Phytochemicals from the genus Lavandula: a review

Abstract

The genus Lavandula occurs naturally in the Mediterranean basin and its species are a rich source of phytochemicals. Species of this genus have attracted great interest, especially those such as fine lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Miller) and its natural hybrid lavandin (Lavandula x intermedia Emeric ex Loisel), which are cultivated for their essential oils, widely used in perfumery and cosmetics. Peer-reviews regarding lavender volatile compounds are available, however other, non-volatile, secondary metabolites of the genus Lavandula are poorly studied. In this review, the reader will find a brief outline of the taxonomy and morphology of the Lavandula genus, along with a comprehensive description of the volatile compounds isolated or putatively identified in the genus Lavandula, including triterpenoids, phenolic acids, flavonoids and benzofurans. Overall, the elaboration of a detailed list reveals that 548 specialized metabolites have been described in Lavandula species. This review may be used as a scientific basis for future studies on the genus Lavandula, especially in chemical ecology and metabolomics where compound identification remains a limiting step.