Chemical and Principal-Component Analyses of the Essential Oils of Apioideae Taxa (Apiaceae) from Central Balkan

Seseli tortuosum L. subsp. tortuosum Essential Oils and Their Principal Constituents as Anticancer Agents

Seseli tortuosum L. subsp. tortuosum, belonging to the Apiaceae family, is a species that grows in Europe, mainly in the Mediterranean regions. The history of its application in traditional medicine highlights its various biological properties. Trying to explore the phytochemistry and pharmacological aspects of this species, the essential oils (EOs) extracted from flowers, stems, and roots of a locally wild accession, never previously investigated, growing in Sicily, Italy, were investigated. The chemical composition of all EOs, obtained by the hydrodistillation method, was evaluated by GC-MS. The most abundant class of all investigated samples was that of monoterpene hydrocarbons (79.98-91.21%) with p-cymene, α-pinene, β-pinene, and β-ocimene as major compounds. These EOs, and their main components, were tested for their possible anticancer activity. Obtained data provided evidence that among the different EOs tested, at the dose of 100 μg/mL, those extracted from stems and roots were particularly effective, already at 24 h of treatment, in reducing the cell viability of 42% and 95%, respectively, in HCT116 colon cancer cell line. These EOs also exerted a remarkable cytotoxic effect that was accompanied by morphological changes represented by cell shrinkage as well as a reduction in residual cell population. Differently, modest effects were found when EOs extracted from flowers were tested in the same experimental conditions. The evaluation of the phytocompounds mainly represented in the EOs extracted from different parts of the plant and tested in a range of concentrations between 20 and 200 μg/mL, revealed that α-pinene, β-pinene, and p-cymene exerted only modest effects on cell viability. Differently, a remarkable effect was found when β-ocimene, the most abundant phytocomponent in EOs from roots, was tested on colon cancer cells. This phytocompound, among those identified in EOs from Seseli tortuosum L. subsp. tortuosum, was found to be the most effective in reducing colon cancer cell viability with IC50 = 64.52 μg/mL at 24 h of treatment. All together, these data suggest that β-ocimene could be responsible for the effects observed in colon cancer cells.

A comprehensive review on traditional and modern research of the genus Bupleurum (Bupleurum L., Apiaceae) in recent 10 years

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The genus Bupleurum (family Apiaceae), comprising approximately 248 accepted species, is widely distributed and used in China, Japan, India, Central Asia, North Africa and some European countries as traditional herbal medicines. Certain species have been reported to have significant therapeutic effects in fever, inflammatory disorders, cancer, gastric ulcer, virus infection and other diseases.

AIM OF THE REVIEW

we performed a comprehensive review of the ten-year research progress in phytochemistry, pharmacology, toxicity, along with bibliometrics research of the genus Bupleurum, aiming to identify knowledge gaps for future research.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

All the literatures are retrieved from library and electronic sources including Web of Science, PubMed, Elsevier, Google Scholar, CNKI and Baidu Scholar. These papers cover studies of the traditional use, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and toxicology of the genus Bupleurum.

RESULTS

There is a long history of using the genus Bupleurum in traditional herbal medicine that dated back to over 2000 years ago. Twenty-five species and 8 varieties with 3 variants within this genus have been reported to be effective to treat fever, pain, liver disease, inflammation, thoracolumbar pain, irregular menstruation and rectal prolapse. The main phytochemicals found in these plants are triterpene saponins, volatile oil, flavonoid, lignans, and polysaccharides. Many of these compounds have also been shown to have anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, antimicrobial, immunoregulation, neuroregulation, hepatoprotective and antidiabetic activities. Meanwhile, improper usage of Bupleurum may induce cytotoxic effects, and polyacetylenes may be the main poisonous compounds.

CONCLUSIONS

This article summarized recent findings about Bupleurum research from many different aspects. While a small number of Bupleurum species have been investigated through modern pharmacology methods, there are still major knowledge gaps due to inadequate studies and ambiguous findings. Future research could focus on more specific phytochemistry studies combined with mechanistic analysis to provide better guidance to utilize Bupleurum as medicinal resources.

Chemical Composition, Antitumor Potential, and Impact on Redox Homeostasis of the Essential Oils of Orlaya grandiflora from Two Climate Localities

It is well known that abiotic components can affect biosynthetic pathways in the production of certain volatile compounds. The aim of this study was to compare the chemical composition of essential oils obtained from Orlaya grandiflora (L.) Hoffm. collected from two localities in Serbia (continental climate, OG1) and Montenegro (Mediterranean climate, OG2) and to assess their antitumor potential on the human colon cancer HCT-116 and breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cell lines. EOs obtained by hydrodistillation were analyzed using GC-MS and GC-FID methods. The results indicate considerable differences in the chemical compositions of the two samples. Although in both samples the main class of volatiles observed was sesquiterpenes (47.5% for OG1 and 70.1% for OG2), the OG1 sample was characterized by a high amount of monoterpene hydrocarbons (29.3%), and sesquiterpene germacrene D (29.5%) as the most abundant compound. On the other hand, the OG2 sample contained a high quantity of oxygenated sesquiterpenes (20.6%), and β-elemene (22.7%) was the major constituent. The possible antitumor mechanisms of these EOs in the HCT-116 and MDA-MB-231 cell lines were examined by means of cell viability, apoptosis, redox potential, and migratory capacity. The antiviability potential appeared to be dose dependent, since the results showed that both EOs decreased the viability of the tested cells. Stronger antitumor effects were shown in MDA-MB-231 cells after short-term treatment, especially at the highest applied concentration, where the percentage of viability was reduced by over 40%. All tested concentrations of EOs exhibited proapoptotic activity and elevated activity of caspase-3 in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The results also showed decreased concentrations of superoxide anion radical in the treated cells, which indicates their significant antioxidative role. Long-term treatments showed mild recovery effects on cell viability in both cell lines, probably caused by the balancing of redox homeostasis. Elevated levels of nitrites indicate high levels of nitric oxide (NO) production and suggest its higher bioavailability due to the antioxidative environment. The tested EOs also induced a drop in migratory capacity, especially after short-time treatments. Taken together, these results suggest considerable antitumor activity of both EOs, which could have potential therapeutic applications.

Toxicity, antifeedant and physiological effects of trans-anethole against Hyphantria cunea Drury (Lep: Arctiidae)

Plant secondary metabolites are currently known to interfere with basic metabolic, behavioral and physiological processes of insects. In the current study, the biological and physiological effects of trans-anethole were investigated against Hyphantria cunea Drury. The bioassay data demonstrated the high toxicity of trans-anethole against the fourth-instar larvae with the LC₃₀, LC₅₀ and LC₉₀ values of 0.72, 1.41 and 7.20 μL/mL, respectively. Also the concentrations of LC₃₀ and LC₅₀ showed 53 and 87% feeding deterrency against the larvae. The biochemical experiments revealed that oral exposure of trans-anethole decreased the activities of digestive enzymes, acetylcholinesterase and the contents of energy reserves while, it induced the activities of detoxifying and antioxidant enzymes compared to control. In fact, trans-anethole induced the inhibition of digestion and AChE activities accompanied by imbalance in metabolic and oxidative processes so it may be recommended as a potent biopesticide in control of H. cunea populations.

Bioactive Compounds in Aegopodium podagraria Leaf Extracts and Their Effects against Fluoride-Modulated Oxidative Stress in the THP-1 Cell Line

Aegopodium podagraria L. (goutweed), a member of the Apiaceae family, is a common perennial plant found all around the world that has been used in folk medicine since antiquity. Goutweed leaves contain polyacetylenes, essential oils, mono- and sesquiterpenes, vitamins, macro- and microelements, and phenolic compounds. In spite of its many health-promoting properties, including antioxidant effects, the plant has not been thoroughly studied. The aim of this study was to investigate the antioxidant properties of different goutweed leaf extracts and their effects on the THP-1 cell line, and also to describe the chemical characteristics of goutweed. Falcarinol and falcarindiol and essential oil were determined by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. Spectrophotometry was used to measure the total content of polyphenols and antioxidant activity–by DPPH and FRAP methods. Oxidative stress in THP-1 cells was induced via sodium fluoride. Then, goutweed leaf extracts were added to evaluate their influence on antioxidant potential (ABTS) and the activity of antioxidant enzymes. Confocal microscopy was used to visualise the production of cytoplasmic and mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) and for in vitro imaging of apoptosis. The ethanol extracts have a high total content of polyphenols, polyacetylenes, and essential oil, as well as high antioxidant potential. The main volatiles represented diverse chemical groups, which are both oxygenated derivatives of sesquiterpenes and monoterpenes. We also demonstrated positive effects of the high antioxidant potential and increased activity of antioxidant enzymes on cell cultures under severe fluoride-induced oxidative stress. Extraction at 80 ℃ and the use of ethanol as a solvent increased the antioxidant capacity of the extract. The leaves of Aegopodium podagraria may serve as a valuable source of antioxidants in the daily diet and assist in the prevention and treatment of oxidative stress-mediated conditions, e.g., inflammatory conditions, cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, and even obesity.

The potential of Apiaceae species as sources of singular phytochemicals and plant-based pesticides

The Apiaceae Lindl. (=Umbelliferae Juss.), which includes several economical important vegetables, herbs, and spices, is one of the most numerous plant family. Umbelliferous crops (namely anise, fennel, carrot, coriander, parsley, etc.) are also valuable sources of botanical flavoring agents and fragrances. In addition, Apiaceae species yield a wide variety of distinctive specialized metabolites (i.e, volatile phenylpropanoids, furanocoumarins, sesquiterpene coumarins, polyacetylenes, and phthalides), some of them been described as uncommon natural phytochemicals exclusive of the family, which offers a great potential for bioprospection. Numerous studies have pointed out the outstanding biological activity of extracts and several classes of phytochemicals from Apiaceae species. Emphasis has been given to essential oils (EOs) and their constituents activities, most likely because this type of plant added value product benefits from a larger acceptance and application potential in integrated pest management (IPM) and integrated vector management (IVM) programs. Several species of the family offer a variety of unique compounds with great potential as biopesticidal and/or synergizing agents. Investigations covering their activity toward agricultural pests and phytopathogens have increased in the last years, nevertheless the interest remains strongly focus on arthropod species, predominantly those acting as vectors of human diseases. From our survey, it is patent the gap of knowledge concerning the potential molluscicidal properties of Apiaceae extracts/phytochemicals, as well as their herbicidal activities against invasive plant species. In this review, we propose to highlight the potential of Apiaceae species as suitable sources of bioactive phytochemicals with great relevance within the frame of plant-based pesticides R&D, and will discuss their applicability in real-world scenarios considering the recent developments regarding the design of stable formulations incorporating Apiaceae bioactive products. We expect that this review will encourage researchers to consider undervalued Apiaceae species as alternative sources of bioactive compounds and will give a contribute to the field by suggesting new research topics.

Chemical compositon, antibacterial and antioxidant activities of Cnidium silaifolium ssp. orientale (Boiss.) Tutin essential oils

The chemical compositions of the essential oils (EOs) obtained by hydrodistillation from different parts of Cnidium silaifolium ssp. orientale (Boiss.) Tutin were analyzed both by GC-FID and GC/MS, simultaneously. One hundred nine compounds representing 90.1% of the total volatiles in the EOs were identified with the main characteristic compounds α-pinene (50.3%) in the root, germacrene D (20.3%) in the fruit, and β-caryophyllene (18.7%) in the aerial parts of C. silaifolium ssp. orientale. The antimicrobial activity against human pathogenic Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria was evaluated by the in vitro microdilution method. Antibacterial succeptibility was observed from the root and aerial part EOs against Staphylococcus aureus (0.039 and 0.156 mg/mL, respectively); while the fruit EO was most effective against Bacillus cereus at 0.07 mg/mL. The antioxidant capacities of the EOs were also evaluated by in vitro DPPH• and ABTS•+ scavenging assays, where no significant activity was observed compared to ascorbic acid and Trolox.

Volatiles from Selected Apiaceae Species Cultivated in Poland—Antimicrobial Activities

As part of our ongoing research on phytoconstituents that can act as promising antimicrobial agents, the essential oils of nine selected Apiaceae plants, cultivated in Poland, were studied. The volatiles of the aerial parts with fruits (herba cum fructi) of Silaum silaus, Seseli devenyense, Seseli libanotis,Ferula assa-foetida, Glehnia littoralis and Heracleum dulce, in addition to the fruits (fructi) of Torilis japonica and Orlaya grandiflora as well as of the aerial parts (herba) of Peucedanum luxurians were investigated through Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry to identify more than 60 different metabolites. The essential oils from S. devenyense, H. dulce, T. japonica and P. luxurians are reported for the first time. All examined species were also assayed for their antimicrobial activities against several human pathogenic Gram-positive and -negative bacteria and fungi. The species H. dulce, S. devenyense and S. libanotis exerted the strongest antimicrobial activity, mostly against Gram-positive bacteria strains (MIC values 0.90–1.20 mg/mL). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first attempt to determine the antimicrobial activity of the above Apiaceae species.

Data handling and data analysis in metabolomic studies of essential oils using GC-MS

Gas chromatography electron impact ionization mass spectrometry (GC-EI-MS) has been, and remains, the most widely applied analytical technique for metabolomic studies of essential oils. GC-EI-MS analysis of complex samples, such as essential oils, creates a large volume of data. Creating predictive models for such samples and observing patterns within complex data sets presents a significant challenge and requires application of robust data handling and data analysis methods. Accordingly, a wide variety of software and algorithms has been investigated and developed for this purpose over the years. This review provides an overview and summary of that research effort, and attempts to classify and compare different data handling and data analysis procedures that have been reported to-date in the metabolomic study of essential oils using GC-EI-MS.

The [DPPH●/DPPH-H]-HPLC-DAD Method on Tracking the Antioxidant Activity of Pure Antioxidants and Goutweed (Aegopodium podagraria L.) Hydroalcoholic Extracts

The 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH)-reverse phase (RP)-HPLC-diode array detector (DAD) method was tested on standard antioxidants (AOs), i.e., reduced glutathione (GSH), ascorbic acid (vitamin C), and alcoholic extracts of A. podagraria L. An elaborated HPLC procedure enabled the simultaneous measurement of the redox couple DPPH-R (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical)/DPPH-H (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazine). Both forms were fully separated (R_s = 2.30, α = 1.65) on a Zorbax Eclipse XDB-C18 column eluted with methanol–water (80:20, v/v) and detected at different wavelengths in the range of 200–600 nm. The absorbance increases of the DPPH-H as well as the DPPH-R peak inhibition were measured at different wavelengths in visible and UV ranges. The chromatographic method was optimized, according to reaction time (slow, fast kinetics), the linearity range of DPPH radical depending on the detection conditions as well as the kind of the investigated antioxidants (reference chemicals and the ground elder prepared from fresh and dry plants). The scavenging capacity was expressed by the use of percentage of peak inhibition and the IC₅₀ parameters. The evaluated extracts displayed antioxidant activity, higher than 20% inhibition against 350 µM DPPH free radical. The results show that extract prepared from dry plants in the ultrasonic bath exhibits the highest antioxidant potential (IC₅₀ = 64.74 ± 0.22 µL/mL).

Constituents of Bupleurum praealtum and Bupleurum veronense with Potential Immunomodulatory Activity

In this investigation, chromatographic separations of the diethyl ether extracts of two European annual Bupleurum taxa, B. praealtum and B. veronense, yielded nine new natural products, namely, a series of esters of stereoisomeric tetradeca-5,7,9,11-tetraen-1-ols (1-4 and 8), a tetra-unsaturated γ-tetradecalactone (5), a dibenzylbutyrolactone lignan (7-oxoarcitin, 6), a falcarinol-related 17-membered macrolide (7) possessing a conjugated diyne-system, and an acylphloroglucinol derivative (9). All these new compounds were fully characterized by NMR, IR, UV, MS, and optical rotation measurement, including ¹H NMR full spin spectral simulation, whereas the absolute configurations of 1, 5, and 9 were determined via chemical correlations and NMR analysis of Mosher esters. The in vitro potential immunomodulatory activities of 1, 4, 5, and (+)-arcitin were assessed by determining their effects on the functional properties of isolated rat splenocytes and peritoneal macrophages. The results obtained support the known immunomodulatory ethnomedicinal usage of Bupleurum species.

Goutweed (Aegopodium podagraria L.) – botanical characteristics and prohealthy properties*

Goutweed (Aegopodium podagraria L.) is a common plant in the Apiaceae family. It occurs in Europe, North America and Asia. In folk medicine, mainly the leaves of goutweed were used to treat gout, inflammatory states in kidneys and bladder and to facilitate wound healing. Chemical composition of goutweed has not been entirely determined, however, it is known that the main group of compounds are polyacetylenes (falcarinol and falcarindiol). Moreover, other compounds were isolated from this plant, such as essential oils from the group of mono- and sesquiterpenes, as well as coumarins and polyphenol compounds, e.g. phenolic acids and flavonoids. Preparations from goutweed have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. Research performed in recent years have shown the possibilities to use tinctures and extracts from goutweed in the treatment of gout and metabolic diseases including type 2 diabetes.

Effect of extraction method on the antioxidative activity of ground elder (Aegopodium podagraria L.)

In this work the studies on the antioxidative properties of extracts from various morphotic parts of the ground elder (leaves, rhizomes, seeds and flowers) were presented. Moreover, the effect of different extraction methods (ultrasonic assisted extractions, extraction in a Soxhlet apparatus, extraction at the boiling point of the solvent used), solvent and its amount, and extraction time on the antioxidative properties of the obtained extracts were tested. The studies showed that all parts of ground elder can show radical scavenging activity, and it depends mainly on the method of extraction and extraction time. But the most beneficial is ultrasonic assisted extraction which used lower amount of solvent (ethanol). In case of all parts of the ground elder (leaves, rhizomes, seeds and flowers) it allows to obtain very high values of the antioxidant capacity (above 90%) for very short extraction time amounted to 20–40 minutes.

Antitumor, Antiviral, and Anti-Inflammatory Efficacy of Essential Oils from Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz. Produced with Different Processing Methods

Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz. has been used as an invigorating spleen drug for eliminating dampness and phlegm in China. According to recent researches, different processing methods may affect the drug efficacy, so we collected A. macrocephala from the Zhejiang Province, produced with different processing methods, crude A. macrocephala (CA) and bran-processed A. macrocephala (BA), then analyzed its essential oils (EOs) by GC/MS. The results showed 34 components representing 98.44% of the total EOs of CA were identified, and 46 components representing 98.02% of the total EOs of BA were identified. Atractylone is the main component in A. macrocephala. Compared with CA, BA has 46 detected compounds, 28 of which were identical, and 6 undetected compounds. Pharmacodynamic results revealed that the EOs of CA and atractylone exhibited more effective anticancer activity in HepG2, MCG803, and HCT-116 cells than the EOs of BA; while the EOs of BA exhibited simple antiviral effect on viruses H3N2, both the EOs and atractylone show anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO) production in ANA-1 cells.

Chemodiversity of Essential Oils in Seseli libanotis (L.) W.D.J.Koch (Apiaceae) in Central Europe

Seseli libanotis is an aromatic umbelliferous plant distributed sporadically on dry grassland edges in Europe and Western Asia. The essential oil composition in the different plant parts was studied from plants collected on nine sites in Austria and one site in Alto Adige, Italy. Monoterpenes such as α-pinene, sabinene and β-myrcene and the sesquiterpene germacrene D were present in all essential oils from the aerial parts. Inflorescences and fruits had the highest essential oil contents. These essential oils from four sites were rich in acorenone B, while from other three sites they had carotol as a major component. Osthole as furocoumarin occurred in some oils. The root essential oils were dominated by α-pinene. The essential oil variability has been studied by principal component analysis (PCA) and discriminant analysis (DA) with plant parts or sampling site as a priori groups. PCA could well separate inflorescence and fruit essential oil samples from leaf and stem essential oil samples. DA differentiated well between the plant parts and most of the sampling sites.

Identification of highly effective antitrypanosomal compounds in essential oils from the Apiaceae family

The Apiaceae family encompasses aromatic plants of economic importance employed in foodstuffs, beverages, perfumery, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. Apiaceae are rich sources of essential oils because of the wealth of secretory structures (ducts and vittae) they are endowed with. The Apiaceae essential oils are available on an industrial level because of the wide cultivation and disposability of the bulky material from which they are extracted as well as their relatively cheap price. In the fight against protozoal infections, essential oils may represent new therapeutic options. In the present work, we focused on a panel of nine Apiaceae species (Siler montanum, Sison amomum, Echinophora spinosa, Kundmannia sicula, Crithmum maritimum, Helosciadium nodiflorum, Pimpinella anisum, Heracleum sphondylium and Trachyspermum ammi) and their essential oils as a model for the identification of trypanocidal compounds to be used as alternative/integrative therapies in the treatment of Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) and as starting material for drug design. The evaluation of inhibitory effects of the Apiaceae essential oils against Trypanosoma brucei showed that some of them (E. spinosa, S. amomum, C. maritimum and H. nodiflorum) were active, with EC₅₀ in the range 2.7-10.7 μg/mL. Most of these oils were selective against T. brucei, except the one from C. maritimum that was highly selective against the BALB/3T3 mammalian cells. Testing nine characteristic individual components (α-pinene, sabinene, α-phellandrene, p-cymene, limonene, β-ocimene, γ-terpinene, terpinolene, and myristicin) of these oils, we showed that some of them had much higher selectivity than the oils themselves. Terpinolene was particularly active with an EC₅₀ value of 0.035 μg/mL (0.26 µM) and a selectivity index (SI) of 180. Four other compounds with EC₅₀ in the range 1.0-6.0 μg/mL (7.4-44 µM) had also good SI: α-pinene (>100), β-ocimene (>91), limonene (>18) and sabinene (>17). In conclusion, these results highlight that the essential oils from the Apiaceae family are a reservoir of substances to be used as leading compounds for the development of natural drugs for the treatment of HAT.

Larvicidal Activity of Essential Oils of Five Apiaceae Taxa and Some of Their Main Constituents Against Culex quinquefasciatus

Apiaceae are aromatic herbs producing essential oils which are used on an industrial scale for various purposes. Notably, Apiaceae essential oils may replace synthetic insecticides keeping most of their efficacy and avoiding environmental pollution and human poisoning. In the present work, we explored the insecticidal potential of the essential oils from five Apiaceae taxa, namely Sison amomum, Echinophora spinosa, Heracleum sphondylium subsp. sphondylium, Heracleum sphondylium subsp. ternatum, and Trachyspemum ammi, as well as their major constituents (sabinene, p-cymene, terpinolene, myristicin, and thymol), against the filariasis vector Culex quinquefasciatus. For the purpose, the essential oils were obtained by hydrodistillation and their composition was achieved by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Their acute toxicity on third instar larvae of C. quinquefasciatus was determined. The two most active essential oils were those from T. ammi fruits and E. spinosa roots, showing LC₅₀ below 20 μl/l and LD₉₀ below 50 μl/l. These oils were dominated by the monoterpene phenol thymol and the phenylpropanoid myristicin, respectively, which showed the strongest larvicidal activity (LC₅₀ of 15.1 and 16.3 μl/l, respectively) among the pure compounds tested. These results showed that Apiaceae may be useful as source of larvicidal compounds to be used for the development of cheap, effective and eco-friendly insecticidal formulations.

Chemical Composition of the Essential Oil from Chaerophyllum Temulum (Apiaceae)

The present study reports the chemical composition on the essential oil obtained from fresh roots, stems, inflorescences and fruits of Chaerophyllum temulum. In all samples, except the roots, the most dominant components were sesquiterpene hydrocarbons. ( Z)-Falcarinol was the principal constituent of the root essential oils (61.7% at the flowering stage and 62.3% at the fruiting stage). The blossom oil was dominated by ( Z,E)-α-farnesene (23.4%), ( E)-β-farnesene (9.0%) and germacrene D-4-ol (9%), whereas the oil from the fruit had germacrene D-4-ol (27.6%) as its main compound, accompanied by ( Z,E)-α-farnesene (13.4%). Germacrene D was the most abundant component of the stem essential oil (38.4% at the flowering stage and 32.5% at the fruiting stage). The obtained results show that the qualitative composition of the oil depends on the part of the plant which is analyzed, while the quantitative composition of the main components depends on the growing stage of the plant.

Endemic Balkan Parsnip Pastinaca Hirsuta: The Chemical Profile of Essential Oils, Headspace Volatiles and Extracts

The present study for the first time reports the chemical composition of the endemic Balkan parsnip Pastinaca hirsuta Pančić essential oil and headspace (HS) volatiles, obtained from fresh roots, stems, flowers and fruits, as well as fresh fruits n-hexane and diethyl ether extracts. According to GC-MS and GC-FID analyses, β-Pinene was one of the major components of the root and stem HS volatiles (50.6–24.1%). ( E)-β-Ocimene was found in a significant percentage in the stem and flowers HS volatiles (31.6–57.3%). The most abundant constituent of the fruit HS, flower and fruit essential oils and both extracts was hexyl butanoate (70.5%, 31.1%, 80.4%, 47.4% and 52.7%, respectively). Apiole, accompanied by myristicin and ( Z)-falcarinol, make up over 70% of the root essential oils. γ-Palmitolactone was the major component of the stem essential oils (51.9% at the flowering stage and 45.7% at the fruiting stage). Beside esters as dominant compounds, furanocoumarins were also identified in extracts. (Dis)similarity relations of examined plant samples were also investigated by the agglomerative hierarchical cluster analysis. The obtained results show there is difference in the composition of volatile components from different plant organs, while the stage of growth mainly affects the quantitative volatiles composition.

Traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacological properties of the genus Peucedanum: a review

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The genus Peucedanum (Apiaceae) comprising more than 120 species is widely distributed in Europe, Asia and Africa. The ethnopharmacologial history of this genus indicated that some extracts of aerial and underground parts of several Peucedanum species have been used in folk medicine for treatment of various conditions, such as cough, cramps, pain, rheumatism, asthma and angina. This review focuses on ethnopharmacological uses of Peucedanum species, as well as the phytochemical, pharmacological and toxicological studies on this genus. Through this review, I intend to highlight the known and potential effects of the Peucedanum species or their isolated compounds and show which traditional medicine uses have been supported by pharmacological investigations.

METHODS

Information on the Peucedanum species was collected from scientific journals, books, thesis and reports via a library and electronic search (using Google Scholar, Pubmed, Scopus, Web of Science and ScienceDirect). This review covers the available literature from 1970 to the end of September 2013.

RESULTS

Although, there are about 120 species in this genus, so far many species have received no or little attention and most of pharmacological studies were performed on just about 20 species. Many phytochemical investigations on this genus confirmed that Peucedanum species are rich in essential oils and coumarins. The present review article shows that Peucedanum species have a wide spectrum of pharmacological activities and the most reported activities of Peucedanum plants come back to the presence of coumarins, flavonoids, phenolics and essential oils.

CONCLUSIONS

The present review confirms that some Peucedanum species have emerged as a good source of the traditional medicine for treatment of inflammation, microbial infections, cardiopulmonary diseases and provides new insights for further investigations on isolated compounds, especially on praeruptorins, to find novel therapeutics and aid drug discovery. However, for using Peucedanum species to prevent and treat various diseases, additional pharmacological studies to find the mechanism of action, safety and efficacy of them before starting clinical trials are required.

Composition of the Essential Oils from Peucedanum Cervaria and P. Alsaticum Growing Wild in the Urban Area of Vienna (Austria)

The composition of the essential oil from the different above ground plant parts of Peucedanum cervaria and P. alsaticum (Apiaceae) collected in the urban area of Vienna has been studied. P. cervaria fruits and inflorescences had 1.5 and 1.8% essential oil, respectively. All the oils of P. cervaria were dominated by monoterpenes, with the main components being β-pinene (7-58%), α-pinene (7-22%), sabinene (up to 22%), and β-phellandrene with limonene (6-21%). P. alsaticum fruits afforded 0.3-0.4% essential oil. These oils were made up mainly by α-pinene (11-40%), sabinene (16-34%) and β-phellandrene (12-31%). Stems and leaves produced only very small amounts of essential oil (< 0.05%). Besides monoterpenes, these oils contained also E-nerolidol (5-22%), spathulenol (up to 18%), dodecanal (up to 7.5%) and caryophyllene oxide (up to 7%).

A comparison of headspace solid-phase microextraction and classic hydrodistillation for the identification of volatile constituents from Thapsia spp. provides insights into guaianolide biosynthesis in Apiaceae

INTRODUCTION

Thapsia spp. (Apiaceae) are the major natural source of polyoxygenated guaianolide sesquiterpene lactones known as thapsigargins, which induce apoptosis in mammalian cells via a high affinity inhibition of the sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+) ATPase. The mechanism of biosynthesis of thapsigargins has not been elucidated, and probable biochemical precursors such as hydrocarbon or oxygenated sesquiterpenes have not been identified in previous phytochemical analyses of essential oils from this genus.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the utility of solid phase micro-extraction (SPME), when compared with classical essential oil distillates, for identifying potential precursors of guaianolide sesquiterpene lactones from Thapsia garganica L. and Thapsia villosa L. type II.

METHODOLOGY

A systematic description of the volatile components of roots, flowers, stems and fruits of T. villosa and of root, flower and fruits of T. garganica was constructed via GC-MS analyses of SPME-adsorbed compounds and of essential oils obtained through hydrodistillation of the same tissues.

RESULTS

The sesquiterpenoids δ-cadinene, α- and δ-guaiene, elemol and guaiols were found to be major volatile constituents of the roots of T. garganica and T. villosa trapped using SPME. In contrast, these sesquiterpenoids were not detected or were at negligible levels in essential oils, where sesquiterpenoids are potentially converted to azulenes during hydrodistillation.

CONCLUSION

The new data reported in this study demonstrates that SPME is a valuable tool for the identification of volatile sesquiterpenes when compared with analysis of essential oils, and we postulate that guaiene is the likely precursor of guaianolide sesquiterpenes from Thapsia.

Methyl eugenol: its occurrence, distribution, and role in nature, especially in relation to insect behavior and pollination

This review discusses the occurrence and distribution (within a plant) of methyl eugenol in different plant species (> 450) from 80 families spanning many plant orders, as well as various roles this chemical plays in nature, especially in the interactions between tephritid fruit flies and plants.

Composition and Antimicrobial Activity of Seseli globiferum Essential Oil

The essential oil from aerial parts of Seseli globiferum Vis. obtained by hydrodistillation with Clevenger-type apparatus was analyzed by GC-MS. Twenty-eight compounds were identified, representing 99.4% of the total oil. The main components of the oil were sabinene (38.0%), α-pinene (21.2%) and β-phellandrene (13.5%). The microbial growth inhibitory properties of the isolated essential oil were determined using the broth microdilution method against seven bacterial species: Salmonella typhimurium (ATCC 13311), Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853), Enterobacter cloacae (clinical isolates), Bacillus cereus (clinical isolates), Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923), Staphylococcus epidermidis (ATCC 12228), Micrococcus flavus (ATCC 10240) and three fungal species: Aspergillus niger (ATCC 6275), Aspergillus versicolor (ATCC 11730), Trichoderma viride (IAM 5061) and Penicillium funiculosum (ATCC 36839). The essential oil showed activity against bacteria P. aeruginosa, followed by M. flavus, L. monocytigenes and E. coli, and all investigated fungal species.

Essential Oil Composition of Wild Growing Apiaceae from Europe and the Mediterranean

In this overview, the essential oil composition of more than 150 species from about 50 genera of the Apiaceae is reviewed. Essential oil components encountered in Apiaceae proved to be very diverse; they include monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, rarely diterpenes, phenylpropanoids, phthalides, octanol and octyl esters, trimethylbenzaldehydes and aliphatic aldehydes. In assessing the data one has to keep in mind that the essential oil amount and composition is influenced by many factors, including geographic and genetic variation, physiological aspects and environmental conditions. In some species the occurrence of chemotypes could be demonstrated, but in many cases the data available do not allow the evaluation of infraspecific variability.

Chemical Composition and Antimicrobial Activity of Essential Oil of Bupleurum montanum and B. plantagineum

The hydrodistilled oils from the aerial parts of Bupleurum montanum and B. plantagineum, which are endemic to North Africa, including Algeria, were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Ninety-eight compounds were detected in the oil of B. montanum, representing 98.6% of the total oil, and 68 in the oil of B. plantagineum, representing 99.8% of the total. Megastigma-4,6-(E),8(2)-triene was the major constituent of B. montana oil (25.3%). Other important compounds were myrcene, α-pinene and benzyl tiglate. Conversely, the major constituents of the oil of B. plantagineum were α-pinene (31.9%), cis-chrysanthenyl acetate (28.2%), and myrcene (24.8%), followed by the monoterpene hydrocarbon limonene (5.1%). The mutagenic, antiplasmodial and antimicrobial activities of the essential oils were individually evaluated against eleven microorganisms, using the agar diffusion method, by determination of MIC values. The investigated oils exhibited moderate antimicrobial activity. Maximum activity of the oils was observed against Nocardia asteroides, Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis. Fungicidal activity against Candida albicans was also found for both oils.

Composition of the Essential Oil of Chaerophyllum aromaticum (Apiaceae) Growing Wild in Austria

The composition of the essential oil from the leaves and fruits of Chaerophyllum aromaticum L. collected in two consecutive years has been studied. The leaf oil was domintaed by γ-terpinene, followed by p-cymenene and p-cymene, as well as germacrene D. The fruit oil had γ-terpinene and β-phellandrene as main compounds, and β-pinene, α-pinene and 2,6-dimethyl-1,3,5,7-octatetraene as further major constituents. The relative amounts of the individual compounds varied with the sampling year. Additionally, leaf and fruit samples have been analyzed by spME. In these volatile fractions γ-terpinene and germacrene D dominated in the leaves and germacrene D, β-phellandrene and γ-terpinene in the fruits.

Volatiles from vegetative organs of the palaeoendemic resurrection plants Ramonda serbica Panc. and Ramonda nathaliae Panc. et Petrov

GC and GC/MS analyses of the essential oils hydrodistilled separately from fresh leaves and roots of Ramonda serbica and Ramonda nathaliae, together with diethyl ether extracts of their roots, enabled the identification of 82 constituents accounting for between 88.9 and 94.5 % of the oils and extracted compounds. Although phenylacetaldehyde was one of the major contributors (20.5-57.1 %) of all the oils, it was only a minor contributor to the extracts. The latter were characterized by a large amount of squalene (R. serbica - - 36.0 %; R. nathaliae - 59.4%) and steroids (R. serbica - 27.4 %; R. nathaliae - - 14.1 %). Squalene was also the most abundant compound in R. nathaliae root oil (29.0 %), but was not detected in the corresponding R. serbica oil. While the root oils and extracts of both species contained comparable amounts of volatile fatty acids, there were significant differences in their contents in the oils hydrodistilled from the leaves of R. serbica and R. nathaliae (18.7 % and 0.6 %, respectively). The presented results provide the first insight into the unique sets of volatiles produced by these distinctive, closely related, relict taxa, which disclose their specific adaptive advantages.