<i>Lavandula stoechas:</i> Mediterranean aromatic plant: Data capitalization

Abstract

Lavandula stoechas, an aromatic plant of Mediterranean origin, has a rich history in traditional medicine. Its essential oil contains large quantities of both camphor and fenchone and has shown to possess bioactivity as well as antiviral, antimicrobial, and anti-fungal activity (in particular, against the common infectious agent, Staphylococcus aureus). As an oil composed predominantly of oxygenated monoterpenes and luteolin, it has potential applications in both the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries and may also serve as a natural pesticide; however, it should be noted that at very high concentrations, it is toxic. As an ecological stabiliser and supporter of plant succession, it plays an important role in the ecosystem. Therefore, growing Lavandula stoechas promotes both domestication of medicinal plants as well as preservation of the wild ecosystems from which they originate, and it reduces reliance on synthetic products. This paper synthesises the traditional usages with contemporary scientific knowledge to provide a framework for conservation strategies and sustainable use of this species within its arid native habitat.