Melissa and Lavender essentials oils have been shown to have antiagitation and potential pro-cognitive properties. Previous studies have shown these oils to display potential pharmacological effects upon the GABAA receptor, AMPA receptors and voltage-gated sodium channels. In this study, the major neuroactive constituents which belong to both essential oils and the mechanisms which underpin the behavioural effects of these oils have been identified. One of the major component(s) of Melissa oil, trans-ocimene, profoundly inhibited [3sS]-t-butylbicyciophosphorothionate ([3SS] TBPS) binding to native gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABAA) receptors in a concentration dependent manner with an ICsoof 40 !-1M.No clear evidence was found for any of the major components of the oils being candidate sodium channel blockers. In this study, the putative AMPAkine effect of Melissa (Mo) essential oil (Eo) was also investigated on neuronal cultures and following in vivo exposure (acute- and chronic- treatments) using an Alzheimer's diseasemouse model (TASTPM). Neither protocol demonstrated clear effects of Mo on transmembrane-regulated protein gamma 8 (TARPy8)-, glutamate receptor subunit 2 (GluA2) or brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression. Overall, this study suggested the dominating mechanism of Mo is neuronal depression, via blockade of voltage-gated sodium channels confirmed in parallel electrophysiology studies. TASTPM mice displayed a high level of anxiety which was not overcome by either acute or chronic treatments with Mo, resulting in little beneficial effects upon learning and memory performance in both novel object recognition (NOR) and 3D maze tests. However, the NOR experiment indicated beneficial cognitive effects of Sunflower oil which are worthy of further study. In conclusion, this thesis provides new evidence for the rationale use of Melissa oil and its constituent(s) as anti-agitation agents and suggests their potential for treatment of other neurological disorders, such as epilepsy and chronic neuropathic pain disorders
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:543745 |
| Date | January 2011 |
| Creators | Mahita, Mwajuma Omari |
| Publisher | University of Sunderland |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
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