"The
results in this study taken together with results from
previous studies suggest that breathing low doses of
the volatile compounds from the roots of V. zizani-
oides increases sympathetic nerve activity, which
maintains performance during the visual discrimination task."
"The present study thus provides the first experimental evidence to support the tradi- tional use of V. zizanioides roots to increase focus in humans."
"The present study thus provides the first experimental evidence to support the tradi- tional use of V. zizanioides roots to increase focus in humans."
Biomedical Research 33 (5) 299-308, 2012
Volatiles emitted from the roots of Vetiveria zizanioides suppress the decline
in attention during a visual display terminal task
Eri Matsubara1, Kuniyoshi Shimizu1, Mio Fukagawa1, Yuka Ishizi1, Chikako Kakoi2, Tomoko Hatayama3, Jun Nagano4, Tsuyoshi Okamoto5, Koichiro Ohnuki2, and Ryuichiro Kondo1
1 Department of Agro-environmental Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, 6-10-1 Hakozaki, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8581, Japan; 2 Faculty of Food and Nutrition, Kyushu Nutrition Welfare University, 5-1-1 Shimoitozu, Kokurakita-ku, Kitakyushu- shi, Fukuoka 803-8511, Japan; 3 Department of Psychology and Human Relations, Faculty of Humanities, Nanzan University, 18 Yamazato-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi 466-8673, Japan; 4 Institute of Health Science, Kyushu University, 6-1 Kasuga Park, Kasuga, Fukuoka 816-8580, Japan; and 5 Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
(Received 13 July 2012; and accepted 21 August 2012)
ABSTRACT
The perennial grass Vetiveria zizanioides (vetiver) is mainly cultivated for its fragrant essential oil. Although the components of the oil and their biological activities have been studied extensively, the effect of the volatiles emitted from the roots of V. zizanioides on humans has so far remained unexplored. We investigated the effects of volatile compounds emitted from the cut roots of V. zi- zanioides (1.0 g, low-dose conditions; 30 g, high-dose conditions) on individuals during a visual display terminal task. Participants who breathed the volatile compounds emitted under low-dose conditions showed faster reaction times and stimulation of sympathetic nerve activity as measured by electrocardiography. These effects were not observed under high-dose conditions. The total amount of volatiles emitted during the experiment was 0.25 μg under low-dose conditions and 1.35 μg under high-dose conditions. These findings indicate that volatile compounds emitted from the roots of V. zizanioides under low-dose conditions may have helped subjects to maintain performance in visual discrimination tasks while
Eri Matsubara1, Kuniyoshi Shimizu1, Mio Fukagawa1, Yuka Ishizi1, Chikako Kakoi2, Tomoko Hatayama3, Jun Nagano4, Tsuyoshi Okamoto5, Koichiro Ohnuki2, and Ryuichiro Kondo1
1 Department of Agro-environmental Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, 6-10-1 Hakozaki, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8581, Japan; 2 Faculty of Food and Nutrition, Kyushu Nutrition Welfare University, 5-1-1 Shimoitozu, Kokurakita-ku, Kitakyushu- shi, Fukuoka 803-8511, Japan; 3 Department of Psychology and Human Relations, Faculty of Humanities, Nanzan University, 18 Yamazato-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi 466-8673, Japan; 4 Institute of Health Science, Kyushu University, 6-1 Kasuga Park, Kasuga, Fukuoka 816-8580, Japan; and 5 Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
(Received 13 July 2012; and accepted 21 August 2012)
ABSTRACT
The perennial grass Vetiveria zizanioides (vetiver) is mainly cultivated for its fragrant essential oil. Although the components of the oil and their biological activities have been studied extensively, the effect of the volatiles emitted from the roots of V. zizanioides on humans has so far remained unexplored. We investigated the effects of volatile compounds emitted from the cut roots of V. zi- zanioides (1.0 g, low-dose conditions; 30 g, high-dose conditions) on individuals during a visual display terminal task. Participants who breathed the volatile compounds emitted under low-dose conditions showed faster reaction times and stimulation of sympathetic nerve activity as measured by electrocardiography. These effects were not observed under high-dose conditions. The total amount of volatiles emitted during the experiment was 0.25 μg under low-dose conditions and 1.35 μg under high-dose conditions. These findings indicate that volatile compounds emitted from the roots of V. zizanioides under low-dose conditions may have helped subjects to maintain performance in visual discrimination tasks while
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