Vanilla (Vanilla plantifolia) Research

Latin Name: Vanilla plantifolia

Family: Apiaceae

RESEARCH

The listings of research below represent a compilation of scientific articles found on the species, with a very brief overview description of each article/study.  Research found is catalogued by therapeutic action.  This categorized compilation of research articles does not necessarily imply that there are adequate results to demonstrate safe and/or effective human use.

IMPROVED SLEEP

• Participants inhaled lavender, vanillin, and vetiver or an unpleasant ammonium sulfide while sleeping; the authors concluded the olfactory system may provide a path to manipulate respiration in sleep. From:  Arzi, A., Sela, L., Green, A., Givaty, G., Dagan, Y., & Sobel, N. (2010). The influence of odorants on respiratory patterns in sleep. Chemical senses, 35(1), 31-40.

ANXIETY

• The study shows anxiolytic activity of vanillin in rats.  From:  Bhagwat, V., Chowta, M. N., Shoeb, A., Maskeri, R., Venkatesh, V., & Rai, A. (2013). Evaluation of anxiolytic activity of vanillin in wistar albino rats. International Journal of Nutrition, Pharmacology, Neurological Diseases, 3(2), 96.

REPELLENT

• Litsea cubeba (10%), Mentha arvensis (10%) along with vanillin (5%) and tween (5%) in alcohol (70%) showed 4 hours of skin repellency against the mosquito: Aedes albopictus. From: Wu, H., Zhang, M., & Yang, Z. (2019). Repellent activity screening of 12 essential oils against Aedes albopictus Skuse: Repellent liquid preparation of Mentha arvensis and Litsea cubeba oils and bioassay on hand skin. Industrial crops and products, 128, 464-470.
• Citronella and kunzea oils (with and without vanillin) were somewhat mosquito repellent on human volunteers but not as strongly as DEET. From: Thomas, J., Webb, C. E., Narkowicz, C., Jacobson, G. A., Peterson, G. M., Davies, N. W., & Russell, R. C. (2009). Evaluation of repellent properties of volatile extracts from the Australian native plant Kunzea ambigua against Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culcidae). Journal of medical entomology, 46(6), 1387-1391.

CHOLESTEROL

• Total phenol content of essential oils was related to LDL antioxidant activity associated with cardiac heart disease.  Phenols included:  methylchavicol, anethol, p-cymen, apiole, cinnamic ether, carvacrol, thymol, p-cymene, vanillin, cuminol, and eugenol.  From:  Teissedre, P. L., & Waterhouse, A. L. (2000). Inhibition of oxidation of human low-density lipoproteins by phenolic substances in different essential oils varieties. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 48(9), 3801-3805.

Compiled by: Kathy Sadowski

Last Updated: 9/18/19