Chemical and biological profiles of essential oil from different parts of Myrtus communis L. subsp. communis from Turkey

The present study reports chemical composition, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant potential of essential oils from leaves and twigs of Myrtus communis L. subsp. communis from Turkey. Essential oils were obtained separately from leaves and twigs of Myrtus communis subsp. communis (MC) by hydrodistillation using a Clevenger-type apparatus. Chemical compositions were determined using GC/MS. Antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities of essential oils were tested by α-amylase inhibitory, 5-lipoxygenase inhibitory and DPPH/ABTS radical scavenging methods, respectively. The major compounds of essential oil of Myrtus communis subsp. communis leaves (MCLEO) were α-pinene (35.6%), 1,8-cineole (28.3%), linalool (10.5%), and limonene (8.2%), while the major constituents of essential oil of Myrtus communis subsp. communis twigs (MCTEO) were α-pinene (30.7%), 1,8-cineole (23.5%), p-cymene (13.3%) and limonene (11.9%). MCLEO and MCTEO showed good and moderate radical scavenging activity with IC50  values of 124.40 µg/mL and 390.10 µg/mL for ABTS radical, respectively. MCLEO and MCTEO exhibited significant radical scavenging activity with IC50 values of 34.13 µg/mL and 28.15 µg/mL for DPPH radical, respectively. Also, MCLEO and MCTEO displayed strong and good antidiabetic activity with IC50 values of 29.94 µg/mL and 159.80 µg/mL against α-amylase enzyme, respectively. Finally, MCLEO and MCTEO showed good anti-inflammatory activity with IC50 values 86.10 µg/ mL and 96.55 µg/mL against 5-lipoxygenase enzyme, respectively. From the present study it can be concluded that essential oils, especially MCLEO, possess good antidiabetic, anti- inflammatory and antioxidant activities. Also, this is the first study on chemical composition of MCTEO from Turkey, as well as on α-amylase inhibitory and 5-lipoxygenase inhibitory activities of MCLEO and MCTEO

Anticancer, Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Chloroform Extracts from Some Centaurea Species

The aim of this study was to investigate the anticancer activities of five chloroform extracts prepared from the aerial parts of Centeura kilaea Boiss. (CKC), C. cuneifolia Sm. (CCC), C. salicifolia M.Bieb. ex Willd. (CSAC), C. stenolepis Kerner (CSC1 and CSC2) against hepatocellular cancer HepG2 cell line. At the same time, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of the extracts were examined. Anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant activities of extracts were carried out by MTT, lipoxygenase, DPPH-ABTS methods, respectively. CCC, CSAC and CKC have the highest anticancer activity when compared to other extracts. Similarly, CSAC and CCC had the best antioxidant capacity, while CSAC and CKC showed strong anti-lipoxygenase activity. Among all the tested extracts, the highest amounts of total phenolic were found in the CSAC. The study revealed that CSAC and CCC displays remarkable antioxidant, anticancer and anti-inflammatory activity

<em>In vitro</em> screening for antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of five commercial <em>Origanum </em>species from Turkey

568-575The present study was conducted to evaluate the antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of methanol extracts of the five Origanum species, which are commercial importance in Turkey. Antioxidant activity was measured employing three methods namely, DPPH free radical scavenging activity, ABTS+ radical cation scavenging activity and ferric reducing antioxidant/power activity, including total phenolic and total flavonoid contents. In addition, antimicrobial activities of methanol extracts from five Origanum species aerial parts were investigated against Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus mirabilis and Candida albicans test organisms using the disk diffusion and microdilution methods. Antioxidant studies suggested that methanol extracts behaved as a strong DPPH free radical, ABTS+ radical cation scavenging activity and ferric reducing antioxidant/power activity. The antimicrobial test results showed that the methanol extracts of all Origanum species had great potential of antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus. As a conclusion of this study, the methanol extracts of five Origanum species showed strong antioxidant and antibacterial activity and therefore, they can be used as a natural preservative ingredient in food and/or pharmaceutical industry