Lavandula angustifolia Miller

For hundreds of years the essential oil of lavender has been well appreciated for perfumery purposes [72]. Lavender oil is obtained by steam distillation from the fresh-flowering tops of Lavandula angustifolia Miller (Lavandula officinalis Chaix) [73]. It is a colourless or pale yellow, clear liquid, with a fresh, sweet, floral, herbaceous odour on a woody balsamic base [73, 74]. According to the European Pharmacopoeia, characteristic components of lavender oils are limonene, cineol, 3-octanone, camphor, linalool, linalyl acetate, terpinen-4-ol, lavandulyl acetate, lavandulol and a-terpineol. Adulterations commonly include blends of lavender oils with lavandin oil or spike oil, and the addition of synthetic linalool and linalyl acetate. In contrast, genuine lavender oils contain as main constituents (i )-linalyl acetate and (i )-linalool of high enantiomeric purity (Fig. 17.14). 

Oil of lavandin abrial (Lavandula angustifolia Miller x Lavandula latifo-Ua Medikus), French type... 

Lavender oils are steam distilled oils from Lavandula angustifolia MILLER. For many years the adulteration of lavender oils by means of synthetic linalool and/or linalyl acetate has been easily revealed, by detecting the synthetic by-products dihy-drolinalool and/or dehydrolinalool. But this detection fails, if these unnatural byproducts are not present. 

P. Kreis, A. Dietrich, D. Juchelka and A. Mosandl. Methodenvergleich zur Stereodifferenzierung von Linalool und Linalylacetat in atherischen Olen von Lavandula angustifolia MILLER. Pharm. Ztg. Wiss., 138, 149-155 (1993). 

Studies into the method of action of essential oils as insect repellents are currently underway that may further help in the development of new products. Recently, the results of an investigation were reported on the method of action of the acaricidal properties of Lavandula angustifolia Miller essential oil and of linalool (60), one of its main components, against Psoroptes cuniculi [195]. The study confirms the anti-mite properties of lavender essential oil and of linalool (60) by inhalation, indicating an additional route for possible use of these substances both for prophylactic and therapeutic purposes. Also, the method of action of the toxicity of citrus peel oils to several insect species has recently been investigated [196]. The results indicated that an efficient way to use citrus peel essential oils to control insects would be as a fumigant in relatively enclosed or air-tight systems. 

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