Planta Med 2000; 66(6): 495-505
DOI: 10.1055/s-2000-8616
Review
Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Bioavailability and Pharmacokinetics of Natural Volatile Terpenes in Animals and Humans

C. Kohlert1 , I. van Rensen2 , R. März3 , G. Schindler4 , E. U. Graefe1 , M. Veit1,*
  • 1 Zentralinstitut Arzneimittelforschung GmbH, Sinzig, Germany
  • 2 Department of Pharmaceutical Biology, Julius-von-Sachs-Institute for Biosciences, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
  • 3 Bionorica Arzneimittel GmbH, Neumarkt/Opf., Germany
  • 4 Department of Medicine I, Department of Complementary Medicine, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
31 December 2000 (online)

Abstract

Herbal medicinal products containing natural volatiles are used in the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases, pain, colds and bronchitis. Many pharmacological studies report a wide variety of in vitro effects, with anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activities investigated most frequently. In comparison, relatively few studies on the bioavailability and pharmacokinetics have been carried out. Thus, the relevance of the in vitro activity to the therapeutic effects found in individual studies or documented in textbooks of phytotherapy is still not established. Further studies with essential oils and their single compounds providing supporting evidence of efficacy and demonstrating systemic availability are necessary. Such data could also be important in the context of safety.

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Dr. PD. Markus Veit

Zentralinstitut Arzneimitorschung GmbH

Kranzweiherweg 10

53489 Sinzig

Germany

Email: markus.veit@za-sinzig.de

Phone: +49 (0) 2642 983740

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