Analysis, Chemotype and Quality Control of the Essential Oil of a New Cultivated Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) Plant from Bulgaria

The essential oil of the spice plant Ocimum basilicum L. (Lamiaceae) from Bulgaria was investigated using gas chromatographic-spectroscopic (GC/FID and GC/MS: polar, non-polar and chiral phases of GC columns) and olfactoric methods. As main compounds of this basil oil sample (R)-(-)-linalool (71.4%), (Z,E)-α-farnesene (6.5%), 1,8-cineole (5.6%), τ-cadinol (2.8%), germacrene D (1.7%), citronellol (1.2%) and bornyl acetate (1.1%) were identified. Ths results show, that the essential basil oil from Bulgaria belongs to the European linalool chemotype. The correlations of olfactoric data (qualitative and quantitative) with the presented analytical ones certificate the good quality of this Bulgarian Ocimum basilicum sample. A possible use of this essential basil oil in medicine, perfumery and foods is discussed.

Seasonal Depending Variations of the Composition and Biological Activities of Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) Essential Oils from Bulgaria

The seasonal depending variations of the essential oils of the needles with twigs of Bulgarian Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii, Pinaceae) were analyzed by GC-FID, GC-MS and olfactoric evaluation. In totally 8 investigated essential P. menziesii oils about 60 compounds could be identified with monoterpenes (especially sabinene and β-pinene) as main constituents. The antimicrobial effects against bacteria, fungi and worms of these volatiles as well as their olfactoric properties will be discussed.

Glanzmann's thrombasthenia in 11 cases of one family

We report here the largest family in Bulgaria with Glanzmann's thrombasthenia which is inherited in an autosomal recessive manner. Eleven children in four successive generations were followed up. Clinically, the disease manifested in mucocutaneous haemorrhages. Five of the children died due to severe haemorrhagic episodes. The diagnosis was confirmed by haemostasic investigation; in some of the children the thrombocytes were examined by electron microscopy. Necessity of prenatal diagnosis is suggested.

Solid tumours in newborns and infants

Thirty two cases of solid tumours in newborns and infants were observed by the authors over a 15 year period. The most common type of tumours were soft tissue tumours (n = 8), neuroblastomas (n = 7), nephroblastomas (n = 5) and germ cell tumours (n = 5). Other types of embryonal tumours such as retinoblastoma and hepatoblastoma were observed in four children and non-Hodgkin's lymphomas in three children. Of 25 children followed up 18 survived. Five children died of their tumours and two children died of causes unrelated to their basic disease. Analysis of the fate of the patients and the effect of the therapy is made. It is concluded that malignant tumours prevail in infancy (90.6% of all cases). The percentage of patients treated successfully with insignificant risk for consequences from radiotherapy and chemotherapy is also high (72%).