Citrus Oil May Prevent Asthma

Citrus Oil May Prevent Asthma

HAIFA, Israel--Limonene, an unsaturated oil from oranges and lemons,may prevent certain symptoms of asthma, according to a study published in theJan. 17, 2005 issue of Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry (13,2:557-62).

Researchers from the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology studied theeffects of limonene on ozone, an oxidant that can cause pulmonary inflammationwhen inhaled. According to the study, sensitized rats (induced withozone-related asthma symptoms) inhaled either limonene or eucalyptol, asaturated oil from eucalyptus with no ozone scavenging ability. The resultsshowed limonene inhalation in sensitized rats prevented bronchial obstruction.After tracking the condition of all the rat subjects for as many as five days,scientists found only the rats that inhaled limonene remained free of asthmasymptoms. Researchers noted the anti-inflammatory effect of limonene was alsoevident from pathological parameters, such as diminished peribronchiolar andperivascular inflammatory infiltrates.