Analysis of Indonesian Spice Essential Oil Compounds That Inhibit Locomotor Activity in Mice

Abstract

Some fragrance components of spices used for cooking are known to have an effect on human behavior. The aim of this investigation was to examine the effect of the essential oils of basil (Ocimum formacitratum L.) leaves, lemongrass (Cymbopogon citrates L.) herbs, ki lemo (Litsea cubeba L.) bark, and laja gowah (Alpinia malaccencis Roxb.) rhizomes on locomotor activity in mice and identify the active component(s) that might be responsible for the activity. The effect of the essential oils was studied by a wheel cage method and the active compounds of the essential oils were identified by GC/MS analysis. The essential oils were administered by inhalation at doses of 0.1, 0.3, and 0.5 mL/cage. The results showed that the four essential oils had inhibitory effects on locomotor activity in mice. Inhalation of the essential oils of basil leaves, lemongrass herbs, ki lemo bark, and laja gowah rhizomes showed the highest inhibitory activity at doses of 0.5 (57.64%), 0.1 (55.72%), 0.5 (60.75%), and 0.1 mL/cage (47.09%), respectively. The major volatile compounds 1,8-cineole, α-terpineol, 4-terpineol, citronelol, citronelal, and methyl cinnamate were identified in blood plasma of mice after inhalation of the four oils. These compounds had a significant inhibitory effect on locomotion after inhalation. The volatile compounds of essential oils identified in the blood plasma may correlate with the locomotor-inhibiting properties of the oil when administered by inhalation.

CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF ESSENTIAL OILS AND ITS LOCOMOTOR ACTIVIT FROM THE BARKS OF Cinnamomum sintok Bl OF TWO DISTRICTS IN MIDDLE JAVA

“…The locomotor evaluation condition methods refer to our previous study [1,15]. All experimental procedures for animal use have been approved by the Ethical Committee of Experimental Animals, Universitas Padjadjaran.…”

“…Some fragrance components of aromatic plants used for cooking are known to influence locomotor activity [1]. The first study on aromatherapy was performed by Kovar and coworker who investigated the effect of inhalation of essential oil toward the motor behavior of mice.…”

“…Essential oils from rosemary and dwarf pines have been proven to increase the motoric activity, while those from Melissa and Valerian showed the opposite effects [2,3]. Muchtaridi et al investigated that some essential oils of Indonesian aromatic plants inhibit the locomotor activity of mice [1,4]. Sintok is an aromatic plant that grows in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand with a woody stem extending involved in Lauraceae tribe.…”

Lipoxygenase Inhibitory Effects of Dibenzylbutane Lignans from the Seeds of Myristica fragrans (Nutmeg)

“…5 Previous phytochemical investigation on nutmeg have resulted in the isolation and identification of essential oils, 6 lignans, 7 and phenylpropanoids.…”

“…Macelignan (2), (±) 7-methyl ether dibenzylbutane lignan (4), myristargenol A (5) and isootobaphenol (6) showed little inhibitory activity, whereas threo-austrobailignan-5 (1) did not show any inhibitory effect on soybean lipoxygenase-1 up to 200 μM.…”