ABSTRACT
Background and Objective: Several studies have shown that inhalation of Lavandula angustifolia L. [Lavender] reduces hypertension, while systemic effects and mechanism of action of lavender oil on blood pressure is not clear. This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of intravenous and ntraperitoneal injection of Lavandula angustifolia L. oil on normal blood pressure in male rats
Methods: In this experimental study, 70 male Wistar rats were randomly allocated into 10 groups [n=7]. Following anesthetizing the animals with sodium thiopental, femoral artery and vein were cannulated respectively for recording blood pressure and injection of Lavandula angustifolia L. oil. Lavender oil or its vehicle [Propylene glycol] was injected by intravenous [25, 50 and 100 mg/kg/bw] or intraperitoneal injection [500mg/kg/bw]. For the evaluation of the mechanism of Lavender oil, L-NAME [4mg/kg/bw], atropine [1mg/kg/bw], indomethacin [5 mg/kg/bw] or saline was injected intraperitoneally before intravenous administration of Lavender angustifolia L. oil
Results: Intravenous injection of Lavender oil of 25 and 50 mg/kg/bw reduced arterial blood pressure in compare to control group [P<0.05] and dose of 50 mg/kg/bw was more effective than dose of 25 mg/kg/bw [P<0.05]. 100 mg/kg/bw of Lavender angustifolia L. oil caused serious fall of blood pressure and resulted in animal death. Intraperitoneally injection of Lavender angustifolia L. oil at dose of 500 mg/kg reduced arterial blood pressure that this reduction was longer than intravenously administration of Lavender oil [P<0.05]. Intraperitoneal injection of L-NAME, atropine or indomethacin had no significant effect on baseline of blood pressure and hypotensive effect of Lavender angustifolia L. oil
Conclusion: Intravenous injection of Lavandula angustifolia L. oil in doses of 25 and 50 mg/kg/bw reduced arterial blood pressure in rat, but intraperitoneally injection of Lavender oil at dose of 500 mg/kg/bw prolonged the reduction of blood pressure in animals