Planta Med 2016; 82(14): 1266-1273
DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-104418
Biological and Pharmacological Activity
Original Papers
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Pharmacological and Toxicological Studies of Essential Oil of Lavandula stoechas subsp. luisieri

Sílvia Arantes
1   Departamento de Química, Escola de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade de Évora, Évora, Portugal
2   ICAAM – Instituto de Ciências Agrárias e Ambientais Mediterrânicas, Universidade de Évora, Évora, Portugal
,
Fátima Candeias
1   Departamento de Química, Escola de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade de Évora, Évora, Portugal
2   ICAAM – Instituto de Ciências Agrárias e Ambientais Mediterrânicas, Universidade de Évora, Évora, Portugal
,
Orlando Lopes
2   ICAAM – Instituto de Ciências Agrárias e Ambientais Mediterrânicas, Universidade de Évora, Évora, Portugal
3   Departamento de Biologia, Escola de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade de Évora, Évora, Portugal
,
Mónica Lima
3   Departamento de Biologia, Escola de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade de Évora, Évora, Portugal
,
Marízia Pereira
4   Departamento de Planeamento, Ambiente e Ordenamento, Escola de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade de Évora, Évora, Portugal
,
Teresa Tinoco
2   ICAAM – Instituto de Ciências Agrárias e Ambientais Mediterrânicas, Universidade de Évora, Évora, Portugal
,
J. Cruz-Morais
2   ICAAM – Instituto de Ciências Agrárias e Ambientais Mediterrânicas, Universidade de Évora, Évora, Portugal
,
M. Rosário Martins
1   Departamento de Química, Escola de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade de Évora, Évora, Portugal
2   ICAAM – Instituto de Ciências Agrárias e Ambientais Mediterrânicas, Universidade de Évora, Évora, Portugal
5   Laboratório HERCULES, Universidade de Évora, Évora, Portugal
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

received 05 April 2015
revised 19 February 2016

accepted 29 February 2016

Publication Date:
28 April 2016 (online)

Abstract

The present study was carried out to evaluate the chemical and pharmacological properties of the essential oil of Lavandula stoechas subsp. luisieri, which is a spontaneous shrub widespread in Alentejo (Portugal). Oxygenated monoterpenes, such as 1,8-cineole, lavandulol, and necrodane derivatives, are the main components of essential oil. It revealed important antioxidant activity with a high ability to inhibit lipid peroxidation and showed an outstanding effect against a wide spectrum of microorganisms, such as gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria and pathogenic yeasts. The analgesic effect studied in rats was dose dependent, reaching a maximum of 67 % at 60 min with the dose of 200 mg/kg and the anti-inflammatory activity with this dose caused an inhibition in carrageenan-induced rat paw oedema (83 %) that is higher than dexamethasone 1 mg/Kg (69 %). Besides, animals exhibited normal behaviour after essential oil administration, revealing low toxicity. The essential oil of L. luisieri from Alentejo presents important pharmacological properties and low toxicity, and is a promised candidate to be used as a food supplement or in pharmaceutical applications.