Essential oil extraction,chemical analysis and anti-Candida activity of Foeniculum vulgare Miller – new approaches

A comprehensive study on essential oil samples of Foeniculum vulgare Miller from Tarquinia (Italy) is reported. A 24-h systematic steam distillation was performed on different harvested samples applying different extraction times. The GC-MS analysis of the residue outcome showed o-cymene, α-phellandrene, α-pinene and estragole as the major constituents. The predominance and continued presence of o-cymene makes this fennel oil a rather unique chemotype. An evident correlation between the antifungal activity and phenological stage is demonstrated. The most active fractions were particularly rich in estragole, as well as a significant amount of fenchone that possibly exerts some additive effect in the expression of overall antifungal potency. Pre-fruiting material produced oil particularly rich in o-cymene. With reference to the duration of the extraction, the maximum amount of oil was released within the first 3 h, whereas the reproductive phase material needed at least 6 h for the extraction.     

Chemical composition and antioxidant activity of essential oil from aerial parts of Teucrium flavum L. subsp. flavum growing spontaneously in Tunisia

The objectives of this study were to chemically characterise and evaluate the antioxidant potential of the essential oil from Teucrium flavum L. subsp. flavum growing spontaneously in Tunisia. The volatile oil was extracted by hydrodistillation of the aerial parts in a Clevenger type apparatus. Forty constituents were identified via GC and GC-MS analysis. β-caryophyllene (32.5%) and α-humulene (17.8%) were the most abundant components. The evaluation of free radical scavenging activity using stable DPPH free radical showed that the volatile oil exhibits a moderate antioxidant activity and reduces DPPH to 50% at EC₅₀ value of 1230 μg mL^? 1.     

Determination of fatty acids in the seeds of Lepidium apetalum Willdenow,Descurainia sophia (L.) Webb ex Prantl,and Draba nemorosa L. by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography equipped with a charged aerosol detector

Both the contents of fatty acids and the ratios of unsaturated to saturated fatty acids are important parameters for determining the nutritional values of oils. Thus, we herein evaluated the fatty acids present in the seed oils of Lepidium apetalum Willdenow, Descurainia sophia (L.) Webb ex Prantl, and Draba nemorosa L. as sources of Lepidii seu Descurainiae Semen seeds in Northeast Asian Countries. We developed a method based on ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography using a charged aerosol detector for the quantitative analysis of fatty acids in the seed oils. This technique is less time-consuming than previous methods as derivatization of the oils is not required. Our method was developed though the comparison of a UV detector with a charged aerosol detector, and various stationary phases and gradient programs were tested. In addition, method validation was carried out according to the International Conference on Harmonization guidelines with respect to linearity, precision, and accuracy. We found that the quantities of unsaturated fatty acids (6.051–282.376?mg/g) were higher than those of saturated fatty acids (0.855–12.548?mg/g) in all plant seed oils. The proposed method is reproducible and convenient, and therefore, is suitable for the quantitative analysis of fatty acids in plant oils.