Nuovo metodo di preparazione di coloranti naturali

The present invention relates to a new method of preparing a colouring mixture, to the colouring mixture obtainable by this method and to the uses thereof. The method and the products of the invention are used in the natural dyeing of animal fibres, plant fibres, hides, paper and other products

'Bio-Morphological and Essential Oil Characterization "in situ" and "ex situ" of Wild Biotypes of Oregano Collected in the Campania Region (Southern Italy)

Oregano is an aromatic species of great interest which spreads spontaneously in the Mediterranean area but its genetic resources are not yet adequately developed. Moreover the results of studies of wild strains of different origin - although quite numerous - are not always comparable, and therefore the effects of environment and genotype cannot be distinguished. The identify of three wild, white-flowered biotypes of oregano collected in the Campania Region (Southern Italy) and the assessment of the effects of genotype and environment through the comparison in situ and ex situ were studied. The determination allowed to identify the biotypes belonging to two different subspecies: Origanum vulgare ssp. virens and Origanum vulgare ssp. viridulum. The percentage of oil yield was higher for the biotype belonging to ssp. virens and it was significantly correlated with the glandular and stomatal density. The observations showed that where the conditions for the growth of plants were more favourable, the percentage oil yield was generally higher. The chemical characterization of the oils obtained by hydrodistillation was found to be influenced by the genotype and conditions of plant growth

First observation on a collection of aromatic plants in a plain area of the Campania Region (Southern Italy)

The utilization of aromatic plants has extended to new sectors such as the ornamental and hobby market or the fresh product. The Southern Italy can represent an important cropping area to answer to these new request of the market. In this work we report the first results of the observations conducted during the Spring and Summer of 2005 on a collection of aromatic plants, coming from different plant nursery and spontaneous harvest, in a irrigated fertile plane area of the Campania Region. It was adopted a scheme with three single row per plot or three binate row per plot. The relieves were made on 15 plants per plot. The bio-morphological characteristics and the resistance to biotic and abiotic stress were registered. The content of essential oil was determined. The fresh biomass and dry weight per plant, the vegetation height, the incoming PAR (Photosintetically Active Radiation) were measured at harvest in the plot when it was possible. The results of the first year of observation showed the adaptability of the tested aromatic plant to the irrigated plane area of Southern Italy. In fact they reached high yield of fresh biomass and oil with a good cover of the soil and PAR absorbance. On the other side they didn’t suffer for the water excess during the winter period and they were not submitted to high level of infestation

Screening of plant-derived antifungal substances useful for the control of seed-borne pathogens

The effect of plant essential oils, Solanum chilense and Aster sedifolius raw saponins, plant-derived colourants and Brassica carinata glucosinolate-containing tissues, for the control of seedborne fungi Alternaria dauci, Alternaria radicina, Colletotrichum lindemuthianum and Aschochyta rabiei, was evaluated. In vitro assays indicated that oregano essential oil, bark chestnut-derived colourant and B.carinata meals, showed a large spectrum of activity against all pathogens. S. chilense raw saponins were effective against A.dauci and A.radicina, while those from A.sedifolius also inhibited significantly C.lindemuthianum Screening showed the antifungal potential of natural compounds

Chemical Composition and Antigerminative Activity of the Essential Oils from Five Salvia Species

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Chemical composition, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of anethole-rich oil from leaves of selected varieties of fennel [Foeniculum vulgare Mill. ssp. vulgare var. azoricum (Mill.) Thell]

The chemical composition and biological activity of the essential oils obtained from the leaves of two different cultivars of Florence fennel cropped under three different fertilization treatments (Control not fertilized; Mineral Fertilization; Compost from Municipal Solid Wastes) have been analyzed. All the oils were characterized by high anethole concentration and some showed also a good percentage of limonene. Thus, the leaves of Florence fennel, which are agricultural wastes, could be used for the recovery of anethole to be used for its flavoring and biomedical properties. The antimicrobial activity expressed by assays on the examined oils indicates an appreciable effect, generally higher on Gram-positive bacteria. The various samples of Florence fennel analyzed did not show any results with FRAP test. The DPPH test showed a weak capacity of the samples to catch the free radicals from the solution, attributable to their content in anethole