Chemical Diversity and Potential Target Network of Woody Peony Flower Essential Oil from Eleven Representative Cultivars (Paeonia × suffruticosa Andr.)

Water-soluble essential oil components of flowers of Paeonia × suffruticosa cultivars and in silico analysis with antidepressant targets

The present study focused on water-soluble essential oil recovered from the hydrolate of ten Paeonia × suffruticosa cultivars. Thirty-seven components, mostly oxygenated compounds (94.6-99.6%), were detected by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and GC-flame ionisation detector (GC-FID). The geranic acid chemotype was discovered (in cultivar 'Lan BaoShi'). Eight key oxygenated components were analysed in silico with antidepressant targets sodium-dependent serotonin transporter (SERT), 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor 1 A (5-HT1A), and monoamine oxidase type A (MAO-A). Geraniol, nerol, citronellol, and geranic acid presented superior docking properties. Phenylethyl alcohol and 1,3,5-trimethoxybenzene were also well docked. These molecules were bound to the active sites successfully (with partial occupancy in SERT). They might increase serotonin level or mimic its effect in central nervous system. (Z)-3-Hexen-1-ol and 1-hexanol showed weak binding. The in silico analysis revealed for the first time that the key water-soluble essential oil components of P. × suffruticosa potentially targeted antidepressant targets.

Paeonia mascula subsp. russoi (biv.) Cullen & Heywood: the chemical composition of the aerial parts essential oils of two different populations collected in Sicily (Italy)

In the present study, the chemical composition of the essential oil from aerial parts of two populations of Paeonia mascula subsp. russoi, collected in Sicily, was evaluated by GC-MS. No previously phytochemical investigation has been reported for this subspecies. The main components of the essential oil of the population with pink flowers were salicylaldehyde (34.31%), nonanal (16.95%) and 2-hexenal (10.17%), whereas essential oil of the population with white flowers, was shown to be rich of myrtanal (14.14%), eugenol (14.02%) and salicylaldehyde (12.21%). Furthermore, a complete literature review, not present in literature, on the composition of the essential oils of all the other taxa of Paeonia, studied so far, was performed. PCA and HCA analyses of the composition of essential oils obtained from the aerial parts were also carried out.

Investigation of Volatile Components and Assessment of Antioxidant Potential in Seven Lamiaceae Plant Hydrosols

Aromatic plants of the family Lamiaceae, especially of the genus Thymus, have promising antioxidant applications in pharmacology, medicine, food, cosmetology, and aromatherapy. Hydrosols (HDs) were extracted by hydrodistillation from seven species of Lamiaceae, including Thymus vulgaris, Thymus mongolicus, Mentha × piperita, Melissa officinalis, Rosmarinus officinali, Salvia elegans, and Leonurus artemisia. In total, 369 volatile components were determined and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Among them, alcohols (2.86-28.48%), ethers (2.46-10.69%), and phenols (0.11-21.78%) constituted a large proportion, mainly linalool (0.28-19.27%), eucalyptol (0.16-6.97%), thymol (0-19.54%), and carvacrol (0-26.82%). Multivariate statistical analyses were performed and 27 differential metabolites were screened. Three different methods (ABTS+•, DPPH•, and FRAP) were used to determine the in vitro antioxidant activity of seven HDs. Thymus vulgaris hydrosols (Tv HDs) and Thymus mongolicus hydrosols (Tm HDs) had the strongest antioxidant activity and their stronger antioxidant capacity was related to their high levels of phenolic constituents, mainly thymol. The antioxidant activity of the other five Lamiaceae HDs was associated with their high alcohol (mainly linalool and eucalyptol) content, and the alcohol constituents may synergistically affect their antioxidant capacity. Therefore, the present study suggests that Lamiaceae plants can be utilized as antioxidant products or antioxidants in different industrial sectors including pharmaceuticals, food, cosmetics, and agrochemicals.

Antibacterial Activity of Hexanol Vapor In Vitro and on the Surface of Vegetables

Hexanol is a volatile alcohol and a major component of plant essential oils (EOs). However, the antibacterial activity of hexanol vapor has not been well studied. This study aimed to evaluate the antibacterial activity of hexanol. In this study, seven food-related bacteria were exposed to 1-, 2- or 3-hexanol vapor on agar media to evaluate their growth. Additionally, the total viable counts in three vegetables when exposed to 1-hexanol vapor were measured. The results showed that 1-hexanol exhibited antibacterial effects against Gram-negative bacteria but did not affect Gram-positive bacteria. However, compounds 2- and 3-hexanol did not show antimicrobial activity against any bacteria. For the vegetables, exposure to 1-hexanol vapor decreased the total viable bacterial counts in cabbage and carrot and inhibited bacterial growth in eggplants. In cabbage, 1-hexanol vapor at concentrations over 50 ppm decreased the total viable count within 72 h, and 25 ppm of vapor showed bacteriostatic activity for 168 h. However, 1-hexanol vapor also caused discoloration in cabbage. In summary, 1-hexanol has the potential to act as an antibacterial agent, but further studies are required for practical use. Moreover, the study results may help determine the antimicrobial activity of various EOs in the future.

Paeonia × suffruticosa (Moutan Peony)-A Review of the Chemical Composition, Traditional and Professional Use in Medicine, Position in Cosmetics Industries, and Biotechnological Studies

The aim of this review is to perform a systematic review of scientific papers and an in-depth analysis of the latest research related to Paeonia × suffruticosa Andrews as a valuable plant species, important in pharmacy and cosmetology. P. × suffruticosa bark root-Moutan cortex is a medicinal raw material formerly known from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) but less common in official European medicine. It was introduced for the first time in the European Pharmacopoeia Supplement 9.4 in 2018. In this work, the numerous possible applications of this raw material were depicted based on modern professional pharmacological studies documenting its very valuable medicinal values, including antioxidant, cytoprotective, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, cardioprotective, anti-atherosclerotic, anti-diabetic and hepatoprotective activities. The scientific studies indicated that the profile of raw material activity is mainly due to paeonol, paeoniflorin and 1,2,3,4,6-penta-O-galloyl-β-D-glucopyranose. Moreover, the significance of this plant (its different organs) in the production of cosmetics was underlined. P. × suffruticosa finds increasing application in cosmetology due to research on its chronic dermatitis, anti-aging and brightening effects. Furthermore, some biotechnological research has been described aimed at developing effective in vitro micropropagation protocols for P. × suffruticosa.