Essential oil of Acinos mayoranifolius (Mill.) Šilić (Lamiaceae) from Montenegro

Acinos mayoranifolius (Mill.) Silic is endemic, spread across the western border area of Croatia and Herzegovina and the western part of Montenegro. It is a distinctly Mediterranean mountainous species. It inhabits open limestone rocky terrains, rims of karst forests, on heights between 20 and 1400m (Silic, 1979, 1984). A. majoranifolius is distinguished from the rest of the Acinos species by its aroma, and therefore the composition of its essential oil is presented in this work. We have studied the essential oils of three populations of A. majoranifolius collected from different localities in Western Montenegro: mountain Orjen, Njegusi and Lijeva Rijeka. The samples were gathered in the flowering period. The essential oil was obtained by hydrodistillation from the dried aerial parts of the plants. The analyses of the oils were carried out using GC/MS. The identification of the compounds was based on comparison of their Kovats indices (KI), their retention times (RT) and mass spectra with those obtained from authentic samples and/or the MS library (Adams, 1995). The yield of the essential oils was between 0.5% and 0.6%. Pulegone was the main component of all the oils (65.4%-81.3%). The Mt. Orjen and Njegusi populations had a high content of isomenthone (11.4% and 15.4%), while this compound was detected only in traces in the Lijeva Rijeka population.Isopulegone and caryophyllene oxide were found in similar concentrations in all populations

Promenljivost osobina etarskog ulja vrste Clinopodium pulegium (Lamiaceae) u zavisnosti od fenološke faze

The variability of essential oil characteristics in different phenological stages of Clinopodium pulegium from its natural habitat (Svrljiški Timok gorge, Serbia) and from cultivated plants (Niš, Serbia) was determined. The essential oils were obtained from aerial parts of the plants by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC-MS. These are the first data on the essential oil characteristics of plants of the population from the Svrljiški Timok gorge. Samples originating from both natural and cultivated populations were characterized by high amounts of essential oils in all stages of development (0.8% - 1.4%). Twenty-one compounds were identified, representing 95.3-99.6% of the total oils. Differences in the essential oil composition were more quantitative than qualitative. The quality of the essential oil was stable and did not vary with differences in environmental conditions. Dominance of the main components was modified by phenological stage. Pulegone was dominant in the vegetative (76.1% wild population, 62.7% cultivated population) and the flowering (49.5%, 64.6%) stages, while menthone (48.5%, 65.3%) displaced pulegone (34.7%, 18.4%) at the fruiting stage. Cultivated plants in the vegetative and flowering stages can be considered a significant source of pulegone, and in the fruiting stage a significant source of menthone. Careful selection of the developmental stage of the plant is a potential tool which could be employed to obtain the preferred chemical composition of C. pulegium for commercial use.U radu je praćena promenljivost količine i sastava etarkog ulja Clinopodium pulegium kroz različite stadijume razvoja biljke (vegetativni, stadijum cvetanja i plodonošenja). Materijal je sakupljan iz samonikle (klisura Svrljiškog Timoka) i gajene (Niš) populacije. Etarsko ulje je izolovano iz nadzemnih delova biljaka destilacijom vodenom parom i analizirano GC-MS metodom. Ovo su prvi podaci o osobinama etarskog ulja biljaka populacije iz klisure Svrljiškog Timoka. Svi uzorci kako iz samonikle tako i iz gajene populacije su se odlikovali velikim sadržajem ulja (0.8% - 1.4%) u svim stadijumima razvoja. Dvadeset jedna komponenta je identifikovana što predstavlja 95.3-99.6% ukupnog etarskog ulja. Razlike u sastavu ulja su bile više kvantitativne nego kvalitativne. Kvalitet etarskog ulja je bio stabilan a variranja uslovljena promenom sredine relativno mala. Dominacija glavnih komponenata je bila uslovljena promenama fenoloških faza. Pulegon je bio dominantan u vegetativnoj (76.1% u ulju biljaka samonikle populacije, 62.7% u ulju biljaka gajene populacije) i fazi cvetanja (49.5%, 64.6%), dok je menton bio dominantan (48.5%, 65.3%) u fazi plodonošenja. Rezultati su pokazali da se biljke u vegetativnoj i fazi cvetanja mogu smatrati značajnim izvorom pulegona, a u fazi plodonošenja značajnim izvorom mentona. Pažljivim odabirom razvojnog stadijuma biljke moguće je dobiti etarsko ulje željenog sastava koje bi se moglo upotrebiti u komercijalne svrhe

Composition and antimicrobial activity of essential oil from the underground parts of Laserpitium zernyi Hayek (Apiaceae)

Laserpitium zernyi Hayek is Scardo-Pindic endemic plant distributed in the mountain regions of C. Balkans. It was treated earlier as a subspecies, L. siler L. subsp. zernyi (Hayek) Tutin [1,2]. Root of L. siler is traditionally used as tonic, diuretic, emenagogue, in gynecology and externally for toothache treatments [3]. Composition and antimicrobial activity of essential oil from the underground parts (roots and rhizomes) of L. zernyi were investigated. Air-dried and powdered plant material was hydrodistilled using n-hexane as a collecting solvent. Pale blue oil yielded 1.2l% (w/w). The essential oil was analyzed by GC/FID and GC/MS. Forty-three compounds were identified (94.3% of total oil). Oil was characterised by similar content of monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes (52.9% and 41.4%, respectively). The main constituents were α-pinene (3 1.6%) and α-bisabolol (30.9%). The antimicrobial activity was tested using the microdillution method [4] against Gram(+) bacteria Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, S. epidermidis ATCC 12228, Micrococcus luteus ATCC 9341, Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212, Gram(-) bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, Klebsiella pneumoniae NCIMB 9111, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, and two strains of yeast Candida albicans (ATCC 10259 and 24433). Laserpitium zernyi oil showed significant antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus epidermidis (MIC 31.83 µg/ml), S. aureus and Micrococcus luteus (MICs 63.67 µg/ml). For all other tested microorganisms MIC values were higher than 100.00 µg /ml. The studied essential oil isolated from the underground parts of L. zernyi had a remarkably different composition than the previously tested oils from flower and herb of this plant, and also showed a much higher antimicrobial activity [5].The 80th anniversary of the publication of Turrill’s “Plant life of the Balkan peninsula

Avaliação do efeito do eucaliptol nas convulsões induzidas por pentilenotetrazol em camundongos

The developmental process of epilepsies involves diverse mechanisms that culminate in the hyperactivity of a population of neurons, resulting in a pattern of repeated and rhythmic depolarizations. Antiepileptic drugs act by increasing GABAergic neurotransmission, reducing the effects of glutamate, or blocking ion channels, and are endowed with serious adverse effects that make it difficult for patients to adhere to treatment. This fact has encouraged the search for compounds of natural origin with potential anticonvulsant effect. Thus, the present study aimed to evaluate the effect of eucalyptol in seizures induced by pentylenetetrazole (PTZ). For this, male Swiss mice, orally treated with monotrepene, were used. The first protocol evaluated the toxicity and the estimated LD50 of the compound. Based on the value of LD50, the doses of terpene used in the behavioral and neurochemical tests were selected. For the behavioral tests, groups of mice were pretreated with saline (10 mL/kg, vol), diazepam (2 mg/kg, ip) and eucalyptol (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg, vol) and then with pentylenetetrazole 80 mg/kg, ip) and evaluated for the following parameters: seizure intensity, latency for first seizure and time of death. For neurochemical tests, groups of mice were pretreated with saline (10 mL/kg, v.o.) and eucalyptol (400 mg/kg, i.p.) and subsequently with pentylenetetrazole (80 mg/kg, i.p.); The determination of the concentration of neurotransmitters (monoamines - dopamine, noradrenaline and serotonin) and oxidative stress markers (nitrite and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances - TBARs) were the parameters evaluated. The results were analyzed by ANOVA or Kruskal-Wallis, followed by Student-Newman-Keuls, and Dunns, respectively. Values of p <0.05 were considered significant. The results showed that oral administration of eucalyptol had low toxicity and the estimated LD50 was greater than 2000 mg / kg. In the PTZ-induced seizure test, only the higher dose of monoterpene (400 mg/kg) significantly reduced seizure intensity by 60%, increased latency for onset of the first seizure by 85% and time of death of the animals in 75% in relation to the control. Similarly, treatment with eucalyptol (400 mg/kg) significantly reduced the concentration of noradrenaline, dopamine and serotonin by 50%, 33% and 70%, respectively, in relation to the PTZ-treated group (80 mg/kg). In addition, treatment with eucalyptol (400 mg/kg) significantly reduced the concentration of TBARs by 33%, but not nitrite, relative to the PTZ treated group (80 mg/kg). Taken together, the results show that the monoterpene studied has low oral toxicity and an important anticonvulsant effect, since its administration is capable of attenuating the convulsions chemically induced by pentylenetetrazol with consequent reduction of the concentration of monoamines and the reactive substances of thiobarbituric acid, elements whose increase is associated with the epileptogenesis phenomenon.O processo de desenvolvimento das epilepsias envolve mecanismos diversos que culminam na hiperatividade de uma população de neurônios, resultando em um padrão de despolarizações repetidas e rítmicas. Os fármacos antiepilépticos agem através do aumento da neurotransmissão GABAérgica, da redução dos efeitos do glutamato, ou do bloqueio de canais iônicos, sendo dotados de efeitos adversos sérios que dificultam a adesão do paciente ao tratamento. Este fato tem incentivado a busca por compostos de origem natural com potencial efeito anticonvulsivante. Desta forma, o presente trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar o efeito do eucaliptol nas convulsões induzidas por pentilenotetrazol (PTZ). Para tanto, foram utilizados camundongos Swiss machos, tratados oralmente com o monotrepeno. O primeiro protocolo realizado avaliou a toxicidade e a DL50 estimada do composto. Com base no valor da DL50, foram selecionadas as doses do terpeno utilizadas nos testes comportamentais e neuroqímicos. Para os testes comportamentais, grupos de camundongos foram previamente tratados com salina (10 mL/kg, v.o.), diazepam (2 mg/kg, i.p.) e eucaliptol (100, 200 e 400 mg/kg, v.o.) e posteriormente com pentilenotetrazol (80 mg/kg, i.p.) e avaliados quanto aos seguintes parâmetros: intensidade das convulsões, latência para primeira convulsão e tempo de morte. Para os testes neuroquímicos, grupos de camundongos foram previamente tratados com salina (10 mL/kg, v.o.) e eucaliptol (400 mg/kg, i.p.) e posteriormente com pentilenotetrazol (80 mg/kg, i.p.); a determinação da concentração de neurotransmissores (monoaminas – dopamina, noradrenalina e serotonina) e dos marcadores de estresse oxidativo (nitrito e substâncias reativas do ácido tiobarbitúrico – TBARs) foram os parâmetros avaliados. Os resultados foram analisados por ANOVA ou Kruskal-Wallis, seguido dos testes de Student-Newman-Keuls, e Dunns, respectivamente. Foram considerados significativos os valores de p < 0,05. Os resultados mostraram que a administração oral do eucaliptol apresentou baixa toxicidade e a DL50 estimada foi superior a 2000 mg/kg. No teste das convulsões induzidas por PTZ apenas a dose maior do monoterpeno (400 mg/kg) reduziu de forma significativa a intensidade das convulsões em 60%, aumentou a latência para aparecimento da primeira convulsão em 85% e o tempo de morte dos animais em 75% em relação ao controle. De forma semelhante, o tratamento com eucaliptol (400 mg/kg) reduziu de forma significativa a concentração de noradrenalina, dopamina e serotonina, em 50%, 33% e 70%, respectivamente, em relação ao grupo tratado com PTZ (80 mg/kg). Além disso, o tratamento com eucaliptol (400 mg/kg) reduziu de forma significativa a concentração de TBARs em 33%, mas não de nitrito, em relação ao grupo tratado com PTZ (80 mg/kg). Tomados em conjunto, os resultados mostram que o monoterpeno estudado apresenta baixa toxicidade oral e importante efeito anticonvulsivante, visto que sua administração é capaz de atenuar as convulsões quimicamente induzidas por pentilenotetrazol com consequente redução da concentração de monoaminas e das substâncias reativas do ácido tiobarbitúrico, elementos cujo aumento está associado ao fenômeno da epileptogênese

STUDY ON THE CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS OF GALIUM MELANANTHERUM BOISS

IN THE PRESENT THESIS HAVE BEEN STUDIED THE CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS OF THE AERIALPARTS OF GALIUM MELANANTHERUM BOISS (RUBIACEAE FAM). USING THE TECHNIQUES PC, TLC, C.C, UV ABSORPTION SPECTROSCOPY, HYDROLYSIS, SUGAR ANALYSIS BY GLC, GLC, HPLC, NMR) THE FOLLOWING CONSTITUENTS WERE IDENTIFIED. IN THE PETROLEUM ETHER: B-CAROTENE (ISOLATED, FATTY ACIDS, STEROLS, 4- MONOMETHYLESTEROLS, 4,4'-DIMETHYLSTEROLS. IN THE METHANOL EXTRACT POLYPHENOLIC COMPOUNDS WERE EXTRACTED ACCORDING TO THE CHAVAUX- PARIS PROCEDURE. THE FOLLOWING COMPOUNDS HAVE BEEN ISOLATED AND IDENTIFIED: APIGENIN, KAEMPFEROL, QUERCETIN., LUTEOLIN, CAFFEIC ACID, SCOPOLETIN, VITEXIN LUTEOLIN-7-0-B-GENTIOBIOSIDE, ORIENTIN, CHLOROGENIC ACID, ISOQUERCITRIN, NICOTIFLORIN (KAEMPFEROL-3-0-B- RUTTIN >RUTIN, ESCULETIN (IDENTIFIED BYHPLC BUT NOT ISOLATED). THE FREE AMINO-ACIDS WERE DETECTED BY TLC AND BY CHROMATOGRAPHY IN BIOTRONIC LC 2000 AUTO-ANALYSER . ASCORBIC ACID HAS BEEN DETERMINED BY TWO METHODS (VOLUMETRIC AND SPECTROPHOTOMETRIC).ΜΕΛΕΤΗΘΗΚΕ ΤΟ ΦΥΤΟ (ΥΠΕΡΓΕΙΑ ΤΜΗΜΑΤΑ) GALIUM MELANANTHERUM BOISS ΤΗΣ ΟΙΚΟΓΕΝΕΙΑΣ RUBIACEAS ΜΕ ΤΗ ΧΡΗΣΙΜΟΠΟΙΗΣΗ ΤΩΝ ΑΚΟΛΟΥΘΩΝ ΤΕΧΝΙΚΩΝ: ΔΙΑΔΟΧΙΚΕΣ ΕΚΧΥΛΙΣΕΙΣ ΜΕ ΔΙΑΛΥΤΕΣ ΑΥΞΑΝΟΜΕΝΗΣ ΠΟΛΙΚΟΤΗΤΑΣ, ΧΑΡΤΟΧΡΩ/ΦΙΑ, ΧΡΩΜ/ΦΙΑ ΛΕΠΤΗΣ ΣΤΙΒΑΔΑΣ, ΣΤΗΛΗΣ HPLC ΠΕΡΙΟΣ ΧΡΩΜΑ/ΦΙΑ, UV, NMR ΚΑΙ ΥΔΡΟΛΥΣΕΙΣ. ΠΡΟΣΔΙΟΡΙΣΤΗΚΑΝ ΑΠΟ ΤΟ ΠΕΤΡΕΛΑΙΚΟ ΕΚΧΥΛΙΣΜΑ ΤΟΥ ΦΥΤΟΥ ΤΑ ΛΙΠΑΡΑ ΟΞΕΑ, ΣΤΕΡΟΛΕΣ ΚΑΙ Β- ΚΑΡΟΤΕΝΙΟ. ΣΤΟ ΜΕΘΑΝΟΛΙΚΟ ΕΚΧΥΛΙΣΜΑ ΥΓΡΟΥ ΠΡΟΗΓΗΘΗΚΕ ΚΑΤΕΡΓΑΣΙΑ CHARAUX-PARIS ΕΛΗΦΘΗΣΑΝ ΤΑ ΥΠΟΛΕΙΜΜΑΤΑ: ΑΙΘΕΡΙΚΟ, ΟΞΙΚΟ- ΑΙΘΥΛΕΣΤΕΡΙΚΟ ΚΑΙ ΒΟΥΤΑΝΟΛΙΚΟ. ΑΠΟ ΤΟ ΑΙΘΕΡΙΚΟ ΑΠΟΜΟΝΩΘΗΚΑΝ ΟΙ ΓΕΝΙΝΕΣ ΦΛΑΒΟΝΟΕΙΔΩΝ ΑΠΙΓΕΝΙΝΗ, ΚΑΙΜΠΦΕΡΟΛΗ, ΛΟΥΤΕΟΛΙΝΗ, ΚΕΡΚΕΤΙΚΗ ΚΑΙ ΤΟ ΦΑΙΝΟΛΟΞΥ ΚΑΦΕΙΚΟ ΟΞΥ. ΑΠΟ ΤΟ ΟΞΙΚΟΑΙΘΥΛΕΣΤΕΡΙΚΟ ΥΠΟΛΕΙΜΜΑ ΑΠΟΜΟΝΩΘΗΚΑΝ Η ΚΟΥΜΑΡΙΝΗ, ΣΚΟΠΟΛΕΤΙΝΗ ΚΑΙ ΤΑ ΦΛΑΒΟΝΟΕΙΔΗ ΒΙΤΕΞΙΝΗ, ΛΟΥΤΕΟΛΙΝΟ-7-ΓΕΝΤΙΟΒΙΟΣΙΔΗΣ, ΛΟΥΤΕΟΛΙΝΟ-7- ΓΛΥΚΟΣΙΔΗΣ ΚΑΙ ΠΟΡΙΕΝΤΙΝΗ. ΑΠΟ ΤΟ ΒΟΥΤΑΝΟΛΙΚΟ ΥΠΟΛΕΙΜΜΑ ΑΠΟΜΟΝΩΘΗΚΑΝΤΟ ΦΑΙΝΟΛΟΞΥ ΧΛΩΡΟΓΕΝΙΚΟ ΟΞΥ 'Η ΤΑ ΦΛΑΒΟΝΟΕΙΔΗ ΚΑΙΜΠΦΕΡΟΛΟ-3-ΡΟΥΤΙΝΟΣΙΔΗΣ, ΡΟΥΤΙΝΗ, ΙΣΟΚΕΡΚΕΤΡΙΝΗ ΚΑΙ ΒΙΚΕΝΙΝΗ-2 . ΠΡΟΣΔΙΟΡΙΣΤΗΚΑΝ ΤΑ ΕΛΕΥΘΕΡΑ ΑΜΙΝΟΞΕΑ ΤΟΥ ΦΥΤΟΥ ΚΑΙ Η ΒΙΤΑΜΙΝΗ C (ΑΣΚΟΡΒΙΚΟ ΟΞΥ)

Antimicrobial Activity of the Essential Oil of Greek Endemic Stachys spruneri and its Main Component, Isoabienol

The essential oils of Stachys spruneri Boiss. (sample A and sample B) were analyzed by GC and GC-MS. (+)-Isoabienol was the dominant component (49.5 and 48.2%, respectively of the total oils) among seventy-two identified constituents. Isoabienol was separated, purified by preparative thin-slayer chromatography, and further identified by means of physicochemical and spectrometric analysis. The microbial growth inhibitory properties of the essential oil and its main metabolite, the labdane diterpene isoabienol, were determined using the broth microdilution method against eight laboratory strains of bacteria (Gram- positive: Staphylococcus aureus, S. epidermidis, Micrococcus luteus, Enterococcus faecalis, Bacillus subtilis, and Gram- negative: Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and two strains of the yeast Candida albicans. Both essential oil and isoabienol showed considerable activity against all the microorganisms tested, with the isolated compound being most active

Essential oil composition of Sanicula europaea L.

The chemical composition of essential oils obtained by hydrodistillation from leaves of Sanicula europaea L. originating from two different localities in Serbia and Montenegro was analyzed using GC and GC-MS. The oils were characterized by a high content of sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (59.5-63.8%). The major compounds were found to be beta-selinene (40.4-44.2%), caryophyllene oxide (17.9-19.2%) and a-selinene (3.7-4.0%). Copyrigh

Components of cyclohexane extract of Anthemis triumfetti

The cyclohexane extract of the aerial parts of Anthemis triumfetti (L.) DC. was analyzed by means of GC-MS to determine the fatty acid and sterol composition. Additionally, camphor, trans-phytol, squalene, and beta-carotene were isolated and identified on the basis of their data