Evaluation of the activity of the sponge metabolites avarol and avarone and their synthetic derivatives against fouling micro- and macroorganisms

The sesquiterpene hydroquinone avarol (1) was isolated from the marine sponge Dysidea avara, whereas the corresponding quinone, avarone (2), was obtained by oxidation of avarol, and the significantly more lipophilic compounds [3′-(p-chlorophenyl) avarone (3), 3′,4′-ethylenedithioavarone (4), 4′-isopropylthioavarone (5), 4′-tert-butylthioavarone (6), 4′-propylthioavarone (7), 4′-octylthioavarone (8)] were obtained by nucleophilic addition of thiols or p-chloroaniline to avarone. All these compounds were tested, at concentrations ranging from 0.5 to 50 μg/mL, for their effect on the settlement of the cyprid stage of Balanus amphitrite, for toxicity to both nauplii and cyprids and for their growth inhibitory activity on marine bacteria (Cobetia marina, Marinobacterium stanieri, Vibrio fischeri and Pseudoalteromonas haloplanktis) and marine fungi (Halosphaeriopsis mediosetigera, Asteromyces cruciatus, Lulworthia uniseptata and Monodictys pelagica)

Food, flavouring and feed plant traditions in the Tyrrhenian sector of Basilicata, Italy

BACKGROUND: Research was carried out in the years 2002–2003 into food, flavouring and feed folk traditions of plants in the Tyrrhenian part of the Basilicata region (southern Italy). This area was colonized in ancient times by Greeks. Data was collected through field interviews, especially of farmers. METHODS: Field data were collected through structured interviews. The informants, numbered 49, belonged to families which had strong links with the traditional activities of the area. RESULTS: 61 taxa are cited, belonging to 26 botanical families, amongst which 44 used as food or flavouring and 22 for animal alimentation. Besides 7 taxa are involved in rituals especially connected with agriculture and plant growth. CONCLUSION: The preservation of some rituals especially concerning agricultural plants is noteworthy in the area, together with a certain degree of continuity in food uses. Knowledge and rediscovery of recipes in human and animal diet could represent an economic potential for the area

Chemical composition and intra mediterranean variation of the inula crithmoides L. Oil

The composition of the essential oils obtained from Inula crithmoides specimens, harvested from wild populations during their flowering season in Greece, Malta and Spain was investigated by means of GC and GC/MS. All oils were dominated by monoterpene hydrocarbons with α-phellandrene (11.0–26.2%), β-phellandrene (0.0–30.7%) and p-cymene (trace-53.8%) being the major components. p-Cymene, the main component of the Spanish specimens (53.8%), appeared to gradually decrease from West to East. The main component of the Greek oil was found to be β-phellandrene (30.7%). A total of 46 compounds were identified. © 1999, Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. All rights reserved

New sesterterpene metabolites from the mediterranean sponge Cacospongia scalaris

Two new sesterterpene metabolites, 16-acetoxy-dihydrodeoxoscalarin (1) and astakolactin (2), were isolated from the sponge Cacospongia scalaris, collected from the gulf of Astakos, Greece, along with furoscalarol (3) and deoxoscalarin (4), which have not been reported from C. scalaris in the past. The unpalatability of the sponge to fish was traced by field feeding assays to the fractions containing dihydrofurospongin-2. The structures of the new metabolites were elucidated by interpretation of their NMR data and highresolution mass spectral measurements

Chemical intra-mediterranean variation and insecticidal activity of Crithmum maritimum

The chemical composition of the volatile metabolites of Crithmum maritimum harvested from several geographic localities along the Mediterranean coasts was studied by GC and GC-MSD. The major oil constituents were found to be dillapiole, γ-terpinene, sabinene, limonene and β-phellandrene. The Western populations were richer in dillapiole, whereas the Southern collections were characterized by increased amounts of thymol methyl ether and γ-terpinene. The Italian chemical profiles differentiated by the significant contributions of carvacrol methyl ether and isoterpinolene. The essential oils were also investigated for their insecticidal activity and their repellency against Pheidole pallidula (Nylander) ants and found to possess significant activity

Composition and antibacterial activity of the essential oils of Helichrysum rupestre and H. ambiguum growing in the Balearic Islands (Part III)

The chemical compositions of the essential oils obtained from the aerial parts of Helichrysum rupestre and H. ambiguum were analysed by GC and GC/MS. From the forty-five identified constituents representing 90.21% and 93.90% of the two oils, respectively, manoyl oxide, dodecanal, nonanal, p-cymene, α- pinene, and 2,4,6-tris(1,1-dimethylethyl)benzoic acid, were found to be the major components. Furthermore, the oils were tested against six Gram (±) bacteria and it was found that one of them exhibited significant antibacterial activity

Composition and antibacterial activity of the essential oils of two helichrysum stoechas varieties growing in the island of crete

The chemical compositions of the essential oils obtained from the aerial parts of Helichrysum stoechas (L.) Moench ssp. barrelieri (Teno) Nyman var. scandens Guss. and H. stoechas ssp. barrelieri var. spathulatum Raulin growing in Crete, were analyzed by GC and GC/MS. From the 39 identified constituents representing 89.8% and87.0% of the two oils, respectively, β-caryophyllene, α-humulene, α-pinene andlimonene, were found to be the major components.Furthermore, the oils were tested against two Gram-positive and four Gram-negative bacteria, and three pathogenic fungi. © 2002, Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. All rights reserved

Chemical defense and antifouling activity of three Mediterranean sponges of the genus Ircinia

The defense roles and the antifouling activity of the organic extracts and the major metabolites of the sponges Ircinia oros, I. variabilis and I. spinosula were investigated. The antifeedant activity was tested in experimental aquaria on the generalist predator fish Thalassoma pavo as well as in coastal ecosystems rich in fishes. Some of the major metabolites exhibited high levels of antifeedant activity. The antifouling activity was tested in laboratory assays, against representatives of the major groups of fouling organisms (marine bacteria, marine fungi, diatoms, macroalgae and mussels). All extracts showed promising levels of activity. As was expected, no single extract was active in all tests and some fractions that were effective against one organism showed little or no activity against the others. The high but variable level of antifouling activity in combination with the absence of toxicity (tested on the development of oyster and sea urchin larvae) shows the potential of these metabolites to become ingredients in environmentally friendly antifouling preparations

Essential oil and headspace analysis of the maritime bombycilaena erecta and otanthus maritimus species growing wild in Greece

The oils obtained by hydrodistillation and the headspace volatiles from the aerial parts of Bombycilaena erecta and Otanthus maritimus were analyzed by means of GC and GC/MS. The major components of the oils of Otanthus maritimus were cis-chrysanthenyl acetate (30.4%); camphor (12.9%) and artemisia alcohol (12.6%), while those of Bombycilaena erecta were camphor (18.8%); yomogi alcohol (14.9%) and artemisyl acetate (9.1%). Additionally, the repellency of the investigated species against the ant Monomorius pharaonis was studied. © 2000, Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. All rights reserved