Essential oils from thyme, cloves, roses, eucalyptus, fennel and bergamot suppress the inflammatory effect of the enzyme COX-2 in the body similarly to the positive action of resveratrol in grapes and red wine. This discovery was made by a Japanese scientist from the Women's University. Nara.

Biologists headed by Professor Hiroyas Inoue believe that many essential oils, as well as useful compounds in wine and tea, can purposefully act on a cyclooxygenase-2 or COX-2 inhibitor and thereby suppress inflammation associated with many diseases.

Scientists conducted a major study, having studied the mechanism of the effect on the body of commercial essential oils. It turned out that substances from the oils of thyme, cloves, roses, eucalyptus, fennel and bergamot lower the expression of COX-2 in cells by at least a quarter. Of the six oils tested, the thyme composition proved to be the most active and reduced the effect of the harmful enzyme by almost 75%. When experts analyzed the composition of the oil from thyme, they found that the main anti-inflammatory agent in it is a component of carvacrol.

In pure form, carvacrol extract inhibited COX-2 by more than 80%.

Essential oils from plants have strong antibacterial properties and have long been used for medicinal purposes as analgesics and for aromatherapy. However, the exact mechanism of their natural action remained not entirely understandable. Japanese scientists managed to make some clarity on the effects of several types of essential oils on the human body, according to Medlinks. En.

Medicinform. Net.