Lavandula L. genus plants have always been relevant as medicines for various purposes in food, medicine, pharmaceuticals, cosmetology and aromology. Ukraine is a new territory in the mass plant cultivation and lavender essential oil production. Therefore, the issue of integrated use of herbal raw materials and their intended use is still relevant. For the first time, ten samples of Lavendula angustifolia herb from 5 growing regions of Ukraine were studied for the composition and content of polyphenols and terpenoids using HPLC and HPTLC methods, respectively, to assess the prospects and quality of herbal raw materials. The results obtained showed that L. angustifolia herb has pronounced antioxidant activity due to the high content of phenolic compounds, namely hyperoside (5.665-11.629 mg/g), vanillic acid (5.986-11.196 mg/g), rosmarinic acid (0.211 to 1.488 mg/g), caffeic acid (0.369-3.835 mg/g), chlorogenic acid (0.239-4.619 mg/g), genistein-7-O-glucoside, as well as due to the presence of linalool and linalyl acetate, which was confirmed by qualitative analysis. The total antioxidant activity was the highest in samples from Lviv Botanical Garden (0.293 Trolox mg/mL), Kyiv OLawander (0.288 Trolox mg/mL), Kharkiv Bohodukhiv (0.270 Trolox mg/mL) which is due to the qualitative composition of phenolic compounds. At the same time, the most intense zones of terpenoids in lavender herb were noted for images from Kharkiv region Lebiazhe and Kitchenkivka villiges. Cluster analysis showed priority in the selection of marker compounds (vanillic acid, hyperoside, chlorogenic acid, rosmarinic acid) for lavender herb based on their quantitative content in the samples. In the future, lavender herb from Ukraine can be considered as a promising raw material with neuroprotective properties as part of its complex use, as research continues.

This study investigated the phytochemical characteristics, antibacterial activity, and synergistic potential of essential oils derived from Romanian lavender. Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis revealed that linalool is the main compound in all lavender essential oils, with concentrations ranging from 29.410% to 35.769%. Linalyl acetate was found in similar concentrations to linalool. Other significant compounds included 1,8-cineole (8.50%), lavandulyl acetate (5.38%), trans-β-ocimene (6.90%), and camphor (7.7%). A 1,1-Diphenyl-2-Picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) test was used to assess antioxidant capacity, with substantial free-radical-scavenging activity shown in the IC50 values determined. The antibacterial efficacy of the oils was higher against Gram-positive bacteria than Gram-negative bacteria, with variations in minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs), the extent of inhibition, and evolution patterns. The study also explored the oils\' ability to enhance the efficacy of ampicillin, revealing synergistic interactions expressed as fractional inhibitory concentration indices. In silico protein-ligand docking studies used twenty-one compounds identified by GC-MS with bacterial protein targets, showing notable binding interactions with SasG (-6.3 kcal/mol to -4.6 kcal/mol) and KAS III (-6.2 kcal/mol to -4.9 kcal/mol). Overall, the results indicate that Romanian lavender essential oils possess potent antioxidant and antibacterial properties, and their synergistic interaction with ampicillin has potential for enhancing antibiotic therapies.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of aromatherapy through inhalation of Lavandula angustifolia essential oil in relieving pain during the immediate postoperative period of patients undergoing cardiac surgery.
METHODS: A single-blind, randomized and controlled clinical trial, with 52 patients in the immediate postoperative period of cardiac surgery were randomly distributed into experimental (n = 26) and control (n = 26) groups. The primary outcome was whether or not pain was relieved and secondary outcomes included changes in vital signs, sleep and facial relaxation. The control group received industry standard care and application of an essential oil-free ceramic diffuser necklace. The experimental group received the inhalation intervention with pure Lavandula angustifolia essential oil, with a drop of the oil on a ceramic diffuser necklace at a distance of 15-20 cm from the patient\'s nose for 30 min. Pain was measured using the Numerical Visual Scale, and vital signs using the multiparametric monitor before the intervention, 10 minutes after its start and 30 minutes after the total end of inhalation. Face relaxation was assessed before and after the intervention and sleep was assessed at the end of inhalation.
RESULTS: There was a decrease in pain levels (p < 0.001) 30 min after the end of inhalation in the Experimental Group, with a decrease in the measurements of Mean Blood Pressure (p= 0.008) and Respiratory Rate (p = 0.011). Furthermore, facial relaxation and sleep had a large effect size of 2.54 and 1.28, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS: Lavandula angustifolia essential oil was effective in relieving pain, causing sleep and relaxation, proving to be a low-cost and easy-to-use tool that the nursing team can use in their care.

Oral malodor still constitutes a major challenge worldwide. A strong effort is invested in eliminating volatile sulfur compound-producing oral bacteria through organic natural products such as essential oils. Fusobacterium nucleatum is a known volatile sulfur compound-producing bacteria that inspires oral malodor. The aim of the present study was to test the effect of lavender essential oil on the bacterium\'s ability to produce volatile sulfide compounds, the principal components of oral malodor. Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) essential oil was extracted by hydrodistillation and analyzed using GC-MS. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of lavender essential oil on Fusobacterium nucleatum was determined in a previous trial. Fusobacterium nucleatum was incubated anaerobically in the presence of sub-MIC, MIC, and above MIC concentrations of lavender essential oil, as well as saline and chlorhexidine as negative and positive controls, respectively. Following incubation, volatile sulfur compound levels were measured using GC (Oralchroma), and bacterial cell membrane damage was studied using fluorescence microscopy. Chemical analysis of lavender essential oil yielded five main components, with camphor being the most abundant, accounting for nearly one-third of the total lavender essential oil volume. The MIC (4 µL/mL) of lavender essential oil reduced volatile sulfur compound secretion at a statistically significant level compared to the control (saline). Furthermore, the level of volatile sulfur compound production attributed to 1 MIC of lavender essential oil was in the range of the positive control chlorhexidine with no significant difference. When examining bacterial membrane damage, 2 MIC of lavender essential oil (i.e., 8 µL/mL) demonstrated the same, showing antibacterial membrane damage values comparative to chlorhexidine. Since lavender essential oil was found to be highly effective in hindering volatile sulfur compound production by Fusobacterium nucleatum through the induction of bacterial cell membrane damage, the results suggest that lavender essential oil may be a suitable alternative to conventional chemical-based anti-malodor agents.

Transdermal drug delivery offers a promising alternative for administering medications like ibuprofen, known for its analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties, with reduced gastrointestinal side effects compared to oral administration. This study explored the potential synergistic effects of combining ibuprofen with lavender essential oil (LEO) in transdermal patches. The composition of LEO was analyzed, revealing predominant compounds such as linalyl acetate and linalool, which are known for their analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. The physicochemical properties of the patches were investigated, indicating improved cohesion with the addition of LEO. Additionally, thermal stability assessments demonstrated enhanced stability with LEO incorporation with an increase in onset decomposition temperature from 49.0 to 67.9 °C. The antioxidant activity of patches containing LEO was significantly higher with a free radical scavenging ability of 79.13% RSA compared to 60% RSA in patches without LEO. Release and permeation studies showed that patches with LEO exhibited an increased permeation of ibuprofen through the skin with 74.40% of the drug released from LEO-containing patches compared to 36.29% from patches without LEO after 24 h. Moreover, the permeation rate was notably faster with LEO, indicating quicker therapeutic effects. The inclusion of LEO in transdermal patches containing ibuprofen holds promise for enhancing drug delivery efficiency and therapeutic effectiveness, offering a potential strategy for improved pain management with reduced side effects.

The purpose of this study was to characterize ethanol extracts from leaves and flowers of two ecotypes (PL-intended for industrial plantations and KC-intended for cut flowers) of Lavandula angustifolia Mill. The plant was cultivated in 2019 in southern Poland as part of a long-term research plan to develop new varieties resistant to difficult environmental conditions. The collected leaves and flowers were used to prepare ethanol extracts, which were then analyzed in terms of phytochemical composition and antioxidant, bactericidal, and fungicidal properties. Using UPLC techniques, 22 compounds belonging to phenolic acids and flavonoids were identified. UPLC test results indicated that ethanol extracts from leaves and flowers differ in phytochemical composition. Lower amounts of phenolic acids and flavonoids were identified in leaf extracts than in flower extracts. The predominant substances in the flower extracts were rosmarinic acid (829.68-1229.33 µg/g), ferulic acid glucoside III (810.97-980.55 µg/g), and ferulic acid glucoside II (789.30-885.06 µg/g). Ferulic acid glucoside II (3981.95-6561.19 µg/g), ferulic acid glucoside I (2349.46-5503.81 µg/g), and ferulic acid glucoside III (1303.84-2774.17 µg/g) contained the highest amounts in the ethanol extracts of the leaves. The following substances were present in the extracts in trace amounts or at low levels: apigenin, kaempferol, and caftaric acid. Leaf extracts of the PL ecotype quantitatively (µg/g) contained more phytochemicals than leaf extracts of the KC ecotype. The results obtained in this study indicate that antioxidant activity depends on the ecotype. Extracts from the PL ecotype have a better ability to eliminate free radicals than extracts from the KC ecotype. At the same time, it was found that the antioxidant activity (total phenolic content, ABTS•+, DPPH•, and FRAP) of PL ecotype leaf extracts was higher (24.49, 177.75, 164.88, and 89.10 μmol (TE)/g) than that determined in flower extracts (15.84, 125.05, 82.35, and 54.64 μmol (TE)/g). The test results confirmed that leaf and flower extracts, even at low concentrations (0.313-0.63%), significantly inhibit the growth of selected Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria and Candida yeasts. Inhibition of mold growth was observed at a dose extract of at least 1 mL/100 mL.

One of the major public health problems is drug resistance in parasitic diseases. It is therefore important to find new active ingredients to combat parasites. Herbal products such as essential oils (EOs) may show promise in treating infections caused by gastrointestinal nematodes (GINs). This study investigated the in vitro anthelmintic activity of the EOs of Lavandula angustifolia and Quercus infectoria against Marshallagia marshalli. The in vitro study was based on an egg hatch test (EHT), adult and larval motility inhibition tests, DNA damage, and several biomarkers of oxidative/nitrosative stress, including superoxide dismutase [SOD], catalase [CAT], and glutathione peroxidase [GSH -Px], protein carbonylation [PCO], malondialdehyde [MDA], total antioxidant status [TAS], and nitric oxide levels [NO]. Different concentrations of Lavandula angustifolia and Quercus infectoria EOs (1, 5, 10, 25 and 50 mg/ml) were used to determine the anthelmintic effect on three stages of the life cycle of M. marshalli, i.e. eggs, larvae and adult parasites, for 24 hr. The results showed that EOs of L. angustifolia and Q. infectoria play an important role as anthelmintics. These essential oils significantly reduced the egg hatching and motility of larval and adult worms. This anthelmintic effect is dependent on concentration and time. Furthermore, the EOs of L. angustifolia and Q. infectoria caused oxidative/nitrosative stress (reduced SOD, GSH-Px and CAT and increased MDA, PCO and NO) and DNA damage, thereby providing significant antihelminthic effects. Based on the results, it seems that the EOs extracted from L. angustifolia and Q. infectoria may be effective in the control and treatment of M. marshalli infections. Further research is needed to investigate their potential for in vivo use in the treatment of parasitic infections.

The BAHD acyltransferase superfamily has a variety of biological functions, especially in catalyzing the synthesis of ester compounds and improving plant stress resistance. Linalyl acetate and lavandulyl acetate, the most important volatile esters in lavender, are generated by LaBAHDs. However, the systematic identification, expression characteristics of LaBAHD genes and their correlations with ester formation remain elusive. Here, 166 LaBAHD genes were identified from the lavender genome. Based on detailed phylogenetic analysis, the LaBAHD family genes were divided into five groups, among which the LaBAHDs involved in volatile ester biosynthesis belong to the IIIa and Va clades. Whole-genome duplications (WGDs) and tandem duplications (TDs) jointly drive the expansion of LaBAHD superfamily. The promoter regions of LaBAHDs contained a variety of stress- and hormone-related motifs, as well as binding sites with five types of transcription factors (TFs). Then, linalyl acetate- and lavandulyl acetate-regulated coexpression modules were established and some candidate TFs that may function in inducing ester formation were identified. Based on the correlation analysis between the ester contents and expression profiles of BAHD genes in different tissues, five candidate genes were screened for further examination. Drought, salt and MeJA treatments increased the accumulation of linalyl acetate and lavandulyl acetate, and induced the expression of LaBAHDs. Our results indicated that LaBAHD57, LaBAHD63, LaBAHD104, LaBAHD105 and LaBAHD119 are crucial candidate genes involved in linalyl acetate and lavandulyl acetate biosynthesis. Our findings offer a theoretical foundation for further studying the specific biological functions of LaBAHD family and improving the quality of lavender essential oil.

BACKGROUND: The present study aimed to evaluate the impacts of lavender and metformin on polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients.
METHODS: We performed a randomized, double-blind clinical trial including 68 females aged 18 to 45, fulfilling the Rotterdam criteria for PCOS. The patients were randomized to receive lavender (250 mg twice daily) or metformin (500 mg three times a day) for 90 days. The serum progesterone was measured at baseline and after 90 days, one week before their expected menstruation. Moreover, the length of the menstrual cycle was documented.
RESULTS: Our results showed that lavender and metformin treatment notably increased the progesterone levels in PCOS patients (increasing from 0.35 (0.66) and 0.8 (0.69) to 2.5 (6.2) and 2.74 (6.27) ng/mL, respectively, P < 0.001). However, we found no significant differences between the increasing effects of both treatments on progesterone levels. In addition, all patients in the lavender or metformin groups had baseline progesterone levels <3 ng/mL, reaching 14 (45.2%) patients >3 ng/mL. Lavender and metformin remarkably attenuated the menstrual cycle length in PCOS patients (decreasing from 56.0 (20.0) and 60 (12.0) to 42.0 (5.0) and 50.0 (14.0) days, respectively, P < 0.001). Furthermore, the decreasing effects of lavender on the menstrual cycle length were greater than the metformin group; however, it was not statistically significant (P = 0.06).
CONCLUSIONS: Lavender effectively increased progesterone levels and regulated the menstrual cycles in PCOS patients, similar to metformin. Therefore, lavender may be a promising candidate for the treatment of PCOS.

Lavender is a valued plant due to its cosmetic, perfumery, culinary, and health benefits. A wide range of applications is related to the composition of bioactive compounds, the quantity and quality of which is determined by various internal and external factors, i.e., variety, morphological part of the plant, and climatic and soil conditions during vegetation. In the presented work, the characterization of antimicrobial properties as well as the qualitative and quantitative assessment of bioactive compounds in the form of polyphenols in ethanol extracts from leaves and flowers of Lavandula angustifolia Mill. intended for border hedges, cultivated in the region of southern Poland, were determined. The composition of the fraction of volatile substances and antioxidant properties were also assessed. The conducted research shows that extracts from leaves and flowers significantly affected the viability of bacterial cells and the development of mold fungi. A clear decrease in the viability of bacteria and C. albicans cells was shown in the concentration of 0.32% of extracts. Leaf extracts were characterized by a much higher content of polyphenols and antioxidant properties than flower extracts. The composition of volatiles measured by GC-MS was significantly different between the extracts. Linalyl acetate and ocimene isomers mix dominated in flower extracts, whereas coumarin, γ-cadinene, and 7-methoxycoumarin were identified as dominant in leaf extracts.