Anxiolytic and Antidepressant-like Effects of Foeniculum vulgare Essential Oil

Abstract

Introduction: The aim of this research was to determine the anxiolytic and antidepressant-like effects of the essential oils from Foeniculum vulgare aerial parts and seeds. Methods: The oils were extracted by hydro-distillation using a modified Clevenger-type apparatus and chemical composition was performed by Gas chromatography with flame-ionization detection (GC-FID) and Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Furthermore, an experimental trial was conducted, where 117 participants were divided into three groups, comprising a waiting list control group and two experimental groups treated with essential oils. The anxiety and depression indexes were evaluated by Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) and Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS). Results: chemical analysis showed that trans- Anethole was the main component, both in the essential oil from aerial parts (35.5%) and seeds (79.2%). Anxiety and depression scores showed a decrease in posttest study phase in comparison with pretest in all experimental groups (p<0.05), except for depression scores in the group treated with essential oil from aerial parts (p>0.05). Small changes were found in the case of anxiety for group treated with essential oils from aerial parts (d = 0.41; Δ= 0.40) while moderate (d = 0.86; Δ = 0.85) and small (d = 0.38; Δ = 0.39) changes were found for anxiety and depression respectively, in the group treated with essential oil from seeds. Conclusion: The essential oil from Foeniculum vulgare seeds is more effective to relief anxiety than depression while the essential oil from Foeniculum vulgare aerial parts only exhibit small changes for anxiety. Key words: Essential oils, Anxiety, Depression, Foeniculum vulgare