Phytochemical analysis and biological activities of the ethanolic extract of Daphne sericea Vahl flowering aerial parts collected in Central Italy

In this paper, the first phytochemical analysis of the ethanolic extract of Daphne sericea Vahl flowering aerial parts collected in Italy and its biological activities were reported. Eleven compounds were identified i.e., -linolenic acid (1), tri-linoleoyl-sn-glycerol (2), pheophorbide a ethyl ester (3), pilloin (4), sinensetin (5), yuanhuanin (6), rutamontine (7), syringin (8), p-coumaric acid (9), p-anisic acid (10) and caffeic acid (11). To the best of our knowledge, compounds (1-4, 7-8 and 10) were isolated from D. sericea for the first time during this work, whereas sinensetin (5) represents a newly identified component of the entire Thymelaeaceae family. The extract was found to possess radical scavenging against both DPPH and 2,20-azino-bis(3-thylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS.+) radicals, with at least a 40-fold higher potency against the latter. Moreover, chelating abilities against both ferrous and ferric ions have been highlighted, thus suggesting a possible indirect antioxidant power of the extract. Although the precise bioactive compounds remain to be discovered, the polyphenolic constituents, including phenolic acids, tannins and flavonoids, seem to contribute to the antioxidant power of the phytocomplex. In addition, the extract produced cytotoxic effects in MDA-MB-231 and U87-MG cancer cell lines, especially at the concentration of 625 g/mL and after 48–72 h. Further studies are required to clarify the contribution of the identified compounds in the bioactivities of the extract and to support possible future applications

Composition of the Essential Oil of Coristospermum cuneifolium and Antimicrobial Activity Evaluation

AbstractFor the first time, the chemical composition and antimicrobial evaluation of Coristospermum cuneifolium (previously named Ligusticum lucidum subsp. cuneifolium) essential oil obtained from the aerial parts are reported in this work. Approximately 85% of the total constituents were identified by GC-MS analysis, evidencing the presence of 12 chemical components which belong to several classes of natural compounds. Most of them are reported for the first time in the Ligusticum genus (s.l.) and in the Apiaceae family. Their presence was able to provide a rationale for essential oil use in the field similar to those obtained from other species of the Ligusticum genus (s.l.). Moreover, the huge presence of aromatizing and flavoring components, accounting for 44.4% of the essential oil composition, might make C. cuneifolium a useful natural source of aromatic components for the food and cosmetic fields. In addition to this, a deep comparison of the essential oil of this species with that of other entities within the Ligusticum genus (s.l.) was performed and discussed on a chemotaxonomic basis.The essential oil was tested for its antimicrobial activity at both high and low inoculum (~5×105 and ~ 5×103 cfu/mL, respectively) against several bacterial and fungal strains, including methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 29213), Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), Candida albicans (ATCC 14053), methicillin-resistant S. aureus (clinical strain), carbapenem-susceptible Klebsiella pneumoniae (clinical strain), carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae (clinical strain), and carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (clinical strain).A high potency against C. albicans was shown, with an absence of growth at the concentration of 3.01 mg/mL; similarly, for methicillin-susceptible S. aureus and methicillin-resistant S. aureus, a reduction of 1.73 and 2 log10 cfu/mL at the concentration of 3.01 mg/mL was observed. With regard to gram-negative microorganisms, only slight potency against A. baumannii was shown, whereas no activity was found against E. coli and K. pneumoniae

The Majella National Park: a case study for the conservation of plant biodiversity in the Italian Apennines

The Majella National Park (MNP) is a tangible example of the interaction between ex-situ and in-situ conservation of endemic, rare, or endangered species at a Regional level in the context of the Italian national parks. The MNP has the facilities and carries out activities for the conservation of plant biodiversity: it includes botanical gardens, a seed bank, a nursery, and a network of “guardian farmers”, an authentic “granary” in which to protect and conserve biodiversity in and around the Majella massif (central Italy)

Coumarins and other components of Daphne oleoides Schreb. subsp. oleoides from Majella National Park

The present study reports about the phytochemical analysis of a sample of Daphne oleoides Schreb. subsp. oleoides (family Thymelaeaceae) collected from the Majella National Park. Twenty components, belonging to different classes of natural products, have been identified by means of spectroscopic and spectrometric techniques: [monomeric (4), bis- (5, 7–10, 20) and trimeric coumarins (11), including aglycones and glycosides, coumarinolignoid (6); flavonoids (16–19); glycosidic furolignans (14, 15), glucosidic phenylpropanoids (12, 13), cyclic tetrapyrrole derivatives (2, 3), unsaturated triglyceride (1)]. Besides the chemosystematic markers of the genus (4–10, 12, 14–18, 20) several other components were identified for the first time in the species (17, 20) and/or in the Daphne genus (1–3, 13, 19). The observed composition was discussed from the chemotaxonomic standpoint and compared with those recognized from a Sardinian accession. It was observed a pronounced difference in the two metabolites patterns, most probably attributable to geographic isolation of the studied populations and, in some extent, also by the different environmental conditions, evidencing a possible tendency of D. oleoides to the infraspecific chemovariability. Considering the wide traditional uses of Daphne spp. in ethnomedicine of several countries, also the pharmacologic potential of the identified secondary metabolites is discussed

Ajuga tenorei, possibili impieghi fitoterapici

Le prospettive di impiego in fitoterapia di derivati di diverse specie del genere Ajuga, sostenute da indicazioni etnofarmacologiche, destano interesse per questa specie autoctona del centro Italia, finora sconosciuta sotto il profilo fitochimico. Una indagine resa ancora più utile per la necessità di valutare la possibile presenza di alcune componenti tossiche, neo-clerodani, e la loro eventuale distribuzione nelle diverse popolazioni

Composizione molecolare della frazione polare di Ligusticum lucidum (Mill.)

Il Ligusticum lucidum (Mill.) (sinonimo di Coristospermum lucidum (Mill.) Reduron, Charpin & Pimenov) noto anche col nome comune di Motellina lucida, è una pianta erbacea perenne indigena appartenente alla famiglia delle Apiaceae. E’ caratterizzata da un fusto eretto e robusto, con foglie triangolari voluminose e lucide, ed infiorescenze strutturate in ombrelle composte da piccoli fiori bilobati di colore bianco. Il suo areale di distribuzione è individuato prevalentemente nel panorama montano dell’Italia settentrionale ed orientale ad altitudini comprese tra i 200 ed i 1500 m s.l.m., su pietraie e terreni aridi ad elevato coefficiente calcareo. Non sono note proprietà specifiche inerenti la specie, mentre le piante appartenenti al genere Ligusticum sono note per le loro forti proprietà anti-infiammatorie ed analgesiche. Per questo, alcune varietà del genere, hanno avuto largo impiego nella medicina tradizionale cinese, in particolare nel trattamento del dolore e per la terapia di diversi tipi di disordini ematologici, quali ischemie e trombosi, in quanto tali specie sono in grado di incrementare il flusso sanguigno soprattutto a livello cerebrale. In letteratura sono presenti diversi studi riguardanti la composizione della frazione polare e dell’olio essenziale di specie appartenenti al genere Ligusticum mentre risultano limitati gli studi fitochimici eseguiti sulla specie lucidum, riguardanti unicamente lo studio della composizione degli acidi grassi e la caratterizzazione delle cumarine e delle loro proprietà mediche. Ciò rappresenta la ragione per cui abbiamo iniziato tale studio allo scopo di fornire una prima analisi esaustiva della composizione molecolare della frazione polare della specie. L’analisi è stata condotta utilizzando tecniche estrattive, cromatografiche e spettroscopiche classiche quali estrazione con etanolo, cromatografia su colonna per la separazione dei composti, spettroscopia NMR e spettrometria di Massa per l’identificazione. Lo studio dell’estratto della frazione polare del L. lucidum, ha evidenziato la presenza di sei composti quali 3'-acetil-4'-tigloil-khellattone (1), 3'-acetil-4'-diidro-tigloil-khellattone (2), luteolina (3), 7-{[2-O-β-D-glucopiranosil)-β-D-glucopiranosil]ossi}-5-idrossi-2-(3,4-diidrossi)-4H-1-benzopiran-4-one (4), acido clorogenico (5) e acido chinico (6) più altre sostanze naturali la cui struttura è ancora oggetto di studio. I composti (1) e (2) che sono cumarine, rappresentano composti nuovi per il genere mentre sono già stati evidenziati nella famiglia e lo stesso vale per i composti (3) e (4) che sono flavonoidi ed anzi ne rappresentano i marker chemotassonomici. Infine, il composto (5) che è un acido caffeoil-chinico e l’acido chinico libero sono stati precedentemente identificati solo nel genere

Iridoids and phenylethanoid glycosides from the aerial parts of <i>Ajuga tenorei</i>, an endemic Italian species

<p>We report the first analysis in absolute, and in particular, concerning the phytochemical pattern, about an endemic Italian species, <i>Ajuga tenorei</i> C. Presl. The analysis, performed by means of techniques such as Column Chromatography and NMR spectroscopy and Mass spectrometry, led to the isolation and the identification of five compounds namely <b>verbascoside</b> (<b>1</b>), <b>echinacoside</b> (<b>2</b>), <b>ajugoside</b> (<b>3</b>), <b>harpagide</b> (<b>4</b>) and <b>8-<i>O</i>-acetylharpagide</b> (<b>5</b>). The presence of these compounds is important from both chemotaxonomic and ethno-pharmacological point of view. For what concerns the first point is confirmed the correct botanical classification of the species. The isolated compounds are also known to exert peculiar pharmacological activities and their presence may give a rationale to the historical medicinal properties associated to the <i>Ajuga</i> genus in general, since these plants have a long traditional use in many parts of the world. Such fact might suggest the use of also this species in this sense.</p

Secondary Metabolites from Pinus mugo Turra subsp. mugo Growing in the Majella National Park (Central Apennines, Italy)

In this study, we examined the composition regarding secondary metabolites of P. mugo turra ssp. mugo growing in the protected area of Majella National Park, which is the southernmost station of the habitat of this species. Both the nonpolar and polar fractions were considered. In particular, the essential-oil composition showed a high variety of compounds, and 109 compounds were detected, and 101 were identified, among which abietane-type compounds have a taxonomic relevance. Abietanes were also isolated from the polar fraction, together with an acylated flavonol and a remarkably high amount of shikimic acid

Antioxidant and alfa-glucosidase inhibitory activity of Achillea tenorii

Context: There is a need for the discovery of novel natural remedies to prevent and treat metabolic disorders such as hyperglycemia, type II non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and obesity. Several Achillea species have been utilized for centuries all around the world and are generally considered effective as hypoglycemic. Objective: Considering the ethnobotanical uses of Achillea genus, we evaluated the in vitro inhibitory activity of Achillea tenorii Grande (Asteraceae) extract on α-glcucosidase, which is a valuable target to prevent and treat metabolic disorders. We also tested its antioxidant activity. Moreover, the phytochemical profile was discussed from a chemotaxonomic point of view. Material and methods: In vitro α-glucosidase inhibition of crude ethanolic extract obtained from the aerial parts was assayed as well as the in vitro antioxidant activity (ABTS, DPPH, and FRAP-FZ tests). The extract was characterized by a phytochemical point of view by means of spectroscopic analysis. Results: The extract results endowed with α-glucosidase inhibitory activity (IC50 32 µg/mL) with a particular mechanism of action definable as un-competitive, which differed from the mechanism observed for the best-known α-glucosidase inhibitor (acarbose and miglitol). In addition, a considerable antioxidant potential has been found for A. tenorii extract, which resulted mainly constituted by phenolic compounds as caffeoylquinic acids, and flavonoids. Discussion and conclusions: These results suggest the potential of A. tenorii as a possible natural remedy to prevent and treat metabolic disorders of carbohydrate