article · Journal of Toxicology
Essential oil from Lavandula angustifolia, traditionally used in Ankober District in North Central Ethiopia to treat human and livestock ailments, was evaluated for safety. Chemical analysis revealed eucalyptol as the primary constituent at 52.36 percent, alongside camphor, gamma-terpinene, and endoborneol. In animal testing, an acute oral limit test in mice established a lethal dose higher than 2000 mg/kg. Repeated oral administration of 2000 mg/kg daily for 21 days in mice produced no significant alterations in body weight, food and water consumption, biochemical measures, gross morphology, or liver and kidney tissue structure. In addition, topical application of a 10 percent essential oil ointment showed no skin irritation. Overall, the investigations demonstrated that the essential oil is non-toxic under the evaluated conditions.
Traditional botanical remedies require formal safety verification before broader healthcare or veterinary adoption. By establishing that Lavandula angustifolia essential oil does not cause acute oral toxicity, organ damage, or skin irritation at the tested levels, this evaluation provides baseline preclinical toxicological evidence to support its traditional medicinal use for treating humans and livestock.
The findings offer preliminary safety data relevant to developers of herbal medicines, veterinary treatments, or topical formulations containing Lavandula angustifolia essential oil. Because this research represents early-stage animal toxicity testing, considerable further investigation, including human clinical trials and product formulation, would be required before commercial market entry.
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Lavandula angustifolia is used in traditional and folk medicines of Ankober District, North Central Ethiopia, for the treatment of several livestock and human disorders. This toxicity study aimed to investigate L. angustifolia essential oil oral toxicity in mice and skin irritation in rabbit. L. angustifolia essential oil was analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry methods and showed predominance of Eucalyptol (52.36%), Camphor (11.91%), gamma-terpinene (8.775%) and endoborneol (7.585%). Limit test at 2000 mg/kg dose was used for L. angustifolia essential oil acute toxicity test and revealed LD 50 value was higher than 2000 mg/kg. For subacute toxicity study 2000mg/kg was given orally to each mouse for 21 days. The result demonstrated no significant changes (p > 0.05) in the body weights, and biochemical parameters, gross abnormalities, water, and food intake were observed. No macroscopic changes were seen in the histopathology analysis of kidneys and livers. For skin irritation test shaved rabbit skin was treated with 10% ointment formulation. Ointment of L. angustifolia oil did not affect mice skin. Generally, this toxicity study demonstrated that L. angustifolia essential oil is nontoxic.
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DOI: 10.1155/2019/5979546
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