The neurologic effects of Lavandula stoechas L. subsp. stoechas

Lavandula stoechas L. subsp. stoechas has traditionally been used in folk medicine for central nervous system (CNS) disorders. In the present study, the potential neuroactive effect of the aqueous ethanol extract of the aerial parts of L. stoechas was investigated, and phytochemical studies were carried out to identify the compounds that may be responsible for this activity. Five compounds were isolated using various chromatographic methods, and their structures were elucidated as luteolin 7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, rosmarinic acid, eriodictyol, 1-nonadecene, and ursolic acid by spectroscopic methods. Assessing the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) level in SH-SY5Y cells was used as a biological screening tool to evaluate the activity, and the extracts, main fractions, and isolated compounds were generally found to increase BDNF levels. Among the isolated compounds, ursolic acid at a concentration of 5 μM, as well as eriodictyol and ursolic acid at a concentration of 10 μM, resulted in the highest increase in BDNF levels. In addition, the potential neuroprotective effects of the isolated compounds against H₂O₂-induced neuronal cell damage were investigated. The compounds were found to possess neuroprotective effects, with significant activity observed for eriodictyol at a concentration of 5 μM (p < 0.05) and for 1-nonadecene at concentrations of 2.5 μM (p < 0.001), 5 μM (p < 0.01), and 10 μM (p < 0.001). Additionally, L. stoechas demonstrated strong antioxidant activity, as evidenced by DPPH, SO, NO radical scavenging activity, CUPRAC, and FRAP methods. In conclusion, our results provide support for the traditional use of L. stoechas in CNS disorders.