Phytochemistry and antiproliferative potential of a naturalized plant to Jordan: Lavandula stoechas

Cancer remains a leading cause of mortality, and medicinal plants offer potential anticancer agents due to their biological activities and minimal side effects. Lavandula stoechas L., a Mediterranean species, shows significant pharmacological potential. This study evaluated the composition, antioxidant, and antiproliferative properties of L. stoechas aqueous, methanol (MeOH), ethanol (EtOH), ethyl acetate (EtOAc), and chloroform (CHCl3) extracts from a naturalized plant in Jordan. The aroma profile and composition of the hydro‐distilled essential oil (EO) were also determined. GC and GC‐MS analysis identified fenchone, camphor, α‐pinene, and borneol as major constituents, with SPME revealing fenchone and α‐thujene as dominant volatile compounds. Phytochemical analysis showed the EtOH extract had the highest total phenolic content (147.60 ± 31.80 mg/g) and total flavonoid content (84.56 ± 4.33 mg/g), while the MeOH extract exhibited the strongest antioxidant activity (409.83 ± 3.13 µM TE/g). The EtOH extract displayed cytotoxic activity with IC50 values ranging from 22.79 µg/mL to 94.06 µg/mL against various cancer cell lines. LC‐MS analysis identified rosmarinic acid as the most abundant compound (28.71%), which may contribute to the biological activity. This study highlights the potent antioxidant and antiproliferative properties of L. stoechas, especially the EtOH extract.