Lavender Oil and Genetic Interaction: A Review on Health from an Epigenetic Perspective

Abstract

Objective: Lavender oil is an essential oil extracted from the lavender plant, an important member of the Lamiaceae family, and is characterized by various therapeutic effects. Historically, it has found a wide range of uses from ancient civilizations to the present day due to its antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anxiolytic, antifungal, and wound-healing properties. Linalool and linalyl acetate, the main components of lavender oil, have sedative effects on the nervous system, reducing inflammation and oxidative stress, and can help treat various chronic diseases. Studies have shown that lavender oil has a wide spectrum of effects ranging from neurological disorders to cancer. However, how these effects are realized at the molecular level has yet to be fully understood. Method: The content of the study was created by combinations of the keywords ‘lavender oil,’ ‘miRNA,’ ‘epigenetic’, and ‘gene expression’ and searches from PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science, and Science Direct databases. Results: In recent years, the effects of essential oils at the genetic and epigenetic levels have been emphasized, and their possible interactions with miRNAs have been examined. Considering the critical role of miRNAs in regulating gene expression, the potential of lavender oil to modulate genetic mechanisms, especially by affecting miRNAs associated with stress, depression, and inflammation, is a significant research area. However, the need for more literature in this field draws attention. A better understanding of the therapeutic effects of lavender oil will be possible with the increase of molecular studies focusing specifically on its effects on miRNAs. Conclusion: Future studies may solidify the place of lavender oil in molecular biology and expand clinical use. In this direction, elucidating the biological mechanisms of lavender oil may make it a more effective tool in treating diseases.

Keywords

• Lavender Oil
• Therapeutic Effects
• miRNA
• Essential Oil Components

Lavanta Yağı ve Genetik Etkileşim: Epigenetik Perspektiften Sağlık Üzerine Bir İnceleme

Abstract

Amaç: Lavanta yağı, Lamiaceae ailesinin önemli bir üyesi olan lavanta bitkisinden elde edilen ve çeşitli terapötik etkilerle öne çıkan bir uçucu yağdır. Tarihsel olarak, antik medeniyetlerden günümüze kadar antibakteriyel, antienflamatuar, anksiyolitik, antifungal ve yara iyileştirici özellikleri nedeniyle geniş bir kullanım alanı bulmuştur. Lavanta yağının temel bileşenleri olan linalool ve linalil asetat, sinir sistemi üzerinde yatıştırıcı etkiler gösterirken, inflamasyonu ve oksidatif stresi azaltarak çeşitli kronik hastalıkların tedavisine yardımcı olabilmektedir. Yapılan araştırmalar, lavanta yağının nörolojik bozukluklardan kansere kadar uzanan geniş bir etki spektrumu olduğunu ortaya koymuş, ancak bu etkilerin moleküler düzeyde nasıl gerçekleştiği henüz tam olarak anlaşılmamıştır. Çalışmanın amacı güncel literatürü mikroRNA’lar çerçevesinde derlemektir. Yöntem: Çalışmanın içeriği “Lavanta yağı”, “miRNA”, “epigenetik”, “gen ifadesi” anahtar kelimelerinin kombinasyonları ile PubMed, Google akademik, Web of science ve Science direct veri tabanlarından yapılan taramalarla oluşturulmuştur. Bulgular: Son yıllarda, esansiyel yağların genetik ve epigenetik düzeydeki etkileri üzerinde durulmakta ve miRNA'lar ile olası etkileşimleri incelenmektedir. miRNA'ların gen ekspresyonunun düzenlenmesindeki kritik rolü göz önüne alındığında, lavanta yağının özellikle stres, depresyon ve inflamasyonla ilişkili miRNA'ları etkileyerek genetik mekanizmaları modüle etme potansiyeli büyük bir araştırma alanı olarak karşımıza çıkmaktadır. Ancak, bu alandaki literatür eksikliği dikkat çekmektedir. Lavanta yağının terapötik etkilerinin daha iyi anlaşılması, özellikle miRNA'lar üzerindeki etkilerine odaklanan moleküler çalışmaların artmasıyla mümkün olacaktır. Sonuç: Gelecekteki çalışmalar, lavanta yağının moleküler biyolojideki yerini sağlamlaştırabilir ve klinik kullanımı genişletebilir. Bu doğrultuda, lavanta yağının biyolojik mekanizmalarını aydınlatmak, onu hastalıkların tedavisinde daha etkili bir araç haline getirebilir.

Keywords

• Lavanta Yağı
• Terapötik Etkiler
• miRNA
• Uçucu Yağ Bileşenleri

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