Composition of a Pyrolytic oil from Cupressus funebris Endl. of Vietnamese origin

Antibacterial mechanism of action and in silico molecular docking studies of Cupressus funebris essential oil against drug resistant bacterial strains

The primary objective of this research work was to study the antibacterial effects of Cupressus funebris essential oil (EO) against various drug resistant bacterial pathogens along with studying the molecular docking interactions of the major components of the EO with the key bacterial proteins/enzymes. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was used to analyse the chemical composition of the Cupressus funebris EO. The initial antibacterial screening was performed by using disc diffusion and microdilution methods. Scanning electron microscopy was also performed in order to study effects of the EO on bacterial cell morphology. Further, molecular docking studies were performed using Autodock Vina and results were visualised by BIOVIA Discovery Studio. The chemical composition of the EO showed the presence of 15 components with citronellal, terpinene-4-ol, α-phellandrene and 1,8-cineole as the major components of the EO. Results indicated that the EO of Cupressus funebris exhibited dose-dependent as well as time dependent antibacterial effects. The scanning electron microscopy indicated that the Cupressus funebris EO led to membrane rupture and permeabilization of the bacterial cells. Molecular docking studies indicated that the major compounds of the EO (citronellal and terpinene-4ol) showed strong interactions with the active site of the bacterial DNA gyrase enzyme explaining the antibacterial mode of action of the EO. Ciprofloxacin was also used for docking which showed stronger interactions with the target protein than citronellal or terpinene-4-ol. In conclusion, the major findings of the current study were that the EO of Cupressus funebris causes bacterial membrane rupture and permeabilization, shows time-dependent and dose-dependent antibacterial action, along with interacting with crucial bacterial enzyme viz., DNA gyrase as indicated by molecular docking studies.

There Is Not Only Cupressus sempervirens L.: A Review on the Phytochemistry and Bioactivities of the Other Cupressus L. Species

This review article reports for the first time phytochemistry, ethnobotanical uses and pharmacological activities of all Cupressus L. species other than Cupressus sempervirens L. Indeed, the literature survey showed how many other Cupressus species are rich of important phytochemical compounds, widely used in the ethnobotanical field for several purposes and endowed with interesting biological activities, even if they are somehow neglected by the scientific community. This review aims to continue the study of these other Cupressus species and promote more research on them.

A New Sesquiterpene Essential Oil from the Native Andean Species Jungia rugosa Less (Asteraceae): Chemical Analysis, Enantiomeric Evaluation, and Cholinergic Activity

As part of a project devoted to the phytochemical study of Ecuadorian biodiversity, new essential oils are systematically distilled and analysed. In the present work, Jungia rugosa Less (Asteraceae) has been selected and some wild specimens collected to investigate the volatile fraction. The essential oil, obtained from fresh leaves, was analysed for the first time in the present study. The chemical composition was determined by gas chromatography, coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS) for qualitative analysis, and to flame ionization detector (GC-FID) for quantitation. The calculation of relative response factors (RRF), based on combustion enthalpy, was carried out for each quantified component. Fifty-six compounds were identified and quantified in a 5% phenyl-polydimethylsiloxane non-polar column and 53 compounds in a polyethylene glycol polar column, including four undetermined compounds. The main feature of this essential oil was the exclusive sesquiterpenes content, both hydrocarbons (74.7% and 80.4%) and oxygenated (8.3% and 9.6%). Major constituents were: γ-curcumene (47.1% and 49.7%) and β-sesquiphellandrene (17.0% and 17.9%), together with two abundant undetermined oxygenated sesquiterpenes, whose abundance was 6.7-7.2% and 4.7-3.3%, respectively. In addition, the essential oil was submitted to enantioselective evaluation in two β-cyclodextrin-based enantioselective columns, determining the enantiomeric purity of a minor component (1S,2R,6R,7R,8R)-(+)-α-copaene. Finally, the AChE inhibition activity of the EO was evaluated in vitro. In conclusion, this volatile fraction is suitable for further investigation, according to two main lines: (a) the purification and structure elucidation of the major undetermined compounds, (b) a bio-guided fractionation, intended to investigate the presence of new sesquiterpene AChE inhibitors among the minor components.

Phytochemical Compositions and Biological Activities of Essential Oils from the Leaves, Rhizomes and Whole Plant of Hornstedtia bella Škorničk

The rapid emergence of drug-resistant strains and novel viruses have motivated the search for new anti-infectious agents. In this study, the chemical compositions and cytotoxicity, as well as the antibacterial, antifungal, antitrichomonas, and antiviral activities of essential oils from the leaves, rhizomes, and whole plant of Hornstedtia bella were investigated. The GC/MS analysis showed that β-pinene, E-β-caryophyllene, and α-humulene were found at high concentrations in the essential oils. The essential oils exhibited (i) inhibition against Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and minimum lethal concentration (MLC) values from 1 to 4% (v/v); (ii) MIC and MLC values from 2 to 16% (v/v) in Candida tropicalis and Candida parapsilosis; (iii) MIC and MLC values from 4 to 16% in Enterococcus faecalis; and (iv) MIC and MLC values from 8 to greater than or equal to 16% (v/v) in the remaining strains, including Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Candida albicans, and Candida glabrata. In antitrichomonas activity, the leaves and whole-plant oils of Hornstedtia bella possessed IC₅₀, IC₉₀, and MLC values of 0.008%, 0.016%, and 0.03% (v/v), respectively, whilst those of rhizomes oil had in turn, 0.004%, 0.008%, and 0.016% (v/v).Besides, the leaf oil showed a weak cytotoxicity against Vero 76 and MRC-5; meanwhile, rhizomes and whole-plant oils did not exert any toxic effects on cell monolayers. Finally, these oils were not active against EV-A71.

In vitro Antimicrobial Activity of Essential Oil Extracted from Leaves of Leoheo domatiophorus Chaowasku, D.T. Ngo and H.T. Le in Vietnam

:The present study aimed to determine the antimicrobial activity and chemical composition of leaves-extracted essential oil of Leoheo domatiophorus Chaowasku, D.T. Ngo and H.T. Le (L. domatiophorus), including antibacterial, antimycotic, antitrichomonas and antiviral effects. The essential oil was obtained using hydrodistillation, with an average yield of 0.34 ± 0.01% (v/w, dry leaves). There were 52 constituents as identified by GC/MS with available authentic standards, representing 96.74% of the entire leaves oil. The essential oil was comprised of three main components, namely viridiflorene (16.47%), (-)-δ-cadinene(15.58%) and γ-muurolene (8.00%). The oil showed good antimicrobial activities against several species: Gram-positive strains: Staphylococcus aureus (two strains) and Enterococcus faecalis, with Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Lethal Concentration (MLC) values from 0.25 to 1% (v/v); Gram-negative strains such as Escherichia coli (two strains), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (two strains) and Klebsiella pneumoniae, with MIC and MLC values between 2% and 8% (v/v); and finally Candida species, having MIC and MLC between 0.12 and 4% (v/v).Antitrichomonas activity of the oil was also undertaken, showing IC₅₀, IC₉₀ and MLC values of 0.008%, 0.016% and 0.03% (v/v), respectively, after 48h of incubation. The essential oil resultedin being completely ineffective against tested viruses, ssRNA+ (HIV-1, YFV, BVDV, Sb-1, CV-B4), ssRNA- (hRSVA2, VSV), dsRNA (Reo-1), and dsDNA (HSV-1, VV) viruses with EC₅₀ values over 100 µg/mL. This is the first, yet comprehensive, scientific report about the chemical composition and pharmacological properties of the essential oil in L. domatiophorus.

Analysis of sesquiterpene hydrocarbons in grape berry exocarp (Vitis vinifera L.) using in vivo-labeling and comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC×GC-MS)

Sesquiterpenes are structurally diverse, potent flavoring substances that significantly influence the aroma profile of grapes (Vitis vinifera L.) at the time of physiological ripening. To investigate these natural compounds, freshly harvested, ripe berries of the red wine variety Lemberger (Vitis vinifera subsp. vinifera L.) were analyzed using comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC×GC) coupled to a time-of-flight mass spectrometer (TOF-MS) after headspace-solid phase microextraction (HS-SPME). The identification of structurally complex natural compounds, such as sesquiterpenes from fruits and vegetables, is often reported as "tentative", as authentic standards are not commercially available for most of the analytes. For this reason, feeding experiments (in vivo labeling) were carried out using the stable isotope-labeled precursors [5,5-2H2]-1-deoxy-ᴅ-xylulose (d 2-DOX) and [6,6,6-2H3]-(±)-mevalonolactone (d 3-MVL) to clearly identify the volatiles. Based on the recorded mass spectra of the unlabeled and deuterated compounds, mechanisms for sesquiterpene formation in V. vinifera could be proposed and already known pathways could be confirmed or disproved. For example, the HS-SPME-GC×GC-TOF-MS measurements of fed sample material showed that the tricyclic sesquiterpene hydrocarbons α-copaene, β-copaene, α-cubebene, β-cubebene and the bicyclic δ-cadinene were biosynthesized via (S)-(-)-germacrene D rather than via (R)-(+)-germacrene D as intermediate.

Volatile Components of Heartwood, Sapwood, and Resin From a Dated Cedrus brevifolia

In the present study, the heartwood and the sapwood of a thick wood disc from a dated Cedrus brevifolia trunk, and the resin were analyzed for their volatile components. All samples were subjected to headspace solid-phase microextraction followed by gas chromatography mass spectrometry analysis. The main constituents were β-himachalene (22.2 %) in heartwood and (25.0 %) in sapwood, and α-pinene (37.8 %) in resin.

Insectifugal and insecticidal potentials of two tropical botanical essential oils against cowpea seed bruchid

Essential oils (EO) obtained from Xylopia parviflora root bark and Hoslundia opposita leaf via hydro distillation were analysed by GC-MS and evaluated for their insectifugal (repellent) and insecticidal activities against cowpea seed bruchid (Callosbruchus maculatus Fabricius), a cosmopolitan pest of cowpea seeds. X. parviflora was predominated by sesquiterpenes (59.57%), with the main compounds being β-himachalene (22.68%), 1,7,7,Trimethylbicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-en-2-ol (19.68%), β-elemene (14.41%), 5(1H)-Azulenone, 2,4,6,7,8,8a-hexahydro-3,8-dimethyl-4-(1-methylethylidene)-(85-cis)- (12.38%) and (-)-α-parasinsen (8.34%). The predominant compounds in H. opposita EO were 1,8-cineole (61.15%), followed by α-terpineol (16.81%) and β-phellandrene (13.25%). Percentage repellence at application rates of 0.66-1.32 μl/cm² (46.93-73.07%) was significantly (p < 0.05) higher than that of control (17.73%). RD₅₀ (repellence dose for 50% of treated adults) for H. opposita (0.43 μl/cm²) was not significantly different from the value for X. parviflora (0.60 μl/cm²). Although higher percentage of male mortality than female mortality was observed due to topical application of the EOs, the disparity was not significant. The results of correlation of the chemical groups of the EOs with the insectifugal activity indicate that the observed bioactivity was due to the synergistic effects of the chemical groups. The two EOs are therefore recommended for incorporation into bruchid protection schemes in the tropics.

Development and evaluation of a cedrol-loaded nanostructured lipid carrier system for in vitro and in vivo susceptibilities of wild and drug resistant Leishmania donovani amastigotes

Leishmaniasis is an epidemic in various countries, and the parasite Leishmania donovani is developing resistance against available drugs. In the present study the antileishmanial action of cedrol was evaluated in vitro and in vivo. Activity potentiation was achieved via nanostructured lipid carrier (NLC) complexation of cedrol. Cedrol-loaded NLC was prepared through the hot-melting emulsification-ultrasonication method. The cedrol- NLC prepared did not require the use of any organic solvents. The characterization of NLC-C₁ and NLC-C₂ revealed that particle size was 46.62nm and 54.73nm for 3.85%, and 7.48% drug loading, respectively and negative charge of -19.2mV and -23.7mV. The cedrol-loaded NLC were found to be spherical with a smooth surface. Drug-carrier interactions were clearly visualized in FT-IR studies. Incorporation of cedrol in NLC was ascertained in DSC and XRD analysis. Antileishmanial activities of free cedrol and cedrol-NLC were performed against L. donovani wild-type, sodium stibogluconate, paromomycin and field isolated resistant strains in axenic amastigotes and amastigotes in macrophage model. Coumarin-6 loaded NLC nanoparticles were assessed for macrophage internalization in confocal microscopic studies. Cedrol showed significant antileishmanial activity in wild-type (IC₅₀=1.5μM), sodium stibogluconate resistant (IC₅₀=2μM), paromomycin resistant (IC₅₀=1.8μM) and field isolated resistant (IC₅₀=1.35μM) strains in macrophage together with cytotoxicity (CC₅₀=74μM) in mouse peritoneal macrophage cells. Incorporation of cedrol in NLC-C₂ resulted in 2.1-fold and 2-fold increase in selectivity indexes (CC₅₀/IC₅₀) for wild-type and drug resistant strains, respectively. In addition, in vivo studies revealed that bioactivity of NLC-C₂ were 2.3 to 3.8-fold increased in wild-type and 3 to 4.9-fold increased in drug resistant strains when compared with free cedrol; administered orally in mouse leishmaniasis model. Overall, NLC-C₂ showed superior antileishmanial activity to free cedrol and miltefosine in oral dose. These findings support the use of NLCs for oral delivery of poorly water-soluble antileishmanial drugs in treatment of leishmaniasis.

CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS

Cedrol (PubChem CID: 65575); Compritol® 888 ATO (PubChem CID: 62726); Triolein (PubChem CID: 5497163); Pluronic F68 (PubChem CID: 24751); Soya lecithin (PubChem CID: 57369748); Sodium deoxycholate (PubChem CID: 23668196); Miltefosine (PubChem CID: 3599); Paromomycin (PubChem CID: 165580); Amphotericin B (PubChem CID: 5280965); Sodium stibogluconate (PubChem CID: 16683012).

Chemical composition and larvicidal activities of the Himalayan cedar, Cedrus deodara essential oil and its fractions against the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella

Plants and plant-derived materials play an extremely important role in pest management programs. Essential oil from wood chips of Himalayan Cedar, Cedrus deodara (Roxburgh) Don (Pinales: Pinaceae), was obtained by hydrodistillation and fractionated to pentane and acetonitrile from which himachalenes and atlantones enriched fractions were isolated. A total of forty compounds were identified from these fractions using GC and GC-MS analyses. Essential oils and fractions were evaluated for insecticidal activities against second instars of the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella L. (Lepidoptera: Yponomeutidae), using a leaf dip method. All samples showed promising larvicidal activity against larvae of P. xylostella. The pentane fraction was the most toxic with a LC₅₀ value of 287 µg/ml. The himachalenes enriched fraction was more toxic (LC₅₀ = 362 µg/ml) than the atlantones enriched fraction (LC₅₀ = 365 µg/ml). LC₅₀ of crude oil was 425 µg/ml and acetonitrile fraction was LC₅₀ = 815 µg/ml. The major constituents, himachalenes and atlantones, likely accounted for the insecticidal action. Present bioassay results revealed the potential for essential oil and different constituents of C. deodara as botanical larvicides for their use in pest management.

Chemical Composition and Antibacterial Activity of Selected Essential Oils and Some of Their Main compounds

The chemical composition of essential oils of cabreuva ( Myrocarpus Fastigiatus Allemao, Fabaceae) from Brazil, cedarwood ( Juniperus ashei, Cupressaceae) from Texas, Juniper berries ( Juniperus communis L., Cupressaceae) and myrrh ( Commiphora myrrha (Nees) Engl., Burseraceae) were analyzed using GC/FID and GC/MS. The antimicrobial activity of these essential oils and some of their main compounds were tested against eleven different strains of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria by using agar diffusion and agar serial dilution methods. Animal and plant pathogens, food poisoning and spoilage bacteria were selected. The volatile oils exhibited considerable inhibitory effects against all tested organisms, except Pseudomonas, using both test methods. Higher activity was observed against Gram-positive strains in comparison with Gram-negative bacteria. Cabreuva oil from Brazil showed similar results, but in comparison with the other oils tested, only when higher concentrations of oil were used.

Chemical Composition of Hydrodistilled and Solvent Volatiles Extracted from Woodchips of Himalayan Cedrus: Cedrus deodara (Roxb.) Loud

The essential oil and extract obtained from the wood chips of Cedrus deodara by hydrodistillation and percolation respectively have been analyzed by GC-FID and GC–MS techniques. Thirty four compounds were identified from the essential oil and twenty six from the extract accounting for 98.3 and 94.6% respectively of total identifications. While the major components of the oil were β-himachalene (38.3%), α-himachalene (17.1%) and γ-himachalene (12.6%), those of the extracts were E-γ-atlantone (38.5%) and E-α-atlantone (10.2%).