Salvia Officinalis L.: Composition and Antioxidant-related Activities of a Crude Extract and Selected Sub-fractions

The composition and antioxidant properties of a methanol: acetic acid (99:1, v/v) soluble crude extract isolated from S. officinalis L. leaves through maceration and selected fractions isolated thereof are presented in this study. The total phenol content was estimated as gallic acid equivalents, whilst qualitative-quantitative phenolic content was determined using high performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array detection. Antioxidant evaluation consisted of ferric reductive capacity and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl and hydroxyl free radical scavenging determinations. The crude extract contained hydroxybenzoic acids, hydroxycinnamic acids, flavonoids and diterpenoids, whilst caffeic acid, carnosic acid, luteolin, luteolin-7- O-glucoside and rosmarinic acid were identified from their chromatographic and spectral characteristics and quantified from their respective calibration curves. The crude extract and sub-fractions demonstrated varying degrees of efficacy in the antioxidant-related assays used, except the n-hexane fraction, which was unable to reduce iron(III) at reasonable concentrations. Although the positive controls, ascorbic acid, BHA and BHT, were more potent than the S. officinalis samples, two fractions were significantly ( p < 0.05) more potent iron(III) reducing agents than pycnogenol, a proanthocyanidin-rich commercial preparation.

Salvia officinalis L.: composition and antioxidant-related activities of a crude extract and selected sub-fractions

The composition and antioxidant properties of a methanol: acetic acid (99:1, v/v) soluble crude extract isolated from S. officinalis L. leaves through maceration and selected fractions isolated thereof are presented in this study. The total phenol content was estimated as gallic acid equivalents, whilst qualitative-quantitative phenolic content was determined using high performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array detection. Antioxidant evaluation consisted of ferric reductive capacity and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl and hydroxyl free radical scavenging determinations. The crude extract contained hydroxybenzoic acids, hydroxycinnamic acids, flavonoids and diterpenoids, whilst caffeic acid, carnosic acid, luteolin, luteolin-7-O-glucoside and rosmarinic acid were identified from their chromatographic and spectral characteristics and quantified from their respective calibration curves. The crude extract and sub-fractions demonstrated varying degrees of efficacy in the antioxidant-related assays used, except the n-hexane fraction, which was unable to reduce iron(III) at reasonable concentrations. Although the positive controls, ascorbic acid, BHA and BHT, were more potent than the S. officinalis samples, two fractions were significantly (p < 0.05) more potent iron(III) reducing agents than pycnogenol, a proanthocyanidin-rich commercial preparation.

Biotransformation of α-Cedrol and Caryophyllene Oxide by the Fungus Neurospora crassa

Incubation of α-cedrol and caryophyllene oxide with Neurospora crassa afforded 12β-hydroxy cedrol, 10α-hydroxy cedrol, and 3β-hydroxy cedrol, and 12β-hydroxy caryophyllene oxide as major metabolites, respectively. The antibacterial and radical scavenging activities of the metabolites were evaluated in vitro using broth microdilution and bioauthographic techniques. However, no significant antibacterial and antioxidant activities were observed when compared with those of standard substances.

Characterization of Szovitsia callicarpa Volatile Constituents Obtained by Micro- and Hydrodistillation

The volatile constituents of Szovitsia callicarpa Fisch. & C. A. Mey. were obtained from the fruits by microdistillation, due to the limited plant material availability. Initial GC-MS analyses of the obtained material showed an unidentified major constituent with a molecular ion peak at M+ 280. After hydrodistillation of the plant material, the resulting essential oil was also analyzed by GC and GC-MS, simultaneously. In total, twenty-two compounds, representing 98.6% of the microdistilled sample, were identified, whereas seventeen components were detected in the hydrodistilled oil, representing 98.5% of the total. The GC-MS analyses showed that the samples contained an unidentified major constituent, which was further purified from the hydrodistilled essential oil by micro-column chromatography. The structure was elucidated as α-kessyl acetate using 1H- and 13C-NMR spectroscopic and mass spectroscopic techniques. Other major constituents in the analytes were determined as longipinene, longicyclene and kessane. In addition, both samples, as well as the major compound α-kessyl acetate, were tested at 1 mg/mL concentration against the pathogen Candida tropicalis and for its free radical scavenging activity against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH•) by TLC-bioauthographic techniques. Both preliminary assays at the tested concentration showed no activity.

Characterization of Szovitsia callicarpa volatile constituents obtained by micro- and hydrodistillation

The volatile constituents of Szovitsia callicarpa Fisch. & C. A. Mey. were obtained from the fruits by microdistillation, due to the limited plant material availability. Initial GC-MS analyses of the obtained material showed an unidentified major constituent with a molecular ion peak at M+ 280. After hydrodistillation of the plant material, the resulting essential oil was also analyzed by GC and GC-MS, simultaneously. In total, twenty-two compounds, representing 98.6% of the microdistilled sample, were identified, whereas seventeen components were detected in the hydrodistilled oil, representing 98.5% of the total. The GC-MS analyses showed that the samples contained an unidentified major constituent, which was further purified from the hydrodistilled essential oil by micro-column chromatography. The structure was elucidated as alpha-kessyl acetate using 1H- and 13C-NMR spectroscopic and mass spectroscopic techniques. Other major constituents in the analytes were determined as longipinene, longicyclene and kessane. In addition, both samples, as well as the major compound alpha-kessyl acetate, were tested at 1 mg/mL concentration against the pathogen Candida tropicalis and for its free radical scavenging activity against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH*) by TLC-bioauthographic techniques. Both preliminary assays at the tested concentration showed no activity.

Biological activities of Bellis perennis volatiles and extracts

Different parts of Bellis perennis were subjected to hydrodistillation and the products were subsequently analyzed by GC and GC/MS. Aqueous and methanol extracts were prepared from the aerial parts. Antioxidant [1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging, reducing activity, total antioxidant] and antimicrobial activity of the plant materials were studied. The aqueous extracts showed higher DPPH scavenging activity (85.8% at 102.5 microg/mL) than the methanol extract. Reducing power was also observed for both tested extracts, where the formation of linoleic acid peroxides was more for the aqueous extract than the methanol extract. Antimicrobial activities of all plant materials were evaluated at varying concentrations against a panel of pathogens, but without pronounced inhibitory effect.

Essential oil compositions and antioxidant properties of the roots of twelve Anatolian Paeonia taxa with special reference to chromosome counts

Essential oil compositions and antioxidant potentials of fourteen ethanol (75%) root extracts prepared from twelve taxa of the genus Paeonia (Paeoniaceae), including P. arietina Anders., P. daurica Andrews, P. xkayae N. Ozhatay, P. kesrouanensis Thiéb., P. mascula (L.) Miller subsp. arasicola G. Kaynak, ö. Yilmaz & R. Daşkin, P. mascula (L.) Miller subsp. bodurii N. Ozhatay, P. cf. mascula L. (Mill.) subsp. mascula (two samples from central and northeastern Anatolia), P. cf. officinalis Retz., P. peregrina Miller (two samples from western and northwestern Anatolia), P. tenuifolia L., P. turcica Davis & Cullen, and P. wittmanniana Hartwiss ex Lindl. were assessed. The chromosome numbers of the root tips of the species were examined using chromosome staining technique with Shiff's reagent under Leitz microscope. The essential oils of the roots of the Paeonia species were analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and the major components were identified as salicylaldehyde (10%-94.4%), cis-myrtanal (5.5%-59.7%), and methyl salicylate (2%-52.2%). Antioxidant potentials were tested against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and nitric oxide (NO) radicals using propyl gallate and rutin as the references. Total phenolic contents of the ethanol extracts were determined using Folin-Ciocalteau's method. The extracts exerted moderate NO scavenger effect and displayed insignificant DPPH radical scavenger activity at 500 microg mL(-1). On the other hand, P. daurica, P. tenuifolia and P. cf. mascula subsp. mascula are diploids with 2n = 10, while other nine taxa are tetraploids with 2n = 20.

Biological Activities of Bellis perennis Volatiles and Extracts

Different parts of Bellis perennis were subjected to hydrodistillation and the products were subsequently analyzed by GC and GC/MS. Aqueous and methanol extracts were prepared from the aerial parts. Antioxidant [1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging, reducing activity, total antioxidant] and antimicrobial activity of the plant materials were studied. The aqueous extracts showed higher DPPH scavenging activity (85.8% at 102.5 μg/mL) than the methanol extract. Reducing power was also observed for both tested extracts, where the formation of linoleic acid peroxides was more for the aqueous extract than the methanol extract. Antimicrobial activities of all plant materials were evaluated at varying concentrations against a panel of pathogens, but without pronounced inhibitory effect.

Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of the essential oils of Lavandula stoechas L. ssp. stoechas growing wild in Turkey

The chemical compositions of the essential oils obtained by hydrodistillation from the dried leaves and flowers of Lavandula stoechas L. ssp. stoechas were separately identified by GC-FID and GC-MS analyses. The main components were alpha-fenchone (41.9 +/- 1.2%), 1,8-cineole (15.6 +/- 0.8%), camphor (12.1 +/- 0.5%), and viridiflorol (4.1 +/- 0.4%) in the leaves; and alpha-fenchone (39.2 +/- 0.9%), myrtenyl acetate (9.5 +/- 0.4%), alpha-pinene (6.1 +/- 0.09%), camphor (5.9 +/- 0.05%) and 1,8-cineole (3.8 +/- 0.1%) in the flowers. Overall, 55 and 66 constituents were identified in the leaf and flower essential oils representing more than 90% and 94% of the total, respectively. In addition, the essential oils were evaluated for their antibacterial and anticandidal activities by broth microdilution. The flower essential oil was found to be relatively more active than the leaf oil towards the tested pathogenic microorganisms. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus was more susceptible to the flower oil (MIC = 31.2 microg/mL). The oils, evaluated for their free radical scavenging activity using a TLC-DPPH assay, were inactive at a concentration of 2 mg/mL.

Chemical Composition and Antimicrobial Activity of the Essential Oils of Lavandula Stoechas L. Ssp. Stoechas Growing Wild in Turkey

The chemical compositions of the essential oils obtained by hydrodistillation from the dried leaves and flowers of Lavandula stoechas L. ssp. stoechas were separately identified by GC-FID and GCMS analyses. The main components were α-fenchone (41.9±1.2%), 1,8-cineole (15.6±0.8%), camphor (12.1±0.5%), and viridiflorol (4.1±0.4%) in the leaves; and α-fenchone (39.2±0.9%), myrtenyl acetate (9.5±0.4%), α-pinene (6.1±0.09%), camphor (5.9±0.05%) and 1,8-cineole (3.8±0.1%) in the flowers. Overall, 55 and 66 constituents were identified in the leaf and flower essential oils representing more than 90% and 94% of the total, respectively. In addition, the essential oils were evaluated for their antibacterial and anticandidal activities by broth microdilution. The flower essential oil was found to be relatively more active than the leaf oil towards the tested pathogenic microorganisms. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus was more susceptible to the flower oil (MIC= 31.2 μg/mL). The oils, evaluated for their free radical scavenging activity using a TLC-DPPH assay, were inactive at a concentration of 2 mg/mL.

Effects of Origanum onites on endothelial function and serum biochemical markers in hyperlipidaemic patients

The effects of Origanum onites on endothelial function and antioxidative status were investigated in 48 patients with mild hyperlipidaemia who required no drug therapy. All participants were given lifestyle and low-fat dietary advice, however 32 of the patients (study group) were also prescribed 25 ml of aqueous distillate of Origanum onites to be taken after each meal for 3 months. The remaining 16 patients were the control group. Various biochemical markers and endothelial function parameters were measured at baseline and after 3 months. A significantly greater increase in high density lipoprotein-cholesterol and significantly greater decreases in low density lipoprotein-cholesterol, apolipoprotein B, lipoprotein(a) and high sensitivity C-reactive protein occurred in the study group compared with the control group over the 3-month study period. Paraoxonase and arylesterase activities, and flow- and nitroglycerine-mediated dilatation of the brachial artery showed significantly greater increases in the study group compared with the changes in the control group. In conclusion, consumption of Origanum onites distillate had beneficial effects on lipid profiles, antioxidant status and endothelial function in patients with mild hyperlipidaemia.

In vitro antioxidant properties and phenolic composition of Salvia virgata Jacq. from Turkey

Antioxidant activities and phenolic compositions of the active fractions of Salvia virgata Jacq. (Lamiaceae) from Turkey were examined. The aerial part of S. virgata was extracted with different solvents in an order of increasing polarity such as hexane, ethyl acetate, methanol, and 50% aqueous methanol using a Soxhlet apparatus. Water extract was also prepared from S. virgata by reflux. All solvent fractions were investigated for their total phenolic contents, total flavonoids, flavonols, qualitative-quantitative compositions (by HPLC-PDA analysis), iron(III) reductive activities, free radical scavenging activities (using DPPH*), and effect upon linoleic acid peroxidation activities; also, the peroxidation level was determined by the TBA method. The results of activity tests given as IC50 values were estimated from nonlinear algorithm and compared with standards, viz., butylated hydroxytoluene, ascorbic acid, and gallic acid. Polar fractions were found to be more active for free radical activity whereas nonpolar fractions protected the peroxidation of linoleic acid. Rosmarinic acid was the most abundant component in the extracts, followed by caffeic acid and lutelin-7- O-glycoside.

Effect of maturation on the composition and biological activity of the essential oil of a commercially important Satureja species from Turkey: Satureja cuneifolia Ten. (Lamiaceae)

The essential oil obtained by hydrodistillation from aerial parts of Satureja cuneifolia Ten., collected in three different maturation stages such as preflowering, flowering, and postflowering, were analyzed simultaneously by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Thymol (42.5-45.2%), p-cymene (19.4-24.3%), and carvacrol (8.5-13.2%) were identified as the main constituent in all stages. At the same time, the essential oils and main components were evaluated for their antimicrobial activity using a microdilution assay resulting in the inhibition of a number of common human pathogenic bacteria including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and the yeasts Candida albicans and Candida tropicalis. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) varied between 62.5 and 250 microg/mL within a moderate antimicrobial activity range. Furthermore, the antioxidant capacity of the essential oils and major components thymol and carvacrol were examined in vitro. The essential oils obtained from S. cuneifolia in three different stages and its main components were interacted with 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH (*)) as a nitrogen-centered stable radical, resulting in IC 50 = 1.6-2.1 mg/mL. In addition, the effects on inhibition of lipid peroxidation of the essential oils were assayed using the beta-carotene bleaching method. All of the tested oils inhibited the linoleic acid peroxidation at almost the same level as butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) (93.54-94.65%). BHT and ascorbic acid were used as positive controls in the antioxidant assays.