Essential oil and extracts from Lavandula angustifolia Mill. cultivated in Bosnia and Herzegovina: Antioxidant activity and acetylcholinesterase inhibition

Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.) is a perennial, aromatic, medicinal, and decorative plant widespread in the Mediterranean. Due to the high content of essential oil and numerous beneficial properties, it is an extremely valued plant species. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, lavender is cultivated mainly for the needs of the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. In this research, the antioxidant activity and acetylcholinesterase inhibition of essential oil (EO) and extracts isolated from lavender were evaluated. L. angustifolia EO was isolated using whole plant material in the flowering period by steam distillation and analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) with flame-ionization (FID) and mass spectrometric (MS) detection. Extracts were prepared by ultrasonic extraction in solvents of different polarities. Total phenolic content in extracts was determined using Folin–Ciocalteu reagent. The antioxidant activity of EO and extracts was examined by two methods, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazil (DPPH) radical scavenging activities and ferric reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP), while the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory potential was determined using modified Ellman’s method. The EO was high in content of linalool (27.72%) and linalyl acetate (22.82%), followed by α-pinene (9.82%), lavandulol acetate (7.32%), trans-caryophyllene (5.70%), and others. In total, 24 components were identified. Total phenol content was highest in water and ethanol extracts (45.3 and 14.40 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g dry extract). Polar extracts indicate good antioxidant power according to both methods, while EO can be considered as good inhibitor of AChE.