A Systematic Review of the Anxiolytic-Like Effects of Essential Oils in Animal Models

Abstract

Abstract:The clinical efficacy of standardized essential oils (such as Lavender officinalis), in treating anxiety disorders strongly suggests that these natural products are an important candidate source for new anxiolytic drugs. A systematic review of essential oils, their bioactive constituents, and anxiolytic-like activity is conducted. The essential oil with the best profile is Lavendula angustifolia, which has already been tested in controlled clinical trials with positive results. Citrus aurantium using different routes of administration also showed significant effects in several animal models, and was corroborated by different research groups. Other promising essential oils are Citrus sinensis and bergamot oil, which showed certain clinical anxiolytic actions; along with Achillea wilhemsii, Alpinia zerumbet, Citrus aurantium, and Spiranthera odoratissima, which, like Lavendula angustifolia, appear to exert anxiolytic-like effects without GABA/benzodiazepine activity, thus differing in their mechanisms of action from the benzodiazepines. The anxiolytic activity of 25 compounds commonly found in essential oils is also discussed.

Neurobehavioral and Antioxidant Effects of Ethanolic Extract of Yellow Propolis

“…Many volatile oils rich in terpenes have a variety of pharmacological activities such as anxiolytic, anticonvulsant, and antinociceptive [21, 39, 40]. Actually, the presence of triterpenes provides lipophilic characteristics to the yellow propolis, which may facilitate passage across the blood-brain barrier [41].…”

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“…16 Thus, many investigations on the phytochemicals 17,18,19 and bioactivities of this genus has been carried out since 1955 7,20,21 . Consequently, Alpinia species were proved to have various biological activities including antibacterial 22 , hypoglycemic 23 , antiulcer 24 , antiemetic 25 , antitumor 26 , cardioprotection 27 , anti fungi 28 , neuroprotection 29 and anti-anxiety activities 30 .…”

Biomodulators of Anxiety

“…43 The potential candidature of natural products is also supported by the identification of Lavendula Angustifolia as a source of anxiolytic drugs which have been proved clinically. 44 It carries extreme interest and importance to know that Yoga is included as a treatment strategy for PTSD, GAD, depression and substance abuse. 45 …”