Composition of essential oil, concrete, absolute, wax and headspace volatiles ofMurrarya paniculata (Linn.) Jack flowers

Forgotten Perfumery Plants - Part II: New Insights into the Development of Novel Fragrant Ingredients - Hawthorn Case Study

Naturalness is gaining ground among perfumers and the use of natural raw materials is spreading in perfumery. Forgotten perfumery plants are of concern to develop innovative and natural ingredients for modern perfume industries. The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential interest of Crataegus monogyna Jacq. extracts as fragrance ingredient. To this end, various extractions, phytochemical characterizations and organoleptic evaluations of hawthorn were conducted on fresh, frozen, and dried flowering aerial parts, to identify those most likely to be of interest. More than a hundred compounds, anisaldehyde being the predominant one, were characterized for the first time in the volatile fraction, using HS-SPME-GC-MS technology. Impact of plant treatment and harvest year on the extracts were also discussed. From this work, a new and natural hawthorn-based ingredient was developed to complete the perfumers' palette.

A comprehensive review of the botany, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and toxicology of Murrayae Folium et Cacumen

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Murrayae Folium et Cacumen (MFC) is a plant considered to be a traditional Chinese medicine with culinary value as well. The dry leaves and twigs of Murraya paniculata and M. exotica are used to treat stomach aches, rheumatism, toothaches, swelling, and insect and snake bites. They are also used to prepare spicy chicken dishes. Aim of the review: This review comprehensively summarizes the available information on the botanical characterization, phytochemistry, pharmacological activities, pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, and toxicity of MFC. Methods: Relevant scientific literature up to August 2023 was included in the study. Chinese and English studies on MFC were collected from databases, including PubMed, Elsevier, Web of Science, Springer, Science Direct, Wiley, ACS, and CNKI (Chinese). Doctoral and Master's dissertations were also included. Results: In total, 720 compounds have been identified and reported in the literature, including flavonoids, coumarins, alkaloids, sterols, phenylpropenols, organic acids, spirocyclopentenones, and volatile oils. Flavonoids and coumarins are the two most important bioactive compounds responsible for these pharmacological activities. MFC has anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-microbial, anti-diabetic, anti-tumor, anti-oxidant, anti-depressant, potential anti-Alzheimer's disease, chondroprotective, and analgesic properties. The pharmacological effects include interrupting the STAT3/NF-κB/COX-2 and EGFR signaling pathways, downregulating EpCAM expression, inhibiting NF-κB and ERK signals, inhibiting the EP/cAMP/PKA signaling pathway and miR-29a/Wnt/β-catenin signaling activity, and upregulating Foxo3a expression. Conclusion: This review demonstrates that the chemical constituents, pharmacological activities, pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, and toxicity of MFC support its use in traditional Chinese botanical medicines. MFC contains a wide range of chemical compounds. Flavonoids and coumarins promote strong pharmacological activity and, are low-toxicity natural phytomedicines that are widely used in medicine, food, ornamentation, and cosmetics, making MFC a promising compound for development and use in the treatment of several medical conditions.

Arthropods Associated with Invasive Frangula alnus (Rosales: Rhamnaceae): Implications for Invasive Plant and Insect Management

The invasive shrub glossy buckthorn (Frangula alnus) has been progressively colonizing the Northeastern United States and Southeastern Canada for more than a century. To determine the dominant arthropod orders and species associated with F. alnus, field surveys were conducted for two years across 16 plots within the Allegheny National Forest, Pennsylvania, USA. Statistical analyses were employed to assess the impact of seasonal variation on insect order richness and diversity. The comprehensive arthropod collection yielded 2845 insects and arachnids, with hemipterans comprising the majority (39.8%), followed by dipterans (22.3%) and arachnids (15.5%). Notably, 16.2% of the hemipterans collected were in the immature stages, indicating F. alnus as a host for development. The two dominant insect species of F. alnus were Psylla carpinicola (Hemiptera: Psyllidae) and Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae); D. suzukii utilized F. alnus fruits for reproduction. Species richness and diversity exhibited significant variations depending on the phenology of F. alnus. The profiles of volatile compounds emitted from the leaves and flowers of F. alnus were analyzed to identify factors that potentially contribute to the attraction of herbivores and pollinators. The results of our study will advance the development of novel F. alnus management strategies leveraging the insects associated with this invasive species.

In Vitro Antibacterial, Antioxidant, Anticholinesterase, and Antidiabetic Activities and Chemical Composition of Salvia balansae

CONTEXT

Salvia balansae de Noé (S. balansae) (Lamiaceae) is known to be an important plant used in folk medicine as an herbal remedy in Algeria.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of the present study was to demonstrate the phytochemical composition, antioxidant activities, enzyme inhibitory activities, and antimicrobial activities of S. balansae extracts.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A methanolic extract and a petroleum ether extract from the aerial parts of the plant were assessed for their chemical composition. HPLC-MS and HPLC-DAD assessed the content of phenols, GC-MS the fatty acid composition, and ICP-MS the mineral profiles of the plant. Additionally, we evaluated the bioactivities of S. balansae extracts by the DPPH, ABTS, and CUPRAC assays, including the antioxidant potential against AChE, BChE, α-amylase, and α-glucosidase for enzyme inhibition. The antibacterial and antifungal activities of the methanolic extract were determined by the disc diffusion test against several strains of bacteria and yeasts.

RESULTS

Our findings revealed that the aerial parts of S. balansae were rich in phytochemical components and contained large amounts of minerals. Quantitative analysis of phenolic compounds by HPLC-DAD revealed the presence of 12 compounds in three major classes, flavonoids, hydroxycinnamic acid, and phenolic acid derivatives, with 0.61, 0.45, and 0.29 mg/g of extract, respectively. Nine phenolic constituents were quantified by HPLC-MS analysis; catechin (72.5%) was the main compound, followed by myricetin (21.7%). The fatty acid composition of the S. balansae petroleum ether extract by GC-MS analysis was quantified. Seventeen compounds, including palmitic acid, were identified as the major fatty acids. The antioxidant activity of the S. balansae extracts was measured by three different methods: the methanol extract provided better results than the petroleum ether extract, and interesting values were noted for the DPPH, ABTS, and CUPRAC assays of 242.7 ± 7.44, 124.1 ± 9.70, and 222.9 ± 6.05 µg/mL, respectively. The enzyme inhibition activity of the plant could not be determined. The antimicrobial results of the methanolic extract obtained from the disc diffusion method, followed by measurements of MIC, MBC, and MFC against several bacteria and yeasts, indicated that S. balansae exhibited noticeable antimicrobial and antifungal activities.

CONCLUSIONS

These results provided new data about the main phenolic compounds and biological activities of extracts of the aerial parts of S. balansae, which might be an alternative source for synthetic bioactive compounds.

Influence of Drying Method on Some Bioactive Compounds and the Composition of Volatile Components in Dried Pink Rock Rose (Cistus creticus L.)

This study investigates the effects of various drying methods applied to leaves of Cistus creticus L. on the contents of polyphenols and the composition of the volatile fraction. The following four drying methods were used: convection drying at a temperature of 40 °C (CD 40 °C), 50 °C (CD 50 °C), and 60 °C (CD 60 °C); vacuum-microwave (VMD 240 W); combined drying, involving convection pre-drying (50 °C) and vacuum-microwave (240 W) finish drying (CPD-VMFD) as well as freeze-drying (FD). Polyphenols in the dried leaves were determined using chromatography-photodiode detector-quadrupole/time of flight-mass spectrometry (UPLC-PDA-Q/TOF-MS). The contents of odoriferous substances in the dry material were determined by means of head space-solid phase microextraction (HS-SPME) with the use of a gas chromatograph (GC). Thirty-seven polyphenol components including 21 flavonols, eight flavan-3-ols, and eight hydrolyzed tannins in dry Pink Rock Rose material were found for the first time. The highest contents of polyphenols, totaling 2.8 g 100 g⁻¹ dry matter (d.m.), were found in the samples subjected to the CPD/VMFD drying method. Pink Rock Rose subjected to this drying method was characterized by large quantities of odoriferous compounds, mainly eugenol, thymol, and carvacrol, which contribute to its antiseptic properties. By using CPD/VMFD methods, it is possible to obtain fine quality dry material from the leaves of C. creticus.

An Evidence Synthesis of Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products (PPCPs) in the Environment: Imbalances among Compounds, Sewage Treatment Techniques, and Ecosystem Types

Pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) garner increasing attention globally for both their usefulness as indicators of human waste and their potency as emerging organic toxicants. Three decades of rapid increase in PPCP study combined with an increasing number of PPCPs on the global market have created an opportunity (1) to review trends in diversity of compounds, sewage treatment techniques (STTs), and ecosystems investigated as well as (2) to identify knowledge gaps in the literature. We conducted a quantitative evidence synthesis of 6517 abstracts from primary articles in the environmental PPCP literature by examining relative abundance of specific PPCP classes, STTs, and ecosystem types. Our results demonstrate that non-prescription drugs and antibiotics dominated PPCP abstracts, appearing in 51% and 39% of reviewed abstracts, respectively, in comparison to hormones (18%), prescription drugs (18%), fragrances (0.3%), and antioxidants (0.0%), which can all elicit physiological and ecological responses even at low concentrations. References to centralized STTs (e.g., activated sludge, 37%) were more frequent than decentralized STTs (e.g., septic, 2%), despite decentralized STTs being common and frequently high impact sources of sewage pollution worldwide. Freshwater lotic systems (63%) were more prevalent than freshwater lentic (24%) and terrestrial (20%) systems. This discrepancy is notable because the longer residence times of lentic and terrestrial systems may enable PPCPs to concentrate and thus increase risk of biological consequences. These results highlight distinct opportunities to address knowledge gaps in the environmental PPCP literature, including underrepresented compounds (e.g., fragrances), sewage treatment techniques (e.g., septic systems), and ecosystem types (e.g., lakes).

Dynamic trajectories of volatile and non-volatile specialised metabolites in 'overnight' fragrant flowers of Murraya paniculata

Ephemeral flowers, especially nocturnal ones, usually emit characteristic scent profiles within their post-anthesis lifespans of a few hours. Whether these flowers exhibit temporal variability in the composition and profile of volatile and non-volatile specialised metabolites has received little attention. Flowers of Murraya paniculata bloom in the evenings during the summer and monsoon, and their sweet, intense fragrance enhances the plant's value as an ornamental. We aimed to investigate profiles of both volatile and non-volatile endogenous specialised metabolites (ESM) in nocturnal ephemeral flowers of M. paniculata to examine whether any biochemically diverse groups of ESM follow distinct patterns of accumulation while maintaining synchrony with defensive physiological functions. Targeted ESM contents of M. paniculata flowers were profiled at ten time points at 2-h intervals, starting from late bud stage (afternoon) up to the start of petal senescence (mid-morning). Emitted volatiles were monitored continuously within the whole 20-h period using headspace sampling. The ESM contents were mapped by time point to obtain a highly dynamic and biochemically diverse profile. Relative temporal patterns of ESM accumulation indicated that the active fragrance-emitting period might be divided into 'early bloom', 'mid-bloom' and 'late bloom' phases. Early and late bloom phases were characterised by high free radical generation, with immediate enhancement of antioxidant enzymes and phenolic compounds. The mid-bloom phase was relatively stable and dedicated to maximum fragrance emission, with provision for strong terpenoid-mediated defence against herbivores. The late bloom phase merged into senescence with the start of daylight; however, even the senescent petals continued to emit fragrance to attract diurnal pollinators. Our study suggests that dynamic relations between the different ESM groups regulate the short-term requirements of floral advertisement and phytochemical defence in this ephemeral flower. This study also provided fundamental information on the temporal occurrence of emitted volatiles and internal pools of specialised metabolites in M. paniculata flowers, which could serve as an important model for pollination biology of Rutaceae, which includes many important fruit crops.

In vivo extraction of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from Micro-Tom tomato flowers with multiple solid phase microextraction (SPME) fibers

The in vivo headspace extraction of volatile organic compounds from Micro-Tom tomato flowers was investigated using multiple solid phase microextraction (SPME) fibers of different properties to maximize the extraction selectivity for a nontargeted analysis. The three fibers used in this work were polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), PDMS/divinylbenzene (DVB), and carboxen (CAR)/PDMS. Two sources for tomato flowers were used: Micro-Tom wild type (WT) and transgenic Micro-Tom overexpressing the carotenoid cleavage deoxygenase 1 gene. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) results demonstrated that the largest amounts of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were observed with the PDMS/DVB fiber for both wild type and transgenic plants, but the CAR/PDMS and PDMS fibers contributed to the detection of selective compounds. Data revealed the presence of 45 VOCs from transgenic plants and 35 from the wild type when all three fibers were used together. Of the total VOCs identified, 30 were common to both types of plants, but 15 were specific to the transgenic and 5 to the wild type plants. The compounds identified from Micro-Tom flowers were mainly monocyclic and bicyclic monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes, with one alkyl benzene compound. The bicyclic monoterpenes, (1R)-α-pinene, (1S)-α-pinene, and β-pinene, were found to be the most abundant molecules present in both wild type and transgenic plants. The overall advantage of maximizing the discovery of VOCs based on the selectivity differences with three SPME fibers was evident. Such a benefit is important in the nontargeted analysis of transgenic plants for detecting the production of unexpected compounds.

Multivariate optimization of a headspace solid-phase microextraction method followed by gas chromatography with mass spectrometry for the determination of terpenes in Nicotiana langsdorffii

A simple and sensitive procedure based on headspace solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography with mass spectrometry was developed for the determination of five terpenes (α-pinene, limonene, linalool, α-terpineol, and geraniol) in the leaves of Nicotiana langsdorffii. The microextraction conditions (extraction temperature, equilibration time, and extraction time) were optimized by means of a Doehlert design. The experimental design showed that, for α-pinene and limonene, a low temperature and a long extraction time were needed for optimal extraction, while linalool, α-terpineol, and geraniol required a high temperature and a long extraction time. The chosen compromise conditions were temperature 60°C, equilibration time 15 min and extraction time 50 min. The main analytical figures of the optimized method were evaluated; LODs ranged from 0.07 ng/g (α-pinene) to 8.0 ng/g (geraniol), while intraday and interday repeatability were in the range 10-17% and 9-13%, respectively. Finally, the procedure was applied to in vitro wild-type and transgenic specimens of N. langsdorffii subjected to abiotic stresses (chemical and heat stress). With the exception of geraniol (75-374 ng/g), low concentration levels of terpenes were measured (ng/g level or lower); some interesting variations in terpene concentration induced by abiotic stress were observed.

Evaluation of anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities of Murraya exotica

CONTEXT

 Leaves of Murraya exotica L. (Rutaceae) are used for the treatment of various disorders such as cough, fever, and infectious wounds, as well as alleviating pains in folk medicine in southern China.

OBJECTIVE

 The objectives of this study were to investigate the in vivo antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of ethanol (70%) extracts and isolated compounds obtained from the dried leaves of M. exotica.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

 The antinociceptive activities were evaluated with the methods of acetic acid-induced writhing response and hot-plate latent pain response test. Carrageenan induced hind paw edema, xylene induced ear edema, and a rat knee osteoarthritis model were employed to measure the anti-inflammatory activities. The compounds were isolated using column chromatography and thin-layer chromatography, and the structures identified by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, MS, and IR.

RESULTS

The ethanol (70%) extracts significantly decreased in the acetic acid-induced writhing response; increased in hot-plate latency; suppressed xylene induced ear swelling and the carrageenan-induced paw edema effectively. In the rat knee osteoarthritis model, the treatment of the ethanol (70%) extracts resulted in a significant increase in the activity of superoxide dismutase, an inhibition on inducible nitric oxide synthase activity, and a decrease in the contents of interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α of the rat serum. Following this, we explored the components of the ethanol (70%) extracts and isolated six known coumarins, including murracarpin, which exhibited the most potential in antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

 M. exotica displayed remarkable antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities.

Chemical composition and toxicity against Sitophilus zeamais and Tribolium castaneum of the essential oil of Murraya exotica aerial parts

In our screening program for new agrochemicals from Chinese medicinal herbs, Murraya exotica was found to possess insecticidal activity against the maize weevil, Sitophilus zeamais and red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum. The essential oil of aerial parts of M. exotica was obtained by hydrodistillation and investigated by GC and GC-MS. The main components of M. exotica essential oil were spathulenol (17.7%), alpha-pinene (13.3%), caryophyllene oxide (8.6%), and alpha-caryophyllene (7.3%). Essential oil of M. exotica possessed fumigant toxicity against S. zeamais and T. castaneum adults with LC(50) values of 8.29 and 6.84 mg/L, respectively. The essential oils also show contact toxicity against S. zeamais and T. castaneum adults with LD(50) values of 11.41 and 20.94 microg/adult, respectively.