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Efecto Relajante de Cananga Odorata Tras La Aplicación Transdermal
Efecto Relajante de Cananga Odorata Tras La Aplicación Transdermal
The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of ylang ylang oil (Cananga odorata, Annonaceae) on
human physiological parameters and self-evaluation after transdermal absorption. Forty healthy volunteers
participated in the experiments. Physiological parameters recorded were skin temperature, pulse rate, breath-
ing rate and blood pressure. Self-evaluation was assessed by means of visual analog scales (VAS). The ylang
ylang oil caused a significant decrease of blood pressure and a significant increase of skin temperature. At the
behavioral level, subjects in the ylang ylang oil group rated themselves more calm and more relaxed than
subjects in the control group. These findings are likely to represent a relaxing effect of the ylang ylang oil and
provide some evidence for the usage of the ylang ylang oil in aromatherapy such as causing a relief of
depression and stress in humans. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Table 1. Demographic data for the control group and the experimental group
Number of volunteers 20 20
Sex (M:F) 12:8 12:8
Height (mean ± SD) (cm) Male 172.75 ± 6.01 175.43 ± 5.77
Female 159.91 ± 4.81 160.25 ± 3.77
Weight (mean ± SD) (kg) Male 63.12 ± 5.64 64.43 ± 4.44
Female 55.66 ± 8.73 54.75 ± 6.29
data for the control group and the experimental group position, providing easy access to attach the electrodes.
are presented in Table 1. Subjects were tested in in- Electrodes were attached on suitable positions. The
dividual sessions and randomly assigned to either the inhalation set was fitted to the volunteer’s face to cover
control group or the ylang ylang oil group. Each group the nose and mouth. The oxygen was then supplied
consisted of 20 subjects. They were fully briefed and directly. The oil or the placebo substance were admin-
gave written informed consent to all aspects of the study istered as described above. Then, the recording of the
(Srinakharinwirot University Ethics Commission physiological parameters was started. After completion
permissions). The ylang ylang oil (fraction II) was ob- of the first trial, the subjects were asked to rate the
tained by steam distillation of the dry, fresh picked rating scales. The SBP and DBP were measured at the
flowers of Cananga odorata (DC.) Hook. f. et Thoms., end of the first trial. This procedure was repeated in
Annonaceae. The oil was identified by GC and GC/ the second trial. At the end of each trial, the subjects
MS. The oil mainly contains methyl benzoate (34.00%), were asked if they had smelled any odor during the
4-methylanisole (19.82%) and benzyl benzoate experiment. All subjects stated that they did not smell
(18.97%). any odor during the experiment.
Fragrance administration. In the experimental group, Acquisition of physiological parameters and statistical
1 mL of a 20% (w/w) solution of ylang ylang oil in analysis. Breathing rate (BR), pulse rate (PR) and skin
sweet almond oil was applied to the skin of the lower temperature (ST) were measured using Power Lab/4SP
abdomen of each subject and the subjects massaged hardware (ADInstruments, Inc., NSW, Australia). The
the oil into the skin by themselves for 5 min. After- sampling rate was 100 Hz. Systolic and diastolic blood
wards the massage area was covered with a plastic film pressure (SBP and DBP) were determined by
in order to prevent evaporation of the oil. In the con- sphygmomanometry using an automated system (Dig-
trol group, 1 mL of the placebo substance, i.e. pure ital Electronic Model DS-155E, Japan). Details of the
sweet almond oil, was used. In both groups subjects recording system and procedure have been described
were supplied with pure air by breathing masks elsewhere (Heuberger et al., 2001; Hongratanaworakit
(inhalation set for adult, product no.1500004020, B+P et al., 2004; Hongratanaworakit and Buchbauer, 2004a,
Beatmungsprodukte GmbH, Neunkirchen, Germany) 2005). VAS, i.e., relaxation, vigor, calmness, attentive-
in order to eliminate any olfactory stimulation by nose ness, mood and alertness, were used to assess behavioral
or mouth. responses. All statistical calculations and data analyses
were performed with the Statistical Package for the
Experimental design. The experimental design has been Social Sciences (SPSS version 11.5). The effects of
previously used by our group (Heuberger et al., 2001; fragrances on physiological parameters and ratings
Hongratanaworakit et al., 2004; Hongratanaworakit and of behavioral responses were determined by Mann-
Buchbauer, 2004a, 2005). One session consisted of two Whitney U-test analysis of variances.
trials of 20 min each. At the beginning and at the end
of each trial, behavioral responses were assessed by
visual analogue scales (VAS). Physiological parameters
were recorded continuously during each trial. In the RESULTS
first trial, which served as a control for influences of the
experimental set-up, the placebo substance was admin- Physiological parameters
istered to all subjects. In the second trial the placebo
was again administered to the control group, whereas The mean and SEM of physiological parameters of the
in the experimental group the appropriate fragrance control group and the experimental group are presented
was administered. in Table 2. The SBP of subjects in the control group
increased at the end of the second trial compared with
Procedure. All experiments were conducted in a bright the end of the first trial. In contrast, the SBP of sub-
and quiet room. The ambient temperature was 24–26 °C. jects in the ylang ylang oil group decreased at the end
Upon arrival, the volunteers were interviewed about of the second trial compared with the end of the first
their personal data. In addition, they were asked about trial. The difference scores of SBP between the second
the rating of behavioral responses. After completion of trial and the first trial for the control group and the
the interview and the rating scales, systolic and diastolic ylang ylang oil group are shown in Fig. 1. Comparison
blood pressure (SBP, DBP) were measured. Subse- of these difference scores revealed a significantly larger
quently, the subjects were informed about the proceed- decrease of SBP in the ylang ylang oil group than in
ings. Afterwards subjects were seated in a semi-reclined the control group (p = 0.012). The DBP of subjects in
Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Phytother. Res. 20, 758–763 (2006)
DOI: 10.1002/ptr
760 T. HONGRATANAWORAKIT AND G. BUCHBAUER
Table 2. Mean and SEM of physiological parameters of the control group and the experimental group
Figure 1. The difference scores and SEM of systolic blood Figure 2. The difference scores and SEM of diastolic blood
pressure for the control group and the ylang ylang oil group. pressure for the control group and the ylang ylang oil group.
Behavioral responses
The mean and SEM of behavioral responses of the Figure 3. The difference scores and SEM of skin temperature
control group and the experimental group are presented for the control group and the ylang ylang oil group.
Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Phytother. Res. 20, 758–763 (2006)
DOI: 10.1002/ptr
RELAXING EFFECTS OF YLANG YLANG OIL 761
Table 3. Mean and SEM of behavioral responses of the control group and the experimental group
Figure 4. The difference scores and SEM of subjective Figure 5. The difference scores and SEM of subjective relaxa-
calmness for the control group and the ylang ylang oil group. tion for the control group and the ylang ylang oil group.
when these muscles are relaxed skin temperature is indicate that the differential effects of the essential oils
higher because more blood is supplied there. There- depend on the mode/route of administration. Both phar-
fore, the increase of skin temperature in the ylang ylang macological and psychological effects are active simul-
oil group indicates a decrease of ANS arousal. At the taneously when the oils are administered by means of
behavioral level, subjects in the ylang ylang oil group inhalation and olfactory processing occurs. In contrast,
rated themselves more calm and more relaxed than percutaneous administration gives evidence of the pure
subjects in the control group. This finding points to- pharmacological effect and exclusion of olfactory
wards a decrease of arousal in terms of self-evaluation. processing. Therefore, in order to differentiate between
Transdermal absorption of ylang ylang oil reduced the pharmacological and psychological effects of fragrances,
level of arousal of the ANS and led to deactivation at a subjective evaluation of the odors must be prevented
the behavioral level, i.e. subjects felt more calm and (Heuberger et al., 1999; Heuberger et al., 2001;
more relaxed than before the administration of the oil. Hongratanaworakit et al., 2000; Hongratanaworakit and
Thus, the effects of ylang ylang oil by means of Buchbauer, 2004b, 2005; Ilmberger et al., 2001). In con-
percutaneous administration may be characterized clusion, our investigation is likely to represent a relax-
by the concept of relaxation which has also been ing effect of ylang ylang oil and provide some evidence
described for the sandalwood essential oil (Hongra- for the usage of ylang ylang oil in medicines such as
tanaworakit et al., 2004). However, our previous study causing a reduction of blood pressure or for the relief
(Hongratanaworakit and Buchbauer, 2004a) reported of depression and stress in humans.
that inhalation of ylang ylang oil reduced the level of
arousal of the ANS but led to activation at the
behavioral level, i.e. subjects felt more attentive and Acknowledgements
more alert than before the administration of the oil.
Thus, the effects of ylang ylang oil by means of inhala- This work was supported by grants from Srinakharinwirot Univer-
tion may be characterized by the concept of harmoni- sity, Thailand. The author is grateful to Dr E. Heuberger, University
zation rather than relaxation/sedation. All our findings of Vienna, Austria, for experimental designs suggestion.
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Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Phytother. Res. 20, 758–763 (2006)
DOI: 10.1002/ptr