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Background : In aromatherapy, essential oils are used as anti-inflammatory remedies, but experimental studies on their action mechanisms are very limited. Aims of the study : To assess their anti-inflammatory activities, the effects of essential oils on neutrophil recruitment in mice were examined in vivo . Method : The effect of essential oils on leukocyte and neutrophil recruitment induced 6 h after intraperitoneal injection of casein in mice was examined. Results : Leukocyte recruitment into the peritoneal cavity in mice was suppressed by intraperitoneal injections of geranium, lemongrass and spearmint oils at the dose of 5 μl/mouse, but was not by tea tree oil. This recruitment was inhibited dose-dependently by geranium oil. The suppression of leukocyte recruitment resulted from inhibition of neutrophil accumulation. Conclusion : Some essential oils used as anti-inflammatory remedies suppress neutrophil recruitment into the peritoneal cavity in mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]