Lavender oil inhibits immediate-type allergic reaction in mice and rats

We studied the effects of lavender oil on mast cell-mediated immediate-type allergic reactions in mice and rats. Lavender oil (1 : 500, 1 : 100, 1 : 10, 1 : 1, 1 : 0) inhibited concentration-dependently mast cell-dependent ear swelling response induced by compound 48/80 in mice by both topical and intradermal application. Lavender oil (1 : 500, 1 : 100, 1 : 10, 1 : 1, 1 : 0) inhibited concentration-dependently passive cutaneous anaphylaxis induced by anti-dinitrophenyl (DNP) IgE in rats by both topical and intradermal application. Lavender oil (1 : 500, 1 : 100, 1 : 10, 1 : 1, 1 : 0) also inhibited concentration-dependentry the histamine release from the peritoneal mast cells by compound 48/80 or anti-DNP IgE. Moreover, lavender oil (1 : 1000, 1 : 100, 1 : 10, 1 : 0) had a significant inhibitory effect on anti-DNP IgE-induced tumour necrosis factor-alpha secretion from peritoneal mast cells. These results indicate that lavender oil inhibits immediate-type allergic reactions by inhibition of mast cell degranulation in-vivo and in-vitro.