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The odor of Osmanthus fragrans attenuates food intake

Takashi Yamamoto1, Tadashi Inui, Tadataka Tsuji

  • 1Department of Health and Nutrition, Faculty of Health Science, Kio University, 4-2-4 Umami-naka, Koryo, Kitakatsuragi, Nara 635-0832, Japan. ta.yamamoto@kio.ac.jp

Scientific Reports
|March 23, 2013
PubMed

Insights

The scent of Osmanthus fragrans (OSM) alters feeding behaviors in rats by modulating key neuropeptides. This odor reduces appetite and food intake, impacting body weight and eating movements.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Olfactory System
  • Metabolism

Background:

  • Odor perception influences physiological and behavioral activities.
  • The direct impact of odor stimulation on feeding-related neuropeptides remains largely unexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effect of Osmanthus fragrans (OSM) odor on the expression of orexigenic and anorexigenic neuropeptides in rats.
  • To determine the relationship between OSM odor, neuropeptide levels, and feeding behaviors.

Main Methods:

  • Neural transmission analysis of OSM odor.
  • Quantitative assessment of neuropeptide mRNA expression (orexigenic and anorexigenic).
  • Immunohistochemical analysis of orexin-expressing neurons in the hypothalamus.

Main Results:

  • OSM odor significantly decreased mRNA expression of orexigenic neuropeptides (agouti-related protein, neuropeptide Y, melanin-concentrating hormone, prepro-orexin).
  • OSM odor increased mRNA expression of anorexigenic neuropeptides (cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript, proopiomelanocortin).
  • A reduction in orexin-immunoreactive neurons correlated with decreased prepro-orexin mRNA levels.

Conclusions:

  • OSM odor suppresses appetite, reduces food intake, and decreases body weight in rats.
  • These effects are mediated by the suppression of orexigenic neuropeptides and activation of anorexigenic neuropeptides in the hypothalamus.
  • The findings suggest a direct link between olfactory stimulation and the regulation of feeding behavior via hypothalamic neuropeptide pathways.

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