Effect of "Rose Essential Oil" Inhalation on Stress-Induced Skin-Barrier Disruption in Rats and Humans

Abstract

In stressed animals, several brain regions (e.g., hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus [PVN]) exhibit neuronal activation, which increases plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and glucocorticoids. We previously reported that so-called "green odor" inhibits stress-induced activation of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenocortical axis (HPA axis) and thereby prevents the chronic stress-induced disruption of the skin barrier. Here, we investigated whether rose essential oil, another sedative odorant, inhibits the stress-induced 1) increases in PVN neuronal activity in rats and plasma glucocorticoids (corticosterone [CORT] in rats and cortisol in humans) and 2) skin-barrier disruption in rats and humans. The results showed that in rats subjected to acute restraint stress, rose essential oil inhalation significantly inhibited the increase in plasma CORT and reduced the increases in the number of c-Fos-positive cells in PVN. Inhalation of rose essential oil significantly inhibited the following effects of chronic stress: 1) the elevation of transepidermal water loss (TEWL), an index of the disruption of skin-barrier function, in both rats and humans and 2) the increase in the salivary concentration of cortisol in humans. These results suggest that in rats and humans, chronic stress-induced disruption of the skin barrier can be limited or prevented by rose essential oil inhalation, possibly through its inhibitory effect on the HPA axis.

Reduction of the chronic stress response by inhalation of hiba (Thujopsis dolabrata) essential oil in rats

“…7) In the present study, we could not obtain recovery of ratios of weights of the adrenal glands and thymus relative to the body weight of stress-HEO rats (Fig. 2).…”

“…Fukada et al (2012) revealed that the inhalation of rose essential oil significantly inhibits an increase in stress hormones in restraint stressed rats. 7) The study by Carvalho-Freitas and Costa (2002) on the treatment of mice with orange oil also revealed that this oil could be useful as an antianxiety agent.…”

“…1) The effects of essential oils extracted from plants, such as lavender, 5) rose, [6][7][8] lemon, 9,10) , and orange, 11) have also been reported using animal models. Fukada et al (2012) revealed that the inhalation of rose essential oil significantly inhibits an increase in stress hormones in restraint stressed rats.…”

Physiological effect of olfactory stimuli inhalation in humans: an overview

“…Inhalation of odorants, which have a sedative effect, accelerates skin barrier recovery in humans [2]. Chronic stress-induced disruption of the skin barrier can be limited or prevented by rose essential oil inhalation [55].…”

Physiological and Psychological Effects of Rose ‘Wishing’ Flowers and Their Hydrosols on the Human Autonomic Nervous System and Mood State

“…Physiological/psychological effects of rose aromas have been reported; a sedative effect by decreasing sympathetic nerve activity (Haze et al, 2002), prevention of skin barrier disruption (Fukada et al, 2012), anxiolytic effects (Bradley et al, 2007), and an anticonflict effect (Umezu et al, 2002). Many of these reports focused on the effect of rose essential oils, but the effect of fresh rose flowers on humans has not sufficiently reported.…”