PLANT MATERIAL DATA SHEET

Group # 2
Members: October 5,, 2017
Bernardo, Aiden 3CPH
Boongaling, Jinger
Chavez, Noreen
Chua, Kharl
Chuatiamsing, Madelaine
Custodio, Aileen
Dimayacyac, Catrina

Scientific Name: Laurus nobilis

Common name: Bay laurel
Taxonomic classification
Kingdom Plantae plantes, Planta, Vegetal, plants
Subkingdom Viridiplantae
Infrakingdom Streptophyta land plants
Superdivision Embryophyta
Division Tracheophyta vascular plants
Subdivision Spermatophytina seed plants
Class Magnoliopsida
Superorder Magnolianae
Order Laurales
Family Lauraceae - laurels
Genus Laurus L. - laurel
Species Laurus nobilis L. sweet bay

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Botanical Description:
Laurus nobilis, commonly called Bay Laurel, is native to the Mediterranean. It is a pyramidal,
aromatic, evergreen tree or large shrub that grows to as much as 60 inches tall, but is usually
seen much smaller (10 to 30 inches tall). For garden purposes, it is often pruned to 8 inches tall
or less. Leathery, thick, elliptic to oval, glossy dark green leaves (2 to 4 inches long) from this
tree are commonly used as a culinary herb. Small yellowish green flowers bloom in spring. Trees
are dioecious (separate male and female trees). Flowers on female plants, if pollinated, are
followed by single-seeded purple-black berries. Genus name comes from the Latin name for the
laurel or bay. Specific epithet means notable or excellent. It has no serious insect or disease
problems. It is best grown in rich, moist, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. It may also
be grown in containers as a houseplant. The size and shape of this plant can easily be controlled
by pruning.

Constituents(leaves):
The leaf of laurel has a pleasant odour and its taste is characteristically strong, pungent and
aromatic. The bitterness of fresh leaves is easily removed by drying. Per 100 g, dried laurel
leaves contain: steroids (-sitosterol, campesterol, stigmasterol), quinones (plumbagin, 6-
hydroxyplumbagin), flavonoids (plumbaginol) water 4.5-10.0 g, protein 7.6-10.6 g, fat 4.5-8.8 g,
carbohydrates 65 g, ash 3.7-4.2 g (Ca 1 g, P 110 mg, Na 20 mg, K 530 mg, Zn 40 mg, Fe 530
mg), thiamine 0.10 mg, riboflavin 0.42 mg, niacin 2 mg, ascorbic acid 47 mg, and vitamin A
6185 IU. The energy value is 1725 kJ/100 g. The essential oil from the leaves (up to 3%)
comprises over 140 components with 1,8-cineole predominating (up to 50%). The catechin
content of the leaves is high and is preserved by drying.

Bay Laurel Laurus nobilis

Bay laurel was not just used in rituals and ceremonies but also in herbal medicines.
Hippocrates used all parts of the plant as remedy for various ailments. In medieval times, the
herbs medicinal uses for ailments such as stomach pains, colic, and renal diseases were recorded
by monks in handwritten medical books.

Treatment for type 2 diabetes since they cause reduction in blood glucose, cholesterol,
and triglyceride. Cardiovascular benefits are caused by powerful phytonutrients in the bay leaf

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provides protection against heart attacks and strokes. It can also be used in treatment of colds
and infections, kidney problems and nosebleed.

Bay laurel also has anti-cancer properties, Induces sleep and helps cleaning dental
hygiene. Pain remedy for thematic conditions and against ailments to the upper part of the
digestive tract. The herb is also used for stimulate appetite by increasing the secretion of
digestive fluids, removing intestinal gas and abdominal pain. The extracts is used to initiate
menstruation and the fruits are used to induce abortion. Bay laurel contains substances to relieve
pain associated with migraine
Bay laurel leaves as a compress on bruises and sprains. If highly diluted in carrier oil it
can be rubbed into skin as remedy for rheumatic ailments, aching muscles and joints and scraped
skin. The bay leafs essential oil also has a positive effect on the lymphatic system as tonic for
hair, stimulate hair growth and remove dandruff.

When combined with eucalyptus essential oil it can treat conditions related to the
respiratory system such as resistant cough, bronchitis and flu. It also has insect repellent
properties and dries leaves can be used in potpourris to keep insects away.
Culinary uses. Widely used as spice and flavor in the food industry. Its dried leaves are used for
pies, soups, sauces, marinades, stews and pickles

Pharmaceutical properties:

Aromatherapy, for bruises/sprains, dental/oral care, headache/migraine, pain relief

Analgesic, Aromatic, emetic, emmenagogue, nervine, stimulant.

Bitter taste, normally used as a culinary spice or tea.

The leaves, essential oil and very rarely the fruit are the parts used. The leaves and fruits
are used for their aromatic qualities.

Constituents: volatile oil contains pinene, geraniol, eugenol, cineol

Oil of bay, from the berries, is used to treat arthritic aches and pains, lower back pain,
earaches, and sore muscles and sprains

Bay leaves are the source of an essential oil with an analgesic and warming properties.
Bay laurel oil is used topically to relieve pain as well.

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 Bay laurel contains parthenolides, the same chemical in feverfew or Tanacetum
parthenium that is thought to prevent migraines and headaches.

Essential oil is extracted from the bay laurel leaves by steam distillation. It has a sharp,
herbaceous, and spicy scent. Always dilute the oil well and use it in very small amounts.

SIDE EFFECT: Bay Laurel oils should not be used by pregnant women, since it may
cause spotting. The berries are used to promote abortion. The oil should never be taken
internally and can irritate the skin.

Pharmacological Use:
Antioxidants in laurel consist of chemical compounds that can help fight the damage
caused by free radicals, reduces risk of cancer.
Laurel has an anti-aging property.
Chemical compounds found in Laurel leaves also aids in digestion process.
Dried Laurel may be infused in tea to provide digestive relief or as appetite suppressant
for weight loss.
Laurel contains vitamin A, which is essential for healthy skin, hair, and vision. It also
functions as an antioxidant that may reduce the risk of certain types of cancer.
Vitamin B complex from laurel leaves helps regulate the function of nerves, organs,
hormone production. Consuming dried or fresh laurel leaves as part of daily diet may also
help people with diabetes to regulate metabolism and lower blood sugar levels.
Vitamin C or ascorbic acid is a powerful antioxidant. It may be used to reduce
inflammation, fight viral disease and boost the immune system against disease causing
viruses and bacteria.
Folic acid or folates, are necessary part of DNA development in fetuses. If it is introduced
to the prenatal diet, laurel leaves can encourage DNA synthesis and even reduce the risk
of nerve disorders in children.
Essential minerals in bay leaves, including calcium, iron, copper, potassium, manganese,
magnesium, selenium, and zinc, contribute to different bodily functions such as
processing enzymes, improving blood cell production, regulating organ and muscle
function, and so on
Other therapeutic uses of bay leaves include using essential oils extracted from leaves,
berries or the bark of the tree to heal wounds, burns or inflammation and to relieve
muscle pain or sprains. Natural or organic cures use sweet bay laurel healing properties in
pills, creams, gels, herbal shampoos, and moisturizers.

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 Sipping laurel tea can help to clear the sinuses and fight cold and flu symptoms
Bay leaves also act as a diuretic and astringent.

Traditional Uses of Laurus nobilis

Laurus nobilis is traded as sweet bay leaf, and true, Roman, or Turkish laurel. It is
small evergreen tree of lauraceae family .There are many different types of plants
whose leaves are referred to as bay leaves, but the true bay leaf is scientifically
known as Laurus nobilis, and this is the nutrient-rich variety.

Numerous different leaves have a comparative appearance and smell like true bay
leaves, but not the same nutrient content. This plant is a small tree that is native to the
Mediterranean region. Laurel trees were present everywhere in the region, but changing
climates have shrunk their natural growth.

This herb has been around for quite a long time for restorative purposes and in addition
for seasoning food. Utilized as a part of cooking for a particular, appetizing flavor or
aroma for meats, soups and stews, and even as an ingredient in a cologne known as
bay rum. They are also most commonly added in the whole form as a flavoring for
certain Italian dishes and are then removed or used as a garnish. Whole leaves are not
commonly consumed. There is no extensive range of culinary application for bay
leaves, although extracts of bay leaves have numerous medical uses.

It is also a popular element in aromatherapy and herbal treatments for various skin and
respiratory conditions. Its oil is used externally for bruises,earache,soothing itchy
skin,rheumatism-skin problems,sprains
Traditionally it is used in rheumatism and dermatitis , gastrointestinal problems, such as
epigastric bloating, impaired digestion, eructation, and flatulence, The aqueous extract
is used in Turkish folk medicine as an anti-hemorrhoidal, anti-rheumatic, diuretic, as an
antidote in snakebites and for the treatment of stomachache, diuretic . It is also used as
a remedy for dandruff.Recently it is used in treating diabetes and preventing migraine.

Commercial Use Bay Leaf (Laurus nobilis)

Bay leaf is a standard ingredient in many savory soups and stews.Fresh or dried bay
leaves are used in cooking for their distinctive flavor and fragrance. The leaves should be
removed from the cooked food before eating. The leaves are often used to flavor soups, stews,

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braises and pts in Mediterranean cuisine and beans in Brazilian cuisine. The fresh leaves are
very mild and do not develop their full flavor until several weeks after picking and drying.

If eaten whole, bay leaves (Laurus nobilis) are pungent and have a sharp, bitter taste. As
with many spices and flavorings, the fragrance of the bay leaf is more noticeable than its taste.
When dried, the fragrance is herbal, slightly floral, and somewhat similar to oregano and thyme.
Myrcene, which is a component of many essential oils used in perfumery, can be extracted from
the bay leaf. They also contain eugenol.

In Indian and Pakistani cuisine, bay laurel leaves are sometimes used in place of Indian
bay leaf, although they have a different flavor. They are most often used in rice dishes like
biryani and as an ingredient in garam masala. Bay (laurel) leaves are frequently packaged as
tejpatta (the Hindi term for Indian bay leaf), creating confusion between the two herbs. In the
Philippines, dried bay laurel leaves are added as a spice in the Filipino dish Adobo.

Bay leaves were used for flavoring by the ancient Greeks.They are a fixture in the
cooking of many European cuisines (particularly those of the Mediterranean), as well as in the
Americas. They are used in soups, stews, meat, seafood, vegetable dishes, and sauces. The leaves
also flavor many classic French dishes. The leaves are most often used whole (sometimes in a
bouquet garni) and removed before serving (they can be abrasive in the digestive tract). Thai
cuisine employs bay leaf (Thai name bai kra wan) in a few Arab-influenced dishes, notably
massaman curry.

Bay leaves can also be crushed or ground before cooking. Crushed bay leaves impart
more fragrance than whole leaves, but are more difficult to remove, and thus they are often used
in a muslin bag or tea infuser. Ground bay laurel may be substituted for whole leaves, and does
not need to be removed, but it is much stronger.

Bay leaves can also be used scattered in a pantry to repel meal moths, flies, cockroaches,
mice, and silverfish.

Bay leaves have been used in entomology as the active ingredient in killing jars. The
crushed, fresh, young leaves are put into the jar under a layer of paper. The vapors they release
kill insects slowly but effectively, and keep the specimens relaxed and easy to mount. The leaves
discourage the growth of molds. They are not effective for killing large beetles and similar
specimens, but insects that have been killed in a cyanide killing jar can be transferred to a laurel
jar to await mounting.

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References:
Bay Laurel Benefits, Side Effects and Uses. (n.d.). Retrieved September 26, 2017, from https://
www.herbal-supplement-resource.com/bay-laurel-benefits.html
Bay Laurel Leaf Benefits. (n.d.). Retrieved September 26, 2017, from https://
www.anniesremedy.com/laurus-nobilis-bay-laurel.php
Bay leaf nutrition facts, medicinal properties and health benefits. (n.d.). Retrieved September
26, 2017, from http://www.nutrition-and-you.com/bay-leaf.html
Laurel . (n.d.). Retrieved September 27, 2017, from http://www.home-remedies-for-you.com/
herbs/laurel.html
Fanous, Summer. 5 Possible Uses for the Bay Leaf. Healthline, Healthline Media, 1 Dec.
2014, www.healthline.com/health/5-possible-uses-for-bay-leaf#1.
Bay Leaf. Bay Leaf | Spices Board, www.indianspices.com/spice-catalog/bay-leaf.
BAY LEAF: Uses, Side Effects, Interactions and Warnings. WebMD, WebMD,
www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-685-bay%20leaf.aspx?
activeingredientid=685&activeingredientname=bay%2Bleaf.
Nelz, Jay. Surprising Health Benefits Of Bay Leaves - Philippine Trending News. Philippine
News, 3 Mar. 2017, philnews.ph/2017/03/03/surprising-health-benefits-bay-leaves/
Bay Leaves, www.heavenlyfoods.org/Herbal/BayLeave.aspx.
Bay Leaf. Spiceganic, www.spiceganic.com/shop/bay-leaf/.
Bay Laurel Benefits, Side Effects and Uses. (n.d.). Retrieved October 01, 2017, from https://
www.herbal-supplement-resource.com/bay-laurel-benefits.html
Bay Laurel (Laurus nobilis). (n.d.). Retrieved October 01, 2017, from https://
www.globalherbalsupplies.com/herb_information/bay_laurel.htm
Laurel (Bay). (n.d.). Retrieved October 01, 2017, from https://www.botanical.com/botanical/
mgmh/l/larbay10.html
Patrakar, R., Manisuriya, M., & Patil, P. (2012). Http://ljournal.ru/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/
d-2016-154.pdf. Phytochemical and Pharmacological Review on Laurus Nobilis, 1, 595-602.
doi:10.18411/d-2016-154

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