Effects of lavandula latifolia medik. essential oil on angiogenesis and some matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) enzymes

Lavender essential oils (Lavandula angustifolia Mill., - English Lavander;L. latifolia Medik.- Spike Lavender) of the European Pharmacopoeia are widely utilized due to their aromatic and biological activities. Lavender oils are indicated as carminative, sedative and externally as insect repellant in herbal preparations, and are used for their fragrance in perfumes as well as cosmetics. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) play an important role in many physiological processes and also participate in the re-organization of pathological processes such as inflammation, wound healing and cancer cell invasions. Whereas angiogenesis is known to play a key role in tumor growth, thus specific synthetic and natural inhibitory drugs are investigated clinically in the treatment of many malign and non-malign diseases. In the frame of this project, the Pharmacopeoeia quality of the study material L. latifolia essential oil (Spica aetheroleum) was verified by gas chromatography and gas chromatography/mass spectroscopic methods, respectively. Thereafter, the oil was interacted for the first time with MMP-2 and 9 enzymes in vitro measured and evaluated spectrophotometrically. For comparison, angiogenic and anti-inflammatory effects of the oil were evaluated by using the in vivo chicken embryo assay. As a result, MMP enzyme inhibition at 0,4 mg/mL concentration was not present, whereas weak antiangiogenic effects were observed according to the scoring system.