The effect of inhalation ofCitrus sinensisflowers andMentha spicataleave essential oils on lung function and exercise performance: a quasi-experimental uncontrolled before-and-after study.
BACKGROUND
Recently, there has been an increased interest in the effects of essential oils on athletic performances and other physiological effects. This study aimed to assess the effects ofCitrus sinensisflower andMentha spicataleaves essential oils inhalation in two different groups of athlete male students on their exercise performance and lung function.


METHODS
Twenty physical education students volunteered to participate in the study. The subjects were randomly assigned into two groups:Mentha spicataandCitrus sinensis(ten participants each). One group was nebulized byCitrus sinensisflower oil and the other byMentha spicataleaves oil in a concentration of (0.02 ml/kg of body mass) which was mixed with 2 ml of normal saline for 5 min before a 1500 m running tests. Lung function tests were measured using a spirometer for each student pre and post nebulization giving the same running distance pre and post oils inhalation.


RESULTS
A lung function tests showed an improvement on the lung status for the students after inhaling of the oils. Interestingly, there was a significant increase in Forced Expiratory Volume in the first second and Forced Vital Capacity after inhalation for the both oils. Moreover significant reductions in the means of the running time were observed among these two groups. The normal spirometry results were 50 %, while after inhalation withM. spicataoil the ratio were 60 %.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings support the effectiveness ofM. spicataandC. sinensisessential oils on the exercise performance and respiratory function parameters. However, our conclusion and generalisability of our results should be interpreted with caution due to small sample size and lack of control groups, randomization or masking. We recommend further investigations to explain the mechanism of actions for these two essential oils on exercise performance and respiratory parameters.


BACKGROUND
ISRCTN10133422, Registered: May 3, 2016.
Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, P.O. Box 7, Nablus, Palestine.
Nidal Amin
NA
Jaradat
Public Health Division, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, P.O. Box 7, Nablus, Palestine.
Hamzeh
H
Al Zabadi
Physiology, Pharmacology and Toxicology Division, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, P.O. Box 7, Nablus, Palestine.
Belal
B
Rahhal
Physiology, Pharmacology and Toxicology Division, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, P.O. Box 7, Nablus, Palestine.
Azmi Mahmoud Ali
AM
Hussein
Faculty of Physical Education, An-Najah National University, P.O. Box 7, Nablus, Palestine.
Jamal Shaker
JS
Mahmoud
Faculty of Law, An-Najah National University, P.O. Box 7, Nablus, Palestine.
Basel
B
Mansour
Department of Chemistry, Arab American University of Jenin, Jenin, Palestine.
Ahmad Ibrahim
AI
Khasati
Faculty of Humanities, An-Najah National University, P.O. Box 7, Nablus, Palestine.
Abdelkhaleq
A
Issa
Athletic performance; Citrus sinensis; Essential oil; Lung function; Mentha spicata
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