Laurel (Laurus nobilis)

1- Scientific Name

Laurus nobilis – English Name: Laurel

2- Family

Laurel family: Lauraceae

3- Botanical Description

An evergreen perennial tree reaching a height of 3–14 m. Its stem is grayish at the base and greenish above. The leaves are simple, alternate, oblong to ovate in shape, serrated at the edges, leathery in texture, short-stalked, and aromatic, measuring 7–10 cm in length and 3–5 cm in width. The flowers are small, dioecious (unisexual on a single plant), gathered in small umbellate inflorescences borne on short, hairy floral stalks 3–6 cm long, each cluster consisting of 4–5 flowers, yellow in color. Male flowers are more numerous than female ones and have numerous stamens; the ovary is single-chambered. The fruit is berry-like, ovoid in shape, and black in color. The trees flower in spring and set fruit in autumn.

4- Part Used

Fruits and leaves.

5- Active Compounds

The leaves contain a volatile essential oil at a concentration of 0.8–3%, with Cineole as the main active component, making up 40–55% of the oil’s constituents, in addition to Linalool, Geraniol, Eugenol, a-b pinene, and Citral. The leaves also contain alkaloid compounds such as Reticulin, and tannin compounds.

The fruits yield a green fatty oil at a concentration of 25–55% when pressed, extracted by cold pressing after moistening the fruits with water vapor. The main active components are Oleic acid, Linoleic acid, Palmitic acid, Lauric acid, and Myristic acid. The fruits also contain a volatile oil ranging between 1–3.5%.

6- Medicinal Importance

Laurel oil is used in pharmaceutical or food industries through formulation of products that work to:

• Treat certain skin inflammations from scabies, itching, acne, boils, and pimples, and reduce the spread of psoriasis, through its fatty oil.
• Treat rheumatism pain and joint inflammation via medicinal ointments, through its fatty oil.
• Serve as a flavor enhancer and appetite stimulant in cases of severe emaciation, through its volatile oil.
• Aid relaxation and relieve nervous system insomnia and nervous tension, through its volatile oil.

7- Acceptance Card

A. Fruit Acceptance

No.	Property	Specification
1	Color	Black olive
2	Texture	Leathery
3	Odor	Pleasant aromatic
4	Fungal & Insect Infestation	Indicator: No unpleasant odors, foreign colors, or flying insects of any kind Limits: Infestation by storage insects (larvae, adult insects) not to exceed 4%
5	% Impurities	Not to exceed 5%
7	% Fatty Oil	Not less than 20% Note: oil quality and economic feasibility should be considered if the percentage falls below this
8	% Moisture	Not to exceed 14%

B. Leaf Acceptance

No.	Property	Specification
1	Color	Dark green
2	Texture	Fresh
3	Odor	Pleasant aromatic
4	Fungal & Insect Infestation	Indicator: No unpleasant odors, foreign colors, or edge erosion Limits: Infestation by storage insects (larvae, adult insects) not to exceed 2%
5	% Impurities	Not to exceed 3%
7	% Volatile Oil	Not less than 1% Note: oil quality and economic feasibility should be considered if the percentage falls below this

8- General Notes

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