The presence of
phenolic compounds in spices and herbs, along with the essential oils, has been
gaining attention due to their various functions like antioxidant capacity,
antimicrobial properties, and flavoring properties. The Bay leaf belongs to
Lauraceae family and is endemic in the Mediterranean region. Lauraceae, is an aromatic plant frequently used
as a spice in Mediterranean cookery and as a traditional medicine for the
treatment of several infectious disease. L.
nobilis also belongs to Lauraceae. L.
nobilis is aromatic tree, and is 2 m to 10 m high. L.nobilis contains about 1.3% essential oils and polar flavonoids mono,
sesquiterpenes, alkoloids, glycosylated flavor-noids, megastigmane and phenolic
components. It is known to have various pharmacological effects, including
antimicrobial, cytotoxic and immune modulating. Its’ essential oil containg
eucalyptol, α-terpinyl acetate, linalool, methyl eugenol, sabinene and
carvacrol. The property of every essential oil varies according to the harvest
country, altitude, period of sunshine, conditions of harvest. These essential
oil contents of L. nobilis are strong
antibacterial activity against Gram negative and Gram positive foodorne
pathogens (Salmonella, Staphylococcus aureus, Esherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes like that),
spoilage bacteria (Pseudomonas aeroginosa) as well as antifungal
effects. The synergy between terpenes (linalool), lactones, oxides (1,8
cineole) and monoterpenes (camphene, alpa-pinene) gives to the essential oil of Laurel a good antibacterial
activity. Its essential oils’ various or single chemical compositions at
different concentrations have different inhibition mechanisms that can affect a
variety of pathogens by changing membrane permeability, denaturing proteins and
inhibiting enzymes. The oils are not affecting on existing beneficial
intestinal bacteria.
Primary Language | English |
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Subjects | Health Care Administration |
Journal Section | Review Article |
Authors | |
Publication Date | November 30, 2018 |
Published in Issue | Year 2018 |