Inhalation of low‐dose basil (Ocimum basilicum) essential oil improved cardiovascular health and plasma lipid markers in high fat diet‐induced obese rats

Abstract

This study investigated the antiobesogenic effects of the inhalation of volatile compounds derived from basil essential oil (BEO) in high fat diet‐induced obese rats. A total of 47 volatile compounds were identified in BEO using gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry. Major volatile compounds identified by olfactory testing include linalool oxide, linalool, 1‐menthene, and carvone. White adipose tissue significantly decreased in the rats that inhaled 0.3% BEO (more than +10%) compared to the control. Plasma marker analysis showed increased high‐density lipoprotein‐cholesterol (ca. double fold) and decreased low‐density lipoprotein‐cholesterol (more than −30%) levels in inhaled 1% BEO group compared to the control. Leptin significantly decreased in the 0.3 and 1% BEO groups (more than −70 and −85%, respectively). Last, systolic blood pressure at week 12 was significantly lower in inhaled 1% BEO group (more than −15%) compared to the control. The results of this study suggest that BEO inhalation may be effective in managing plasma lipid markers (cholesterols and leptin) and possibly metabolic disorders such as obesity. Practical Application: Changes in metabolic health markers, which are effected by inhalation of volatiles in basil (Ocimum basilicum) essential oil, will provide physiological variations in vivo to the public. In this study, the opposite effects were identified between 0.3% and 1% inhalation, respectively. Therefore, our findings will provide optimized and useful guidance for inhalation of basil essential oil.

Post-Distillation By-Products of Aromatic Plants from Lamiaceae Family as Rich Sources of Antioxidants and Enzyme Inhibitors

“…Oregano extracts were characterized by 31 specialized metabolites (Table 3). Similar to the thyme extracts, quinic acid (1), danshensu (2), hydroxybenzoic acid-O-hexoside (3), hydroxybenzoic acid (4), caffeic acid-O-hexoside (6), and rosmarinic acid (26) were also present in the oregano extracts. In addition, six salvianolic acids, namely salvianolic acid H (21), salvianolic acid D (25), salvianolic acid B (27), salvianolic acid A (28), salvianolic acid I (31), and salvianolic acid E (33) were tentatively annotated in the oregano extracts.…”

“…Methyl cinnamate (15.42-64.69%) and linalool (12.47-15.18%) were previously reported to be the major volatile constituents in the O. basilicum EO [25]. In addition, Hong et al [26] evidenced the presence of linalool, eucalyptol, and β-santalene as the prevalent terpenes in the basil EO.…”

“…A total of 31 specialized metabolites belonging to various phytochemical classes were ascribed to the thyme extracts. Danshensu (2), hydroxybenzoic acid (4) and its hexoside (2), caffeic acid (9) and its hexoside (6), and rosmarinic acid (26) were accounted as phenolic acids. Similar metabolites were already reported in various Thymus species extracts [5,8,38].…”

“…Furthermore, biological studies on basil revealed a diverse pharmacological profile, including antimicrobial, gastroprotective, anticancer, antidiabetic, and anti-hyperlipidemic properties. [20,[26][27][28].…”

Linalool: Therapeutic Indication And Their Multifaceted Biomedical Applications

“…The 1 % Basil essential oil group's systolic blood pressure significantly dropped by more than 15 % in comparison to the control group. According to the research, in the end, it was found that breathing in Basil essential oil would be able to control plasma lipid indicators and possibly even treat metabolic conditions like obesity [21].…”