Comparison of chemical composition and antibacterial activity of lavender varieties from Poland.

The aim of the study was comparing the chemical composition of the essential oils from five varieties of lavender (Lavandula angustifolia L.), and its biological activity against two pathogenic bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. In the comparison we included the following varieties: 'Munstead', 'Munstead Strain', 'Lavender Lady', 'Ellegance Purple' and 'Blue River'. Selected varieties of lavender (L. angustifolia) are characterised by exactly the same main compounds with only variations in the percentage of content. The primary components of the essential oils were: linalool (23.9-15.8%), linalyl anthranilate (12.3-1.6%), 1-terpinen-4-ol (9.7-5.5%), p-menth-1-en-8-ol (7.9-4.0%) and linalool oxide (4.7-1.1%). From the essential oils that were tested, the 'Blue River' and 'Munstead' varieties have the greatest antibacterial activity against S. aureus and P. aeruginosa.