Chemical composition of essential oil from plants of abandoned mining site of Elba island

Phytochemistry and Antihyperglycemic Potential of Cistus salviifolius L., Cistaceae

Cistus salviifolius has been previously reported as a traditional remedy for hyperglycemia. However, the plant has been scarcely investigated from scientific point of view. Thus, the aim was to examine the chemical composition and to evaluate its antioxidant and antihyperglycemic potential in vitro. Aqueous and ethanolic extracts were evaluated for total phenolic, tannin, and flavonoid content using spectrophotometric methods. Detailed chemical characterization was performed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC-DAD). The volatile organic compounds (VOCs) profile was assessed by gas chromatography technique. The potential in diabetes treatment was evaluated through tests of free radicals neutralization, inhibition of lipid peroxidation process, and test of ferric ion reduction; activity in tests of inhibition of α-amylase, α-glucosidase and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 was also evaluated. High content of phenolics (majority being tannins) was detected; detailed HPLC analysis revealed high content of gallic acid, followed by rutin, chlorogenic and caffeic acids. The VOCs analysis determined sesquiterpene hydrocarbons and oxygenated sesquiterpenes as the main groups of compounds. The assays classified extracts as potent neutralizers of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazil and nitroso radicals formation and potent inhibitors of α-amylase and α-glucosidase. In conclusion, Cistus salviifolius represents a rich source of phenolics and essential oil with sesquiterpenes. The established results suggested its promising antioxidant and antihyperglycemic activities.

Chemically degraded soil rehabilitation process using medicinal and aromatic plants: review

In recent decades, the increasing number of degraded lands worldwide makes their rehabilitation essential and crucial. Various techniques have emerged to fulfill these needs but most of them are expensive and difficult to be applied. Revegetation is a cost effective, environmental friendly, and aesthetically pleasing approach suitable for degraded areas. However, the use of edible crops, especially for areas with heavy metals (HM) contamination, is not ecologically suitable because the HM may enter the food chain. Alternatively, non-edible, fast-growing, deep-rooting, and metal-stabilizing plants with high biomass, which can produce high-value products hold a great potential and have been regarded as potential candidates of edible crops. This current review presents the benefits of using aromatic and medicinal plants (AMPs) and their associated microorganisms for revegetation of degraded sites as they are high-value economic crops. We discussed the effect of various stress on productivity of secondary metabolites in AMPs in addition to the potential health risk with human consumption of these plants and their products. A focus was also given to the effect of HM stress on the essential oil (EO) content of certain AMPs. Reported data showed that AMPs growing on HM-contaminated soils are safe products to use as they are not significantly contaminated themselves by HM.

New Tricks for Old Guys: Recent Developments in the Chemistry, Biochemistry, Applications and Exploitation of Selected Species from the Lamiaceae Family

Lamiaceae is one of the largest families of flowering plants comprising about 250 genera and over 7,000 species. Most of the plants of this family are aromatic and therefore important source of essential oils. Lamiaceae are widely used as culinary herbs and reported as medicinal plants in several folk traditions. In the Mediterranean area oregano, sage, rosemary, thyme and lavender stand out for geographical diffusion and variety of uses. The aim of this review is to provide recent data dealing with the phytochemical and pharmacological studies, and the more recent applications of the essential oils and the non-volatile phytocomplexes. This literature survey suggests how the deeper understanding of biomolecular processes in the health and food sectors as per as pest control bioremediation of cultural heritage, or interaction with human microbiome, fields, leads to the rediscovery and new potential applications of well-known plants.