Laurel of genuine

Evergreen, frost-sensitive tree plant from the Lauraceae family.

Laurus nobilis is the parent plant of Laurum folium the bay leaves. Applications as a spice.

Laurus nobilis is the parent plant of Oleum lauri (expressum), the laurel oil. Applications as hyperemic embrocations (reliable scientific data are not available)

Laurel oil has a hyperemissive, antiphlogistic and antimicrobial effect and is used for furuncles, abscesses, rheumatic complaints and in veterinary medicine for udder care.

Occasionally, bay laurel is also used as a gastrointestinal remedy, as an antipsoriatic agent and as an aroma additive in herbal packs, soaps and toothpastes.

When taken, the fruits have an appetite-stimulating effect.

Laurel oil contains numerous sesquiterpene lactones, including the allergologically significant dehydrocostus lactone, costunolide, eremanthin and laurenobiolide.

Sensitization potency: Moderate. Sensitization frequency: Occasional. Contact dermatitis was described as early as the beginning of the 20th century. They occurred frequently when laurel oil was still used as a finish for hat and headbands, see under hatband dermatitis.

Erythema exsudativum multiforme-like contact allergies have also been described in isolated cases.

The consumption of bay leaves can lead to cheilitis and stomatitis. Cross-reactions have been described in sensitized individuals to composites (e.g. parthenolide from feverfew or alantolactone from elecampane).

1. Brás S et al. (2015) Allergic contact dermatitis caused by laurel leaf oil. Contact Dermatitis 72: 417-419
2. Chmit M et al. (2014) Antibacterial and antibiofilm activities of polysaccharides, essential oil, and fatty oil extracted from Laurus nobilis growing in Lebanon. Asian Pac J Trop Med 7S1: 546-552.
3. Hausen BM, Vieluf K (1997) Allergy plants, plant allergens. Ecomed Verlag Landsberg/Munich, pp. 172-175.
4. Sayyah M et al (2003) Analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity of the leaf essential oil of Laurus nobilis Linn. Phytother Res 17: 733-736
5. Uzuncakmak TK et al (2015) Erythema multiforme like allergic contact dermatitis associated with laurel oil: a rare presentation. Dermatol Online J 16: 21
6. https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/mrl-report/lauri-folii-aetheroleum-summary-report-committee-veterinary-medicinal-products_en.pdf
7. https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/mrl-report/lauri-fructus-summary-report-committee-veterinary-medicinal-products_en.pdf