Sedative effects of the jasmine tea odor and (R)-(-)-linalool, one of its major odor components, on autonomic nerve activity and mood states.
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.
Laboratory of Nutrition Chemistry, Division of Food Science and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa Oiwake-cho, Japan.
Kyoko
K
Kuroda
Naohiko
N
Inoue
Yuriko
Y
Ito
Kikue
K
Kubota
Akio
A
Sugimoto
Takami
T
Kakuda
Tohru
T
Fushiki
D000080462:Acyclic Monoterpenes; D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect / Q000187:drug effects*; D019341:Aromatherapy / Q000523:psychology; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects*; D028241:Camellia sinensis; D005260:Female; D035264:Flowers; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000494:pharmacology*; D031660:Jasminum; D027523:Lavandula; D008297:Male; D039821:Monoterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009812:Odorants; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D010938:Plant Oils; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013237:Stereoisomerism; D013662:Tea
D000080462:Acyclic Monoterpenes; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D039821:Monoterpenes; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D010938:Plant Oils; D028321:Plant Preparations; D013662:Tea; C018584:linalool; C045718:lavender oil