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20 pages, 5325 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Development of a Method for Obtaining Tripleurospermum inodorum (L.) Sch. Bip. Herb Extract Enriched with Flavonoids and an Evaluation of Its Biological Activity

by Anna Marakhova, Vera Yu. Zhilkina, Alexander Elapov, Nadezhda Sachivkina, Alexander Samorodov, Kira Pupykina, Irina Krylova, Parfait Kezimana, Anastasia M. Stoynova, Raja Venkatesan and Alexandre A. Vetcher

Plants 2024, 13(12), 1629; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13121629 - 13 Jun 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1056

Abstract

The development of new drugs derived from plant sources is of significant interest in modern pharmacy. One of the promising plant sources for introduction into pharmaceuticals is Tripleurospermum inodorum (L.) Sch. Bip., also known as Tripleurospermum perforatum (Merat.) M. This plant has been [...] Read more.

The development of new drugs derived from plant sources is of significant interest in modern pharmacy. One of the promising plant sources for introduction into pharmaceuticals is Tripleurospermum inodorum (L.) Sch. Bip., also known as Tripleurospermum perforatum (Merat.) M. This plant has been shown to possess various biological activities, including anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antimycotic activities, among others. However, a review of the current literature reveals a paucity of studies investigating the chemical composition of the herb Tripleurospermum inodorum (L.) Sch. Bip. This study presents the development of a method for obtaining an extract of the herb Tripleurospermum inodorum (L.) Sch. Bip. enriched with flavonoids, harvested before flowering and butonization. This study focused on determining the optimal conditions for extraction, including the concentration of the extractant (ethanol), extraction time, raw material/extractant ratio, extraction frequency, complexation reaction time, amount of aluminum chloride solution, and amount of diluted acetic acid. The results indicate that herbs harvested during this specific period exhibited a higher flavonoid content compared to those collected during butonization and flowering. Moreover, this study demonstrated that the flavonoid content could exceed 7% mg REq/100 g D.W. through a one-hour extraction process. Furthermore, the flavonoid content was found to be 7.65 ± 0.03 mg REq/100 g D.W. following a three-minute ultrasound-assisted extraction process, followed by thermal extraction. A qualitative analysis identified a variety of phenolic compounds in the extract, such as chlorogenic acid, 5-O-p-coumaroylquinic acid, 1-O-p-coumaroylquinic acid, luteolin-7-glucoside, quercetin-3-glucoside, luteolin-7-rutinoside, 3,5-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid, quercetin-3-O-malonylglucoside, apigenin-7-glucoside, luteolin-3-malonylglucoside, cynarin, rhamnetin-3-(O-dimethyl rhamnosyl glucosylglucoside), and luteolin. Moreover, this study demonstrated the antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anticoagulant, anti-aggregation, and antioxidant activities of the aqueous alcoholic extract from T. inodorum herb (ETIH) against pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans. Additionally, the extract exhibited comparable anti-inflammatory effects on diclofenac sodium. These findings contribute to the understanding of the potential pharmacological applications of the developed herb extract. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phytochemistry of Aromatic and Medicinal Plants)

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31 pages, 6478 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Chemical Compositions and Enantiomeric Distributions of Foliar Essential Oils of Chamaecyparis lawsoniana (A. Murray bis) Parl, Thuja plicata Donn ex D. Don, and Tsuga heterophylla Sarg.

by Elizabeth Ankney, Kathy Swor, Ambika Poudel, Prabodh Satyal, Joyce Kelly R. da Silva and William N. Setzer

Plants 2024, 13(10), 1325; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13101325 - 11 May 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 813

Abstract

As part of our continuing interest in the essential oil compositions of gymnosperms, particularly the distribution of chiral terpenoids, we have obtained the foliar essential oils of Chamaecyparis lawsoniana (two samples), Thuja plicata (three samples), and Tsuga heterophylla (six samples) from locations in [...] Read more.

As part of our continuing interest in the essential oil compositions of gymnosperms, particularly the distribution of chiral terpenoids, we have obtained the foliar essential oils of Chamaecyparis lawsoniana (two samples), Thuja plicata (three samples), and Tsuga heterophylla (six samples) from locations in the state of Oregon, USA. The essential oils were obtained via hydrodistillation and analyzed by gas chromatographic techniques, including chiral gas chromatography—mass spectrometry. The major components in C. lawsoniana foliar essential oil were limonene (27.4% and 22.0%; >99% (+)-limonene), oplopanonyl acetate (13.8% and 11.3%), beyerene (14.3% and 9.0%), sabinene (7.0% and 6.5%; >99% (+)-sabinene), terpinen-4-ol (5.0% and 5.3%; predominantly (+)-terpinen-4-ol), and methyl myrtenate (2.0% and 5.4%). The major components in T. plicata essential oil were (−)-α-thujone (67.1–74.6%), (+)-β-thujone (7.8–9.3%), terpinen-4-ol (2.7–4.4%; predominantly (+)-terpinen-4-ol), and (+)-sabinene (1.1–3.5%). The major components in T. heterophylla essential oil were myrcene (7.0–27.6%), α-pinene (14.4–27.2%), β-phellandrene (6.6–19.3%), β-pinene (6.4–14.9%; >90% (−)-β-pinene), and (Z)-β-ocimene (0.7–11.3%). There are significant differences between the C. lawsoniana essential oils from wild trees in Oregon and those of trees cultivated in other geographical locations. The essential oil compositions of T. plicata are very similar, regardless of the collection site. There are no significant differences between T. heterophylla essential oils from the Oregon Coastal Range or those from the Oregon Cascade Range. Comparing essential oils of the Cupressaceae with the Pinaceae, there are some developing trends. The (+)-enantiomers seem to dominate for α-pinene, camphene, sabinene, β-pinene, limonene, terpinen-4-ol, and α-terpineol in the Cuppressaceae. On the other hand, the (−)-enantiomers seem to predominate for α-pinene, camphene, β-pinene, limonene, β-phellandrene, terpinen-4-ol, and α-terpineol in the Pinaceae. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phytochemistry of Aromatic and Medicinal Plants)

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26 pages, 5986 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Probing the Phytochemical Composition and Antioxidant Activity of Moringa oleifera under Ideal Germination Conditions

by Axay Bhuker, Anurag Malik, Himani Punia, Craig McGill, Svetla Sofkova-Bobcheva, Virender Singh Mor, Nirmal Singh, Ajaz Ahmad and Sheikh Mansoor

Plants 2023, 12(16), 3010; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12163010 - 21 Aug 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2530

Abstract

Moringa oleifera is a rich source of polyphenols whose contents and profile may vary according to environmental conditions, harvest season, and plant tissue. The present study aimed to characterize the profile of phenolic compounds in different tissues of M. oleifera grown under different [...] Read more.

Moringa oleifera is a rich source of polyphenols whose contents and profile may vary according to environmental conditions, harvest season, and plant tissue. The present study aimed to characterize the profile of phenolic compounds in different tissues of M. oleifera grown under different temperatures (25, 30, and 35 °C), using HPLC/MS, as well as their constituent phytochemicals and in vitro antioxidant activities. The in vitro antioxidant activity of the extracts was evaluated using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2-azino-bis-3-ethylenebenzothiozoline-6-sulfonicacid (ABTS), and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) methods. The polyphenolic compounds were mainly found in the leaves at 30 °C. UPLC/QTOF-MS allowed for the identification of 34 polyphenolic components in seedlings, primarily consisting of glucosides, phenols, flavonoids, and methoxy flavones. At 30 °C, the specific activities of antioxidative enzymes were the highest in leaves, followed by seedlings and then seeds. The leaf and seed extracts also exhibited a greater accumulation of proline, glycine betaine, and antioxidants, such as ascorbic acid, and carotenoids, as measured by the inhibition of ROS production. We found that changes in the expression levels of the validated candidate genes Cu/Zn-SOD, APX, GPP, and TPS lead to significant differences in the germination rate and biochemical changes. These findings demonstrate that M. oleifera plants have high concentrations of phytochemicals and antioxidants, making them an excellent choice for further research to determine their use as health-promoting dietary supplements. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phytochemistry of Aromatic and Medicinal Plants)

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15 pages, 2746 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Leaf Essential Oil of Myrtus communis subsp. tarentina (L.) Nyman: From Phytochemical Characterization to Cytotoxic and Antimigratory Activity in Human Prostate Cancer Cells

by Claudia Giuliani, Roberta Manuela Moretti, Martina Bottoni, Laura Santagostini, Gelsomina Fico and Marina Montagnani Marelli

Plants 2023, 12(6), 1293; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12061293 - 13 Mar 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2129

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the chemical profile and the cytotoxic activity in two castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) cell lines of the leaf essential oil in Myrtus communis subsp. tarentina (L.) Nyman (EO MT), which was cultivated at the Ghirardi [...] Read more.

The aim of this study was to investigate the chemical profile and the cytotoxic activity in two castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) cell lines of the leaf essential oil in Myrtus communis subsp. tarentina (L.) Nyman (EO MT), which was cultivated at the Ghirardi Botanical Garden (Toscolano Maderno, Brescia, Italy). The leaves were air-dried and extracted by hydrodistillation with a Clevenger-type apparatus, and the EO profile was characterized by GC/MS. For the cytotoxic activity investigation, we analyzed the cell viability by MTT assay, and the apoptosis induction by Annexin V/propidium iodide assay/Western blot analysis of cleaved caspase 3 and cleaved PARP proteins. Moreover, the cellular migration was analyzed by Boyden’s chamber assay and the distribution of actin cytoskeleton filaments by immunofluorescence. We identified 29 total compounds; the main compound classes were oxygenated monoterpenes, monoterpene hydrocarbons, and sesquiterpenes. The main constituents were α-pinene, α-humulene, α-terpineol, durohydroquinon, linalool, geranyl acetate, and β-caryophyllene. We found that EO MT was able to reduce cellular viability, activating an apoptotic process, and to decrease the migratory capacity of CRPC cells. These results suggest that it might be interesting to further investigate the effects of single compounds present in EO MT for their possible use in prostate cancer treatment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phytochemistry of Aromatic and Medicinal Plants)

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15 pages, 3439 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Advances in the Phytochemical Characterisation and Bioactivities of Salvia aurea L. Essential Oil

by Jorge Miguel Alves-Silva, Delia Maccioni, Emma Cocco, Maria José Gonçalves, Silvia Porcedda, Alessandra Piras, Maria Teresa Cruz, Lígia Salgueiro and Andrea Maxia

Plants 2023, 12(6), 1247; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12061247 - 9 Mar 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2204

Abstract

The Salvia L. genus (Lamiaceae) is largely used in the pharmaceutical and food industry. Several species of biological relevance are extensively employed in traditional medicine, including Salvia aurea L. (syn. S. africana-lutea L.), which is used as a traditional skin disinfectant and in [...] Read more.

The Salvia L. genus (Lamiaceae) is largely used in the pharmaceutical and food industry. Several species of biological relevance are extensively employed in traditional medicine, including Salvia aurea L. (syn. S. africana-lutea L.), which is used as a traditional skin disinfectant and in wounds as a healing remedy; nevertheless, these properties have not been validated yet. The aim of the present study is to characterise S. aurea essential oil (EO), unveiling its chemical composition and validating its biological properties. The EO was obtained by hydrodistillation and subsequently analysed by GC-FID and GC-MS. Different biological activities were assessed: the antifungal effect on dermatophytes and yeasts and the anti-inflammatory potential by evaluating nitric oxide (NO) production and COX-2 and iNOS protein levels. Wound-healing properties were assessed using the scratch-healing test, and the anti-aging capacity was estimated through the senescence-associated beta-galactosidase activity. S. aurea EO is mainly characterised by 1,8-cineole (16.7%), β-pinene (11.9%), cis-thujone (10.5%), camphor (9.5%), and (E)-caryophyllene (9.3%). The results showed an effective inhibition of the growth of dermatophytes. Furthermore, it significantly reduced protein levels of iNOS/COX-2 and simultaneously NO release. Additionally, the EO exhibited anti-senescence potential and enhanced wound healing. Overall, this study highlights the remarkable pharmacological properties of Salvia aurea EO, which should be further explored in order to develop innovative, sustainable, and environmentally friendly skin products. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phytochemistry of Aromatic and Medicinal Plants)

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25 pages, 2626 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Enzymatic, Antioxidant, and Antimicrobial Activities of Bioactive Compounds from Avocado (Persea americana L.) Seeds

by Kaja Kupnik, Mateja Primožič, Vanja Kokol, Željko Knez and Maja Leitgeb

Plants 2023, 12(5), 1201; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12051201 - 6 Mar 2023

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 5113

Abstract

The aim of this research was to identify and quantify biologically active compounds from avocado (Persea americana L.) seeds (AS) utilizing different techniques with the use of ultrasound (US), ethanol (EtOH), and supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO₂) for possible applications in [...] Read more.

The aim of this research was to identify and quantify biologically active compounds from avocado (Persea americana L.) seeds (AS) utilizing different techniques with the use of ultrasound (US), ethanol (EtOH), and supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO₂) for possible applications in (bio)medicine, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, or other relevant industries. Initially, a study of the process efficiency (η) was carried out, which revealed yields in the range of 2.96–12.11 wt%. The sample obtained using scCO₂ was found to be the richest in total phenols (TPC) and total proteins (PC), while the sample obtained with the use of EtOH resulted in the highest content of proanthocyanidins (PAC). Phytochemical screening of AS samples, quantified by the HPLC method, indicated the presence of 14 specific phenolic compounds. In addition, the activity of the selected enzymes (cellulase, lipase, peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase, protease, transglutaminase, and superoxide dismutase) was quantified for the first time in the samples from AS. Using DPPH radical scavenging activity, the highest antioxidant potential (67.49%) was detected in the sample obtained with EtOH. The antimicrobial activity was studied using disc diffusion method against 15 microorganisms. Additionally, for the first time, the antimicrobial effectiveness of AS extract was quantified by determination of microbial growth-inhibition rates (MGIRs) at different concentrations of AS extract against three strains of Gram-negative (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Pseudomonas fluorescens) bacteria, three strains of Gram-positive (Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus pyogenes) bacteria, and fungi (Candida albicans). MGIRs and minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC₉₀) values were determined after 8 and 24 h of incubation, thus enabling the screening of antimicrobial efficacy for possible further applications of AS extracts as antimicrobial agents in (bio)medicine, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, or other industries. For example, the lowest MIC₉₀ value was determined for B. cereus after 8 h of incubation in the case of UE and SFE extracts (70 μg/mL), indicating an outstanding result and the potential of AS extracts, as the MIC values for B. cereus have not been investigated so far. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phytochemistry of Aromatic and Medicinal Plants)

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18 pages, 1585 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Ecological Preferences and Diversity of Essential Oil Composition in Endangered Wild-Growing Populations of Sideritis sipylea Boiss. (Lamiaceae) of the East Aegean Islands (Greece): Evidencing Antioxidant Potential, Antimicrobial and Cytotoxic Activities

by Pavle Z. Mašković, Rafaela Stagiopoulou, Nemanja Miletić, Nikos Krigas and Diamanto Lazari

Plants 2023, 12(4), 836; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12040836 - 13 Feb 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1971

Abstract

Plants from the genus Sideritis (Lamiaceae) have been widely used in folk medicine for a long time and consequently are a focus of the scientific community. Despite this interest, explicit data about the essential oils (EOs) of the Endangered Sideritis sipylea have not [...] Read more.

Plants from the genus Sideritis (Lamiaceae) have been widely used in folk medicine for a long time and consequently are a focus of the scientific community. Despite this interest, explicit data about the essential oils (EOs) of the Endangered Sideritis sipylea have not been readily available to date. In this study, we investigated the ecological preferences of Greek S. sipylea and the chemical composition of the essential oils of wild-growing S. sipylea populations from two Greek islands (S1: Samos, S2: Lesvos); we explored concomitant associations with environmental factors; and we assessed their (i) antioxidant potential (two tests), (ii) antimicrobial activity against six microbial and two fungal strains, and (iii) cytotoxic effect in two human and one murine cell lines. We compiled an ecological profile in R based on all known Greek localities of S. sipylea, outlining for the first time its preferences regarding temperature (3.48 ± 1.53 °C to 30.70 ± 1.11 °C) and the precipitation regimes (5.92 ± 2.33 mm to 136 ± 11.43 mm) shaping its natural occurrence in the wild. The chemical analysis (42 compounds in total) confirmed the domination of monoterpene hydrocarbons in both samples (with quantitative and qualitative differences) and identified 12 new constituents reported in S. sipylea for the first time (e.g., Bicyclogermacrene and Cumacrene). Dominant compounds in S1 (39 constituents) were β-Myrcene (20.4%) followed by β-caryophyllene (11.8%), bicyclogermacrene (7.1%), β-pinene (6.3%), carvacrol (6.2%) and α-terpinene (6.1%), whereas in S2 (26 constituents) the main ones were α-pinene (37.3%), β-pinene (15.1%) and sabinene (12.1%), followed by β-caryophyllene (5.6%) and bicyclogermacrene (5.5%). The strong antioxidant capacity and cytotoxic activity of S. sipylea EOs are reported herein for the first time, while new insight is provided regarding their effect on bacterial and fungal strains (four ones originally tested herein). The biological activity analysis demonstrated variation among samples, with S2 being more potent than S1. Altogether, the results of the present study demonstrate the high biological potential of S. sipylea EOs with an interesting antioxidant capacity and antimicrobial and cytotoxic effects and reveal associations of natural chemodiversity with climatic factors. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phytochemistry of Aromatic and Medicinal Plants)

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12 pages, 2181 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exploring the Medicinal Potential of Achillea grandifolia in Greek Wild-Growing Populations: Characterization of Volatile Compounds, Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant Activities of Leaves and Inflorescences

by Olga S. Tsiftsoglou, Maria-Eleni Atskakani, Nikos Krigas, Michalis K. Stefanakis, Christos Gounaris, Dimitra Hadjipavlou-Litina and Diamanto Lazari

Plants 2023, 12(3), 613; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12030613 - 30 Jan 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2055

Abstract

Various species of the genus Achillea L. (Asteraceae) are traditionally used worldwide for wound healing against diarrhea, flatulence, and abdominal pains, as diuretic and emmenagogue agents. In the present study, the essential oils (EOs) obtained separately from the leaves and inflorescences of wild-growing [...] Read more.

Various species of the genus Achillea L. (Asteraceae) are traditionally used worldwide for wound healing against diarrhea, flatulence, and abdominal pains, as diuretic and emmenagogue agents. In the present study, the essential oils (EOs) obtained separately from the leaves and inflorescences of wild-growing Achillea grandifolia Friv. from Mt. Menoikio and Mt. Pelion (Greece) were analyzed by Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry. The major compounds found in EOs of A. grandifolia inflorescences from Mt. Menoikio were as follows: cis-thujone (36.9%), 1,8-cineole (11.9%), camphor (10.0%), ascaridole (7.3%), α-terpinene (6.4%), sabinene (4.1%), trans-thujone (3.6%), and cis-jasmone (3.4%). In leaves from Mt. Menoikio, they were as follows: cis-thujone (50.8%), 1,8-cineole (20.0%), trans-thujone (5.5%), camphor (5.5%), borneol (3.6%), and α-terpineol (3.1%). In inflorescences from Mt. Pelion, they were as follows: camphor (70.5%), camphene (5.9%), cis-jasmone (3.2%), bornyl acetate (3.2%). In leaves from Mt. Pelion, they were as follows: camphor (83.2%), camphene (3.9%), and borneol (3.7%). Subsequently, the samples were first time tested for their antioxidant activities with the interaction of EOs with DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) and their inhibition of lipid peroxidation, as well as for their anti-inflammatory activity through the soybean LOX (lipoxygenase) inhibition. All of the examined samples were found effective. A. grandifolia leaves presented the highest antioxidant potential according to the DPPH method, and the highest percentage of LOX inhibition. The study herein investigated for the first time the leaves and the inflorescences of A. grandifolia separately, and the results generally align with similar studies from neighboring countries (Turkey and Serbia) in terms of the yields and categorization of main EO compounds (oxygenated monoterpenes). However, the findings were not in agreement with previously studied Greek material, as a higher amount of cis-thujone and lower antioxidant activity are reported herein. Both the EOs of inflorescences and the leaves of the wild-growing population collected from Mt. Menoikio were characterized by a high quantity of cis-thujone (36.9% and 50.8%, respectively). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phytochemistry of Aromatic and Medicinal Plants)

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10 pages, 2416 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

(1′S)-1′-Acetoxyeugenol Acetate Enhances Glucose-Stimulated Insulin Secretion

by Dahae Lee, So-Ri Son, Yutong Qi, Ki Sung Kang and Dae Sik Jang

Plants 2023, 12(3), 579; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12030579 - 28 Jan 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1721

Abstract

Alpinia galanga have been widely used as spice or traditional medicine in East Asia, commonly known as Thai ginger. In the present study, seven major phenylpropanoids, (±)-1′-hydoxychavicol acetate (1; HCA), (1′S)-1′-acetoxychavicol acetate (2; ACA), (1′S [...] Read more.

Alpinia galanga have been widely used as spice or traditional medicine in East Asia, commonly known as Thai ginger. In the present study, seven major phenylpropanoids, (±)-1′-hydoxychavicol acetate (1; HCA), (1′S)-1′-acetoxychavicol acetate (2; ACA), (1′S)-1′-acetoxyeugenol acetate (3; AEA), eugenyl acetate (4), trans-p-coumaraldehyde (5), trans-p-acetoxycinnamyl alcohol (6), and trans-p-coumaryl diacetate (7), were isolated from the 95% EtOH and hot water extracts of the rhizomes of A. galanga by chromatographic method. Phenylpropanoids 1–7 were evaluated for glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) effect and α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. Phenylpropanoids 1–4 increase GSIS effect without cytotoxicity in rat INS-1 pancreatic β-cells. In addition, INS-1 cells were treated with AEA (3) to determine a plausible mechanism of β-cell function and insulin secretion through determining the activation of insulin receptor substrate-2 (IRS-2), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), Akt, and pancreatic and duodenal homeobox-1 (PDX-1). Upon treatment with AEA (3), INS-1 cells showed an increase in these protein expressions. Meanwhile, AEA (3) exhibited α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. On the basis of the above findings, we suggest AEA (3) as a potential antidiabetic agent. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phytochemistry of Aromatic and Medicinal Plants)

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14 pages, 1766 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Unveiling the Chemical Composition and Biological Properties of Salvia cacaliifolia Benth. Essential Oil

by Jorge M. Alves-Silva, Emma Cocco, Alessandra Piras, Maria José Gonçalves, Ana Silva, Danilo Falconieri, Silvia Porcedda, Maria Teresa Cruz, Andrea Maxia and Lígia Salgueiro

Plants 2023, 12(2), 359; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12020359 - 12 Jan 2023

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2236

Abstract

Salvia is widely recognized for its therapeutic potential. However, the biological relevance of some species remains unknown, namely Salvia cacaliifolia Benth. Therefore, the aim of this study is to unveil the chemical composition and relevant properties to its essential oil (EO). The EO [...] Read more.

Salvia is widely recognized for its therapeutic potential. However, the biological relevance of some species remains unknown, namely Salvia cacaliifolia Benth. Therefore, the aim of this study is to unveil the chemical composition and relevant properties to its essential oil (EO). The EO was characterized by GC and GC-MS and its antifungal effect was evaluated according to the CLSI guidelines on dermatophytes and yeasts. The anti-inflammatory potential was assessed on lipopolysaccharide-stimulated macrophages, by assessing the production of nitric oxide (NO) and the effect on the protein levels of two key pro-inflammatory enzymes, iNOS and COX-2 by western blot analysis. Wound healing capacity was determined using the scratch wound healing assay, and the anti-aging potential was assessed by evaluating the senescence marker β-galactosidase. The EO was mainly characterized by γ-curcumene, β-bisabolene, bicyclogermacrene and curzerenone. It is effective in inhibiting the growth of dermatophytes and C. neoformans. The EO significantly decreased iNOS and COX-2 protein levels and concomitantly reduced NO release. Additionally, it demonstrated anti-senescence potential and promoted wound healing. Overall, this study highlights relevant pharmacological properties of the EO of Salvia cacaliifolia, which should be further explored envisaging the development of sustainable, innovative, and environmentally friendly skin products. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phytochemistry of Aromatic and Medicinal Plants)

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18 pages, 3356 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exploring the Ecological Preferences and Essential Oil Variability in Wild-Growing Populations of the Endangered Local Greek Endemic Thymus holosericeus (Lamiaceae)

by Olga S. Tsiftsoglou, Rafaela Stagiopoulou, Nikos Krigas and Diamanto Lazari

Plants 2023, 12(2), 348; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12020348 - 11 Jan 2023

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1955

Abstract

Thymus holosericeus Čelak. (Lamiaceae) is a taxonomically isolated and endangered local endemic thyme species which is geographically isolated in four Ionian Islands (West Greece). The present study investigated the essential oil (EO) composition, the ecological preferences, and their correlations in three T. holosericeus [...] Read more.

Thymus holosericeus Čelak. (Lamiaceae) is a taxonomically isolated and endangered local endemic thyme species which is geographically isolated in four Ionian Islands (West Greece). The present study investigated the essential oil (EO) composition, the ecological preferences, and their correlations in three T. holosericeus wild-growing populations from Zakynthos (ΤH-Z), Cephalonia (ΤH-C) and Lefkada (ΤH-L). The variations in essential oil yield and the composition of T. holosericeus populations were evaluated using hydrodistillation, GC/MS, TLC and NMR analysis. The climatic conditions of each sample were organized and analyzed in RStudio with the raster package and in SPSS with Pearson’s Canonical Correlation Analysis (CCA), respectively. The aerial parts of the plants varied in EO yields from 1.92 to 2.28% w/v. The analysis of EO constituents revealed noteworthy qualitative and quantitative inter-population variation. The composition of EOs revealed the presence of linalool (82.77%) and borneol (5.95%) as major compounds in ΤH-Z, while carvacrol (35.34%), geraniol (23.98%), linalool (14.37%), borneol (5.66%), thymol (4.27%) and p-cymene (4.08%) were the main compounds in ΤH-C and linalool (40.37%), geraniol (39.42%) and borneol (5.20%) were dominant components in ΤH-L. The results of the gas chromatography procedure have also been confirmed by ¹H and ¹³C-NMR and TLC analysis. The ecological profile showed an average annual precipitation of 942 ± 18.33 mm and the temperature limits in which T. holosericeus seems to adapt to are 6.80± 1.08 °C 27.70 ± 0.70 °C. Regarding the examined samples, TH-C was adapted to the driest summer and coldest winter conditions, TH-Z was adapted to the lowest annual precipitation with the most complex climatic conditions, and TH-L was adapted to the highest summer temperatures with the lowest precipitation in the wettest period of the year. For each sampled population, the CCA identified the association of the samples’ EOs composition with the prevailing local environmental conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phytochemistry of Aromatic and Medicinal Plants)

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15 pages, 1663 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Phytochemical Composition, Antioxidant and Antiproliferative Activities of Citrus hystrix, Citrus limon, Citrus pyriformis, and Citrus microcarpa Leaf Essential Oils against Human Cervical Cancer Cell Line

by Haneen Ibrahim Al Othman, Huda Hisham Alkatib, Atiqah Zaid, Sreenivasan Sasidharan, Siti Sarah Fazalul Rahiman, Tien Ping Lee, George Dimitrovski, Jalal T. Althakafy and Yong Foo Wong

Plants 2023, 12(1), 134; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12010134 - 27 Dec 2022

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 5481

Abstract

The essential oil derived from Citrus plants has long been used for medicinal purposes, due to its broad spectrum of therapeutic characteristics. To date, approximately 162 Citrus species have been identified, and many investigational studies have been conducted to explore the pharmacological potential [...] Read more.

The essential oil derived from Citrus plants has long been used for medicinal purposes, due to its broad spectrum of therapeutic characteristics. To date, approximately 162 Citrus species have been identified, and many investigational studies have been conducted to explore the pharmacological potential of Citrus spp. oils. This study investigated the volatile constituents of essential oil distilled from the leaves of C. hystrix, C. limon, C. pyriformis, and C. microcarpa, using gas chromatography–quadrupole mass spectrometry. A total of 80 secondary compounds were tentatively identified, representing 84.88–97.99% of the total ion count and mainly comprising monoterpene (5.20–76.15%) and sesquiterpene (1.36–27.14%) hydrocarbons, oxygenated monoterpenes (3.91–89.52%) and sesquiterpenes (0.21–38.87%), and other minor chemical classes (0.10–0.52%). In particular, 27 compounds (1.19–39.06%) were detected across all Citrus species. Principal component analysis of the identified phytoconstituents and their relative quantities enabled differentiation of the Citrus leaf oils according to their species, with the loading variables contributing to these metabolic differences being identified. The Citrus leaf oils were tested for their antioxidant and antiproliferative activities using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazylhydrate (DPPH) and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assays. The results indicated that C. limon displayed the highest DPPH radical scavenging ability (IC₅₀ value of 29.14 ± 1.97 mg/mL), while C. hystrix exhibited the lowest activity (IC₅₀ value of 279.03 ± 10.37 mg/mL). On the other hand, all the Citrus oils exhibit potent antiproliferative activities against the HeLa cervical cancer cell line, with IC₅₀ values of 11.66 μg/mL (C. limon), 20.41 μg/mL (C. microcarpa), 25.91 μg/mL (C. hystrix), and 87.17 μg/mL (C. pyriformis). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phytochemistry of Aromatic and Medicinal Plants)

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23 pages, 1350 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Phytochemicals and Their Correlation with Molecular Data in Micromeria and Clinopodium (Lamiaceae) Taxa

by Dario Kremer, Valerija Dunkić, Ivan Radosavljević, Faruk Bogunić, Daniella Ivanova, Dalibor Ballian, Danijela Stešević, Vlado Matevski, Vladimir Ranđelović, Eleni Eleftheriadou, Zlatko Šatović and Zlatko Liber

Plants 2022, 11(23), 3407; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11233407 - 6 Dec 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2297

Abstract

A study of the phytochemical and molecular characteristics of ten Micromeria and six Clinopodium taxa (family Lamiaceae) distributed in the Balkan Peninsula was carried out. The phytochemicals detected in essential oils by gas chromatography, mass spectrometry, and molecular data amplified fragment length polymorphism [...] Read more.

A study of the phytochemical and molecular characteristics of ten Micromeria and six Clinopodium taxa (family Lamiaceae) distributed in the Balkan Peninsula was carried out. The phytochemicals detected in essential oils by gas chromatography, mass spectrometry, and molecular data amplified fragment length polymorphism were used to study the taxonomic relationships among the taxa and the correlations between phytochemical and molecular data. STRUCTURE analysis revealed three genetic groups, while Bayesian Analysis of Population Structure grouped the studied taxa into 11 clusters nested in the groups obtained by STRUCTURE. Principal components analysis performed with the 21 most represented compounds in the essential oils yielded results that were partly consistent with those obtained by STRUCTURE and neighbour-joining analyses. However, their geographic distributions did not support the genetic grouping of the studied taxa and populations. The Mantel test showed a significant correlation between the phytochemical and genetic data (r = 0.421, p < 0.001). Genetic distance explained 17.8% of the phytochemical distance between populations. The current taxonomic position of several of the studied taxa is yet to be satisfactorily resolved, and further studies are needed. Such future research should include nuclear and plastid DNA sequences from a larger sample of populations and individuals. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phytochemistry of Aromatic and Medicinal Plants)

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10 pages, 618 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Volatile Oil Chemical Composition of Wild, Edible Centaurea scabiosa L. and Its Cytotoxic Activity

by Ivana Carev, Anja Golemac, Sonja Siljak-Yakovlev, Francois Xavier Pellay and Olivera Politeo

Plants 2022, 11(23), 3267; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11233267 - 28 Nov 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2515

Abstract

Centaurea species are well known as a source of phytopharmaceuticals having both beneficial and harmful influences on human health. Centaurea scabiosa L. is a wild edible plant used in Mediterranean cuisine in the Dalmatian region of Croatia. We have assessed the volatile oil’s [...] Read more.

Centaurea species are well known as a source of phytopharmaceuticals having both beneficial and harmful influences on human health. Centaurea scabiosa L. is a wild edible plant used in Mediterranean cuisine in the Dalmatian region of Croatia. We have assessed the volatile oil’s chemical composition using GC/MS chromatography and its cytotoxic activity on human fibroblasts using the MTT test. Data on chromosome number, obtained by classical karyological methods, and genome size, assessed by flow cytometry, of the same plant material of C. scabiosa, were also given. The major chemical compounds found in C. scabiosa volatile oil were heptacosane, caryophyllene oxide, alloaromadendrene epoxide, α-cyperone, and α-bisabolol. This volatile oil showed no cytotoxicity on human fibroblasts in a dose range of 0.01–1 g/L. The chromosome number of a C. scabiosa sample from Croatia showed 2n = 20 + 2B chromosomes. The total genome DNA amount of 2C = 3.3 ± 0.01 pg or 1 Cx = 1628 Mbp presents the first report on the genome size of this species from Croatia. The presented results support the idea of using this plant in the human diet. To our knowledge, this is the first report on edible C. scabiosa species in general and in particular from Croatia. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phytochemistry of Aromatic and Medicinal Plants)

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13 pages, 983 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Exploring the Chemical Composition of Bulgarian Lavender Absolute (Lavandula Angustifolia Mill.) by GC/MS and GC-FID

by Daniela Nedeltcheva-Antonova, Kamelia Gechovska, Stanislav Bozhanov and Liudmil Antonov

Plants 2022, 11(22), 3150; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11223150 - 17 Nov 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3746

Abstract

Lavender (L. angustifolia Mill.) is an important essential oil-bearing and medicinal plant with high commercial value. Lavender scent components can be derived not only as an essential oil but also as lavender concrete or absolute. The development of reliable analytical methods for [...] Read more.

Lavender (L. angustifolia Mill.) is an important essential oil-bearing and medicinal plant with high commercial value. Lavender scent components can be derived not only as an essential oil but also as lavender concrete or absolute. The development of reliable analytical methods for origin assessment and quality assurance is of significant fundamental importance and high practical interest. Therefore, a comprehensive chemical profiling of seven industrial samples of Bulgarian lavender absolute (L. angustifolia Mill.) was performed by means of gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and gas chromatography with flame ionization detection (GC-FID). As a result, 111 individual compounds were identified by GC/MS, and their quantitative content was simultaneously determined by GC-FID, representing 94.28–97.43% of the total contents of the lavender absolute. According to our results, the main constituents of lavender absolute (LA) are representatives of the terpene compounds (with the dominating presence of oxygenated monoterpenes, 52.83–80.55%), followed by sesquiterpenes (7.80–15.21%) and triterpenoids (as minor components). Coumarins in various amounts (1.79–14.73%) and aliphatic compounds (hydrocarbons, ketones, esters, etc.) are found, as well. The acyclic monoterpene linalool is the main terpene alcohol and, together with its ester linalyl acetate, are the two main constituents in the LAs. Linalool was found in concentrations of 27.33–38.24% in the LA1-LA6 samples and 20.74% in the LA7 samples. The amount of linalyl acetate was in the range of 26.58 to 37.39% in the LA1–LA6 samples, while, surprisingly, it was not observed in LA7. This study shows that the chemical profile of the studied LAs is close to the lavender essential oil (LO), fulfilling most of the requirements of the International Standard ISO 3515:2002. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phytochemistry of Aromatic and Medicinal Plants)

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13 pages, 1194 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Phytochemical Constituents and Antiproliferative Activities of Essential Oils from Four Varieties of Malaysian Zingiber officinale Roscoe against Human Cervical Cancer Cell Line

by Atiqah Zaid, Xue Rou Haw, Huda Hisham Alkatib, Sreenivasan Sasidharan, Philip J. Marriott and Yong Foo Wong

Plants 2022, 11(10), 1280; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11101280 - 10 May 2022

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3154

Abstract

This study evaluates the volatile metabolic constituents and anticancer potential of essential oils distilled from the rhizomes of four Malaysian Zingiber officinale Roscoe (Zingiberaceae family) varieties (Bentong (BE), Cameron Highlands (CH), Sabah (SA), and Bara (BA)). The ginger essential oils were analyzed by [...] Read more.

This study evaluates the volatile metabolic constituents and anticancer potential of essential oils distilled from the rhizomes of four Malaysian Zingiber officinale Roscoe (Zingiberaceae family) varieties (Bentong (BE), Cameron Highlands (CH), Sabah (SA), and Bara (BA)). The ginger essential oils were analyzed by gas chromatography coupled with quadrupole mass spectrometry (GC qMS). A total of 58 secondary compounds were tentatively identified, representing 82.6–87.4% of the total ion count. These metabolites comprise mainly of monoterpene hydrocarbons (19.7–25.5%), oxygenated monoterpenes (23.6–33.7%), sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (21.3–35.6%), oxygenated sesquiterpenes (1.5–3.9%), and other minor classes of compounds (0.7–2.7%). Principal component analysis (PCA) enabled differentiation of the analyzed ginger essential oils according to their varieties, with respect to their metabolites and relative quantities. The antiproliferative activity against the HeLa cervical cancer cell line was investigated via the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The oils were found to exhibit strong antiproliferative activities with IC₅₀ values of 23.8, 35.3, 41.3, and 42.5 μg/mL for BA, BE, SA, and CH, respectively. These findings suggest that the differences among the secondary metabolites and their abundance in different varieties of Z. officinale essential oils appear to be related to their antiproliferative potential. The strong antiproliferative effects of these oils signified their potential in the prevention and chemotherapy of cervical carcinoma treatment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phytochemistry of Aromatic and Medicinal Plants)

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16 pages, 2689 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Chemical Composition and Antimicrobial Activity of Essential Oil of Fruits from Vitex agnus-castus L., Growing in Two Regions in Bulgaria

by Iliya Zhelev, Zhana Petkova, Iliana Kostova, Stanka Damyanova, Albena Stoyanova, Ivanka Dimitrova-Dyulgerova, Ginka Antova, Sezai Ercisli, Amine Assouguem, Mohammed Kara, Rafa Almeer and Amany A. Sayed

Plants 2022, 11(7), 896; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11070896 - 28 Mar 2022

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3736

Abstract

The chemical composition of Vitex agnus-castus L. (Verbenaceae family) fruits, collected from two regions in Bulgaria (south-central and north-east Bulgaria), was investigated. The content of proteins (5.3–7.4%), carbohydrates (73.9–78.8%), fiber (47.2–49.9%), ash (2.5–3.0%), essential oils (0.5%), and vegetable oil (3.8–5.0%) were identified [...] Read more.

The chemical composition of Vitex agnus-castus L. (Verbenaceae family) fruits, collected from two regions in Bulgaria (south-central and north-east Bulgaria), was investigated. The content of proteins (5.3–7.4%), carbohydrates (73.9–78.8%), fiber (47.2–49.9%), ash (2.5–3.0%), essential oils (0.5%), and vegetable oil (3.8–5.0%) were identified in the fruits. The composition of the essential oils (EOs) of Vitex fruits from both regions was determined; the main compounds were 1,8-cineole (16.9–18.8%), α-pinene (7.2–16.6%), sabinene (6.7–14.5%), and bicyclogermacrene (7.3–9.0%), but significant differences in the quantitative and qualitative composition of EOs between the regions were found. The EOs of plants from north-east Bulgaria demonstrated antimicrobial activity against the pathogenic species Salmonella abony, Staphylococcus aureus, and Bacillus subtilis, but the Gram-negative bacteria Esсherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa exhibited resistance to the oil. Linoleic acid predominated in vegetable oil from both regions, followed by oleic acid. β-sitosterol and γ-tocopherol were the main components in the sterol and tocopherol fraction of the lipids. Phosphatidic acids were the main components in the vegetable oil from north-east Bulgaria, while in the vegetable oil from south-central Bulgaria, all phospholipids were found in almost the same quantity. Overall, significant differences were observed in the chemical composition (proteins, carbohydrates, ash and moisture) of the fruits from the two regions of Bulgaria, as well as in the content of the main components of their essential and vegetable oils. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phytochemistry of Aromatic and Medicinal Plants)

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12 pages, 1247 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A New Essential Oil from the Leaves of the Endemic Andean Species Gynoxys miniphylla Cuatrec. (Asteraceae): Chemical and Enantioselective Analyses

by Omar Malagón, Patricio Cartuche, Angel Montaño, Nixon Cumbicus and Gianluca Gilardoni

Plants 2022, 11(3), 398; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11030398 - 31 Jan 2022

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3149

Abstract

A previously uninvestigated essential oil (EO) was distilled from Gynoxys miniphylla Cuatrec. (Asteraceae) and submitted to chemical and enantioselective analyses. The qualitative and quantitative analyses were conducted by GC-MS and GC-FID, over two orthogonal columns (5%-phenyl-methylpolysiloxane and polyethylene glycol stationary phases). Major constituents [...] Read more.

A previously uninvestigated essential oil (EO) was distilled from Gynoxys miniphylla Cuatrec. (Asteraceae) and submitted to chemical and enantioselective analyses. The qualitative and quantitative analyses were conducted by GC-MS and GC-FID, over two orthogonal columns (5%-phenyl-methylpolysiloxane and polyethylene glycol stationary phases). Major constituents (≥2%) were, on both columns, respectively, as follows: α-phellandrene (16.1–17.2%), α-pinene (14.0–15.0%), germacrene D (13.3–14.8%), trans-myrtanol acetate (8.80%), δ-cadinene (4.2–4.6%), β-phellandrene (3.3–2.8%), (E)-β-caryophyllene (3.1–2.0%), o-cymene (2.4%), α-cadinol (2.3–2.6%), and α-humulene (1.7–2.0%). All the quantified compounds corresponded to 93.5–97.3% by weight of the whole essential oil, with monoterpenes counting for 53.8–55.6% of the total, and sesquiterpenes for 38.5–41.4%. For what concerns the enantioselective analyses, the chiral components were investigated through a β-cyclodextrin-based enantioselective column (2,3-diethyl-6-tert-butyldimethylsilyl-β-cyclodextrin). A total of six chiral metabolites were analysed and the respective enantiomeric excess calculated as follows: (1S,5S)-(−)-α-pinene (98.2%), (1S,5S)-(−)-β-pinene (11.9%), (1R,5R)-(+)-sabinene (14.0%), (R)-(−)-α-phellandrene (100.0%), (R)-(−)-β-phellandrene (100.0%), and (S)-(−)-germacrene D (95.5%). According to the chemical composition and enantiomeric distribution of major compounds, this EO can be considered promising as a cholinergic, antiviral and, probably, analgesic product. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phytochemistry of Aromatic and Medicinal Plants)

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20 pages, 2680 KiB

Open AccessArticle

LC-MS Characterization and Biological Activities of Cuban Cultivars of Plectranthus neochilus Schltr

by Annarli O. Rodríguez-Ferreiro, Ania Ochoa-Pacheco, Daniel Méndez-Rodriguez, Emilia Ortiz-Beatón, Oneida Font-Salmo, Frenkel Guisado-Bourzac, Silvia Molina-Bertrán, Lianet Monzote, Paul Cos, Kenn Foubert, Luc Pieters, Claudina Perez-Novo, Wim Vanden Berghe, Julio C. Escalona-Arranz and William N. Setzer

Plants 2022, 11(1), 134; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11010134 - 4 Jan 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3592

Abstract

Plectranthus neochilus Schltr. (Lamiaceae) is a plant recently introduced in Cuba. Worldwide, it is an ethnomedicinal alternative for its use against microbial infections, but the Cuban population use the extracts to treat sleep disorders. To address this apparent incongruity, four collections (from different [...] Read more.

Plectranthus neochilus Schltr. (Lamiaceae) is a plant recently introduced in Cuba. Worldwide, it is an ethnomedicinal alternative for its use against microbial infections, but the Cuban population use the extracts to treat sleep disorders. To address this apparent incongruity, four collections (from different seasonal conditions in the year) of Cuban P. neochilus cultivars were analyzed in terms of their pharmacognostic characteristics. Three extracts using fresh and dried leaves were chemically and biologically characterized. UPLC-DAD-MS/MS analysis was performed to determine their chemical composition, while a panel of nine microorganisms was used to evaluate their antimicrobial activity. Finally, cytotoxic effects of different fractions were measured in three cell lines by the resazurin viability assay. In contrast to previously reported micro and macromorphological properties of P. neochilus, the leaves from the Cuban cultivars did not present glandular trichomes, nor did they produce quantifiable levels of essential oils. Moreover, aqueous extracts used by the population revealed no significant antimicrobial activity and were not cytotoxic. The three extracts showed a similar phytochemical composition, i.e., eight flavonoids, seven abietane diterpenes, and rosmarinic acid as the major constituent, most of them reported for the first time in this species. The low yield of essential oil, the absence of glandular trichomes, compounds with a high level of oxidation, and a moderate antimicrobial activity detected were the most distinctive pharmacognostic and biological characteristics of P. neochilus grown in Cuba. These aspects could explain its non-use as an antimicrobial. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phytochemistry of Aromatic and Medicinal Plants)

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12 pages, 2341 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Phytochemical Characterization for Quality Control of Phyllostachys pubescens Leaves Using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography Coupled with Diode Array Detector and Tandem Mass Detector

by Chang-Seob Seo and Kwang-Hoon Song

Plants 2022, 11(1), 50; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11010050 - 24 Dec 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2455

Abstract

Phyllostachys pubescens leaves are cultivated in a number of Asian countries and have been used for antipyretic and diuretic effects since ancient times, especially in Korea. The purpose of this study was to develop and validate of analytical method for quality control of [...] Read more.

Phyllostachys pubescens leaves are cultivated in a number of Asian countries and have been used for antipyretic and diuretic effects since ancient times, especially in Korea. The purpose of this study was to develop and validate of analytical method for quality control of P. pubescens leaves using high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detector (HPLC–DAD) and liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) detection. HPLC–DAD analysis was conducted with a Gemini C₁₈ column, and distilled water–acetonitrile (both with 0.1% (v/v) formic acid) mobile-phase system. For the LC–MS/MS analysis, all markers were separated with a Waters ACQUITY UPLC BEH C₁₈ column and gradient flow system of distilled water containing 0.1% (v/v) formic acid and 5 mM ammonium formate–acetonitrile. In both method, major components were detected at 2.13–11.63 mg/g (HPLC–DAD) and 0.12–19.20 mg/g (LC–MS/MS). These methods were validated with respect to linearity (coefficient of determination >0.99), recovery (95.22–118.81%), accuracy (90.52–116.96), and precision (<4.0%), and were successfully applied for the quantitative analysis of P. pubescens leaves. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phytochemistry of Aromatic and Medicinal Plants)

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14 pages, 1548 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Characterization of Essential Oils from Different Taxa Belonging to the Genus Teucrium in Sardinia Island, Italy

by Alfredo Maccioni, Danilo Falconieri, Cinzia Sanna, Silvia Porcedda, Alessandra Piras and Andrea Maxia

Plants 2021, 10(7), 1359; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10071359 - 2 Jul 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3084

Abstract

The genus Teucrium L. (Lamiaceae) is a genus growing in mild climate zones, particularly in the Mediterranean Basin and Central Asia. It is represented by 11 taxa in Sardinia (Italy), living commonly in sunny habitats. In this study, the following eight Sardinian Teucrium [...] Read more.

The genus Teucrium L. (Lamiaceae) is a genus growing in mild climate zones, particularly in the Mediterranean Basin and Central Asia. It is represented by 11 taxa in Sardinia (Italy), living commonly in sunny habitats. In this study, the following eight Sardinian Teucrium taxa were selected, and the essential oils (EOs), obtained by stem distillation, were analyzed by GC–FID and GC–MS: T. capitatum subsp. capitatum, T. chamaedrys subsp. chamaedrys, T. flavum subsp. glaucum, T. marum, T. massiliense, T. scordium subsp. scordioides, T. scorodonia, and T. subspinosum. The comprehensive analyses led to the identification of 87 constituents representing the majority of the volatile compounds. Significant differences, both qualitative and quantitative, were observed between the taxa. Overall, monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes characterized all Teucrium EOs: T. capitatum subsp. capitatum and T. flavum subsp. glaucum revealed the highest content of monoterpene hydrocarbons, while in the other Teucrium taxa sesquiterpene hydrocarbons prevailed. Worthy of note, diterpenes were found only in T. marum and T. subspinosum, whereas T. massiliense was rich in non-terpenic oxygenated compounds. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first comprehensive report on the chemical composition of EOs obtained from Sardinian Teucrium species. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phytochemistry of Aromatic and Medicinal Plants)

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19 pages, 286 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

The Volatile Phytochemistry of Seven Native American Aromatic Medicinal Plants

by Sims K. Lawson, Prabodh Satyal and William N. Setzer

Plants 2021, 10(6), 1061; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10061061 - 25 May 2021

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 4206

Abstract

As part of our evaluation of essential oils derived from Native American medicinal plants, we have obtained the essential oils of Agastache foeniculum (Pursch) Kuntze (Lamiaceae), Gaultheria procumbens L. (Ericaceae), Heliopsis helianthoides (L.) Sweet (Asteraceae), Liatris spicata (L.) Willd. (Asteraceae), Pycnanthemum incanum (L.) [...] Read more.

As part of our evaluation of essential oils derived from Native American medicinal plants, we have obtained the essential oils of Agastache foeniculum (Pursch) Kuntze (Lamiaceae), Gaultheria procumbens L. (Ericaceae), Heliopsis helianthoides (L.) Sweet (Asteraceae), Liatris spicata (L.) Willd. (Asteraceae), Pycnanthemum incanum (L.) Michx. (Lamiaceae), Smallanthus uvedalia (L.) Mack. ex Mack. (Asteraceae), and Verbena hastata L. (Verbenaceae) by hydrodistillation. The essential oils were analyzed by gas chromatographic techniques. The essential oil of A. foeniculum was dominated by estragole (88–93%), while methyl salicylate (91%) dominated the G. procumbens essential oil. Germacrene D was the major component in H. helianthoides (42%) and L. spicata (24%). 1,8-Cineole (31%) and α-terpineol (17%) were the main compounds in P. incanum essential oil. The essential oil of S. uvedalia showed α-pinene (24%), perillene (15%), and β-caryophyllene (17%) as major components. Verbena hastata essential oil was rich in 1-octen-3-ol (up to 29%) and palmitic acid (up to 22%). Four of these essential oils, H. helianthoides, L. spicata, P. incanum, and V. hastata, are reported for the first time. Additionally, the enantiomeric distributions of several terpenoid components have been determined. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phytochemistry of Aromatic and Medicinal Plants)

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Jump to: Research

20 pages, 2027 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperEditor’s ChoiceReview

Arnica montana L.: Doesn’t Origin Matter?

by Thomas J. Schmidt

Plants 2023, 12(20), 3532; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12203532 - 11 Oct 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2903

Abstract

Arnica montana L. (Asteraceae) has a long and successful tradition in Europe as herbal medicine. Arnica flowers (i.e., the flowerheads of Arnica montana) are monographed in the European Pharmacopoeia (Ph. Eur.), and a European Union herbal monograph exists, in which its use [...] Read more.

Arnica montana L. (Asteraceae) has a long and successful tradition in Europe as herbal medicine. Arnica flowers (i.e., the flowerheads of Arnica montana) are monographed in the European Pharmacopoeia (Ph. Eur.), and a European Union herbal monograph exists, in which its use as traditional herbal medicine is recommended. According to this monograph, Arnica flowers (Arnicae flos Ph. Eur.) and preparations thereof may be used topically to treat blunt injuries and traumas, inflammations and rheumatic muscle and joint complaints. The main bioactive constituents are sesquiterpene lactones (STLs) of the helenanolide type. Among these, a variety of esters of helenalin and 11α,13-dihydrohelenalin with low-molecular-weight carboxylic acids, namely, acetic, isobutyric, methacrylic, methylbutyric as well as tiglic acid, represent the main constituents, in addition to small amounts of the unesterified parent STLs. A plethora of reports exist on the pharmacological activities of these STLs, and it appears unquestioned that they represent the main active principles responsible for the herbal drug’s efficacy. It has been known for a long time, however, that considerable differences in the STL pattern occur between A. montana flowers from plants growing in middle or Eastern Europe with some originating from the Iberic peninsula. In the former, Helenalin esters usually predominate, whereas the latter contains almost exclusively 11α,13-Dihydrohelenalin derivatives. Differences in pharmacological potency, on the other hand, have been reported for the two subtypes of Arnica-STLs in various instances. At the same time, it has been previously proposed that one should distinguish between two subspecies of A. montana, subsp. montana occurring mainly in Central and Eastern Europe and subsp. atlantica in the southwestern range of the species distribution, i.e., on the Iberian Peninsula. The question hence arises whether or not the geographic origin of Arnica montana flowers is of any relevance for the medicinal use of the herbal drug and the pharmaceutical quality, efficacy and safety of its products and whether the chemical/pharmacological differences should not be recognized in pharmacopoeia monographs. The present review attempts to answer these questions based on a summary of the current state of botanical, phytochemical and pharmacological evidence. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phytochemistry of Aromatic and Medicinal Plants)

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20 pages, 1747 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Analytical Quality by Design (AQbD) Approach to the Development of Analytical Procedures for Medicinal Plants

by Geonha Park, Min Kyoung Kim, Seung Hyeon Go, Minsik Choi and Young Pyo Jang

Plants 2022, 11(21), 2960; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11212960 - 2 Nov 2022

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 9956

Abstract

Scientific regulatory systems with suitable analytical methods for monitoring quality, safety, and efficacy are essential in medicinal plant drug discovery. There have been only few attempts to adopt the analytical quality by design (AQbD) strategy in medicinal plants analysis over the last few [...] Read more.

Scientific regulatory systems with suitable analytical methods for monitoring quality, safety, and efficacy are essential in medicinal plant drug discovery. There have been only few attempts to adopt the analytical quality by design (AQbD) strategy in medicinal plants analysis over the last few years. AQbD is a holistic method and development approach that understands analytical procedure, from risk assessment to lifecycle management. The enhanced AQbD approach reduces the time and effort necessary to develop reliable analytical methods, leads to flexible change control through the method operable design region (MODR), and lowers the out-of-specification (OOS) results. However, it is difficult to follow all the AQbD workflow steps in the field of medicinal plants analysis, such as defining the analytical target profiles (ATPs), identifying critical analytical procedure parameters (CAPPs), among others, because the complexity of chemical and biological properties in medicinal plants acts as a barrier. In this review, various applications of AQbD to medicinal plant analytical procedures are discussed. Unlike the analysis of a single compound, medicinal plant analysis is characterized by analyzing multiple components contained in biological materials, so it will be summarized by focusing on the following points: Analytical methods showing correlations within analysis parameters for the specific medicinal plant analysis, plant raw material diversity, one or more analysis targets defined for multiple phytochemicals, key analysis attributes, and analysis control strategies. In addition, the opportunities available through the use of design-based quality management techniques and the challenges that coexist are also discussed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phytochemistry of Aromatic and Medicinal Plants)

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30 pages, 1261 KiB

Open AccessReview

Medlar—A Comprehensive and Integrative Review

by Catalina Voaides, Nicoleta Radu, Elena Birza and Narcisa Babeanu

Plants 2021, 10(11), 2344; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10112344 - 29 Oct 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3400

Abstract

Among fruit plants belonging to the Rosaceae family, medlar (Mespilus) can be classified as neglected or underutilized. It is a genus of two species of flowering plants: Mespilus germanica (common medlar) and Mespilus canescens. Appreciated for its specific taste and [...] Read more.

Among fruit plants belonging to the Rosaceae family, medlar (Mespilus) can be classified as neglected or underutilized. It is a genus of two species of flowering plants: Mespilus germanica (common medlar) and Mespilus canescens. Appreciated for its specific taste and flavor, medlar also possesses biological properties (antioxidant and antimicrobial). Despite the special properties of medlar, there are few research papers on this subject. This review paper includes data not only on medlar fruits but also its leaves, bark, and bud flowers. The main identified components are presented, as well as several biological properties, morphological properties, ethnopharmacological uses, and molecular biology analyses emerging from the scientific papers published in this area. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phytochemistry of Aromatic and Medicinal Plants)

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Open AccessReview

Chemical Diversity and Therapeutic Effects of Essential Oils of Aniba Species from the Amazon: A Review

by Rafaela C. S. da Trindade, Júlia Karla A. M. Xavier, William N. Setzer, José Guilherme S. Maia and Joyce Kelly R. da Silva

Plants 2021, 10(9), 1854; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10091854 - 7 Sep 2021

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3792

Abstract

Lauraceae families have great diversity in the world’s tropical regions and are represented mainly by aromatic shrubs and trees with significant production of essential oils (EOs). This work presents a review of the EO chemical profiles from specimens of Aniba, including their [...] Read more.

Lauraceae families have great diversity in the world’s tropical regions and are represented mainly by aromatic shrubs and trees with significant production of essential oils (EOs). This work presents a review of the EO chemical profiles from specimens of Aniba, including their seasonal variations, geographical distributions, and biological activities in the Amazon biome. Based on the survey, 15 species were reviewed, representing 167 oil samples extracted from leaves, twig barks, and woods. Brazilian Amazon was the most representative geographic area in the number of specimens, highlighting the locations Belém, (Pará state, PA) (3 spp., 37 samples), Santarém (PA) (3 spp., 10 samples), Carajás (PA) (3 spp., 7 samples), and Manaus (Amazonas state, AM) (3 spp., 16 samples). The main compound classes identified in oils were benzenoids and phenylpropanoids, represented by 1-nitro-2-phenylethane, benzyl salicylate, benzyl benzoate and methyleugenol, along with terpenoids, especially monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes, such as linalool, α-phellandrene, β-phellandrene, β-selinene, and spathulenol. The EOs from Aniba showed considerable variation in the chemical profiles according to season and collection site. The hierarchical cluster analysis classified the samples into two main groups according to chemical composition. This review highlights its comprehensive and up-to-date information on history, conservation, traditional uses, chemosystematics, pharmacological potential of Aniba species. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phytochemistry of Aromatic and Medicinal Plants)

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