East Indian Sandalwood Research Articles

Sandalwood Oils of Different Origins Are Active In Vitro against Madurella mycetomatis, the Major Fungal Pathogen Responsible for Eumycetoma.

In the search for new bioactive agents against the infectious pathogen responsible for the neglected tropical disease (NTD) mycetoma, we tested a collection of 27 essential oils (EOs) in vitro against Madurella mycetomatis, the primary pathogen responsible for the fungal form of mycetoma, termed eumycetoma. Among this series, the EO of Santalum album (Santalaceae), i.e., East Indian sandalwood oil, stood out prominently with the most potent inhibition in vitro. We, therefore, directed our research toward 15 EOs of Santalum species of different geographical origins, along with two samples of EOs from other plant species often commercialized as "sandalwood oils". Most of these EOs displayed similar strong activity against M. mycetomatis in vitro. All tested oils were thoroughly analyzed by GC-QTOF MS and most of their constituents were identified. Separation of the sandalwood oil into the fractions of sesquiterpene hydrocarbons and alcohols showed that its activity is associated with the sesquiterpene alcohols. The major constituents, the sesquiterpene alcohols (Z)-α- and (Z)-β-santalol were isolated from the S. album oil by column chromatography on AgNO3-coated silica. They were tested as isolated compounds against the fungus, and (Z)-α-santalol was about two times more active than the β-isomer.

Effect of Hydropriming and Osmopriming on the Germination and Seedling Vigor of the East Indian Sandalwood (Santalum album L.)

The natural populations of East Indian sandalwood (Santalum album L.) are very confined and are facing a drastic decline over the past three decades due to overexploitation. Santalum album L. seeds, in general, have poor and staggered germination, which is the major constraint in raising seedlings in nursery and establishing plantations. In the present investigation, we studied the impact of hydro- and osmopriming on the germination attributes and seedling performance of Santalum album L. The Polyethylene glycol (PEG-6000) solutions at four concentrations of 5, 10, 15, and 20% and four durations of 2, 4, 6, and 8 days and hydropriming for the same durations were applied. Results indicated that the osmopriming of seeds at PEG solutions at 5% concentrations for 2 days recorded the highest germination (79%), which is 42% higher than the control group. Longer priming times (6–8 days) had no effect or negatively affected the germination and growth. Moreover, hydropriming had no significant impact on the germination percentage of sandalwood seeds. The positive growth after osmopriming was connected with higher β-amylase content, higher carbohydrate and fat content, and lower electrical conductance of the seeds. Osmopriming can be recommended as a suitable and low-cost technology in enhancing the seed germination and seedling growth of Santalum album L. to produce quality planting material. Further testing of osmoprimed seedlings under abiotic stress conditions may help to explore its possible acclimation potential for stress resistance.

SANDALWOOD (SANTALUM ALBUM): ANCIENT TREE WITH SIGNIFICANT MEDICINAL BENEFITS

Santalum album L. is commonly known as East Indian sandalwood, Shrigandha, sandalwood and Chandana. The plant is considered as the oldest, precious and commercially significant herbal plant which is also used as timber in India. The plant is well known for its unique and distinctive fragrance. Also, this plant is considered sacred and its importance and usage are also mentioned in Vedas, Puranas, Buddhism, epics and scriptures. It is used in various religions like Hindu, Buddhism and Jainism culture for auspicious work. The heartwood of the plant is very expensive and is associated with great commercial value in the national and international market as it is enriched with fragranced essential oil. The aromatic essential oil of the plant is used in various perfumes, food products, cosmetics, aromatherapy and pharmaceutical industries. Traditionally, the plant is used in various medicinal systems such as Ayurveda, Unani and Siddha to cure diseases like jaundice, dysentery, gastric irritability and is used as a tonic for liver, heart, fever, memory improvement, anti-poison and for blood purifier. In Ayurveda, the sandalwood plant is used as an expectorant, diuretic, astringent, stimulant, coolant and sedative agent. Besides this, the plant is associated with reported therapeutic and pharmacological properties such as antioxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, hepatoprotective and cardio-protective properties. Although, due to the overexploitation of the plant it is enlisted in the IUCN Red List. In this review, the traditional medicinal usage of the sandalwood plant and its pharmacological properties along with its modern view is briefly described.

Nutripriming of Seeds with Manganese Sulphate for Better Germination and Seedling Vigour in the East Indian Sandalwood (Santalum album L.)

Poor and staggered seeds germination is the major hurdle in plantation establishment of sandalwood (Santalum album L) which is one among the esteemed timber species of the world. Nutrient priming is an innovative approach that combines the positive effects of seed priming and improved nutrient supply thereby helping in mass production of quality seedlings. In the present investigation, the effect of nutripriming using MnSO4 on germination and seedling growth of the sandal was studied. The experiment was conducted in two factorial CRD with concentration of MnSO4 (0.4M, 0.6M, 0.8 M and 1 M) and duration of treatment (3, 6, 9 and 12 days) as factors. Results indicated that seeds subjected to nutripriming at 0.8 M for 3 days recorded the highest germination (88.0%) followed by those soaked at 0.4 (86.7%), 0.6 (86.7%) and 1.0 M (86.0%) concentrations respectively. The nutri-primed seeds incubated for more than 3 days recorded a germination < 10%. Multivariate analysis indicated that the seedling growth and biomass production were also higher at 0.8 M concentration for 3 days followed by 0.4 M for 6 days. Hence, we recommend nutripriming at 0.8 M for 3 days and 0.4 M for 6 days for superior planting stock production of sandal.

Biopriming of seeds with plant growth promoting bacteria Pseudomonas fluorescens for better germination and seedling vigour of the East Indian sandalwood

The East Indian sandalwood (Santalum album L), one among the valued timber species in the global market due to its sweet-scented heartwood, is facing a drastic decline of its natural populations over the past three decades. The major constraint in the regeneration of sandal is the slow, staggered, and poor germination of the seeds. The germination may continue even up to one year. The present investigation focused on the impact of biopriming on the germination and seedling performance in sandal. Fresh mature seeds of sandal were procured from the Nachivayal Reserve Forest, Marayur Sandal Division. The seeds were subjected to 16 biopriming treatments using Pseudomonas fluorescens at 4 concentrations (25, 50, 75 and 100%) and 4 durations (2, 4, 6, and 8 days). The results revealed that the biopriming at 100% for 8 days recorded the highest germination percentage (88%) within 21 days with lowest energy period (15 days) and highest germination energy (62.98%). Biopriming at 50% concentration for 8 days was the next best treatment which improved the germination of sandal seeds and the lowest germination percentage was recorded in control seeds (46%). With regard to the seedling growth, the biopriming treatment contributed a significant increase in growth attributes of the seedlings. We recommend the biopriming with Pseudomonas fluorescens at 100% for 8 days as a potential technique to enhance seed germination and seedling growth in sandal.

Participatory value chain study for yasi sandalwood (Santalum yasi) in Fiji

ABSTRACT Santalum yasi (yasi) was first exploited in Fiji in the early 1800s and has been harvested periodically but heavily ever since. Yasi produces one of the most valuable sandalwoods, being high in α- and β-santalols and typically meeting the East Indian sandalwood (Santalum album) ISO standard for sandalwood oil. Although wild yasi stands are now near to commercial extinction, they are being replaced by rapidly expanding smallholder plantings throughout the Fiji archipelago. A value chain study is presented for yasi in Fiji for a 35-year period (1984–2018). The study was undertaken in 2018–2019, in a participatory manner, through interviews and consultations with the key value actors, comprising yasi owners and growers, buyers, local buyers and processors, international buyers and processors, and the Fiji Government’s Ministry of Forestry. The study’s focus was on the main yasi-producing and -processing islands of Viti Levu, Vanua Levu, Kadavu and the Lau Group. The yasi value chain has been operating suboptimally, with modest returns to tree owners, growers and the Fiji Government, a failure to develop a local yasi-oil and value-adding industry, and, until recently, a lack of yasi replanting. An ongoing constraint to increased plantings of yasi in Fiji is a lack of practical and efficient regulatory and trading frameworks that can provide security of investment for growers, including legal verification (chain of custody) to meet market requirements and curb illegal harvesting. Key findings of this study are: (1) there is a lack of yasi brand recognition and development in the international marketplace due to its substitution for S. album, adversely affecting all actors along the value chain; and (2) there is an opportunity for branding based on yasi’s natural properties and competitiveness. Recommendations are provided to improve the functioning of the yasi value chain in both the short and long terms for yasi tree owners (i-Taukei and smallholder growers), the Fiji Ministry of Forestry, and sandalwood buyers, processors and exporters. Given its high value and non-perishability, yasi has major and near-unique potential to contribute cash income to Fijian communities in remote island archipelagos. Fiji is well placed to develop a highly competitive and sustainable yasi sandalwood industry that delivers greater returns to tree owners, growers and processors through the development of high-quality plantings, enhanced governance and chain of custody, a yasi branding strategy, the development of local value-adding, and cooperation with major perfume houses and body-care-product companies.

Assessment of essential oils from five Santalum species using ATR-fourier transform mid-infrared spectroscopy and GC-MS combined with chemometric analysis

ABSTRACTThe essential oils from Santalum album heartwood is known as East Indian sandalwood oil and has been approved for daily intake as food recently. In order to develop a quick authentication method for East Indian sandalwood oil, the essential oils are hydro distillated from trunks of five Santalum species (Santalum album, Santalum lanceolatum, Santalum spicatum, Santalum austrocaledonicum, and Santalum yasi) and assessed by attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform mid-infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR). The mid-red spectra obtained from essential oils from all five Santalum species are similar and assigned to chemicals with the same functional groups. Most essential oils from other four Santalum species can be discriminated from those from Santalum album by principal component analysis (PCA). In addition, the results of partial least square (PLS) models suggested the strong correlations between santalols proportions quantified by GC-MS and ATR-FTIR spectra of essential oils, which suggests that FTIR combined with chemometric analysis might be a rapid analytical technique for sandalwood oil quality assessments.

Antioxidant and stress modulatory efficacy of essential oil extracted from plantation-grown Santalum album L.

The East Indian sandalwood oil has been widely used as an Ayurvedic medicine and has multiple pharmacological properties. However, antioxidant and antistress potency of East Indian sandalwood oil against oxidative stress-induced damages remain unexplored. Thus, the present study was aimed to investigate the in vitro and in vivo antioxidant and stress-protective properties of essential oil extracted from the heartwood of plantation-grown Santalum album L. (SEO). The SEO was extracted by traditional stream distillation method and the chemical components were determined via gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS) analysis. Nineteen chemical compounds were identified by GC–MS, accounting for 96.81% of total oil. The main components were α-santalol (41.77%), β-santalol (18.02%), (Z)-α-trans-bergamotol (8.50%), (Z)-lanceol (6.57%), and epi-β-santalol (5.78%). The in vitro results suggests that SEO possess an excellent antioxidant activity as it was able to inhibits the intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, reverse the morphological damages and effectively improves viability of neural cells under oxidative stress conditions. Moreover, SEO markedly increased the antioxidant enzyme activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase. Western blotting results further confirmed that SEO protects neural cells against oxidative damages possibly by activating the nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2/heme oxygenase-1 (Nrf2/HO-1) antioxidant mechanism. The SEO also exhibited a strong in vivo antioxidant and stress modulatory activity on Caenorhabditis elegans. The SEO not only acts protective against oxidative stress but also prolongs the lifespan of mev-1 mutant C. elegans having shortened lifespan due to the over production of ROS. This data confirmed that SEO exert potent antioxidant and stress modulatory activities possibly by direct scavenging of free radicals and activation of antioxidant defense system, in vitro and in vivo. Together, these findings indicated that SEO has the potency to be utilized as a source of antioxidant for treating several degenerative and disease conditions caused by oxidative stress.

Alternative Treatments for Atopic Dermatitis: An Update.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic pruritic inflammatory skin disease in which management with topical anti-inflammatory agents during exacerbations remains the mainstay of treatment. With no cure in sight, a significant proportion of patients elect to incorporate complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) as an adjunct to conventional treatment. Many clinicians find it difficult to provide recommendations as the field covers an extensive number of very disparate therapies, with limited quality evidence to indicate efficacy. Since publication of the last review on this topic in theJournalthat compiled and analyzed randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on CAMs in 2015, several new studies have surfaced. This update aims to aggregate and review these new data. A literature search was conducted in the PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Global Resource for EczemA Trials (GREAT) databases for RCTs on complementary and alternative therapies in AD from March 2015 through May 2018, resulting in 15 studies being included in this review. The preliminary results for many treatments such as vitamin E, East Indian Sandalwood Oil (EISO), melatonin, L-histidine, and Manuka honey show positive clinical effects, but there is currently not enough evidence to recommend their use in AD therapy. Future investigative efforts should focus on reproducing some of these studies with a larger sample size whose clinical characteristics and demographics are more reflective of the general AD population, and standardizing the process to produce reliable data.

Callus of East Indian sandalwood co-cultured with fungus Colletotrichum gloeosporioides accumulates santalenes and bisabolene

The inducible accumulation of desired products via in vitro cultures provides an experimental system for researching secondary metabolism in woody plants. This system is convenient, because environmental conditions can be strictly controlled. This is particularly important for East Indian sandalwood (Santalum album L.), a tree with desired sandal oil products that are restricted to the heartwood. In this study, we established a method to induce and proliferate callus from sandalwood shoot explants. Thidiazuron (TDZ) (0.2–1.5 mg/l) could induce the formation of callus, which proliferated rapidly within a month following three successive subcultures in liquid shake culture on Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal medium supplemented with 0.8–1.0-mg/l TDZ. Callus cultured in this liquid medium for 7 days was co-cultured with fungi, either Colletotrichum gloeosporioides or Penidiella kurandae. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) analysis of the solvent extract by chemical anhydrous diethyl ether of callus co-cultured with C. gloeosporioides showed the presence of santalenes and bisabolene, which are the precursors of santalol. However, another fungus, P. kurandae, could not induce santalenes or bisabolene. This study provides an opportunity to further studies on the santalene and bisabolene biosynthetic signaling pathway and the fungal endophyte–plant interaction in sandalwood.

Applicability of chloroplast DNA barcodes for wood identification between Santalum album and its adulterants

Abstract The East Indian sandalwood, Santalum album L., is known for its fragrant heartwood and extractive oils. The increasing demand for the valuable sandalwood products has led to illegal and excessive logging, and there are other Santalum species in the commercial market as substitutes (adulterants). Improved tools for the identification of Santalum species are needed to control this situation. In this study, four chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) regions were screened (matK, psbA-trnH, trnK and trnL) on 35 vouchered specimens covering five Santalum species, i.e. Santalum acuminatum, S. album, Santalum lanceolatum, Santalum murrayanum and Santalum spicatum. The goal of this study was to test the species discrimination ability by means of both the TaxonDNA and neighbor-joining (NJ) methods. The results indicate that the combination of psbA-trnH+trnK gave the best performance for discrimination (100%) of the studied Santalum species concerning the discrimination ability and recovery rate. Meanwhile, six unvouchered wood specimens were retrieved and accurately identified at the species level based on the recommended DNA barcodes. The DNA barcode method is now ready for application in the monitoring of the trade of this valuable resource, and provides an effective approach for wood species identification and product authentication.

East Indian Sandalwood Oil Is a Phosphodiesterase Inhibitor: A New Therapeutic Option in the Treatment of Inflammatory Skin Disease.

Cyclic adenosine monophosphate phosphodiesterases (PDEs) regulate pro-inflammatory cytokine production. One isoform, PDE4, is overactive in chronic relapsing inflammatory skin diseases: psoriasis and eczema/atopic dermatitis, and in several cancers. East Indian sandalwood oil (EISO) has significant anti-inflammatory properties. Here, we report that 75% of pediatric eczema/atopic dermatitis patients treated with topical EISO formulations achieved a >50% reduction in their Eczema Area and Severity Index score. EISO treatment of a psoriasis model reduced PDE4 expression and reversed histopathology. EISO directly inhibited PDE enzymatic activity in vitro. In lipopolysaccharide-stimulated human dermal fibroblast, BEAS-2B, A549, and THP-1 cells, EISO suppressed total cellular PDE activity, PDE4, and 7 transcript levels, nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) activation, and pro-inflammatory cytokines/chemokine production. These results suggest that EISO anti-inflammatory activity is mediated through suppressing PDE activity, thus facilitating cAMP-regulated inhibition of NF-κB and indicate EISO as an attractive natural therapeutic for chronic and acute inflammatory disorders.

East Indian sandalwood (Santalum albumL.) oil confers neuroprotection and geroprotection in Caenorhabditis elegans via activating SKN-1/Nrf2 signaling pathway.

East Indian Sandalwood Oil (EISO) has diverse beneficial effects and has been used for thousands of years in traditional folk-medicine for treatment of different human ailments. However, there has been no in-depth scientific investigation to decipher the neuroprotective and geroprotective mechanism of EISO and its principle components, α- and β-santalol. Hence the current study was undertaken to assess the protective effects of EISO, and α- and β-santalol against neurotoxic (6-OHDA/6-hydroxydopamine) and proteotoxic (α-synuclein) stresses in a Caenorhabditis elegans model. Initially, we found that EISO and its principle components exerted an excellent antioxidant and antiapoptotic activity as it was able to extend the lifespan, and inhibit the ROS generation, and germline cell apoptosis in 6-OHDA-intoxicated C. elegans. Further, we showed that supplementation of EISO, and α- and β-santalol reduced the 6-OHDA and α-synuclein-induced Parkinson's disease associated pathologies and improved the physiological functions. The genetic and reporter gene expression analysis revealed that an EISO, or α- and β-santalol-mediated protective effect does not appear to rely on DAF-2/DAF-16, but selectively regulates SKN-1 and its downstream targets involved in antioxidant defense and geroprotective processes. Together, our findings indicated that EISO and its principle components are worth exploring further as a candidate redox-based neuroprotectant for the prevention and management of age-related neurological disorders.

The Synthesis of Fragrant Natural Products from Santalum album L.: (+)-(Z)-α-Santalol and (-)-(Z)-β-Santalol.

The synthetic challenges associated with the selective synthesis of α-Santalene (1), (Z)-α-Santalol (2), β-Santalene (3), and most importantly (Z)-β-Santalol (4) have interested the world's synthetic chemists for decades. These molecules, lovely examples of nature's exquisite creations, have been isolated from East Indian Sandalwood Oil (Santalum album L.) and have stimulated chemists to develop new and efficient methodologies to synthesize them. The synthesis and evolution of various approaches to the [2.2.1]bicycloheptane ring system present in β-Santalene (3) and the even more challenging selective synthesis of the (Z)-allylic alcohol sidechain present in both (Z)-α-Santalol (2) and ((Z)-β-Santalol (4) will be covered in this review.

Treatment of molluscum contagiosum with an East Indian sandalwood oil product

Objectives: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of an East Indian sandalwood oil (EISO) product as a topical treatment for molluscum contagiosum.Materials and methods: Ten subjects ranging in age from 22 months to 29 years were recruited. Subjects were instructed to apply an EISO product to the lesions twice daily. Subjects were monitored every two to three weeks during the study and were questioned regarding local or systemic side effects. Assessment of response was recorded by counting lesions and documented by photographs.Results: Nine of ten subjects (90%) experienced complete resolution of molluscum lesions within the twelve week study period. Response was unrelated to lesion size or number, how long the molluscum rash had been present, or patient age or gender. There were no complaints of side effects, skin irritation, pain, or other adverse events reported in any subjects.Conclusions: In this pilot open label study, an EISO product proved to be an effective treatment for molluscum contagiosum lesions with resolution of lesions typically occurring within twelve weeks of therapy.

419 Inhibition of Phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE 4) by East Indian Sandalwood Oil (EISO): A new therapeutic option for inflammatory skin diseases

419 Inhibition of Phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE 4) by East Indian Sandalwood Oil (EISO): A new therapeutic option for inflammatory skin diseases

LC-MS-based Screening of East Indian Sandalwood Oil for Mycobacterium tuberculosis Shikimate Kinase and Plasmodium falciparum Thioredoxin Reductase Inhibitory Activities

M. tuberculosis shikimate kinase ( MtSK) and P. falciparum thioredoxin reductase ( PfTrxR) represent promising drug targets in tuberculosis and malaria therapy respectively. East Indian Sandalwood oil (EISO) has many reported therapeutic benefits including antibacterial and antiplasmodial effects. The aim of this study was to screen EISO for MtSK and PfTrxR inhibition as potential mechanisms of antimycobacterial and antiplasmodial activities. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) functional assays were used to assess MtSK and PfTrxR inhibition. In this study, EISO displayed antitubercular activity against M. tuberculosis H37Rv at MIC value of 0.002% v/v. Subsequently preliminary screening of the MtSK inhibition by EISO showed an IC50 value of 0.015% v/v. Additionally, EISO presented 90% inhibition of PfTrxR at 0.01% v/v suggesting a potential mechanism of action for reported antimalarial activity.

Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles and their characterization by XRD

A cost effective and environment friendly technique for green synthesis of silver nanoparticles has been reported. Silver nanoparticles have been synthesized using ethanol extract of fruits of Santalum album (Family Santalaceae), commonly known as East Indian sandalwood. Fruits of S.album were collected and crushed. Ethanol was added to the crushed fruits and mixture was exposed to microwave for few minutes. Extract was concentrated by Buchi rotavaporator. To this extract, 1mM aqueous solution of silver nitrate (AgNO3) was added. After about 24 hr incubation Ag+ ions in AgNO3 solution were reduced to Ag atoms by the extract. Silver nanoparticles were obtained in powder form. X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern of the prepared sample of silver nanoparticles was recorded The diffractogram has been compared with the standard powder diffraction card of JCPDS silver file. Four peaks have been identified corresponding to (hkl) values of silver. The XRD study confirms that the resultant particles are silver nanoparticles having FCC structure. The average crystalline size D, the value of the interplanar spacing between the atoms, d, lattice constant and cell volume have been estimated. Thus, silver nanoparticles with well-defined dimensions could be synthesized by reduction of metal ions due to fruit extract of S.album.

East Indian Sandalwood Oil (EISO) Alleviates Inflammatory and Proliferative Pathologies of Psoriasis.

Psoriasis, a chronic inflammatory skin disease marked by hyper proliferation and aberrant differentiation of keratinocytes, affects 2–3% of the world’s population. Research into the pathogenesis of psoriasis has been hampered by the lack of models that accurately reflect the biology of the psoriatic phenotype. We have previously reported that East Indian Sandalwood oil (EISO) has significant anti-inflammatory properties in skin models and hypothesized that EISO might provide therapeutic benefit to psoriasis patients due to its anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative properties. Here we present interim results from an on-going proof-of-concept Phase 2 clinical trial in which topically applied EISO is demonstrating to be well tolerated and helpful in alleviating mild to moderate psoriasis symptoms. This led us to evaluate the ability of EISO to affect the psoriatic phenotype using MatTek Corporation reconstituted organotypic psoriatic and normal human skin models. EISO had no impact on the phenotype of the normal skin tissue model, however, EISO treatment of the psoriasis tissue model reverted psoriatic pathology as demonstrated by histologic characterization and expression of keratinocyte proliferation markers, Ki67 and psoriasin. These phenotypic affects correlated with suppressed production of ENA-78, IL-6, IL-8, MCP-1, GM-CSF, and IL-1β. Demonstration of the ability of EISO to abrogate these psoriasis symptoms in well-characterized in vitro psoriatic tissue models, supports the hypothesis that the clinically observed symptom alleviation is due to suppression of intrinsic tissue inflammation reactions in afflicted lesions. This study presents a systematic approach to further study the underlying mechanisms that cause psoriasis, and presents data supporting the potential of EISO as a new ethnobotanical therapeutic concept to help direct and accelerate the development of more effective therapies.

A Pilot Study on the Physiological Effects of Three Essential Oils in Humans

In the present study, the physiological effects on 32 humans exposed to experimental stress provoked by inhalation of the essential oils of East Indian sandalwood (Santalum album L.), Western Australian sandalwood (Santalum spicatum R.Br.) and lavender (Lavandula angustifolia MILL.) were investigated. During individual testing sessions, several saliva samples were collected, blood pressure was regularly measured and parameters of the autonomic nervous system (heart rate, skin conductance response) were continuously monitored. Salivary cortisol, as an endocrine stress indicator, was determined by time- resolved fluoroimmunoassay. Statistical analyses evidenced that the tested sandalwood essential oils significantly reduced systolic blood pressure, especially during the recreation phase. This finding corresponds with a distinct reduction of salivary cortisol levels during recreation in the Western Australian sandalwood oil compared with the control. In conclusion, the results demonstrate that essential oils can alleviate the physiological reactions to psychological stress and facilitate recovery after exposition to stress.