Inhibitory Effects of the Fragrance Inhalation of Essential Oil from Acorus gramineus on Central Nervous System

Abstract

The present study was designed to evaluate central inhibitory effects of the essential oil from Acori graminei Rhizoma (AGR), the dry rhizomes of Acorus gramineus SOLANDER (Araceae) upon fragrance inhalation (aroma therapy). Preinhalation of the oil markedly delayed the appearance of pentylenetetrazole-induced convulsion. Furthermore, inhalation impressively inhibited the activity of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) transaminase, a degrading enzyme for GABA as the inhalation period was lengthened. The GABA level was significantly increased and glutamate content was significantly decreased in mouse brain by preinhalation of the essential oil. The above results suggest that the anticonvulsive effect of this AGR oil is originated by the enhancement of GABA level in the mouse brain, because convulsion depends partially on GABA concentration which can be properly preserved by inhibiting GABA transaminase. Moreover, fragrance inhalation progressively prolonged the pentobarbital-induced sleeping time as inhalation time was lengthened. Ten hour inhalation corresponded almost to the effect (145% increase) of oral administration (60 mg/kg). This sedative effect after inhalation or oral administration of AGR essential oil suggests that this oil may act on the CNS via the GABAergic system. The inhibitory activity of preinhalation of the essential oil on lipid peroxidation, to which the anticonvulsive action is attributed, also supported the above results, confirming and amplifying our previous reports on the CNS inhibitory effects of AGR.

Effects of acorus calamus rhizome extract on neuromodulatory system in restraint stress male rats

“…It belongs to the araceae family. AC has been used in the Chinese and Indian system of medicine for hundreds of years to cure major CNS anomalies (10,14,19). In ayurvedic medicine, it is used either as component ayurvedic preparations or alone for the management of melancholia, insomnia, hysteria, epilepsy, dementia, and neurosis (19).…”

Anticonvulsant Activity of Acute and Chronic Treatment with a-Asarone from <i>Acorus gramineus</i> in Seizure Models

“…This confirms the previous findings that chronic preinhalation of an essential oil can reduce seizure severity in the PTZ mouse model. 16) The lack of an effect of acutely administered aasarone on seizure activity also demonstrates that a-asarone may not directly modify seizure activity. It appears that aasarone would not be a priori able to control acute seizures in epilepsy.…”

“…11,12) To date, only a few papers have reported on the sedative or activating properties of some essential oils and their constituents in animals under standardized experimental procedures. [13][14][15][16] However, the major components possessing the anticonvulsant effects are still poorly understood.…”

Antidepressant-like effects of essential oil and asarone, a major essential oil component from the rhizome ofAcorus tatarinowii

“…This herbal drug is reported to be responsible for various pharmacological actions on the CNS, such as epilepsy, cerebrovascular diseases and senile dementia, including Alzheimer's disease . In addition, the extracts of composite drugs containing ATS as a main component are clinically used for improvement of learning and memory and for stroke (Koo et al, 2003). ATS are known to contain up to 4.86% essential oil (EO), which is mainly composed of b-asarone and a-asarone .…”