A presentation as part of our journal club. Plant derived chemicals such as lavender, sandlewood and so on, have long been utilised as holistic relaxants in aromatherapy and complementary medicine. But is there more to plant derived chemicals then meets the eye? Overviewing the following papers; - Alleviating Effects of Plant-Derived Fragrances on Stress-Induced Hyperthermia in Rats - Attenuation of Stress-Induced Elevations in Plasma ACTH Level and Body Temperature in Rats by Green Odour

3. Complex interconnected networks are responsible for many behaviours:

5. Only recently have their physiological mechanisms been investigatedPraescentTMalpha-pinene trans-2-hexenalcis-3-hexen-1-ol

6. Alleviating Effects of Plant-Derived Fragrances on Stress-Induced Hyperthermia in Rats By Akutsuet al Presented by Aaron Sparshott

8. A transient increase of body temperature has been shown to be a typical and reproducible autonomic response to various physical as well as psychological stressors.

10. 42 Rats in Total: Alpha-pinene, Lavender and Green Odourcages were each presented with 12 rats. Control Group ratswere placed back in original cage after handling.

11. Half of each odour group (n=6) except control, were exposed to solvent only.12 12 12 6

13. Behavioural Analysis via video camera.

14. Sniffing

15. Rearing

16. Grooming

17. Resting

19. Alpha-pinene suppressed stress-induced hyperthermia from the beginningTemperature Difference (oC) Time (min)

21. Previous studies have shown that stress-induced hyperthermia responses can be attenuated by pretreating the subject with centrally acting drugs such as;

22. noradrenalineβ receptor antagonist,

23. vasopressin,

24. prostaglandin inhibitors

27. ‘Sedative effects’ of lavender in human’s are more likely to be a psychological property rather than physiological.

28. Autonomic responses showed no significant difference to control

30. Attenuation of Stress-Induced Elevations in Plasma ACTH Level and Body Temperature in Rats by Green Odour By Nakashima et al Presented by Zoe Hutchins

32. Stress Response: Elevation of ACTH Level and Tb Hypothalamus Anterior Pituitary Preoptic Centre Olfactory Inputs ↓ Tb ↓ACTH

34. Control: immobilisation without green odour

35. Treatment: exposure to green odour at various times prior, during or following immobilisation

36. Blood was collected and assayed for ACTH either immediately following immobilisation or 2 days later.STRESS 1h 1h ½ h 0h 2h 4h 6h 48h Immediate ACTH Long-Lasting ACTH

37. Results – ACTH Levels Green odour [0.03%] decreased ACTH levels when applied during or following immobilisation.

39. Tb was recorded every 20 minutes for 3 consecutive days.

40. Treatment rats were exposed to green odour for 30 minutes during the beginning of the 2 hour immobilisation.Temperature Recording 10 days Recovery Stress (2hr) Day 1 (Prior) Day 3 (Post) Device Implantation Green Odour (½hr)

41. Results – Tb Recording Green odour [0.03%] decreased Tb immediately after stress and during the light phase of the following day.

43. Potential inconsistencies in the levels of green odour exposure the different groups received.IMMOBILISED NON - IMMOBILISED

44. Results Summary GREEN ODOUR ↓ ACTH ↓ Tb Immediately following stress & two days post-stress When applied during or following stress

46. Hypothalamus & Catecholamine System

47. ↓ Fos in the Paraventricular Nucleus (PVN) down-regulating CRH secretion and subsequently ACTH

48. Tb Reduction

49. ↓ Sympathetic activity

50. ↓ ACTH and GlucocorticoidsFurther research is required to fully elucidate the physiologic mechanisms of green odour

52. For more information regarding Praescent or SerenaScent go to