Infraspecific variability in the essential oil composition of Cistus monspeliensis leaves

Exploring the Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant Potential, Metabolite Composition and Inorganic Profile of Cistus monspeliensis L. Aerial Parts and Roots

This work focuses on Cistus monspeliensis L. aerial parts (AP) and roots (R) extracts, investigating the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant potential of the two organs in comparison. At dosages between 1.56 and 6.25 µg/mL, both extracts showed a protective effect against LPS inflammatory stimulus on a macrophage cell line (RAW 264.7). Interestingly, only R was able to significantly reduce both IL-1β and IL-6 mRNA gene expression in the presence of LPS. Moreover, the treatment of a neuroblastoma cell line (SH-SY5Y) with AP and R at 6.25 µg/mL increased the cell survival rate by nearly 20% after H2O2 insult. However, only R promoted mitochondria survival, exhibited a significantly higher production of ATP and a higher activity of the enzyme catalase than the control. Both AP and R had similar primary metabolites; in particular, they both contained 1-O-methyl-epi-inositol. Labdane and methoxylated flavonoids were the most characteristic compounds of AP, while R contained mainly catechins, gallic acid, and pyrogallol derivatives. Considering the importance of elemental composition in plants, the inorganic profile of AP and R was also investigated and compared. No potentially toxic elements, such as Pb, were detected in any sample.

Spatial Variation in Yield, Chemical Composition, and Phytotoxic Activity of Cistus ladanifer Essential Oils

Cistus ladanifer L. (rockrose) is a widespread shrub species of the Mediterranean region with products highly valued by the perfume and cosmetics industry. In this research, the variability in yield, chemical composition and phytotoxic activity of C. ladanifer essential oils collected from 12 plots belonging to four natural populations and settled on two different types of edaphic substrates were evaluated. The essential oils were analyzed by GC-MS. The essential oil content ranged from 0.19 to 0.42 mL/100 g. The volatile profiles were found to be rich in oxygenated sesquiterpenes and oxygenated monoterpenes. PCA analysis clustered the samples into two groups that were mainly attributed to the type of substrate on which the plants grow. Furthermore, CCA and correlation analysis revealed that soil organic matter was the most effective edaphoclimatic driver accounting for these high levels of variation in essential oil yield and composition. Finally, C. ladanifer essential oils showed strong phytotoxic activity on R. sativus seedlings, indicating its potential use as a natural bio-herbicide in agriculture. The results showed that the effect associated to local edaphoclimatic conditions not only impacted on the quality and quantity of the essential oil, but also on the industrial uses derived from its biological activities.

Essential Oils Derived from Cistus Species Activate Mitochondria by Inducing SIRT1 Expression in Human Keratinocytes, Leading to Senescence Inhibition

Cistus L. is a genus of dicotyledonous perennial herbaceous plants. Cistus species have been commonly used in folk medicine in the Mediterranean region. In the present study, the biological activities of essential oils derived from Cistus species (Cistus laurifolius, C. monspeliensis, C. creticus, and C. salviifolius) were evaluated. Essential oils derived from C. laurifolius and C. monspeliensis were found to augment the expression of SIRT1, an anti-aging gene, in the normal culture of HaCaT cells. Furthermore, these essential oils increased the number and size of mitochondria and augmented their activity. These effects were thought to be caused by the up- and downregulated expression of MITOL and Drp1 in HaCaT cells, respectively, in response to the essential oil treatment. In addition, these essential oils were found to attenuate ultraviolet-B-induced mitochondrial damage and cellular senescence in HaCaT cells. These findings indicate that essential oils derived from C. laurifolius and C. monspeliensis may inhibit skin aging through mitochondrial regulation via SIRT1 activation.

Chemical Composition of Essential Oil, Phenolic Compounds Content, and Antioxidant Activity of Cistus monspeliensis from Northern Morocco

Currently, oxidative stress is one of the major problems that threatens human health. It is at the root of many diseases such as cancer. Despite the enormous efforts provided to combat this scourge, oxidative stress is still relevant and hence comes the need for research of new remedies especially from natural origin. For this purpose, the study of the antioxidant activity of extracts of Cistus monspeliensis from Morocco is a principal research objective. The phenolic extracts were obtained by maceration of the plant in a water/acetone mixture and then separated by liquid/liquid extraction with solvents of increasing polarity. The first phytochemical tests carried out on these extracts showed the existence of different families of phenolic compounds, such as flavonoids, tannins, and others. Assays for total polyphenols, flavonoids, hydrolysable, and condensed tannins were carried out by known colorimetric methods. The results of these assays have shown that the studied extracts are rich in phenolic compounds present in the plant in the form of flavonoids (69.81 ± 0.22 mg EQ/g DM), hydrolysable tannins (61.86 ± 0.89 mg ETA/g DM), and condensed tannins (70.05 ± 1.61 mg EC/g DM). The evaluation of the antioxidant activity is carried out by two different methods: the DPPH test (2,2-DiPhenyl-1-Picryl-Hydrazyl) and the FRAP test (Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power). The results obtained show that the extracts of Cistus monspeliensis are active and have interesting antioxidant powers. In particular, the water/acetone (WAE) (IC₅₀ = 0.079 mg/mL) and butanolic (BUE) (IC_0.5 = 0.099 mg/mL) extracts are the most active with values comparable to that of ascorbic acid. The interesting results obtained in this study clearly show that Cistus monspeliensis originating from Morocco can be considered as a source of natural antioxidants. Therefore, the extracts of this plant deserve to be tested in the medicinal field, against cancer and cardiovascular diseases, and in food field as an additive and preservative.

In vitro cultivation of tansy (Tanacetum vulgare L.): a tool for the production of potent pharmaceutical agents

In this study, tansy (Tanacetum vulgare L.) in vitro culture was established from seeds collected from natural populations. The multiplication of plantlets was conducted through shoot tips that exhibited potent apical growth and regeneration capacities on basal medium (BM), without the addition of any plant growth regulators (PGRs). PGRs were also omitted for the establishment and cultivation of tansy root cultures. Both abaxial and adaxial leaf surfaces of in vitro micropropagated plantlets were covered with glandular biseriate trichomes. Histochemical staining showed that glandular secretions were rich in lipid and terpene compounds, confirmed by GC-MS analysis of essential oil (EO). In the total EO, similar portions of oxygenated monoterpenes (38.5% m/m) and oxygenated sesquiterpenes (22.6% m/m) were detected. Chemical profiles of methanol extracts of in vitro cultured tansy shoots and roots varied in quantity and quality from those obtained from wild-growingtansy. HPLC analysis indicated that the methanol extracts of in vitro cultured roots were the richest in 3,5-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid (3,5-O-DCQA), in which the concentration was 6 times higher (10.220 mg/g DW) than that in the extract obtained from roots of wild-growing tansy (1.684 mg/g DW). This result is noticeable in the manner of industrial production of biologically active 3,5-O-DCQA that has been shown to have antioxidant, hepatoprotective, antiviral, antimutagenic, and immunomodulatory activity. Biotechnological interventions on secondary metabolite production taking place in trichomes could further enhance the production of some important tansy metabolites and further investigation will be directed toward the elucidation of the pharmaceutical potential of tansy in vitro obtained metabolites, as mixtures or single moieties.

Metabolic variation in Cistus monspeliensis L. ecotypes correlated to their plant-fungal interactions

The effect of environmental factors on the chemical composition of plants eventually resulting in plant growth regulation is an age-old issue in plant biology. Nowadays, the acceleration in changes in environmental conditions (e.g. global warming) can act as an incentive to investigate their correlation with metabolic changes. In this study, Cistus monspeliensis plants grown on the island of Sardinia (Italy) were used to explore the geographical-mediated metabolic variation and its repercussion on plant-fungus interactions. Samples of different ecotypes of C. monspeliensis were collected and chemically profiled by ¹H NMR and HPTLC-based metabolomics and the relationship between the variations of biological activity was examined by multivariate data analysis. The ecotypes, collected from different geographical zones and altitudes, exhibited clearly distinguishable chemical profiles, particularly in their terpene and phenolic contents. In particular, multivariate data analysis revealed several diterpenes of the labdane and clerodane series among the terpenes and methoxyflavonoids to be responsible for the differentiation. The antifungal activity of the plants was used to explore the correlation between chemical variation and biological activity. Results showed that there was a strong correlation between the metabolic profiles and the antifungal activity, revealing terpenes and methoxylated flavonoids as the main involved metabolites. This demonstrated that environmental factors can influence the chemical variation of plant ecotypes, resulting in the generation of chemotypes that are potentially adapted to their niche conditions including the plant-fungal interactions.

Interpopulation Variability in the Essential Oil Composition of Cistus creticus subsp. eriocephalus from Sardinia

Cistus genus is widespread in the Mediterranean regions with several species and is traditionally known as a natural remedy, but few previous phytochemical researches have been reported on Cistus species growing in Sardinia. The aim of this work was to study the interpopulation variability of the volatiles of C. creticus subsp. eriocephalus to find out the natural chemotypes of this taxon for chemotaxonomic purposes. Plant material was collected from seven wild populations in Sardinia. The oils from aerial part were obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC/MS enabling to identify 185 compounds. The seven samples showed appreciable variations in their chemical composition. MA was found almost exclusively linear hydrocarbons (85%) and MN presented fatty acids (36.97%) as major fraction. CP and MN had high quantity of non-terpenic carbonylic compounds (63% and 69%, respectively) and in CP was found also sclareol, a well-known antimicrobial compound. PCA analysis showed the existence of a high interpopulation variability within the essential oils of C. creticus subsp. eriocephalus growing in Sardinia. For example, MN and CP are very close to each other as CG is close to PM. BN is isolated from the others Cistus populations due to lacking essential oil. These data suggest that the basis of variation in the volatile composition of seven C. creticus subsp. eriocephalus populations depends on hybridization and that the sample without essential oil is the only one no-hybridized.

Habitat-related variation in composition of the essential oil of Seseli rigidum Waldst. & Kit. (Apiaceae)

Plant specialised metabolites like essential oils are highly variable depending on genetic and various ecological factors. The aim of the present work was to characterise essential oils of the species Seseli rigidum Waldst. & Kit. (Apiaceae) in various organs on the individual and populational levels. Geographical variability and the impact of climate and soil type on essential oil composition were also investigated. Individually sampled essential oils of roots, aerial parts and fruits of plants from seven populations were analysed by GC-FID and GC-MS. The investigated populations showed high interpopulational and especially intrapopulational variability of essential oil composition. In regard to the variability of essential oils, different chemotypes were defined. The essential oils of S. rigidum roots represented a falcarinol chemotype, oils of aerial parts constituted an α-pinene or α-pinene/sabinene chemotype and fruit essential oils can be characterised as belonging to a complex sabinene/α-pinene/β-phellandrene/falcarinol/germacrene B chemotype. At the species level, analysis of variance (ANOVA), principal component analysis (PCA) and canonical discriminant analysis (CDA) showed that the plant part exerted the strongest influence on the composition of essential oils. Climate had a high impact on composition of the essential oils of roots, aerial parts and fruits, while influence of the substrate was less pronounced. The variations in main compounds of essential oils based on climate or substrate were complex and specific to the plant part.

Comparison of essential oils from Cistus species growing in Sardinia

Cistus genus is present in Sardinia with large populations of C. monspeliensis, C. salvifolius, C. creticus subsp. eriocephalus and few stations of C. albidus, C. creticus subsp. creticus and C. creticus subsp. corsicus. No chemical studies are currently being carried on Cistus species of Sardinia. The essential oils have shown six different profiles. C. creticus subsp. eriocephalus showed a high amount of manoyl oxide and its isomer (70%). C. salvifolius has pointed out the group of labdans, (20%); another consistent percentage is made of perfumed molecules as ionone and its derivate. Several linear hydrocarbons were produced by C. monspeliensis, and the heneicosane was the most represented element. In C. albidus no labdane-type diterpenes were identified. Analysis of C. creticus subsp creticus revealed several oxygenated sesquiterpenes and labdane-type diterpenes, especially manoyl oxide. C. creticus subsp. corsicus was qualitatively very similar to C. creticus subsp. creticus, notably concerning the labdane-type compounds.

Botanical, Phytochemical, and Anticancer Properties of the Eucalyptus Species

The genus Eucalyptus (Myrtaceae) is mainly native to Australia; however, some species are now distributed globally. Eucalyptus has been used in indigenous Australian medicines for the treatment of a range of aliments including colds, flu, fever, muscular aches, sores, internal pains, and inflammation. Eucalyptus oils containing volatile compounds have been widely used in the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries for a multitude of purposes. In addition, Eucalyptus extracts containing nonvolatile compounds are also an important source of key bioactive compounds, and several studies have linked Eucalyptus extracts with anticancer properties. With the increasing research interest in Eucalyptus and its health properties, this review briefly outlines the botanical features of Eucalyptus, discusses its traditional use as medicine, and comprehensively reviews its phytochemical and anticancer properties and, finally, proposes trends for future studies.

Comparative Phytochemical Analysis of Essential Oils from Different Biological Parts of Artemisia herba alba and Their Cytotoxic Effect on Cancer Cells

PURPOSE

Carrying out the chemical composition and antiproliferative effects against cancer cells from different biological parts of Artemisia herba alba.

METHODS

Essential oils were studied by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and their antitumoral activity was tested against P815 mastocytoma and BSR kidney carcinoma cell lines; also, in order to evaluate the effect on normal human cells, oils were tested against peripheral blood mononuclear cells PBMCs.

RESULTS

Essential oils from leaves and aerial parts (mixture of capitulum and leaves) were mainly composed by oxygenated sesquiterpenes 39.89% and 46.15% respectively; capitulum oil contained essentially monoterpenes (22.86%) and monocyclic monoterpenes (21.48%); esters constituted the major fraction (62.8%) of stem oil. Essential oils of different biological parts studied demonstrated a differential antiproliferative activity against P815 and BSR cancer cells; P815 cells are the most sensitive to the cytotoxic effect. Leaves and capitulum essential oils are more active than aerial parts. Interestingly, no cytotoxic effect of these essential oils was observed on peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

CONCLUSION

Our results showed that the chemical composition variability of essential oils depends on the nature of botanical parts of Artemisia herba alba. Furthermore, we have demonstrated that the differential cytotoxic effect depends not only on the essential oils concentration, but also on the target cells and the botanical parts of essential oils used.

Genus Cistus: a model for exploring labdane-type diterpenes' biosynthesis and a natural source of high value products with biological, aromatic, and pharmacological properties

The family Cistaceae (Angiosperm, Malvales) consists of 8 genera and 180 species, with 5 genera native to the Mediterranean area (Cistus, Fumara, Halimium, Helianthemum, and Tuberaria). Traditionally, a number of Cistus species have been used in Mediterranean folk medicine as herbal tea infusions for healing digestive problems and colds, as extracts for the treatment of diseases, and as fragrances. The resin, ladano, secreted by the glandular trichomes of certain Cistus species contains a number of phytochemicals with antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, and anticancer properties. Furthermore, total leaf aqueous extracts possess anti-influenza virus activity. All these properties have been attributed to phytochemicals such as terpenoids, including diterpenes, labdane-type diterpenes and clerodanes, phenylpropanoids, including flavonoids and ellagitannins, several groups of alkaloids and other types of secondary metabolites. In the past 20 years, research on Cistus involved chemical, biological and phylogenetic analyses but recent investigations have involved genomic and molecular approaches. Our lab is exploring the biosynthetic machinery that generates terpenoids and phenylpropanoids, with a goal to harness their numerous properties that have applications in the pharmaceutical, chemical and aromatic industries. This review focuses on the systematics, botanical characteristics, geographic distribution, chemical analyses, biological function and biosynthesis of major compounds, as well as genomic analyses and biotechnological approaches of the main Cistus species found in the Mediterranean basin, namely C. albidus, C. creticus, C. crispus, C. parviflorus, C. monspeliensis, C. populifolius, C. salviifolius, C. ladanifer, C. laurifolius, and C. clusii.

The scent of Mare Nostrum: medicinal and aromatic plants in Mediterranean soils

In the Mediterranean area, the simultaneous occurrence of pedological, climatic and economic constraints often sets a limit on the profitability of agriculture, and farmers are forced to grow a reduced number of species, dealing with a secure-albeit low-market income. The introduction of medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) inside the current farming systems could represent a useful means to meet the multifunctional role of agriculture: producing safe food, in respect of the environment, and contributing to the development of rural areas. The study of the relationships between MAPs and the soils in which they may be grown may have two approaches: (1) the evaluation of yield and qualitative response of MAPs to the variation of soil features; and (2) the study of selective recovery of certain elements (toxic and beneficial), and their subsequent release in herbal products. In many MAPs, significant variations of plant characteristics have been ascertained with varying soil traits, and the selective recovery and subsequent release in food of certain elements have been demonstrated. Hence, great attention must be paid to the choice of soil and cropping strategies, to obtain satisfactory yields of high quality and best-priced products, respecting their safety and nutritional value.

Environmental control of terpene emissions from Cistus monspeliensis L. in natural Mediterranean shrublands

The large amount of volatile organic compound (VOC) emitted by vegetation modifies air quality contributing to both tropospheric ozone and secondary organic aerosol production. A better understanding of the factors controlling VOC emissions by vegetation is mandatory in order to improve emission estimates derived from tropospheric chemistry models. Although the Mediterranean shrublands are particularly abundant and rich in emitting species, their emission potential is poorly known. Focusing on a VOC-emitting shrub species widespread in the Mediterranean area (Cistus monspeliensis L.), we measured and analysed its emissions of terpenes taking into account the age of individuals, the season of sampling and the soil type. Sampling was done under natural environmental conditions. Species of the genus Cistus are frequently reported to be storing species, although we found only one stored monoterpene and three sesquiterpenes in very low amount. Major emitted compounds were alpha-pinene and beta-myrcene. Total terpene emissions were not influenced by plant age but emission of some individual terpenes was positively correlated with age. A strong seasonal effect was evidenced. A larger amount of terpenes was emitted during spring and summer than during fall and winter. Summer emission rates were nearly 70 times higher than winter emission rates. Total and individual terpene emissions were influenced by soil type; emissions on siliceous substrate were ca. seven times higher than those on calcareous substrate. In conclusion, it appears clearly that environmental factors such as soil nature and season should be taken into account in order to achieve improved modelling of terpene emissions by shrub species.

Factors Affecting Chemical Variability of Essential Oils: A Review of Recent Developments

This review, covering mainly papers of the last decade, focuses on recent findings on the different factors affecting the chemical composition of essential oils, such as exogenous and endogenous factors. The endogenous factors are related to anatomical and physiological characteristics of the plants and to the biosynthetic pathways of the volatiles, which might change in either the different tissues of the plants or in different seasons, but also could be influenced by DNA adaptation. The exogenous factors, over a long period, might affect some of the genes responsible for volatiles formation. Those factors lead to ecotypes or chemotypes in the same plant species. In the last few years chemotaxonomy has been widely used to classify plants with essential oils characterized by intra-specific chemical polymorphism. It could be evidenced that chemotypes are frequently genotypes and recently the application of the Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers, coupled with powerful statistical methods, appeared to be useful in discriminating the different genotypes. The data presented led to the suggestion that further chemotaxonomic studies should be the result of the analysis of morphological traits combined both with chemical and molecular markers.

Chemical composition of the essential oils of the flowers, leaves and stems of two senecio polyanthemoides Sch. Bip. samples from South Africa

The essential oils of the flowers, leaves and stems of Senecio polyanthemoides Sch. Bip. Samples collected from two different localities within the city of uMhlathuze, KwaZulu-Natal Province (South Africa) were isolated by hydrodistillation and analyzed using GC and GC/MS. Twenty-six constituents were identified, representing an average of 86.0 - 99.6% of the total oil composition. The chemical profile reveals the dominance of monoterpenoid compounds, although some quantitative variance was noticed. The main constituents of the oils were limonene (3.1 - 43.0%), p-cymene (4.9-36.3%), beta-selinene (1.3-32.7%), alpha-pinene (1.8-21.4%), beta-pinene (7.6-16.5%) and 1,8-cineole (9.3-11.4%), caryophyllene oxide (4.1-13.4%) and humulene epoxide II (8.6-10.3%).

Absolute configuration of (−)-2,6-dimethyl-10-(p-tolyl)-2,6(E)-undecadiene fromCistus monspeliensis

(-)-2,6-Dimethyl-10-(p-tolyl)-2,6(E)-undecadiene (1) is a major constituent in the essential oil of Cistus monspeliensis, an aromatic shrub common in Mediterranian countries. 1 was isolated by column chromatography, subjected to ozonolyses, and the absolute configuration was determined by enantioselective gas chromatographic correlation with the ozonolysis product of the sesquiterpene hydrocarbon ar-curcumene with known absolute configuration.