An Investigation Into the Degree of Sinus Mucosal Delivery of Inhaled Black Cumin Volatile and Peppermint Essential Oils

The aim of this study was to investigate the quantity of volatile components reaching the sinus mucosa (SM) by inhalation, which is responsible for the therapeutic effect, as a first step toward targeted drug design. In this study, 18 Wistar-Albino female rats with an average weight between 200 and 250 g were used. The rats to be used in the study were randomized: Black cumin (BC) essential oil group (group 1) ( = 6), Peppermint essential oil (PEO) group (group 2) ( = 6), and Control (group 3) ( = 6). Volatile oils were inhaled in group 1 and 2; in the control group volatile oils were not inhaled. In all groups, SM was removed and essential volatile oil composition was determined. In group 1, -pinene was identified as the principal component in the gas phase from five different glass bottles containing SM. The data obtained were evaluated using the single sample -test and results show that the α-pinene component in the group of inhaled BC essential oil reached significance (