Chapter 12
Print ISBN: 978-93-89562-38-5, eBook ISBN: 978-93-89562-39-2

Aromatic Effectiveness for the Elderly at Day Care
Service Center: Toward Regional Vitalization Using
the Wastes
Nagai Katsuto1 and Sasaki Jin-Ichi2*
DOI: 10.9734/bpi/tprd/v1

ABSTRACT
Objective of study was to find out a beneficially recycling of the thinned and chopped woods
massively produced in mountainous regions Japan. Essential oil extraction was one of the effective
approaches to overcome its issues. Materials from Crytomeric japonia, Lindera umbellata, Thujopsis
dolabrata and Anise magnolia chips was applied for oil extraction by steam distillation and waschemically analyzed by Gas Chromatography. Preclinical studies of the essential oil were done with asupport of the elderly commuting to the Day Care Service Center. Test room was created with theforest pictures, bird singing and water flowing sound as back ground music. Essential oil-flavored test
was done to know the elderly preference using the questionnaire test.
The most favorite flavor by the elderly was Lindera umbellata due to make them refreshing. But they
selected Thujopsis dolabrata flavor instead of Lindera umbellata, when changing the napkin. It implies
that “Different flavor for Different situation”. Based on these results the flavored-napkin with antibacteria potency is a potential candidate to develop for the aged along with well-being and amenity
life.
Keywords: Essential oil; Crytomeric japonia; Lindera umbellata; Thujopsis dolabrata; gaschromatography.

1. INTRODUCTION
North-eastern part in Japan is nation-widely known as a refine lumber supplying region to be used forhouse construction, and for it constant tree care is unavoidable by thinning of wood branches. Further
the house construction produces much lumber scraps as a worthless. The effective recycling of thetree-originated wastes of such the felled woods, thinning branches and waste timbers is a globallyrequired environmental issue to be overcome.
Meanwhile WHO reported that the proportion of the world’s population over 60 years will nearly
double from 12 to 22%, and by 2020, the number of the aged 60 years and older will outnumber
children younger than 5 years. Further reports postulates a gradual decrease in physical and mental
capacity that grows risk of disease [1]. This tendency eventually means increase of the number of theelderly who need the day care nursing center or long term health service facility, coming with wellbeing and amenity there.
Aroma (Aromatherapy) is currently diffusing its efficacy into people who are living in stress-full society,result in the medical area as a therapeutic strategy in mental caused disorders like poor sleep,
depression, anxiety, muscle tension, and pain [2,3]. Based on the above reasons we initiated a study
on recycling of the prudent branches for the essential oil extraction first, followed by an application for
the well-being life at the day care service center.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
1

Shirakami Aroma Institute (Limited Liability Company), 88-2 KamiKamuro, Hitotsumori, Ajigasawa, Aomori 038-2723, Japan.
Aomori University of Health and Welfare, 58-1 Mase, Hamadate, Aomori 030-8505, Japan.
*Corresponding author: E-mail: jnsasaki@tk2.so-net.ne.jp;

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Aromatic Effectiveness for the Elderly at Day Care Service Center: Toward Regional Vitalization Using the Wastes

2. MATERIALS AND METHODS
2.1 Lumber Scraps and Branches of Woods for Essential Oil Extraction
Crytomeric japonica, Lindera umbellata, Thujopsis dolabrata and Anise magnolia shown in Photo 1
were used for the essential oil extraction by steam distillation system.

Thujopsis dolabrata

Lindera umbellata

Crytomericca japonica

Anise magnolia

Photo 1. Lumber scraps of these tree were used for essential oil extraction by the steam
distillation

2.2 Extraction of Essential Oil and Analysis of Chemical Constituent
Essential oil was extracted from twigs and scrap heaps (Photo 2) by the standard method “SteamDistillation System”. Chemical composites of the essential oil was analyzed after dilution in ethanol-5(dilution degree; 10 ) for Gas Chromatography at Aomori Prefectural Industrial Technology ResearchCenter, Japan.

Photo 2. Lindera umbellata twigs in a baskets and dried leaves surrounded (left), scrap heaps(middle) and steam distillation system for oil extraction (right)

Photo 3. Essential oil and leaf (from left; Thujopsis dolabrata, Lindera umbellata,
Crytomericca japonica)

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Aromatic Effectiveness for the Elderly at Day Care Service Center: Toward Regional Vitalization Using the Wastes

2.3 Assessment of the Essential Oils Effectiveness by the Elderly at the Day Care
Service Center
Number of the elderly enrolled for the study and age-distribution:
age
GenderFemale;Male;

Age (y) & No.
70s; 380s; 990s; 6

12
6

Questionnaire method was employed to evaluate essential oil effectiveness for amenity. Eighteen
elderly who used the day care service center (Female; 12, Male; 6) were subjected to the tests.
Recreation room at service center was arranged by surroundings
surroundings with forest pictures to create forest
atmosphere for the aroma test. During slide displaying Lindera umbellata leaf tea was served to theelderly and bird singing and water running sound were also elaborated (Photo 4).

Lindera umbellata leaf tea
Photo 4. Recreation room arranged for the test at the day care service center (left and center)and Lindera umbellata leaf tea (right) served to the elderly during tests

2.4 Items for Questionnaire Survey System
Q1. How did you like the Lindera umbellata leaf tea?
Q2. What flavor did you like the most in the recreation room?
Q3. Did you like to use the Lindera umbellata flavor in your own room?
Q4. What flavor did you select, when changing napkin?
These studies were made with an approval by the individual elderly and President of the day careservice center.
Notification; Questionnaire investigation was conducted to the commuters to the day care service
center and the elderly who live in the nursing
nursing home. Data from the day care service center were
provided for analyses, but nursing home data were insufficient for analyses due to less number ofanswer sheets collected.

3. RESULTS
3.1 Chemical Constituent in the Essential Oil
Essential oils were offered for Gas Chromatography analysis on the 20 items considered to
be included in oil. Top 7 constituents covered 70-80%
70 80% in total amount included as shown in Table 1,
and individual component included smells like citrus, fruit, herb, grass, vegetable, flower, lavender,and eucalyptus and the like. These smells mixed each other in the essential oil to produce natural
flavor.

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Aromatic Effectiveness for the Elderly at Day Care Service Center: Toward Regional Vitalization Using the Wastes

Table 1. Chemical constituent of the essential oil (%)
Cryptomeria japonica
β-fhellandrene 12.5%
Bicyclo3.1.0hexane 11%
Cyclohexanemethanol 10%
γ-Terpinene 9%3-Carene 6.4%
Cyclohexane 6%
4-Carene 6%
3-Bicyclo2.2.1heptan 5.4%β-Myrcene 5.2%
Subtotal 71.5%

Lindera umbellata
Linalool 25%
Eucalypto 11%
Cyclohexene 11%
Geranyl acetate 9.6%
Bicyclo3.1.1hept 7%
Cyclohexanone 4.4%
o-Cymene 3.8%
Camphene 3.7%
2,2,4-trimethyl- 3.3%
78.8%

Thujopsis dolabratacis-Thujopsene 49%
Cedrol 10.5%
α-Cuprenene 4.6.
7-Isoppropenyl 3.6%
Benzocyclohepten 3%
Benzen 3%
Isopropyl-4,10-di 3%
1H-Benzocycloh-2.7%
α-Bisabolol 2.3%
81.7%

Amise magnolia
o - Cymene 35%
Cyclohexane 15%
γ- Terpinene 9.5%
Bicyclo.2.0 5.8%
Naphthalene 4.7%
α- Cadinol 4%Camphene 3%(+)-4-Carene 3%
tau-Muurolol 2.5%
82.5%

Component smell; Bicyclo (citrus), 3-Carene (citrus, herb), Cedrol (grass), Cyclohexane (citrus, fruit),
Cyclohexanemethanol (vegetable, fruit), α-Cadinol (citrus fruit), Camphene (pesticide), Eucalyptol (eucalyptus),
Linalool (flower, fruit, wine), Geranyl (lavender), γ-Terpinene (citrus)

3.2 Questionnaire Result on the Flavor by the Elderly
Q1. How did you enjoyed the Lindera umbellata leaf tea?

Q 1. HOW DID YOU ENJOY THE LINDERAUMBELLATA LEAF TEA?
Excellent
Good
Fair

11%
17%
72%

Fig. 1. Results of Question 1
The Lindera umbellata leaf tea gained high score at 72% by the elderly, and it came to 90% including
score of good. The elderly replied “Lindera umbellata flavor and its leaf tea made us recall the goodold days”.
Q2. What flavor did you like the best when using in the recreation room or own room?
Q2. WHAT FLAVOR DID YOU LIKE THE
BEST WHEN USING IN THE RECREATION
ROOM?

LinderaThujopsis
17%

Cryptomeria

55%

28%

Fig. 2. Results of Question 2
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Aromatic Effectiveness for the Elderly at Day Care Service Center: Toward Regional Vitalization Using the Wastes

The most favorite flavor when using in the recreation room (Photo 2) was the Lindera umbellata(55%), Thujopsis dolabrata (28%) and Cryptomeria japonica (17%). The elderly selected the Lindera
umbellata in the first place, the subsequent works were then progressed by using of the Lindera
umbellata flavor.
Q3. How did you feel in use of the Lindera umbellata flavor in your own room and the reason
why?
Q3. HOW DID YOU FEEL IN USE OF THE LINDERAUMBELLATA FLAVOR IN YOUR OWN ROOM?

9%91%
Refreshing

Relieved

Fig. 3. Results of Question 3
Q4. What flavor did you choose, when changing napkin?
Q4. WHAT FLAVOR DID YOU CHOOSE, WHENCHNGING NAPKIN?

LinderaThujosis25%

25%

Cryptomeria

50%

Fig. 4. Results of Question 4
The elderly selected the Thujopsis dolabrata flavor for napkin changing instead of the Lindera
umbellata, indicating “Different choice of flavor to different situation in use”.

4. DISCUSSION
Chemical constituents of aromas have been used as fragrances and perfumes for several thousand
years, dating back to ancients Egyptian civilization [4]. Currently these components are chemicallysynthesized in use in variety of areas such as food service and the like. However natural plant-aroma
consist of complex elements in flavor that create profounder flavors than the synthesized (Table 1).
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Aromatic Effectiveness for the Elderly at Day Care Service Center: Toward Regional Vitalization Using the Wastes

Chemical components of the essential oils Cryptomeria japonica, Lindera umbellata, Thujopsis
dolabrata produce a variety
ariety of flavors likely to be citrus, vegetable, herb, grass, fruit, flower, wine,
lavender, eucalyptus.
Essential oil occasionally posses the medicinal activity likely reducing pain, and affecting tophysiological parameter such as pulse, blood pressurepressure,, skin temperature, and brain activity [2,3].
Studies of aromatherapy have shown mixed results. There have been some reports of improved
mood, anxiety, sleep, nausea, and pains. Other studies reported that aromatherapy showed nochange in symptoms [5].
Currently bacteria killing activity of essential oil flavor (volatile) was demonstrated in the ourexperiments using by essential oil of the Thujopsis dolabrata, Lavender, and Citoronellal (Rosarugosa) [6]. Antibacterial potency of the Thujopsis dolabrata was well known, but its flavor’s bacteria
killing potency was not well understood due to lack of report. Mode of action of the Thujopsis
dolabrata flavor was to induce tiny bubble projection from cell wall, which was different fromformaldehyde-induced deformation
formation as shown in Photos 5 and 6 [7].

Photo 5. Report on Aroma’s Power. “Bacteria killing potency of Thujopsis dolabrata flavor”(left, 2005) (Sasaki’s research), and “Health improvement potency of Lindera umbellata”(Right, 2020)

ControlThujopsis flavor-exposed
exposedFormaldehyde
Formaldehyde-exposed

Photo 6. Scanning electron micrographs of O157 exposed to Thujopsis flavor (center). Control(left) and formaldehyde exposed (left). Thujopsis flavor-exposedsed foamed and formaldehyde
exposed were a sheet-shape
shape being different from Thujopsis flavor treated [7]Based on these facts we are now considering to develop the aroma applied napkin with infection
protective activity, expecting usage in hospitals, own house, nursing home facilities for the aged tomaintain amenity life after confirming safety test mainly to skin.
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Safety of essential oils shows very few effect or risk when they are used as directed but allergic
reaction and skin irritation may occur when essential oils are in contact with the skin for a long periodof time [5,8], but our own test will be require before using for the elderly skin [9].

5. CONCLUSION
Essential oils preferences using the extracts from the Crytomeric japonica, Lindera umbellata, andThujopsis dolabrata were studied by the elderly commuters to the day care center. The elderly
preferred Lindera umbellata flavor the most when used in the recreation room, and their own room.
The Thujopsis dolabrata flavor was selected in use when changing their napkin in their own room.
Since the Thujopsis dolabrata has bacteria killing potency, it is a possible candidate in use fordevelopment of the napkin (diaper) for the elderly.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Authors gratefully acknowledged the stuffs at the AJIGASAWA Day care center who were sincerely
supporting to conduct present studies, and much appreciation was offered to Chemist Mr. Ryo
OGURA for excellent analytic technique of the essential oil.

COMPETING INTERESTS
Authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

REFERENCES
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6.

7.
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World Health Organization. Aging and Health; 2018.
Available:https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/Detail
Shaheen E. Lakhany, Heather Sheafer, Deborah Tepper. The Effectiveness of Aromatherapy in
Reducing Pain; A systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Pain Research and Treatment.
2016;13:Article ID 8158693.
Inamoto T. Aromatherapy application by Lindera umbellata-Approach to dementia andinsomnia. In Japanese Ohku-Hahtsu Publish; 2015.
The History of Aromatherapy.
Available:https://www.quinessence.com
PDQ. Aromatherapy with essential oils. National Cancer Institute. National Cancer Institute.
Sasaki J, Yamanouchi K, Nagaki M, Arima H, Aramachi N, Inaba T. Antibacterial effect ofLavender (Lavandula) Flavor (Volatile). Journal of Food Science and Engineering. 2015;5:95102.
Hamano H, Sutho C, Osanai Y, Sasaki J. Chemical Constituents of the volatile derived from theblack garlic processing. Journal of Advances in Biology & Biotechnology. 2019;22(4):1-5.
Aromatherapy; Uses, benefits, oils, and risks.
Available:https://www.medicalnewstoday.com
Kawabata K. Doctor approved “The Power of Aromatherapy”. In Japanese KAWADA Publish;
2002.

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Biography of author(s)Nagai Katsuto
Shirakami Aroma Institute (Limited Liability Company), 88-2
88 2 KamiKamuro, Hitotsumori, Ajigasawa, Aomori 038-2723,
038
Japan.
He was born in Aomori Japan.. In 1993 he founded the Nature Protective Organization for NPO-World
NPO World Heritage Shirakami, andopened the Eco-School in 2003. In 2007 he proceeded to Graduate School of the Global Environmental Science Course but left
without a diploma. In 2018 Aomori Shirakami
kami Institute was established and now the representative of the Institute. Four bookson the world heritage Shirakami were published up to now.

Sasaki Jin-Ichi, DVM, PhD
Aomori University of Health and Welfare, 58--1 Mase, Hamadate, Aomori 030-8505, Japan.
He was born in Iwate Japan, a Veterinarian. He completed his Master and Doctoral degrees. His research fields
field include Clinical
Immunology, Pathogenic Microbiology, Cancer Immunotherapy,
herapy, Food Function. He has published about 320 (Books andPapers) articles. He is a visiting Professor of Aomori Prefecture University of Health & Welfare, Academic Adviser for the NPO
Black Garlic International Congress, the Ambassador of International Black Garlic Association, Editorial Board Member ofInternational Journal
ournal and Reviewer, Executive Academic Consultant of Companies, Ex
Ex-Professor
Professor of Hirosaki National
University and Ex-Professor
Professor of Hirosaki Private University of Health & Welfare. Four Patents. Visiting Scientists; NIH (USA),
Institute Pasteur in Brussels, Tennessee University, Dhaka University, China Medical University.

_________________________________________________________________________________© Copyright (2020): Authors. The licensee is the publisher (Book Publisher International).

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