## 4 Results and Discussion
### Phenolic Profile: Qualitative and Quantitative Determinations  
#### 4.2.1 Qualitative Analysis  
The HPLC-ESI/MS analysis enabled the determination of 12 phytochemicals as shown in Table 1. Figure 1 shows a typical total ion and UV chromatogram of the aqueous _Lavandula stoechas_ extract pointing out with numbers the identified phytochemicals according to retention time. \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c c} \hline \hline
**Peak Number** & **RT (min)** & **[M\(-\)H]\({}^{-}\) (_m/z_)** & **Phytochemicals** \\ \hline
1 & 3.0 & 375(100), 573(46), 751(38) & 5-nonadecylresocrinol \\
2 & 4.0 & 387(100), 607(30) & Unknown \\
3 & 8.6 & 179(100), 135(25) & Caffe acid \\
4 & 11.1 & 473(100) & 6\({}^{\prime\prime}\)-O-Acetylgenistin \\
5 & 15.8 & 463(100), 485(20) & Quercetin 3-O-glucose \\
6 & 16.1 & 461(100), 285(3) & Luteolin-O-glucuron \\
7 & 16.6 & 47(100) & Luteolin-O-glucoside \\
8 & 17.7 & 359(100), 719(86) & Rosaminic acid isomer \\
9 & 19.2 & 445(100), 269(5) & Apigenin-O-glucuron \\
10 & 19.4 & 359(100), 719(30) & Rosaminic acid \\
11 & 20.7 & 549(100), 507(94) & Salvianolic acid derivative \\
12 & 22.1 & 717(100), 519(43) & Salvianolic acid B (Lithospermic acid B) \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table} 
Table 1: Phytochemicals identified in methanolic and aqueous extracts of Ladastacho. Caffeic acid has been previously reported to be the main natural phenol in organ oil [17]. It has also been found in the freshwater fern _Salviina molesta_[18], in the mushroom _Phellinus lintetus_[19], in the bark of _Eucalyptus globulus_[20] and in barley grain [21]. Its antioxidant potential has been reported in vitro and also in vivo [22]. In addition, caffeic acid has been reported to possess an inhibitory effect on cancer cell proliferation in human HT-1080 fibro-sarcoma cells [23]. Despite its antioxidant potential, there are some studies that report adverse results regarding the carcinogenicity or anti-carcinogenicity of caffeic acid [24]. Rosmarinic acid is mainly found in culinary herbs, such as _Ocimum basilicum_ (basil), _Ocimum tentuiform_ (holy basil), _Melissa officinalis_ (lemon balm), _Rosmarinus officinalis_ (rosemary), _Origanum majorana_ (marjoram) and _Salvia officinalis_ (sage), thyme and peppermint or in plants with medicinal properties, such as common self-heal (_Prunella vulgaris_) or in species of the genus Stachys [25]. It is also found in other Lamiales, such as _Heliotropium foertherianum_, a plant in the family Boraginaceae. Rosmarinic acid accumulation is favored in hornworts in the fern family Blechnaceae and in species of several orders of mono- and dicotyledonous angiosperms [26], which may be found also as a derivative in Anthocerotophyta (_Anthoceros agrestis_) in the form of rosmarinic acid 3\({}^{\prime}\)-O-\(\beta\)-D-glucoside [27]. Regarding some potential health effects, rosmarinic acid is a potential anxiolytic as it acts as a gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) transaminase inhibitor, more specifically on 4-aminobutyrate transaminase [28]. Rosmarinic acid also inhibits the expression of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase via its cyclooxygenase-inhibiting properties [29], whereas it was found to be effective in a mouse model of Japanese encephalitis [30]. Salvianic acid B (Sal B) is a phenolic acid derived from the dried root and rhizome of _Salvia multiorrhiza_ (Labiatae), which has been used traditionally in most Asian countries for the clinical therapy of various vascular diseases for hundreds of years. Salvia has been also used for various diseases related to blood stasis syndrome in China for thousands of years, and now it is widely used for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) [31]. In addition, Sal B protects diverse kinds of cells from damage caused by a variety of toxic stimuli [32]. Furthermore, flavonoids may also have numerous beneficial effects in human health. For instance, apigenin and the substituted derivatives (i.e., -apigenin-7-\(O\)-glucuronide) isolated from the _Marrubium deserti_ de Noe plant have been reported to possess antioxidant and antigenotoxic properties [33].