Title:Considering a Potential Role of Linalool as a Mood Stabilizer for Bipolar Disorder
Volume: 26
Issue: 40
Author(s): Kate Levenberg*, Wade Edris, Martha Levine and Daniel R. George
Affiliation:
- College of Medicine, Penn State University College of Medicine, State College, Hershey,United States
Keywords:
Bipolar disorder, Linalool, neurotherapeutics, anti-epileptic, drug development, plant-based medicine.
Abstract: Epidemiologic studies suggest that the lifetime prevalence of bipolar spectrum disorders ranges from
2.8 to 6.5 percent of the population. To decrease morbidity and mortality associated with disease progression,
pharmacologic intervention is indicated for the majority of these patients. While a number of effective treatment
regimens exist, many conventional medications have significant side effect profiles that adversely impact patients’
short and long-term well-being. It is thus important to continue advancing and improving therapeutic options
available to patients. This paper reviews the limitations of current treatments and examines the chemical
compound Linalool, an alcohol found in many plant species, that may serve as an effective mood stabilizer. While
relatively little is known about Linalool and bipolar disorder, the compound has been shown to have antiepileptic,
anti-inflammatory, anxiolytic, anti-depressive, and neurotrophic effects, with mechanisms that are comparable
to current bipolar disorder treatment options.
