Air-dried Aerial Parts Research Articles

Chemical composition of Artemisia hippolyti

Artemisia hippolyti A. But. sp. n. is an endemic species that grows on stony peaks in the Betpak-Dala desert and the southern part of Karaganda Province, Republic of Kazakhstan. The species A. hippolyti is similar to A. glabella Kar. et Kir. but differs sharply from the latter by the tomentose downiness of the leaves, the external spathe leaflets, and the thalamus shape. These species under natural conditions grow together but develop asynchronously because A. glabella flowers and fruits somewhat earlier than A. hippolyti [1]. We studied the constituent composition of the essential oil, determined the qualitative and quantitative contents of sesquiterpene lactones of A. hippolyti, and compared these results with those obtained earlier by us for A. glabella because these species were similar botanically. Raw material (flower heads, leaves, buds) of A. hippolyti was collected during flowering in the vicinity of Pystan mountain, Zhana-arkin Region, Karaganda Province. Essential oil was obtained by steam distillation of air-dried aerial part of the raw material in a Clevenger apparatus for 3 h. The qualitative composition and quantitative content of the constituents in essential oil were analyzed by GC-MS on an Agilent 7890/5975C GC with a mass-selective detector using an HP-5MS 5% Phenyl Methyl Silox column (30 m 0.25 mm) with He carrier gas flow rate 1 mL/min and vaporizer temperature 230°C. The GC column was held at 40°C for 5 min with the temperature programmed to 240°C at 5°C/min and then held isothermally for 10 min. Samples were introduced by flow division with sample volume 0.2 L. The mass spectra recording conditions were 70 eV and mass range m/z 10–350. The percent contents of constituents were calculated automatically from the peak areas of the total-ion chromatogram. Constituents were identified by mass spectra and RT using the Wiley GC/MS library. Essential oil of A. hippolyti had a pleasant aroma and was a blue liquid (yield 0.15%) (Table 1). According to previous results [2], essential oil of A. glabella contained quantitatively 1,8-cineol ~12%; linalool, up to 8%; terpineol-4, 6.5; and -terpineol, 5. Therefore, the constituent compositions of essential oils of both species were similar but differed in the quantitative contents of the main constituents with the minor constituents differing both qualitatively and quantitatively. Finely ground aerial part of A. hippolyti was extracted with CHCl 3 (3) for the study of extracted compounds. The obtained extract was evaporated in vacuo in a rotary evaporator. HPLC of the CHCl 3 extract detected the sesquiterpene lactones arglabin, ludartin, isoepoxyestafiatin, hanphyllin, and artefin, the quantitative contents of which were 0.103%, 0.012, 0.13, 0.705, and 0.333, respectively, calculated as air-dried raw material. These sesquiterpene lactones were identified for the first time from this species. Qualitative and quantitative analyses of the extract of A. hippolyti were performed by reversed-phase HPLC on a Hewlett–Packard Agilent 1100 Series instrument in isocratic mode with an analytical column packed with Zorbax CB-C 18 sorbent (9.4 250 mm, 5 m), mobile phase MeCN:H 2 O (50:50), detection at 204 nm, column at room temperature, mobile phase flow rate 1.5 mL/min, and injected sample volume 20 L. The quantitative contents of the samples (%) were determined by comparison with an internal standard. The data were processed using ChemStation software. The sesquiterpene lactones arglabin, ludartin, isoepoxyestafiatin, hanphyllin, and artefin were isolated as a result of the study. According to data previously obtained by us [3], A. glabella contained 0.34, 0.008, and 0.0007% of arglabin, argolide, and ketopelenolide B, respectively. A comparison of A. hippolyti and A. glabella found a difference in the qualitative composition of sesquiterpene lactones. However, arglabin was present in both species although its content in A. hippolyti was significantly less than in A. glabella.

In vivo Antimalarial Activity of Iranian Flora Artemisia oliveriana J. Gay ex DC. Extract and its Comparison with Other Anti-malarial Drugs Against Plasmodium berghei in Mice Model”

The multi drug resistance of Plasmodium falciparum is a major health problem in many countries and the number of drugs available, effective and affordable is very limited. The genus Artemisia has always been of great botanical and pharmaceutical interest and is useful in traditional medicines for a treatment of the variety of diseases and complaints. The purpose of this study was to compare the antimalarial activity of Artemisia oliveriana J. Gay ex DC., extract as Iranian flora with current anti-malarial drugs against Plasmodium berghei in vivo in mice. Air-dried aerial parts of Iranian flora A. oliveriana collected from province Khorasan, North-Eastern Iran, were extracted with Et2O/MeOH/Petrol and defatted. Toxicity of herbal extracts was assessed on male NMRI mice, and its anti-malarial efficacy was compared with current anti-malarial drugs (artemether, chloroquine and fansidar) on infected Plasmodium berghei animals. All groups were investigated for parasitaemia, body weight, hepatomegaly, splenomegaly and anemia. The significance of differences was determined by Analysis of Variances (ANOVA) and Student's t-test using Graph Pad Prism Software. The herbal extract was successfully compared in vivo for its anti-plasmodial activity with current anti-malarial drugs. The observations specifically indicated the inhibitory effects of the A. oliveriana extracts on the early developmental stages of P. berghei by decreasing parasitaemia (P<0.01). Crude extract of A. oliveriana represented its anti-symptomatic effects by stabilization of body, liver and spleen weights.

Chemical Constituents from the Aerial Parts of Triosteum pinnatifidum

Triosteum Linn. belongs to the family Caprifoliaceae and comprises about seven species, but there are only three species in China. One of the species is Triosteum pinnatifidum, which is traditionally used for many medical purposes, including analgesia and enhancing blood circulation. It is distributed in Hebei, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Ningxia, Gansu, Henan, Hubei, and Sichuan in China, most growing on the slope of dark coniferous forests or at the sunny side of ditches over 1800–2900 m above sea level [1]. Research on its chemical constituents has not been reported up to now. Herein we report the results of a thorough phytochemical study of the aerial parts of Triosteum pinnatifidum (Linn.). Air-dried aerial parts (2.45 kg) were extracted with methanol once a week for 3 times. The methanol extract was separated from the plant residue by filtration. The filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure by a vacuum rotary evaporator to obtain a residue (600 g). The residue was subjected to column chromatography on silica gel eluted with petroleum ether– EtOAc (20:1, 10:1, 5:1, 1:1, 0:1) and ethyl acetate–methanol (10:1, 5:1, 2:1, 0:1) to give ten subfractions, A–J. Fraction B was chromatographed on silica gel using petroleum ether with increasing amounts of EtOAc as eluent to give compounds 1 and 3. Fraction C was rechromatographed on a silica gel column using petroleum ether–acetone gradient solvent system to obtain compounds 4 and 5. Fraction D was chromatographed on silica gel using petroleum ether with increasing amounts of EtOAc as eluent to give compounds 2 and 6. Fraction E was chromatographed on a silica gel column using a petroleum ether–acetone gradient solvent system to afford compound 7. The structures of all compounds were determined by spectroscopic methods, including EI-MS and 1H and 13C NMR. The spectroscopic data of all compounds were in good agreement with the literature data. Alantolactone (1). C15H20O2, colorless needles, mp 77–79 C. ESI-MS m/z: 233 [M + H]+, 255 [M + Na]+ 2 . p-Hydroxybenzaldehyde (2). C7H6O2, white solid, mp 114–118 C. ESI-MS m/z: 123 [M + H]+, 145 [M + Na]+ 2 . Erythrodiol-3-palmitate (3). C46H80O3, white powder, mp 128–131 C. FAB-MS m/z: 681 [M + H] +, 425 [M – C16H31O2] +. 13C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3, , ppm): 173.7 (C-1 ), 144.2 (C-13), 122.3 (C-12), 80.5 (C-3), 69.7 (C-28), 55.3 (C-5), 47.5 (C-9), 46.4 (C-19), 42.4 (C-18), 41.7 (C-14), 39.8 (C-8), 38.3 (C-4), 37.8 (C-1), 37.0 (C-10), 36.8 (C-17), 35.0 (C-2 ), 34.1 (C-21), 33.2 (C-29), 32.5 (C-7), 32.0 (C-20), 31.0 (C-22), 30.9 (C-14 ), 29.7–29.4 (10C, C-4 –C-13 ), 29.2 (C-23), 28.0 (C-2), 26.0 (C-27), 25.5 (C-15), 25.2 (C-3 ), 23.6 (C-30), 23.5 (C-11), 22.7 (C-15 ), 22.0 (C-16), 18.2 (C-6), 16.8 (C-26), 16.7 (C-25), 15.6 (C-24), 14.3 (C-16 ) [3].

Neuroprotective Activity of Lavender Oil on Transient Focal Cerebral Ischemia in Mice

The air-dried aerial parts of Lavandula angustifolia Mill, a traditional Uygur herbal drug, is used as resuscitation-inducing therapy to treat neurodisfunctions, such as stroke. This study was designed to assess the neuroprotective effects of lavender oil against ischemia/reperfusion (IR) injury in mice. Focal cerebral ischemia was induced by the intraluminal occlusion method with a nylon string. The neurodysfuntion was evaluated by neurological deficit and the infarct area was showed by 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining. The histopathological changes were observed by hematoxylin and eosin staining. The levels of mitochondria-generated reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA) and carbonyl, the ratio of reduced glutathione (GSH)/glutathione disulfide (GSSG), the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathion peroxidase (GSH-Px) in brain tissue were measured to estimate the oxidative stress state. Neurological deficit, infarct size, histopathology changes and oxidative stress markers were evaluated after 22 h of reperfusion. In comparison with the model group, treatment with lavender oil significantly decreased neurological deficit scores, infarct size, the levels of MDA, carbonyl and ROS, and attenuated neuronal damage, upregulated SOD, CAT, GSH-Px activities and GSH/GSSG ratio. These results suggested that the neuroprotective effects of lavender oil against cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury may be attributed to its antioxidant effects.

Xanthatin Induces G2/M Cell Cycle Arrest and Apoptosis in Human Gastric Carcinoma MKN-45 Cells

Xanthatin, a natural bioactive compound of sesquiterpene lactones, was isolated and purified from air-dried aerial part of Xanthium sibiricum Patrin ex Widder. In the present study, we demonstrated the significant antiproliferative and proapoptotic effects of xanthatin on human gastric carcinoma MKN-45 cells. MTS assay showed that xanthatin produced obvious cytotoxicity in MKN-45 cells with IC50 values of 18.6, 9.3, and 3.9 µM for 12, 24, and 48 h, respectively. Results of flow cytometry analysis indicated that the antiproliferative activity induced by xanthatin might be executed via G2/M cell cycle arrest and proapoptosis in MKN-45 cells. Western blot analysis elucidated that: a) xanthatin downregulated expression of Chk1 and Chk2 and phosphorylation of CDC2, which are known as key G2/M transition regulators; b) xanthatin increased p53 activation, decreased the bcl-2/bax ratio and the levels of downstream procaspase-9 and procaspase-3, which are key regulators in the intrinsic apoptosis pathway; c) xanthatin blocked phosphorylation of NF-κB (p65 subunit) and of IκBα, which might contribute to its proapoptotic effects on MKN-45 cells. In conclusion, our results suggest that xanthatin may have therapeutic potential against human gastric carcinoma.

Evaluation of the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of Essential oil of Nepeta pogonosperma Jamzad et Assadi in rats

Concerning the different effects of essential oils from Nepeta genus on the central nervous system including pain killing effect, this study was designed to evaluate the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of essential oil of Nepeta pogonosperma Jamzad et Assadi (NP), a recently identified species. Air-dried aerial parts of NP were hydrodistillated and GC-MS analysis of obtained essential oil was conducted. Total 24 male Wister rats weighing 225 ± 25 gm were studied. Essential oil of NP was administered intraperitoneally at the doses of 50 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg for the experimental groups. Control rats received equal volume (2 ml/kg) of normal saline. Antinociception was assessed by tail flick test (after 30 minutes) and formalin test (for further 60 minutes). Then the animal was sacrificed and the paw edema was measured using a water plethysmometer. 4aα,7α,7aβ-nepetalactone and 1,8-cineole were found as the main concentrated components of NP essential oil. All the doses of NP showed antinociception. NP 200 mg/kg reduced the pain sensation in tail flick (p <0.01) and formalin test (p <0.001 in both phases). In paw edema test, NP 100 and 200 mg/kg significantly reduced the inflammation (p <0.01 and p <0.05). This study reveals that the essential oil of NP may minimize both the acute and chronic forms of nociception and may have potent role against inflammation, but the dose should be maintained precisely to obtain the intended effect.

Aromatic profiling of wild and rare species growing in Turkey: Hypericum aviculariifolium Jaub. and Spach subsp. depilatum (Freyn and Bornm.) Robson var. depilatum and Hypericum pruinatum Boiss. and Bal.

The volatile constituents of the rare species of Hypericum, namely Hypericum pruinatum (as one population) and Hypericum aviculariifolium subp. depilatum var. depilatum (endemic, as two populations namely ‘Gümüş’ and ‘Yeniköy’) growing wild in the mountainous parts of Northern Turkey were studied for the first time. The essential oils (EOs) were extracted by hydrodistillation of the air-dried aerial parts and analysed by GC-FID and GC-MS. A total of 56, 49 and 50 EO components representing 98.2%, 96.9% and 99.4% of the total composition were identified respectively from one population for H. pruinatum and two populations for Hypericum aviculariifolium subp. depilatum var. depilatum. GC-MS profiles showed significant compositional variations not only between the two Turkish species, but also between the two populations of the same species highlighting the importance of genetic factors affecting secondary metabolite profile.

Sesquiterpenes from an Egyptian Herbal Medicine, Pulicaria undulate, with Inhibitory Effects on Nitric Oxide Production in RAW264.7 Macrophage Cells

The methylene chloride-methanol (1 : 1) extract from the air-dried aerial parts of wild Pulicaria undulata collected in North Sinia, Egypt, showed inhibitory effects on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced production of nitric oxide (NO) in RAW264.7 macrophages. From the extract, three new sesquiterpenes named 5α-hydroperoxyivalin, 8-epi-xanthanol, and 8-epi-isoxanthanol were isolated together with four known sesquiterpenes. The structure of each new sesquiterpenes was determined on the basis of physicochemical and chemical evidence. In addition, all the sesquiterpenoids significantly inhibited the production of NO. Ivalin (IC50=2.0 μM) and 2α-hydroxyalantolactone (1.8 μM) showed particularly strong inhibitory effects, but had strong cytotoxic effects as well. Furthermore, ivalin and 2α-hydroxyalantolactone concentration-dependently reduced inducible NO synthase (iNOS) protein levels in RAW264.7 cells.

Lipids and alkaloids from Heliotropium lasiocarpum

Lipids of seeds with pericarp and an admixture of the air-dried aerial part (AP) of Heliotropium lasiocarpum Fisch. et Mey. (Boraginaceae) were studied. The contents and component and fatty-acid compositions of neutral lipids, glycolipids, phospholipids, and strongly bound lipids were established. It was found that part of the alkaloids was extracted together with the lipids from these plant organs. The chromatographic mobility of the heliotrope alkaloids was determined under the lipid separation conditions.

Essential oil composition of different populations of Thymus caramanicus Jalas growing wild in Iran

Thymus species are well known as medicinal plants because of their biological and pharmacological properties. Thymus caramanicus Jalas is an endemic species of Iran. Essential oils of the air-dried aerial parts of seven populations of Thymus caramanicus collected from different locations of Iran were obtained by hydrodistillation with a yield of 0.41–2.9% (w/w). The essential oils were analyzed by combination of GC and GC-MS techniques. Oxygenated monoterpenes were the main group of constituents in all samples. carvacrol (24.9–97.6%), Thymol (25.6–36.9%), p-cymene (2.9–16.1%), and γ-terpinene (1.3–8.1%), represented as the major compounds.

Lipids and flavolignans from Silybum marianum

Lipids from the air-dried aerial part (AP) and seeds of Silybum marianum (L.) Gaerth. (Asteraceae) were studied. The class and fatty acid compositions of neutral lipids (AP, seeds) and glyco- and phospholipids (AP) were determined. Neutral lipids (NL) with a complicated set of lipophilic components, mainly triterpenols, sterols, and their esters predominated in the AP. The fatty acids of the AP were dominated by 16:0, 18:2 (glycolipids), and 18:3 (neutral lipids, phospholipids); of seed NL, by 18:2 and 18:1. The content and composition of flavolignans isolated from defatted seeds and the content of total protein in the meal were found.

Chemical composition of the essential oils of Nepeta laevigata and Nepeta elliptica from India

The genus Nepeta (Lamiaceae), also called Glechoma and Cataria, is a multiregional genus and consists of about 250 species of perennial herbs distributed in central and southern parts of Europe, Asia, and the Middle East [1–3]. These plants are commonly known as catmint [4], and about 30 species occur in India. Many Nepeta species have been reported to be biologically active and are used in folk medicine because of their spasmodic, diuretic, antiseptic, antitussive, antiasthmatic, and febrifuge activities [5–9]. Several Nepeta species are also reported to reduce serum lipids and to possess anti-inflammatory effects [10, 11]. Most Nepeta species are rich in essential oils, and various biologically active iridoids/monoterpene nepetalactones have been reported in several Nepeta species possessing diverse biological activities, viz., feline attractant, canine attractant, insect repellant, arthropod defense [12, 13], antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral activities [14]. N. laevigata and N. elliptica are distributed through Afghanistan, China, Nepal, Pakistan, and India. In India, the two plant species are largely confined to Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, and Uttar Pradesh. Nepeta laevigata, also known as Betonica laevigata, is a perennial aromatic herb that grows to a height of 80 cm, is white pubescent, and has petiole 2–12 mm and leaf blade ovate to triangular, while N. elliptica is a small ascending or flexuous herb, 30–60 cm high. Both N. laevigata and N. elliptica are used in traditional medicine. Nepeta laevigata, is reported to be used locally in fevers and for sore throat, while, as an infusion of the seeds, N. elliptica is used in dysentery. According to our finding, there is no report on the chemical compostion of the essential oil of N. laevigata and N. elliptica growing in J & K, India, so the aim of the present work was to compare the chemical composition of these two Nepeta species. The chemical constituents of the volatile oils were analyzed by capillary GC-FID and GC-MS. The components of the oils of the air-dried aerial parts of N. laevigata and N. elliptica are listed in Table 1 with their percentages and relative retention indices (RRI). The different chemical constituents of the essential oils are listed in order of their elution from an RTX-5 column. As shown, 24 components belonging to different class of compounds were identified in the oil of N. laevigata, making up 86.7% of the total oil. -Citronellol (16.5%), germacrene D (19.4%), -caryophyllene (10.8%), -bisabolol oxide B (12.4%), -bourbonene (4.5%), -humulene (3.5%), spathulenol (3.9%), and -bisabolol (5.3%) were the major ones. Other constituents such as 4a,7,7a-nepetalactone (2.0%), allo-aromadendrene (1.1%), and caryophyllene oxide (3.2%) were present in small amounts. In addition, some other constituents such as -pinene, 1,8-cineole, linalool, geraniol, citronellyl acetate, etc. were present in trace amounts. The essential oil composition is dominated by the presence of sesquiterpene hydrocarbons, oxygenated sesquiterpenes, and oxygenated monoterpenes constituting 40.9%, 25.1%, and 20.7%, respectively, of the total oil composition. Of the various nepetalactone isomers, viz., 4a,7,7a-nepetalactone, 4a,7,7a-nepetalactone, and 4a,7,7a-nepetalactone, which have been labeled as the biochemical markers of the Nepeta essential oils and are very useful in chemotaxonomic studies, only one nepetalactone isomer viz., 4a, 7, 7a-nepetalactone, as a minor constituent, was present in the essential oil of Nepeta laevigata. -Caryophyllene, which is one of the major constituents of the essential oil, has been reported in some Nepeta species such as N. depauperata [15], N. flavida [16], and N. nuda [17] as the major component. Likewise, germacrene-D, the other major constituent of the oil sample, has also been reported in various other Nepeta species such as Nepeta macrosiphon [18] and Nepeta sintensii [19]. In addition, the other major components such as -bourbonene and spathulenol have been reported in N.depauperata [15], N. macrosiphon [18], and N. sintensii [19].

Variability in essential oil composition of Piper dilatatum L.C. Rich

Twelve samples of air-dried aerial parts of Piper dilatatum L. C. Rich yielded essential oils and their volatile constituents were analyzed by GC and GC–MS. Sesquiterpenes, both hydrocarbons and oxygenated, were the most highly represented classes, the former ranging from 31.5% to 87.7% and the latter varying from 1.8% to 49.4%. Using hierarchical cluster analysis, the oils were divided into seven groups, whose main constituents were: (E)-caryophyllene, α-cadinol and germacrene D (group A); spathulenol, bicyclogermacrene and (Z)-β-ocimene, (group B); spathulenol, germacrene D and (E)-nerolidol, (group C); germacrene D, limonene, α-phellandrene and bicyclogermacrene (group D); β-elemene, germacrene D and β-pinene (group E); curzerene, p-cymene and α-eudesmol (group F); and (Z)-α-bisabolene, curzerene and germacrene D (group G). We have seen that Piper oils from the Amazon present as major constituents terpenoids and phenylpropanoids, always with the predominance of one over another. The essential oils of P. dilatatum presented in this paper, containing only mono- and sesquiterpenes as its major components, is further chemotaxonomic evidence of this dichotomy in the Piper genus.

New menthone type of Mentha pulegium L. volatile oil from northwest Iran

The constituents of the volatile oil of air-dried aerial parts of Mentha pulegium L. (Lamiaceae) plants wildly growing in Northwest Iran were analysed by GC/MS. 46 components were identified, comprising 96.6% of the essential oil. Monoterpenes (78.9%) were the main class of the identified components followed by a minor proportion of sesqui-&lt;br /&gt;terpenes (11%). Oxygenated monoterpenes (75.3%) were the major subclass of volatile oil components with menthone (38.7%), menthol (11.3%), neomenthol (10.5%), and pulegone (6.8%) as major compounds. Sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (10.6%) were the highlighted subclass of 15 carbons sesquiterpenoidal compounds with (E)-caryophyllene (4.9%) and &amp;beta;-cubebene (2.5%) as their principle representatives. Furthermore, menthyl acetate (C&lt;sub&gt;12&lt;/sub&gt; acetylated monoterpene derived compound) was contained considerable amounts (5.2%) in the essential oil. In total, volatile oil composition of M. pulegium L. plants studied in the present experiment was characterised as a new menthone type with appreciable amounts of menthol and neomenthol, and it could be used as a potential source of these high value monoterpenes in pharmaceutical and food industries.

Estrogenic Activity of Chemical Constituents from Tephrosia candida

In a continued investigation of medicinal plants from the genus Tephrosia, phytochemical analysis of a methylene chloride-methanol (1:1) extract of the air-dried aerial parts of Tephrosia candida afforded two new 8-prenylated flavonoids, namely, tephrocandidins A (1) and B (2), a new prenylated chalcone, candidachalcone (3), a new sesquiterpene (4), and a previously reported pea flavonoid phytoalexin, pisatin (5). The structures of 1-4 were established by spectroscopic methods, including HREIMS, and 1H, 13C, DEPT, HMQC, and HMBC NMR experiments. The most potent estrogenic activity of these isolated natural products in an estrogen receptor (ERα) competitive-binding assay was for 3, which exhibited an IC50 value of 80 μM, compared with 18 nM for the natural steroid 17β-estradiol. Results were interpreted via virtual docking of isolated compounds to an ERα crystal structure.

Genkwanin and iridoid glycosides from Leonurus turkestanicus

Leonurus cardiaca L. (Labiatae) and L. quinquelobatus Gilib. are used in galenics as sedative and hypotensive agents [1]. Two species of Leonurus are indigenous to Uzbekistan, L. turkestanicus V. Krecz. et Kupr. and L. panceroides M. Pop. [2], and are used as medicinal plants instead of the official species. However, the chemical compositions of these plants have not been reported. This prompted us to study L. turkestanicus. The air-dried aerial part of L. turkestanicus (2 kg) that was collected in Kara-Tepe, Tashkent Oblast on June 30, 2007, during flowering was extracted with MeOH (4 14 L). The MeOH extract was evaporated to a thick condensate and dissolved in MeOH (70%, 1 L). The solution was filtered. The filtrate was evaporated to remove completely MeOH. The solution volume was adjusted to 0.5 L with H2O. The aqueous solution was extracted three times with n-BuOH. The n-BuOH extract was evaporated to dryness and dried. The yield of the n-BuOH extract was 63.42 g. The n-BuOH extract was chromatographed over a column of KSK silica gel with elution successively by CHCl3, CHCl3:MeOH (1, 100:1; 2, 50:1; 3, 10:1), and CHCl3:MeOH:H2O (4, 70:12:1). Fractions eluted by CHCl3 and system 1 contained sterols. System 2 eluted flavonoid 1 (40 mg).

Composition and Antimicrobial Activity of the Essential Oil from Mentha spicata L. subsp. Spicata

The air-dried aerial parts of M.spicata L. subsp. spicata, which were collected from eastern Turkey, were subjected to hydrodistillation and the essential oil was obtained in a yield of 3.24% (v/w). The oil was analyzed by GC and GC/MS. Thirty-seven constituents, accounting for more than 95.3% of the total oil composition, were identified. The main compounds of the essential oil were carvone (48.4%), 1,8-cineole (21.3%), β-pinene (3.5%), β-caryophyllene (3.3%) and trans-dihydrocarvone (2.9%). The antimicrobial activity of the oil was studied. It was evaluated against six microorganisms using the disc diffusion and broth microdilution methods. The oil showed great potential for its antimicrobial activities against Escherichia coli, Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis and moderate activities against Staphylococcus aureus.

Essential oil of Galium verum L. from Iran

The chemical composition of the essential oil obtained from aerial parts of Galium verum L. (Rubiaceae) from Iran was examined by a combination of GC and GC/MS. The oil isolated by hydro-distillation using a Clevenger-type apparatus. Air-dried aerial parts of Galium verum (80 g) which were collected from Bomehen in Tehran province at full flowering stage on May 2003, were subjected to hydro-distillation for 3 h using a Clevenger-type apparatus to produce oil in 1.3% (w/w) yield. The oil was dried over anhydrous sodium sulphate and stored under nitrogen in a sealed vial till analysis. The oil was analyzed by a combination of GC (shimadzu GC-9A) and GC/MS (Varian 3400, Saturn II). The oil isolated by hydro-distillation from the aerial parts of Galium verum was obtained with a yield of 1.3% (w/w), based on the dry weight. Twenty-three components were identified in the essential oil of Galium verum representing to more than 93% of the oil, the major components of which were found to be ?-caryophyllane (26%), caryophyllene oxide (16.2%), and Germacrene D (11.2%). The qualitative composition and quantitative content of polyphenol components of five galium species of Galium has been reported previously, these species have their highest content of flavonoides and tanning agents at the start of growth. The species contain carbohydrates and amino acids. A literature search did not reveal any reference to previous work on the essential oil of Galium verum.

Composition of Essential Oils from Satureja darwinii (Benth.) Briq. and S. multiflora (R. et P.) Briq. (Lamiaceae). Relationship Between Chemotype and Oil Yield in Satureja spp.

Air-dried aerial parts of Satureja darwinii (Benth.) Briq. and Satureja multiflora (R. et P.) Briq. (Lamiaceae) collected in Chile at full flowering stage were hydrodistilled. The yields of essential oils were 0.68% and 0.57% v/w, respectively. GC-FID and GC/MS analyses showed that the major constituents of the oils were piperitenone (57.8%) and isomenthone (83.1%) in S. darwinii and S. parvifolia, respectively. These results are compared with others reported for the genus Satureja.

Chemical composition of the essential oil of Salvia grossheimii from Iran

Fifty eight species of the genus Salvia (Lamiaceae) are found in Iran, 17 of which are endemic [1]. Due to the use of this genus or their essential oils in the food and drug industries [2], we are investigating the oils of Salvia spp. which grow wild or are cultivated in Iran. In this paper, we describe the analysis of the essential oil of S. grossheimii Sosn. which grows wild in many regions of Iran especially in Azarbayejan province. A literature search did not reveal any reference to previous work on the essential oil of this species. The aerial parts of Salvia grossheimii were collected from Azarbayejan province-koh Mishodagh. Essential oil isolated by hydrodistillation from the aerial parts was obtained in yields of 0.4% (w/w).The essential oil yields of other species in Iran were: S. nemorosa, 0.12% [3], S. reuterana, 0.15% [3], S. virgata, 0.48% [4], S. syriaca, 0.3% [4], S. atropatana, 0.1% [5], S. multicaulis, 0.2% [6], S. sahandica, 0.46% [7], S. spinosa 0.1% [8], S. limbata 0.07% [9], and S. mirzayanii, 2.2% [10]. A total of thirty-four compounds were characterized representing about 99.4% of the total components detected in S. grossheimii. The compounds identified with their percentages are given in Table 1. Based on the analysis of essential oil, the components were classified in three groups as follows: monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, and esters. The oil was characterized by a high content of sesquiterpenes, which composed 88.8% of the oil. The main components were germacrene D (45.4%), -caryophyllene (22.4%), and bicyclogermacrene (7.1%). The identification of the compounds in the essential oil of different species of this genus in Iran shows that the major components of S. nemorosa, S. virgata, S. atropatana, and S. multicaulis is -caryophyllene [3–6]. Germacrene B and germacrene D are the main components in S. syriaca [4], while (E)--ocimene, -gurjunene, and germacrene D are the major constituents in S. reuterana [4]. (E)--ocimene, -caryophyllene, and isopentyl isovalerate are the major constituents in S. spinosa [8], while germacrene D, linalyl acetate, and linalool are the main components in S. limbata [9]. Twelve monoterpenes were identified in the essential oil of S. grossheimii, with contents ranging from 0.04 to 3.5% in the oil analyzed. Besides the mono- and sesquiterpenes, one ester, bornyl acetate (0.1%), was identified in the oil too. Plant Material and Isolation Procedure. Aerial parts of the plant (250 g) were collected during flowering in May 2006 from Azarbayejan province (Koh-Mishodagh) in Iran. A voucher specimen has been deposited in the Herbarium of the Research Institute of Forest and Rangelands (TARI). The essential oil was obtained by hydrodistillation of air-dried aerial parts in a clevenger-type apparatus for 3 h. The sample oil which was light yellow in color and was dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and stored under nitrogen in a sealed vial until required. Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry. GC and GC-MS analyses were performed using a Shimadzu GC-9A gas chromatograph and Varian 3400 GC-MS system equipped with a DB-5 fused silica column based on techniques published before [8, 9]. Identification of Components. The components of the oil were identified by comparison of their mass spectra to with those of a computer library or with authentic compounds and confirmed by comparison of their retention indices, either those of authentic compounds or data published in the literature [11].