Cedrol

Abstract: It is well known that odors affect behaviors and autonomic functions. Previous studies reported that some compounds in cedar wood essence induced behavioral changes including sedative effects. In the present study, we analyzed cardiovascular and respiratory functions while subjects were inhaling fumes of pure compound (Cedrol) which was extracted from cedar wood oil. Vaporized Cedrol (14.2+/-1.7 microg/l, 5 l/min) and blank air (5 l/min) were presented to healthy human subjects (n=26) via a face mask, while ECGs, heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic BP (DBP), and respiratory rates (RR) were monitored. Statistical analyses indicated that exposure to Cedrol significantly decreased HR, SBP, and DBP compared to blank air while it increased baroreceptor sensitivity. Furthermore, respiratory rate was reduced during exposure to Cedrol. These results, along with the previous studies reporting close relationship between respiratory and cardiovascular functions, suggest that these changes in respiratory functions were consistent with above cardiovascular alterations. Spectral analysis of HR variability indicated an increase in high frequency (HF) component (index of parasympathetic activity), and a decrease in ratio of low frequency to high frequency components (LF/HF) (index of sympathovagal balance) during Cedrol inhalation. Furthermore, Cedrol inhalation significantly decreased LF components of both SBP and DBP variability, which reflected vasomotor sympathetic activity. Taken together, these patterns of changes in the autonomic parameters indicated that Cedrol inhalation induced an increase in parasympathetic activity and a reduction in sympathetic activity, consistent with the idea of a relaxant effect of Cedrol.

Abstract: Aroma is one of the most important criteria of tea quality, but the dynamic changes of aroma profile during the manufacturing process, and the chemical basis of characteristic aroma in Fu brick tea remain largely unknown. In this study, a total of 72 volatiles were identified and quantified, only the esters content increased sharply during the process. Sensory quantitative description analysis revealed that the ‘green’ attribute was dominated in the early processing stage, and the ‘fungal flower’, ‘flower’, ‘mint’ and ‘woody’ attributes became the major contributors to the aroma character in the later processing stages. Indicated by partial least-squares analysis, the linalool, acetophenone, and methyl salicylate were identified as key volatiles contributors to the ‘fungal flower’, ‘flower’, and ‘mint’ attributes, the cedrol contributed to ‘woody’ attribute, and twelve alcohols and aldehydes were related to ‘green’ attribute. Besides, bidirectional orthogonal partial least squares analysis revealed that six fungal genera Aspergillus, Candida, Debaryomyces, Penicillium, Unclassified_k_Fungi, Unclassified_o_Saccharomycetales were identified as core functional microorganisms link to the metabolism of volatiles. Taken together, these findings provide new insights into Fu brick tea aroma profile variation and increase our understanding of the formation mechanism of the characteristic aroma during the manufacturing process.

Abstract: It has been reported that cedarwood oil has sedative effects when inhaled. In this study, we evaluated sedative effects of inhaled cedrol, which is a major component of cedarwood oil. Accumulative spontaneous motor activity was significantly decreased in the cedrol-exposed Wistar rats. Similar results were confirmed in caffeine-treated Wistar rats, spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), and ddY mice. In addition, exposure to cedrol prolonged pentobarbital-induced sleeping time in Wistar rats. To investigate whether cedrol, which has a very faint aroma, affects the olfactory system, the nasal cavities of Wistar rats were treated with zinc sulfate to reduce olfactory function. Two days later, the pentobarbital-induced sleep time was measured as described above. Compared to intact rats, the sleep prolongation effect was decreased in a lavender-roman chamomile mixed oil exposure positive control group, indicating that olfactory function was impaired. In contrast, prolongation of the sleeping time did not change in the cedrol exposure group. The above findings indicate that cedrol inhalation had marked sedative effects regardless of the animal species or the functional state of the autonomic nerves, suggesting that the mechanism of action is via a pathway other than the olfactory system.