Essential Oil Yield, Composition, and Bioactivity of Sagebrush Species in the Bighorn Mountains

Chemical Characterization of Three Artemisia tridentata Essential Oils and Multivariate Analyses: A Preliminary Investigation

Background/Objective: Big sagebrush ( Artemisia tridentata Nutt., Asteraceae) is a conspicuous shrub growing in arid and semi-arid regions of intermountain western North America, from eastern Washington and Oregon, through Nevada, Idaho, and Utah, into northern Arizona and New Mexico, and east as far as the western Dakotas, and Colorado. At least three subspecies of A. tridentata have been recognized, including A. tridentata subsp. tridentata Nutt. (basin big sagebrush), A. tridentata subsp. wyomingensis Beetle & A.L.Young (Wyoming big sagebrush), and A. tridentata subsp. vaseyana (Rydb.) Beetle (mountain big sagebrush). Although big sagebrush is an important food source and cover for several animal species, the volatile phytochemistry has shown wide variation in composition. The purpose of this work was to compare and contrast the essential oil compositions of the three subspecies of A. tridentata growing in southwestern Idaho. Methods/Results: Several samples of A. tridentata subsp. wyomingensis and A. tridentata subsp. vaseyana were collected, the essential oils obtained by hydrodistillation using a Likens-Nickerson apparatus in yields of 2.33%-4.45% and 0.90%-1.73%, respectively, and the essential oils analyzed by gas chromatographic techniques. Although A. tridentata shows wide variation in essential oil compositions, multivariate analysis (hierarchical cluster analysis and principal component analysis) indicated A. tridentata subsp. tridentata to be characterized by high concentrations of yomogi alcohol (5.8%-30.8%) and camphor (5.2%-20.1%), while camphor was the defining component in A. tridentata subsp. wyomingensis (10.0%-30.1%) and subsp. vaseyana (16.1%-40.2%). One sample of A. tridentata subsp. vaseyana was dominated by α-thujone (76.1%), however. Conclusion: There is much variation in essential oil compositions of A. tridentata, both within subspecies and between geographical locations; much additional investigation is necessary to more fully characterize the volatile phytochemistry of this plant.

New Insights into the Research of Bioactive Compounds from Plant Origins with Nutraceutical and Pharmaceutical Potential

Plant bioactive compounds are essential for human health due to their multiple biological effects, such as antioxidant, anticarcinogenic, antiallergenic, anti-inflammatory, antimutagenic, and antimicrobial activities, which can have beneficial effects on various noncommunicable diseases, such as autoimmune, inflammatory, cardiovascular, cancer, metabolic, and neurodegenerative diseases [...].

Applications of Essential Oils and Plant Extracts in Different Industries

Essential oils (EOs) and plant extracts are sources of beneficial chemical compounds that have potential applications in medicine, food, cosmetics, and the agriculture industry. Plant medicines were the only option for preventing and treating mankind's diseases for centuries. Therefore, plant products are fundamental sources for producing natural drugs. The extraction of the EOs is the first important step in preparing these compounds. Modern extraction methods are effective in the efficient development of these compounds. Moreover, the compounds extracted from plants have natural antimicrobial activity against many spoilage and disease-causing bacteria. Also, the use of plant compounds in cosmetics and hygiene products, in addition to their high marketability, has been helpful for many beauty problems. On the other hand, the agricultural industry has recently shifted more from conventional production systems to authenticated organic production systems, as consumers prefer products without any pesticide and herbicide residues, and certified organic products command higher prices. EOs and plant extracts can be utilized as ingredients in plant antipathogens, biopesticides, and bioherbicides for the agricultural sector. Considering the need and the importance of using EOs and plant extracts in pharmaceutical and other industries, this review paper outlines the different aspects of the applications of these compounds in various sectors.

Chemical Composition and Terpenoid Enantiomeric Distribution of the Essential oil of Artemisia tridentata Subsp. tridentata From Southwestern Idaho

Big sagebrush ( Artemisia tridentata) is a common shrub growing in the cold intermountain regions of western North America. The plant is an important food source for herbivores and was used in Native American traditional medicine. In this work, the essential oils were obtained from 3 individuals of A tridentata subsp. tridentata growing in southwestern Idaho. The essential oils were analyzed by gas chromatographic methods including chiral gas chromatography. The major components in the essential oils were yomogi alcohol (5.8%-30.8%), santolina epoxide (1.7%-10.5%), camphor (5.2%-20.1%), and ( Z)-tagetone (0.9%-8.9%). ( + )-α-Pinene, ( + )-β-pinene, ( + )-verbenone, ( − )-( E)-β-caryophyllene, and ( − )-δ-cadinene were the only enantiomers observed for these compounds. Camphene and camphor, on the other hand, showed wide variability in enantiomeric distribution. The enantiomeric distributions in A tridentata subsp. tridentata differ widely compared to other Artemisia species. There are large variations in the chemical compositions in A tridentata, both between subspecies and within subspecies.