Immunomodulatory effects of essential oils in veterinary medicine : a review Abstract ; Effets immunomodulateurs des huiles essentielles en médecine vétérinaire : étude bibliographique

The enthusiasm for essential oils in veterinary medicine as a therapeutic alternative is growing. Many properties are lent to them, particularly immunomodulatory effects. In this work, we have synthesized the available bibliographical documents concerning the immunomodulatory effects of essential oils measured in animals or in in vitro studies. This analysis presents a great variability in results, depending on the type of study (animal species, dosage, route of administration) and the type of essential oils used. However, some effects seem to be confirmed in several studies. Thus certain essential oils such as those of thyme, cinnamon and oregano have immunostimulant effects which can allow a better resistance to infections in farm animals, improving their health and therefore their productivity while reducing the use of antibiotics. Conversely, other essential oils such as those of Tea Tree and eucalyptus have immunosuppressive effects that can help in the treatment of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases such as hypersensitivity phenomena, and thus make it possible to reduce long-term use of conventional immunosuppressants whose side effects are real. However, it is important to emphasize that very few studies concerning the safety of essential oils are available, which limits the possibilities of their prescription. ; L’engouement pour les huiles essentielles en médecine vétérinaire comme alternative thérapeutique est croissant. De nombreuses propriétés leur sont prêtée et notamment des effets immunomodulateurs. Nous avons dans ce travail synthétisé les documents bibliographiques disponibles concernant les effets immunomodulateurs des huiles essentielles mesurés chez les animaux ou au cours d’études in vitro. Cette analyse a montré une grande variabilité de résultats, fonctions du type d’étude (espèce animale, posologie, voie d’administration) et du type d’huiles essentielles utilisées. Certains effets semblent toutefois confirmés dans plusieurs études. Ainsi certaines huiles essentielles telles que celles ...