(-)-Linalool

Life ences, 2006, 78(7):719-723.

(-)-Linalool inhibits in vitro NO formation: Probable involvement in the antinociceptive activity of this monoterpene compound.[Pubmed: 16137709]

Recent studies performed in our laboratory have shown that (-)-Linalool, the natural occurring enantiomer in essential oils, possesses anti-inflammatory, antihyperalgesic and antinociceptive effects in different animal models. The antinociceptive and antihyperalgesic effect of (-)-Linalool has been ascribed to the stimulation of the cholinergic, opioidergic and dopaminergic systems, to its local anaesthetic activity and to the blockade of N-Methyl-d-aspartate receptors (NMDA).
METHODS AND RESULTS:
Since nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) play an important role in oedema formation and hyperalgesia and nociception development, to investigate the mechanism of these actions of the (-)-Linalool, we examined the effects of this compound on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced responses in macrophage cell line J774.A1. Exposure of LPS-stimulated cells to (-)-Linalool significantly inhibited nitrite accumulation in the culture medium without inhibiting the LPS-stimulated increase of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression, suggesting that the inhibitory activity of (-)-Linalool is mainly due to the iNOS enzyme activity. In contrast, exposure of LPS-stimulated cells to (-)-Linalool failed, if not at the highest concentration, both in inhibiting PGE(2) release and in inhibiting increase of inducible cyclooxygenase-2 (COX(2)) expression in the culture medium.
CONCLUSIONS:
Collectively, these results indicate that the reduction of NO production/release is responsible, at least partially, for the molecular mechanisms of (-)-Linalool antinociceptive effect, probably through mechanisms where cholinergic and glutamatergic systems are involved.

European Journal of Pharmacology, 2003, 460(1):37-41.

(-)-Linalool produces antinociception in two experimental models of pain。[Pubmed: 12535857]

Linalool is a monoterpene compound commonly found as a major component of the essential oils of several aromatic plant species, many of which are used in traditional medical systems as analgesic and anti-inflammatory remedies. We previously reported that (-)-Linalool, the natural occurring enantiomer, plays a major role in the anti-inflammatory activity displayed by different essential oils, suggesting that linalool-producing species are potentially anti-inflammatory agents.
METHODS AND RESULTS:
In this study, the antinociceptive activity of (-)-Linalool was examined in two different pain models in mice: the acetic acid-induced writhing response, a model of inflammatory pain, and the hot plate test, a model of supraspinal analgesia. Moreover, the effect of (-)-Linalool on spontaneous locomotor activity (25, 50, 75 and 100 mg/kg) was evaluated.
CONCLUSIONS:
The results show that this compound induced a significant reduction of the acid-induced writhing at doses ranging from 25 to 75 mg/kg. Such effect was completely reversed both by the opioid receptor antagonist naloxone and by the unselective muscarinic receptor antagonist atropine. In the hot plate test, only the dose of 100 mg/kg of (-)-Linalool resulted in a significant effect. (-)-Linalool induced a dose dependent increase of motility effects, thus ruling out the confounding influence of a possible sedative effect. The more pronounced effect of (-)-Linalool on the writhing test with respect to the hot plate test is consistent with the observation that (-)-Linalool possesses anti-inflammatory activity. Finally, the activation of opioidergic and cholinergic systems appears to play a crucial role in (-)-Linalool-induced antinociception.

J Agric Food Chem, 2008, 56(1):241-245.

Yield and oil composition of 38 basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) accessions grown in Mississippi.[Pubmed: 18072735]

METHODS AND RESULTS:
A field experiment was conducted to assess yield, oil content, and composition of 38 genotypes of sweet basil ( Ocimum basilicum L.). Overall, biomass yields were high and comparable to those reported in the literature. However, basil genotypes differed significantly with respect to oil content and composition. Oil content of the tested accessions varied from 0.07% to 1.92% in dry herbage. On the basis of the oil composition, basil accessions were divided into seven groups: (1) high-linalool chemotype [19-73% (-)-Linalool], (2) linalool-eugenol chemotype [six chemotypes with 28-66% (-)-Linalool and 5-29% eugenol], (3) methyl chavicol chemotype [six accessions with 20-72% methyl chavicol and no (-)-Linalool], (4) methyl chavicol-linalool chemotype [six accessions with 8-29% methyl chavicol and 8-53% (-)-Linalool], (5) methyl eugenol-linalool chemotype [two accessions with 37% and 91% methyl eugenol and 60% and 15% (-)-Linalool], (6) methyl cinnamate-linalool chemotype [one accession with 9.7% methyl cinnamate and 31% (-)-Linalool], and (7) bergamotene chemotype [one accession with bergamotene as major constituent, 5% eucalyptol, and <1% (-)-Linalool].
CONCLUSIONS:
Our results demonstrated that basil could be a viable essential oil crop in Mississippi. The availability of various chemotypes offers the opportunity for production of basil to meet the market requirements of specific basil oils or individual compounds such as (-)-Linalool, eugenol, methyl chavicol, methyl cinnamate, or methyl eugenol.