(-)-α-Bisabolol (Synonyms: DL-α-Bisabolol)

(-)-α-Bisabolol is a sesquiterpene alcohol that has been found in the essential oils of several aromatic plants, including C. sativa, C. indica, and C. sativa/C. indica hybrid strains, with diverse biological activities. It inhibits the growth of L. amazonensis promastigotes and amastigotes (IC50s = 8.07 and 4.29 μg/ml, respectively). It also reduces the growth of L. infantum and L. donovani amastigotes (IC50s = 56.9 and 39.4 μM, respectively) with a cytotoxic concentration (CC50) value of greater than 1,000 μM in L929 cells. In vivo, (-)-α-bisabolol (200 mg/kg) reduces parasite load in the liver and spleen in a mouse model of visceral leishmaniasis. (-)-α-Bisabolol (200 mg/kg) reduces the size of ethanol-induced lesions, decreases malondialdehyde (MDA) production, and increases superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in gastric mucosa in mice. It also decreases serotonin-, carrageenan-, and dextran-, but not histamine-, induced paw edema as well as acetic-acid induced writhing and paw-licking time in the formalin test in mice, indicating anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activity.