title: Anticonflict effects of rose oil and identification of its active constituents.
abstract: The present study investigates the pharmacologically active constituents of rose oil, which possesses anti-conflict effects. Analysis using GC/MS revealed that rose oil contains 9 substances that were identified as myrcene, benzyl alcohol, 2-phenethyl alcohol, citronellol, geraniol, citronellyl acetate, eugenol, geranyl acetate and methyl eugenol. We examined the effects of each of these substances using the Geller and Vogel conflict tests in ICR mice. Myrcene, benzyl alcohol and citronellyl acetate did not produce any effects in either tests. Geranyl acetate and methyl eugenol produced no effect in the Geller conflict test. Geraniol and eugenol decreased the response rate during the safe period of the Geller conflict test, but did not affect the response rate during the alarm period. In contrast, 2-phenethyl alcohol and citronellol, like rose oil, produced an increasing effect on the response rate during the alarm period in the Geller conflict test. In addition, both chemicals increased the number of electric shocks mice received in the Vogel conflict test in a manner similar to that of rose oil. Given that 2-phenethyl alcohol and citronellol produced the same anti-conflict effects in both tests as rose oil, we concluded that they are the pharmacologically active constituents of anti-anxiety-like effect of rose oil.
authors.affiliation: Endocrine Disruptors and Dioxin Project Group, Japan. umechan@nies.go.jp
authors.forename: Toyoshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Umezu
authors.forename: Hiroyasu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.forename: Kimiyo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nagano
authors.forename: Miho
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamakoshi
authors.forename: Hiroko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Oouchi
authors.forename: Misao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sakaniwa
authors.forename: Masatoshi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Morita
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004597:Electroshock; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D009821:Oils / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D027826:Rosa / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D009821:Oils; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D010938:Plant Oils