Lavender: phytochemistry, pharmacology, cross-disciplinary applications, and clinical efficacy

Lavender, belongs to the genus Lavandula of the Lamiaceae family, is a "medicinal and edible homologous" plant with medicinal and economic value, widely cultivated worldwide. Traditionally used for relieving emotions, sedation, and hypnosis, modern research has long focused on the chemical composition and pharmacological activity of its essential oil. However, the exploration of non-volatile components and utilization of by-products remains insufficient, lacking a systematic integration of interdisciplinary research.

This review systematically identifies recent research on lavender in terms of phytochemistry, pharmacological mechanisms, cross-field applications (medicine, daily chemicals, agriculture), clinical applications, and safety evaluation. It identifies the limitations of previous studies, which prioritized essential oils over the whole plant and focused on basic research over transformation, to provide theoretical support for its scientific application and further development.

A comprehensive search of literatures on lavender or Lavandula, its active ingredients, pharmacological activities, clinical trials, and safety published before April 2025 was conducted using PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science, and China Knowledge Network.

Active components of lavender include volatile components (mainly essential oils, with linalool and linalyl acetate as core components) and non-volatile components (flavonoids, phenolic acids, coumarins, triterpenoids). Lavender has a wide range of pharmacological effects, involving central regulation (anxiolytic, antidepressant), antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and cardiovascular disease treatment. Moreover, utilization potential of the whole plant (roots, stems, leaves) and processed solid residues is being gradually explored. In addition to applications in the field of traditional medicine, lavender also shows application prospects in the field of materials science (e.g., antibacterial coatings) and high-value by-product utilization (e.g., feed additives). Clinical studies confirmed that Silexan™, with lavender essential oil (LEO) as the core component, is safe and effective for treating anxiety and related diseases. Furthermore, safety studies on lavender extracts and their main components show good safety under research conditions.

This review highlights the value of lavender beyond essential oils, with its other active components and cross-disciplinary applications warranting attention. Lavender-based products (e.g., essential oils) show potential in relieving anxiety and improving sleep; standardized products are preferred for daily use to ensure efficacy and safety. However, future basic research should focus on pharmacological potential of non-volatile components, explore core targets and signaling pathways of active ingredients, and pursue interdisciplinary collaborations (e.g., material science for new delivery systems), which are crucial for tapping into its therapeutic and industrial value. Given clear efficacy of lavender (especially Silexan™) in anxiety and depressive disorders, it can be a safe alternative to traditional medications. However, further research is needed to evaluate the efficacy of Silexan™ and its relative effectiveness compared with standard drugs, and clarify its exact mechanism at the molecular and cellular levels that enable more targeted therapies.