated 90 min prior to the elevated plus maze (EPM) test. As a result, significant anxiolytic‐like activity was observed at 4 μl/l air SAO i.h. In contrast, anxiolytic‐like activity was not observed in non‐stressed control mice. Additionally, mice were subjected to SAO i.h prior to water‐immersion stress for 24 h in order to investigate its prolonged effect. As a result, significant anxiolytic‐like activity was observed at 4 μl/l air SAO i.h. In contrast, anxiolytic‐like activity was not observed in non‐stressed control mice. The above results indicate that the anxiolytic‐like activity of SAO i.h. is revealed under stress conditions and is prolonged for at least 24 h. Since the main components of SAO are (Z)‐α‐santalol (51.1%) and (Z)‐β‐santalol (28.5%), it is proposed that they are involved in mediating the characteristic anxiolytic‐like activity of SAO. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.