Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40529470›Full record

ReviewGMS hygiene and infection control2025

From antiquity to modern hygiene: the archaeological and medicinal legacy of lavender as a promising antimicrobial agent.

Agne Civilyte, Kyriaki Karanikola, Axel Kramer

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in GMS hygiene and infection control, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Agne CivilyteDepartment of Archaeology, Lithuanian Institute of History, Vilnius, Lithuania.
Kyriaki KaranikolaDepartment of Archaeology, University of Vilnius, Vilnius, Lithuania.
Axel KramerInstitute of Hygiene and Environmental Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Introduction: The understanding of ancient medicinal and hygienic practices using medicinal plants provides a foundation for collaboration with modern medical science. The aim of this paper is first to give a review of archaeological evidence of one of such plants - lavender, belonging to the Lamiaceae family, particularly focusing on its application for hygienic purposes. Since lavender is notable for its pharmacological and medicinal properties, offering a wide range of benefits for both physical and mental health, this is worth combining ancient experiences with the research of modern medicine. Methodology: The historical applications of lavender from antiquity to the Middle Ages were analyzed both textual and archaeobotanical evidence. Furthermore, it discusses the challenges in detecting lavender in archaeological contexts and its potential contributions to modern antiseptic medicine and heritage conservation. By combining botanical studies with modern scientific methods, we aim to reassess its role in historical medical and hygienic practices. Results: In the last two decades, following on from traditional knowledge from archaeology and antiquity, studies have been carried out on the antimicrobial effectiveness of lavender essential oils (LEO) with the result that there are potential applications for LEO for antiseptic, as combination partner in disinfectants, for preservation, impregnation and possibly also for decontamination of indoor air. Even more promising is the use of LEO in combination with antibiotics and antiseptics in order to synergistically enhance their effectiveness. Conclusion: By combining botanical studies with modern scientific methods, the role of lavender in historical medical and hygienic practices has been re-evaluated.

Indexed as

antimicrobial efficacyessential oilslavenderperspectives for developmentroots ancient world

Identifiers

PMID40529470
PMCPMC12172069

What OpenQuestion holds

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Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.