Essential Oils and Supercritical CO2 Extracts of Arctic Angelica (Angelica archangelica L.), Marsh Labrador Tea (Rhododendron tomentosum) and Common Tansy (Tanacetum vulgare)-Chemical Compositions and Antimicrobial Activities.

Risto I Korpinen,Susan Kunnas,Jaana Liimatainen,Anna-Liisa Välimaa

doi:10.3390/molecules26237121

Abstract

Traditionally, arctic Finnish Angelica (Angelica archangelica L.), marsh Labrador tea (Rhododendron tomentosum, syn. Ledum palustre) and common tansy (Tanacetum vulgare) have been used as medicinal herbs in folklore medicine. However, these underutilised plants are a source of, e.g., oil-based compounds, which could benefit many modern applications implemented by the green chemistry extraction methods, as well. We extracted Angelica, marsh Labrador tea and common tansy by non-toxic and recyclable extraction methods, i.e., hydrodistillation and supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) extraction; characterised the essential oils (EOs) and scCO2 extracts by combination of gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and in addition, analysed the antimicrobial properties. As expected for Angelica root and common tansy inflorescence, the scCO2 extraction method produced less amount of volatile compounds compared to hydrodistillation. On the other hand, more coumarins, alkanes, fatty alcohols and fatty acids were obtained. Additionally, sesquiterpenoids palustrol and ledol were predominant compounds in both marsh Labrador tea EO and scCO2 extract. According to our results, however, all the EOs and scCO2 extracts showed broad spectrum of antimicrobial activities against the selected microbes, but the effects were extract-specific. The strongest and broadest antimicrobial activities were performed by marsh Labrador tea scCO2 extract, which showed extremely strong effect on Staphylococcus aureus subsp. aureus and strong effect on Candida albicans.

Highlights

The essential oils (EOs) can be extracted from the leaves, roots, inflorescences, fruits, seeds and resins of the plants and trees
The major difference in antimicrobial activity between EO and scCO2 extract was that scCO2 extract showed stronger growth inhibitory effect on majority of the tested microbes than the corresponding EO with two exceptions
As expected for Angelica roots and common tansy inflorescences, the scCO2 extraction method produced a lower number of volatile compounds compared to hydrodistillation

Summary

Introduction

The essential oils (EOs) can be extracted from the leaves, roots, inflorescences, fruits, seeds and resins of the plants and trees. They are commonly used in natural biocides, insect repellents, perfumes, cosmetics, health and wellbeing products, soaps, medicine and as flavorings in foods [1,2]. Ledum palustre) and common tansy (Tanacetum vulgare) have been used as medicinal herbs in folklore medicine and as spices [3,4,5,6,7]. Marsh Labrador tea and common tansy have been used as natural insect repellents and in traditional textile coloring [6,7,8]

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