A Systematic Review on the Anxiolytic Effects of Aromatherapy on Rodents Under Experimentally Induced Anxiety Models

Wing Hong Hector Tsang, Timothy Y.C. Ho

Research output: Journal article publicationJournal articleAcademic researchpeer-review

25 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Purpose: We reviewed studies from 1999 to 2009 on anxiolytic effects of different essential oils toward rodents in anxiety related behavioral models. Method: Journal papers that evaluated the anxiolytic effects of essential oils for rodents were extracted from available electronic data bases. Results: The results based on 14 s Indies showed that different rodent species were recruited including ICR mice and Swiss mice. Most of studies applied the Elevated Plus Maze (EPM) as the animal behavioral model. Lavender oil was the most popular within the 14 studies. Lavender and rose oils were found to be effective in some of the studies. Only one study reported the underlying neurophysiological mechanism in terms of concentrations of emotionally related neuro-transmitters such as dopamine, serotonin, and their derivatives, in various brain regions. Conclusion: Some essential oils are found to be effective to induce anxiolytic effect in rodents under different animal anxiety models. However, more standardized experimental procedures and outcome measures are needed in future studies. Translational research to human subjects is also recommended.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)141-152
Number of pages12
JournalReviews in the Neurosciences
Volume21
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2010

Keywords

  • anxiety
  • anxiolytic
  • essential oils
  • rodents

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Neuroscience

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