Antidepressant-like effects of L-menthol mediated by alleviating neuroinflammation and upregulating the BDNF/TrkB signaling pathway in subchronically lipopolysaccharide-exposed mice.

•Acute antidepressant-like effects of LM were validated through different mouse models.•A modified LPS-induced depression model was subchronically established in the study.•Subchronic antidepressant-like effects of LM were confirmed in the modified model.•Alleviation of neuroinflammation and upregulation of BDNF/TrkB pathway mediated the procedure.