Objective

To observe the effects of gardenia essential oil aroma therapy on the exercise capacity and anxiety of dual transgenic model of Alzheimer's disease(APP/PS1)mice.

Methods

The mice were divided into three groups: normal group (6 litter mate wild type mice

male)

model group and aroma group (5 APP/PS1 mice in each group

male).Aroma intervention was performed once every 4 days

2-3 μL of gardenia essential oil each time for 2 hours only to aroma group.No intervention was administered in the normal and model groups. The body weight was measured after 180 days; the fat and muscle content were measured with a fat meter; rotating rod was used to detect exercise endurance; open field test was used to detect activity

exploration ability and anxiety; two-photon fluorescence microscopy was used to detect capillary blood flow velocity in the hind limbs.

Results

Compared with the normal group

the body weight and fat content of the mice in the model group were significantly increased (

P

＜0.01 and

P

＜0.05);the movement distance in the center of the open field and the capillary blood flow velocity in hind limbs of the mice in the model group were significantly decreased(

P

＜0.05 and

P

＜0.05). Compared with the model group

the body weight of the mice in the aroma group was significantly decreased (

P

＜0.05)

the movement distance and time in the center of the open field in the aroma group were significantly decreased(

P

＜0.05 and

P

＜0.05).After aroma intervention

the fat content tended to decrease; the exercise endurance and capillary blood flow velocity in hind limbs tended to increase.

Conclusions

Gardenia essential oil aromatherapy can reduce the body weight and anxiety of APP/PS1 mice

and increase their exploration ability

and it tends to inhibit fat gain

increase exercise endurance and blood flow in APP/PS1 mice. Aromatherapy could be considered as adjuvant therapy to improve early symptoms of AD.