Skip to content
DraconiticResearch
Search Sources API
182,544 studies31 sourcesUpdated 37 min ago
Peer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Frontiers in Psychiatry

Plant essential oils as a novel therapeutic strategy for depression and anxiety: emerging evidence and mechanisms

  • Jiahui Hong1
  • Liting He1
  • Jingquan Chen1
  • Hongxuan Cai1
  • Weiyi Cheng1
  • Ji-gang Piao1
  • Jingjing Zhu2
  1. 1College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University
  2. 2Fuyang TCM Hospital of Orthopedics Affiliated to Zhejiang Chinese Medical University (Hangzhou Fuyang Hospital of Orthopedics of Traditional Chinese Medicine)
Open at sourceDOICite

Abstract

Depression and anxiety are major global mental health disorders that require safer and more accessible adjunctive interventions. This review uniquely integrates current evidence on plant essential oils in aromatherapy and identifies the cAMP–PKA–CREB pathway as a key mechanistic hub linking neurotransmitter regulation, HPA axis modulation, neuroinflammation, and neuroplasticity. Relevant animal, cell, and preliminary clinical studies were reviewed to summarize therapeutic effects, active constituents, and commonly used essential oils. The evidence indicates that essential oils may alleviate depression- and anxiety-like symptoms by increasing monoamine neurotransmitters, suppressing HPA axis hyperactivity, reducing pro-inflammatory cytokines, inhibiting NF-κB signaling, and restoring BDNF/CREB-related neuroplasticity. Representative active constituents include linalool, β-caryophyllene, and limonene, while lavender, bergamot, and chamomile are the most commonly studied essential oils. Overall, aromatherapy shows promise as a relatively safe and practical non-pharmacological adjunct for depression and anxiety, but its evidence base remains largely preclinical. More rigorous clinical studies are needed to confirm efficacy, standardize interventions, and clarify mechanisms in humans.

Related

  1. The gasdermin family in depression-associated neuroinflammation: established evidence, emerging mechanisms, and therapeutic perspectives
    Yang Luo, Ziming Liu, Huiqin Li +3
    Frontiers in ImmunologyPeer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Full textImmunologyGeneral medicineCrossrefDOAJ
  2. Sepsis-associated sarcopenia: Emerging insights into mechanisms and therapeutic approaches
    Xiujun Chang, Fan Zeng, Jun Wang +9
    Journal of intensive medicinePeer-reviewedCC BYFull textGeneral medicineEurope PMC
  3. Corneal Nerve Injury and Regeneration: Mechanisms, Clinical Consequences, and Emerging Therapeutic Strategies.
    Athar Shadmani, Anat Galor, Houri Esmaeilkhanian +1
    DrugsPeer-reviewedCC BYFull textMedical imaging & radiologyEurope PMC
  4. Role of insulin resistance in atherosclerosis: underlying mechanisms and emerging stem cell-based therapeutic strategies.
    Qiuwang Zhang, Yingen Chen, Di Wang +2
    Frontiers in medicinePeer-reviewedCC BYFull textEndocrinology & metabolismEurope PMC
  5. Targeting lipid metabolism to overcome therapeutic resistance in renal cell carcinoma: Mechanisms and emerging strategies.
    Yuankang Feng, Shiyue Zhang, Jianqiao Li +2
    Current urologyPeer-reviewedCC BY-NC-NDFull textOncologyEurope PMCPMC

Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{hong2026plant,
  title = {{Plant essential oils as a novel therapeutic strategy for depression and anxiety: emerging evidence and mechanisms}},
  author = {Jiahui Hong and Liting He and Jingquan Chen and Hongxuan Cai and Weiyi Cheng and Ji-gang Piao and Jingjing Zhu},
  journal = {Frontiers in Psychiatry},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1920527},
  url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1920527/full},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Plant essential oils as a novel therapeutic strategy for depression and anxiety: emerging evidence and mechanisms
AU  - Jiahui Hong
AU  - Liting He
AU  - Jingquan Chen
AU  - Hongxuan Cai
AU  - Weiyi Cheng
AU  - Ji-gang Piao
AU  - Jingjing Zhu
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/08
JO  - Frontiers in Psychiatry
DO  - 10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1920527
UR  - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1920527/full
AB  - Depression and anxiety are major global mental health disorders that require safer and more accessible adjunctive interventions. This review uniquely integrates current evidence on plant essential oils in aromatherapy and identifies the cAMP–PKA–CREB pathway as a key mechanistic hub linking neurotransmitter regulation, HPA axis modulation, neuroinflammation, and neuroplasticity. Relevant animal, cell, and preliminary clinical studies were reviewed to summarize therapeutic effects, active constituents, and commonly used essential oils. The evidence indicates that essential oils may alleviate depression- and anxiety-like symptoms by increasing monoamine neurotransmitters, suppressing HPA axis hyperactivity, reducing pro-inflammatory cytokines, inhibiting NF-κB signaling, and restoring BDNF/CREB-related neuroplasticity. Representative active constituents include linalool, β-caryophyllene, and limonene, while lavender, bergamot, and chamomile are the most commonly studied essential oils. Overall, aromatherapy shows promise as a relatively safe and practical non-pharmacological adjunct for depression and anxiety, but its evidence base remains largely preclinical. More rigorous clinical studies are needed to confirm efficacy, standardize interventions, and clarify mechanisms in humans.
SN  - 1664-0640
ER  -