Mykhailenko Olha, Hurina Viktoriia, Herbina Nataliia, Maslii Yuliia, Ivanauskas Liudas, Vladymyrova Inna, Lytkin Dmytro, Gudžinskas Zigmantas, Severina Hanna, Ruban Olena, Georgiyants Victoriya
Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, National University of Pharmacy, 61168 Kharkiv, Ukraine.
Department of Pharmaceutical and Biological Chemistry, Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy Group, UCL School of Pharmacy, 29-39 Brunswick Square, London WC1N 1AX, UK.
Plants (Basel). 2025 Jan 20;14(2):289. doi: 10.3390/plants14020289.
The search for neuroprotective compounds in lavender is driven by its traditional use for brain health, with antioxidant activity serving as a key mechanism in reducing oxidative stress and supporting cognitive function. Lavender's potential to protect neurons is based on its calming, anti-stress properties, which increase the brain's resistance to neurodegeneration. Although lavender is not a traditional medicinal plant in Ukraine, it is increasingly recognised for its medicinal properties and is widely cultivated in the country. Lavender use in Ukraine is influenced by both global herbal practices and local medical traditions. The aim of this study was to optimise the preparation of lavender herb extracts, perform chemical profiling and evaluate their antioxidant and neuroprotective activities. The study focused on cultivated in Lviv, Ukraine. Modern analytical methods were used, including HPLC, spectrophotometry, molecular docking, lyophilisation and pharmacological testing. The selection of the optimal conditions for obtaining lavender herb extracts was determined on the basis of the results of the total yield of phenolic compounds in each extract, where it was found that the raw material-solvent ratio (1:10) in water and 50% ethanol gave the highest yield of substances; the preferred extraction time was 20 min, and the temperature was 60-70 °C, especially for water extraction. Further HPLC analysis identified marker compounds including rosmarinic acid (28.31 mg/g), chlorogenic acid (1.64 mg/g) and luteolin (0.23 mg/g) in the lyophilised ethanol extract, which were previously recognised as neuroprotective markers by molecular docking. The water extract showed higher antioxidant (total 50.85 mg/g) and neuroprotective activity, probably due to synergistic interactions among the components. Behavioural tests further demonstrated the neuroprotective potential of lavender herb. These results demonstrate the potential neuroprotective activity of lavender herb and open new possibilities for its use in the treatment of various neurodegenerative diseases.
对薰衣草中神经保护化合物的探索源于其在促进大脑健康方面的传统用途，抗氧化活性是其减轻氧化应激和支持认知功能的关键机制。薰衣草保护神经元的潜力基于其镇静、抗应激特性，这些特性可增强大脑对神经退行性变的抵抗力。尽管薰衣草在乌克兰并非传统药用植物，但它的药用特性日益受到认可，并在该国广泛种植。乌克兰对薰衣草的使用受到全球草药实践和当地医学传统的双重影响。本研究的目的是优化薰衣草草药提取物的制备，进行化学分析并评估其抗氧化和神经保护活性。该研究聚焦于乌克兰利沃夫种植的薰衣草。采用了现代分析方法，包括高效液相色谱法、分光光度法、分子对接、冻干法和药理学测试。根据每种提取物中酚类化合物的总产率结果确定了获得薰衣草草药提取物的最佳条件，结果发现水和50%乙醇中的原料与溶剂比例（1:10）能产生最高的物质产率；优选的提取时间为20分钟，温度为60 - 70°C，水提取时尤其如此。进一步的高效液相色谱分析在冻干乙醇提取物中鉴定出了包括迷迭香酸（28.31毫克/克）、绿原酸（1.64毫克/克）和木犀草素（0.23毫克/克）在内的标志性化合物，这些化合物先前通过分子对接被确认为神经保护标志物。水提取物表现出更高的抗氧化（总计50.85毫克/克）和神经保护活性，这可能是由于各成分之间的协同相互作用。行为测试进一步证明了薰衣草草药的神经保护潜力。这些结果证明了薰衣草草药潜在的神经保护活性，并为其用于治疗各种神经退行性疾病开辟了新的可能性。
