Essential oil composition and antibacterial activity of Monticalia greenmaniana (Asteraceae)

The essential oils from fresh aerial parts of Monticalia greenmaniana (Hieron) C. Jeffrey (Asteraceae) collected in March, were analyzed by GC/MS. Oil yields (w/v) of 0.1% (flowers), 0.07%, (stems) and 0.1% (leaves) were obtained by hydrodistillation. Thirteen, sixteen and eighteen components, respectively, were identified by comparison of their mass spectra with those in the Wiley GC-MS Library data base. The major components of the flower and stem oils were 1-nonane (38.8% flowers; 33.5% stems), alpha-pinene (29.0% flowers; 14.8% stems) and germacrene D (15.6% flowers; 18.6% stems). However, in the leaf oil, germacrene D was observed at 50.7%, followed by beta-cedrene at 8.4%. The leaf essential oil showed a broad spectrum of antibacterial activity against the important human pathogenic Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923), Enterococcus faecalis (ATCC 19433), Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (ATCC 25955) with MIC values ranging from 75 to 6000 ppm.     

The organic and mineral compounds of the medicinal aromatics,Rosmarinus tournefortii and Rosmarinus officinalis,growing in eastern Morocco

This present work is part of a contribution to the recovery of natural substances. We were interested in valorising two Moroccan species of rosemary, Rosmarinus tournefortii de Noé and R. officinalis L., as possible medicinal and aromatic plants. This study gives a new perspective about the presence of some major compounds in R. tournefortii and R. officinalis L. plants. The essential oil obtained by hydrodistillation, was analysed by GC/FID and GC/MS. The constituents were identified by their mass spectra and retention indices. About 99.50 % of the total components were identified from the oil obtained from the plants, with 39.27 % camphor as the major oil component from R. tournefortii and 56.50 % 1.8-Cineole the major oil component from R. officinalis. The second study gives a new perspective about the presence of some major trace elements in two samples of rosemary plants collected from Moroccan regions in which they grew in 2011. The samples were composed of 14 elements (Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Li, Mn, Pb, Zn, Se, La, Ca, K, Mg, and Na) determined by inductive coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). These results may be useful for the evaluation of the quality of cosmetic aromatic plants.     

Essential oil composition, cytotoxic and antibacterial activities of five Etlingera species from Borneo

Essential oils obtained by hydrodistillation from the rhizomes of Etlingera pyramidosphaera (K. Schum.) R. M. Sm, E. megalocheilos (Griff.) A.D. Poulsen, comb. nov., E. coccinea (Blume) S. Sakai & Nagam, E. elatior (Jack) R. M. Sm, and E. brevilabrum (Valeton) R. M. Sm were analyzed by GCMS. The highest oil yield was obtained from E. pyramidosphaera (0.45%), followed by E. elatior (0.38%), E. coccinea (0.30%), E. brevilabrum (0.28%) and E. megalocheilos (0.25%). The major constituents of the essential oils were oxygenated monoterpenes, followed by sesquiterpenes, oxygenated sesquiterpenes, oxygenated diterpenes and diterpenes. The essential oils from E. pyramidosphaera and E. brevilabrum exhibited the best cytotoxicity against MCF 7 (LC50: 7.5 +/- 0.5 mg mL(-1)) and HL 60 (LC50: 5.0 mg mL(-1)), respectively. Strong inhibition was also observed for the essential oils of E. coccinea and E. megalocheilos against Staphylococcus aureus (MIC: 8.0 +/- 0.5 mg mL(-1), and 5.0 +/- 0.5 mg mL(-1)) and Streptococcus pyrogenes (MIC: 6.0 +/- 0.5 mg mL(-1) and 8.0 +/- 0.5 mg mL(-1)).     

Essential oil composition and antibacterial activity of Lindera nacusua (D. Don) Merr.

This study represents the first report on the chemical composition and biological activity of the essential oils from the leaves of Lindera nacusua (D. Don) Merr. Twenty-two compounds were identified and quantified, and the major components of the oil were Caryophyllene oxide (8.79%), Hexahydrofarnesyl acetone (6.83%), β-Selinene (5.02%), Neophytadiene (4.53%), Palmitic acid (4.42%), Phytol (4.36%), α-Copaene (3.89%), 4a,5,8,8a-β-Tetrahydro-2,4,5-trimethyl-1,4-naphthalindione (3.83%), α-Cadinol (3.17%), Bulnesol (2.65%) and 1,4-Dimethyl-7-(1-methylethyl) azulene (2.38%). The in vitro antibacterial activities of the essential oils were evaluated by the disc diffusion method. The inhibition zones against Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans were 23.7 and 23 mm. So the essential oil of L. nacusua showed potent antibacterial activity and potential high selectivity against S. aureus and C. albicans.     

Chemical composition and antibacterial activity of essential oil from Salvia mukerjeei

The composition of steam volatile oil from aerial parts of Salvia mukerjeei Bennet & Raizada (Lamiaceae) was analyzed by capillary GC and GC-MS. The oil was rich in sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (67.3%). Among 71 identified constituents representing 91.7% of the oil, beta-caryophyllene (28.7%), gamma-muurolene (15.5%) and dehydro-aromadendrane (9.5%), were the principal constituents. The oil was tested against ten bacterial strains and was active against Enterococcus faecalis, Erwinia chrysanthemi and Agrobacterium tumefaciens.     

Composition and antibacterial activity of essential oil from Scutellaria grossa Wall ex Benth

The chemical composition of the steam volatile oil of the whole aerial part of Scutellaria grossa Wall ex Benth. (Lamiaceae), obtained by steam distillation, has been analysed by capillary GC and GC-MS. The oil was found to be rich in oxygenated monoterpenes (88.6%). A total of 50 constituents were identified, representing 94.4% of the total oil composition. Linalool (37.0%) and 1-octen-3-ol (32.0%) were found to be the principal constituents. The antibacterial activity of the oil was determined against 10 bacterial strains by measuring the growth inhibitory zones. The oil showed significant antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria, Bacillus subtilis and Enterococcus faecalis, and the Gram-negative, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Salmonella enterica enterica. A minimum inhibitory concentration of 31.25?μL mL(-1) was observed against E. faecalis.     

Essential oil composition and antibacterial activity of different extracts of Allium roseum L., a North African endemic species

This study deals with the valorisation of medicinal and aromatic plants of the Tunisian flora, in order to find new bioactive natural products. The essential oil constituents from the flowers of Allium roseum var. odoratissimum, a North African endemic species growing in the south-east of Tunisia, were extracted by hydrodistillation and analysed by GC–MS. The most important compounds were sulphurous compounds (2,4-dimethylthiophene, 2-propenyl methyl disulfide, 1-propenyl methyl disulfide, dimethyl trisulfide, and 3-methyl-thiopropionaldehyde or methional). After an exhaustive literature review dealing with other varieties of the same species, it seems that the variety odoratissimum is the only taxon characterized by trisulfide and methional contents. Methional is of particular importance because it is found at high concentration (17%). The antibacterial activity of seven extracts was evaluated by the diffusion method and by determining the inhibition zone. All extracts exhibited an antibacterial activity at different levels against strains reported as the causal agents of food-borne diseases. Results suggest the potential use of the plant as condiment and preservative in the food industry.     

Essential oil composition and antiradical activity of the oil of Iraq plants

This study examined the antiradical activity and chemical composition of essential oils of some plants grown in Mosul, Iraq. The essential oils of myrtle and parsley seed contained α-pinene (36.08% and 22.89%, respectively) as main constituents. Trans-Anethole was the major compound found in fennel and aniseed oils (66.98% and 93.51%, respectively). The dominant constituent of celery seed oil was limonene (76.63%). Diallyl disulphide was identified as the major component in garlic oil (36.51%). Antiradical activity was higher in garlic oil (76.63%) and lower in myrtle oil (39.23%). The results may suggest that some essential oils from Iraq possess compounds with antiradical activity, and these oils can be used as natural antioxidants in food applications.     

Essential oil from Artemisia herba-alba Asso grown wild in Algeria: Variability assessment and comparison with an updated literature survey

The chemical variability of the essential oils of Artemisia herba-alba Asso aerial parts, collected at Algeria was evaluated. A. herba-alba populations were collected in four regions, Benifouda; Bougaa; Boussaada and Boutaleb, at two different periods, July (flowering phase), and October and November (vegetative phase). The essential oils were isolated by hydrodistillation and analyzed by Gas Chromatography (GC) and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). The essential oils yield ranged between 0.2% and 0.9% (v/d.w.). Fifty components were identified in A. herba-alba oils, oxygen-containing monoterpenes being dominant in all cases (72–80%). Camphor (17–33%), α-thujone (7–28%) and chrysanthenone (4–19%) were the major oil components. Despite the similarity in main components, three types of oils could be defined, (a) α-thujone : camphor (23–28:17–28%), (b) camphor : chrysanthenone (33:12%) and (c) α-thujone : camphor : chrysanthenone (24:19:19%). The comparison between the present data and an updated survey of the existing literature reinforces the major variability of A. herba-alba essential oils and stresses the importance of obtaining a defined chemical type crop production avoiding the wild harvest.     

GC/MS analysis and analgesic effect of the essential oil of Matricaria pubescens from Algeria

The essential oil of Matricaria pubescens (Asteraceae) collected at Ghardaia (Algerian Septentrional Sahara) was studied by GC and GC-MS. Isochrysanthemic acid ethyl ester (26.5%), spathulenol (19.4%), alpha-cadinol (12.9%) and geranylisovalerate (8.2%), were identified as the major components of the essential oil, which was investigated for its analgesic effect.