Reconsidering Hydrosols as Main Products of Aromatic Plants Manufactory: The Lavandin (Lavandula intermedia) Case Study in Tuscany.

Matteo Politi,Pier Luigi Cioni,Priscilla Farina,Luigi Menghini,Marinella De Leo,Barbara Conti,Alessandra Braca,Stefano Bedini

doi:10.3390/molecules25092225

Matteo Politi, Pier Luigi Cioni + Show 6 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25092225

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Abstract

The present work evaluates for the first time two Lavandin (Lavandula × intermedia Emeric ex Loisel.) aromatic waters obtained from different plant organs, the flowers and the stems. Both extracts were analysed by GC-MS, which indicates semi-quantitative differences between the major metabolites including linalool, 1,8-cineole, camphor, linalyl acetate and 4-terpineol. 1H-NMR and LC-MS investigation confirmed the presence of these compounds. Moreover, behavioural tests with the food insect pest Tribolium confusum (Coleoptera Tenebrionidae) showed a good repellency for both hydrosols extracts with RD50 values of 3.6 and 3.3 µL·cm−2 for the flowers and stems, respectively; at the higher concentrations, however, the hydrosol extract from the flowers is expected to be more effective than the one from the stems. The effect of the flowers and stems aromatic water of Lavandin on seed germination of Raphanus sativus was also evaluated. Results showed that seed germination was completely inhibited by flowers hydrolate, having a possible application as natural herbicide. The overall experience with these Lavandin extracts indicates the potential of improved hydrolates to become the main distillation products, rather than by-products, of the aromatic plants manufacturing; this stimulates further discussions about the potential positive impacts that such a shift could have in the context of ecopharmacognosy.

Highlights

Aromatic waters, sometimes referred to as hydrolates, hydrosols or floral waters, are the aqueous solutions that remain after steam-distilling or hydro-distilling botanical material [1]
Using the same distillation conditions, detailed in Materials and Methods, it was no possible to obtain the essential oil from the stems, its comparison with the corresponding aromatic water was not acquired
The repellence bioassay against T. confusum showed a good activity for both hydrosols extracts with

Summary

Introduction

Sometimes referred to as hydrolates, hydrosols or floral waters, are the aqueous solutions that remain after steam-distilling or hydro-distilling botanical material [1]. Due to their biological and organoleptic properties, aromatic waters are used in the food, flavouring and cooking industry [2], cosmetic and perfumery industry [3], aromatherapy [4], along with agriculture as biological agents [5,6], insect pest repellents [7] and food sanitizers [8], between others. Is a hub of famous perfumes and fragrances and the increasing internal demand for organic ingredients in personal care is expected to influence the growth of the hydrosols market during the forecast period [20]

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