What are the health
benefits of bay leaf?
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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.