Inhalation of Patchouli (Pogostemon Cablin Benth.) Essential Oil Improved Metabolic Parameters in Obesity-Induced Sprague Dawley Rats

Abstract

This study investigated effects of patchouli essential oil (PEO) inhalation on metabolic parameters. First, to characterize aromatic compounds in PEO, solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography/mass spectrometric detection was employed in which 19 aromatic compounds were identified. In GC-olfactometry analysis, linalool, α-patchoulene, and β-patchoulene were found to be the constituents exhibiting the highest similarity to the aromatic compounds in patchouli. In an animal experiment using Sprague Darley rats, groups with PEO inhalation had a reduced food intake compared to the control group. Additionally, body weight was lower in the obesity-induced animal model exposed to PEO inhalation than the group without PEO. However, we found no significant difference in organ weights between groups. In our serum analysis, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was significantly higher in the PEO inhalation groups, while low-density lipoprotein cholesterol content was highest in the positive control group, suggesting that inhalation of the aromatic compounds present in patchouli may improve cholesterol profile. In addition, leptin levels were reduced in the groups treated with PEO inhalation, which explains the differences in food intake and body weight gains. Last, animal groups exposed to PEO inhalation showed a relatively lower systolic blood pressure which suggests that inhalation of PEO (or aromatic compounds therein) may assist in regulating blood pressure. Collectively, our data demonstrate that the inhalation of PEO influenced certain markers related to metabolic diseases, hence provide basic data for future research as to preventive/therapeutic applications of PEO as well as their aromatic constituents.

Olfactory Stimulation by Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.) Essential Oil Improves Lipid Metabolism and Metabolic Disorders in High Fat-Induced Obese Rats

“…Obesity is a non-communicable disease that can induce complications, and has been recognized as a serious health problem worldwide [1]. Obesity, defined as the state of accumulation of energy and fat in the body, is caused by an increase in energy intake and a decrease in energy expenditure.…”

“…Increased body fat can lead to leptin resistance, a status in which the level of leptin increases, while there is no variation in food intake. In addition, this status can increase the prevalence of type 1 and type 2 diabetes, and it can lead to hypertension due to an increase in blood pressure and heart rate beyond the normal status [1,3,4]. Furthermore, excessive accumulation of body fat may induce metabolic syndrome via an increased prevalence of cardiovascular diseases, which may be caused by increased levels of total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-cholesterol), triglyceride (TG), and decreased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-cholesterol) [1,3].…”

“…In addition, this status can increase the prevalence of type 1 and type 2 diabetes, and it can lead to hypertension due to an increase in blood pressure and heart rate beyond the normal status [1,3,4]. Furthermore, excessive accumulation of body fat may induce metabolic syndrome via an increased prevalence of cardiovascular diseases, which may be caused by increased levels of total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-cholesterol), triglyceride (TG), and decreased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-cholesterol) [1,3]. Many researchers have reported various functional materials and substances that have been investigated for decreasing body weight and increasing energy expenditure [1,2,5,6].…”

The Beneficial Effects of Essential Oils in Anti-Obesity Treatment

“…Particular interesting research have been performed with Patchouli EOs (PEO), a plant belonging to the lamiaceae family ( Pogostemon cablin Benth ), that have attracted the interest of many researchers for its anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antioxidant, and wound-repair properties [ 97 , 98 ]. Studies performed on male Sprague Dawley rats kept on a diet of high fat content (HFD) for 12 weeks demonstrated that the inhalation of PEO leads to a reduction in weight and serum leptin levels as well as decreases food intake [ 99 ]. The authors hypothesized that the reduction in leptin is due to a decrease in leptin resistance.…”

“…The authors hypothesized that the reduction in leptin is due to a decrease in leptin resistance. The main components of PEO are citronellol, a volatile compound that fights obesity by reducing food intake, patchouli alcohol, α-patchoulene, and β-patchoulene, which stimulates the hypothalamus and regulate leptin levels [ 96 , 99 ].…”