Comparative toxicological characteristics of lavender and coriander oils for predicting their safety in the working area air

Introduction. Essential oils have a multifaceted health and therapeutic effect, including antiseptic, anti-infective, anti-inflammatory and even antibiotic effects. Lavender and coriander essential oils also have antihistamine, immunostimulating effects, affect neurological activity — they act as analgesics, sedatives, antispasmodics, etc. Along with the positive pharmacological effects, there is literature evidence of their negative effects on humans with prolonged exposure in relatively high concentrations. Thus, the lack of hygiene standards in the air of the work area poses a threat to the health of workers who come into contact with these oils in production conditions.

The study aims to substantiate hygienic standards in the air of the working area for lavender and coriander oils based on their comparative toxicological characteristics.

Materials and methods. The authors used laboratory animals in their experiments: these are harmless white mice of both sexes, white male rats, Chinchilla rabbits, and white guinea pigs. The average lethal doses (DL₅₀) were determined when the substances were injected into the stomach and abdominal cavity. The scientists evaluated the local irritant effect on the mucous membranes of the eyes with a single application to the conjunctival sac of the rabbit's eye, the effect on the skin with a single and repeated application of oils to the depilated skin of the rabbit's back for 4 hours. Cumulative properties were studied in male mice with daily intragastric administration of the substance for 24 days at a dose of 1000 mg/kg. The experts studied the sensitizing effect of oils on guinea pigs in a combined way. The study of the inhalation hazard of oil vapors in conditions of the maximum possible saturation concentration was carried out under static conditions on white mice in desiccators with a volume of 18 liters at an exposure of 2 hours. The researchers evaluated subchronic toxicity with repeated intragastric administration of essential oils to rats at a dose of 1/10 DL₅₀ for 30 days.

Results. When injected into the abdominal cavity of male mice, according to the OECD and K.K. Sidorov classification, lavender oil belongs to the 5^th class of toxicity, and coriander oil belongs to the 5th or 6th class of toxicity. Both oils cause mild irritation of the mucous membranes. With a single application to the skin, lavender oil has a moderate irritant effect, coriander oil has a mild irritant effect. When inhaling the saturating vapors of lavender essential oil, mice showed a tendency to decrease their respiratory rate. The skin-resorptive effect of the studied substances has not been revealed. The study of cumulative properties showed a weak cumulative activity of both oils. No sensitizing effect was detected. When studying subchronic toxicity, it was found that both oils had no significant effect on body weight dynamics, daily intake of feed and water, rectal temperature, respiratory rate, ECG parameters and peripheral blood parameters. The authors found changes in the parameters of the nervous system, an increase in the activity of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), a decrease in the pH of urine, an increase in the level of urea in urine, the excretion of protein and urea in urine, and an increase in urea clearance.

Limitations. In hygienic rationing, the method of justification by analogy is applied.

Conclusion. Taking into account the similarity in the nature of the action of lavender and coriander essential oils and the main component — linalool, as well as by analogy with other similar terpene derivatives, the maximum permissible concentrations of lavender essential oil and coriander essential oil in the air of the working area at the level of 5 mg/m³; vapors; hazard class 3 have been established and approved.

Ethics. The experimental study was conducted in compliance with the necessary regulations (Helsinki Declaration of 2013, GOST 33044-2014 "Principles of good laboratory practice"; Order of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation No. 188n dated 04/01/2016 "Rules of good laboratory practice"). The research protocol was approved by the University Commission for the Control of the maintenance and Use of Laboratory Animals of the Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University of the Ministry of Health, Russian Federation, with permission No. 9 dated September 20, 2023, to work with laboratory animals.

Contributions:
Tonshin A.A. — preparation of literature data, writing of text, editing;
Golubeva M.I. — collection and processing of material, data analysis, writing, editing;
Sheina N.I. — research concept and design, text writing, editing;
Bidevkina M.V. — collection and processing of material, statistical data processing, writing text;
Bobrineva I.A. — conducting research, statistical data processing, description of research results;
Fedorova E.A. — conducting research, statistical data processing, description of research results;
Bobrinev E.V. — preparation of literature data and a list of literary sources, statistical data processing.

Funding. The study had no funding.

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Received: 02.04.2025 / Accepted: 26.05.2025 / Published: 05.07.2025

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