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PubMed2000

Evaluation of massage with essential oils on childhood atopic eczema.

Childhood atopic eczema is an increasingly common condition in young children. As well as being irritating to the child, it causes sleepless nights for both the child and the family and leads to difficulties in parental relationships and can have severe effects on employment. A group of eight children, born to professional working mothers were studied to test the hypothesis that massage with essential oils (aromatherapy) used as a complementary therapy in conjunction with normal medical treatment, would help to alleviate the symptoms of childhood atopic eczema. The children were randomly allocated to the massage with essential oils group and both counselled and massaged with a mixture of essential oils by the therapist once a week and the mother every day over a period of 8 weeks. The preferred essential oils, chosen by the mothers for their child, from 36 commonly used aromatherapy oils, were: sweet marjoram, frankinsence, German chamomile, myrrh, thyme, benzoin, spike lavender and Litsea cubeba. A control group of children received the counselling and massage without essential oils. The treatments were evaluated by means of daily day-time irritation scores and night time disturbance scores, determined by the mother before and during the treatment, both over an 8 week period; finally general improvement scores were allocated 2 weeks after the treatment by the therapist, the general practitioner and the mother. The study employed a single case experimental design across subjects, such that there were both a within-subject control and between-subjects control, through the interventions being introduced at different times. The results showed a significant improvement in the eczema in the two groups of children following therapy, but there was no significant difference in improvement shown between the aromatherapy massage and massage only group. Thus there is evidence that tactile contact between mother and child benefits the symptoms of atopic eczema but there is no proof that adding essential oils is more beneficial than massage alone. Further studies on the essential oil massage group showed a deterioration in the eczematous condition after two further 8 week periods of therapy, following a period of rest after the initial period of contact. This may have been due to a decline in the novelty of the treatment, or, it strongly suggests possible allergic contact dermatitis provoked by the essential oils themselves. The results of this study indicate the necessity of prolonged studies with novel plant extracts as short-term beneficial results could be overturned by adverse effects after repeated usage.

Aromatherapy↗
PubMed2006

Herbal products: behaviors and beliefs among Italian women.

PURPOSE: The use of phytotherapy is growing worldwide, but the popular perception is that this kind of approach is natural and therefore safer than traditional medicine; for this reason the use is frequently not communicated to the doctor. Instead, even if many herbal remedies are benign in nature, some of these therapies have potentially harmful side effects or adverse interactions with other medications. So, the purpose of our study was to analyze the behavior patterns and decision-making modalities about herbal remedy use among a sample of Italian women. METHODS: During a 5-month period, interviews to women attending the outpatient ambulatory of an urban university general hospital were made on the basis of a pre-structured 25-item questionnaire. RESULTS: Among a random study population of 1,044 subsequent patients, 491 women (47.03%) reported to have been taking one or more herbal products in the last year, sometimes used during pregnancy or given to their children (35.23%). The 10 most frequently used herbal products reported were propolis, aloe, valerian root, blueberry, fennel, dandelion, mallow, arnica, thyme, and Echinacea. The major purposes for using these products were to stimulate the immune system and to cure respiratory problems. 47/491 (9.57%) women reported side effects, but only 36% referred to the doctor. In most of the cases, herbal products were taken in combination with drugs (44.61%) or homeopathic treatments (11.81%). The majority of our women did not obtain information about this kind of therapy from a health care provider (72.71%). CONCLUSIONS: The present survey highlights the general use of phytomedicines by a sample of Italian women, the potential risk of their confidence with the 'natural world,' and the lack of discussion on this argument with doctors and pharmacists. This suggests the importance of training for health care providers and the need of informational programs for consumers.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Insecticidal effects of essential oils from various plants against larvae of pine processionary moth (Thaumetopoea pityocampa Schiff) (Lepidoptera: Thaumetopoeidae).

Along with sulfate turpentine, the essential oils obtained by steam distillation from nine plant species naturally grown in Turkish forests were tested at three different concentrations to evaluate their effectiveness against the larvae of pine processionary moth (Thaumetopoea pityocampa Schiff). The results indicated that the essential oils from the nine species and sulfate turpentine were effective against the larvae of T pityocampa. The most effective essential oil in the control of the larvae was steam-distilled wood turpentine, followed by thyme herb oil, juniper berry oil, laurel leaf oil, lavender flower oil, eucalyptus leaf oil, lavender leaf oil, cypress berry oil, essential oil of styrax and sulfate turpentine, respectively, in terms of mean mortality time. It is therefore feasible to use these essential oils as environment-friendly insecticides in the control of T pityocampa.

Animals↗
PubMed2007

Natural products as alternative treatments for metabolic bone disorders and for maintenance of bone health.

Bone metabolism involves a complex balance between the deposition of matrix and mineralization and resorption. There is now good evidence that dietary components and herbal products can influence these processes, particularly by inhibiting bone resorption, thus having beneficial effects on the skeleton. For example, it has been reported that a number of common vegetables, including onion, garlic and parsley, can inhibit bone resorption in ovariectomized rats. Essential oils derived from sage, rosemary, thyme and other herbs inhibit osteoclast activity in vitro and in vitro and leading to an increase in bone mineral density. Soya, a rich source of isoflavones, has shown promising results and epidemiological evidence to support a use in maintaining bone health, and various traditional herbal formulae in Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine also have demonstrable effects in pharmacological models of osteoporosis. Recently, cannabinoids have been described as having positive effects on osteoblast differentiation, and the presence of cannabinoid receptors in bone tissue indicates a more complex role in bone metabolism than previously thought. The first part of this review briefly discusses normal bone metabolism and disorders caused by its disruption, with particular reference to osteoporosis and current pharmacological treatments. The effects of natural products on bone and connective tissue are then discussed, to include items of diet, herbal extracts and food supplements, with evidence for their efficacy outlined.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Hydride shifts in the biosynthesis of the p-menthane monoterpenes alpha-terpinene, gamma-terpinene, and beta-phellandrene.

The biosynthesis of several monoterpenes from the acyclic precursor geranyl pyrophosphate requires the migration of positive charge from the isopropyl side chain into the cyclohexenoid ring of the universal alpha-terpinyl cation intermediate of the reaction. The hydride shifts responsible for charge migration in the formation of three p-menthane olefin isomers were examined in a range of plant species: alpha-terpinene in American wormseed, gamma-terpinene in thyme, and (-)-beta-phellandrene in lodgepole pine. The experimental approach utilized soluble cell-free enzyme systems and specifically labeled geranyl substrates, with the determination of the labeling patterns in the resulting cyclic products. The results were consistent with stereoelectronic features of the cyclization and support the general model for monoterpene formation.

Cell-Free System↗
PubMed2001

Effects of time, temperature, and honey on Nosema apis (Microsporidia: Nosematidae), a parasite of the honeybee, Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera: Apidae).

Newly emerged adult bees were fed with Nosema apis spores subjected to various treatments, and their longevity, proportions of bees infected, and spores per bee recorded. Spores lost viability after 1, 3, or 6 months in active manuka or multifloral honey, after 3 days in multifloral honey, and after 21 days in water or sugar syrup at 33 degrees C. Air-dried spores lost viability after 3 or 5 days at 40 degrees, 45 degrees, or 49 degrees C. Increasing numbers of bees became infected with increasing doses of spores, regardless of their subsequent food (active manuka honey, thyme honey, or sugar syrup). Final spore loads were similar among bees receiving the same food, regardless of dose. Bees fed with either honey had lighter infections than those fed with syrup, but this may have been due to reductions in their longevity. Bees fed with manuka honey were significantly shorter lived, whether infected or not.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Suppression of humoral response during the course of Candida albicans infection in mice.

This paper aims at demonstrating the non-specific immunosuppression as regards thyme-dependent antigens sheep erythrocytes (SRBC) during the course of Candida albicans systemic infection. Three lots of syngeneic/BALB/c mice, 8-12 weeks of age, were used. The first normal lot was inoculated via the intraperitoneal route with a (SRBC) suspension (4 X 10(8) cells ml) in a Hank's balanced saline solution. The primary response of antibodies formed by splenic cells was measured from 4 to 8 days after inoculation using the direct plaque forming cells technique. The second lot was infected by the same route with a suspension of Candida albicans (1 X 10(7) cells). Positive retrocultures from the blood and kidneys of these infected mice were obtained. These yeasts cultivated in a Sabouraud medium were harvested after 20 h at 37 degrees C. Following the same methodology the immune response to SRBC was determined. The serum obtained from infected mice was transferred to a third lot of mice at different intervals during the course of the infection. The immune response to SRBC was done by the direct plaque-forming cells technique. Controls were carried out using normal donors and recipients. A suppression of the immune response was obtained as from the 2nd day of inoculation up to the 28th day. It was not possible to transfer such suppression passively by means of the serum. These results suggest that the systemic infection by Candida albicans induce a non-specific immunosuppression in the organism, already demonstrated in viral infections, bacteria, protozoaria and metazoaria in mammals. In some way, this will contribute to explain the mechanisms of immune response to Candida albicans.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Evaluation of a microbiological method for detection of irradiation of spices.

The suitability of a microbiological method, a combination of the direct epifluorescent filter technique (DEFT) and the total aerobic plate count (APC), for the detection of irradiation of spices was evaluated. The evaluation was carried out using different kinds of spices including peppers, paprika, cardamom, cinnamon, ginger; herbs such as thyme, marjoram, basil, and oregano; and garlic powder. Ground spices were tested as well as cut and whole spice samples. Samples were analysed before and after gamma-irradiation mainly with doses of 5 and 10 kGy. Two different methods (centrifugation, filtration) for sample pretreatment were compared. Differences between the DEFT count and the APC with doses of 5 and 10 kGy varied between 3.9 and 6.8 and between 5.7 and 7.5 log units, respectively. The duration of storage after irradiation had no effect on the microbiological results. When applied to fumigated samples, the method might cause confusion in the absence of chemical analyses. The results of the analyses of samples treated by an unknown process indicated that the method could, in fact, detect irradiated samples, although it could not differentiate between irradiated and heat-treated samples.

Bacteria↗
PubMed1983

Spasmolytic activity of the flavonoids from Thymus vulgaris.

Flavonoids from Thymus vulgaris L. have been studied in vitro for spasmolytic activity on the smooth muscles of the guinea-pig ileum and trachea and of the rat vas deferens. The flavones and thyme extracts inhibit responses to agonists which stimulate specific receptors (acetylcholine, histamine, L-noradrenaline) as well as to agents whose actions are not mediated via specific receptors (BaCl2). Cumulative dose-response curves point to a non-competitive antagonism. Inhibition of Ca2+ contractions on K+ depolarized smooth muscles suggest inhibition of availability of Ca2+ for muscle contraction. pD'2 values were determined to compare the potency of these components to each other and to standard drugs. Flavones induce relaxation of the carbachol contracted tracheal strip without stimulation of the beta 2-receptors, which were blocked by propranolol.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Stimulative and sedative effects of essential oils upon inhalation in mice.

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 (p<0.01) 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 induce stimulative or sedative effects in mice.

Administration, Inhalation↗
PubMed2000

Adaptation of the food-borne pathogen Bacillus cereus to carvacrol.

Carvacrol, a natural antimicrobial compound present in the essential oil fraction of oregano and thyme, is bactericidal towards Bacillus cereus. A decrease of the sensitivity of B. cereus towards carvacrol was observed after growth in the presence of non-lethal carvacrol concentrations. A decrease of the melting temperature (Tm) of membranes from 20.5 degrees C to 12.6 degrees C was the immediate effect of the addition of carvacrol. Cells adapted to 0.4 mM carvacrol showed a lower membrane fluidity than nonadapted cells. Adaptation of 0.4 mM carvacrol increased the Tm from 20.5 degrees C to 28.3 degrees C. The addition of carvacrol to cell suspensions of adapted B. cereus cells decreased Tm again to 19.5 degrees C, approximately the same value as for the non-adapted cells in the absence of carvacrol. During adaptation, changes in the fatty acid composition were observed. The relative amount of iso-C13:0, C14:0, and iso-C15:0 increased and cis-C16:1 and C18:0 decreased. The head-group composition also changed, two additional phospholipids were formed and one phospholipid was lacking in the adapted cells. It could be concluded that B. cereus adapts to carvacrol when present at non-lethal concentrations in the growth medium by lowering its membrane fluidity by changing the fatty acid and headgroup composition.

Adaptation, Physiological↗
PubMed2005

Classifying honeys from the Soria Province of Spain via multivariate analysis.

A total of 73 different honeys from seven botanical origins [ling (Calluna vulgaris L.), heather (Erica sp.), rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.), thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.), honeydew (Quercus sp.), spike lavender (Lavandula latifolia M.) and french lavender (Lavandula stoechas L.)] have been classified by applying discriminant analysis to their metal content data and other common physicochemical parameters. Fifteen minerals were identified and quantified using atomic emission spectroscopy (AES) for K and Na, and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) for Mg, Ca, Al, Fe, Mn, Zn, B, Cu, Co, Cr, Ni, Cd and Pb. Moreover, eight physicochemical parameters were analysed following the Harmonised Methods of the International Honey Commision: ash content, moisture, insoluble matter, reducing sugars, apparent sucrose, diastase activity, free acidity and hydroxymethylfurfural. The honeys analysed were characterised and distinguished using chemometrics. ANOVA highlighted significant differences between the honeys in terms of the mean contents of all variables except apparent sucrose, HMF, Fe and Zn. Principal component analysis was used as a descriptive tool to visualise the data structure in two dimensions, finding relationships between variables and types of honey. Likewise, discriminant analysis, together with various methods (stepwise, forward and backward), was used to select the variables with the highest discriminating power, which allowed us to classify all of the botanical origins considered in this work, achieving a global success rate close to 90% following cross-validation.

Honey↗
PubMed2005

Safety implications regarding use of phytomedicines.

OBJECTIVE: Since the approach of the general population to phytomedicine is that the therapy therapy is natural and therefore safe, the aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the use of herbal compounds, alone or in combination with traditional drugs, and the appearance of side-effects among a sample of Italian women. METHODS: Our research was conducted over a 5-month period in the outpatient ambulatories of an urban university general hospital. The sample population consisted of women who were interviewed about phytotherapy use on the basis of a pre-structured questionnaire. RESULTS: Among 1,063 women contacted, 1,044 completed the interview and 491 (47%) reported taking at least one herbal compound in the last year; 272 women (55.4%) consumed only phytomedicines, while 219 (44.6%) also took traditional drugs. Seventy-three different herbal products were used, 32 were consumed in association with traditional drugs. Forty-seven of 491 (9.6%) women reported side-effects, 22 after taking only phytomedicines (8.1%), 25 in combination with traditional drugs (11.4%). The observed adverse manifestations included the following: gastrointestinal after dandelion, propolis or fennel; cardiovascular after liquorice, ginseng, and green tea; dermatological after propolis, thyme, arnica, and passionflower; and neurological after guarana and liquorice. Drugs taken in association and potentially involved in adverse reactions were NSAIDs, antibiotics, benzodiazepines, antihypertensives and oral contraceptives. In some cases (n=5), side-effects were so serious to justify an admission to the hospital. In 29/47 of cases (61.7%), the adverse reaction was not communicated to the doctor. CONCLUSIONS: Our data confirm that herbal products are largely taken on a self-treatment basis, and users have the conviction that these therapies are natural and therefore safe.

Drug Utilization↗
PubMed2006

Larvicidal effects of various essential oils against Aedes, Anopheles, and Culex larvae (Diptera, Culicidae).

Mosquitoes in the larval stage are attractive targets for pesticides because mosquitoes breed in water, and thus, it is easy to deal with them in this habitat. The use of conventional pesticides in the water sources, however, introduces many risks to people and/or the environment. Natural pesticides, especially those derived from plants, are more promising in this aspect. Aromatic plants and their essential oils are very important sources of many compounds that are used in different respects. In this study, the oils of 41 plants were evaluated for their effects against third-instar larvae of Aedes aegypti, Anopheles stephensi and Culex quinquefasciatus. At first, the oils were surveyed against A. aegypti using a 50-ppm solution. Thirteen oils from 41 plants (camphor, thyme, amyris, lemon, cedarwood, frankincense, dill, myrtle, juniper, black pepper, verbena, helichrysum and sandalwood) induced 100% mortality after 24 h, or even after shorter periods. The best oils were tested against third-instar larvae of the three mosquito species in concentrations of 1, 10, 50, 100 and 500 ppm. The lethal concentration 50 values of these oils ranged between 1 and 101.3 ppm against A. aegypti, between 9.7 and 101.4 ppm for A. stephensi and between 1 and 50.2 ppm for C. quinquefasciatus.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Persistency of larvicidal effects of plant oil extracts under different storage conditions.

The persistency of larvicidal effects of 13 oils (camphor, thyme, amyris, lemon, cedarwood, frankincense, dill, myrtle, juniper, black pepper, verbena, helichrysum, and sandalwood) was examined by storage of 50-ppm solutions under different conditions (open, closed, in the light, and in the dark) for 1 month after the preparation of the solutions. The stored solutions were tested against Aedes aegypti larvae for four times during the storage period. Some oils under some conditions stayed effective until the last test, while some solutions had lost their toxicity during a short time after preparation. Thus, the mode of storage is absolutely important for the larvicidal effects. The fresh preparations were always the best.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Relationships between soil heavy metal concentration and mycorrhizal colonisation in Thymus polytrichus in northern England.

A study was conducted to establish whether the wild thyme [ Thymus polytrichus A. Kerner ex Borbás ssp. britannicus (Ronn.) Kerguelen (Lamiaceae)] growing in the metal-contaminated soils along the River South Tyne, United Kingdom, is colonised by arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, and whether the degree of colonisation increases (perhaps suggesting increasing mycorrhizal dependence) or decreases (indicating possible inhibition of AM growth) with increasing degree of soil contamination. Seasonal changes in AM colonisation were also assessed. The AM fungal communities colonising T. polytrichus were also investigated, using the polymerase chain reaction with restriction fragment length polymorphism and sequencing of fungal DNA to establish whether AM species richness varied between sites, and whether fungal ecotypes specific to sites with different amounts of metal contamination could be identified. All plants examined were heavily colonised by AM fungi, and mean percentage root length colonised did not increase significantly with increasing soil metal contamination. However, AM vesicle abundance (percentage of mycorrhizal root length containing vesicles) at the most contaminated site was significantly greater than at the other sites. No significant seasonal variation in degree of colonisation or vesicle abundance was found. Glomus was the predominant AM genus detected at all sites. The number of AM genotypes colonising T. polytrichus roots was similar at all sites but, although some were common to all sites, certain strains appeared to be specific to either the most- or the least-contaminated site. This variation in species may account for the difference in vesicle abundance between sites. The consistently heavy AM colonisation of T. polytrichus found suggests that these fungi are not inhibited by soil heavy metals at these sites, and that the host derives some benefit from its AM symbiont.

Biodiversity↗
PubMed2003

Effects of mycorrhizal colonisation on Thymus polytrichus from heavy-metal-contaminated sites in northern England.

A study was performed to establish whether colonisation with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi is beneficial to wild thyme [ Thymus polytrichus A. Kerner ex Borbás ssp. britannicus (Ronn.) Kerguelen (Lamiaceae)] growing in the heavy-metal-contaminated soils along the River South Tyne, United Kingdom. T. polytrichus plants of the same genotype were grown under controlled conditions with and without Zn contamination, and differences between AM-colonised and -uncolonised plants in mean shoot and root growth (dry weight) and Zn concentration were assessed. When grown in the heavy-metal-contaminated, low-P soil from one of the South Tyne sites, AM-colonised plants grew significantly larger than uncolonised plants; however, there was no significant difference in growth between AM and non-AM plants grown in an artificial substrate with a larger available P concentration, with or without Zn contamination. Mycorrhizal colonisation increased tissue Zn concentrations during the experiments. It is concluded that AM fungi are beneficial, if not essential, to T. polytrichus growing in the low-nutrient soils along the River South Tyne, because of their role in enhancing plant uptake of P (and possibly other nutrients). There was no evidence from this study that the fungi reduce plant uptake of heavy metals at these sites, but rather increase Zn uptake. However, the resulting tissue metal concentrations do not appear to be large enough to be detrimental to plant growth.

England↗
PubMed2001

Screening of the antibacterial effects of a variety of essential oils on respiratory tract pathogens, using a modified dilution assay method.

The purpose of this study was to examine the antibacterial effects of a wide variety of essential oils on major respiratory tract pathogens. The antibacterial activity of 14 essential oils and their major components was evaluated by agar-plate dilution assay under sealed conditions, with agar used as a stabilizer for homogeneous dispersion. Of the selected strains of four major bacteria causing respiratory tract infection, Haemophilus influenzae was most susceptible to the essential oils, followed by Streptococcus pneumoniae and Streptococcus pyogenes. Staphylococcus aureus was less susceptible. No cross-resistance was observed between penicillin-sensitive and penicillin-resistant S. pneumoniae. Escherichia coli, used as a control bacterium, showed the lowest susceptibility. Essential oils containing aldehyde or phenol as a major component showed the highest antibacterial activity, followed by the essential oils containing terpene alcohols. Other essential oils, containing terpene ketone, or ether, had much weaker activity, and an oil containing terpene hydrocarbon was inactive. Based on these findings, thyme (wild, red, and geraniol types), cinnamon bark, lemongrass, perilla, and peppermint oils were selected for further evaluation of their effects on respiratory tract infection.

Agar↗