Anti-stress and neuronal cell differentiation induction effects of Rosmarinus officinalis L. essential oil

Abstract

BackgroundMood disorder accounts for 13 % of global disease burden. And while therapeutic agents are available, usually orally administered, most have unwanted side effects, and thus making the inhalation of essential oils (EOs) an attractive alternative therapy. Rosmarinus officinalis EO (ROEO), Mediterranean ROEO reported to improve cognition, mood, and memory, the effect on stress of which has not yet been determined. Here, the anti-stress effect of ROEO on stress was evaluated in vivo and in vitro.MethodsSix-week-old male ICR mice were made to inhale ROEO and subjected to tail suspension test (TST). To determine the neuronal differentiation effect of ROEO in vitro, induction of ROEO-treated PC12 cells differentiation was observed. Intracellular acetylcholine and choline, as well as the Gap43 gene expression levels were also determined.ResultsInhalation of ROEO significantly decreased the immobility time of ICR mice and serum corticosterone level, accompanied by increased brain dopamine level. Determination of the underlying mechanism in vitro revealed a PC12 differentiation-induction effect through the modulation of intracellular acetylcholine, choline, and Gap43 gene expression levels. ROEO activates the stress response system through the NGF pathway and the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis, promoting dopamine production and secretion. The effect of ROEO may be attributed to its bioactive components, specifically to α-pinene, one of its major compounds that has anxiolytic property.ConclusionsThe results of this study suggest that ROEO inhalation has therapeutic potential against stress-related psychiatric disorders.

The effects of 1-methylnaphthalene after inhalation exposure on the serum corticosterone levels in rats

“…In this study, the application of 6-h restraint stress increased the CORT levels in rats while inhalation exposure to 1-MN at 50 mg/m 3 significantly reduced the stress. These results suggest that 1-MN interacts with the HPA axis similarly to many volatile compounds [3,11,[27][28][29][30][31]. The non-linear effect on the stress level, as observed in this study, was also reported for other organic solvents like 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene (pseudocumene [PS]) or 1,2,3-trimethylbenzene (hemimellitene [HM]) [32][33][34].…”

The Effects of Essential Oils and Terpenes in Relation to Their Routes of Intake and Application

“…Similar enhancement of cognitive function was also found in the aroma of common sage (Salvia officinalis) and Spanish sage (Salvia lavandulifolia) [46]. In studies using mice, rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) suppressed serum corticosterone level, suggesting its anti-stress effect [47]. Further, 2-Phenylethanol, which is a main component of rose (Rosa) essential oil, decreased immobility time in a tail suspension test, suggesting its anti-depression effect, but it did not affect cognitive function, activity level, muscle strength, or aggression in mice [48].…”

Aromaterapia de Rosmarinus officinalis L. (Lamiaceae) em testes in vivo: revisão sistemática

“…Este efeito estimulante pode estar relacionado aos compostos químicos presentes no óleo desta espécie, como o 1,8-cineol e cânfora que apresentam a capacidade de estimular a atividade do Sistema Nervoso Central (Hongratanaworakit et al, 2017;Kovar, Gropper, Friess, & Ammon, 1987). O efeito ansiolítico do óleo está relacionado ao α-pineno (Satou et al, 2018;Villareal et al, 2017). Research, Society and Development, v. 9, n. 9, e228996971, 2020 (CC BY 4.0) | ISSN 2525-3409 | DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.33448/rsd-v9i9.6971 índice comportamental da capacidade do animal de agir de acordo com estímulos ao estresse.…”