Effect on Emotional Behavior and Stress by Inhalation of the Essential oil from Chamaecyparis obtusa

Abstract

Various effects have been reported in the literature for the essential oil from Chamaecyparis obtusa (EOCO), such as antibacterial and antifungal activity. In this study, we examined the effect of EOCO on emotional behavior and stress-induced biomarkers. Male ICR mice, aged 5 weeks at the start of each experiment, were individually housed in cages for 1 week. After placing each mouse in a glass container and exposing it to EOCO for 90 min, we then investigated the influence on emotional behavior using the elevated-plus maze (EPM) test, which is one of the evaluation methods for anxiolytic-like behavior. Significant anxiolytic-like effects were observed for the 7.0 mg/L air EOCO (P<0.05). After the EPM test, mice were dissected and changes in the stressinduced biomarkers within the brain were investigated by examining the amounts of fast nerve growth factor receptor (NGFR) and activity regulated cytoskeletal-associated protein (Arc) gene expression, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and galactokinase 1 (GLK1) protein expression. Significant increases were observed in the amount of NGFR after inhalation of 7.0 mg/L air EOCO (P<0.05). These results indicate that EOCO has both anxiolytic-like and stress mitigation effects.

Anxiolytic and antidepressant‐like effects of Ferulago angulata essential oil in the scopolamine rat model of Alzheimer's disease

“…The GC‐MS/FID analysis of our F. angulata essential oil indicated monoterpene hydrocarbons, including α‐pinene (24.10%), β‐pinene (22.70%), α‐phellandrene (12.10%) and β‐phellandrene (20.50%), which accounted for 79.40% of the total essential oil, as the main components of the essential oil suggesting that these constituents could be responsible for the observed anxiolytic‐antidepressant‐like behaviour in scopolamine‐treated rats. Among these monoterpenes, α‐pinene (24.10%) was identified in high amounts and it has been reported to present anxiolytic effects . The monoterpene β‐pinene (22.70%) identified in our essential oil as the main active compound showed antidepressant‐like and sedative‐like activity as previously reported …”

Daily Inhalation of α‐Pinene in Mice: Effects on Behavior and Organ Accumulation

“…We previously reported that the essential oil from Chamaecyparis obtusa reduced stress and had an anxiolytic‐like action. Moreover, that study demonstrated α‐pinene, one of the main components of the essential oil from Chamaecyparis obtusa , to have an anxiolytic‐like action (Kasuya et al ., ).…”

Anxiolytic‐like effects of essential oil from Thymus vulgaris was increased during stress

“…[1][2][3][4][5][6] We recently found that in vivo transferability by inhalation administration varies depending on the type of volatile compounds. It has been reported that essential oils of coniferous trees, juniper, lavender and sandalwood have anxiolytic-like activities, and the chemical components exhibiting these effects are reported to be linalool, linalyl acetate, a-pinene and a-santalo.…”

“…It has been reported that essential oils of coniferous trees, juniper, lavender and sandalwood have anxiolytic-like activities, and the chemical components exhibiting these effects are reported to be linalool, linalyl acetate, a-pinene and a-santalo. [1][2][3][4][5][6] We recently found that in vivo transferability by inhalation administration varies depending on the type of volatile compounds. 7 For example, 1,8-cineole is not readily metabolized from within the brain, even at 30 min after inhalation.…”