The traditional use of essential oils in aromatherapy has offered numerous health benefits. However, few scientific studies have been conducted with these oils to confirm their therapeutic efficacy. (+)-Limonene is a chemical constituent of various bioactive essential oils. The present study reports on the anxiolytic-like effects of (+)-limonene in an elevated maze model of anxiety in mice. At concentrations of 0.5% and 1.0%, (+)-limonene, administered to mice by inhalation, significantly modified all the parameters evaluated in the elevated plus maze test. The pharmacological effect of inhaled (+)-limonene (1%) was not blocked by flumazenil. Analysis of (+)-limonene using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) showed its volatility to be high. These data suggest possible connections between the volatility of (+)-limonene and its anxiolytic-like effect on the parameters evaluated in the elevated plus maze test. The data indicate that (+)-limonene could be used in aromatherapy as an antianxiety agent.

The bone marrow aspiration procedure is used in hematological diseases and consists of a painful, invasive procedure causing anxiety-associated symptoms. The present study assessed the effect of Citrus aurantium L. essential oil on the treatment of anxiety, in the moment that precedes the collection of medullary material in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Volunteers from both sexes were divided into groups receiving either the C. aurantium essential oil through inhalation, diazepam (10 mg), or the placebo. The evaluation was performed through psychometric scales [State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI)] and physiological measurements (blood pressure and cardiac and respiratory frequency). Inhalation of C. aurantium was associated with a decrease in the STAI-S scores, suggesting an anxiolytic effect. In support of these results, a change in all the physiological measurements was observed in the group exposed to C. aurantium. In the diazepam group, only the diastolic pressure decreased, and no effect was observed in the placebo group. Therefore, the results showed that C. aurantium exhibits an anxiolytic effect and reduces the signs and symptoms associated with anxiety in patients with CML.

This review presents an survey to the biological importance of sesquiterpene lactones (SLs) in the fight against four infectious neglected tropical diseases (NTDs)—leishmaniasis, schistosomiasis, Chagas disease, and sleeping sickness—as alternatives to the current chemotherapies that display several problems such as low effectiveness, resistance, and high toxicity. Several studies have demonstrated the great potential of some SLs as therapeutic agents for these NTDs and the relationship between the protozoal activities with their chemical structure. Recently, Computer-Aided Drug Design (CADD) studies have helped increase the knowledge of SLs regarding their mechanisms, the discovery of new lead molecules, the identification of pharmacophore groups and increase the biological activity by employing in silico tools such as molecular docking, virtual screening and Quantitative-Structure Activity Relationship (QSAR) studies.

The aim of the present work was to develop a biochemical, histologic and immunohistochemical study about the potential hepatotoxic effect of d-limonene – a component of volatile oils extracted from citrus plants. Blood alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) from d-limonene-treated animals were determined and compared to morphologic hepatic lesions in order to investigate the possible physiopathologic mechanisms involved in the liver toxicity, in experimental animals treated with d-limonene. Wistar rats were randomly divided into seven groups: two control groups (untreated or receiving only vehicle, tween-80); one positive control (vehicle); two experimental groups treated with d-limonene at doses of 25 mg/kg/day and 75 mg/kg/day for 45 days, and two other groups treated with the same doses for 30 days and kept under observation during 30 more days. Biochemical data showed significant reduction in ALT levels in the animals treated with 75 mg/kg of d-limonene. Histological analysis revealed some hepatocyte morphological lesions, including hydropic degeneration, microvesicular steatosis and necrosis, Kupffer cell hyperplasia and incipient fibrosis. By immunohistochemistry, influx of T (CD3+) and cytotoxic (CD8+) lymphocytes was observed in the rats treated with d-limonene at both dose levels. In conclusion, it is possible that d-limonene has been directly responsible for hepatic parenchymal and matrix damage following subchronic treatment with d-limonene.

O uso de plantas para tratamento de muitas enfermidades vem do conhecimento de antepassados e se propaga ao longo dos anos, mostrando ser uma boa alternativa, principalmente para aqueles que possuem poucos recursos financeiros. Dentre as doenças tratadas encontram-se as parasitoses que são a causa de mais de 200 mil mortes por ano. Esta revisão sistemática pesquisou, na literatura, quais espécies vegetais são usadas por diferentes comunidades do mundo para o tratamento de parasitoses. Para isso foram utilizados os bancos de dados primários: PubMed, SciELO e LILACS. Os termos usados na busca encontraram-se na língua inglesa, associados com o operador booleano AND: “parasitic diseases” AND “plants medicinal”. Encontrando-se 853 publicações, sendo posteriormente aplicados critérios de inclusão e exclusão, selecionando ao todo 9 artigos.  Foram verificadas 67 espécies de 42 famílias, na qual a família Leguminosae foi a mais citada pela população, e as espécies vegetais mais usadas foram Azadirachta indicam, Euphorbia abyssinica e Mangifera indica, com destaque para a primeira. A malária foi a que teve maior número de plantas medicinais para o seu tratamento. Apesar do desenvolvimento de fármacos, observa-se que a medicina tradicional não caiu em desuso, buscando incentivar estudos científicos que garantam a eficácia terapêutica destas plantas medicinais.

The objective of this study was to investigate the anxiolytic effects of the essential oil (EO) of Citrus aurantium L. in patients experiencing crack withdrawal. This was developed with internal users in therapeutic communities in Paraíba, Brazil. The test population consisted of 51 volunteers, subdivided into three groups. To elicit anxiety, the Simulated Public Speaking (SPS) method was used. Physiological measures were assessed at specific phases during the experiment using appropriate equipment. Psychological measures of anxiety were assessed using the Trait-State Anxiety Inventory (IDATE) and the Analog Smoke Scale (HAS). EO was administered by nebulization. The experiment was developed in individual sessions and consolidated to four phases. The results demonstrated that the test subjects in the groups that were given the EO maintained controlled anxiety levels during SPS, when compared to the Control Group (no treatment). Subjects who used the EO also maintained levels of “discomfort” and “cognitive impairment” during SPS. It was concluded that individuals who are experiencing internal crack cocaine withdrawal present high anxiety traits and that nebulization of the EO of Citrus aurantium L. provided an acute anxiolytic effect in crack cocaine users exposed to SPS.

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Identifying novel bio markers in gastro intestinal disease is a promising method where a comprehensive analysis of the metabolome is performed. Metabolomics has evolved enormously in the past decade, paving a path in gastro intestinal disease research, especially diseases which lead to high morbidity and mortality. Metabolomics involves identifying metabolites such as anti-oxidants, and amino acids etc., which are screened in the urine, feces and tissue samples. Certain cases employ advanced tools like GC-MS, 1HNMR and GC-MS/SPME which reveal valuable information concerning disease severity and differentiation. In light of escalating health care costs and risky invasive procedures, metabolomics can be chosen as a safe yet precise method for screening diseases like ulcerative colitis, Crohns' disease, celiac disease, and gastro intestinal cancers. The present review focuses on major advancements in gastro intestinal metabolomics, giving attention to which parameters are assessed, and to recent changes in metabolite analysis.