Lavandula dentata L.: Phytochemical Analysis, Antioxidant, Antifungal and Insecticidal Activities of Its Essential Oil

Antioxidant, antifungal and insecticidal activities of essential oil (EO) extracted from the Moroccan lavender (Lavandula dentata) were investigated and their chemical constituents determined. Gas chromatography with flame ionization detection (GC-FID) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analyses (GC-MS) were used to examine the phytochemical composition of EO. Antioxidant potential was examined in vitro by use of three tests: DPPH inhibition, reducing power (FRAP) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC). Antifungal activity was assessed by calculating inhibition of growth of Alternaria alternata, Botrytis cinerea and Fusarium oxysporum. Repellent potential and toxicity of EO by contact and inhalation were performed against Callosobruchus maculatus. Sixteen constituents were detected in the EO of Lavandula dentata. The major component was linalool (45.06%) followed by camphor (15.62%) and borneol (8.28%). EO exhibited a significant antioxidant activity, as measured by DPPH and FRAP assays, with IC₅₀ and EC₅₀ values of 12.95 ± 1.300 mg/mL and 11.88 ± 0.23 mg/mL, respectively. EO of lavender exhibited total antioxidant capacity of 81.28 ± 2.28 mg AAE/g EO. EO of lavender showed an inhibitory effect on mycelial growth against tested fungi and was 100% in the case of B. cinerea. EO caused total mortality of adult C. maculatus from 5 µL/L air with LC₅₀ value of 4.01 µL/L air. Significant reduction in numbers of eggs laid (99.2%) and emergence (100%) was observed in a dose-dependent manner up to maxima of 100% and 99.2%, respectively. EO of lavender also showed a moderate potency to repel insects with a mean of 34.44%. EO of Moroccan Lavandula dentata has potential to be an effective natural agent against free radical damage and could be an environmentally friendly alternative bio-fungicide and bio-insecticide.