吸聞伽羅木醇型土肉桂葉精油對人體生理及心理效益之影響

Abstract

伽羅木醇型土肉桂（Cinnamomum osmophloeum ct. linalool）葉子含有大量具抗焦慮活性之S-(+)-Linalool。本研究目的為建立超音波輔助萃取法（Ultrasound-assisted extraction, UAE），以萃取溶劑、萃取時間及萃取次數方面探討有效且大量萃取伽羅木醇型土肉桂葉子之條件；同時為瞭解吸聞伽羅木醇型土肉桂葉子精油對人體心理及生理之影響，透過填寫盤斯心情量表（Profile of mood state, POMS）及感官問卷評估，並監測人體血壓、脈搏及腦波進行分析。 首先以常見之水蒸餾法萃取伽羅木醇型土肉桂葉精油並分析其化學組成分，結果顯示精油主成分為S-(+)-Linalool，相對含量> 95%。探討伽羅木醇型土肉桂葉最適萃取條件之結果顯示，與正己烷相比，以甲醇可萃出更多S-(+)-Linalool；UAE萃取時間15 min效率最佳，能得到與30 min大約相等之含量；由萃取次數對土肉桂葉萃取結果得知，只須萃取二次即可萃取八成以上S-(+)-Linalool。 由POMS分析結果得知，受試者於吸聞精油後「精神-活力」方面分數減少，但心理負面情緒「緊張-焦慮」、「生氣-敵意」及「沮喪-憂慮」則顯著降低，顯示伽羅木醇型土肉桂葉精油可有效降低上述負面情緒，然並無提升精神或活力感受。男性受試者吸聞土肉桂葉精油後「緊張-焦慮」及「精神-活力」情緒降低，女性則降低「生氣-敵意」、「疲倦-惰性」、「沮喪-憂慮」及「精神-活力」情緒。另外，無使用芳香產品習慣之受試者減少「沮喪-憂慮」及「精神-活力」情緒，而使用習慣受試者對於「緊張-焦慮」、「生氣-敵意」及「精神-活力」情緒下降。綜合來說，吸聞伽羅木醇型土肉桂葉精油有效減少心理負面情緒，且「精神-活力」情緒降低。 感官評量分析結果顯示，受試者聞到伽羅木醇型土肉桂葉子精油後，感受氣味較空氣更為「清新的」、「豐富的」、「濃郁的」、「強烈的」及「有木材味的」。男性受試者認為精油氣味為「豐富的」及「濃郁的」，女性受試者則感受氣味更為「清新的」及「活力的」。無使用芳香產品習慣之受試者感受精油氣味為「清新的」，而使用芳香產品習慣之受試者認為精油氣味更為「清新的」、「豐富的」及「濃郁的」。 此外，測定人體的血壓、脈搏及腦波以瞭解人體吸聞伽羅木醇型土肉桂葉精油10 min後生理指標的改變，分析結果得知，受試者吸聞土肉桂精油後舒張壓降低，然收縮壓及脈搏變化不顯著，而腦波α波與β波前後幾乎無變化；不同性別吸聞精油之腦波變化相異，男性受試者α波及β波變化不顯著，而女性受試者吸聞土肉桂葉精油後，α波及β波皆顯著下降，得知吸聞精油可有效降低女性受試者之緊張焦慮。使用芳香產品習慣的受試者於吸聞精油後β波降低，可減少緊張焦慮；無使用芳香產品習慣之受試者則無顯著變化。 伽羅木醇型土肉桂葉用途廣泛、十分具有商業價值，藉由本研究建立之超音波輔助萃取可有效萃得大量精油主成分S-(+)-Linalool。雖然伽羅木醇型土肉桂葉精油對於人體血壓、脈搏及腦波變化不顯著，但在心理情緒上能有效使受試者負面情緒降低，未來極有潛力作為芳香療法材料或開發對人體身心健康有益之產品。

The leaves of Cinnamomum osmophloeum ct. linalool is known to contain high levels of anxiolytic substance, S-(+)-linalool. This study was conducted to investigate different ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) methods in terms of extraction solvent, extraction time, and number of extractions to establish the conditions for the most effective and productive extraction of C. osmophloeum ct. linalool leaves. Concurrently, this study also studied the psychological and physiological changes in the human body when inhaling essential oil from C. osmophloeum ct. linalool leaves. Data on psychological changes were collected by having the participants completing the profile of mood state (POMS) and sensory questionnaires, while physiological changes were collected by monitoring blood pressure, pulse rate and brain waves. Analysis of these data helped to understand the physiological and psychological effects of inhaling the essential oil from C. osmophloeum ct. linalool leaf. Through water distillation extraction of C. osmophloeum ct. linalool leaf essential oil and analyzing its chemical composition, it showed that S-(+)-linalool was the main constituent with a relative content of more than 95%. The experiment to investigate the most suitable conditions for the extraction of C. osmophloeum ct. linalool leaves showed that methanol, rather than n-hexane, can extract more S-(+)-linalool. The most efficient UAE extraction time was 15 min, and the content was approximately the same as those of 30 min; only two extractions were needed to extract more than 80% of the S-(+)-linalool. The results of the POMS analysis showed that scores for “vigor-activity” decreased, but negative psychological emotions, “tension-anxiety”, “anger-hostility” and “depression-dejection” decreased significantly after inhaling the essential oil. This demonstrated that essential oil from C. osmophloeum ct. linalool leaf was able to effectively reduce the negative emotions; however, it does not enhance feelings of energy or vitality. Results show that after inhaling the essential oil, emotions such as “tension-anxiety” and “vigor-activity” were reduced in male subjects. On the other hand, emotions associated with “anger-hostility”, “fatigue-inertia”, “depression-dejection” and “vigor-activity” were decreased in female subjects. In addition, feelings of “depression-dejection” and “vigor-activity” were lessened in subjects without the habit of using fragrance products, while feelings of “tension-anxiety”, “angry-hostility” and “vigor-activity” were lowered in subjects who were accustomed of using fragrance products. In conclusion, the inhalation of C. ct. linalool leaf essential oil was effective in both reducing negative psychological emotions and lowering emotion related to “vigor-activity”. The questionnaires also revealed that subjects felt the air to be more "fresh", "rich", "strong", "heavy" and "woody" afterwards. Male subjects perceived the scent of essential oils as "rich" and " heavy ", while female subjects perceived the scent as more "fresh" and " lively ". Subjects without the habit of using fragrance products perceived the scent as "fresh", while those who used fragrance products perceived the scent as more "fresh", "rich" and " heavy ". In addition, all subjects' blood pressure, pulse rate, and brain waves were monitored throughout the experiment to understand the changes in the physiological indicators. Analysis shows that the diastolic blood pressure of the subjects decreased after 10 min of inhaling C. osmophloeum ct. linalool leaf essential oil, but the systolic blood pressure and pulse rate did not change significantly. There was almost no change in the α and β waves of the participants. It is noted that changes in brain waves were distinct for different genders. The α and β waves of male subjects did not change significantly; however, the α and β waves of female subjects decreased significantly after inhaling C. osmophloeum ct. linalool leaf essential oil. In subjects who were accustomed to using fragrance products, a decrease in β wave was observed and a reduction in anxiety and tension were noted, while no significant changes were observed in subjects without the habit of using fragrance products. C. osmophloeum ct. linalool leaves are widely used and commercially valuable. The UAE established in this study is effective in extracting a large amount of the main component of the essential oil, S-(+)-linalool. Although the effects on blood pressure, pulse rate and brain waves are not significant, C. osmophloeum ct. linalool essential oil does produce psychological effects and helps reduce negative emotions. With more research and development, S-(+)-linalool has the potential to be used as an aromatherapy material or develop into products that are beneficial to human health in the future.