Abstract:
General background: Medicinal plants have long been recognized for their therapeutic properties due to their bioactive compounds. Specific background: Lavender (Lavandula spp.) is widely used for its aromatic, medicinal, and preservative properties, but comprehensive analyses of its leaf extract's phytochemical profile and antioxidant potential remain limited. Knowledge gap: While numerous studies have explored lavender essential oils, fewer have examined the secondary metabolites and antioxidant capacity specifically from leaf-based alcoholic extracts. Aims: This study aimed to evaluate the active compounds and antioxidant activity of the alcoholic extract of lavender leaves by identifying its chemical composition and quantifying key bioactive metabolites. Results: Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of phenolic compounds, flavonoids, tannins, glycosides, alkaloids, terpenes, and sterols. The extract showed the highest concentration of total phenolics (25.32 mg/100 g) and the lowest of glycosides (0.076 mg/100 g). Antioxidant assays confirmed its capacity to scavenge free radicals effectively. Novelty: This study provides detailed evidence of the potent antioxidant activity of lavender leaf extracts, contributing new insights distinct from flower-based evaluations. Implications: These findings support the potential development of lavender leaf-based natural antioxidants for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications.
Highlights:
Identified seven major classes of secondary metabolites in lavender leaf extract.
Highest antioxidant activity linked to phenolic and flavonoid content.
Demonstrated potential for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications.
Keywords: Lavender Plant, Active Compounds, Antioxidant Activity
References
I. Süntar, "Importance of Ethnopharmacological Studies in Drug Discovery: Role of Medicinal Plants," Phytochem. Rev., vol. 19, pp. 1199–1209, 2020.
Y. Xiong and C. Long, "An Ethnoveterinary Study on Medicinal Plants Used by the Buyi People in Southwest Guizhou, China," J. Ethnobiol. Ethnomed., vol. 16, p. 46, 2020.
H. Lowe, B. Steele, J. Bryant, E. Fouad, N. Toyang, and W. Ngwa, "Antiviral Activity of Jamaican Medicinal Plants and Isolated Bioactive Compounds," Molecules, vol. 26, p. 607, 2021.
N. Tran, B. Pham, and L. Le, "Bioactive Compounds in Anti-Diabetic Plants," Biology, vol. 9, p. 252, 2020.
Y. Fu, J. Luo, J. Qin, and M. Yang, "Screening Techniques for the Identification of Bioactive Compounds in Natural Products," J. Pharm. Biomed. Anal., vol. 168, pp. 189–200, 2019.
F. Moussaoui and T. Alaoui, "Evaluation of Antibacterial Activity and Synergistic Effect Between Antibiotic and the Essential Oils of Some Medicinal Plants," Asian Pac. J. Trop. Biomed., vol. 6, pp. 32–37, 2016.
O. I. Lomovsky, I. O. Lomovskiy, and D. V. Orlov, "Mechanochemical Solid Acid/Base Reactions for Obtaining Biologically Active Preparations and Extracting Plant Materials," Green Chem. Lett. Rev., vol. 104, pp. 171–185, 2017.
V. R. Angelova, D. F. Grekov, V. K. Kisyov, and K. I. Ivanov, "Potential of Lavender (Lavandula vera L.) for Phytoremediation of Soils Contaminated with Heavy Metals," Int. J. Sci. Res. Innov., vol. 9, pp. 465–472, 2015.
N. Dobros, K. D. Zawada, and K. Paradowska, "Phytochemical Profiling, Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Plants Belonging to the Lavandula Genus," Molecules, vol. 28, p. 256, 2023.
A.-M. Tăbăraşu, D.-N. Anghelache, I. Găgeanu, S.-S. Biris, and N.-V. Vlădut, "Considerations on the Use of Active Compounds Obtained from Lavender," Sustainability, vol. 15, p. 8879, 2023.
M. Saadatian, M. Aghaei, M. Farahpour, and Z. Balouchi, "Chemical Composition of Lavender (Lavandula officinalis L.) Extraction Extracted by Two Solvent Concentrations," Glob. J. Med. Plant Res., vol. 1, pp. 214–217, 2013.
D. K. Fakhriddinova et al., "The Anatomical Structure of Vegetative Organs Lavandula officinalis Chaix in the Introduction of Tashkent Botanical Garden," Am. J. Plant Sci., vol. 11, pp. 578–588, 2020.
R. Prusinowska and K. B. Śmigielski, "Composition, Biological Properties and Therapeutic Effects of Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia L.): A Review," Kerba Pol., vol. 60, pp. 56–66, 2014.
T. Costea, A.-M. Străinu, and C. E. Gîrd, "Botanical Characterization, Chemical Composition and Antioxidant Activity of Romanian Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.) Flowers," Studia Univ. Vasile Goldiș Ser. Științele Vieții, vol. 29, pp. 159–167, 2019.
K. Słowik-Krogulecka et al., "Yielding and Quality of Lavender Flowers (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.) from Organic Cultivation," Acta Sci. Pol. Hortorum Cultus, vol. 13, pp. 173–183, 2014.
K. L. Adam, "Lavender Production, Markets and Agritourism," ATTRA Sustain. Agric., pp. 1–8, 2018.
K. A. Kimbrough and C. E. Swift, "Growing Lavender in Colorado," Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA, 2006.
K. D. Giannoulis, V. Evangelopoulos, N. Gougoulias, and E. Wogiatzi, "Lavender Organic Cultivation Yield and Essential Oil Can Be Improved by Using Bio-Stimulants," Acta Agric. Scand., vol. 70, pp. 648–656, 2020.
M. Gonceariuc, A. Zbancă, and S. Panuța, A Practical Guide to Growing Lavender and Managing the Business, Chișinău, Moldova: Lavanda.MD, 2019, p. 128.
M. Caser, N. M. Falla, S. Demasi, and V. Scariot, "From Fresh to Dried Lavender Flower: Changes in Phytochemical Profile According to Drying Method," Horticulturae, vol. 9, p. 700, 2023.
V. D. Zeljazkov, C. L. Cantrell, T. Astatkie, and E. Jeliazkova, "Distillation Time Effect on Lavender Essential Oil Yield and Composition," J. Oleo. Sci., vol. 62, pp. 195–199, 2013.
S. Zenao, A. Aires, C. Dias, M. J. Saavedra, and C. Fernandes, "Antibacterial Potential of Urtica dioica and Lavandula angustifolia Extracts Against Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Isolated from Diabetic Foot Ulcers," J. Herb. Med., vol. 10, pp. 53–58, 2017.
S. K. Yang et al., "Lavender Essential Oil Induces Oxidative Stress Which Modifies the Bacterial Membrane Permeability of Carbapenemase Producing Klebsiella pneumoniae," Sci. Rep., vol. 10, p. 819, 2020.
K. Pokajewicz, M. Czarniecka-Wiera, A. Krajewska, E. Maciejczyk, and P. P. Wieczorek, "Lavandula × intermedia—A Bastard Lavender or a Plant of Many Values? Part I. Biology and Chemical Composition of Lavandin," Molecules, vol. 28, p. 2943, 2023.
S. Gupta et al., "Analysis of Nutritional Composition of Sweet Potato Vines," Int. J. Pharm. Phytochem., vol. 7, pp. 104–106, 2018.
B. Krochmal-Marczak et al., "The Content of Phenolic Acids and Flavonols in the Leaves of Nine Varieties of Sweet Potatoes (Ipomoea batatas L.) Depending on Their Development, Grown in Central Europe," Molecules, vol. 25, p. 3473, 2020.
M. A. Hanamanthagouda et al., "Essential Oils of Lavandula bipinnata and Their Antimicrobial Activities," Food Chem., vol. 118, pp. 836–839, 2010.
V. Jaramillo et al., "Enhancing Wound Healing: A Novel Topical Emulsion Combining CW49 Peptide and Lavender Essential Oil for Accelerated Regeneration and Antibacterial Protection," Pharmaceutics, vol. 15, p. 1739, 2023.
P. Tiwari et al., "Phytochemical Screening and Extraction: A Review," Int. Pharm. Sci., vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 98–106, 2011.
C. K. Kokate, A. P. Purohit, and S. B. Gokhale, Pharmacognosy, 17th ed., Pune, India: Nirali Prakashan, 2009, pp. 99, 231, 5.
J. B. Harborne, Phytochemical Methods, 2nd ed., New York, USA: Chapman and Hall, 1985.
F. Sluyter et al., "Genetics of Testosterone and the Aggression-Hostility-Anger (AHA) Syndrome: A Study of Middle Aged Male Twins," Twin Res., vol. 3, pp. 266–276, 2000.
R. D. Stanworth and T. H. Jones, "Testosterone for the Aging Male: Current Evidence and Recommended," Clin. Interv. Aging, vol. 3, no. 1, pp. 25–44, 2008.
J. M. Coates, M. Gurnell, and Z. Sarnyai, "From Molecule to Market: Steroid Hormones and Financial Risk-Taking," Philos. Trans. R. Soc. B, vol. 365, pp. 331–343, 2010.
A. L. Hand, C. A. Harrison, and A. N. Shelling, "Inhibin and Premature Ovarian Failure," J. Hum. Reprod., vol. 16, pp. 39–50, 2010.
M. J. Mahmoud, Chemistry of Medicinal Plants, Bagdad, Iraq: Anwar Dijla, 2008, pp. 13–16.
G. I. Marovska et al., "Chemical Composition and Antioxidant Activity of Ethanol Extracts Obtained from Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.)," Philipp. J. Sci., vol. 152, no. 3, pp. 861–870, 2023.
E. Truzzi et al., "Characterization and Valorization of the Agricultural Waste Obtained from Lavandula Steam Distillation for Its Reuse in the Food and Pharmaceutical Fields," Molecules, vol. 27, p. 1613, 2022.
B. Sadia, S. Irfan, and Z. A. Bazai, "Chemical Composition of Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) Leaves Under Salt Stress," Pure Appl. Biol., vol. 5, no. 2, pp. 355–360, 2021.
A. Soni and S. Sosa, "Phytochemical Analysis and Free Radical Scavenging Potential of Herbal and Medicinal Plant Extracts," J. Pharmacogn. Phytochem., vol. 2, no. 4, pp. 22–29, 2013.
W. Brand-Williams, M. E. Cuvelier, and C. Berset, "Use of a Free Radical Method to Evaluate Antioxidant Activity," LWT - Food Sci. Technol., vol. 28, pp. 25–30, 1995.
S. Moreno, T. Scheyer, C. S. Romano, and A. A. Vojnov, "Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activities of Rosemary Extracts Linked to Their Polyphenol Composition," Free Radic. Res., vol. 40, no. 2, pp. 223–231, 2006.
M. A. Ebrahimzadeh, F. Pourmorad, and S. Hafezi, "Antioxidant Activities of Iranian Corn Silk," Turk. J. Biol., vol. 32, no. 1, pp. 43–49, 2008.
W. Y. V. López, C. J. C. Alvarado, M. D. D. Medina, A. O. C. Facio, and A. S. Galindo, "Evaluation of Antibacterial and Antioxidant Properties of Lavandula officinalis Extracts Obtained by Ultrasound," Int. J. Mol. Biol. Open Access, vol. 7, no. 1, pp. 15–19, 2024.
W. R. Nurzyńska and G. Zawiślak, "Chemical Composition and Antioxidant Activity of Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.) Aboveground Parts," Acta Sci. Pol. Hortorum Cultus, vol. 15, no. 5, pp. 225–241, 2016.
J. Briones, C. Beristain, and L. Pascual, "Design and Functionality in In Vivo Systems of Liquid Nanocapsules in Rosemary Essential Oil," Food Sci. Technol., pp. 1–17, 2019.
J. Rojas, A. Trávez, Z. Zambrano, et al., "Aceite Esencial de Lavanda (Lavandula angustifolia): Extracción, Caracterización de Compuestos Volátiles, Capacidad Antioxidante y Actividad Antimicrobiana," UTCiencia, vol. 9, no. 3, pp. 113–127, 2022.
F. Shahidi and P. Ambigaipalan, "Phenolics and Polyphenolics in Foods, Beverages and Spices: Antioxidant Activity and Health Effects—A Review," J. Funct. Foods, vol. 18, pp. 820–897, 2015.
P. S. Shukla et al., "Ascophyllum nodosum-Based Biostimulants: Sustainable Applications in Agriculture for the Stimulation of Plant Growth, Stress Tolerance, and Disease Management," Front. Plant Sci., vol. 10, p. 655, 2019.