Anxiolytic effects of Lavandula angustifolia odour on the Mongolian gerbil elevated plus maze

• Published in: Journal of ethnopharmacology 2007-05, Vol.111 (3), p.517-525
• Main Authors: Bradley, B.F., Starkey, N.J., Brown, S.L., Lea, R.W.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: animal behavior; Animals; Anti-Anxiety Agents - isolation & purification; Anti-Anxiety Agents - pharmacology; Anxiety; Anxiety - drug therapy; Aromatherapy; bioassays; Biological and medical sciences; chemical constituents of plants; Chromatography, Gas; Diazepam; Diazepam - pharmacology; Elevated plus maze; Exploratory Behavior - drug effects; Female; General pharmacology; Gerbillinae; Gerbils; Inhalation; Lavandula; Lavandula angustifolia; Lavender oil; Male; Mass Spectrometry; Maze Learning - drug effects; Medical sciences; medicinal plants; medicinal properties; Motor Activity - drug effects; Odorants; odors; Oils, Volatile - isolation & purification; Oils, Volatile - pharmacology; Pharmacognosy. Homeopathy. Health food; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; plant extracts; Plant Oils - isolation & purification; Plant Oils - pharmacology; Random Allocation; Sex Factors
• ISSN: 0378-8741; 1872-7573
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2006.12.021

Lavender is a popular treatment for stress and mild anxiety in Europe and the USA. The present study investigated the effects of ( Lavandula angustifolia Mill. (Lamiaceae)) lavender odour inhalation over 2 weeks or 24 h periods, on gerbil behaviour in the elevated plus maze in mature male and female gerbils, and compared results with the effects of diazepam (1 mg/kg) i.p. after 30 min and 2-week administration. Traditional measures of open entries showed an increasing trend over the 2 weeks exposure, whereas ethological measures indicative of anxiety; stretch-attend frequency and percentage protected head-dips, were significantly lower. Exploratory behaviour, total head-dip frequency, increased after 24 h lavender and 2 weeks exposure. These results are comparable with diazepam administration. There were sex differences in protected head-dip an ethological indicator of anxiety: females showed a significant decrease in protected head-dips compared to both males and to female controls. In conclusion exposure to lavender odour may have an anxiolytic profile in gerbils similar to that of the anxiolytic diazepam. In addition, prolonged, 2-week lavender odour exposure increased exploratory behaviour in females indicating a further decrease in anxiety in this sex.