lamiaceae&verbenaceae week Lavandula angustifolia
amit chauhan
Sending photos of Lavandula angustifolia
True lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill. syn. L. officinalis Chaix) is a
perennial shrub of the family Lamiaceae. It is native to southern Europe and the
Mediterranean area and is commercially cultivated in France, Spain, Portugal,
Hungary, the UK, Bulgaria, Australia, China and the USA.In India, it was
introduced in the Kashmir Valley in 1983, where its commercial cultivation was
found to be successful. This plant is cultivated primarily for its
aromatic inflorescence
from which the essential oil is isolated, although its fresh and dried
flowers are also marketed.Lavender oil is known for its excellent aroma and is
extensively used in the perfumery, flavour and cosmetic industries. The oil is
known to possess sedative, carminative, anti-depressive and anti-inflammatory
properties. It was also found to be active against many species of
bacteria, including
those resistant to antibiotics, such as methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus. Lavender
oil was also reported
to be an effective antifungal agent against Aspergillus nidulans and
Trichophyton
mentagrophytes. Oil from lavender cultivated in India may become a
significant competitor with historical sources of lavender oil due to
the favourable climatic conditions for commercial cultivation in the
hilly tracks of northern India. At present, the
cultivation of lavender is mainly confined to Jammu and Kashmir. The
essential oil is rich in linalyl acetate and linalool hence the
essential oil has high demand in fragrance industry and aromatherapy.
regards
--
Dr. Amit Chauhan
Junior Technical Assistant
Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Research Centre,
Pantnagar, PO Dairy Farm Nagla, Pantnagar, Udham Singh Nagar,
Uttarakhand 263149
ph.05944 234445
mob.+919412161087
mail: amit...@gmail.com
amit...@rediffmail.com
amit.c...@cimap.res.in
