Lavandula angustifolia essential oil inhalation reduces mechanical hyperalgesia in a model of inflammatory and neuropathic pain: The involvement of opioid and cannabinoid receptors

Abstract

Lavandula angustifolia (LaEO) essential oil has been widely used by aromatherapy in the treatment of various clinical conditions, with evidence of its analgesic and anti-inflammatory potential. Our results demonstrate that sixty-five substances were identified in LaEO. Among the compounds found, the major ones were linalool (30.61%) and linalyl acetate (20.36%). We found that LaEO inhalation reduces mechanical hyperalgesia in conditions of chronic inflammatory and neuropathic pain. Furthermore, this effect seems to be mediated by peripheral and central opioid and cannabinoid 2 receptors. The findings of the present study suggests that the LaEO inhalation is effective on the chronic pain treatment.

Keywords: Aromatherapy; Cannabinoid system; Inflammatory pain; Neuropathic pain; Opioid system.