CHEMICAL COMPOSITION AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF LAVENDER (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.) ABOVEGROUND PARTS

Biochemical assessment was performed of leaves, flower buds and flowers of lavender. High positive correlation was demonstrated between the essential oil contents and antioxidant activity (AA) (R = 0.9688), total phenolic acids and AA (R = 0.9303), as well as high negative correlation between flavonoid contents and AA (R = -0.9760). Results of the foregoing studies also suggest that AA of lavender (77.5-86.3%) is more correlated with the essential oil and phenolic compound contents than with the contents of flavonoids, anthocyanins and tannins. The predominant compounds in the oil obtained from leaves were epi-a-cadinol (17.8%), cryptone (10.4%), 1,8-cineole (7.3%) and caryophyllene oxide (7.2%), and of the oil distilled from flowers: linalyl acetate (22.3-32.1%) and linalool (23.9-29.9%).