Beneficial Effects of Essential Oils from the Mediterranean Diet on Gut Microbiota and Their Metabolites in Ischemic Heart Disease and Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus Original paper
Researched by:
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Divine Aleru
ID
Divine Aleru
I am a biochemist with a deep curiosity for the human microbiome and how it shapes human health, and I enjoy making microbiome science more accessible through research and writing. With 2 years experience in microbiome research, I have curated microbiome studies, analyzed microbial signatures, and now focus on interventions as a Microbiome Signatures and Interventions Research Coordinator.
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Divine Aleru
Researched by:
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Divine Aleru
ID
Divine Aleru
Microbiome Signatures identifies and validates condition-specific microbiome shifts and interventions to accelerate clinical translation. Our multidisciplinary team supports clinicians, researchers, and innovators in turning microbiome science into actionable medicine.
Divine Aleru
What was studied?
This study investigated the beneficial effects of essential oils (EOs) from common Mediterranean diet herbs, specifically savory (Satureja hortensis), parsley (Petroselinum crispum), and rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), on gut microbiota and their metabolites in the context of ischemic heart disease (IHD) and type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The researchers aimed to evaluate how these essential oils, when administered as nutraceutical emulsions, affect gut microbiota composition, plasma metabolites associated with cardiovascular risk, inflammatory biomarkers, and oxidative stress in a humanized mouse model.
Who was studied?
The study used a humanized gnotobiotic mouse model, specifically female CD1 mice, whose gut microbiota had been depleted by antibiotics and then recolonized with microbiota from human patients diagnosed with both IHD and T2DM. After gut microbiota transplantation, the mice were supplemented with L-carnitine to stimulate cardiovascular risk factors and treated orally with emulsions of savory, parsley, or rosemary essential oils for 40 days.
What were the most important findings?
The most critical findings revealed significant beneficial effects of parsley and rosemary essential oils on the gut microbiome and associated metabolites. Treatment with these essential oils significantly increased beneficial gut bacteria, notably the Lactobacillus genus, while decreasing the abundance of less beneficial genera such as Bacteroides. Additionally, parsley and rosemary essential oils notably reduced plasma trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), a known cardiovascular risk marker produced by gut microbiota metabolism of L-carnitine. There was also an important increase in short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), particularly acetic, propionic, and butyric acids, in feces following parsley and rosemary treatments, suggesting enhanced fermentation and gut health. Furthermore, parsley and savory essential oils elevated plasma thrombomodulin levels, potentially indicating improved endothelial function. These oils also demonstrated significant anti-inflammatory properties by reducing cytokines, including IFNγ, TNFα, IL-12p70, and IL-22, which are typically elevated in inflammatory states associated with IHD and T2DM.
What are the greatest implications of this study?
The greatest implications of this study are the potential therapeutic applications of essential oils from savory, parsley, and rosemary as functional nutraceuticals in patients suffering from IHD and T2DM. The demonstrated modulation of gut microbiota towards beneficial profiles, reduction of pro-atherogenic metabolites such as TMAO, increased production of health-promoting SCFAs, and the substantial anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects underscore these essential oils as promising candidates for complementary or alternative therapeutic strategies to mitigate cardiovascular and metabolic diseases associated with dysbiosis and chronic inflammation.