Fatty acid composition of two Athamanta turbith subspecies

The fruit oils of Athamanta turbith ssp. hungarica and Athamanta turbith ssp. haynaldii were obtained by Soxhlet extraction using petroleum ether. The fatty acid composition of oils was determined by GC in the methyl ester form. Considering the composition and content of fatty acids, the examined oils were very similar. Petroselinic acid was the principal one (45.6 and 46.2%, respectively), followed by a significant amount of linoleic acid (26.9 and 29.1%, respectively). In both oils, myristic, pentadecanoic, palmitic, palmitoleic, stearic, petroselinic, oleic, linoleic, α-linolenic, arachidic, and behenic acid were identified. Lignoceric acid was detected only in A. turbith ssp. hungarica oil. Published in Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 4, pp. 319–320, July–August, 2006.     

Enantiomeric composition of the chiral constituents of essential oils. Part 2: Sesquiterpene hydrocarbons

A number of sesquiterpene hydrocarbons commonly occurring in essential oils has been prepared as racemic mixtures by chemical synthesis. Preparative gas chromatography with selectively per-O-alkylated cyclodextrins has been employed for the isolation of enantiomeric mixtures or pure enantiomers from the essential oils of higher plants and liverworts (Hepaticae). The enantiomers of α-curcumene, α- and β-bisabolene, β-elemene, δ-elemene, α-copaene, δ-cadinene, cis- and trans-calamenene, and bicyclogermacrene could be resolved by enantioselective gas chromatography on capillary columns coated with cyclodextrin derivatives. The enantiomeric composition of these sesquiterpene hydrocarbons in various essential oils was determined.     

Enantiomeric composition of the chiral constituents in essential oils. Part 1: Monoterpene hydrocarbons

Using a dual column gas chromatograph equipped with two capillary columns coated with heptakis(6-O-methyl-2,3-di-O-pentyl)-β-cyclodextrin (6-me-2,3-pe-β-CD) and octakis(6-O-methyl-2,3-di-O-pentyl)-γ-cyclodextrin (6-me-2,3-pe-γ-CD), respectively, all important olefinic monoterpene hydrocarbons occurring in essential oils, including α-thujene, α- and β-pinene, camphene, sabinene, α- and β-phellandrene, Δ-3-carene and limonene can be resolved into enantiomers. With the chromatographic system described the characteristic enantiomeric composition of these monoterpene hydrocarbons in essential oils can be determined.     

Essential oil composition, antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities of two endemic Stachys cretica subspecies (Lamiaceae) from Turkey

The chemical compositions of the water-distilled essential oil of Stachys cretica ssp. lesbiaca Rech. fil. and S. cretica ssp. trapezuntica Rech. fil. were determined by GC and GC-MS. Altogether 63 compounds were identified. The sesquiterpene hydrocarbon, germacrene D (20.3% and 12.9% respectively) was the main component identified in both oils. Furthermore, ethanol, light petroleum, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate and n-butanol extracts prepared from the aerial parts of the plants were tested for their antimicrobial activities against six bacterial strains and the yeast Candida albicans. The extracts exhibited no antibacterial activity, but the light petroleum and n-butanolic fractions showed low antifungal activities. Crude ethanolic extracts of the two subspecies were tested for their ability to inhibit the growth of HL-60 and Ishikawa human tumor cell lines. The IC50 values were 100 microg/mL for the HL-60 cell line and 200 microg/mL for the Ishikawa cell line.     

Fatty acid composition of Viscum album subspecies from Turkey

The lipophylic extracts of three Viscum album subspecies growing on different host plants in Turkey were comparatively analyzed for derived methyl esters of their fatty acids by capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The sample of V. album ssp. album growing on apricot trees was remarkably rich in palmitic acid (11.47%). Arachidic acid was found in only ssp. austriacum and ssp. abietis samples. The unsaturated fatty acids, mainly oleic and linoleic acids, were identified in nine lipophylic extracts obtained from V. album samples belonging to ssp. album. The amounts of linoleic and oleic acid were the highest in the sample of ssp. album growing on apricot trees (12.18 and 9.19%, respectively). Published in Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 6, pp. 523–525, November–December, 2006.     

Comparison of two methods for 14C analysis from essential oils using LSC

Natural essential oil sample obtained from basil (Ocinum basilicum), and ethanol sample obtained from wine were measured to determine ¹⁴C specific activity, using two different sample preparation methods, and liquid scintillation counting method. The paper describes the use of two preparation methods, direct measurement method and CO₂ absorption method, and the results obtained for this comparative study. Depending on carbon content of the sample and bubbling time, different correction factors of carbon mass trapped in liquid scintillation cocktail were established for CO₂ absorption method.

     

Variation in chemical composition and antibacterial activities of essential oils from two species of Houttuynia THUNB

Houttuynia THUNB. (Saururaceae) has been used for dozens of years in China for the treatment of cough, leucorrhea and ureteritis. The essential oils from the two species: Houttuynia emeiensis and Houttuynia cordata sold in China under one trade name 'Yuxingcao', obtained by hydrodistillation, were analyzed by GC-MS. The results show that fifty-five components were identified and methyl nonyl ketone (2.10-40.36%), bornyl acetate (0.4-8.61%) and beta-myrcene (2.58-18.47%) were the most abundant components in oil, but the percentage of most of compounds in different species and parts varied greatly. The two fold broth dilution and agar dilution method were used to study essential oil of two Houttuynia THUNB. species for their antibacterial properties against microorganisms, Staphylococcus aureus and Sarcina ureae. The two fold dilution method was allowed to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of essential oil from different parts and species. Results showed that all essential oils possessed antibacterial effect, with MIC values in the range of 0.0625 x 10(-3) to 4.0 x 10(-3) ml/ml. However, essential oil from different parts and species differed clearly in their antibacterial activities. The essential oil from the aboveground part of the cultivated Houttuynia emeiensis exhibited higher activity than both parts of the wild and cultivated Houttuynia cordata when used on Staphylococcus aureus (MIC = 0.25 x 10(-3) ml/ml) and Sarcina ureae (MIC = 0.0625 x 10(-3) ml/ml), and had the same activity as the positive control ampicillin sodium.     

Chemical composition and biological activities of essential oils of two new chemotypes of Glebionis Cass.

This paper includes the result of the first study of the chemical composition, antioxidant, antiinflammatory, and antidiabetic activities of the essential oils of Glebionis coronaria (L.) Cass. ex Spach and Glebionis segetum (L.) Fourr. from Turkey. In the current study, nine and twenty-eight constituents were determined in the essential oils of aerial parts of G. coronaria (GCE) (92.1%) and G. segetum (GSE) (90.0%), respectively. The main components were capillin (65.9%) in GCE, capillene (53.4%) in GSE. The essential oil compositions were evaluated and compared with previous researches. In the current study, the plants are classified as chemotypes of Glebionis species. GCE and GSE showed poor and very poor DPPH radical scavenging activity, respectively. GCE and GSE exhibited significant and strong antiinflammatory activity against the 5-lipoxygenase enzyme, respectively. Also, GCE and GSE displayed moderate and weak antidiabetic activity against the α-glucosidase enzyme, respectively. Polyacetylenes were determined as the main class of compounds in GCE and GSE and had a notable antiinflammatory activity.     

Chemical composition of essential oils from leaves, stems, flower heads and roots of Conyza bonariensis L. from Tunisia

The essential oils isolated at the flowering stage in spring, summer and autumn of the aerial and underground parts of Conyza bonariensis L. growing in Tunisia were analysed by GC and GC/MS; 143 constituents were identified, and among them 20 were major. The oils of C. bonariensis gathered in spring were rich in matricaria ester (1.2-67.3%), (Z)-nerolidol (0.3-19.9%) and caryophyllene oxide (0.8-14.3%). In the summer samples, the oils of C. bonariensis were rich in matricaria ester (1.6-76.4%), caryophyllene oxide (1.6-22.6%) and (E)-β-farnesene (1.1-22.7%). The main constituents in the autumn samples were matricaria ester (trace to 63.5%), geranyl acetone (0.0-25.3%), trans-α-bergamotene (0.0-24.3%) and limonene (2.7-15.3%). The oils showed significant variation among the seasons. Remarkable differences were found between the constituent percentages of the different studied organs. The C. bonariensis sample from Tunisia was a matricaria ester chemotype and was quite different from the samples of other countries of origin.     

Chemical composition of the essential oils from the flower, leaf and stem of Lonicera japonica

The essential oils from different aerial parts of Lonicera japonica have been extracted by hydro-distillation and analyzed by gas chromatography and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. Quantitative and qualitative differences were found between the analyzed plant parts. A total of eighty-nine compounds were identified. The main constituents were (Z,Z)-farnesole (16.2%) and linalool (11.0%) for the flowers fraction, hexadecanoic acid (16.0%) and linalool (8.7%) for the leaves fraction, and hexadecanoic acid (31.4%) for the stems. Monoterpene hydrocarbons were absent from all the oils, and oxygenated sesquiterpenes were not identified in the essential oil of the stem.     

Chemical composition of essential oils from the vegetative and reproductive structures of Copaifera langsdorffii Desf.

GC/FID and GC–MS analysis revealed germacrene D, bicyclogermacrene, α-cadinol and cubenol as major compounds from aril. Germacrene D, bicyclogermacrene, trans-caryophyllene and δ-elemene are major compounds in fruits. Germacrene D, spathulenol, trans-caryophyllene and caryophyllene oxide are major compounds in leaves. Furthermore, multivariate analysis revealed distinct groups between the composition of essential oils from aril and fruit, when compared with terpene production found in leaves. Lipid composition found in arils could be protected by the presence of non-oxygenated sesquiterpenes, as germacrene D and bicyclogermacrene. Chemical profiles of essential oils from the fruits, arils and leaves of Copaifera langsdorffii Desf. revealed different compositions, which could be related to environmental pressures. Thereby, non-oxygenated sesquiterpenes can also work against herbivory, pathogens and predator's attack, emphasising the importance of further studies among terpenes, ecology interactions and plant physiology.