Skip to content
2000
  1. Home
  2. A-Z Publications
  3. Natural Products Journal, The
  4. Fast Track Articles
  5. Fast Track Article
image of Lavender Oil: A Versatile Natural Therapeutic – Extraction, Composition, Applications, and Innovative Formulation Strategies

Abstract

The present review comprehensively explores an overview of a versatile essential oil from . Oil finds wide application in the aromatherapy and cosmetic industry. This paper emphasizes the chemical constituents of the oil that are responsible for the diverse therapeutic applications. Various extraction techniques, such as steam distillation, hydro distillation, supercritical liquid extraction and ultrasound assisted extraction are discussed. Also the article elucidates the mechanism of action that explains the therapeutic application of the oil in microbial infections, oxidative stress and neurodegenerative diseases. This review also extensively discusses the preclinical and clinical studies of the use of the oil for the management or treatment of psoriasis, depression, wound, anxiety, Alzheimer’s’ disease, myocardial infarction, acute lung injury and acute inflammation. Additionally, the article highlights granted patents and the novel formulation strategies such as hydrogels, nanofibers, emulsions and nanoparticles used to enhance the bioavailability and the targeted delivery of the oil. The review also provides future perspectives, emphasizing the need for further research for harnessing the potential of lavender oil.

© 2025 Bentham Science Publishers
Loading

Article metrics loading...

/content/journals/npj/10.2174/0122103155350887241224105912
2025-01-07
2025-04-07

  • From This Site

    /content/journals/npj/10.2174/0122103155350887241224105912
    dcterms_title,dcterms_subject,pub_keyword
    -contentType:Contributor -contentType:Concept -contentType:Institution
    10
    5
Loading full text...

Full text loading...

References

  1. Cavanagh H.M.A. Wilkinson J.M. Lavender essential oil: A review. Aust. Infect. Control 2005 10 1 35 37 10.1071/HI05035
    [Google Scholar]
  2. Giray F.H. Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of essential oils from Turkish endemic plants. J. Essent. Oil-Bear. Plants 2018 21 6 1612 1620 10.1080/0972060X.2019.1574612
    [Google Scholar]
  3. Umezu T. Nagano K. Ito H. Kosakai K. Sakaniwa M. Morita M. Anticonflict effects of lavender oil and identification of its active constituents. Pharmacol. Biochem. Behav. 2006 85 4 713 721 10.1016/j.pbb.2006.10.026 17173962
    [Google Scholar]
  4. Guo X. Wang P. Aroma characteristics of lavender extract and essential oil from Lavandula angustifolia mill. Molecules 2020 25 23 5541 10.3390/molecules25235541 33255893
    [Google Scholar]
  5. Prusinowska R. Śmigielski K.B. Composition, biological properties and therapeutic effects of lavender L). A review. Herba Pol. 2014 60 2 56 66 10.2478/hepo‑2014‑0010
    [Google Scholar]
  6. Saeed F Afzaal M Raza MA Rasheed A Hussain M Nayik GA Ansari MJ Lavender essential oil: Nutritional, compositional, and therapeutic insights. InEssential Oils 2023 1 1 85 101 10.1016/B978‑0‑323‑91740‑7.00009‑8
    [Google Scholar]
  7. Białoń M. Krzyśko-Łupicka T. Nowakowska-Bogdan E. Wieczorek P.P. Chemical composition of two different lavender essential oils and their effect on facial skin microbiota. Molecules 2019 24 18 3270 10.3390/molecules24183270 31500359
    [Google Scholar]
  8. Wang J. Liu X. Zhang M. Liu R. The mitochondrial genome of Lavandula angustifolia Mill. (Lamiaceae) sheds light on its genome structure and gene transfer between organelles. BMC Genomics 2024 25 1 929 10.1186/s12864‑024‑10841‑x 39367299
    [Google Scholar]
  9. Pokajewicz K. Białoń M. Svydenko L. Fedin R. Hudz N. Chemical composition of the essential oil of the new cultivars of Lavandula angustifolia Mill. Bred in Ukraine. Molecules 2021 26 18 5681 10.3390/molecules26185681 34577152
    [Google Scholar]
  10. Smigielski K. Prusinowska R. Stobiecka A. Kunicka-Styczyñska A. Gruska R. Biological properties and chemical composition of essential oils from flowers and aerial parts of lavender (Lavandula angustifolia). J. Essent. Oil-Bear. Plants 2018 21 5 1303 1314 10.1080/0972060X.2018.1503068
    [Google Scholar]
  11. Détár E. Németh É.Z. Gosztola B. Demján I. Pluhár Z. Effects of variety and growth year on the essential oil properties of lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.) and lavandin (Lavandula x intermedia Emeric ex Loisel.). Biochem. Syst. Ecol. 2020 90 104020 10.1016/j.bse.2020.104020
    [Google Scholar]
  12. Diass K. Merzouki M. Elfazazi K. Azzouzi H. Challioui A. Azzaoui K. Hammouti B. Touzani R. Depeint F. Ayerdi Gotor A. Rhazi L. Essential oil of lavandula officinalis: Chemical composition and antibacterial activities. Plants 2023 12 7 1571 10.3390/plants12071571 37050197
    [Google Scholar]
  13. Smigielski K. Raj A. Krosowiak K. Gruska R. Chemical composition of the essential oil of Lavandula angustifolia cultivated in Poland. J. Essent. Oil-Bear. Plants 2009 12 3 338 347 10.1080/0972060X.2009.10643729
    [Google Scholar]
  14. Mori H.M. Kawanami H. Kawahata H. Aoki M. Wound healing potential of lavender oil by acceleration of granulation and wound contraction through induction of TGF-β in a rat model. BMC Complement. Altern. Med. 2016 16 1 144 10.1186/s12906‑016‑1128‑7 27229681
    [Google Scholar]
  15. Alnamer R. Alaoui K. Houcine Bouidida E. Benjouad A. Cherrah Y. Toxicity and psychotropic activity of essential oils of Rosmarinus officinalis and Lavandula officinalis from Morocco. J. Biologica. Act. Prod. Nat. 2011 1 4 262 272 10.1080/22311866.2011.10719093
    [Google Scholar]
  16. Kozuharova E. Simeonov V. Batovska D. Stoycheva C. Valchev H. Benbassat N. Chemical composition and comparative analysis of lavender essential oil samples from Bulgaria in relation to the pharmacological effects. Pharmacia 2023 70 2 395 403 10.3897/pharmacia.70.e104404
    [Google Scholar]
  17. Batiha G.E.S. Teibo J.O. Wasef L. Shaheen H.M. Akomolafe A.P. Teibo T.K.A. Al-kuraishy H.M. Al-Garbeeb A.I. Alexiou A. Papadakis M. A review of the bioactive components and pharmacological properties of Lavandula species. Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch. Pharmacol. 2023 396 5 877 900 10.1007/s00210‑023‑02392‑x 36773055
    [Google Scholar]
  18. Rafiq A Manzoor B Nayeem M Jabeen A Amin QA Extraction of essential oils. Extra. Proces. Food Indust. 2024 1 1 279 298 10.1016/B978‑0‑12‑819516‑1.00005‑3
    [Google Scholar]
  19. Khmelinskii I. Woodcock L. Supercritical fluid gaseous and liquid states: A review of experimental results. Entropy (Basel) 2020 22 4 437 10.3390/e22040437 33286211
    [Google Scholar]
  20. Gavahian M. Chu Y.H. Ohmic accelerated steam distillation of essential oil from lavender in comparison with conventional steam distillation. Innov. Food Sci. Emerg. Technol. 2018 50 34 41 10.1016/j.ifset.2018.10.006
    [Google Scholar]
  21. El kharraf S. Farah A. Miguel M.G. El-Guendouz S. El Hadrami E.M. Two extraction methods of essential oils: Conventional and non-conventional hydrodistillation. J. Essent. Oil-Bear. Plants 2020 23 5 870 889 10.1080/0972060X.2020.1843546
    [Google Scholar]
  22. Zheljazkov V.D. Cantrell C.L. Astatkie T. Jeliazkova E. Distillation time effect on lavender essential oil yield and composition. J. Oleo Sci. 2013 62 4 195 199 10.5650/jos.62.195 23535305
    [Google Scholar]
  23. Danh L.T. Han L.N. Triet N.D.A. Zhao J. Mammucari R. Foster N. Comparison of chemical composition, antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of lavender (Lavandula angustifolia L.) essential oils extracted by supercritical CO 2, hexane and hydrodistillation. Food Bioprocess Technol. 2013 6 12 3481 3489 10.1007/s11947‑012‑1026‑z
    [Google Scholar]
  24. Wainer J. Thomas A. Chimhau T. Harding K.G. Extraction of essential oils from Lavandula× intermedia ‘Margaret Roberts’ using steam distillation, hydrodistillation, and cellulase-assisted hydrodistillation: Experimentation and cost analysis. Plants 2022 11 24 3479 10.3390/plants11243479 36559590
    [Google Scholar]
  25. Danh L.T. Triet N.D.A. Han L.T.N. Zhao J. Mammucari R. Foster N. Antioxidant activity, yield and chemical composition of lavender essential oil extracted by supercritical CO2. J. Supercrit. Fluids 2012 70 27 34 10.1016/j.supflu.2012.06.008
    [Google Scholar]
  26. Gavahian M. Sastry S. Farhoosh R. Farahnaky A. Ohmic heating as a promising technique for extraction of herbal essential oils: Understanding mechanisms, recent findings, and associated challenges. Adv. Food Nutr. Res. 2020 91 227 273 10.1016/bs.afnr.2019.09.001 32035597
    [Google Scholar]
  27. Radwan M.N. Morad M.M. Ali M.M. Wasfy K.I. A solar steam distillation system for extracting lavender volatile oil. Energy Rep. 2020 6 3080 3087 10.1016/j.egyr.2020.11.034
    [Google Scholar]
  28. Aziz Z.A.A. Ahmad A. Setapar S.H.M. Karakucuk A. Azim M.M. Lokhat D. Rafatullah M. Ganash M. Kamal M.A. Ashraf G.M. Essential Oils: Extraction techniques, pharmaceutical and therapeutic potential - a review. Curr. Drug Metab. 2018 19 13 1100 1110 10.2174/1389200219666180723144850 30039757
    [Google Scholar]
  29. Pandur E. Balatinácz A. Micalizzi G. Mondello L. Horváth A. Sipos K. Horváth G. Anti-inflammatory effect of lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.) essential oil prepared during different plant phenophases on THP-1 macrophages. BMC Complement. Med. Ther. 2021 21 1 287 10.1186/s12906‑021‑03461‑5 34819075
    [Google Scholar]
  30. López V. Nielsen B. Solas M. Ramírez M.J. Jäger A.K. Exploring pharmacological mechanisms of lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) essential oil on central nervous system targets. Front. Pharmacol. 2017 8 280 10.3389/fphar.2017.00280 28579958
    [Google Scholar]
  31. Mekonnen A. Tesfaye S. Christos S.G. Dires K. Zenebe T. Zegeye N. Shiferaw Y. Lulekal E. Evaluation of skin irritation and acute and subacute oral toxicity of lavandula angustifolia essential oils in rabbit and mice. J. Toxicol. 2019 2019 1 8 10.1155/2019/5979546 30833968
    [Google Scholar]
  32. Prashar A. Locke I.C. Evans C.S. Cytotoxicity of lavender oil and its major components to human skin cells. Cell Prolif. 2004 37 3 221 229 10.1111/j.1365‑2184.2004.00307.x 15144499
    [Google Scholar]
  33. Rai V.K. Sinha P. Yadav K.S. Shukla A. Saxena A. Bawankule D.U. Tandon S. Khan F. Chanotiya C.S. Yadav N.P. Anti-psoriatic effect of Lavandula angustifolia essential oil and its major components linalool and linalyl acetate. J. Ethnopharmacol. 2020 261 113127 10.1016/j.jep.2020.113127 32623016
    [Google Scholar]
  34. Algristian H. Bintarti T.W. Baroroh R.N.M. Leila Q. Ulfa R. Amelia Krismawati Nurdiana M. Sudjarwo G.W. Nurhidayat A.W. Irawan Satriotomo Handajani R. Protective effect of lavender essential oils on depression and multi-organ stress. Bali Medi. J. 2022 11 3 1357 1363 10.15562/bmj.v11i3.3655
    [Google Scholar]
  35. Uehleke B. Schaper S. Dienel A. Stange R. Lavender oil preparation Silexan is effective in generalized anxiety disorder—a randomized, double-blind comparison to placebo and paroxetine. Int. J. Neuropsychopharmacol. 2012 15 5 669 679 10.1017/S1461145714000017 21682946
    [Google Scholar]
  36. Almadani Y.H. Vorstenbosch J. Davison P.G. Murphy A.M. Wound healing: A comprehensive review. Semin. Plast. Surg. 2021 35 3 141 144 10.1055/s‑0041‑1731791 34526860
    [Google Scholar]
  37. Jaramillo V. Díaz E. Muñoz L.N. González-Barrios A.F. Rodríguez-Cortina J. Cruz J.C. Muñoz-Camargo C. Enhancing wound healing: A novel topical emulsion combining CW49 peptide and lavender essential oil for accelerated regeneration and antibacterial protection. Pharmaceutics 2023 15 6 1739 10.3390/pharmaceutics15061739 37376187
    [Google Scholar]
  38. Malcolm B.J. Tallian K. Essential oil of lavender in anxiety disorders: Ready for prime time? Ment. Health Clin. 2017 7 4 147 155 10.9740/mhc.2017.07.147 29955514
    [Google Scholar]
  39. Ghods A.A. Abforosh N.H. Ghorbani R. Asgari M.R. The effect of topical application of lavender essential oil on the intensity of pain caused by the insertion of dialysis needles in hemodialysis patients: A randomized clinical trial. Complement. Ther. Med. 2015 23 3 325 330 10.1016/j.ctim.2015.03.001 26051566
    [Google Scholar]
  40. DeTure M.A. Dickson D.W. The neuropathological diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. Mol. Neurodegener. 2019 14 1 32 10.1186/s13024‑019‑0333‑5 31375134
    [Google Scholar]
  41. Caputo L. Piccialli I. Ciccone R. de Caprariis P. Massa A. De Feo V. Pannaccione A. Lavender and coriander essential oils and their main component linalool exert a protective effect against amyloid‐β neurotoxicity. Phytother. Res. 2021 35 1 486 493 10.1002/ptr.6827 32785956
    [Google Scholar]
  42. Hancianu M. Cioanca O. Mihasan M. Hritcu L. Neuroprotective effects of inhaled lavender oil on scopolamine-induced dementia via anti-oxidative activities in rats. Phytomedicine 2013 20 5 446 452 10.1016/j.phymed.2012.12.005 23351960
    [Google Scholar]
  43. Souri F. Rakhshan K. Erfani S. Azizi Y. Nasseri Maleki S. Aboutaleb N. Natural lavender oil (Lavandula angustifolia) exerts cardioprotective effects against myocardial infarction by targeting inflammation and oxidative stress. Inflammopharmacology 2019 27 4 799 807 10.1007/s10787‑018‑0520‑y 30073439
    [Google Scholar]
  44. Xie Q. Wang Y. Zou G.L. Protective effects of lavender oil on sepsis-induced acute lung injury via regulation of the NF-κB pathway. Pharm. Biol. 2022 60 1 968 978 10.1080/13880209.2022.2067570 35588105
    [Google Scholar]
  45. Cardia G.F.E. Silva-Filho S.E. Silva E.L. Uchida N.S. Cavalcante H.A.O. Cassarotti L.L. Salvadego V.E.C. Spironello R.A. Bersani-Amado C.A. Cuman R.K.N. Effect of lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) essential oil on acute inflammatory response. Evid. Based Complement. Alternat. Med. 2018 2018 1 1413940 10.1155/2018/1413940 29743918
    [Google Scholar]
  46. Vakili A. Sharifat S. Akhavan M.M. Bandegi A.R. Effect of lavender oil (Lavandula angustifolia) on cerebral edema and its possible mechanisms in an experimental model of stroke. Brain Res. 2014 1548 56 62 10.1016/j.brainres.2013.12.019 24384140
    [Google Scholar]
  47. Emi̇nov A. Kavlak O. Emi̇nov E. Ergenoğlu A. İti̇l İ.M. The effects of lavender oil and ice applications used in episiotomy care on episiotomy pain. Ege Tip Derg. 2022 61 4 626 635 10.19161/etd.1209135
    [Google Scholar]
  48. Vakilian K. Atarha M. Bekhradi R. Chaman R. Healing advantages of lavender essential oil during episiotomy recovery: A clinical trial. Complement. Ther. Clin. Pract. 2011 17 1 50 53 10.1016/j.ctcp.2010.05.006 21168115
    [Google Scholar]
  49. Erland L.A. Mahmoud S.S. Chapter 57 - Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) oils. Essential oils in food preservation, flavor and safety. Preedy V New York Academic Press 2016 501 508 10.1016/B978‑0‑12‑416641‑7.00057‑2
    [Google Scholar]
  50. Wells R Truong F Adal AM Sarker LS Mahmoud SS Lavandula essential oils: A current review of applications in medicinal, food, and cosmetic industries of lavender. Natural Product Communications. 2018 13 10 1403 1417 10.1177/1934578X1801301038
    [Google Scholar]
  51. Kunicka-Styczyńska A. Sikora M. Kalemba D. Antimicrobial activity of lavender, tea tree and lemon oils in cosmetic preservative systems. J. Appl. Microbiol. 2009 107 6 1903 1911 10.1111/j.1365‑2672.2009.04372.x 19508298
    [Google Scholar]
  52. Cavanagh H.M.A. Wilkinson J.M. Biological activities of Lavender essential oil. Phytother. Res. 2002 16 4 301 308 10.1002/ptr.1103 12112282
    [Google Scholar]
  53. Ganguly R. Verma G. Ingle A. Kumar S. Sarma H.D. Dutta D. Dutta B. Kunwar A. Ajish K. Bhainsa K.C. Hassan P.A. Aswal V.K. Structural, rheological and therapeutic properties of pluronic F127 hydrogel and beeswax based lavender oil ointment formulations. J. Mol. Liq. 2022 365 120157 10.1016/j.molliq.2022.120157
    [Google Scholar]
  54. El Abdali Y. Agour A. Allali A. Bourhia M. El Moussaoui A. Eloutassi N. Salamatullah A.M. Alzahrani A. Ouahmane L. Aboul-Soud M.A.M. Giesy J.P. Bouia A. Lavandula dentata L.: Phytochemical analysis, antioxidant, antifungal and insecticidal activities of its essential oil. Plants 2022 11 3 311 10.3390/plants11030311 35161292
    [Google Scholar]
  55. Danila A. Muresan E.I. Ibanescu S.A. Popescu A. Danu M. Zaharia C. Türkoğlu G.C. Erkan G. Staras A.I. Preparation, characterization, and application of polysaccharide-based emulsions incorporated with lavender essential oil for skin-friendly cellulosic support. Int. J. Biol. Macromol. 2021 191 405 413 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2021.09.090 34547316
    [Google Scholar]
  56. Gun S. Uzun L. Tuysuz M. Erturk O. Ilhan H. Acıkgoz M.A. Ozturk B. Nanofiber mats containing lavender oil and methyl jasmonate as an innovative treatment to extend vase life in cut rose flowers. Postharvest Biol. Technol. 2023 201 112343 10.1016/j.postharvbio.2023.112343
    [Google Scholar]
  57. Burhan A.M. Abdel-Hamid S.M. Soliman M.E. Sammour O.A. Optimisation of the microencapsulation of lavender oil by spray drying. J. Microencapsul. 2019 36 3 250 266 10.1080/02652048.2019.1620355 31099280
    [Google Scholar]
  58. Nguyen T.T.T. Le T.V.A. Dang N.N. Nguyen D.C. Nguyen P.T.N. Tran T.T. Nguyen Q.V. Bach L.G. Thuy Nguyen Pham D. Microencapsulation of essential oils by spray-drying and influencing factors. J. Food Qual. 2021 2021 1 15 10.1155/2021/5525879
    [Google Scholar]
  59. Ali S.A. Alhakamy N.A. Hosny K.M. Alfayez E. Bukhary D.M. Safhi A.Y. Badr M.Y. Mushtaq R.Y. Alharbi M. Huwaimel B. Alissa M. Alshehri S. Alamri A.H. Alqahtani T. Rapid oral transmucosal delivery of zaleplon–lavender oil utilizing self-nanoemulsifying lyophilized tablets technology: Development, optimization and pharmacokinetic evaluation. Drug Deliv. 2022 29 1 2773 2783 10.1080/10717544.2022.2115165 36036168
    [Google Scholar]
  60. Hosny K.M. Sindi A.M. Alkhalidi H.M. Kurakula M. Alruwaili N.K. Alhakamy N.A. Abualsunun W.A. Bakhaidar R.B. Bahmdan R.H. Rizg W.Y. Ali S.A. Abdulaal W.H. Nassar M.S. Alsuabeyl M.S. Alghaith A.F. Alshehri S. Oral gel loaded with penciclovir–lavender oil nanoemulsion to enhance bioavailability and alleviate pain associated with herpes labialis. Drug Deliv. 2021 28 1 1043 1054 10.1080/10717544.2021.1931561 34060397
    [Google Scholar]
  61. Ainiyah R. Riniutami C. Massadeh M.I. Inhibition of carica solid soap to the growth of staphylococcus epidermidis bacteria. InE3S Web of Conferences. EDP Sci. 2023 374 00029
    [Google Scholar]
  62. Sharma P Nautiyal U Formulation and evaluation of anti-microbial gel using lavender oil and rosemary oil. Int. J. Heal. Clini. Res. 2024 3 3 81 86 10.55544/jrasb.3.3.14
    [Google Scholar]
  63. Falleh H. Jemaa M.B. Neves M.A. Isoda H. Nakajima M. Ksouri R. Formulation, physicochemical characterization, and anti- E. coli activity of food-grade nanoemulsions incorporating clove, cinnamon, and lavender essential oils. Food Chem. 2021 359 129963 10.1016/j.foodchem.2021.129963 33951609
    [Google Scholar]
/content/journals/npj/10.2174/0122103155350887241224105912
Loading
Lavender Oil: A Versatile Natural Therapeutic – Extraction, Composition, Applications, and Innovative Formulation Strategies
Bentham Science Publishers ; https://doi.org/10.2174/0122103155350887241224105912
/content/journals/npj/10.2174/0122103155350887241224105912
/content/journals/npj/10.2174/0122103155350887241224105912
Loading

Data & Media loading...


  • Article Type:     Review Article
Keywords: therapeutic application ; Lavender oil ; composition and formulation ; extraction

Most Cited Most Cited RSS feed

This is a required field
Please enter a valid email address
Approval was a Success
Invalid data
An Error Occurred
Approval was partially successful, following selected items could not be processed due to error
Please enter a valid_number test