The spectrum of pharmacological activity of different groups of natural compounds of laurel leaves and the choice of the optimal extractant for the extraction of essential oil from them
Authors:   BIOCAD, Polousova Yulia E. Polousova , Pisarev Dmitry I. ,   Peoples' Friendship University of Russia, Novikov Oleg O. ,   Peoples' Friendship University of Russia, Abramovich Rimma A. ,   Peoples' Friendship University of Russia, Sakanyan Karen M. ,   Ministry of Health of Russian Federation
Published: September 2021

Laurel noble – Laurus nobilis L., a plant whose leaves are widely used in cooking and are used in folk medicine. L. nobilis L. leaves contain more than 80 volatile components, represented mainly by monocyclic monoterpenes. The identification of more and more new therapeutic properties of the plant testifies to its incompletely undisclosed therapeutic potential. However, despite the impressive therapeutic potential of the plant, it is not used in domestic scientific medicine. The aim of the study: To describe the spectrum of types of pharmacological activity of L. nobilis L. and selection of the optimal extractant for the extraction of essential oil from the leaves of the object under study. Materials and methods: Laurel leaves were used as the test material. The essential oil from the leaves was obtained by extraction with freons, which are methoxynonafluorobutane and fluoroketone. The extractant for comparison was n-hexane. The method of studying essential oils was chromatography- mass spectrometry. Chromatography was performed on a gas chromatograph – mass spectrometer – GCMS-QP2010 Ultra, Shimadzu, Japan. Ionization is carried out in the electronic shock mode, detection by the total ionic current (SCAN) in the programmed temperature mode. Results: According to the literature, the essential oil of L. nobilis L. leaves have a pronounced antibacterial, antioxidant and antiinflammatory effect. Polyphenolic compounds of L. nobilis L. leaves are represented by flavonoids, derivatives of kaempferol and quercetin. It is believed that flavonoids are responsible for hypoglycemic, insular protective, antioxidant effects. The results of chromatography showed that the essential oil is represented mainly by 12 compounds, the dominant of which were 1.8-cineole (eucalyptol), alpha-terpenyl acetate and methyleugenol. During chromatography, it was also found that the optimal extractant is methoxynonafluorobutane, which extracts terpenoids with the highest yield. The prospects of using freons as agents for obtaining essential oil from laurel leaves have been shown. The composition of the essential oil isolated by freons from the leaves of laurel was determined by the method of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The results of chromatography showed that in the obtained freon extracts, 1.8-cineole (eucalyptol), alpha-terpenyl acetate and methyleugenol were dominant, which is close in composition to the native essential oil, according to literature data. Conclusion: The prospects of using freons as agents for extracting essential oil from L. nobilis L. leaves were shown. During chromatography, it was found that the optimal extractant is methoxynonafluorobutane, which extracts volatile components with the highest yield compared to fluoroketone and n-hexane; in addition, methoxyfluorobutane is non-toxic compared to n-hexane.