title: Pharmacological and Toxicological Studies of Essential Oil of Lavandula stoechas subsp. luisieri.
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.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Química, Escola de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade de Évora, Évora, Portugal.
authors.forename: Sílvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arantes
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Química, Escola de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade de Évora, Évora, Portugal.
authors.forename: Fátima
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Candeias
authors.affiliation: ICAAM - Instituto de Ciências Agrárias e Ambientais Mediterrânicas, Universidade de Évora, Évora, Portugal.
authors.forename: Orlando
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Lopes
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biologia, Escola de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade de Évora, Évora, Portugal.
authors.forename: Mónica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Planeamento, Ambiente e Ordenamento, Escola de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade de Évora, Évora, Portugal.
authors.forename: Marízia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.affiliation: ICAAM - Instituto de Ciências Agrárias e Ambientais Mediterrânicas, Universidade de Évora, Évora, Portugal.
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tinoco
authors.affiliation: ICAAM - Instituto de Ciências Agrárias e Ambientais Mediterrânicas, Universidade de Évora, Évora, Portugal.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cruz-Morais
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Química, Escola de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade de Évora, Évora, Portugal.
authors.forename: M Rosário
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Martins
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001156:Artemia / Q000187:drug effects; D027523:Lavandula / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D010938:Plant Oils