Terpenes from Forests and Human Health

Overview

Journal Toxicol Res

Specialty Toxicology

Date 2017 Apr 27

PMID 28443180

Citations 61

Authors

Kyoung Sang Cho

Young-Ran Lim

Kyungho Lee

Jaeseok Lee

Jang Ho Lee

Im-Soon Lee

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Forest bathing has beneficial effects on human health via showering of forest aerosols as well as physical relaxation. Terpenes that consist of multiple isoprene units are the largest class of organic compounds produced by various plants, and one of the major components of forest aerosols. Traditionally, terpene-containing plant oil has been used to treat various diseases without knowing the exact functions or the mechanisms of action of the individual bioactive compounds. This review categorizes various terpenes easily obtained from forests according to their anti-inflammatory, anti-tumorigenic, or neuroprotective activities. Moreover, potential action mechanisms of the individual terpenes and their effects on such processes, which are described in various and systems, are discussed. In conclusion, the studies that show the biological effectiveness of terpenes support the benefits of forest bathing and propose a potential use of terpenes as chemotherapeutic agents for treating various human diseases.

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