Chemical composition and antioxidant activity of the volatile fraction extracted from air-dried fruits of Tunisian Eryngium maritimum L. ecotypes

Exploring the Biological and Phytochemical Potential of Jordan's Flora: A Review and Update of Eight Selected Genera from Mediterranean Region

Jordan's flora is known for its rich diversity, with a grand sum of 2978 plant species that span 142 families and 868 genera across four different zones. Eight genera belonging to four different plant families have been recognized for their potential natural medicinal properties within the Mediterranean region. These genera include Chrysanthemum L., Onopordum Vaill. Ex. L., Phagnalon Cass., and Senecio L. from the Asteraceae family, in addition to Clematis L. and Ranunculus L. from the Ranunculaceae family, Anchusa L. from the Boraginaceae family, and Eryngium L. from the Apiaceae family. The selected genera show a wide variety of secondary metabolites with encouraging pharmacological characteristics including antioxidant, antibacterial, cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, anti-ulcer, and neuroprotective actions. Further research on these genera and their extracts will potentially result in the formulation of novel and potent natural pharmaceuticals. Overall, Jordan's rich flora provides a valuable resource for exploring and discovering new plant-based medicines.

Chemical Composition of the Essential Oils of the Iberian Peninsula Endemic Species Eryngium dilatatum Lam

Eryngium dilatatum Lam. is a thorny Iberian Peninsula endemic species belonging to the Apiaceae family that has not been previously analysed from a chemical point of view. Following our studies on this genus, we characterized the chemical composition of the essential oils from the different parts (inflorescences, stems + leaves, and roots) of this species; these parts were gathered in Cádiz (Spain). The specimens were collected in July during the flowering period and air-dried before the oil extraction by hydro-distillation. The essential oils were analysed by gas chromatography and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. The different parts of the plant yielded low amounts of pale yellow oil, with the roots being the fraction that provided the lowest amount of oil. The chemical characterization of the essential oils showed qualitative and quantitative differences between the fractions examined, but all of them showed the same principal compound, germacrene D (9.1-46.5%). Similarly, all the fractions shared most of their representative constituents, with their percentage compositions being different from one sample to the other: α-cadinol (3.8%), bicyclogermacrene (3.5%), octanal (3.1%), and spathulenol (2.5%) were found in the inflorescences; octanal (8.1%), α-cadinol (3.7%), δ-cadinene (3.6%), (E)-caryophyllene (2.6%), bicyclogermacrene (2.5%), and spathulenol (2.4%) were found in the stems and leaves; and spathulenol (4.6%), α-cadinol (4.4%), khusinol (3.2%), α-muurolol (3.1%), and δ-cadinene (2.6%) were found in the roots. As far as we know, this is the first report about the chemical composition of this endemic species of the Iberian Peninsula. It contributes to the knowledge of this species and to the genus to which it belongs. This species could be considered as a natural source of germacrene D, which is a sesquiterpene hydrocarbon with active properties.

Phytochemical Diversity Comparison in Leaves and Roots of Wild and Micropropagated Latvian Sea Holly (Eryngium maritimum L.)

The goal of the current study was to compare the chemical composition of the roots, shoots, and leaves of wild-growing Eryngium maritimum L., and of in vitro and in field-cultivated plants in Latvia. The essential oil yield obtained by hydrodistillation ranged from 0.14% to 0.54%, while analysis of the chemical composition using GC-MS revealed a total of 44 different volatiles, with differences in the types and amounts of volatiles between the leaves and roots. Using 96-well plate techniques, the concentration of total phenolic compounds, saponins, and sugars in the aqueous ethanolic extracts of E. maritimum were assessed, along with their capacity to scavenge stable DPPH radicals. Extracts from roots had a lower concentration of total phenolic compounds compared to those from the leaves of wild grown and cultivated plants but did not differ from in vitro shoots. Root, leaf, and shoot samples of the same genotype from different growth conditions had approximately the same concentration of total saponins, while total sugar concentrations were higher in the roots. The growth conditions had a significant effect on the concentration of total phenolic compounds and antiradical activity, with differences that were significant observed between plant aboveground and belowground parts. Analysis using UHPLC-ESI-q-TOF-MS revealed 63 compounds, with amino acids and hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives (such as chlorogenic and rosmarinic acid) being the major compound groups that significantly differed between plant growth conditions. We also demonstrated that rapid screening of volatile compounds in in vitro plants using headspace gas chromatography mass spectrometry analyses can predict the formation of marker compounds in the same mericlones grown in field conditions. These findings provide valuable insights into the chemical composition of E. maritimum and its potential for use in various applications.

Genus Lupinus (Fabaceae): a review of ethnobotanical, phytochemical and biological studies

OBJECTIVES

Lupinus is a large and diverse genus comprising approximately 200 species, belonging to the family Fabaceae. Lupinus plants have been used for heart stimulants, nerves, urinary tract infections, skin disorders, and psoriasis in folk medicine. This review aims to recap the traditional medicinal uses, nutritional value, phytochemical profile, and biological activities of Lupinus species.

KEY FINDINGS

From the literature survey, Lupinus is considered as a factory of various phytochemicals like flavonoids, iso-flavonoids, alkaloids, triterpenoids. The presence of proteins, essential fatty acids, and amino acids, as well as alkaloids, minerals, and dietary fibers, indicated that the plants in this genus had a high nutritional value. The Lupinus extracts displayed promising antidiabetic, anticancer, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, antihypertensive, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial activities.

CONCLUSIONS

The current review provides updated information that could drive the researchers for further studies. The in vitro and in vivo experiments have demonstrated various pharmacological properties. Some pharmacokinetic and toxicological investigations are warranted to ensure its safety and validity for human use.

Essential Oils from Fruit and Vegetables, Aromatic Herbs, and Spices: Composition, Antioxidant, and Antimicrobial Activities

In the field of food preservation, encapsulated Essential Oils (EOs) could be the best non-toxic and eco-friendly tool for food preservative applications substituting the chemicals ones that have several disadvantages for the environment and health. Thirteen commercial EOs from plants, fruits, and vegetables were characterized by GC-MS. The antioxidant activity was measured by DPPH and ABTS techniques. Antimicrobial activity was assessed by agar well-diffusion method and the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) by agar dilution method against six bacteria, Candida albicans, and Botrytis cinerea. All the EOs tested have demonstrated antioxidant activity in the range of IC50 0.01-105.32 mg/mL. Between them, cinnamon EOs were the best, followed by oregano and thyme EOs. Fennel EO showed the lowest radical scavenging. MIC values ranged from 0.14 to 9 mg/mL. C. cassia, thyme, and oregano EOs were the most effective against the bacterial species tested, and the yeast C. albicans. On the contrary, citric fruit EOs showed low or no inhibition against most bacterial strains. The percentages of inhibition of mycelia growth of B. cinerea ranged from 3.4 to 98.5%. Thyme, oregano, mint, and fennel EOs showed the highest inhibition.

A chemometric assessment of essential oil variation of three Salvia species indigenous to South Africa

Indigenous Salvia species from southern Africa are popular traditional medicines for the treatment of a variety of conditions. They produce fragrant volatiles that can be isolated as essential oils. Some of these volatile organic compounds may play a role in the biological activities of the extracts. Three indigenous Salvia species, Salvia africana-lutea, S. lanceolata and S. chamelaeagnea, were selected for this study as they are commonly used in traditional medicine in South Africa, and the essential oils from these species have potential for commercialisation. Although some studies have described the essential oil compositions and some biological activities, only single composite samples were used. The aim of this study was to investigate the intra- and interspecies variation of the essential oils, sampled over a wide geographical area and using a representative sample size, to encourage commercialisation of the essential oil. Essential oils were isolated from individual plants using conventional hydrodistillation of the aerial parts, harvested from several localities. Gas chromatography coupled simultaneously to mass spectrometry/flame ionisation detection (GC-MS/FID) was used to identify and quantify the volatile constituents. The essential oils of S. africana-lutea consisted mainly of terpinene-4-ol + β-caryophyllene (1.4 - 29.0%), T-cadinol (1.2 - 20.0%), α-eudesmol (trace - 23.0%) and β-eudesmol (trace - 26.0%), those of S. lanceolata comprised mainly terpinene-4-ol + β-caryophyllene (4.3 - 31.0%), α-humulene (2.3 - 15.0%), bicyclogermacrene (trace - 37.0%) and spathulenol (trace - 25.0%), while the essential oils of S. chamelaeagnea were characterised by δ-3-carene (trace - 18.0%), limonene (1.6 - 36.0%), viridiflorol (9.8 - 61.0%) and 1,8-cineole (not detected - 11.0%). The compounds identified in the essential oils of the three selected Salvia species have been identified in other Salvia essential oils. To add to the novelty of this study, the superior resolving power of two-dimensional gas chromatography was demonstrated through analysis of selected essential oils. Many additional compounds were identified, and previously co-eluting compounds were clearly separated. Chemometric modelling of the GC-MS data using SIMCA P+ 14 software allowed distinct clustering patterns to be discerned. The unsupervised principal component analysis model revealed separate clusters for the three species, confirming substantial chemical differences between their essential oils. Quantitative, rather than qualitative differences were evident when individual essential oil samples representing the same species, were compared. For each species, two chemically distinct groups were observed and unique marker compounds could be identified. This study has contributed detailed information on the major and minor volatile compounds present in the essential oils of the three Salvia species investigated.

Chemical Composition of Essential Oils from Rare and Endangered Species-Eryngium maritimum L. and E. alpinum L

In the present study, the essential oils obtained by hydrodistillation of the organs of Eryngium maritimum and E. alpinum were analyzed by GC-FID-MS. The dominant constituents assessed in the essential oil of E. maritimum were germacrene D (45.2%) in the fruits; hexadecanoic acid (18.5%), menthol (16.8%), and menthone (10.9%) in the roots; 2,3,4-trimethylbenzaldehyde (11.3%) and germacrene D (10.5%) in the leaves; 2,3,4-trimethylbenzaldehyde (11.3%) in the shoot culture. In the case of E. alpinum, the main components of the leaf oil were: β-elemenone (10.3%), germacrone (5.8%), two selinadienes (7.1% and 6.7%), and 1,8-cineole (5.3%), which were not found in the oil from shoot culture, whereas the shoot culture oil was dominated by hexadecanoic acid (15.5%), spathulenol (7.5%), (E)-β-farnesene (4.9%), germacra-4(15),5,10(14)-trien-1α-ol (4.7%), and falcarinol (4.3%). The essential oils obtained from E. maritimum fruits and leaves of the intact plants, measured by the broth microdilution method, were the most active against T. mentagophytes and S. aureus. Moreover, the essential oil of leaves had the moderate activity against C. albicans and E. coli. The results showed that the chemical compositions of the essential oils differed decidedly between the two studied species and between the organs. Furthermore, the essential oil of E. maritimum may play an important role as antimicrobial agent.

Importance of Lupinus albescens in agricultural and food-related areas: A review

The purpose of this review is to assist readers in understanding the importance of Lupinus albescens to nature, farmers, and scientists. L. albescens is mostly found in Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and in "Campanha, Litoral and Missões" regions of State of Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil). Therefore, this review presents information and discussion on this plant that can encourage novel studies in a near future for exploring evermore the biological and physicochemical properties of L. albescens. The plant presents adaptive characteristics of soils with low content of nutrients, being an important plant for the recovering of degraded areas. In the last few years, there was an increase in scientific interest for exploring its chemical composition and biological activities. All plant matrices (i.e., roots, leaves, seeds, and stalks) are rich in antioxidant and antifungal compounds, especially stigmasterol. For example, the extracts obtained from the roots are reported with more than 50 wt% stigmasterol and 25 wt% ergosterol. Furthermore, the extracts present remarkable fungicide effects, especially against Fusarium oxysporum and Fusarium verticillioides.

The possible ameliorative effect of Olea europaea L. oil against deltamethrin-induced oxidative stress and alterations of serum concentrations of thyroid and reproductive hormones in adult female rats

This study aimed to verify whether Olea europaea L. (olive) oil (OEO) exerted a protective effect against oxidative stress induced by deltamethrin (DM) and alterations of pituitary, thyroid and gonadal hormones in adult female rats. DM (0,00256 g/kg body weight),OEO (0,6 g/kg body weight) and DM with OEO were administered to rats orally for 28 days. Volatile compounds present in olive oil were analysed by GC-MS. Estradiol (E₂), Thyroxine (T4),Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH), Triiodothyronine (T3), Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH), Luteinizing Hormone (LH), Progesterone (Pg) were measured in serum using Chemiluminescent Microparticle Immunoassay (CMIA). Lipid peroxidation (LPO), protein carbonyls (PCs), reduced glutathione (GSH) levels along with superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities were determined in thyroid and ovarian tissues. Sesquiterpenes, (E,E)-α-farnesene (16.45%) and α-copaene (9,86%), were analysed as the main volatile compounds of OEO. The relative weight of ovaries and thyroid and body weight significantly decreased in rats treated with DM. DM caused significant alterations in TSH, T4, FSH, Pg and E₂ levels while T3 and LH concentrations remained unchanged when compared to control. DM also increased significantly LPO and PCs levels. In addition, GSH reserves as well as CAT, GPx, SOD and GST activities were suppressed in DM-received rats. The presence of OEO with DM returned the levels of oxidative stress markers, thyroid and reproductive hormones at the control values. Our results indicate that OEO is a powerful agent able to protect against DM oxidative stress and endocrine changes.