Pharmacological profile of essential oils derived from Lavandula angustifolia and Melissa officinalis with anti-agitation properties: focus on ligand-gated channels

Epilepsy in the Renaissance: A survey of remedies from 16th and 17th century German herbals

“…According to Awad et al (2007) an aqueous M. officinalis extract had GABA-transaminase modulating effects in two different assays on rat brain homogenates( IC 50 0.35 mg/ml). The essential oil of M. officinalis showed similar effects as the oil of Lavandula officinalis in the study by Huang et al (2008). It inhibited the binding of TBPS with an IC 50 of 0.04 mg/ml but showed no effects on AMPA-and NMDA-receptors.…”

“…A schnaps was also used (Tabernaemontanus and Mattioli). Huang et al (2008) used an electrophysiological method as well as in binding assays with TBPS, muscimol, flunitrazepam, AMPA and MK-801 to study the relaxant effects of L. officinalis essential oil. The oil prevented the binding of the radio tagged ligand TBPS to the GABA A -receptor in rat brains (IC 50 ¼30 mg/ml), yet showed no affinity to the AMPA-and NMDA-receptors.…”

“…These studies, however, produced quite contradictory results. Various authors reported in vitro anticonvulsive effects (examples: Pourgholami et al, 1999;Huang et al, 2008;Höld et al, 2002), whereas numerous other studies including clinical case reports indicate that essential oils can be pro-convulsive as well. Burkhard et al (1999) reported on 3 patients with isolated generalized tonic-clonic seizure related to the uptake of essential oils and reviewed clinical evidence of the essential oils of Hyssopus officinalis, Mentha pulegium, Rosmarinus officinalis, and Salvia officinalis, as well as from the AsteraceaeTanacetum vulgare, and Artemisia absinthium which are proconvulsive in humans.…”

Efficacy of orally administered Silexan in patients with anxiety-related restlessness and disturbed sleep – A randomized, placebo-controlled trial

“…In contrast to initial speculations that the anxiolytic action of lavender oil is caused by a benzodiazepine-like effect on the GABA A receptors (Huang et al, 2008) a recent study performed by Schuwald et al (2013) did not identify any interaction of Silexan to known targets of other anxiolytic drugs such as the GABA A -receptor, norepinephrine, serotonin, or dopamine transporters, or monoamine-oxidase-A (MAO-A). Instead, Silexan caused a potent inhibition of voltage dependent calcium channels (VOCCs) in synaptosomes, primary hippocampal neurons and stably overexpressing cell lines comparable to pregabalin.…”

Silexan und Narkose

“…Denkbar ist auch, dass Silexan die Bindung von Benzodiazepinen an den GABA(A)-Rezeptor verhindert. Für diesen Ansatz gibt es zum jetzigen Zeitpunkt noch keinen Beleg, allerdings ist bekannt, dass eine Mischung aus Melisse und Lavendelöl die Bindung am GA-BA(A)-Rezeptor verhindert, was analog sein könnte [12]. Die extreme Aufregung der Patientin zu Beginn der Einleitung wiederum würde einen gesteigerten Narkosebedarf, nicht aber die komplette Unwirksamkeit von Propofol und Thiopental erklären.…”