Preventive effect of different citrus essential oils on primary dysmenorrhea: in vivo and in vitro study

This study aimed to explore the effect of nine kinds of Citrus essential oils (CEOs) and its seven primary components (limonene, myrcene, alpha-pinene, beta-pinene, phellandrene, geraniol, and geranial) on primary dysmenorrhea in vivo and in vitro, respectively. The results showed that CEOs could enhance the activity of antioxidant status markers (T-AOC, SOD, CAT, and GSH), as well as reducing the levels of MDA and iNOS, and the ratio of PGF2 alpha/PGE2 in rat uterus induced by estradiol benzoate and oxytocin, thus ameliorating the writhing response. Furthermore, seven components in CEOs could reverse the upregulation of the ratio of PGF2 alpha/PGE2 in RL95-2 cells induced by estradiol benzoate. Sweet orange and bergamot essential oils showed a more significant effect than other CEOs. This work supported that CEOs could effectively inhibit oxidative stress and prostaglandinsinduced uterine contraction, representing a prevention from PD and its major components exerted the potentially beneficial effect.

Automated summary

The study demonstrated that Citrus essential oils could alleviate primary dysmenorrhea by improving antioxidant status, reducing oxidative stress, and decreasing the ratio of PGF2α/PGE2 in the uterus. Sweet orange and bergamot essential oils showed a more significant effect compared to other CEOs.