Sustainable Antioxidant Production for Hygienic Disinfection Using Bioextractants from Lavender and Oregano Distillation Process

Abstract

In the current study, the production of novel antioxidants for hygienic disinfection against common pathogenic bacteria, based on the incorporation of bioextractant oils/waters from either lavender or oregano distillates is proposed in the framework of circular economy. For the first time, the main compounds found in distillation products (oils/waters), specifically of lavender Lavandula angustifolia (lynalyl acetate and linalool) and of oregano Oreganum vulgare (carvacrol, thymol, and p-cymene) are presented. The analyses of both the lavender and oregano essential oils/waters indicate excellent physicochemical properties and microbial absence. Moreover, the antioxidant activity of all distillates as DPPH radical scavengers is assessed. The results confirm that the essential oils of both oregano and lavender possess superior antioxidant activity to their corresponding waters, while the oregano oil exhibited far better antioxidant activity than the lavender oil, as 1 mL of oregano oil was able to consume 45 μmoles of DPPH radicals. Overall, our research findings suggest that the particular lavender and oregano bioextractants produced possess important potential to address the resistance of bacteria from the perspective of their wider exploitation in therapeutic or preventive medicine, thus contributing to enhancing public health.