RESUMEN
Background: Hypertension is a health problem and alternative medicine is offered for its controlling
Objective: Nutritional effects of Lavandula angustifolia L. [lavender] oil on high blood pressure [BP], and histological changes of the aorta in rat has been investigated in this study
Methods: Therty five male wistar rats were divided into 5 groups; normal, hypertensive and control. Hypertension was induced by daily L-NAME administration in drinking water for 6 weeks and lavender oil [500 mg/kg] or its vehicle was given orally simultaneously. After basal BP measurement, lavender [50 mg/kg, iv] was injected in control groups. Histological evaluation of the thoracic aorta included staining with hematoxylin-eosin and orcein methods
Results: Hypertension induction increased mean arterial BP from 106 to 177 mm Hg and lavender treatment reduced it to 140 mm Hg [P< 0.001]. Lavender had no effect on normal rats. Intravenous injection of lavender reduced BP about 75% in normotensive and hypertensive rats [P<0.001]. Hypertension induction increased cross-section area, aorta and media thickness, and reduced elastic lamina thickness [P<0.001]. Lavender treatment reduced cross-section area of the aorta and media thickness, and increased elastic lamina thickness [P < 0.05]. Hypertension and treatment had no effect on advanthia and elastic lamina numbers.
Conclusion: Nutritional lavender oil prevented BP increases and pathological changes of the aorta in hypertensive rats. It seems lavender oil is beneficial for prophylaxis of hypertension