Laurus nobilis: Composition of Essential Oil and Its Biological Activities

• Main Authors: Lucia Caputo, Filomena Nazzaro, Lucéia Fatima Souza, Luigi Aliberti, Laura De Martino, Florinda Fratianni, Raffaele Coppola, Vincenzo De Feo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2017-06-01
• Series: Molecules
• Subjects: Laurus nobilis L.; essential oil; antibacterial activity; antifungal activity; cytotoxicity; adenylate cyclase 1 (ADCY1); Central Nervous System (CNS)
• Online Access: http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/22/6/930

Laurus nobilis is native to the southern Mediterranean region and cultivated mainly in Europe and the USA as an ornamental and medicinal plant. The chemical composition of the essential oil (EO) from leaves of L. nobilis, collected in Southern Italy, was studied by GC and GC-MS. In all, 55 compounds were identified, accounting for 91.6% of the total oil. 1,8-Cineole (31.9%), sabinene (12.2%), and linalool (10.2%) were the main components. Antimicrobial and antifungal activities of EO and 1,8-cineole were determined in vitro. The cytotoxicity of the EO was evaluated against SH-SY5Y cell line, as well as the influence of the EO on the expression of adenylate cyclase 1 (ADCY1), suggesting possible oil effects on the Central Nervous System.