Lavandula intermedia (lavandins) are naturally occurring hybrids of Lavandula angustifolia (lavender) and Lavandula latifolia (spike lavender) which are grown for their essential oil and as garden ...ornamentals. Lavandins are higher yielding plants than lavenders but produce camphoraceous, inferior quality oils. They are invariably infertile. The majority of oil produced worldwide from the genus comes from lavandins. To produce larger higher yielding lavandins we induced polyploidy in the common cultivars Grosso and Seal with the mitotic spindle inhibitor colchicine, using whole plants, cutting material and tissue culture. Polyploid plants were identified by restoration of fertility and the production of seed, regardless of the plant tissue used. These fertile lavandins were morphologically similar to the parents. Using flow cytometry (FCM) we determined one of these plants to be mixoploid having distinct diploid and tetraploid nuclei. Seed from this plant was twice the weight of L. angustifolia seed. Ten plants were grown from seed collected from the colchicine treated lavandins Grosso and Seal. All had similar overall morphology to the parents but were larger plants with larger flowers. One plant derived from Seal and one from Grosso were found to be triploid by FCM and all 20 plants were found to be infertile. The C-values of the three species within section Lavandula, the lavandins Grosso and Seal and the polyploids resulting from this work were determined by FCM. The novel fertile lavandin characterised may be useful for extending the range of hybrids possible within the genus for both production of essential oils and ornamentals.
The analysis of essential oil has basically one technical goal: to achieve the best possible separation performance by using the most effective, available and current technology of chromatography. ...The present work aimed to study the formulation created by the adsorption of active components of Lavandula angustifolia essential oil on sodium modified bentonite. Essential oils were obtained from dried leaves of L. angustifolia; they were extracted by hydro distillation and were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and gas chromatography flame ionization detector (GC-FID). The retention indices (RI) were calculated for each detected component. Besides, the characterization of the individual components making up the oils was performed with the use of a mass spectrometry (MS) library. The quantitative analysis was made by GC-FID. The identified components accounted for more than 95% for each essential oil. The results of these studies show that organic contaminant adsorption is dependent, to some degree, on solid-liquid ratio and the competition system of mixture. The adsorption amount of terpenics and the others components could be the results of many factors. The selectivity was affected by the abundance of each component in the crude essential dependent on the particle size fractions; the finer fractions adsorbed higher amounts. The selectivity of adsorption was affected by the polarity of terpenic components.
One of the most important features in Alzheimer's disease is the generation and deposition of neurotoxic beta-amyloid peptide (Abeta). The inhibition of BACE-1, a key enzyme in Abeta formation, is ...considered a promising therapeutic alternative for this disease. Natural products from plants have been extensively used as memory enhancers and in dementia therapy, mostly as acetylcholinesterase inhibitors. The low molecular weight and high hydrophobicity of terpenoids are properties that provide a good chance for them to cross cellular membranes and the blood-brain barrier, an essential attribute for BACE-1 inhibition in vivo. In this study, several essential oils were screened for their inhibitory activity on BACE-1. One of them, the essential oil from Lavandula luisieri, was signalized as inhibiting the enzyme. Moreover, this oil was tested on the endogenous BACE-1 in cultured cells, being responsible for a reduction in Abeta production, with no significant toxicity. The essential oil was characterized by a combination of gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry data, showing high contents of oxygen-containing monoterpenes, mainly necrodane derivatives, which are absent from any other oil. We also describe the bio-guided fractionation of the oil, as well as tests of the constituents on recombinant BACE-1 and on a cell line. The main inhibitory activity was assigned to the monoterpenic ketone 2,3,4,4-tetramethyl-5-methylene-cyclopent-2-enone, one of the distinctive components of L. luisieri essential oil. Taken together, these results showed that this essential oil and its components inhibited BACE-1 activity, both in enzymatic and cellular assays, thus presenting the ability to permeate cell membranes, a novel finding in Alzheimer's drug research. Copyright copy 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. beta-secretase, also known as BACE-1, is involved in the production of neurotoxic beta-amyloid peptide (Abeta), whose generation and deposition in the brain is one of the key steps in the development and progression of Alzheimer's disease. Therefore, the inhibition of beta-secretase is pointed as a promising therapeutic alternative for this disease. The Lavandula luisieri essential oil and one of its irregular monoterpenes from the necrodane nucleus act as cell-permeable inhibitors of BACE-1 activity.
This study evaluates the responses of Lavandula dentata under drought conditions to the inoculation with single autochthonous arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus (five fungal strains) or with their ...mixture and the effects of these inocula with a native Bacillus thuringiensis (endophytic bacteria). These microorganisms were drought tolerant and in general, increased plant growth and nutrition. Particularly, the AM fungal mixture and B. thuringiensis maximized plant biomass and compensated drought stress as values of antioxidant activities superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase APX) shown. The AMF-bacteria interactions highly reduced the plant oxidative damage of lipids malondialdehyde (MDA) and increased the mycorrhizal development (mainly arbuscular formation representative of symbiotic functionality). These microbial interactions explain the highest potential of dually inoculated plants to tolerate drought stress. B. thuringiensis “in vitro” under osmotic stress does not reduce its PGPB (plant growth promoting bacteria) abilities as indole acetic acid (IAA) and ACC deaminase production and phosphate solubilization indicating its capacity to improve plant growth under stress conditions. Each one of the autochthonous fungal strains maintained their particular interaction with B. thuringiensis reflecting the diversity, intrinsic abilities and inherent compatibility of these microorganisms. In general, autochthonous AM fungal species and particularly their mixture with B. thuringiensis demonstrated their potential for protecting plants against drought and helping plants to thrive in semiarid ecosystems.
This review article is the first in a series that provides an overview of the biology, chemistry, biological effects, and applications of
(lavandin, LI). Despite its prevalence in cultivation and on ...the essential oil market, lavandin has received limited attention from the scientific community. Remarkably more attention is paid to
(LA), which is commonly regarded as the superior lavender and has been extensively researched. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive review of LI, as none currently exists, and assess whether its inferior status is merited. In the first part, we outline the biological and chemical characteristics of the plant and compare it to the parent species. The chemical composition of lavandin oil is similar to that of LA but contains more terpenes, giving camphor notes that are less valued in perfumery. Nevertheless, lavandin has some advantages, including a higher essential oil yield, resulting in reduced production cost, and therefore, it is a preferred lavender crop for cultivation.
Polyploidization and transposon elements contribute to shape plant genome diversity and secondary metabolic variation in some edible crops. However, the specific contribution of these variations to ...the chemo-diversity of Lamiaceae, particularly in economic shrubs, is still poorly documented. The rich essential oils (EOs) of Lavandula plants are distinguished by monoterpenoids among the main EO-producing species, L. angustifolia (LA), L. × intermedia (LX) and L. latifolia (LL). Herein, the first allele-aware chromosome-level genome was assembled using a lavandin cultivar 'Super' and its hybrid origin was verified by two complete subgenomes (LX-LA and LX-LL). Genome-wide phylogenetics confirmed that LL, like LA, underwent two lineage-specific WGDs after the γ triplication event, and their speciation occurred after the last WGD. Chloroplast phylogenetic analysis indicated LA was the maternal source of 'Super', which produced premium EO (higher linalyl/lavandulyl acetate and lower 1,8-cineole and camphor) close to LA. Gene expression, especially the monoterpenoid biosynthetic genes, showed bias to LX-LA alleles. Asymmetric transposon insertions in two decoupling 'Super' subgenomes were responsible for speciation and monoterpenoid divergence of the progenitors. Both hybrid and parental evolutionary analysis revealed that LTR (long terminal repeat) retrotransposon associated with AAT gene loss cause no linalyl/lavandulyl acetate production in LL, and multi-BDH copies retained by tandem duplication and DNA transposon resulted in higher camphor accumulation of LL. Advances in allelic variations of monoterpenoids have the potential to revolutionize future lavandin breeding and EO production.
The use of lavender oil (LO) - a commonly, used oil in aromatherapy, with well-defined volatile components linalool and linalyl acetate - in non-traditional medicine is increasing globally. To ...understand and demonstrate the potential positive effects of LO on the body, we have established an animal model in this current study, investigating the orally administered LO effects genome wide in the rat small intestine, spleen, and liver. The rats were administered LO at 5 mg/kg (usual therapeutic dose in humans) followed by the screening of differentially expressed genes in the tissues, using a 444-K whole-genome rat chip (Agilent microarray platform; Agilent Technologies, Palo Alto, CA, USA) in conjunction with a dye-swap approach, a novelty of this study. Fourteen days after LO treatment and compared with a control group (sham), a total of 156 and 154 up ( greater than or equal to 1.5-fold)- and down (lE 0.75-fold)-regulated genes, 174 and 66 up- ( greater than or equal to 1.5-fold)- and down (lE 0.75-fold)-regulated genes, and 222 and 322 up- ( greater than or equal to 1.5-fold)- and down (lE 0.75-fold)-regulated genes showed differential expression at the mRNA level in the small intestine, spleen and liver, respectively. The reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) validation of highly up- and down-regulated genes confirmed the regulation of the Papd4, Lrp1b, Alb, Cyr61, Cyp2c, and Cxcl1 genes by LO as examples in these tissues. Using bioinformatics, including Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA), differentially expressed genes were functionally categorized by their Gene Ontology (GO) and biological function and network analysis, revealing their diverse functions and potential roles in LO-mediated effects in rat. Further IPA analysis in particular unraveled the presence of novel genes, such as Papd4, Or8k5, Gprc5b, Taar5, Trpc6, Pld2 and Onecut3 (up-regulated top molecules) and Tnf, Slc45a4, Slc25a23 and Samt4 (down-regulated top molecules), to be influenced by LO treatment in the small intestine, spleen and liver, respectively. These results are the first such inventory of genes that are affected by lavender essential oil (LO) in an animal model, forming the basis for further in-depth bioinformatics and functional analyses and investigation.
This review article is the second in a series aimed at providing an in-depth overview of
(lavandin). In part I, the biology and chemistry of lavandin were addressed. In part II, the focus is on the ...functional properties of lavandin and its applications in industry and daily life. While reviewing the biological properties, only original research articles employing lavandin were considered. Lavandin essential oil has been found to have antioxidant and biocidal activity (antimicrobial, nematicidal, antiprotozoal, insecticidal, and allelopathic), as well as other potential therapeutic effects such as anxiolytic, neuroprotective, improving sleep quality, antithrombotic, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic. Other lavandin preparations have been investigated to a much lesser extent. The research is either limited or inconsistent across all studies, and further evidence is needed to support these properties. Unlike its parent species-
(LA)-lavandin essential oil is not officially recognized as a medicinal raw material in European Pharmacopeia. However, whenever compared to LA in shared studies, it has shown similar effects (or even more pronounced in the case of biocidal activities). This suggests that lavandin has similar potential for use in medicine.
This study was performed to investigate the anxiolytic efficacy of silexan, a new oral lavender oil capsule preparation, in comparison to placebo in primary care. In 27 general and psychiatric ...practices 221 adults suffering from anxiety disorder not otherwise specified (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental disorders-IV 300.00 or International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth revision F41.9) were randomized to 80 mg/day of a defined, orally administered preparation from Lavandula species or placebo for 10 weeks with visits every 2 weeks. A Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA) total score greater than or equal to 18 and a total score >5 for the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were required. The primary outcome measures were HAMA and PSQI total score decrease between baseline and week 10. Secondary efficacy measures included the Clinical Global Impressions scale, the Zung Self-rating Anxiety Scale, and the SF-36 Health Survey Questionnaire. Patients treated with silexan showed a total score decrease by 16.0 plus or minus 8.3 points (mean plus or minus SD, 59.3%) for the HAMA and by 5.5 plus or minus 4.4 points (44.7%) for the PSQI compared to 9.5 plus or minus 9.1 (35.4%) and 3.8 plus or minus 4.1 points (30.9%) in the placebo group (P<0.01 one-sided, intention to treat). Silexan was superior to placebo regarding the percentage of responders (76.9 vs. 49.1%> P<0.001) and remitters (60.6 vs. 42.6%, P=0.009). Lavandula oil preparation had a significant beneficial influence on quality and duration of sleep and improved general mental and physical health without causing any unwanted sedative or other drug specific effects. Lavandula oil preparation silexan is both efficacious and safe for the relief of anxiety disorder not otherwise specified. It has a clinically meaningful anxiolytic effect and alleviates anxiety related disturbed sleep.
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