Antinociceptive and gastroprotective effects of inhaled and orally administered Lavandula hybrida Reverchon "Grosso" essential oil.

Abstract

In this study the antinociceptive and the gastroprotective effects of orally administered or inhaled Lavandula hybrida Reverchon "Grosso" essential oil, and its principal constituents linalool and linalyl acetate were evaluated in rodents. Either when orally administered (100 mg/kg) or inhaled for 60 min lavender essential oil significantly reduced the acetic acid-writhing response in a naloxone-sensitive manner. In the hot plate test, analgesic activity observed after oil inhalation was inhibited by naloxone, atropine, mecamylamine pretreatment suggesting the involvement of opioidergic as well as cholinergic pathways. Regardless of the administration route and the experimental model used both linalool and linalyl acetate did not produce significant analgesic response. Oral or inhalatory treatment with analgesic doses of essential oil did not affect mice spontaneous locomotor activity. Concerning the gastric effects, lavender oil, linalool and linalyl acetate oral administration protected against acute ethanol-induced gastric ulcers but did not prevent indomethacin-induced lesions indicating no interference with arachidonic acid metabolic cascade. In conclusion, besides this gastroprotection, lavender oil reveals an interesting analgesic activity mainly relevant after inhalation, at doses devoid of sedative side effect, suggesting the interest for potential application of this oil in aromatherapy.

• Authors: E Barocelli, F Calcina, M Chiavarini, M Impicciatore, R Bruni, A Bianchi, V Ballabeni
• Journal: Life sciences (Life Sci) Vol. 76 Issue 2 Pg. 213-23 (Nov 26 2004) ISSN: 0024-3205 [Print] Netherlands
• PMID: 15519366 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Acyclic Monoterpenes
• Analgesics
• Anti-Ulcer Agents
• Monoterpenes
• Oils, Volatile
• Plant Oils
• Ethanol
• linalyl acetate
• linalool
• Acetic Acid
• Indomethacin
• lavender oil

Topics

• Acetic Acid (toxicity)
• Acyclic Monoterpenes
• Administration, Inhalation
• Administration, Oral
• Analgesics (administration & dosage, isolation & purification, therapeutic use, toxicity)
• Animals
• Anti-Ulcer Agents (administration & dosage, isolation & purification, therapeutic use, toxicity)
• Disease Models, Animal
• Drug Therapy, Combination
• Ethanol (toxicity)
• Female
• Gastric Mucosa (drug effects, pathology)
• Indomethacin (toxicity)
• Lavandula (chemistry)
• Male
• Mice
• Monoterpenes (therapeutic use)
• Motor Activity (drug effects)
• Oils, Volatile (administration & dosage, isolation & purification, therapeutic use, toxicity)
• Pain (drug therapy)
• Plant Oils (administration & dosage, isolation & purification, therapeutic use, toxicity)
• Rats
• Rats, Wistar
• Stomach Ulcer (chemically induced, drug therapy)