TY - JOUR
T1 - The Dual Identity of Laurus nobilis L.
T2 - A Culinary Delight and Pharmacological Treasure
AU - Hussain, Md Sadique
AU - Jakhmola, Vikas
AU - Maqbool, Mudasir
AU - Rana, Amita Joshi
AU - Sultana, Ayesha
AU - Ramalingam, Prasanna Srinivasan
AU - Arumugam, Sivakumar
AU - Goyal, Kavita
AU - Rekha, Arcot
AU - Gupta, Saurabh
AU - Ali, Haider
AU - Gupta, Gaurav
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
2026, The Author(s).. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Public License (CC-BY 4.0), a copy of which is available at: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode. This license permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
PY - 2026
Y1 - 2026
N2 - Introduction: Laurus nobilis (bay laurel) is a widely used plant known for its culinary, cosmetic, therapeutic, and pharmacological properties. Its leaves are particularly valued due to their rich content of bioactive compounds, such as essential oils, phenolic substances, flavonoids, and alkaloids. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the botanical characteristics, chemical composition, and therapeutic and industrial applications of these compounds. Methods: An extensive literature review was conducted using scientific databases to collect and analyze published studies on the botanical traits, chemical constituents, traditional uses, pharmacological activities, and industrial applications of L. nobilis leaves. Results: The analysis revealed that bay leaves contain a variety of bioactive components, notably essential oils, phenolics, flavonoids, and alkaloids. These compounds exhibit significant pharmacological properties, including anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anticancer activities, as supported by various in vitro and in vivo studies. Discussion: The findings underscore the therapeutic relevance of L. nobilis leaves, aligning with traditional medicinal practices and modern pharmacological research. However, limitations exist in terms of standardized extraction methods and clinical trials, which must be addressed to validate and optimize their clinical application. Conclusion: Laurus nobilis leaves are a promising natural source of pharmacologically active compounds. Their diverse applications across traditional medicine, modern pharmacology, and industrial sectors highlight their continuing relevance and potential for broader utilization.
AB - Introduction: Laurus nobilis (bay laurel) is a widely used plant known for its culinary, cosmetic, therapeutic, and pharmacological properties. Its leaves are particularly valued due to their rich content of bioactive compounds, such as essential oils, phenolic substances, flavonoids, and alkaloids. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the botanical characteristics, chemical composition, and therapeutic and industrial applications of these compounds. Methods: An extensive literature review was conducted using scientific databases to collect and analyze published studies on the botanical traits, chemical constituents, traditional uses, pharmacological activities, and industrial applications of L. nobilis leaves. Results: The analysis revealed that bay leaves contain a variety of bioactive components, notably essential oils, phenolics, flavonoids, and alkaloids. These compounds exhibit significant pharmacological properties, including anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anticancer activities, as supported by various in vitro and in vivo studies. Discussion: The findings underscore the therapeutic relevance of L. nobilis leaves, aligning with traditional medicinal practices and modern pharmacological research. However, limitations exist in terms of standardized extraction methods and clinical trials, which must be addressed to validate and optimize their clinical application. Conclusion: Laurus nobilis leaves are a promising natural source of pharmacologically active compounds. Their diverse applications across traditional medicine, modern pharmacology, and industrial sectors highlight their continuing relevance and potential for broader utilization.
KW - Laurus nobilis
KW - bioactive compounds
KW - essential oil
KW - health benefits
KW - laurel
KW - traditional medicine
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105024330735
U2 - 10.2174/0122150838401509250818105001
DO - 10.2174/0122150838401509250818105001
M3 - Review article
AN - SCOPUS:105024330735
SN - 2215-0838
VL - 12
JO - Current Traditional Medicine
JF - Current Traditional Medicine
ER -