Stimulative and sedative effects of essential oils upon inhalation in mice

• Published in: Archives of pharmacal research Vol. 28; no. 7; pp. 770 - 774
• Main Authors: Lim, Won Churl, Seo, Jeong Min, Lee, Chun Il, Pyo, Hyeong Bae, Lee, Bum Chun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korea (South) Pharmaceutical Society of Korea 01.07.2005
• Subjects: Administration, Inhalation; Animals; antidepressants; Behavior, Animal; breathing; caffeine; Caffeine - administration & dosage; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; Female; ginger; Hypnotics and Sedatives - administration & dosage; Hypnotics and Sedatives - pharmacology; Hyssopus officinalis; intraperitoneal injection; Lamiaceae; Lavandula; Mentha piperita; Mice; Mice, Inbred ICR; Motor Activity - drug effects; oils; Oils, Volatile - administration & dosage; Oils, Volatile - pharmacology; peppermint oil; Plant Oils - administration & dosage; Plant Oils - pharmacology; Psychomotor Agitation; sedatives; Swimming; thyme; Thymus Plant; Zingiber officinale
• ISSN: 0253-6269; 1976-3786
• DOI: 10.1007/BF02977341

This study investigated the stimulative or sedative effects of inhaling fragrant essential oils (EOs) by using a forced swimming test (FST) with mice. This behavioral test is commonly used to measure the effects of antidepressant drugs. The inhalation by mice of EOs, such as ginger oil (p<0.05), thyme oil (p<0.05), peppermint oil (p<0.05), and cypress oil (pš0.01) resulted in 5% to 22% reduction of immobility. The same results were achieved when over-agitation was artificially induced in the mice by an intraperitoneal injection of caffeine (a psycho-stimulant). In contrast, inhalation of some EOs by the mice resulted in increased immobility. To evaluate more correctly the sedative effects of EOs, the immobility of over-agitated mice induced with caffeine was ascertained after the inhalation of various EOs. Inhalation of lavender oil (p<0.01) and hyssop oil (p<0.01) increased the immobile state in mice that were treated with caffeine. The results of this study indicate that the inhalation of essential oils may induced stimulative or sedative effects in mice.