Chemical Composition and Antioxidant Effect of Free Volatile Aglycones from Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans Houtt.) Compared to Its Essential Oil

The paper reports on the isolation of glycosidically bound volatiles from nutmeg, identification of free aglycones, and determination of the antioxidative power of free aglycones in comparison with nutmeg essential oil. Comparison of the chemical composition of free volatiles with the chemical composition of free volatile compounds found in the essential oil reveals only two common compounds (eugenol, terpinen-4-ol). To measure the antioxidative activities of the essential oil and enzymatically released aglycones from nutmeg, two different assays were performed: the 2,2\u27-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging method (DPPH) and the ferric reducing / antioxidant power assay (FRAP). Both methods showed that the aglycone fraction possesses stronger antioxidant properties than free volatiles from the oil

Biological Application of Essential Oils and Essential Oils Components in Terms of Antioxidant Activity and Inhibition of Cholinesterase Enzymes

This chapter will be described oxidative stress related to modern age illness as well as biological activity of essential oils and essential oil components in terms of their antioxidant activity. The importance of essential oils and their constituents in terms of protecting lipids and proteins from oxidation will also be explained. Alzheimer’s disease as a disease related to oxidative stress and strategies in their treatment by using essential oil components as cholinesterase inhibitors will also be described. As case studies will be pointed out medicinal plants, endemic Saturejasubspicata L., and widely used Menthapulegium L. growing in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Chemical Composition and Antioxidant Activity of Free Volatile Aglycones from Laurel (Laurus nobilis L.) Compared to Its Essential Oil

The paper examines the chemical composition and antioxidant activity of free volatile aglycones from laurel (Laurus nobilis L.) as compared to its essential oil. Comparison of the chemical composition of volatile aglycones with the chemical composition of essential oil showed there was no similarity between the free compounds found in the essential oil and the corresponding volatile aglycones. Only eugenol was found to be identical. To evaluate the said antioxidant activities, two different methods were applied: 2,2’-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging method (DPPH) and ferric reducing/antioxidant power assay (FRAP). The results obtained in vitro with both methods showed that volatile aglycones from laurel possess lower reducing power and free radical scavenging ability compared to essential oil as well as the well-known synthetic antioxidant butilated hydroxytoluene (BHT)

Medicinal plant Mentha pulegium L. – chemical profile and biological activity of its essential oil

The medicinal plant Mentha pulegium L. (Lamiaceae) is used in traditional medicine of Bosnia and Herzegovina to treat neurological and gastrointestinal disorders [1]. Healing properties of M. pulegium are attributed to monoterpenoids present in its essential oil and polyphenol derivatives [2]. These bioactive components have an important role in the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases related to oxidative stress. One of them is Alzheimer's disease, a neurological brain disorder and the most common form of dementia, affecting the older population. Inhibitors of cholinesterases have an important role in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.                The aim of this work was to analyze the chemical composition as well as the antioxidant activity and cholinesterase inhibition potential of M. pulegium essential oil from Bosnia and Herzegovina. The chemical composition of the essential oil was determined by GC/MS and GC/FID techniques. The antioxidant potential was tested using DPPH and FRAP methods [3,4]. Inhibition of acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase was determined using the Ellman’s method [5].The major components found in M. pulegium essential oil where: pulegone (54.4%; Fig. 1), p-menthone (14.0%), piperitenone (12.8%) and piperitone (3.7%). A solution of the essential oil (1 g/L) showed a low antioxidant potential and a good inhibition of both cholinesterases

Phytochemical Composition, Antiradical and Anticholinesterase Potentials of Centaurea alba and Centaurea jacea Volatile Oils

This paper reports on the phytochemical composition as well as antiradical and anticholinesterase potential of volatile oils isolated from Centaurea alba and Centaurea jacea, from Croatia. The volatile components, obtained by hydrodistillation, were determined by GC and GC-MS analyses. A total of 18 compounds were identified in C. alba volatile oil with hexadecanoic acid, germacrene D and tetradecanoic acid as main compounds. A total of 29 compounds were identified in C. jacea volatile oil, with epi-bicyclosesquiphellandrene, aromadendrene and hexadecanoic acid as a major compounds. The tested volatile oils showed low DPPH inhibition potential as well as low to moderate antiAChE potential and low antiBuChE potential. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License

Chemical Composition and Antioxidant Activity of Essential Oils of Twelve Spice Plants

Chemical compositions and related total antioxidant capacities of twelve spice essential oils were analyzed. To enable a comparison of their relative antioxidant potentials, essential oils were extracted by hydrodistillation from selected spice plants and their chemical compositions were determined by the GC-MS system on two fused-silica capillary columns of different polarity. Antioxidant effectiveness was examined by four different methods: the 2,2\u27-diphenyl- 1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging method, determination of ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), determination of antioxidant activity with thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS) and automatic determination of the oxidative stability of fat (RANCIMAT). Based on their antioxidant capacity, twelve spice essential oils can be sorted in descending order: Clove (Syzygium aromaticum L.) > Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) > Laurel (Laurus nobilis L.) > Coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) > Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans Houtt.) > Black Pepper (Piper nigrum L.) > Everlast (Helichrysum italicum G. (Roth) Don) > Mint (Mentha piperita L.) > Marjoram (Marjorana hortensis Moench.) > Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum Nees) > Sage (Salvia officinalis L.) > Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Muller)

Centaurea rupestris L.: Cytogenetics, Essential Oil Chemistry and Biological Activity

Centaurea species are used in eastern Mediterranean ethnopharmacology due to variety of bioactive compounds they comprise. Aim of this work was to characterize the Centaurea rupestris L. hydrodistilled essential oil chemical composition and test its biological activity: antimicrobial effect, antioxidant potential and inhibition of cholinesterases. Plant material authentication was by chromosome number counting and genome size assessment with the flow cytometry. Hydrodistilled essential oils were characterized using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry technique GC-MS and GC-FID. The antimicrobial effect was tested using disk diffusion and microdilution methods, antioxidant potential was tested with DPPH and FRAP methods and cholinesterases inhibition was tested with Ellman method. Genome size for C. rupestris species: sample A presented 2C=3.60 (0.10) pg and sample B 2C=3.62 (0.08) pg. The chromosome number was 2n=20 for both samples. The main essential oil constituents in isolated sample A oil, detected with GC-MS and GC-FID were: germacrene D (24.3 %), heptacosane (14.4 %), phytol (6.7 %), β-caryophyllene (5.0 %) and pentacosane (4.5 %). Sample B essential oil had the main constituents: hexadecanoic acid (18.7 %), heptacosane (13.8 %), α-linolenic acid (11.8 %), nonacosane (7.8 %) and germacrene D (5.4 %). Both samples of oil showed broad spectrum antimicrobial effect with good activity against emerging Gram-positive and Gram-negative opportunistic pathogens and pathogenic fungi which indicates the pharmaceutical potential of the C. rupestris essential oil. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License

Effect of Drought and Salinity Stresses on Nutrient and Essential Oil Composition in Ocimum basilicum L.

Drought and salinity are serious threats to agriculture worldwide. The present study investigated the effect of drought [moderate drought stress (25–30% volumetric water content - VWC), severe drought stress (15–20% VWC)] and salinity (moderate salinity stress (100 mM NaCl), severe salinity stress (200 mM NaCl)) on essential oil chemical composition and nutrient content in Ocimum basilicum \u27Genovese\u27. According to obtained results salinity stress has a stronger influence on the nutrient content as well as on essential oil composition