Linalool odor-induced anxiolytic effects and central neuronal mechanisms

• Project/Area Number: 17K01988
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Basic / Social brain science
• Research Institution: Kagoshima University
• Principal Investigator: Kashiwadani Hideki 鹿児島大学, 医歯学域医学系, 講師 (70328376)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 桑木 共之 鹿児島大学, 医歯学域医学系, 教授 (80205260)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-04-01 – 2020-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2019)
• Budget Amount: ¥4,680,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,600,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,080,000); Fiscal Year 2019: ¥1,690,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,300,000、Indirect Cost: ¥390,000); Fiscal Year 2018: ¥1,300,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,000,000、Indirect Cost: ¥300,000); Fiscal Year 2017: ¥1,690,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,300,000、Indirect Cost: ¥390,000)
• Keywords: リナロール / ベンゾジアゼピン受容体 / 香気誘発性抗不安 / 香気 / 嗅覚 / 抗不安効果 / GABAA受容体 / オレキシン / 抗不安作用 / 機能性香気 / ベンゾジアゼピン / 神経回路 / 視床下部 / 高次嗅覚領域

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we examined the anxiolytic effects of linalool odor with anxiety-related behavior test of wild type mouse. Light/Dark box test and elevated plus maze test revealed that linalool odor exposure induced significant anxiolytic effects in mice. Furthermore, the anxiolygic effects did not accompany with the motor dysfunction, was triggered by olfactory input evoked by linalool odor, and was mediated by benzodiazepin receptors activated by olfactory input evoked by linalool odor.

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

香気の持つ抗不安作用は古代ギリシャ時代より知られており、現在でもアロマセラピー等として広く普及している。一方、その科学的検証と基盤となる神経回路機構についての検証は進んでおらず、民間療法の域を今だ出ていない。本研究では複数の行動試験を組み合わせ、客観的行動学的指標に基づきリナロール香気の抗不安効果を実証した点に意義がある。また臨床抗不安薬として広く用いられているベンゾジアゼピン系薬剤が作用する受容体をリナロール香気が内在性物質を介して刺激することが明らかになり、より安全な抗不安薬開発の大きな手掛かりとなりうる。

Research Products

• [Journal Article] Linalool Odor-Induced Anxiolytic Effects in Mice (2018)
  • Author(s): Harada Hiroki、Kashiwadani Hideki、Kanmura Yuichi、Kuwaki Tomoyuki
  • Journal Title: Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience Volume: 12 Pages: 241-241
  • DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2018.00241
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access
• [Presentation] Contribution of orexinergic systems in anxiolytic effects of linalool odor in mice (2019)
  • Author(s): Li, M., Kuwaki, T., Kashiwadani, H.
  • Organizer: 第47回自律神経生理研究会
• [Presentation] Descending orexinergic inhibition contributes to the linalool odorinduced analgesia in mice (2019)
  • Author(s): Yurina Higa, Mitutaka Sugimura, Tomoyuki Kuwaki, Hideki Kashiwadani
  • Organizer: 9th Federation of the Asian and Oceanian Physiological Societies Congress: FAOPS 2019
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] Duration of linalool odor-induced analgesia in mice (2018)
  • Author(s): Yurina Higa, Mitutaka Sugimura, Tomoyuki Kuwaki, Hideki Kashiwadani
  • Organizer: 15th International Dental Congress on Anesthesia, Sedation and Pain Control: IFDAS 2018
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] Linalool exposure showed anxiolygic effects in mice (2018)
  • Author(s): Hiroki Harada, Yuichi Kanmura, Tomoyuki Kuwaki, Hideki Kashiwadani
  • Organizer: American society of anesthesiologist annual meeting: ASA2018
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] 香気誘発性鎮痛と抗不安作用 (2018)
  • Author(s): 柏谷英樹
  • Organizer: 第95回日本生理学会大会
• [Presentation] リナロール香気に誘発される抗不安効果 (2017)
  • Author(s): 原田浩輝、上村裕一、桑木共之、柏谷英樹
  • Organizer: 第68回西日本生理学会
• [Remarks] 「香り」が不安を軽減する脳の仕組みを発見
  • URL: https://www.kagoshima-u.ac.jp/pickup/2018/10/post-1379.html
• [Remarks] 鹿児島大学大学院医歯学総合研究科統合分子生理学ホームページ
  • URL: http://www.kufm.kagoshima-u.ac.jp/~physiol1/