Kao W.-YHsiang C.-YHo S.-CHo T.-YLee K.-T.KUNG-TA LEE2021-07-262021-07-26202103788741https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85104076791&doi=10.1016%2fj.jep.2021.114069&partnerID=40&md5=215ec2fdb892c97f7f2e8785fa384dd4https://scholars.lib.ntu.edu.tw/handle/123456789/573326Ethnopharmacological relevance: Stress is a state of feeling that inhibits one from responding properly in the face of a threat. Agarwood smoke has been used in traditional medicine as a sedative anti-anxious, and anti-restless therapy. Its scent emitted from heat induces people to enter a stable state; however, the underlying molecular effect is still unclear. Aim of the study: This study analyzed novel biological events and gene expression signatures induced by agarwood incense smoke in mice. Materials and methods: Incense smoke was produced by heating at 150 °C for 30 min in a headspace autosampler oven. We treated mice with exposure to incense smoke from Kynam agarwood for 45 min/day for 7 consecutive days. After a 7-day inhalation period, the potent agarwood smoke affected-indicators in serum were measured, and the RNA profiles of the mouse brains were analyzed by microarray to elucidate the biological events induced by agarwood incense smoke. Results: Chemical profile analysis showed that the major component in the incense smoke of Kynam was 2-(2-phenylethyl) chromone (26.82%). Incense smoke from Kynam induced mice to enter a stable state and increased the levels of serotonin in sera. The emotion-related pathways, including dopaminergic synapse, serotonergic synapse, GABAergic synapse, long-term depression and neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, were significantly affected by incense smoke. Moreover, the expression of Crhr2 and Chrnd genes, involved with neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction pathway, was upregulated by incense smoke. Conclusions: By a newly-established incense smoke exposure system, we first identified that anti-anxious and anti-depressant effects of agarwood incense smoke were likely associated with the increase of serotonin levels and multiple neuroactive pathways in mice. ? 2021 Elsevier B.V.1 ethenyl 4 methoxy benzene; 1(10),11 eremophiladien 9 ol; 1,9,11 eremophilatriene; 2 (2 phenylethyl)chromone; 2 butanone; 2 hydroxy 5 benzaldehyde; 3 eudesmen 11 ol; 4 (4 methoxyphenyl) 2 butanone; 4 acetylanisole; 4 methoxy 10 benzaldehyde; 4,4a,5,6,7,8 hexahydro 4a,5 dimethyl 2(3h) naphthalenone; acetophenone; alpha gurjunene; aristolene; benzaldehyde; benzyl alcohol; cembrene; cubenene; dihydroagarofuran; furfural; gamma eudesmol; herbaceous agent; kessane; menthol; serotonin; spathulenol; styrene; unclassified drug; valerianol; viridiflorol; agarwood incense smoke; animal experiment; animal model; animal tissue; Article; chemical fingerprinting; competitive ELISA; controlled study; depression; drug identification; emotion; GABAergic transmission; gene expression; gene expression profiling; herb; incense; long term depression; male; molecular interaction; mouse; nonhuman; psychopharmacotherapy; RNA fingerprinting; serotonin blood level; serotonin level; smoke; traditional medicine; upregulation[SDGs]SDG3journal article10.1016/j.jep.2021.114069337943342-s2.0-85104076791