Essential oil composition of Cachrys cristata--a rare and endangered species in the flora of Serbia

Cachrys cristata DC. (Apiaceace) is a rare and critically endangered species in the flora of Serbia. Essential oil isolated by hydrodistillation from the aerial parts and fruits of this species was analyzed using combined GC and GC/MS. The oil from the aerial parts was rich in sesquiterpenes (45.7%) and oxygenated sesquiterpenes (32.9%), while the fruit oil consisted of a higher percentage of sesquiterpenes (48.3%) and oxygenated sesquiterpenes (36.7%). The dominant constituents in the oil from aerial parts were phytol (13.1%) and germacrene D (12.9%), while in the fruit oil suberosin (19.7%) and germacrene D (12.3%) were the most abundant.     

Composition and antimicrobial activity of Seseli montanum subsp. tommasinii essential oil

The essential oil isolated from Seseli montanum L. subsp. tommasinii Reich. f. was analyzed by GC/MS and the most abundant components were beta-pinene (30.2%), germacrene D (10.1%), sabinene (8.0%), alpha-pinene (7.2%) and limonene (6.6%). The antimicrobial effect of the essential oil was evaluated against four bacterial and four fungal species among which were food contaminants, spoilage fungi, and plant, fungal and animal pathogens. The oil possessed moderate to strong antimicrobial activity.     

Phytochemical analysis of the essential oil of Achillea millefolium L. from various European Countries

Variations in the essential oil composition of Achillea millefolium L. growing in Estonia and in other European countries, were determined. The oils were obtained in yields of 0.9-9.5 mL kg-1. A total of 102 components were identified. The quantitatively most important components of yarrow were sabinene, beta-pinene, 1,8-cineole, artemisia ketone, linalool, alpha-thujone, beta-thujone, camphor, borneol, fenchyl acetate, bornyl acetate, (E)-beta-caryophyllene, germacrene D, caryophyllene oxide, beta-bisabolol, delta-cadinol, chamazulene etc. Samples from Estonia contained high amounts of monoterpenes and chamazulene. High amounts of monoterpenes and chamazulene were also found in samples from Hungary, Greek, Moldavia, Latvia, Lithuania and Germany. The oils from France, Belgium, Russia, Armenia, Spain and Italy were rich in oxygenated monoterpenes and contained a little amount of chamazulene. The drugs from Greece, Estonia, Moldavia and Scotland were rich in sesquiterpenes. The Millefolii herba grown in Estonia conforms to the European Pharmacopoeia (EP) standards in the aspect of the essential oil contents.     

Comparison of the essential oils of leaves and stem bark from two different populations of Drimys winteri a Chilean herbal medicine

The chemical composition of the essential oils obtained by hydrodistillation of stem bark and leaves of Drimys winteri J.R. et G. Foster var. chilensis /DC A. Gray (Winteraceae) from Chiloe Island (ID) and Continental Chile (Santiago) (CD) were studied by GC and GC/MS. Sesquiterpene hydrocarbons constituted the main chemical groups in the stem bark oils, with alpha-santalene, trans-beta-bergamotene and curcumenes as the major components. Monoterpenes constituted the main chemical groups in the leaves of Island plants with alpha-pinene (23.1%) beta-pinene (43.6%) and linalool (10.5%) as the main components whereas sesquiterpenes (germacrene D 17.6%) and phenylpropanoids (safrole 20.8%) are the most abundant in the leaves of Continental plants.     

Identification of essential oil components of Marrubium thessalum Boiss. & Heldr., growing wild in Greece

The essential oil of the Greek endemic species Marrubium thessalum Boiss. & Heldr. (Lamiaceae) was obtained by the hydrodistillation of its aerial parts during the flowering stage. The composition of the oil was analysed by GC and GC-MS. Thirty compounds were identified. The oil was devoid of monoterpenes, while sesquiterpenes constituted the major fraction. The main components of the oil were caryophyllene oxide (21.7%), β-caryophyllene (17.6%), germacrene D (15.3%), β-bisabolene (12.6%) and trans-β-farnesene (8.1%).     

Phytochemical analysis of the essential oil from botanically certified oleogum resin of Boswellia sacra (Omani Luban)

The yield of hydrodistillation of a botanically certified Oleogum Resin of Boswellia sacra essential oil (5.5%); and its chemical constituents were determined. The GC/MS technique was used for the analysis of the oil. Several oil components were identified based upon comparison of their mass spectral data with those of reference compounds published in literature or stored in a computer library. The oil was characterized by the high content of the monoterpenes (34) which constituted 97.3% in which E-beta-ocimene and limonene were the major constituents. The remaining 2.7% was accounted for the sesquiterpenes (16) in which the E-caryophyllene was the major constituent. The analysis proved the complete absence of the diterpenes.     

Detailed analysis of the essential oil from Cistus albidus L. by combination of GC/RI, GC/MS and 13C-NMR spectroscopy

The composition of the essential oil of Cistus albidus (L.) obtained from plants growing wild in Provence (France) has been investigated using GC-RI (RI = retention indices), GC/MS and (13)C-NMR. Eighty-eight components were reported accounting for 81.8% of the essential oil. This essential oil was characterized by a high content of sesquiterpenes with alpha-zingiberene (12.8%), alpha-curcumene (7.7%), (E)-beta-caryophyllene (5.9%), alpha-cadinol (5.4%), alpha-bisabolol (4.1%), caryophyllene oxide (3.8%), allo-aromadendrene (3.4%), delta-cadinene (3.4%), and germacrene D (3.1%) being the main components.     

Volatile oil composition of Pogostemon heyneanus and comparison of its composition with patchouli oil

The volatile oil of the leaves of Pogostemon heyneanus Benth. (Lamiaceae) was analyzed by GC and GC-MS. Twenty-six components representing 96.0% of the oil were identified. The major components of the oil were acetophenone (51.0%), beta-pinene (5.3%), (E)-nerolidol (5.4%), and patchouli alcohol (14.0%). Comparison of the compositions of the oils of P. heyneanus and P. cablin (Blanco) Benth. (Patchouli oil) showed wide variation between them. Though 13 sesquiterpenes and oxygenated sesquiterpenes were detected in both oils, their concentrations in the oils differed widely. Acetophenone, benzoyl acetone and (E)-nerolidol present in the oil of P. heyneanus were not detected in patchouli oil.     

Chemical composition of essential oil from plants of abandoned mining site of Elba island

The essential oil composition of three spontaneous species growing in an abandoned mining of Elba island was analyzed by GC–MS. A total of 194 compounds were identified representing 73.7–100% of the whole oil composition. The essential oils of Cistus salvifolius and Dittrichia viscosa from this site showed different profiles in comparison with those from not polluted area, where oxygenated sesquiterpenes were the main class. Volatiles from D. viscosa growing in ex-mining area presented 10-epi-γ-eudesmol and α-eudesmol as main compounds while β-caryophyllene and limonene were the main ones in not polluted area. Ambroxide and ambrial were the most important compounds in the essential oil from C. salvifolius harvested in polluted area while nonanal and tridecanal were the main compounds in control samples. Oxygenated monoterpenes were the most abundant class from both Lavandula stoechas samples, with fenchone and camphor as main compounds.     

Phytochemical analysis and in vitro antimicrobial and free-radical-scavenging activities of the essential oils from Euryops arabicus and Laggera decurrens

The essential oils of the aerial part of two Asteraceae species, namely Euryops arabicus Steud. and Laggera decurrens (Vahl.) Hepper and Wood, were studied by GC and GC/MS. In parallel the antimicrobial and antioxidant activities were evaluated. The investigation led to the identification of 48 and 44 compounds for both plants, respectively. The essential oil of E. arabicus was rich in oxygenated sesquiterpenes (39.9%). The oil also contained a high content of sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (24.1%). Compounds such as caryophyllene oxide (8.6%), T-cadinol (7.0%), spathulenol (5.2%), (E)-β-caryophyllene (6.0%) and 2-epi-(E)-β-caryophyllene (6.0%) were the main constituents of the oil. Oxygenated monoterpenes also predominated in L. decurrens (46.3%). The thymoquinone-derivative, 3-methoxy-2-methyl-5-(1-methylethyl)-2,5-cyclohexadiene-1,4-dione (28.1%), thymol (5.7%) and eudesma-11-en-4a-ol (7.0%) were the most abundant constituents. Both essential oils showed antimicrobial activity with MIC-values between 0.13-5.25 mg/mL. Furthermore, only the essential oil of L. decurrens exhibited a strong antioxidant activity (91%) at 500 μg/mL.     

Chemical composition and phytotoxic effects of essential oils from four Teucrium species

The essential oils of four Teucrium species were studied and 131 components, in all, were identified. All oils were rich in sesquiterpenes (50.0-61.9%). Caryophyllene and caryophyllene oxide were the main components of Teucrium arduini; germacrene D, delta-cadinene and gamma-cadinene predominated in Teucrium maghrebinum. Carvacrol and caryophyllene predominated in Teucrium polium ssp. capitatum, while carvacrol, caryophyllene oxide and caryophyllene were the most abundant components in Teucrium montbretii ssp. heliotropiifolium. The germination of radish and garden cress was less sensitive to the four essential oils. The radicle elongation, above all, of radish was significantly inhibited by all oils, in particular by the essential oil of T. arduini, at the highest doses tested. Among the main components of the oils, monoterpenes resulted the more active compounds.     

Combined analysis by GC (RI), GC-MS and 13C NMR of the supercritical fluid extract of Abies alba twigs

Two samples (leaves and twigs) of Abies alba Miller from Corsica were extracted using supercritical CO2 and their chemical compositions were compared with those of the essential oils obtained from the same batch of plant material. In total 45 components were identified using combined analysis by GC (RI), GC-MS and 13C NMR. It was observed that the contents of monoterpenes (mainly represented by limonene, alpha-pinene and camphene) were significantly lower in the supercritical fluid extract (SFE) than in the essential oil (EO). Conversely, the proportions of sesquiterpenes were much higher in CO2 extracts than in essential oils (around 30% vs 4%). Cis-abienol, a diterpene alcohol, was identified only in SFE, and the proportions of this constituent (7.5% and 17.3%) were determined using quantitative 13C NMR since it was under estimated using the standard conditions of GC.     

Leaf essential oil of Manekia naranjoana (Piperaceae) from Costa Rica and its cytotoxic activity

The chemical composition of the leaf oil of Manekia naranjoana (C. DC.) Callejas (Piperaceae) from Costa Rica was analyzed by capillary GC/FID and GC/MS. Fifty-five compounds were identified. Major compounds from the leaf oil were beta-pinene (30.6%), alpha-pinene (18.8%), limonene (13.7%), and beta-caryophyllene (6.1%). The oil presented very low toxicity to tumor and non-tumor cell lines, even though it contains components, such as alpha- and beta-pinene, limonene and others, which have been shown to be cytotoxic. This is the first report of the chemical composition of the essential oil obtained from this species.     

Analysis of essential oils from Scutellaria orientalis ssp. alpina and S. utriculata by GC and GC-MS

The chemical composition of the essential oils obtained from aerial parts of Scutellaria orientalis L. ssp. alpina (Boiss.) O. Schwarz and S. utriculata Labill. growing wild in Lebanon, were analyzed by GC and GC-MS. In S. orientalis ssp. alpina, strongly characterized by sesquiterpenes (41.2%) and particularly sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (31.7%), hexahydrofarnesylacetone (11.7%) was recognized as the main constituent, together with hexadecanoic acid (7.6%), caryophyllene (7.4%), caryophyllene oxide (6.8%), 4-vinylguaiacol (5.4%) and germacrene D (5.4%). S. utriculata oil was instead constituted above all by monoterpenes (42.2%), particularly oxygen containing monoterpenes (39.9%), and in this oil the main compounds were linalool (20.1%), 4-vinyl guaiacol (15.5%), alpha-terpineol (8.9%), (E)-nerolidol (8.9%) and geraniol (8.2%).     

Composition and antifungal activities of the leaf essential oil of Litsea coreana from Taiwan

The hydrodistilled leaf essential oil of Litsea coreana was analyzed by GC/FID and GC/MS. Fifty-two compounds were identified, the main components being n-decanal (27.5%), 2E,6E-farnesol (25.8%), beta-eudesmol (10.3%), ethyl n-dodecanoate (8.0%) and tau-cadinol (6.6%). Oxygenated sesquiterpenes (56.8%) and non-terpenoids (37.0%) were the predominant groups of compounds. The leaf oil exhibited excellent antifungal and anti-wood-decay fungal activities.     

Characterisation of the essential oil of Nepeta glomerata Montbret et Aucher ex Bentham from Lebanon and its biological activities

The essential oil of Nepeta glomerata from Lebanon was studied by means of GC and GC/MS analysis; 70 compounds were identified. The oil was constituted mainly by monoterpenes and the most abundant components were α-pinene, spathulenol and carvacrol. Nepeta glomerata oil showed antibacterial activity, particularly towards Gram-positive bacteria, and also inhibited LPS-induced NO production in macrophage cell line RAW 264.7, with an IC(50) value of 78.1 μg mL(-1). Furthermore, an in?vitro cytotoxic assay showed that the oil was more active on a renal adenocarcinoma cell line (48% of inhibition of proliferation at 100 μg mL(-1)) in comparison to an amelanotic melanoma.     

Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of Anthriscus nemorosa root essential oil

The essential oil obtained by hydrodistillation from the roots of Anthriscus nemorosa (Bieb.) Sprengel (Umbelliferae) was analyzed by GC and GC-MS. Among sixty-two compounds identified (representing 89.0% of the total oil), the main components were: n-nonane (12.1%), n-hexadecanol (6.9%), delta-cadinene (6.4%), beta-pinene (6.0%) and germacrene D (5.4%). Furthermore, the antimicrobial activity of the oil was evaluated against the Gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus epidermidis (ATCC 12228) and Bacillus subtilis (ATCC 6633), the Gram-negative bacterium Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), and a yeast Candida albicans (ATCC 10259 and ATCC 24433) using the broth microdilution method.     

Essential oil of Nepeta x faassenii Bergmans ex Stearn (N. mussinii Spreng. x N. nepetella L.): a comparison study

Analysis (GC and GC/MS) of an essential oil sample obtained from dry leaves of Nepeta x faassenii Bergmans ex Steam, a hybrid species produced by crossbreeding N. mussinii Spreng. with N. nepetella L., led to the identification of 109 constituents that represented 95.9% of the oil. The major constituents were 4aalpha,7alpha,7aalpha-nepetalactone (67.8%), 1,8-cineole (6.6%), germacrene D (4.8%), beta-pinene (2.7%), (E)-beta-ocimene (2.6%), 4aalpha,7beta,7aalpha-nepetalactone (2.3%) and (E)-beta-farnesene (1.0%). Chemical composition of the oil was compared, using multivariate statistical analyses (MVA) with those of the oils of other Nepeta taxa, in particular N. mussinii and N. nepetella. This was done in order to explore the mode of inheritance of the monoterpene biosynthetic apparatus of N. faassenii. Chemical composition of the volatiles of a Nepeta taxon (different populations) can be subject to variation due to environmental and geographical factors. To accommodate this fact in the MVAs, along side with N. faassenii essential oil, additional 6 oils (3 different populations of N. nuda L. and N. cataria L. from Serbia) were included in this study (isolated and analyzed (chemically and statistically)). The MVA analyses recognized N. faassenii as being closely related to both N. mussinii and N. nepetella. If the relative content of oil constituents per plant and not per chromatogram were used as variables in the MVA (this was done by simple multiplication of the yields and relative percentages of components) a higher degree of mutual similarity (in respect to the monoterpene biosynthesis) of N. faassenii to N. mussinii, than to the other parent species, was observed.     

广西产马尾松与湿地松针叶精油化学成分的比较

用水蒸气蒸馏法从广西产马尾松和湿地松的针叶中提取精油,探索了松针投料量和提取时间对产油率的影响,确定了最佳工艺条件为：松针投料量700 g,提取时间5 h。在此最佳条件下马尾松和湿地松针叶的产油率分别为0.45%和0.19%。用气相色谱（GC）和气相色谱-质谱（GC-MS）等方法分别对两树种的针叶精油进行了定量和定性分析,从马尾松针叶精油中分离出64种化学成分,鉴定了其中的20种成分,占挥发油总量的98.59%;从湿地松针叶精油中分离出73种化学成分,鉴定了其中的29种成分,占挥发油总量的94.23%。两树种针叶精油的主要化学成分大致相同,但在含量上有较大差别。马尾松针叶精油中α-蒎烯的含量约为湿地松的2.6倍,但其β-蒎烯含量低于后者。单萜和倍半萜是构成马尾松和湿地松针叶精油的主要成分。     

A study on the seasonal variation of the essential oil composition from Plectranthus hadiensis and its antibacterial activity

The chemical composition and seasonal variation of the essential oil from the aerial parts of Plectranthus hadiensis grown during the rainy and summer seasons in the Western Ghats of India was analysed by GC–MS technique. The analysis of rainy season oil led to the identification of 31 compounds, representing 96.4% of the essential oil and the winter season oil led to 25 compounds, representing 95.1% of the oil. Most of the compounds were sesquiterpenes and oxygenated monoterpenes. The major components of the rainy season oil were L-fenchone (30.42%), β-farnesene (11.87%), copaene(11.10%), 2,3-dimethyl hydroquinone (10.78%), α-caryophyllene(8.41%) and piperitone oxide (3.94%) and of the summer season oil are L-fenchone (31.55%), copaene(11.93%), β-farnesene (10.45%), 1,8-naphthalenedione, 8a-ethylperhydro (10.06%), α-caryophyllene(6.36%), piperitone oxide (5.79%) and limonene(4.63%). Antibacterial activity of the essential oil of P. hadiensis was tested using zone of inhibition and minimum inhibition concentration methods. Both the oils inhibited the organisms and showed the zone of inhibition in the range of 20–35 mm with MIC values between 32 and 64 mg/dL.