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Geun Hee Seol

Korea University · Medicine

About the Lab

Professor Geun Hee Seol's research lab specializes in the therapeutic applications of essential oils and bioactive terpenes, focusing on their anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anxiolytic effects. The lab investigates how compounds like linalool, 1,8-cineole, eucalyptol, and neroli oil modulate physiological responses in conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome, post-surgical recovery, nicotine-induced hypertension, and menopausal symptoms. Using clinical trials and animal models, the lab explores mechanisms involving oxidative stress, cytokine regulation, and neuroendocrine modulation. Their work bridges natural product pharmacology with clinical outcomes in pain management and stress-related disorders.

essential oilsanti-inflammatoryoxidative stressanxietyterpenes

Research Overview

Papers
110
Total Citations
2,695
Papers (5y)
26
Primary Field
Medicine

Research Output Trend

Figures are computed from collected data and may differ slightly.

Publications per year (5y)
26total
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
Citations per year (5y)
198total
20212022202320242025

Selected Papers

15
1
Article|430 citations·2007
Neuromodulators Control the Polarity of Spike-Timing-Dependent Synaptic Plasticity
Geun Hee Seol, Jokūbas Žiburkus, Shiyong Huang, Lihua Song, In Tae Kim, Kogo Takamiya, Richard L. Huganir, Hey‐Kyoung Lee, Alfredo Kirkwood
SJR Q1NeuronOA
Electrical and Electronic EngineeringEngineering
2
Review|117 citations·2016
Eucalyptol and Its Role in Chronic Diseases
Geun Hee Seol, Ka Young Kim
SJR Q3Advances in experimental medicine and biology
Molecular BiologyBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
3
Article|98 citations·2010
Antidepressant-like effect of Salvia sclarea is explained by modulation of dopamine activities in rats
Geun Hee Seol, Hyun Soo Shim, Pill-Joo Kim, Hea Kyung Moon, Kiho Lee, Insop Shim, Suk Hyo Suh, Sun Seek Min
SJR Q1Journal of Ethnopharmacology
Cellular and Molecular NeuroscienceNeuroscience
4
Article|96 citations·2013
Anti-inflammatory effects of anethole in lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury in mice
Purum Kang, Ka Young Kim, Hui Su Lee, Sun Seek Min, Geun Hee Seol
SJR Q1Life Sciences
Food ScienceAgricultural and Biological Sciences
5
Article|92 citations·2016
Antioxidant activity of linalool in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome
Geun-Hye Seol, Purum Kang, Hui Su Lee, Geun Hee Seol
SJR Q2BMC NeurologyOA

BACKGROUND: Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a common peripheral neuropathy and ischemic-reperfusion injury. Oxidative stress is considered a major cause of CTS. Linalool, a component of essential oils, has antioxidant activity. This study was designed to determine the effects of linalool inhalation on oxidative stress in patients with CTS. METHODS: This double-blind, placebo-controlled study assessed the effects of linalool inhalation on oxidative stress in patients with CTS. Thirty-seven subjec

Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and ImagingMedicine
6
Article|90 citations·2009
Chronic brain inflammation impairs two forms of long-term potentiation in the rat hippocampal CA1 area
Sun Seek Min, Hui Quan, Jinhua Ma, Jung‐Soo Han, Byeong Hwa Jeon, Geun Hee Seol
SJR Q2Neuroscience Letters
NeurologyNeuroscience
7
Article|63 citations·2013
Effect of Eucalyptus Oil Inhalation on Pain and Inflammatory Responses after Total Knee Replacement: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Yang Jun, Purum Kang, Sun Seek Min, Jeong Min Lee, Hyo-Keun Kim, Geun Hee Seol
Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative MedicineOA

Eucalyptus oil has been reported effective in reducing pain, swelling, and inflammation. This study aimed to investigate the effects of eucalyptus oil inhalation on pain and inflammatory responses after total knee replacement (TKR) surgery. Participants were randomized 1 : 1 to intervention group (eucalyptus inhalation group) or control group (almond oil inhalation group). Patients inhaled eucalyptus or almond oil for 30 min of continuous passive motion (CPM) on 3 consecutive days. Pain on a vis

RheumatologyMedicine
8
Article|63 citations·2017
Anti-inflammatory effects of trans-anethole in a mouse model of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Ka Young Kim, Hui Su Lee, Geun Hee Seol
SJR Q1Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy
Food ScienceAgricultural and Biological Sciences
9
Article|59 citations·2014
The Effect of 1,8‐Cineole Inhalation on Preoperative Anxiety: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Ka Young Kim, Hyo Jin Seo, Sun Seek Min, Mira Park, Geun Hee Seol
Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative MedicineOA

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of inhalation of eucalyptus oil and its constituents on anxiety in patients before selective nerve root block (SNRB). This study was a randomized controlled trial carried out in 62 patients before SNRB. The patients were randomized to inhale limonene, 1,8-cineole, or eucalyptus oil, each at concentrations of 1% vol/vol in almond oil or almond oil (control). Anxiety-visual analog scale (A-VAS), state-trait anxiety inventory (STAI), profile of mo

Sensory SystemsNeuroscience
10
Article|59 citations·2013
Effects of 1,8-cineole on hypertension induced by chronic exposure to nicotine in rats
Hea Kyung Moon, Purum Kang, Hui Su Lee, Sun Seek Min, Geun Hee Seol
SJR Q2Journal of Pharmacy and PharmacologyOA

OBJECTIVES: The monoterpenic oxide 1,8-cineole is a major component of many essential oils. We investigated its effects on systolic blood pressure (SBP) and oxidative stress in rats chronically exposed to nicotine. METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats (100-120 g) were intraperitoneally injected with 0.8 mg/kg/day nicotine for 21 days, followed by 3 mg/kg nicotine the next day. Rats were subsequently injected intraperitoneally with 0.01, 0.1 and 1 mg/kg 1,8-cineole, or 10 mg/kg nifedipine. SBP was m

Food ScienceAgricultural and Biological Sciences
11
Article|58 citations·2015
Eucalyptol suppresses matrix metalloproteinase-9 expression through an extracellular signal-regulated kinase-dependent nuclear factor-kappa B pathway to exert anti-inflammatory effects in an acute lung inflammation model
Ka Young Kim, Hui Su Lee, Geun Hee Seol
SJR Q2Journal of Pharmacy and PharmacologyOA

OBJECTIVES: The acute lung injury (ALI) model is characterised by a severe acute inflammatory response in the lungs that represents the pathogenesis of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). In this study, we sought to elucidate the anti-inflammatory mechanism of eucalyptol in relation to tissue remodelling in acute lung inflammation. METHODS: BALB/C mice were intraperitoneally injected with eucalyptol (100, 200 or 400 mg/kg) or dexamethasone (1 mg/kg) 1 h before intratracheal challenge wit

Complementary and alternative medicineMedicine
12
Article|53 citations·2014
Effects of Inhalation of Essential Oil of Citrus aurantium L. var. amara on Menopausal Symptoms, Stress, and Estrogen in Postmenopausal Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Seo Yeon Choi, Purum Kang, Hui Su Lee, Geun Hee Seol
Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative MedicineOA

This study aimed to investigate the effects of inhalation of the essential oil of Citrus aurantium L. var. amara (neroli oil) on menopausal symptoms, stress, and estrogen in postmenopausal women. Sixty-three healthy postmenopausal women were randomized to inhale 0.1% or 0.5% neroli oil or almond oil (control) for 5 minutes twice daily for 5 days. Menopause-related symptoms, as determined by the Menopause-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire (MENQOL); sexual desire visual analog scale (VAS); se

Sensory SystemsNeuroscience
13
Article|48 citations·2013
Randomized Controlled Trial for Salvia sclarea or Lavandula angustifolia : Differential Effects on Blood Pressure in Female Patients with Urinary Incontinence Undergoing Urodynamic Examination
Geun Hee Seol, Yun Hee Lee, Purum Kang, Ji Hye You, Mira Park, Sun Seek Min
The Journal of Alternative and Complementary MedicineOA

These results suggest that lavender oil inhalation may be inappropriate in lowering stress during urodynamic examinations, despite its antistress effects, while clary oil inhalation may be useful in inducing relaxation in female urinary incontinence patients undergoing urodynamic assessments.

RheumatologyMedicine
14
Article|41 citations·2014
Effects of Salvia sclarea on chronic immobilization stress induced endothelial dysfunction in rats
Hyo Jung Yang, Ka Young Kim, Purum Kang, Hui Su Lee, Geun Hee Seol
BMC Complementary and Alternative MedicineOA

BACKGROUND: Although Salvia sclarea (clary sage) is widely used in aromatherapy and has antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, its mechanisms of action remain poorly understood. We therefore assessed whether clary sage is effective in treating endothelial dysfunction induced by chronic immobilization stress in rats. METHODS: Rats were intraperitoneally injected with almond oil, clary sage oil (5%, 10% or 20%), or nifedipine once daily, followed by immobilization stress (2 h/day) for 14 days.

PhysiologyMedicine
15
Article|33 citations·2016
Endothelium- and smooth muscle-dependent vasodilator effects of Citrus aurantium L. var. amara: Focus on Ca2+ modulation
Purum Kang, Kang-Hyun Ryu, Jeong Min Lee, Hyo-Keun Kim, Geun Hee Seol
SJR Q1Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy
Food ScienceAgricultural and Biological Sciences

Research Areas

PhysiologyFood ScienceNeurologyPharmacologyMolecular BiologyCellular and Molecular Neuroscience

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