Abstract
Essential oils are used for their reputed health benefits; reversal of inflammation, oxidative damage, and infection are some of the therapeutic effects that essential oils are believed to possess. In many cases, there is scientific evidence to back these claims. However, the purported anti-aging effects of essential oils are not yet supported by the literature. We set out to evaluate the effects of 31 oils on telomere length, believed to play a role in cellular senescence. Cells were subjected to oils in the presence or absence of hydrogen peroxide, and changes in telomere length were measured using a PCR-based assay. Two oils which showed telomere-protective effects were further characterized using a cytogenetic assay, staining for telomeres. Significant variability was seen among these oils with respect to their ability to induce an apparent increase or decrease in telomere length, and to protect against peroxideinduced telomere damage. Expression analysis showed that telomere-protective oils did not increase telomerase (hTERT) gene transcription, but reduced TERF-1, a suppressor of telomere length. Though this mechanism is not yet understood, these data provide a base upon which the community can build, and represent the first formal scientific foray into the study of essential oils on the telomere. Conclusion: Certain essential oils, including those from basil and rosemary, appear to have telomere-protective effects, mediated through a reduction of the TERF-1 telomere-suppressive protein.
Highlights
Considerable research and development work has been invested in the evaluation of plant products as potential remedies for common ailments
It is of interest to note that some essential oils cause apparent increases in telomere length over those seen in untreated cells, when administered alone
When antioxidant-like molecules such as these essential oils (EOs) or PBN are present, this effect may be reduced or reversed, explaining the data we present here; TERT gene expression is increased by peroxide without a subsequent lengthening of telomeres, as telomerase is likely present in these cells in high enough amounts that additional enzyme would not be expected to impact telomere length
Summary
Considerable research and development work has been invested in the evaluation of plant products as potential remedies for common ailments. Analysis of EOs by chromatography and spectrometry assays show that they can contain 20-60 constituents in vastly differing concentrations and compositions. These consist of two or three major components at high concentrations (in the range of 2070% of the whole), with multiple minor components, some in trace amounts [1]. Recognized as the primary ingredients of EO, the major components are generally believed to be responsible for much of the observed biological effects [1]. It is widely believed that the combined effects of the EO components, potentially acting in synergy, provide the rationale for the use of EOs and combinations thereof (rather than isolated components) for their health-promoting benefits [2]
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