Suppression of carrageenan- and collagen II-induced inflammation in mice by geranium oil

Therapeutic Effects of Geranium Oil in MPTP-Induced Parkinsonian Mouse Model

Parkinson's disease (PD) is an incurable neurodegenerative disease characterized by motor and non-motor disabilities resulting from neuronal cell death in the substantia nigra and striatum. Microglial activation and oxidative stress are two of the primary mechanisms driving that neuronal death. Here, we evaluated the effects of geranium oil on 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetra-hydropyridine (MPTP) mouse model for PD, on microglial activation, and oxidative stress. We demonstrate that oral treatment with geranium oil improved motor performance in this model. The therapeutic effects of geranium oil were observed as a significant increase in rotarod latency and distance among the mice treated with geranium oil, as compared to vehicle-treated MPTP mice. Geranium oil also prevented dopaminergic neuron death in the substantia nigra of the treated mice. These therapeutic effects can be partially attributed to the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of geranium oil, which were observed as attenuated accumulation of reactive oxygen species and inhibition of the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines from geranium oil-treated activated microglial cells. A repeated-dose oral toxicity study showed that geranium oil is not toxic to mice. In light of that finding and since geranium oil is defined by the FDA as generally recognized as safe (GRAS), we do not foresee any toxicity problems in the future and suggest that geranium oil may be a safe and effective oral treatment for PD. Since the MPTP model is only one of the preclinical models for PD, further studies are needed to confirm that geranium oil can be used to prevent or treat PD.

Rose geranium essential oil as a source of new and safe anti-inflammatory drugs

BACKGROUND

Since the available anti-inflammatory drugs exert an extensive variety of side effects, the search for new anti-inflammatory agents has been a priority of pharmaceutical industries.

AIMS

The aim of the present study was to assess the anti-inflammatory activities of the essential oil of rose geranium (RGEO).

METHODS

The chemical composition of the RGEO was investigated by gas chromatography. The major components were citronellol (29.13%), geraniol (12.62%), and citronellyl formate (8.06%). In the carrageenan-induced paw edema, five different groups were established and RGEO was administered orally in three different doses.

RESULTS

RGEO (100 mg/kg) was able to significantly reduce the paw edema with a comparable effect to that observed with diclofenac, the positive control. In addition, RGEO showed a potent anti-inflammatory activity by topical treatment in the method of croton oil-induced ear edema. When the dose was 5 or 10 µl of RGEO per ear, the inflammation was reduced by 73 and 88%, respectively. This is the first report to demonstrate a significant anti-inflammatory activity of Algerian RGEO. In addition, histological analysis confirmed that RGEO inhibited the inflammatory responses in the skin.

CONCLUSION

Our results indicate that RGEO may have significant potential for the development of novel anti-inflammatory drugs with improved safety profile.

Antioxidant properties of Pelargonium graveolens L'Her essential oil on the reproductive damage induced by deltamethrin in mice as compared to alpha-tocopherol

Background

Exposure to the pyrethroid pesticide deltamethrin has been demonstrated to exert a wide range of effects on non-targeted organisms. The beneficial effects of geranuim essential oil (EO) as an antioxidant has been assessed in deltamethrin (DL) orally administered mice by studying whether the reprotoxicity caused by deltamethrin can be effectively combated with the geranium oil and the effects were compared to vitamin E, as the standard reference drug.

Result

Sixty male albino mice were divided into six equal groups: a control group, a group of mice was given deltamethrin (5 mg/kg b.w.), two groups were administered deltamethrin after having given geranium essential oil (67 mg/kg b.w.) or vitamin E (Vit E) (100 mg/kg b.w.), and two groups received only EO of geranium or Vit E. When compared to control, a dose of deltamethrin 5 mg/kg/day causes a decrease in the epididymal sperm count motility and viability and an increase in the number of abnormal morphology in spermatozoa. DL-exposed mice showed a significant increase of lipid peroxidation (LPP) in the testis compared to control animals.

Conclusion

Essential oil of geranium prevented testicular oxidative damage explored by reduced LPP and improved total sperm motility, viability and morphology in mice spermatozoa. Our study showed a positive influence of geranium essential oil in the animal male reproductive system similar than that of Vit E.

Hypoglycemic and antioxidant effects of leaf essential oil of Pelargonium graveolens L'Hér. in alloxan induced diabetic rats

Background

Rose-scented geranium (Pelargonium graveolens L’Hér.), which is used in traditional Tunisian folk medicine for the treatment of hyperglycaemia, is widely known as one of the medicinal herbs with the highest antioxidant activity. The present paper is conducted to test the hypoglycemic and antioxidative activities of the leaf essential oil of P. graveolens.

Methods

The essential oil P. graveolens was administered daily and orally to the rats at two doses of 75 mg/kg and 150 mg/kg body weight (b.w.) for 30 days. The chemical composition of P. graveolens essential oil, body weight, serum glucose, hepatic glycogen, thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS), the components of hepatic, and renal and serum antioxidant systems were evaluated. The hypoglycemic effect of rose-scented geranium was compared to that of the known anti-diabetic drug glibenclamide (600 μg/kg b.w.).

Results

After the administration of two doses of essential oil of Pelargonium graveolens L’Hér. together with glibenclamide which is known by its antidiabetic activities and used as reference (600 μg/kg b.w.), for four weeks, the serum glucose significantly decreased and antioxidant perturbations were restored. The hypoglycemic effect of P. graveolens at the dose of 150 mg/kg b.w. was significantly (p< 0.05) more effective than that of glibenclamide. It is through the histological findings in hepatic and renal tissues of diabetic rats that these beneficial effects of geranium oils were confirmed.

Conclusions

It suggests that administration of essential oil of P. graveolens may be helpful in the prevention of diabetic complications associated with oxidative stress. Our results, therefore, suggest that the rose-scented geranium could be used as a safe alternative antihyperglycemic drug for diabetic patients.

A plasma metabonomic investigation into the intervention of volatile oil of Magnolia biondii Pamp on rat model of acute inflammation

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The dried flower buds of Magnolia biondii Pamp (Magnoliaceae) possesses significant anti-inflammatory activities.

AIM OF THE STUDY

Volatile oil in Magnolia biondii Pamp (VOMbP) is considered to be important pharmacologically active individuals against acute inflammation, but its exact anti-inflammatory mechanism remains elusive. In this study, we aimed to investigate the intervention of VOMbP on rats with acute inflammation and explore the possible anti-inflammatory mechanisms of VOMbP with metabonomic strategy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Acute inflammation was induced by subcutaneously injection of carrageenan in the rats. Plasma was analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), based on which the principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least squares-discriminate analysis (PLS-DA) models were established for metabonomic analysis.

RESULTS

It was revealed that the pretreatment of VOMbP in acute inflammatory rats induces a substantial and characteristic change in their metabolic profiles. Some significantly changed metabolites, including hexadecanoic acid, linoleic acid, oleic acid, stearic acid, and cholesterol, were found to be reasonable in explaining the anti-inflammatory mechanism of VOMbP.

CONCLUSIONS

In all, it is likely that VOMbP intervenes the metabolic process of inflammatory rats by affecting the fatty acid and cholesterol metabolism. Our work also indicated that the metabonomics method is a promising tool for performing intervention and mechanism research of traditional Chinese medicines.

Anti inflammatory activity of Myrica nagi Linn. Bark

The present study evaluated the anti inflammatory activity of ethyl acetate and aqueous extracts of bark of M. nagi using carrageenan and histamine induced rat paw edema. Adult Wistar albino rats were subjected to carrageenan and histamine induced rat paw edema tests. In carrageenan induced rat paw edema the effects of ethyl acetate and aqueous extract at 100 and 200 mg/kg showed % inhibition of edema 27% and 22% respectively than the standard drug aspirin (28%). These ethyl acetate and aqueous extract extracts also showed % inhibition of edema 25% and 18% respectively than the standard drug (27%) when rats challenged with histamine induced rat paw edema. Future research should focus on the identification and the anti inflammatory activity of the constituents from this plant.

The antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of Salvia officinalis leaf aqueous and butanol extracts

CONTEXT

The leaf of sage Salvia officinalis L. (Lamiaceae) is reputed in the folk medicine of Arabia, and Jordan in particular, to relieve pain associated with gastrointestinal disturbance.

OBJECTIVES

Evaluation of the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of aqueous and butanol extracts of S. officinalis leaf.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The analgesic effects of the aqueous extract (10, 31.6, 100, 316, 1000 mg/kg) and butanol extract (10, 31.6, 100, 316 mg/kg) were studied using the hot-plate test for mice and the formalin-induced paw licking in rats. The effects were compared to those of morphine and the influence of naloxone on these effects was also evaluated. The same concentrations of both extracts were used to evaluate their anti-inflammatory effects using the cotton pellet granuloma and carrageenan-induced paw edema in rats.

RESULTS

The aqueous extract (10, 31.6, 100, 316, 1000 mg/kg) and butanol extract (10, 31.6, 100, 316 mg/kg) caused analgesic effect in the hot-plate latency assay as well as in early and late phases of formalin-induced paw licking in rats. These effects were reduced by the opioid receptor antagonist, naloxone (5 mg/kg). The same range of doses of both extracts caused dose-dependent inhibition of carrageenan-induced paw edema in rats as well as inhibition of cotton pellet granuloma.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

These observations suggest that the sage leaf aqueous and butanol extracts have analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects, confirming the traditional use of this plant for pain alleviation.

Protective activity of geranium oil and its component, geraniol, in combination with vaginal washing against vaginal candidiasis in mice

In order to evaluate an effective administration method of essential oils for vaginal candidiasis, efficacy of vaginal application of essential oils against murine experimental candidiasis was investigated. The effect on vaginal inflammation and Candida growth form was also studied. Vaginal candidiasis was established by intravaginal infection of C. albicans to estradiol-treated mice. These mice intravaginally received essential oils such as geranium and tea tree singly or in combination with vaginal washing. Vaginal administration of clotrimazole significantly decreased the number of viable C. albicans cells in the vaginal cavity by itself. In contrast, these essential oils did not lower the cell number. When application of geranium oil or geraniol was combined with vaginal washing, the cell number was decreased significantly. The myeloperoxidase activity assay exhibited the possibility that essential oils worked not only to reduce the viable cell number of C. albicans, but also to improve vaginal inflammation. The smear of vaginal washing suspension suggested that more yeast-form cells appeared in vaginal smears of these oil-treated mice than in control mice. In vitro study showed that a very low concentration (25 microg/ml) of geranium oil and geraniol inhibited mycelial growth, but not yeast growth. Based on these findings, it is estimated that vaginal application of geranium oil or its main component, geraniol, suppressed Candida cell growth in the vagina and its local inflammation when combined with vaginal washing.

Estimation of antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activity on Geranium pratense subsp. finitimum and its phenolic compounds

To obtain experimental evidence on the therapeutic efficacy of Geranium species and its phenolic compounds for inflammatory diseases, we examined the effects of the aqueous extract of the aerial parts of Geranium pratense subsp. finitimum (Woronow) Knuth, its fractions and isolated compounds, the mixture of quercetin 3-O-alpha-arabinopyranoside, kaempferol 3-O-beta-galactopyranoside (1), the mixture of quercetin 3-O-beta-glucopyranoside, quercetin 3-O-beta-galactopyranoside (2), kaempferol 3-O-beta-glucopyranoside (3), (-)-6-chloroepicatechin (4), the mixture of quercetin 3-O-(2''-O-galloyl)-beta-glucopyranoside, quercetin 3-O-(2''-O-galloyl)-beta-galactopyranoside (5) and myricetin 3-O-(2''-O-galloyl)-beta-glucopyranoside (6), on carrageenan-, PGE(2)- and TPA-induced inflammation in mice and p-benzoquinone-induced writhing reflex to assess anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities. The effective dose of materials for the inhibition of carragenan-induced hind paw edema assay was determined to be 100 mg/kg, which was also used in the assays with the extract, its fractions and isolated compounds in all other experiments. The aqueous extract, 1, 2 (100 mg/kg), as well as indomethacin (10 mg/kg) inhibited significantly the formation of the carrageenan-induced hind paw edema. There was also a significant reduction in PGE(2)-induced hind paw edema and TPA-induced ear edema models with 5, in addition to the aqueous extract and the other active components 1 and 2. In the antinociceptive assay, the aqueous extract and its fractions, as well as 1, 2, and 5 diminished significantly the number of writhings. Based on the results obtained it is suggested that the aqueous extract of Geranium pratense subsp. finitimum and its phenolic compounds display anti-inflammatory activity, supporting the folkloric use.