Chemometrics of the Composition and Antioxidant Capacity of Hyptis crenata Essential Oils from Brazil

Translational Perspectives on the Therapeutic Potential of Hyptis Crenata Essential Oil Terpenes in Smooth Muscle Function

Monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes are classes of organic compounds found in various natural products, such as the essential oil of Hyptis crenata (EOHc). The therapeutic potential of these terpenes present in EOHc is evidenced by their effect on smooth muscle and potential clinical applications. Among the highlighted monoterpenes, such as sabinene, α-pinene, and β-pinene, a relaxing effect on rat intestinal smooth muscles is observed, attributed to interaction with calcium channels. Furthermore, monoterpenoids like borneol, cineole, and linalool also demonstrate vasorelaxant properties, suggesting potential in the treatment of cardiovascular conditions. Sesquiterpenes, such as caryophyllene and aromadendrenes, exhibit relaxing effects in various smooth muscle tissues, such as rat uterus and guinea pig ileum, indicating pharmacological potential in these areas. The translational exploration of targets, such as calcium channels and G protein-coupled receptors, highlights the importance of these compounds in discovering new therapies based on natural products for treating various medical conditions.

Seasonal influence on the essential oil chemical composition of Hyptis crenata Pohl ex Benth.: a valuable plant from Marajó, Brazil

Introduction: Essential oils (EOs) from the Hyptis genus have been reported as bactericides and fungicides. However, the properties of these oils can be affected by climatic factors, as well as the collection period, which promotes changes in the chemical composition of the oil. In this context, this study aimed to evaluate the climatological influences on the chemical composition of the essential oil from the leaves of Hyptis crenata. Methods: The leaves were collected in Marajó island (Brazil) monthly for a year. The EOs were obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by Gas Chromatography coupled to Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). Pearson's correlation was used to evaluate the relationship between climatic parameters, content, and chemical composition of essential oil; multivariate analysis was used to evaluate the interrelationship between samples and their chemical constituents. Results and Discussion: The constituents with the highest contents (>2.0%) in essential oils during the studied period were 1,8-cineole (28.48% ± 4.32%), α-pinene (19.58% ± 2.29%), camphor (11.98% ± 2.54%), β-pinene (9.19% ± 1.47%), limonene (6.12% ± 3.15%), α-terpineol (2.42% ± 0.25%) and borneol (2.34% ± 0.48%). β-Pinene significantly correlated (p < 0.05) with precipitation and humidity. According to the chemometric tools, two groups were formed: chemical profile I, marked by 1,8 cineole, α-pinene, β-pinene, borneol, α-terpineol, and limonene, while group II (July) presented a chemical type characterized by camphor. It is understood that the species in question can be a reliable source of biologically active components during different climatic periods in the Amazon. The chemical variability could have significant implications for the pharmaceutical industry and traditional medicine.

Antioxidant Activity of Medicinal Herbs and Spices from Plants of the Lamiaceae, Apiaceae and Asteraceae Families: Chemometric Interpretation of the Data

Plant products, especially medicinal herbs and spices, have been used for centuries as a remedy to support human health and improve the flavor of food. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to identify plant species distinguished by their high content of phenolic compounds and high antioxidant activity using advanced multivariate statistical techniques such as Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA). To realize the purpose of the study, the total phenolic (TPC) and flavonoids (FC) content, antioxidant activity (TAC) and Fe(II) ion chelating capacity (FIC) of medicinal herbs and spices from plants belonging to three botanical families, Lamiaceae, Apiaceae and Asteraceae were determined. The interpretation of the obtained data revealed that the studied samples are localized in the PCA and HCA plots according to their TPC, FC, TAC and FIC values. Chemometric analysis confirmed that medicinal herbs and spices from plants belonging to the Lamiaceae family are richer sources of phenolic compounds and exhibit stronger antioxidant activity than those raw materials from plants in the Apiaceae family. In addition, no significant differences were found in terms of TPC, FC, TAC and FIC values between medicinal herbs and spices from the same plant species, i.e., oregano (Origanum vulgare), common thyme (Thymus vulgaris), rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), caraway (Carum carvi) and lovage (Levisticum officinale). A close relationship between antioxidant properties and contents of phenolic compounds was also confirmed.