Effects of Exposure to Incense Smoke Associated with Impaired Lung Function and Respiratory Disease: A Systematic Review

The community uses incense (bakhour) through ceremonies, traditional health practices, and aromatherapy. Nevertheless, evidence from experiments and studies of populations suggests that a habit of burning incense makes the lungs work less well. The study investigated the relationship between exposure to incense smoke and impaired lung function and respiratory diseases. Data tracing was carried out systematically following PRISMA guidelines from January to April 2022 and registered in the PROSPERO database. The articles select-ed in this review were cross-sectional, cohort, observational, and experimental studies based on the criteria: (1) animals or humans exposed to incense smoke; (2) exposure to incense smoke which was carried out in-doors or outdoors; (3) the selected articles which were included in the original type of article; (4) the publica-tion year between 2016-2021 and the selected articles entered into reputable journals (Scopus and Web of Science). JBI guidelines and synthesis guidelines without meta-analysis (SWiM) to determine the level of evi-dence and minimize bias and interpretation of results. This study describes respiratory symptoms or diseases, home use of incense, and lung function measurement. Six articles were included; 6 (100%) reported using in-cense indoors, and 5 (83%) reported using incense outside the home. Respiratory symptoms and diseases caused by exposure to incense sticks are 5 (83%) shortness of breath, 6 (100%) wheezing, asthma, and in-flammation of the lungs, 2 (33%) chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and 4 (67%) allergic rhinitis. In-cense smoke particles decrease lung function based on FVC, FEV, PEFR, and FEF values of 25-75%. The results indicate that smoking incense adversely affects lung function and leads to respiratory diseases. The communi-ty and related parties can minimize and conduct education and prevention related to simultaneous incense exposure in the community to reduce the burden of diseases and disorders due to respiratory incense smoke in areas that use it daily.

Anxiolytic and antidepressant effects of agarwood inhalation and its mechanism / 中国中药杂志

This study used m-chloropheniperazine(MCPP) and chronic unforeseeable mild stress(CUMS) to induce the rat models of anxiety and depression, respectively. The behaviors of rats were observed by the open field test(OFT), light-dark exploration test(LDE), tail suspension test(TST), and forced swimming test(FST), and the antidepressant and anxiolytic effects of agarwood essential oil(AEO), agarwood fragrant powder(AFP), and agarwood line incense(ALI) were explored. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) was used to determine the levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT), glutamic acid(Glu), and γ-aminobutyric acid(GABA_A) in the hippocampal area. The Western blot assay was used to determine the protein expression levels of glutamate receptor 1(GluR1) and vesicular glutamate transporter type 1(VGluT1), exploring the anxiolytic and antidepressant mechanism of agarwood inhalation. The results showed that compared with the anxiety model group, the AEO, AFP, and ALI groups decreased the total distance(P<0.05), decreased the velocity of movements(P<0.05), prolonged the immobile time(P<0.05), and reduced the distance and velocity of the rat model of anxiety in the dark box(P<0.05). Compared with the depression model group, the AEO, AFP, and ALI groups increased the total distance and average velocity(P<0.05), reduced the immobile time(P<0.05), and reduced the forced swimming and tail suspension time(P<0.05). In terms of transmitter regulation, the AEO, AFP, and ALI groups decreased the level of Glu in the rat model of anxiety(P<0.05) and increased the levels of GABA_A and 5-HT(P<0.05), while the AEO, AFP, and ALI groups all increased the level of 5-HT in the rat model of depression(P<0.05) and decreased the levels of GABA_A and Glu(P<0.05). At the same time, the AEO, AFP, and ALI groups all increased the protein expression levels of GluR1 and VGluT1 in the hippocampus of the rat models of anxiety and depression(P<0.05). In conclusion, AEO, AFP, and ALI exert anxiolytic and antidepressant effects, and the mechanism might be related to the regulation of the neurotransmitter and the protein expression of GluR1 and VGluT1 in the hippocampus.

Oral Administration of Incense Resin (Styrax benzoin) Extract Enhances Spatial Learning, Memory, and Dendrite Complexity of Mice

Abstract Hippocampus is a part of the brain that has a major role in spatial learning and memory which can be affected by herbal extracts. Incense resin (Styrax benzoin) has been used by local communities to improve intelligence. However, there is no scientific evidence of the functions of Styrax benzoin for regulating hippocampal function. The aim of this study was intended to analyze and investigate the effect of incense resin on learning, memory, and dendrite complexity of mice. Three months old male Deutch Democratic Yokohama (DDY) mice were injected orally with graded doses of 100, 150, and 200 mg/kg of incense resin aqueous extract daily for 30 days. Spatial learning and memory performance levels were tested with Y-maze alternation, novel object recognition, and Morris water maze. The branches and maximum dendritic span in the dentate gyrus were observed by the Golgi-Cox staining. Overall, our results showed that incense resin extract increased learning and memory ability, and the number of dendrite branching in the dentate gyrus.

Petiveria alliacea, a plant used in Afro-Brazilian smoke rituals, triggers pulmonary inflammation in rats

Abstract Petiveria alliacea L., Phytolaccaceae, a plant used in Afro-Brazilian religious smoke rituals is reported to have "harmonic properties" (anxiolytic effect) by ethnobotanical survey. In the present work, we analyzed the chemical composition of volatiles produced by leaves of P. alliacea, using headspace gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and its potential anxiolytic and toxic effects in smoke-exposed rats. Locomotor activity and anxiety-like behavior were allocated into groups, according to substance administration: acute (locomotor activity) or chronic (anxiety-like behavior) burning charcoal or to smoke from P. alliacea. Inflammatory cell counts in the bronchoalveolar lavage and morphometric analysis in airway were assessed. Animals exposed to P. alliacea smoke had no locomotor activity or elevated plus maze open arm exploration impairment, while lungs had lower number of macrophages in bronchoalveolar fluid and an increased number of mononuclear and polymorphonuclear cells in the peribronchovascular region. Chemical analysis of plant material allowed the identification of dimethylsulfide (18.7%), diethylsulfide (33.4%) and nerolidol (25.8%) as main volatile compounds. Taken together, prolonged exposure to P. alliacea smoke does not induce anxiolytic effects, but histological analyses indicate a possible pulmonary inflammatory response.

Species Identification of Natural Adhesives and Evaluation of the Performance for Incense and Combustibility of Joss Stick / 中国药学杂志

OBJECTIVE: To identify five kinds of natural fragrant adhesives on the market and evaluate their performance for making joss stick. METHODS: The common fragrance-making adhesives on the market were collected and their primitives were identified by DNA barcode technology. Five kinds of agarwood incenses (standard φ: 1.5 mm, L: 18 cm) were made by the traditional method. The performance indexes such as color, viscosity, weight, burning time, the burning rate, odor, ash weigh and so on were determined. RESULTS: Five common natural adhesives were identified to be Ulmus glabra, Litsea glutinosa (Lour.) C.B. Rob, Phoebe puwenensis Cheng, Machilus balansae (Airy Shaw) F.N. Wei and S.C. Tang, and Endlicheria sp.. Nanmu powder was better than the other adhesives in burning time, burning rate, odor, and ash weigh. Combustion experiments showed that the heavier the weight and the bigger the diameter, the longer the burning time. CONCLUSION: The five common plant adhesives are identified. Nanmu powder is the best in all the adhesives. The burning time of joss stick is proportional to its weight, length and diameter.

Aerosol Concentration and Size Distribution in Room Environment Effected by Smoke of Mosquito-Repellent Incense / 环境与健康杂志

In this report, smoke Producoed by common mosquito-repellent incense and electric heating mosquito(-)repellent incense was compare tested by the PC-2 model aerosol Particle analytical instrument made in California Measurements, in. U S A Aerosol of mosquito-repellent incense was analytical studied on aerosol size distribution and its Pouution level. The result showed that greater part particles pro-ducted by mosquito-repellent incense are less than 2 um small particle. Aerosol pollution in house caused by electric heating mosquito-repellent ineense is not notable. But aerosol pollution in house caused by C-mon mosquito-rpellent incense is very serious.