The effect of harvest time on the bioactive properties and volatile components of lavender (Lavandula officinalis)

This study was designed to determine the effect of harvest time on the bioactive properties and volatile components of flowers, leaves and stems of Lavandula officinalis. The bioactive properties were examined in terms of total phenolic content, antiradical activity and antioxidant capacity by the Folin-Ciocalteu, 1.1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl scavenging and phosphomolybdenum methods, respectively. Volatile components were detected with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Water and methanol were used for extraction solvent and three different parts of the day (morning, midday and evening) were selected for harvest time. Water extracts had higher total phenolic contents (337.2-771.5 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/g dry extract) than methanolic extracts (170.3-320.8 mg GAE/g dry extract), and in general, midday values were less than morning and evening rates and had a significant difference depending on harvest time. A similar feature was observed in respect to antioxidant properties. The inhibition rates (%) of flowers and leaves were higher than those of the stems for either extract. In terms of the volatile components linalool, camphor, 1,8-cineole, terpinen-4-ol and isoborneol were the most representative compounds in the samples.