Terpenes from Forests and Human Health

Abstract

Forest bathing has beneficial effects on human health via showering of forest aerosols as well as physical relaxation. Terpenes that consist of multiple isoprene units are the largest class of organic compounds produced by various plants, and one of the major components of forest aerosols. Traditionally, terpene-containing plant oil has been used to treat various diseases without knowing the exact functions or the mechanisms of action of the individual bioactive compounds. This review categorizes various terpenes easily obtained from forests according to their anti-inflammatory, anti-tumorigenic, or neuroprotective activities. Moreover, potential action mechanisms of the individual terpenes and their effects on such processes, which are described in various in vivo and in vitro systems, are discussed. In conclusion, the studies that show the biological effectiveness of terpenes support the benefits of forest bathing and propose a potential use of terpenes as chemotherapeutic agents for treating various human diseases.

Myrcene exerts anti-asthmatic activity in neonatal rats via modulating the matrix remodeling

“…[52][53][54] the present study observation of an elevated CD14 in asthma affected animals suggest that the disease severity due to OVA is on the next stage and it involves macrophage activation and hence the observation, 55 and it can be reversed with the anti-inflammatory action of MC. 56,57 Other inflammatory mediators such as MCP-1, 58 TARC and IFN-gamma 34 were also reduced with the anti-inflammatory action of MC.…”

The Use of Essential Oils - Alpha and Β-Pinene in the Treatment of Covid-19

“…Alpha-pinene is found in hemp, in the oils of conifers. Rosemary is another known source of alpha-pinene, as are eucalyptus oil and orange peel oil (Cho, Lim, et al, 2017) [1].…”

“…In combination with eucalyptus oil, it allows you to perfectly unplug a blocked nose. Alpha-pinene facilitates breathing by expanding the airways (Kim, Song, et al, 2020), Cho, Lim, et al 2017) [1,2].…”

La función social de los bosques

“…Volumen 29/Otoño 2020 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ mil millones de m 3 de precipitación; removería de la atmósfera 65,49 millones de toneladas anuales de dióxido de carbono (CO2), principal gas de efecto invernadero causante del calentamiento global y el cambio climático, lo cual equivale a un 58% de las 111,7 millones de toneladas de emisiones totales de CO2 equivalente (CO2e), por lo que las emisiones netas de Chile son solamente 46,1 millones de toneladas de CO2e, acercando a Chile a constituirse en un país "carbono neutral" (MMA 2018), y; aportaría unas 100 mil toneladas de componentes orgánicos volátiles para la salud humana y la estimulación de las precipitaciones, tales como borneol, cimeno, cineol o eucaliptol, limoneno, mentol, mirceno, pineno, sabineno, terpineno, entre cerca de 1.700 diferentes aerosoles forestales emitidos a la atmósfera por todo tipo de bosques (Hansen et al 2017;Cho et al 2017).…”