Inhibitory effects of linalool, an essential oil component of lavender, on nociceptive TRPA1 and voltage-gated Ca2+channels in mouse sensory neurons

Linalool, an essential oil component of lavender is commonly used in fragrances. It is known that linalool has anxiolytic, sedative, and analgesic actions. However, the mechanism of its analgesic action has not yet been fully clarified. Pain signals elicited by the activation of nociceptors on peripheral neurons are transmitted to the central nervous system. In the present study, we investigated the effects of linalool on transient receptor potential (TRP) channels and voltage-gated channels, both of which are important for pain signaling via nociceptors in somatosensory neurons. For detection of channel activity, the intracellular Ca2+concentration ([Ca2+]i) was measured using a Ca2+-imaging system, and membrane currents were recorded using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique. Analgesic actions were also examined in vivo.