Investigation of the potential anxiolytic effects of essential oils derived from two sacred plants of tantric buddhism: Rhododendron anthopogon d.don and Juniperus indica Bertol

Ethnobotanical data collected confirm the high ritual value of J. indica and R. anthopogon in the Indian Himalaya for both Tantric religious ceremonies and in the daily activity. The data obtained on the chemical composition of the EOs distilled on-site from these species and on their inhibitory activity on important enzymes of the CNS can validate, at least in part, the traditional use linked to their anxiolytic properties. The possible application of these EOs in the aromatherapy market, respecting traditional and eco-sustainable methods of collection and distillation, can represent a further source of income for local populations.