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The bay tree is found mainly in Asia Minor and Mediterranean. Bay, or laurel, was famed in ancient Greece
and Rome. Emperors, heroes and poets wore wreaths of laurel leaves.
Potential Health Benefits of Bay Leaf
It has been believed bay leaf offers health benefits to our body. Indian researchers from Annamalai
University estimated the total polyphenolic content of Indian bay leaf and it was 6.7 mg gallic acid equivalent/
100 g. [1] Bay leaf extract displayed scavenging activity against superoxide and hydroxyl radicals in a
concentration-dependent manner. Spanish researchers determined the active aroma of bay leaf to be
eugenol, elemicin, spathulenol, and beta-eudesmol. [2] Researchers from Kyoto Pharmaceutical University,
Japan, found the methanolic extract from the leaves of Laurus nobilis (bay leaf, laurel) could inhibit nitric
oxide production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated mouse peritoneal macrophages. Seven
sesquiterpene lactones (costunolide, dehydrocostus lactone, eremanthine, zaluzanin C, magnolialide,
santamarine and spirafolide) potently inhibited LPS-induced NO. [3]
In addition to its high content of antioxidants, it may have potential health benefits on people suffered from
diabetes. Researchers from Agricultural Research Service found that bay leaf has insulin-like biological
activities. [4]
Side Effects of Bay Leaf
Dried bay leaf has been reported to cause upper gastrointestinal tract bleeding in Slovenia. [5] It may also
cause asthma. [6]
Reference:
[1] Devi SL, Kannappan S, Anuradha CV. Evaluation of in vitro antioxidant activity of Indian bay leaf,
Cinnamomum tamala (Buch. -Ham.) T. Nees & Eberm using rat brain synaptosomes as model system.
Indian J Exp Biol. 2007 Sep;45(9):778-84.
Bay Leaf [2] Díaz-Maroto MC, Pérez-Coello MS, Cabezudo MD, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas (UCLM),
Campus Universitario, s/n, 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain. Effect of drying method on the volatiles in bay leaf
(Laurus nobilis L.). J Agric Food Chem. 2002 Jul 31;50(16):4520-4. [3] Matsuda H, Kagerura T, Toguchida I,
Ueda H, Morikawa T, Yoshikawa M. Inhibitory effects of sesquiterpenes from bay leaf on nitric oxide
production in lipopolysaccharide-activated macrophages: structure requirement and role of heat shock
protein induction. Life Sci. 2000 Apr 21;66(22):2151-7. [4] Broadhurst CL, Polansky MM, Anderson RA.
Insulin-like biological activity of culinary and medicinal plant aqueous extracts in vitro. J Agric Food Chem.
2000 Mar;48(3):849-52. [5] Skok P. Maribor Teaching Hospital, Slovenia, Dried bay leaf: an unusual cause
of upper gastrointestinal tract hemorrhage. Endoscopy. 1998 Mar;30(3):S40-1. [6] Lemière C, Cartier A,
Lehrer SB, Malo JL. Sacré-Coeur Hospital, Montreal, Canada Occupational asthma caused by aromatic
herbs. Allergy. 1996 Sep;51(9):647-9.
and Rome. Emperors, heroes and poets wore wreaths of laurel leaves.
Potential Health Benefits of Bay Leaf
It has been believed bay leaf offers health benefits to our body. Indian researchers from Annamalai
University estimated the total polyphenolic content of Indian bay leaf and it was 6.7 mg gallic acid equivalent/
100 g. [1] Bay leaf extract displayed scavenging activity against superoxide and hydroxyl radicals in a
concentration-dependent manner. Spanish researchers determined the active aroma of bay leaf to be
eugenol, elemicin, spathulenol, and beta-eudesmol. [2] Researchers from Kyoto Pharmaceutical University,
Japan, found the methanolic extract from the leaves of Laurus nobilis (bay leaf, laurel) could inhibit nitric
oxide production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated mouse peritoneal macrophages. Seven
sesquiterpene lactones (costunolide, dehydrocostus lactone, eremanthine, zaluzanin C, magnolialide,
santamarine and spirafolide) potently inhibited LPS-induced NO. [3]
In addition to its high content of antioxidants, it may have potential health benefits on people suffered from
diabetes. Researchers from Agricultural Research Service found that bay leaf has insulin-like biological
activities. [4]
Side Effects of Bay Leaf
Dried bay leaf has been reported to cause upper gastrointestinal tract bleeding in Slovenia. [5] It may also
cause asthma. [6]
Reference:
[1] Devi SL, Kannappan S, Anuradha CV. Evaluation of in vitro antioxidant activity of Indian bay leaf,
Cinnamomum tamala (Buch. -Ham.) T. Nees & Eberm using rat brain synaptosomes as model system.
Indian J Exp Biol. 2007 Sep;45(9):778-84.
Bay Leaf [2] Díaz-Maroto MC, Pérez-Coello MS, Cabezudo MD, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas (UCLM),
Campus Universitario, s/n, 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain. Effect of drying method on the volatiles in bay leaf
(Laurus nobilis L.). J Agric Food Chem. 2002 Jul 31;50(16):4520-4. [3] Matsuda H, Kagerura T, Toguchida I,
Ueda H, Morikawa T, Yoshikawa M. Inhibitory effects of sesquiterpenes from bay leaf on nitric oxide
production in lipopolysaccharide-activated macrophages: structure requirement and role of heat shock
protein induction. Life Sci. 2000 Apr 21;66(22):2151-7. [4] Broadhurst CL, Polansky MM, Anderson RA.
Insulin-like biological activity of culinary and medicinal plant aqueous extracts in vitro. J Agric Food Chem.
2000 Mar;48(3):849-52. [5] Skok P. Maribor Teaching Hospital, Slovenia, Dried bay leaf: an unusual cause
of upper gastrointestinal tract hemorrhage. Endoscopy. 1998 Mar;30(3):S40-1. [6] Lemière C, Cartier A,
Lehrer SB, Malo JL. Sacré-Coeur Hospital, Montreal, Canada Occupational asthma caused by aromatic
herbs. Allergy. 1996 Sep;51(9):647-9.