title: Pharmacological and neuroprotective profile of an essential oil derived from leaves of Aloysia citrodora Palau.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The Jordanian 'Melissa', (Aloysia citrodora) has been poorly studied both pharmacologically and in the clinic. Essential oils (EO) derived from leaves of A. citrodora were obtained by hydrodistillation, analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and were investigated for a range of neurobiological and pharmacological properties, as a basis for potential future use in drug discovery.
  
  
  METHODS
  A selection of central nervous system (CNS) receptor-binding profiles was carried out. Antioxidant activity and ferrous iron-chelating assays were adopted, and the neuroprotective properties of A. citrodora EO assessed using hydrogen peroxide-induced and β-amyloid-induced neurotoxicity with the CAD (Cath.-a-differentiated) neuroblastoma cell line.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The major chemical components detected in the A. citrodora EOs, derived from dried and fresh leaves, included limonene, geranial, neral, 1, 8-cineole, curcumene, spathulenol and caryophyllene oxide, respectively. A. citrodora leaf EO inhibited [(3) H] nicotine binding to well washed rat forebrain membranes, and increased iron-chelation in vitro. A. citrodora EO displays effective antioxidant, radical-scavenging activities and significant protective properties vs both hydrogen peroxide- and β-amyloid-induced neurotoxicity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A. citrodora EO displays a range of pharmacological properties worthy of further investigation to isolate the compounds responsible for the observed neuroactivities, to further analyse their mode of action and determine their clinical potential in neurodegenerative diseases.
authors: Department of Biopharmaceutics and Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan.
authors: Sawsan
authors: S
authors: Abuhamdah
authors: School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Durham University, Durham, UK.
authors: Rushdie
authors: R
authors: Abuhamdah
authors: Jodrell Laboratory, Royal Botanic Gardens, Richmond, UK.
authors: Melanie-Jayne R
authors: MJ
authors: Howes
authors: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan.
authors: Suleiman
authors: S
authors: Al-Olimat
authors: Sunderland Pharmacy School, Sunderland University, Sunderland, UK.
authors: Abdel
authors: A
authors: Ennaceur
authors: School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Durham University, Durham, UK.
authors: Paul L
authors: PL
authors: Chazot
mesh_terms: D000080462:Acyclic Monoterpenes; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D003511:Cyclohexanols / Q000494:pharmacology; D053138:Cyclohexenes / Q000494:pharmacology; D000077591:Eucalyptol; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000494:pharmacology; D000077222:Limonene; D039821:Monoterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000188:drug therapy; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019029:Palau; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry*; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000081223:Polycyclic Sesquiterpenes; D016548:Prosencephalon / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology; D013729:Terpenes / Q000494:pharmacology; D029648:Verbenaceae / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000080462:Acyclic Monoterpenes; D000975:Antioxidants; D003511:Cyclohexanols; D053138:Cyclohexenes; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D039821:Monoterpenes; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D010938:Plant Oils; D000081223:Polycyclic Sesquiterpenes; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; D013729:Terpenes; C013258:spathulenol; D000077222:Limonene; D000077591:Eucalyptol; C515179:caryophyllene oxide; C007076:citral
keywords: Aloysia; Alzheimer's disease; antioxidant activity; essential oils; neuroprotection