Title:Linalool as a Therapeutic and Medicinal Tool in Depression Treatment: A
Review
Volume: 20
Issue: 6
Author(s): Éverton Renan Quaresma dos Santos, José Guilherme S. Maia, Enéas Andrade Fontes-Júnior and Cristiane do Socorro Ferraz Maia*
Affiliation:
- Laboratório de Farmacologia da Inflamação e Comportamento, Faculdade de Farmácia, Instituto de Ciências da
Saúde, Universidade Federal do Pará, 66075-110, Belém, PA, Brazil
Keywords:
Linalool, neuropharmacological effects, therapeutic effects, antidepressant bioactive compound, depression, essential oils.
Abstract: Depression is a prevalent disease worldwide, limiting psychosocial functioning and thequality
of life. Linalool is the main constituent of some essential oils from aromatic plants, representing
about 70% of these volatile concentrates. Evidence of the linalool activity on the central
nervous system, mainly acting as an antidepressant agent, is increasingly abundant. This review
aimed to extend the knowledge of linalool's antidepressant action mechanisms, which is fundamental
for future research, intending to highlight this natural compound as a new antidepressant phytomedication.
A critical analysis is proposed here with probable hypotheses of the synergic mechanisms
that support the evidence of antidepressant effects of the linalool. The literature search has
been conducted in databases for published scientific articles before December 2020, using relevant
keywords. Several pieces of evidence point to the anticonvulsant, sedative, and anxiolytic actions.
In addition to these activities, other studies have revealed that linalool acts on the monoaminergic
and neuroendocrine systems, inflammatory process, oxidative stress, and neurotrophic factors, such
as BDNF, resulting in considerable advances in the knowledge of the etiology of depression. In
this context, linalool emerges as a promising bioactive compound in the therapeutic arsenal, capable
of interacting with numerous pathophysiological factors and acting on several targets. This review
claims to contribute to future studies, highlighting the gaps in the linalool knowledge, such as
its kinetics, doses, routes of administration, and multiple targets of interaction, to clarify its antidepressant
activity.
