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Mentha suaveolens Ehrh. is an aromatic herb, traditionally used in the Mediterranean areas. Our objective was to evaluate the effect of inhalation of a commercial essential oil of M. suaveolens on human electroencephalographic (EEG) activity according to gender differences by measuring EEG power spectrum changes in healthy participants. Piperitenone oxide (55.60%) was the most abundant component in the essential oil. Our findings indicated that the inhalation of M. suaveolens essential oil produced different EEG power spectrum changes as well as affected different brain regions between genders. It could be concluded that the inhalation of M. suaveolens essential oil significantly changed the EEG wave activity according to gender and these changes may cause some alterations in the psychophysiological functions of humans. Hence, M. suaveolens essential oil may be utilized in aromatherapy for improving the psychophysiological functions of humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was carried out to investigate the effect of exposure of Cambodian black pepper essential oil on the human electroencephalographic (EEG) activity. In the EEG study, 20 men and 20 women healthy volunteers participated. The EEG readings were recorded from 32 electrodes placed on the scalp according to the International 10‐20 system and 25 EEG indices were analyzed. The essential oil of black pepper mainly contains β‐caryophyllene (30.53%), 3‐carene (19.85%), limonene (14.26%), β‐pinene (9.45%), and α‐pinene (5.25%). The EEG data showed that the exposure of black pepper essential oil exhibited different brain wave activity according to the gender. In women, a significant increase of spectral edge frequency 50% of alpha at C4 region was observed due to the exposure of black pepper essential oil. In the case of men, relative gamma, the ratio of sensorimotor rhythm to theta, spectral edge frequency 50%, spectral edge frequency 90%, and spectral edge frequency 50% of alpha significantly increased during the exposure of black pepper essential oil. The result revealed that the gender variation plays a major role in the EEG activity of black pepper essential oil and the exposure of black pepper essential oil may improve the cognitive functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Pinenes are the most abundant components in the essential oils of various plant species. (+)-α-Pinene and (+)-β-pinene are bicyclic monoterpene hydrocarbons with different fragrance qualities. The present study was carried out to investigate the effect of inhalation of isomeric aroma components, (+)-α-pinene and (+)-β-pinene on human electroencephalographic (EEG) activity according to gender difference. Methods In this study, the EEG activity was evaluated by the measurement of EEG power spectrum in healthy participants - 10 women and 10 men. The EEG readings were recorded using QEEG-8 system from 8 scalp positions of the International 10–20 System. Results The results indicated that the inhalation of (+)-α-pinene and (+)-β-pinene produced different EEG power spectrum changes as well as affect different brain regions. The gender difference played a major role in the EEG activity of both the components. Women highly responded to both the compounds when compared with men. In women, absolute alpha, absolute beta and absolute high beta activities significantly (P < 0.05) increased during the inhalation of (+)-α-pinene. In the case of (+)-β-pinene, absolute fast alpha and absolute high beta activities also significantly increased. Whereas in men, significant decrease of absolute waves such as theta, beta, low beta and high beta were observed during the inhalation of (+)-α-pinene but there were no significant changes in the absolute waves by (+)-β-pinene. Conclusion The different EEG activities of these isomers might be due to the different fragrance quality and structural arrangement of the components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geosmin and 2-methylisoborneol, molecules with the same odor characteristics, are mainly responsible for the smell of soil and cause odor problems worldwide in drinking water supplies. However, the effect of these odor molecules on human brain function is still unclear. The present investigation aimed to evaluate the effect of inhalation of geosmin and 2-methylisoborneol on human electroencephalographic (EEG) activity in order to understand whether their action on brain wave activity is the same or different. A total of 20 healthy volunteers (10 women and 10 men) were selected to determine the EEG power spectrum changes. The EEG data were recorded from 32 channels according to the International 10-20 system and 25 EEG power spectrum indices were analyzed. The inhalation of geosmin and 2-methylisoborneol exhibited different EEG activity by producing changes in different EEG indicators as well as brain regions. In both genders, significant changes in EEG power spectra were observed during the inhalation of geosmin when compared with 2-methylisoborneol. Absolute waves such as beta, fast alpha, low beta, high beta, and gamma significantly decreased, particularly in the centro-parietal (Cp6) region, due to the exposure to geosmin. According to gender variation, geosmin produced significant changes in the absolute low beta and high beta waves at the Cp6 region in women. In the case of 2-methylisoborneol, a significant increase in absolute alpha and absolute fast alpha activity was observed at the F8 region in men. However, there were no significant changes in absolute waves for men and women during the inhalation of geosmin and 2-methylisoborneol. Although both components are responsible for soil smell, they exhibit significantly different EEG activity according to gender. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives The present study aimed to investigate the effect of inhalation of essential oil (EO) and supercritical carbon dioxide extract (SC-CO 2 ) from the root of A. gigas on human electroencephalographic (EEG) activity. Materials and methods For this purpose, the EO was obtained from the root of A. gigas by steam distillation and SC-CO 2 was obtained at 50 °C and 400 bar for 1 h. The EEG readings were recorded using the QEEG-8 system from 8 electrode sites according to the International 10-20 system. Results In the EEG study, the absolute low beta (left temporal and left parietal) activity significantly increased during the inhalation of EO. In the case of SC-CO 2 inhalation, there was no significant change in absolute waves. Conclusion The results revealed that the EO of A. gigas root produced significant changes in the absolute low beta activity and these changes may enhance the language learning abilities of human brain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction In traditional systems of medicine, Inula helenium root is widely used for the management of various ailments. The present work investigates the effect of inhalation of essential oil from the root of I. helenium on electroencephalographic (EEG) activity of the human brain. Methods The effect of inhalation of I. helenium essential oil on EEG activity was evaluated by the measurement of the EEG power spectrum in 20 healthy participants. The EEG spectrum values were recorded using QEEG-8 system from 8 ground electrodes according to the International 10–20 System. Results The results showed that the inhalation of essential oil of I. helenium produced significant changes in the EEG power spectrum values. The reduction of absolute theta (all the regions except T3), beta (Fp1) and mid beta (P4) and relative theta (Fp1, Fp2, F3 and F4) waves were observed during the inhalation. Whereas, the ratio of SMR to theta (Fp1 and P4), SMR ∼ mid beta to theta (Fp1) and spectral edge frequency 50% of alpha (P4) significantly increased during the inhalation of I. helenium essential oil. Conclusion The changes in EEG values due to the inhalation of essential oil of I. helenium root may enhance the alertness state of the brain and could be used for the treatment of psychophysiological disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction The present study was undertaken to evaluate the olfactory stimulation of (+)-limonene and terpinolene on human electroencephalographic (EEG) activity in order to understand their action on brain function by isomer compounds. Methods The effect of inhalation of isomers on EEG activity was evaluated by the measurement of EEG power spectrum in 18 healthy participants. EEGs were recorded using QEEG-8 system from 8 grounding electrodes according to the International 10–20 System. Results The results indicated that the relative high beta (RHB) activity increased significantly in the right temporal region (from 0.1250 to 0.1429 μV, p < 0.05) during the inhalation of (+)-limonene. Whereas, the relative mid beta (RMB) activity decreased significantly (from 0.0646 to 0.0561 μV, p < 0.05) and the relative fast alpha (RFA) activity increased significantly in the right prefrontal region (from 5.6215 to 7.3336 μV, p < 0.05) during the inhalation of terpinolene. According to gender variation, significant changes of absolute and relative beta activities were observed in men than women during the inhalation of both the compounds. Women responded well to both the compounds by a significant increase of absolute fast alpha activity. When compared with (+)-limonene, terpinolene exhibited positive effect by reducing the tension and increasing the relaxation and stabilization states of brain function. Conclusion The isomers produce different states of brain function as affect the different regions of brain. Further, the EEG activity of isomers on human brain is highly related to the structural arrangement of individual compounds and gender difference. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In traditional Korean medicine, flower buds ofMagnolia kobusDC. plant is widely used for the treatments of various disorders. Hence, the present study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of supercritical carbon dioxide extract (SFE) ofM. kobusflower buds on electroencephalographic (EEG) changes of human brain. The extract from the flower buds ofM. kobuswas obtained by SFE and the yield was 0.27% at 40°C and 400 bar pressure. Subsequently, GC-MS analysis revealed that the major components of the SFE were caryophyllene (19.93%) and α-terpineol (12.49%). A large proportion of the oil was composed in the groups of hydrocarbons (55.09%) and alcohols (31.21%). In addition, fragrance evaluation of extract ofM. kobusflower buds showed the characteristics of balsamic, floral, herbal, medicinal, minty, oily and spicy. In EEG study, the data were observed before and during the inhalation ofM. kobusfragrance. During the inhalation ofM. kobusfragrance, the EEG power spectrum values of absolute theta and alpha decreased in all the frontal, temporal and parietal regions. A significant decrease (p < 0.05) of absolute alpha wave was observed at left parietal (P3) region. The results reveal that the changes in EEG values to awaken and increase the concentration states of brain. The present investigation clearly suggested that the fragrance ofM. kobusflower buds could be attributed to the enhancement of psychophysiological activities of human. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fragrances play a pivotal role in humans' psychological and physiological functions through the olfactory system. Aldehydes are important organic compounds with a variety of fragrance notes. Particularly, nonanal (C9) and decanal (C10) aldehydes are important natural fragrant components used to enhance floral, as well as citrus notes in perfumery products. In general, each nostril of the human nose is tuned to smell certain odor molecules better than others due to slight turbinate swelling between the nostrils. Hence, the objective of the present investigation was aimed to evaluate the influence of binasal and uninasal inhalations of C9 and C10 aldehydes on human electroencephalographic (EEG) activity. Twenty healthy participants (10 males and 10 females) participated in this study. The EEG readings were recorded from 8 electrodes (QEEG-8 system) according to the International 10-20 System. The results revealed that C10 exposure exhibited significantly different EEG changes, during binasal and uninasal inhalations. In different brain regions, C10 odor markedly decreased the absolute alpha and absolute beta power spectra. In regards to C9 odor, significant changes of EEG power spectra were noticed only during binasal inhalation. In addition, C10 mainly produced changes at the left parietal site (P3) than other brain sites. In conclusion, the variations in EEG activities of C9 and C10 aldehydes might be owing to their characteristic fragrance quality, as well as the influence of nostril differences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]