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Antioxidant and Anti-inflammation Activities of Ocotea, Copaiba and Blue Cypress Essential Oils in Vitro and in Vivo

Journal of the American Oil Chemists' Society volume 91, pages 1531–1542 (2014)Cite this article

Abstract

Essential oils are formed by aromatic plants as secondary metabolites and are widely used in traditional medicine. In this research, the composition and biological activities of three commercial oils essential oils, Ocotea, Copaiba and Blue Cypress, were evaluated in cultured cells and in mice. GC/MS revealed different components within these oils. Ocotea and Copaiba did not have an antioxidant activity below 5 % (v/v), and Blue Cypress possessed a moderate anti-oxidant activity. Ocotea was the most potent inhibitor against pro-inflammatory mediators. In addition, Ocotea and a higher concentration of Blue Cypress suppressed LPS-induced PGE2 production. Single high-concentration administration of the oils showed acute toxicity in mice. Blood chemistry analysis showed the three essential oils to be quite safe under a lower sub-lethal dosage. Our findings suggested that essential oils can be useful as active medicines to inhibit over-activation of macrophages followed by stimulation by inflammatory mediators.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by a grant from Young Living Essential Oils, Lehi, UT, USA. We thank Sarah Parkin for copy-editing the manuscript. We are grateful for the valuable suggestions from Dr Chi-I Chang (Department of Biological Science and Technology, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Pingtung, Taiwan) and Dr. Hsueh-Kung Lin (Department of Urology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, USA). The technical support of Jessica Renata Yoewono (Faculty of Agricultural Technology, University of Brawijaya, Indonesia) is greatly appreciated.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Science and Technology, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, 1, Shuefu Rd., Neipu, Pingtung, 91201, Taiwan

    R. Amilia Destryana, Tzou-Chi Huang & Wen-Ling Shih

  2. Department of Research and Discovery, Young Living Essential Oils, Lehi, UT, USA

    D. Gary Young & Cole L. Woolley

  3. Austronesian Medicine and Agriculture Research Center, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Pingtung, Taiwan

    Tzou-Chi Huang & Wen-Ling Shih

  4. Faculty of Agricultural Technology, University of Brawijaya, Malang, Indonesia

    R. Amilia Destryana

  5. Department of Veterinary Medicine, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Pingtung, Taiwan

    Hung-Yi Wu

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  1. R. Amilia Destryana
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Correspondence to Wen-Ling Shih.

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Amilia Destryana, R., Gary Young, D., Woolley, C.L. et al. Antioxidant and Anti-inflammation Activities of Ocotea, Copaiba and Blue Cypress Essential Oils in Vitro and in Vivo . J Am Oil Chem Soc 91, 1531–1542 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11746-014-2504-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11746-014-2504-4

Keywords

  • Ocotea
  • Copaiba
  • Blue Cypress
  • Antioxidant
  • Acute toxicity