Biological Properties of Some Volatile Phenylpropanoids.

Plants and their extracts are the new field of interest for many scientists and also of some pharmaceutical industries. In order to provide more information for their usage in the prevention and treatment of diseases many clinical trials and researches are being carried out. In this review the biological activities and the mechanism of action of volatile phenylpropanoids (PPs) found in essential oils (EOs) are presented.

An Interesting Tour of New Research Results on Umami and Umami Compounds.

Knowledge about the fifth basic taste, the umami taste, has been investigated by many scientists in the last years and continues to gain importance. Therefore, a lot of scientific studies were conducted to explore several effects influencing the mechanism of umami, which is elicited and enhanced by defined concentrations of MSG (monosodium glutamate) and umami compounds. This paper covers the most relevant scientific literature regarding umami, its use as a flavor enhancer, and the latest umami compounds, which have been released in the last ten years.

A Pilot Study on the Physiological Effects of Three Essential Oils in Humans.

In the present study, the physiological effects on 32 humans exposed to experimental stress provoked by inhalation of the essential oils of East Indian sandalwood (Santalum album L.), Western Australian sandalwood (Santalum spicatum R.Br.

Structural Features for Furan-Derived Fruity and Meaty Aroma Impressions.

Furan derivatives are part of nearly all food aromas. They are mainly formed by thermal degradation of carbohydrates and ascorbic acid and from sugar-amino acid interactions during food processing. Caramel-like, sweet, fruity, nutty, meaty, and burnt odor impressions are associated with this class of compounds.

[Essential oils and their influence on the actions of drugs: some examples].

There is a general belief that herbal products, thus essential oils too, are safe because they are natural. Together with the increased appearance of common and self-initiative usage of herbal preparations there is also an increased need of knowing and understanding possible interactions with concomitantly taken drugs. Since essential oils are mixtures of multiple active volatile compounds it is very likely for essential oils and especially their constituents also to interact with drugs.