An essential oil blend modulates important inflammation- and immune response-related biomarkers in human cell cocultures

Abstract

Despite growing scientific evidence that essential oils possess important therapeutic benefits, research on their biological activities in complex human disease models is scarce. To enhance understanding in this regard, we analyzed the biological activities of an essential oil blend (EOB) in validated human cocultures with or without tumor cells. These disease models allow for measurement of changes in protein biomarkers induced by EOB treatment. This EOB is primarily composed of essential oils from frankincense resin, sweet orange peel, litsea fruit, thyme plant oil, clove bud, summer savory plant, and niaouli leaf. EOB showed significant effects on levels of important biomarkers related to inflammation, immune response, tissue remodeling, and tumor biology. In tumor cocultures, EOB treatment resulted in elevated inflammation- and immune-related biomarkers, including soluble interleukin (sIL)-17A, sIL-2, sIL-6, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), cluster of differentiation (CD)40, CD69, soluble granzyme B (sGranB), and soluble interferon-gamma (sIFN-γ). However, several of these same biomarkers were decreased in EOB-treated nontumor cell cocultures, suggesting that EOB exhibits tumor-specific immune enhancement. In conclusion, EOB may potentially impact human cells through anti-inflammatory activities, immune enhancing functions, and modulation of wound healing.

Keywords

• essential oil
• frankincense
• sweet orange
• litsea
• thyme
• clove
• inflammation
• cancer
• immune response