title: Cymbopogon martinii essential oil and geraniol at noncytotoxic concentrations exerted immunomodulatory/anti-inflammatory effects in human monocytes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In traditional medicine, plants have formed the basis of sophisticated systems that have been in existence for thousands of years and still provide mankind with new remedies. Cymbopogon martinii, known as palmarosa, has been used in aromatherapy as a skin tonic due to its antimicrobial properties. It has also used in Ayurvedic medicine for skin problems and to relieve nerve pain. The immunomodulatory action of C. martinii essential oil (EO) and geraniol was evaluated regarding the production of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines (tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α and IL-10, respectively) by human monocytes in vitro.
  
  
  METHODS
  Monocyte cultures were incubated with EO or geraniol. After 18 h, cytotoxicity assays were performed using 3-(4,5-dimethyl-thiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide method, and cytokine production was determined by ELISA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The variables showed no cytotoxic effects on monocytes. TNF-α production was not affected by C. martinii and geraniol, and only the concentration of 5 μg/ml of C. martinii stimulated its production. On the other hand, all concentrations of C. martinii and geraniol increased IL-10 production by human monocytes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Data showed that noncytotoxic concentrations of EO and geraniol exerted an anti-inflammatory action by increasing IL-10 production; moreover, geraniol seemed to be probably responsible for EO immunomodulatory activity in our assay condition.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Biosciences Institute, UNESP, Botucatu, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Bruna Fernanda
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: Murbach Teles Andrade
authors.forename: Bruno José
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Conti
authors.forename: Karina Basso
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Santiago
authors.forename: Ary
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fernandes Júnior
authors.forename: José Maurício
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Sforcin
mesh_terms: D000080462:Acyclic Monoterpenes; D000328:Adult; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D031743:Cymbopogon / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009000:Monocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D013729:Terpenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000080462:Acyclic Monoterpenes; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013729:Terpenes; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D016753:Interleukin-10; C007836:geraniol
keywords: Cymbopogon martinii; cytokines; essential oil; geraniol; monocytes