Extraction of oil from Bay Leaves

Bay leaf (Laurus nobilis) belongs to laurel family (Lauraceae) is an evergreen perennial shrub. L. nobilis is typically known as bay leaf or sweet bay. It is known as waraq ghaar in Arabic, it is known as lorbeer in German, Tejpatta in India, dafni in Greek. Laurus nobilis is a small tree having oblong leaf. It has a sharp and bitter taste. The fragrance and aroma are due to the presence of essential oil in leaves. It has tannins, citric acid, eugenol, flavonoids, carbohydrate, alkaloids, steroids, triterpenoids and essential oil. Bay leaves has traces of fat hence low in caloric value. It is main source of vitamin A and minerals. Bay leaf is also good source of fibre.