Narrative review on essential oils and brain aging: Aromatherapy for cognitive health

Angulo, Sol*; Occhieppo, Victoria; Bartolozzi, Rocio del Valle; Ruberto, Celia; Bregonzio, Claudia

Instituto de Farmacología Experimental Córdoba (IFEC-CONICET), Departamento de Farmacología Otto Orsingher, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina

*Correspondence to: Sol Angulo, BSc, sol.angulo@mi.unc.edu.ar.

Abstract

Aging is a multifactorial process associated with cellular alterations, chronic low-functioning inflammation, oxidative stress, and progressive deterioration. In recent years, essential oils have attracted growing interest as potential modulators of these key factors due to their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective properties. This review compiles and analyzes the scientific evidence available to date on the effects of various essential oils in in vitro models, preclinical studies, and clinical studies that may be related to aging. A systematic search of the scientific literature was conducted to identify relevant studies evaluating the action of these natural compounds on cellular parameters linked to aging, such as the production of reactive oxygen species, gene expression of factors important for the modulation of inflammatory pathways, cognitive effects, sleep quality, and general well-being. The results suggest that certain essential oils could contribute to mitigating aging-related processes, although more controlled, systematic scientific studies are still required to establish their efficacy, safety, and specific mechanisms of action.

脑老化：精油的芳香疗法与认知健康

摘要

老化是一个涉及细胞变化、慢性低度炎症、氧化应激及进行性退化的多因素过程。近年来，由于精油具备抗氧化、抗炎及神经保护特性，其作为这些关键因素潜在调节剂的潜力日益受到关注。此综述文章整理并分析了迄今为止关于各种精油在体外模型、前临床研究和临床研究中与衰老相关作用的科学证据。通过系统检索科学文献，识别了评估这些天然化合物对与衰老相关的细胞参数，如活性氧的产生、与炎症通路调节相关的基因表达、认知效果、睡眠质量和整体福祉作用的相关研究。由此说明，某些精油可能有助于缓解与衰老相关的过程，但仍需更多受控、系统性的科学研究来确立其疗效、安全性及具体作用机制。