Variation in essential oil composition, anatomical, and antioxidant characteristics of Achillea filipendulina Lam. as affected by different phenological stages

The Influence of Methyl Jasmonate on Expression Patterns of Rosmarinic Acid Biosynthesis Genes, and Phenolic Compounds in Different Species of Salvia subg. Perovskia Kar L

Salvia yangii B.T. Drew and Salvia abrotanoides Kar are two important fragrant and medicinal plants that belong to the subgenus Perovskia. These plants have therapeutic benefits due to their high rosmarinic acid (RA) content. However, the molecular mechanisms behind RA generation in two species of Salvia plants are still poorly understood. As a first report, the objectives of the present research were to determine the effects of methyl jasmonate (MeJA) on the rosmarinic acid (RA), total flavonoid and phenolic contents (TFC and TPC), and changes in the expression of key genes involved in their biosynthesis (phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL), 4-coumarate-CoA ligase (4CL), and rosmarinic acid synthase (RAS)). The results of High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis indicated that MeJA significantly increased RA content in S. yungii and S. abrotanoides species (to 82 and 67 mg/g DW, respectively) by 1.66- and 1.54-fold compared with untreated plants. After 24 h, leaves of Salvia yangii and Salvia abrotanoides species treated with 150 M MeJA had the greatest TPC and TFC (80 and 42 mg TAE/g DW, and 28.11 and 15.14 mg QUE/g DW, respectively), which was in line with the patterns of gene expression investigated. Our findings showed that MeJA dosages considerably enhanced the RA, TPC, and TFC contents in both species compared with the control treatment. Since increased numbers of transcripts for PAL, 4CL, and RAS were also detected, the effects of MeJA are probably caused by the activation of genes involved in the phenylpropanoid pathway.

Composition and Antioxidative and Antibacterial Activities of the Essential Oil from Farfugium japonicum

The composition of volatile oils of the leaf and stem of Farfugium japonicum (L.) Kitamura were prepared by supercritical fluid extraction (SFE)-CO₂. A total 47 and 40 compounds were identified by GC/MS analysis, respectively, and only 13 compounds coexisted. The main constituent types in the leaf oil included alcohols (34.1%), hydrocarbons (24.1%), terpenoids (16.2%), benzenes (7.5%), and fatty acids (4.9%). In the stem oil, the constituent types chiefly included benzenes (18.8%), ketones (13.9%), terpenoids (17.0%), fatty acids (8.8%), phenolics (8.7%), steroids (8.6%), hydrocarbons (8.0%), and esters (5.7%). The predominant volatile compounds in the stem were 2-(1-cyclopent-1-enyl-1-methylethyl) cyclopentanone (11.7%), 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8-octahydro- 9,10-dimethyl-anthracene (8.4%), 5-heptylresorcinol (6.5%), and α-sitosterol (5.2%). Those in the leaf mainly included (E)-3-hexen-1-ol (13.7%) and (Z)-3-hexen-1-ol (14.0%). This demonstrated a significant difference in the composition of both oils. Further study showed that stem oils demonstrated the highest DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-pinylhydrazyl) and ·OH free radical scavenging capacities at IC₅₀ values of 9.22 and 0.90 mg/mL, respectively. In addition, they demonstrated the strongest antibacterial capacity against the Gram-positive bacteria methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) at a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 0.16 mg/mL. This could be due to the SFE-CO₂ extraction and the high accumulation of benzenes, terpenoids, and phenolics in the stem. In particular, the monoterpenes presented in terpenoids could play a special role in these findings.

Mycorrhizal Colonization Modulates the Essential Oil Profile and Enzymatic and Non-Enzymatic Antioxidants to Mitigate the Adverse Effects of Water Deficit in Salvia subg. Perovskia

Among traditional Iranian herbs, Perovskia species (a subgenus of Salvia), while being valued ornamentals, are also studied for numerous potential pharmacological and therapeutic aspects. The current study was conducted to assess the effectiveness of two species of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), Funneliformis mosseae and Rhizophagus intraradices, separately and in combination, in terms of the essential oil content and compositions along with the enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants in Salvia abrotanoides and S. yangii in response to three levels of irrigation, including 100% FC as well-watered, 75% FC (moderate irrigation deficit), and 50% FC (severe irrigation deficit). In both species, essential oil content, enzyme antioxidant activities, total phenolics, and flavonoids were increased significantly with the severity of stress; this increase was more pronounced in mycorrhizal inoculated herbs. Furthermore, leaf phosphorus concentration, relative water content, chlorophylls a and b, and total carotenoids decreased in parallel with reducing soil moisture; albeit, AMF inoculation improved the stress symptoms under increasing severity of water restriction compared with their control conditions. In addition, the percentage of root colonization was positively correlated with the relative water content (RWC) and leaf phosphorus concentration. Taking into account the essential oil groups, AMF colonization elevated some essential oil components, such as oxygenated monoterpenes, 1,8-cineol, camphor, and borneol, whereas the main sesquiterpenes, including E-β-caryophyllene and α-humulene, remarkably decreased. Taken together, these findings highlighted the role of symbiosis with AMFs in increasing the tolerance of water deficit stress in S. abrotanoides and S. yangii and improving their essential oil composition.

Achillea moschata Wulfen: From Ethnobotany to Phytochemistry, Morphology, and Biological Activity

A multidisciplinary investigation on Achillea moschata Wulfen (Asteraceae) is outlined herein. This work, part of the European Interreg Italy-Switzerland B-ICE project, originated from an ethnobotanical survey performed in Chiesa in Valmalenco (Sondrio, Lombardy, Northern Italy) in 2019-2021 which highlighted this species' relevance of use in folk medicine to treat gastrointestinal diseases. In addition, this contribution included analyses of the: (a) phytochemical profile of the aqueous and methanolic extracts of the dried flower heads using LC-MS/MS; (b) morpho-anatomy and histochemistry of the vegetative and reproductive organs through Light, Fluorescence, and Scanning Electron Microscopy; (c) biological activity of the aqueous extract concerning the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential through cell-based in vitro models. A total of 31 compounds (5 phenolic acids, 13 flavonols, and 13 flavones) were detected, 28 of which included in both extracts. Covering and secreting trichomes were observed: the biseriate 10-celled glandular trichomes prevailing on the inflorescences represented the main sites of synthesis of the polyphenols and flavonoids detected in the extracts, along with volatile terpenoids. Finally, significant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of the aqueous extract were documented, even at very low concentrations; for the first time, the in vitro tests allowed us to formulate hypotheses about the mechanism of action. This work brings an element of novelty due to the faithful reproduction of the traditional aqueous preparation and the combination of phytochemical and micromorphological research approaches.