Exploitation of Marginal Hilly Land in Tuscany through the Cultivation of Lavandula angustifolia Mill.: Characterization of Its Essential Oil and Antibacterial Activity

Abstract

Lavandula angustifolia Mill., known as one of the best essential oil-bearing plants, is an aromatic plant that is well cultivated in many Mediterranean regions due to its adaptability to variations in climatic and edaphic conditions. Therefore, its essential oil (EO) composition and its antimicrobial activity change as a consequence of abiotic and biotic factors. The chemical composition of L. angustifolia EO collected during four consecutive years of growth was one of the aims of this work. The volatile profile evidenced the prevalence of linalool and linalool acetate even though they switched their positions according to age. Plants in their first year were characterized by a high amount of sesquiterpene compounds (22.1% of the identified fraction). This percentage decreased during plant growth, not representing more than 5.3% in the fourth year. It is interesting to note that both the third- and fourth-year plants showed a content of monoterpenes that exceeded 90% of the total identified constituents. The EO extracted from the oldest plants evidenced higher activity on the studied strains, with more sensitivity on the Gram-positive ones. Tuscan lavender EO, especially that obtained from the four-year-old plants, is of great interest for its potential industrial applications and constitutes an example for the valorization of marginal Tuscan land and good-quality production.

Current Trends for Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.) Crops and Products with Emphasis on Essential Oil Quality

“…A recent study from Italy showed that the linalool content of lavender essential oil presented high positive correlation with the age of the lavender plant with an increasing trend between the first and fourth years, in contrast to the linalool acetate trend. Similar increasing content with age was observed for two other characteristic components of lavender essential oil: 3-octanone and α-terpineol [ 127 ]. A study from Hungary showed that only two out of eight cultivars displayed significant differences in the composition of their essential oil with plant age [ 149 ].…”

“…In this regard, L. angustifolia is a suitable crop for abandoned and hilly marginal lands. The value of agronomic production per hectare of land is 5800 EUR, according to data from Italy, if it is used for essential oil production [ 127 ]. Lavender plants are adversely affected by salinity stress, with both morphometric as well as essential oil yield significantly reduced.…”

Antibacterial Properties of Commercial Lavender Essential Oil against Some Gram-Positive and Gram-Negative Bacteria

“…The EO extracted from the oldest plants evidenced higher activity on the studied strains, with more sensitivity on the Gram-positive ones. Tuscan lavender EO, especially that obtained from four-year-old plants, is of great interest for its potential industrial applications and constitutes an example of the valorization of marginal Tuscan land and good-quality production (Najar et al, 2022).…”

“…The chemical composition of Lavandula angustifolia Mill. EO collected during four consecutive years of growth were the aims of the work ofNajar et al (2022).…”

Features of growth and development of Lavandula angustifolia when grown under drip irrigation conditions in the Southern Steppe zone of Ukraine

“…The experience of growing L. angustifolia in Tuscany confirms the possibility of using so-called marginal lands for cultivation of this species, i.e., lands unsuitable for growing other crops. However, the analysis of oil obtained from raw materials of 1-4 years old showed that its composition does not meet European quality requirements (Aprotosoaie et al, 2017;Najar et al, 2022). Prolonged drought can also negatively affect product quality.…”