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Sedative effects of the jasmine tea odor and (R)-(−)-linalool, one of its major odor components, on autonomic nerve activity and mood states

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Abstract

We investigated the effects of the odor of jasmine tea on autonomic nerve activity and mood states in a total of 24 healthy volunteers. We used the odor of jasmine tea at the lowest concentration that could be detected by each subject but that did not elicit any psychological effects. R–R intervals and the POMS test were measured before and after inhalation of the odors for 5 min. Both jasmine tea and lavender odors at perceived similar intensity caused significant decreases in heart rate and significant increases in spectral integrated values at high-frequency component in comparison with the control (P < 0.05). In the POMS tests, these odors produced calm and vigorous mood states. We also examined the effects of (R)-(−)-linalool, one of its major odor components, at the same concentration as in the tea, and (S)-(+)-linalool. Only (R)-(−)-linalool elicited a significant decrease in heart rate (P < 0.05) and an increase in high-frequency component in comparison with the controls, and produced calm and vigorous mood states. Thus, the low intensity of jasmine tea odor has sedative effects on both autonomic nerve activity and mood states, and (R)-(−)-linalool, one of its components, can mimic these effects.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Nutrition Chemistry, Division of Food Science and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa Oiwake-cho, Kyoto, 606-8502, Japan

    Kyoko Kuroda, Naohiko Inoue & Tohru Fushiki

  2. Laboratory of Food Chemistry, Ochanomizu University, 2-1-1 Ohtsuka, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 112-8610, Japan

    Yuriko Ito & Kikue Kubota

  3. Central Research Institute, Itoen Ltd, 21 Mekami, Sagara-cho, Haibara-gun, Shizuoka, 421-0516, Japan

    Akio Sugimoto & Takami Kakuda

Authors
  1. Kyoko Kuroda
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  2. Naohiko Inoue
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  3. Yuriko Ito
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  4. Kikue Kubota
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  5. Akio Sugimoto
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  6. Takami Kakuda
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  7. Tohru Fushiki
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Correspondence to Tohru Fushiki.

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Kuroda, K., Inoue, N., Ito, Y. et al. Sedative effects of the jasmine tea odor and (R)-(−)-linalool, one of its major odor components, on autonomic nerve activity and mood states. Eur J Appl Physiol 95, 107–114 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-005-1402-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-005-1402-8

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