• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
• /
• v.49 no.3
• /
• pp.256-262
• /
• 2017

Essential oil from herb is known to exert pharmacological effects on the human body. In this study we investigated the antibacterial activity of 4 essential oils (teetree, rosemary, melisa, and lavender), as well as the blended mixture oil of teetree, rosemary, and melisa (TRM) on three bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Antibacterial analysis was performed using the standard disk diffusion method, and minimum inhibition concentration was determined by the broth microdilution method with different concentrations of essential oils (0.5, 1, 2 and 3 mg/mL). After incubation at $37^{\circ}C$ for 24 h, the antibacterial activity was assessed by measuring the zone of growth inhibition surrounding the disks. Herb oil with the inhibition zones showed varied values ranging from6 to 25 mm. However, the components of herb oil of TRM are as highly active as the teetree oil against pathogens, generating large inhibition zones for both gram negative and positive bacteria (13~22 mm and 8 mm inhibition zones). In the analysis for MIC, TRM showed growth-inhibitory effects at 0.0625% for S. aureus and E. coli, and 1.25% for P. aeruginosa. This result demonstrated that the anti-microbial activity of TRM was greater than a single herb oil, including oxacillin, rosemary, and teetrea. As a single herb oil, both rosemary and teetrea also had an anti-microbial effect by itself, and we can expect that the blended oil mixture may exert a synergistic effect against multidrug resistant bacteria, suggesting its future application in natural preservative agents for health food and cosmetics.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
• /
• v.17 no.4
• /
• pp.343-349
• /
• 2013

Environment-friendly agro-materials tend to be preferred to chemical insecticides recently. For this reason, many studies are conducted to develop environment-friendly insecticides containing natural materials. The purpose of this study was to assess ecotoxicity for pepper extract and cassia oil (11.5+46%, A), pepper extract and cassia oil (23+34%, B), and pepper extract and lavender oil (40+10%, C). They are expected to prevent from pests especially diamondback moth, and can be used for agro-materials. Their formulation was emusifiable concentration (EC). Target species used to assess acute toxicity were aquatic invertebrate (Daphina magna), fish (Cyprinus carpio), honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) and earthworm (Eisenia fetida). The $EC_{50}$ value of A, B, and C to aquatic invertebrate were 0.46, 1.9, 0.25 mg $L^{-1}$ respectively and these values were moderately toxic according to standard of USEPA. In case of acute toxicity test to fish, the $LC_{50}$ of A, B, and C were 1.9, 2.9, 3.8 mg $L^{-1}$ respectively. A was category II in acute toxicity of fish and not acceptable to evaluation criteria of environment-friendly agro-materials. B and C were category III and acceptable. Acute contact and oral toxicity test to honeybee were conducted and the $LD_{50}$ of A, B, and C were > 100 ${\mu}g$ a.i. $bee^{-1}$ in both of tests. It indicated they were low toxic to honeybee. In case of acute toxicity test to earthworm, $LC_{50}$ of A, B, and C were 695, 988, and 564 mg $kg^{-1}$. In conclusion, pepper extract+cassia oil 57% EC and pepper extract+lavender oil 50% EC were expected to be used for environment-friendly insecticide materials with low risk against ecosystem and contribute to developing environment-friendly agro-materials.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
• /
• v.49 no.1
• /
• pp.85-89
• /
• 2009

This study examined the therapeutic effects of aromatherapy for the treatment of otitis externa in dogs. Eleven dogs with otitis externa were examined. The control group (5 dogs) was treated with susceptible antibiotics, and the experimental group (6 dogs) was treated with aroma-oil applied topically to the ear canal. The aroma-oil contained 10 ml sweet almond oil, 0.3 ml bergamot oil, 0.2 ml lavender oil, 0.1 ml tea tree oil and 0.1 ml roman chamomile oil. The blended aroma-oil (0.1 ml) was applied to the ear canal twice daily for 2 weeks. The authors examined the changes in the clinical signs, bacterial count in discharges, total WBC count and neutrophil/lymphocyte ratios in the two groups. The bacterial cell counts in the experimental group were significantly lower at one (p < 0.01) and two weeks (p < 0.05) after treatment than the control group. These results suggest that aromatherapy is an effective and practical treatment for otitis externa in dogs.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
• /
• v.11 no.1
• /
• pp.85-91
• /
• 2009

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate effect of aroma oil inhalation using lavender mixed with bergamot, and sandalwood oil in the ratio of 3:2:1 to the anxiety of colonoscopy patients. Method: The research design was a nonequivalent control group pre-post time experimental research. The data were collected from December, 2004 to March 2005. The total subjects were 60 patients who received colonoscopy at K-hospital in Chuncheon City. An aroma oil inhalation group inhaled for 10 min the mixed aroma oil, 3 drops of which were dropped on the gauze, 20 min before colonoscopy. Result: The anxiety of the intervention group was significantly lower than that of the control group (p=.001). The degree of systolic blood pressure on the intervention group was significantly lower than that of the control group (p=.031). There was no significant difference between the 2 groups in the diastolic pressure (p=.065). Pulse has no significant difference between the aroma oil inhalation and control group (p=.546). Conclusion: The result showed that aroma oil inhalation before colonoscopy has an effect on decreasing anxiety. Thus, the intervention with aroma oil inhalation can be used for relieve anxiety of patients for colonoscopy.

• Journal of Fashion Business
• /
• v.13 no.6
• /
• pp.45-60
• /
• 2009

This study examined the efficacy of restraining the increase of the bacteria colony of scalp according to the application of the Ayurvedic base oils and essential oils to scalp and hair. The result is as follows. The experiment illustrated that as the result of doing the paired sample t-test of a treated group and a control group according to constitutional oiling, the efficacy of the statistically significant decrease of the colony manifested in six tested groups except the group of Pitta constitution to which sesame and lavender were applied. Also, in a group that sesame was applied to Vata constitution and a group that coconut and lavender were applied to Pitta constitution, according to the passage of time, the result of being reduced the number of the colony was obtained and it showed that the oiling suitable for each constitution has the efficacy to decrease the colony of scalp. At the same time, regardless of the constitutions, the application of oils also showed the efficacy of restraining the increase of the bacteria colony of scalp. As the result of performing Paired Sample t-test for the subjective evaluation of the subjects in pre and post clinical testing, In the analysis of questionnaire that were obtained before and after the clinical testing, the results of all of the items except the item questioning a degree of inflammation appeared to be significant. That is to say, the subjects answered that a degree of keratin or a pain in scalp, an amount of sebum and a degree of hair damage were decreased after the application of oil more than before it. And in the question of a degree of hair damage, the application of oils were proved as having the efficacy to improve the hair damage.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
• /
• v.50 no.4
• /
• pp.431-437
• /
• 2018

Acinetobacter baumannii is categorized as a red alert pathogen that is increasingly associated with a high mortality rate in infected patients because of its resistance to extensive antibiotics. This study evaluated the antibacterial activities of some essential oils (tee tree, rosemary, and lavender oils) against 18 clinical isolates of multidrug-resistant A. baumannii (MRAB). The carbapenemase screening Hodge test showed that all 20 strains of A. baumannii were resistant to imipenem. The identification of multidrug-resistant microbes was carried out using the VITEK system. The antimicrobial activity of essential oils was tested by a disk diffusion method against MRAB. In the disk diffusion method, tea tree showed the largest increase in inhibition size compared to lavender oil, and rosemary had no antibacterial effect. These results proved the antimicrobial effect of multidrug resistance A. baumannii. Tee tree oil would be a useful alternative natural product for the treatment and prevention of most common human pathogens and MRAB infections. This is expected to be used as an antimicrobial agent, such as hand disinfectant using natural essential oil in the future.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
• /
• v.28 no.7
• /
• pp.770-774
• /
• 2005

This study investigated the stimulative or sedative effects of inhaling fragrant essential oils (EOs) by using a forced swimming test (FST) with mice. This behavioral test is commonly used to measure the effects of antidepressant drugs. The inhalation by mice of EOs, such as ginger oil (p<0.05), thyme oil (p<0.05), peppermint oil (p<0.05), and cypress oil (p<0.01) resulted in 5% to 22% reduction of immobility. The same results were achieved when over-agitation was artificially induced in the mice by an intraperitoneal injection of caffeine (a psycho-stimulant). In contrast, inhalation of some EOs by the mice resulted in increased immobility. To evaluate more correctly the sedative effects of EOs, the immobility of over-agitated mice induced with caffeine was ascertained after the inhalation of various EOs. Inhalation of lavender oil (p<0.01) and hyssop oil (p<0.01) increased the immobile state in mice that were treated with caffeine. The results of this study indicate that the inhalation of essential oils may induce stimulative or sedative effects in mice.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.22 no.10
• /
• pp.1344-1351
• /
• 2012

We studied the physical, chemical, biological, and antimicrobial effects of eight types of essential oils used in the cosmetics industry: lavender, tea tree, rosemary, juniper berry, Chamaecyparis obtusa, cypress, cedar wood, and pine. Lavender oil had a linalyl acetate (an ester chemical compound) content of 48% and radical scavenging activity of 22.36% at 5,000 ppm. Tea tree oil had radical scavenging activity of 43.94% at 5,000 ppm and antimicrobial activity against S. aureus, S. epidermidis, S. mutans, and C. albicans in each 6, 3.5, 6.5, and 5 mm, respectively. Chamaecyparis obtusa oil had the highest acidity (pH 2.64) compared with the other oils, and sesquiterpene compounds were found to have 19.20%. Cedar wood oil had the highest specific gravity and refractive index compared to the other oils and had a sesquiterpene content of 99.73%. The radical scavenging activity of cedar wood essential oil exceeded 39.68% at 5,000 ppm. The clear zone, indicating antimicrobial activity against P. acnes, P. ovale, and C. albicans, was 3.5, 6, and 6 mm, respectively, at a concentration of 1% cedar wood oil. Results showed that with a high sesquiterpene content, the antioxidant effect was generally, but not always, high, suggesting that this is determined according to composition of the compound rather than presence of each antioxidant. The results indicate that antimicrobial activity is determined by the existence of each antimicrobial ingredient rather than terpene composition.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Emotion and Sensibility Conference
• /
• 1999.11a
• /
• pp.423-426
• /
• 1999

본 연구에서는 EEG반응을 통하여 향이 인간에 미치는 영향을 평가하였다. 평균나이 23.9세의 남녀 피험자 각각 10명을 대상으로 전두엽(Fz)과 두정엽(Cz)에서 EEG를 기록하였다. 대역별 relative power spectrum 값을 구하여 $\alpha$대역에 대한 $\beta$대역의 비($\beta$/$\alpha$)를 통하여 전체 또는 남녀의 성별에 대한 향의 쾌도를 구분하였다. 실험에 사용된 향은 Rose oil bulgrian, Lemon oil misitano, Jasmine abs., Lavender oil france(KIMEX.co.ltd) 등 4가지의 천연오일을 사용하였다. 전체 피험자에 대하여 쾌도는 레몬-라벤다-자스민-장미 순으로 평가되었고 라벤다와 레몬 사이에 0.5%의 유의차가 있었다. 이는 주관적 평가와 상관성을 보였다. 남녀 성별 구분에 있어서는 가장 쾌하다고 생각되는 향이 남자는 라벤다, 여자는 레몬으로 평가되었고, 가장 불쾌한 향은 남녀 모두 장미로 나타났다. 이에 대한 통계학적 의미는 결과에 나타내었다.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
• /
• v.33 no.5
• /
• pp.333-343
• /
• 2024

This study aimed to investigate whether inhaling the aroma of essential oils could alleviate physiological stress responses and mimic the effects of forest therapy in urban settings. Briefly, 31 participants underwent stress index assessments for two days and inhaled the selected plant essential oils. The effects of this treatment on physiological responses were determined through electroencephalogram (EEG) and heart rate variability (HRV) measurements taken before and after inhaling the aroma of essential oils, extracting results for low frequency (LF) and high frequency (HF) components of HRV, as well as 𝜃 and 𝛼 brainwave activities. The results indicated that lavender oil did not yield significant differences, whereas pine, chamomile, and cypress oils exhibited significant differences in effects. Overall, stress relief was associated with enhanced 𝜃 and 𝛼 brainwave activities, a decrease in the LF component and an increase in the HF component of HRV. Among the essential oils studied, pine oil was the most effective. These findings underscore the potential of plant essential oils in replicating the therapeutic benefits of forest therapy, even in urban environments. Further investigations into their utilization are warranted to better understand and harness their therapeutic potential.