Lavender essential oil protects against oxidative stress

An animal study run by Tunisian researchers evaluated the antioxidant potential of essential oils derived from Spanish lavender (Lavandula stoechas). The mouse model showed that these essential oils could protect the kidney and liver against oxidative stress caused by malathion injection.

The Higher Institute of Biotechnology of Beja provided support to the study, the results of which were published in the Journal of Medicinal Food.

• Young male mice were divided into different groups. For 30 days, they were subjected to either 200 milligrams per kilogram of the toxic chemical malathion, different doses of Spanish lavender essential oil, or malathion and essential oil on a daily basis.
• An organophosphate used as a pesticide, malathion reduced the amount of body weight gained by the mice. The metabolisms of the animals displayed signs of disruption.
• Malathion also triggered nephrotoxic and hepatotoxic effects. The relative weight of the kidney and liver increased, and hemodynamic patterns associated with these organs were no longer properly regulated.
• Malathion increased the levels of oxidative reactive species like malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide. It also depleted sulfhydryl group content and reduced the activity levels of antioxidant enzymes in the kidney and liver.
• Essential oil treatment reversed all negative effects of malathion. It also relieved oxidative stress on the kidneys and liver.

The study showed that Spanish lavender essential oil displayed hepatoprotective and nephroprotective activity against the harmful oxidative stress caused by malathion. The researchers believe these protective properties could be attributed to the antioxidant activity of the oil.

If you want to learn more about the other benefits of lavender essential oil, EssentialOils.news is the place for you.

Journal Reference:

Selmi S, Jallouli M, Gharbi N, Marzouki L. HEPATOPROTECTIVE AND RENOPROTECTIVE EFFECTS OF LAVENDER (LAVANDULA STOECHAS L.) ESSENTIAL OILS AGAINST MALATHION-INDUCED OXIDATIVE STRESS IN YOUNG MALE MICE. Journal of Medicinal Food. 1 October 2015;18(10):1103–1111. DOI: 10.1089/jmf.2014.0130.