Anti-stress effects of plants used in Japanese traditional festivals and development of the anti-stress aromatic agents of the taste of the Japanese

对日本传统季节活动用芳香植物的抗胁迫作用进行了评价。从苍术根茎、松叶、白桃花、桃仁、艾叶、菖蒲根茎、竹叶、菊花和吴茱萸果实中提取精油。以小鼠为实验对象，对这些精油的镇静作用进行了评价。将老鼠暴露在一个新的环境中会诱发探索性行为，从而导致自发运动活动的增加。自发性运动活动的减少被解释为镇静作用，或抗应激作用。苍术根茎精油和吴茱萸果实精油对小鼠自发性运动活性有明显的抑制作用。吴茱萸精油的镇静作用与薰衣草精油相当。此外，这些精油的镇静作用在实验诱导的嗅觉小鼠中消失。我们的数据表明，吴茱萸果实的香味将有助于放松和压力管理。心率变量的分析可能有助于评价香精的抗应激作用。心率R-R间期变化指数是人体研究中最适合检测精神压力负荷和释放的指标。还观察了咖啡和GABA摄入的影响。在今后的研究中，我们将进一步评价吴茱萸的香气对小鼠和人体的抗应激作用。

Anti-stress effects of the aromatic plants used for Japanese traditional seasonal events were evaluated. Essential oils were obtained from Atractylodes rhizomes, pine leafs, white peach blossoms, peach kernels, mugwort leafs, calamus rhizomes, bamboo leafs, chrysanthemum flowers and Evodia fruits. The sedative effects of these essential oils were evaluated in a mice open field test. The exposure of a mouse to a novel environment induces exploratory behavior resulting in an increase in spontaneous motor activity. The reduction of the spontaneous motor activity was translated as the sedative effects, or anti-stress effects. The essential oils from Atractylodes rhizomes and Evodia fruits showed significant reduction in the spontaneous motor activity. The sedative effect of Evodia fruit's essential oil was comparable to that of lavender flower's essential oil. In addition, the sedative effects of these essential oils disappeared in the experimentally induced anosmic mice. Our data suggest that the fragrance of the Evodia fruits would be useful for relaxation and stress management. The analysis of heart rate variably might be useful to evaluate the anti-stress effects of the fragrance. The variation index of the heart rate R-R interval was the most suitable index to detect the load and liberation of mental stress in human studies. The effects of the intake of coffee and GABA were also observed. Anti-stress effects of the fragrance of Evodia Fruits in mice and human are going to be evaluated in future.