Physicochemical, Chemical, and Antibacterial Characterization of Lavandula angustifolia Essential Oils Cultivated in Çankırı, Türkiye

English (OpenAlex)

The present study investigates the physicochemical, chemical, and antibacterial properties of essential oils obtained from the flower (LF-EO) and stem-leaf (LSL-EO) fractions of Lavandula angustifolia cultivated under the semi-arid continental conditions of Çankırı, Türkiye. The essential oils were extracted by hydrodistillation using a Neo-Clevenger apparatus and characterized in accordance with ISO 3515:2002 and related standards. The physicochemical parameters of LF-EO, including density (0.8937 g mL⁻¹), refractive index (1.4566), optical rotation (-9.50°), and ester value (55.04 mg KOH g⁻¹), were consistent with the ISO specifications for high-quality lavender oil. GC-MS analysis identified 98.11 % (LF-EO) and 98.42 % (LSL-EO) of total volatile constituents, revealing β-linalool (44.77 % and 34.55 %) and linalyl acetate (12.94 % and 6.60 %) as the major compounds, alongside camphor, borneol, and 1,8-cineole. The compositional profile of LF-EO corresponded to the French Maillette chemotype defined by ISO 3515:2002.Both oils exhibited notable antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. LF-EO demonstrated strong inhibition against Bacillus cereus and Listeria monocytogenes (30 mm), while LSL-EO showed moderate activity against Escherichia coli (20 mm) and Salmonella typhimurium (17 mm). The enhanced antimicrobial performance of LF-EO was attributed to its high content of oxygenated monoterpenes and esters, which contribute to membrane permeability and destabilization effects.Overall, the results confirm that Lavabdula angustifolia cultivated in Çankırı produces a French-type lavender oil of superior physicochemical and biological quality, suitable for pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and aromatherapeutic applications