Essential oil composition of Anchusa italica from Iran

Abstract

The family Boraginaceae consists of about 100 genera and 2000 species distributed in the temperate zone, especially in the Mediterranean and tropical regions [1]. Five species of the genus Anchusa (Boraginaceae) are found in Iran [2]. The Borage plants are one of the most important folk medicine plants in Iran. They are of value in treating common cold symptoms, depression and stress, and are anti-inflammatory and antibacterial [3, 4]. Anchusa italica Retz. plants, named “Gav zaban” in Persian, grows in the mountains of some provinces of Iran. The people of that area use the leaves and flowers of A. italica specifically to treat flu symptoms. The anti-influenza activity of alcoholic and aqueous extracts of A. italica has been investigated in a previous report [3]. The findings of this study indicated that A. italica exhibited activity against the influenza virus. In other research, a qualitative phytochemical analysis of 55 Iranian plants, especially A. italica, has been performed for the presence of alkaloids, tannins, saponins, and flavonoids [4]. The results showed the existence of alkaloids, saponins, and flavonoids. The extract of A. italica plant has also been used as an emollient. Likewise, poly[3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)glyceric acid] from A. italica roots has been reported [5]. The lipids and lipophilic components of seeds of three Boraginaceae species, including A. italica, have also been studied [6]. The seed oil of A. italica contains significant quantities of -6 and -3-octadecatrionic acids. In this study, the essential oil composition of A. italica from Iran was investigated for the first time. The essential oil constituents from the aerial part of A. italica are listed in Table 1, in which the percentages and Kovats indices of the components are given. As shown in Table 1, the oil of the aerial parts of A. italica consist of 34 compounds, representing 91.4% of the oil. The main constituents of the oil were diisobutyl phthalate (14.6%), dibutyl phthalate (9.0%), and hexahydrofarnesylacetone (8.1%). The aerial parts of A. italica were collected during the flowering stage in the Alamut region, Province of Qazvin, Iran, in May 2010. Voucher specimens (No. 88274) have been deposited at the Herbarium of the Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands (TARI), Tehran, Iran. The aerial parts (150.0 g) of A. italica were subjected to water distillation using a Clevenger-type apparatus and extracted by diethyl ether for 3 h. After decanting, drying over anhydrous sodium sulfate, and evaporating the solvent, we recovered the corresponding yellowish colored oil in a yield of 0.02% w/w. GC-FID analysis was performed on a Shimadzu 15A gas chromatograph with a split/splitless (ratio 1:30), injector (250 C) and a flame ionization detector (250 C); nitrogen was used as the carrier gas (1 mL/min). A DB-5 capillary column (50 m 0.2 mm, film thickness 0.32 m) was used. The column was kept at 60 C for 3 min, then heated to 220 C with a 5 C/min rate and kept constant at 220 C for 5 min. Relative percentage amounts were calculated from the peak area using a Shimadzu C-R4A chromatopac data processor without the use of correction factors. GC-MS analysis was performed using a Hewlett-Packard 5973 with an HP-5MS column (30 m 0.25 mm, film thickness 0.25 m). The column temperature was kept at 60 C for 3 min and programmed to 220 C at a rate of 5 C/min and kept constant at 220 C for 5 min. The flow rate of helium as carrier gas was 1 mL/min. MS were taken at 70 eV, mass range 30 to 350 amu, and scan time 2 scans/sec.