Citronellol and geraniol, components of rose oil, activate peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α and γ and suppress cyclooxygenase-2 expression.

We evaluated the effects of rose oil on the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). Citronellol and geraniol, the major components of rose oil, activated PPARα and γ, and suppressed LPS-induced COX-2 expression in cell culture assays, although the PPARγ-dependent suppression of COX-2 promoter activity was evident only with citronellol, indicating that citronellol and geraniol were the active components of rose oil.