Essential oils and its bioactive compounds modulating cytokines: A systematic review on anti-asthmatic and immunomodulatory properties

Abstract

Background: Asthma, the main inflammatory chronic condition affecting the respiratory system, is characterized by hyperresponsiveness and reversible airway obstruction, recruitment of inflammatory cells and excessive production of mucus. Cytokines as biochemical messengers of immune cells, play an important role in the regulation of allergic inflammatory and infectious airway processes. Essential oils of plant origin are complex mixtures of volatile and semi volatile organic compounds that determine the specific aroma of plants and are categorized by their biological activities.Purpose: We reviewed whether essential oils and their bioactive compounds of plant origin could modulate cytokines' immune responses and improve asthma therapy in experimental systems in vitro and in vivo.Methods: Electronic and manual search of articles in English available from inception up to November 2018 reporting the immunomodulatory activity of essential oils and their bioactive compounds for the management of asthma. We used PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus and Web of Science. Publications reporting preclinical experiments where cytokines were examined to evaluate the consequence of anti-asthmatic therapy were included.Results: 914 publications were identified and 13 were included in the systematic review.Four articles described the role of essential oils and their bioactive compounds on bronchial asthma using cell lines; nine in vivo studies evaluated the anti-inflammatory efficacy and immunomodulating effects of essential oil and their secondary metabolites on cytokines production and inflammatory responses. The most important immunopharmacological mechanisms reported were the regulation of cytokine

New Tricks for Old Guys: Recent Developments in the Chemistry, Biochemistry, Applications and Exploitation of Selected Species from the Lamiaceae Family

“…The anti-inflammatory and immune-modulating activities of essential oils and their bioactive compounds was also linked to cytokine expression showing their potential therapeutic activity for the treatment of asthma. [361] Specifically, for our five essential oils, the anti-inflammatory activity has been recently reported for oregano essential oil on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated murine macrophage cells. Oregano EO protects against the LPS-induced cell inflammatory response through the NADPH oxidase/ROS pathway.…”

“…In their conclusion authors declare that the main action targets of the EOs for the therapy of chronic inflammations were the reduction in reactive oxygen and nitrogen species and the reduction in NF‐ κ B (nuclear factor kappa‐light‐enhancer of activated B cells). The anti‐inflammatory and immune‐modulating activities of essential oils and their bioactive compounds was also linked to cytokine expression showing their potential therapeutic activity for the treatment of asthma . Specifically, for our five essential oils, the anti‐inflammatory activity has been recently reported for oregano essential oil on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐treated murine macrophage cells.…”

Much More Than a Pleasant Scent: A Review on Essential Oils Supporting the Immune System

“…Aromatherapy is a field of complementary medicine that uses EOs to treat and prevent diseases via several routes of administration: Usually topical, massage, inhalation, or oral [13]. Antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer, anxiolytic, antidepressant, analgesic, and antidiabetic activities of EOs have been studied and reported recently [14][15][16][17][18][19][20]. Scientific evidence on the immunostimulatory effects of EOs is rather fragmentary, but there seems to be a potential for certain EOs to be able to enhance some immune functions.…”

Effect of Geraniol and Citronellol Essential Oils on the Biophysical Gating Properties of AMPA Receptors

“…Essential oils (EOs) are usually extracted from plants and are used for aromatherapy, which is an alternative medicine that demonstrates the healing effect to the aromatic compounds presented in the oil [1,2]. Although its therapeutic potential remains controversial, the usage of essential oil has been increasingly popular in the general population [3].…”