Skip to content

Evidence for Rosa damascena efficacy in mental disorders in preclinical animal studies and clinical trials: A systematic review.

August 16, 2022

Phytother Res, 2022

Evidence for Rosa damascena efficacy in mental disorders in preclinical animal studies and clinical trials: A systematic review.

Mohamadi, N; Pourkorrani, MHS; Langarizadeh, MA; Ranjbartavakoli, M; Sharififar, F; Asgary, S

The aim of this systematic review was to identify animal preclinical studies and randomized controlled trials that looked at the effects of R. damascena in any form on different mental diseases. Up to September 2021, the online databases of PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane trials, as well as SID and MagIran, were searched. This study included 10 animal studies. Except for one research, the rest of the studies confirmed the positive effects of the plant in treatment of mental disorders. A total of 38 studies met the criteria for inclusion. Individuals who have encountered various sorts of mental problems, such as anxiety, sleep disturbance, and depressive disorder, were studied. R. damascena essential oil (EO), essence, extract, and dried plant were used in aromatherapy and oral administration. A decrease in sympathetic nervous system activity, induction of neurotransmitters, induction of nerve growth factors by neurogenesis and synaptogenesis mechanisms, a decrease in prolactin and an increase in noradrenaline, estradiol, and progesterone secretion are some of the mechanisms of action. In general, R. damascena is an effective herb for the treatment of mental disorders. However, further research timing and duration of intervention are needed to extrapolate the findings.

© 2022 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

PMID: 35653142

URL – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/35653142

A Comparative Study on Relieving Exercise-Induced Fatigue by Inhalation of Different Citrus Essential Oils.

August 16, 2022

Molecules, 2022 vol. 27(10) p. 3239

A Comparative Study on Relieving Exercise-Induced Fatigue by Inhalation of Different Citrus Essential Oils.

Tian, L; Hu, T; Zhang, S; Zhang, H; Yang, C; Chen, G; Pan, S

Citrus essential oils (CEOs) possess physiological functions due to diverse aroma components. However, evidence for the effects of CEOs on exercise performance and exercise-induced fatigue is limited. The CEOs with discrepancies in components may exert different effects on the amelioration of exercise-induced fatigue. In this study, sweet orange (Citrus sinensis L.) essential oil (SEO), lemon (Citrus limon Osbeck) essential oil (LEO), and bergamot (Citrus bergamia Risso and Poit) essential oil (BEO) were chosen to explore the effect on amelioration of exercise-induced fatigue. Our results demonstrated that SEO and LEO increased the swimming time by 276% and 46.5%, while BEO did not. Moreover, the three CEOs exerted varying effects on mitigating exercise-induced fatigue via inhibiting oxidative stress, protecting muscle injury, and promoting glucose-dependent energy supply. Accordingly, BEO showed the best efficiency. Moreover, the GC-MS and Pearson correlation analysis of BEO showed that the contents of the major components, such as (±)-limonene (32.9%), linalyl butyrate (17.8%), and linalool (7.7%), were significantly positively correlated with relieving exercise-induced fatigue.

PMID: 35630716

Elucidating Pathway and Anesthetic Mechanism of Action of Clove Oil Nanoformulations in Fish.

August 16, 2022

Pharmaceutics, 2022 vol. 14(5) p. 919

Elucidating Pathway and Anesthetic Mechanism of Action of Clove Oil Nanoformulations in Fish.

Kheawfu, K; Pikulkaew, S; Wellendorph, P; Jørgensen, LVG; Rades, T; Müllertz, A; Okonogi, S

Clove oil (CO), an essential oil of Syzygium aromaticum, has been reported as an anesthetic for many fish species. However, its insoluble properties require a suitable delivery system for its application. In the present study, nanoformulations of CO as a nanoemulsion (CO-NE), a self-microemulsifying drug-delivery system (CO-SMEDDS), and a self-nanoemulsifying drug-delivery system (CO-SNEDDS) were prepared for delivering CO. Zebrafish were used as a fish model to investigate oil pathways. The result shows fluorescence spots of fluorescence-labeled CO accumulate on the gills, skin, and brain. All CO nanoformulations significantly increased penetration flux compared to CO ethanolic solution. Investigation of the anesthetic mechanism of action using a rat brain γ-aminobutyric acid subtype A (GABAA) receptor-binding test demonstrates that CO and its major compound, eugenol, modulate [3H]muscimol binding. CO-NE exhibited a concentration-dependent binding activity with an EC50 value of 175 µg/mL, significantly higher than CO solution in dimethyl sulfoxide. In conclusion, CO enters the fish through the skin and gills. The anesthetic mechanism of action of CO is based on modulation of [3H] muscimol binding to GABAA receptors. Among three nanoformulations tested, CO-NE is the most effective at increasing permeability and enhancing the receptor-binding activity of the oil.

PMID: 35631505

URL – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/35631505

Enhancement of Cholinesterase Inhibition of Alpinia galanga (L.) Willd. Essential Oil by Microemulsions.

August 16, 2022

Molecules, 2022 vol. 27(10) p. 3275

Enhancement of Cholinesterase Inhibition of Alpinia galanga (L.) Willd. Essential Oil by Microemulsions.

Chaiyana, W; Sriyab, S; Okonogi, S

This study aimed to investigate the chemical composition and reveal the selective inhibitory activity of Alpinia galanga (L.) Willd. essential oil (AGO) on acetylcholinesterase (AChE) compared to butyrylcholinesterase (BChE). The chemical composition of AGO was investigated by means of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Ellman’s method was used to determine the inhibitory activities against AChE and BChE. Microemulsion systems with desirable anticholinesterase effects were developed. Methyl cinnamate and 1,8-cineole were reported as the major component of AGO. The IC50 values of A. galanga oil against AChE and BChE were 24.6 ± 9.6 and 825.4 ± 340.1 µg/mL, respectively. The superior selectivity of AGO on AChE (34.8 ± 8.9) compared to galantamine hydrobromide (6.4 ± 1.5) suggested AGO to be an effective ingredient with fewer side effects for Alzheimer’s treatment. Interestingly, the microemulsion of AGO possessed significantly higher anticholinesterase activity than that of native oil alone. Therefore, microemulsion of AGO is a promising alternative approach for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.

PMID: 35630752

URL – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/35630752

Research Advances on Anti-Cancer Natural Products.

August 16, 2022

Front Oncol, 2022 vol. 12 p. 866154

Research Advances on Anti-Cancer Natural Products.

Guo, M; Jin, J; Zhao, D; Rong, Z; Cao, LQ; Li, AH; Sun, XY; Jia, LY; Wang, YD; Huang, L; Li, YH; He, ZJ; Li, L; Ma, RK; Lv, YF; Shao, KK; Cao, HL

Malignant tumors seriously threaten people’s health and life worldwide. Natural products, with definite pharmacological effects and known chemical structures, present dual advantages of Chinese herbs and chemotherapeutic drug. Some of them exhibit favorable anti-cancer activity. Natural products were categorized into eight classes according to their chemical structures, including alkaloids, terpenoids and volatile oils, inorganic salts, phenylpropanoids, flavonoids and isoflavones, quinone, saponins and polysaccharides. The review focused on the latest advances in anti-cancer activity of representative natural products for every class. Additionally, anti-cancer molecular mechanism and derivatization of natural products were summarized in detail, which would provide new core structures and new insights for anti-cancer new drug development.

Copyright © 2022 Guo, Jin, Zhao, Rong, Cao, Li, Sun, Jia, Wang, Huang, Li, He, Li, Ma, Lv, Shao and Cao.

PMID: 35646647

PMCID: PMC9135452

URL – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/35646647

The Use of Therapeutic Inhaled Essential Oils (TIEO) as a Holistic Approach to Decrease Preoperative Anxiety in ERAS Gynecological Surgery.

August 16, 2022

J Perianesth Nurs, 2022 S1089-9472(22)00074-0

The Use of Therapeutic Inhaled Essential Oils (TIEO) as a Holistic Approach to Decrease Preoperative Anxiety in ERAS Gynecological Surgery.

Murphy, AE; Belmont, SL; Moriber, NA

INTRODUCTION: Preoperative anxiety is a negative symptom frequently experienced by surgical patients. This evidence-based-practice (EBP) project evaluated the effectiveness of therapeutic inhaled essential oils (TIEO) on anxiety levels during the preoperative phase of surgery in enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) gynecological patients ages 18 to 65 years old.

METHODS: A prospective, preposttest, quasiexperimental design was used to evaluate preoperative anxiety scores. Patients (N = 53) scheduled for gynecological surgeries were enrolled at a level II trauma center. Upon arrival to the preoperative area on the day of surgery, patients were asked to score their anxiety level using the Visual Analog Scale for Anxiety (VAS-A). Patients were provided the TIEO intervention during their preoperative phase of surgery ranging from 15 to 60 minutes. Patients were encouraged to take mindful deep breaths and inhale the essential oil vapor. Before being transported into the operating room, patients were asked to re-evaluate their anxiety level using the VAS-A.

RESULTS: A matched paired t-test revealed the post-VAS-A measurements were significantly lower (n = 52, M = 31.37, SD = 24.334) than the pre-VAS-A measurements (n = 52, M = 53.50, SD = 26.863), t51 = 8.756, P = .000). On average, postanxiety scores were 22.135 mm lower than pre-anxiety scores (95% CI [17.060, 27.209]).

CONCLUSIONS: The use of TIEO demonstrated a statistically significant decrease in preoperative anxiety scores within the ERAS gynecological population. TIEO can be used as an adjunct intervention to manage preoperative anxiety. TIEO can be successfully administered in the preoperative area. Decreasing anxiety in the preoperative period may lead to many perioperative benefits such as improving surgical outcomes, patient satisfaction, and quality of care.

Copyright © 2022 American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

PMID: 35637078

URL – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/35637078

Essential oil of Foeniculum vulgare subsp. piperitum fruits exerts an anti‑tumor effect in triple‑negative breast cancer cells.

August 16, 2022

Mol Med Rep, 2022 vol. 26(1) p. 243

Essential oil of Foeniculum vulgare subsp. piperitum fruits exerts an anti‑tumor effect in triple‑negative breast cancer cells.

Lauricella, M; Maggio, A; Badalamenti, N; Bruno, M; D’Angelo, GD; D’Anneo, A

At present, the growing spread of tumor cases worldwide renders the research of new promising and selective anticancer drugs urgent. The biological action of extracts of medicinal plants or their essential oils (EOs) is an emerging field of interest, since they could comprise a rich source of phytochemicals that can prove promising. In the present study, the biological activity and mechanism of action of the EO of Foeniculum vulgare subsp. piperitum fruits (FVPEO) were investigated using MTT assays, morphological analyses and western blotting in MDA‑MB231 cells, a triple‑negative breast cancer cell line. The findings revealed that FVPEO could exert strong anticancer effects, causing a dose‑dependent inhibition of breast cancer MDA‑MB231 cell growth, accompanied with DNA condensation and fragmentation. The cytotoxic effect of FVPEO was counteracted by the addition of the antioxidant N‑acetylcysteine and was associated with a marked increase in reactive oxygen species and stress‑related proteins; such as manganese superoxide dismutase, c‑Jun, phospho‑c‑Jun N‑terminal kinase and nuclear factor E2‑related factor 2, and the latter’s transcriptional targets, Heme oxygenase‑1 and NAD(P)H quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1). As evidenced by the activation of caspase‑3 and fragmentation of poly(ADP‑ribose) polymerase‑1, which are typical apoptosis markers, FVPEO promoted apoptotic cell death accompanied with an increase in phosphorylated H2A histone family member X and the activation of the NQO1/p53 axis. In combination, the present experiments provided evidence that FVPEO could represent a reservoir of biologically active compounds suitable for both cancer prevention and treatment.

PMID: 35642658

URL – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/35642658

Antimicrobial and anti-biofilm activity of manuka essential oil against Listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus aureus of food origin.

August 16, 2022

Antimicrobial and anti-biofilm activity of manuka essential oil against Listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus aureus of food origin.

Pedonese, F; Longo, E; Torracca, B; Najar, B; Fratini, F; Nuvoloni, R

The activity of manuka (Leptospermum scoparium) essential oil (EO) on biofilms of foodborne Listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus aureus has been studied. Seven strains of L. monocytogenes and 7 of S. aureus (5 methicillin-resistant) were tested. EO minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC), EO minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) and biofilm production quantification were determined for each strain by microtiter methods. Moreover, EO Minimum Biofilm Inhibitory Concentration (MBIC) and Minimum Biofilm Eradicating Concentration (MBEC) were determined on 2 L. monocytogenes and 3 S. aureus that showed the best biofilm production. Finally, on 4 strains out of 5 (2 L. monocytogenes and 2 S. aureus) EO Biofilm Reduction Percentage (BRP) vs. untreated controls was assessed after a treatment with EO subinhibitory concentrations. The chemical composition of manuka essential oil was determined by Gas Chromatography- Electron Impact Mass Spectrometry (GCEIMS). The manuka EO demonstrated good antimicrobial activity: L. monocytogenes MIC and MBC were 0.466 mg/ml and 0.933 mg/ml, respectively, whereas S. aureus MIC and MBC were 0.233 mg/ml and 0.466 mg/ml, respectively. Furthermore, L. monocytogenes showed a MBIC of 0.933 mg/ml and a MBEC in the range of 0.933-1.865 mg/ml, whereas S. aureus had a MBIC in the range of 7.461-14.922 mg/ml and a MBEC of 14.922 mg/ml. L. monocytogenes revealed no significant BRP after the treatment with manuka EO, whereas S. aureus showed a BRP higher than 50% with MIC/2 and MIC/4 EO concentrations. These results provide information for feasible manuka EO applications in food production systems.

©Copyright: the Author(s).

PMID: 35284338

PMCID: PMC8883831

URL – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/35284338

Ital J Food Saf, 2022 vol. 11(1) p. 10039

Antimicrobial and anti-biofilm activity of manuka essential oil against Listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus aureus of food origin.

Pedonese, F; Longo, E; Torracca, B; Najar, B; Fratini, F; Nuvoloni, R

The activity of manuka (Leptospermum scoparium) essential oil (EO) on biofilms of foodborne Listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus aureus has been studied. Seven strains of L. monocytogenes and 7 of S. aureus (5 methicillin-resistant) were tested. EO minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC), EO minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) and biofilm production quantification were determined for each strain by microtiter methods. Moreover, EO Minimum Biofilm Inhibitory Concentration (MBIC) and Minimum Biofilm Eradicating Concentration (MBEC) were determined on 2 L. monocytogenes and 3 S. aureus that showed the best biofilm production. Finally, on 4 strains out of 5 (2 L. monocytogenes and 2 S. aureus) EO Biofilm Reduction Percentage (BRP) vs. untreated controls was assessed after a treatment with EO subinhibitory concentrations. The chemical composition of manuka essential oil was determined by Gas Chromatography- Electron Impact Mass Spectrometry (GCEIMS). The manuka EO demonstrated good antimicrobial activity: L. monocytogenes MIC and MBC were 0.466 mg/ml and 0.933 mg/ml, respectively, whereas S. aureus MIC and MBC were 0.233 mg/ml and 0.466 mg/ml, respectively. Furthermore, L. monocytogenes showed a MBIC of 0.933 mg/ml and a MBEC in the range of 0.933-1.865 mg/ml, whereas S. aureus had a MBIC in the range of 7.461-14.922 mg/ml and a MBEC of 14.922 mg/ml. L. monocytogenes revealed no significant BRP after the treatment with manuka EO, whereas S. aureus showed a BRP higher than 50% with MIC/2 and MIC/4 EO concentrations. These results provide information for feasible manuka EO applications in food production systems.

©Copyright: the Author(s).

PMID: 35284338

PMCID: PMC8883831

URL – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/35284338

The Effect of Copaiba Oil Odor on Anxiety Relief in Adults under Mental Workload: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

August 16, 2022

Evid Based Complement Alternat Med, 2022 vol. 2022 p. 3874745

The Effect of Copaiba Oil Odor on Anxiety Relief in Adults under Mental Workload: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Zhang, N; Chen, J; Dong, W; Yao, L

Background: Aromatherapy has been proved to be effective in alleviating anxiety in practices and research. Recently, copaiba oil (CPO) is popular in the market and is recommended for anxiety relief in aromatherapy practice. However, relevant scientific research is still lacking.

Methods: A randomized controlled trial was designed to evaluate the anxiety-relieving effect of CPO inhalation in 22 adults. Jojoba oil was used as the control treatment. N-back and mental arithmetic tasks were used as stress stimulation. CPO or control intervention was carried out after the n-back training phase. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), EEG activities, physiological indexes including heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), blood oxygen saturation, and salivary cortisol were assessed in different phases of the experimental process.

Results: There was no significant difference in the change of HR and BP between the CPO and control groups before odor intervention. The S-AI scores of the CPO treated participants decreased after the n-back and mental arithmetic tests and were significantly lower than those of the participants who received control treatments. The HR and salivary cortisol of participants who received CPO intervention significantly decreased during the n-back and mental arithmetic tests. Furthermore, a remarkable decrease of beta wave activity was observed in the left midfrontal region (F3) when the participant received the CPO intervention.

Conclusion: The study’s findings supported that the CPO odor showed beneficial effects on alleviating anxiety based on several indicators in subjective, physiological, and EEG measurements.

Copyright © 2022 Nan Zhang et al.

PMID: 35449818

PMCID: PMC9017478

URL – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/35449818

Mānuka Oil-A Review of Antimicrobial and Other Medicinal Properties.

August 16, 2022

Pharmaceuticals (Basel), 2020 vol. 13(11) E343

Mānuka Oil-A Review of Antimicrobial and Other Medicinal Properties.

Mathew, C; Tesfaye, W; Rasmussen, P; Peterson, GM; Bartholomaeus, A; Sharma, M; Thomas, J

Mānuka oil is an essential oil derived from Leptospermum scoparium, a plant that has been used by the indigenous populations of New Zealand and Australia for centuries. Both the extracted oil and its individual components have been associated with various medicinal properties. Given the rise in resistance to conventional antibiotics, natural products have been targeted for the development of antimicrobials with novel mechanism of action. This review aimed to collate available evidence on the antimicrobial, anti-parasitic and anti-inflammatory activities of mānuka oil and its components. A comprehensive literature search of was conducted using PubMed and Embase (via Scopus) targeting articles from database inception until June 2020. Chemical structures and IUPAC names were sourced from PubChem. Unpublished information from grey literature databases, Google search, targeted websites and Google Patents were also included. The present review found extensive in vitro data supporting the antimicrobial effects of mānuka oil warrants further clinical studies to establish its therapeutic potential. Clinical evidence on its efficacy, safety and dosing guidelines are necessary for its implementation for medical purposes. Further work on regulation, standardization and characterization of the medicinal properties of mānuka oil is required for establishing consistent efficacy of the product.

PMID: 33114724

PMCID: PMC7694078

URL – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/33114724