Oil Chemical Composition Research Articles

Rosemary essential oil microemulsions as antimicrobial and antioxidant agent in tomato paste

The objective of this research was to evaluate the antifungal and antibacterial action of rosemary essential oil (REO) microemulsion applied in tomato paste (TP). TP is a food sensitive to degradation since several fungi and bacteria benefit from their storage conditions. Data related to the essential oil (EO) chemical composition as well as its antioxidant, antibacterial, and antifungal activity are reported. REO antioxidant analysis returned an IC50 value of 154.25 ± 3.11 mg·L −1, with the EO presenting also an interesting inhibition of growth and bactericidal characteristics for several bacteria considered, with the best results obtained for the gram-negative Escherichia coli and S. typhi (values for both of 5.19 ± 0.08 µL·mL−1 and 20.75± 0.36 µL·mL−1 for MIC and MBC, respectively). Antifungal activity was analyzed for the fungi isolated from TP containing mycelia Mucor sp., Aspergillus sp., and Penicillium sp. For all genera, at a concentration of 4.0 μg·mL−1, the inhibition halo was superior even to the antifungal Clotrimazol at a concentration of 3.0 μg·mL−1. A concentration of 1.0 wt.% of REO microemulsion applied to TP showed values of negative fields after 7 days twice as high compared to TP without the presence of EO. After 14 days, values of the negative fields continued to be higher, proving the antifungal power of REO applied to this food.

Variability in Chemical Composition and Antimicrobial Activity of Mentha pulegium L. Essential Oil, Cultivated under Different Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria.

The aim of present work was to study the essential oil chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of cultivated Mentha pulegium L. under different plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (Pseudomonas fluorescens, Bradyrhizobium sp. and Sinorhizobium meliloti) individually and in consortium. Yield, in plants inoculated with Bradyrhizobium sp. and S. meliloti in consortium, increase significantly relative to control plants. GC and GC/MS analyses pointed to a qualitative and quantitative variability of components. The investigated essential oils were clustered into three chemotypes: piperitenone/1,8-cineol (40.9/29.4 %) chemotype in plants inoculated with Bradyrhizobium sp. individually, S. meliloti individually, and Bradyrhizobium sp. and S. meliloti in consortium, piperitone/menthone (41.8/33.8 %) chemotype in plants inoculated with P. fluorescens individually, P. fluorescens and Bradyrhizobium sp. in consortium, and P. fluorescens and S. meliloti in consortium and pulegone/menthol (47.9/31.5 %) chemotype in control plants. The antimicrobial activity, carried out by the disc diffusion method and the determination of the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) against ten microorganisms, varied significantly according to the tested microorganism and the rhizobacterial species used individually or in consortium (inhibition zone: 8.5-33.5 mm; MIC: 0.25-2.5 μL/mL). Our findings provided useful indications to select interesting chemotype within M. pulegium, especially in perspective of its cultivation.

Chemical Composition and Biological Activity of Salvia officinalis L. Essential Oil.

In our study, we investigated the chemical composition and cytotoxic activity of essential oils isolated from Dalmatian sage (Salvia officinalis L.) collected along the Adriatic coast of Croatia. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to examine the morphology of the stem and leaf surfaces. Essential oil excretory glands were detected on both the leaves and stem surfaces. The essential oils were isolated by hydrodistillation, and their chemical composition was determined by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Sage essential oils were mixtures of terpene compounds, among which the most common were: α- and β-thujone, camphor, and 1,8-cineol. Cytotoxic activity was tested using MTS assay on multiple cell lines: normal and immortalized fibroblasts (HF77FA and HDF-Tert), immortalized lung line (BEAS-2B), and breast adenocarcinoma (MDA-MB-231). The growth of treated cells was determined relative to control conditions without treatment. The immortalized lung line was the least resistant to the activity of the essential oils, whereas immortalized fibroblasts were the most resistant. Statistical analysis has connected the cytotoxic effect and chemical composition of the studied essential oils. To the best of our knowledge, this work is the first testing of the cytotoxic activity of S. officinalis EO's on the BEAS-2B, HF77FA, and HDF-Tert cell lines. The presented data on essential oil chemical composition and cytotoxic effect on 4 types of human cells supports pharmacotherapeutic potential this plant is known to have.

Correlation of the Diffusion Parameters and the Biological Activities in the Formulation of Pinus halepensis Essential Oil in Phosphogypsum Material

The use of natural biopesticides, specifically essential oils, is being explored as an alternative solution to protect stored foodstuffs. This study focuses on a formulation of phosphogypsum–Pinus halepensis essential oil as a pesticidal product. First, the essential oil chemical composition was determined using gas chromatography with mass spectrometry (GC-MS), while the phosphogypsum (waste from the phosphate mining industry) was analyzed using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric–differential thermal analysis; thus, physico-chemical properties and heavy metal contents were determined. In a second step, the preparation of the formulation consists in grafting the essential oil on the phosphogypsum (adsorption) in a cylindrical geometric shape adapted to the models applied in the bioprocesses of storage. The study of essential oil transfers in the material in the case of desorption along the axis (Oz) was carried out using analytical and numerical models of the Fickian diffusion process to understand the behavior of the oil and determine physicochemical parameters such as diffusivity (D) and evaporation flux (F). By using statistical methods such as experimental design and principal component analysis, these parameters can help explain the mechanisms involved in the insecticidal activities against the primary pest of lentils (Bruchus signaticornis) and in the parameters of lentil seed germination.

ESSENTIAL OIL COMPOSITION AND ANTIOXIDANT, ANTICANCER ACTIVITIES OF ARTEMISIA FRIGIDA WILLD. GROWN IN MONGOLIA

Medicinal plants have always been considered a healthy source of life for all people. In Mongolia, the use of various medicinal and food plants has a long history. In recent years, interest in plant-derived food additives has grown. This study was designed to determine essential oil chemical composition and evaluate antioxidant, cytotoxic activities of aerial parts serial fractions from Artemisia frigida Willd. grown in Mongolia. The chemical composition of essential oil from A.frigida Willd. was determined by GC-MS analysis. Among them 40 components (35.07%), 1,8-cineol (27.22%), borneol (3.01%), terpin-4-ol (4.51%), γ-cadinene (7.5%), α-terpineol (2.98%), bornylacetate (1.80%) were found to be the major ones. The ethanol crude extract of A.frigida Willd. was suspended in water and consequently fractionated with n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate and butyl alcohol. All the fractions were examined for their antioxidant and cytotoxic activities by using DPPH and MTT assays, respectively. Ethyl acetate fraction showed the highest DPPH radical scavenging activity at a concentration of 50 µg/ml by 93.17% with the IC50 value of 11.68 µg/ml. MTT results showed that water fraction demonstrated significant cytotoxicity against A549 - human alveolar basal epithelial cell line, with values of 78.69 and 60.98% (50; 10 µg/ml; at 48 h). These suggest that the fractions of A.frigida Willd. could hold a good potential for use in the pharmaceutical industry.

Hydrocarbon Generation Mechanism of Mixed Siliciclastic–Carbonate Shale: Implications from Semi–Closed Hydrous Pyrolysis

Affected by the complex mechanism of organic–inorganic interactions, the generation–retention–expulsion model of mixed siliciclastic–carbonate sediments is more complicated than that of common siliciclastic and carbonate shale deposited in lacustrine and marine environments. In this study, mixed siliciclastic–carbonate shale from Lucaogou Formation in Junggar Basin was selected for semi–closed hydrous pyrolysis experiments, and seven experiments were conducted from room temperature to 300, 325, 350, 375, 400, 450, and 500 °C, respectively. The quantities and chemical composition of oil, gases, and bitumen were comprehensively analyzed. The results show that the hydrocarbon generation stage of shale in Lucaogou Formation can be divided into kerogen cracking stage (300–350 °C), peak oil generation stage (350–400 °C), wet gas generation stage (400–450 °C), and gas secondary cracking stage (450–500 °C). The liquid hydrocarbon yield (oil + bitumen) reached the peak of 720.42 mg/g TOC at 400 °C. The saturate, aromatic, resin, and asphaltine percentages of bitumen were similar to those of crude oil collected from Lucaogou Formation, indicating that semi–closed pyrolysis could stimulate the natural hydrocarbon generation process. Lucaogou shale does not strictly follow the “sequential” reaction model of kerogen, which is described as kerogen firstly generating the intermediate products of heavy hydrocarbon compounds (NSOs) and NSOs then cracking to generate oil and gas. Indeed, the results of this study show that the generation of oil and gas was synchronous with that of NSOs and followed the “alternate pathway” mechanism during the initial pyrolysis stage. The hydrocarbon expulsion efficiency sharply increased from an average of 27% to 97% at 450 °C, meaning that the shale retained considerable amounts of oil below 450 °C. The producible oil reached the peak yield of 515.45 mg/g TOC at 400 °C and was synchronous with liquid hydrocarbons. Therefore, 400 °C is considered the most suitable temperature for fracturing technology.

Innovations in Oil Processing: Chemical Transformation of Oil Components through Ultrasound Assistance

The present review paper discusses the different aspects related to the chemical transformation of oil components through ultrasound assistance. Ultrasound intensifies heat and mass transfer processes in oil production and treatment, which is used to separate water–oil emulsions, optimize pumping, clean the bottomhole zone, and more. The main reason for the positive effect of ultrasound is the cavitation phenomenon, which forms vapor–gas bubbles that cause changes in the structure and properties of dispersed phases, intensifying processes such as dissolution, extraction, and emulsification. The inhomogeneities in the medium being processed also reduce resistance to bubble formation and increase the intensity of technological processes. It is believed that ultrasonic treatment of heavy oil influences the colloid structure of oil. Such effects were observed in several studies. Despite the widespread use of ultrasound in oil processing, the chemical transformation of hydrocarbons during ultrasonic treatment remains an understudied area, particularly for heavy oil. Furthermore, the transformation mechanism of high-molecular-weight fragments of oil under ultrasonic energy is still poorly understood. Heavy oil can benefit greatly from ultrasonic treatment, both after production for pipeline transportation or plant processing and in the reservoir. This is due to the improved mobility of oil in rock and the chemical transformation of high-molecular components, such as resins, asphaltenes, and paraffins. These transformations contribute to the overall improvement of heavy oil processing, making it a crucial area for further research and development. In this review paper, we will explore the latest innovations in oil processing, specifically focusing on the chemical transformation of oil components through ultrasound assistance. This will include a comprehensive analysis of the underlying mechanisms of ultrasonic treatment and their impact on the chemical composition of oil. The review will also include a discussion of the current state of the art and future directions for research in this field, highlighting the potential for further advancements in the use of ultrasound in oil processing.

Yield and Chemical Composition of Ginger Essential Oils as Affected by Inter-Varietal Variation and Drying Treatments of Rhizome

Ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc; Zingiberaceae family) is an herb commonly used as a spice and remedy for a broad spectrum of diseases. The essential oil extracted from ginger is an effective antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antifungal agent. The present study has investigated the variations in yield and chemical composition of essential oils of two cultivars (Chinese and Thailand) of ginger locally available in Pakistan. Two different drying pretreatments were employed to observe the changes in compositional variations of the essential oils of ginger. The essential oil extracted from fresh, oven-dried, and sun-dried samples of two different cultivars of ginger was analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The essential oil yield was found to be highest for the sun-dried sample of each variety. The major compounds (>4%) overall in the essential oil of fresh, oven-dried, and sun-dried ginger samples from Thailand origin were camphene, 3-carene, o-cymene, caryophyllene, α-curcumene, sabinol trans, citral, and santalol. Major compounds overall in the essential oil of fresh, oven-dried, and sun-dried ginger samples of Chinese origin were α-pinene, Camphene, limonene, longicyclene, copaene, longifolene, β-sesquiphellandrene, alloaromadendrene, γ-muurolene, α-curcumene, α-farnesene, and citral. The inter-varietal variations and pretreatment methods considerably affected yield and chemical composition. Cluster analysis was performed to validate the results further. Significantly varying compounds responsible for the significant variation among varieties and treatments of the ginger were identifies by using the heat map. There was clear differentiation among Chinese and Thailand varieties due to the variation in the concentrations of the volatile compounds. The results obtained can be helpful for the ginger growers and end users to choose the ginger variety and the way of use that is more beneficial.

Salvia sclarea Essential Oil Chemical Composition and Biological Activities.

Salvia sclarea essential oil (SSEO) has a long tradition in the food, cosmetic, and perfume industries. The present study aimed to analyze the chemical composition of SSEO, its antioxidant activity, antimicrobial activity in vitro and in situ, antibiofilm, and insecticidal activity. Besides that, in this study, we have evaluated the antimicrobial activity of SSEO constituent (E)-caryophyllene and standard antibiotic meropenem. Identification of volatile constituents was performed by using gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) techniques. Results obtained indicated that the main constituents of SSEO were linalool acetate (49.1%) and linalool (20.6%), followed by (E)-caryophyllene (5.1%), p-cimene (4.9%), a-terpineol (4.9%), and geranyl acetate (4.4%). Antioxidant activity was determined as low by the means of neutralization of the DDPH radical and ABTS radical cation. The SSEO was able to neutralize the DPPH radical to an extent of 11.76 ± 1.34%, while its ability to decolorize the ABTS radical cation was determined at 29.70 ± 1.45%. Preliminary results of antimicrobial activity were obtained with the disc diffusion method, while further results were obtained by broth microdilution and the vapor phase method. Overall, the results of antimicrobial testing of SSEO, (E)-caryophyllene, and meropenem, were moderate. However, the lowest MIC values, determined in the range of 0.22-0.75 µg/mL for MIC50 and 0.39-0.89 µg/mL for MIC90, were observed for (E)-caryophyllene. The antimicrobial activity of the vapor phase of SSEO (towards microorganisms growing on potato) was significantly stronger than that of the contact application. Biofilm analysis using the MALDI TOF MS Biotyper showed changes in the protein profile of Pseudomonas fluorescens that showed the efficiency of SSEO in inhibiting biofilm formation on stainless-steel and plastic surfaces. The insecticidal potential of SSEO against Oxycarenus lavatera was also demonstrated, and results show that the highest concentration was the most effective, showing insecticidal activity of 66.66%. The results obtained in this study indicate the potential application of SSEO as a biofilm control agent, in the shelf-life extension and storage of potatoes, and as an insecticidal agent.

Biomass Yield and Essential Oil Chemical Composition of Mentha x piperita as Affected by Amino Acids and Different Fertilizer Resources

Biomass Yield and Essential Oil Chemical Composition of Mentha x piperita as Affected by Amino Acids and Different Fertilizer Resources

Nano-Emulsification of Cinnamon and Curcuma Essential Oils for the Quality Improvement of Minced Meat Beef.

This work aims to evaluate cinnamon and curcuma essential oils as natural preservatives in minced beef meat. Essential oil chemical compositions and antibacterial activities were studied, and their encapsulation was optimized into nano-emulsions based on droplet size and distribution assessments. Selected formulas were further explored for their physical stabilities and antibacterial activities. Then, their effects on minced beef meat preservation were evaluated. Results showed significant differences in the chemical compositions and the efficiency of the tested essential oils, with cinnamon having a significant antibacterial efficacy. Formulation results showed that cinnamon nanoemulsion, encapsulated by 7.5% Tween 80, possessed an 89 nm droplet size, while the droplet diameter of curcuma nanoemulsion, encapsulated by 5% Tween 80, was 151 nm. Antimicrobial results depicted a significantly higher activity in nanoemulsions as compared to essential oils. For instance, the inhibition diameter of cinnamon essential oils against S. aureus was equal to 35 mm, while that of its nanoemulsion reached 40 mm. The meat preservation results showed that both bulk and nanoencapsulated essential oils significantly inhibited bacterial growth, as well as the formation of methemoglobin and lipid oxidation in meat. Thus, this work draws attention to the enhanced preservation effects of essential oils on the processing of minced beef meat as well as the great potential of nanoemulsions as carriers for essential oils in food industry applications.

Chemical composition of essential oils of medicinal and aromatic plants – Pirot District

The composition of essential oils of 10 species of aromatic and medicinal plants from Pirot District was examined. Protected, rare, or poorly researched species were chosen for investigation. They belong to the families Asteraceae (Achillea clypeolata, A. coarctata, A. crithmifolia, and A. millefolium), Apiaceae (Seseli libanotis and S. pallasii), and Lamiaceae (Satureja montana, Sideritis montana, Teucrium chamaedrys and T. montanum). Most of them are protected by the Law of the Republic of Serbia. All selected species flower from mid-June to early July. In that period, plant sampling was carried out on Mts. Stara Planina, Vlaška, and Vidlič and in the vicinity of Dimitrovgrad, at 500-1300 m a.s.l., to determine yield and chemical composition of the oil. Samples were dried immediately after collection at the registered agricultural holding „Cvetković“ in Pirot, and then transported to the laboratory of the Faculty of Chemistry in Belgrade. The highest essential oil yield was found in the following species: S. libanotis (1.40%), A. crithmifolia (0.94%), Satureja montana (0.30%) and A. millefolium (0.25%), while it was weak in other species (0.02-0.07%). The chemical composition of the oil was determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). In the case of the first 3 examined plants from the family Asteraceae, the following compounds dominated: 1,8 cineole and camphor (with significant differences in terpene profiles), and in A. millefolium, b-pinene and trans-caryophyllene dominated. In the family Apiaceae, a high proportion of oxygenated monoterpenes (OM) and a pronounced dominance of b-elemene were found in Seseli libanotis, while in S. pallasii, a high proportion of monoterpene hydrocarbons (MH) and OM, especially limonene, was found. However, this similarity was not observed in the dominant components: geraniol, germacrene D, b-caryophyllene and the group of terpenes. In the family Lamiaceae, the share of OM was high in Satureja montana and Sideritis montana, but there was also the most MH and oxygenated sesquiterpenes (OS) (respectively, in comparisons of all 4 species). Teucrium chamaedrys and T. montanum stand out with a high proportion of sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (SH), and T. montanum also has OS. However, the dominant components in all 4 species differ in the content of geraniol, germacrene D, b-caryophyllene, or group of terpenes (Satureja montana, Sideritis montana, Teucrium chamaedrys and T. montanum, resp.).

Variation of oil contents and chemical compositions in clonal selections of Allium sativum

Variation of oil contents and chemical compositions in clonal selections of Allium sativum

Chemical variability on Zingiber zerumbet (L.) Roscoe ex Sm. essential oil with respect to different comminution methods

Zingiber zerumbet (L.) Roscoe ex Sm. is an important perennial medicinal plant native to Southeast Asia. In this communication, the physicochemical differences in essential oil yield and chemical composition are investigated in relation to different comminution methods of Z. zerumbet rhizomes. The essential oils were extracted from the rhizomes using different comminution methods, namely grating (GR), chopping (CR), slicing (SR), using a mixture grinder (MR), and using a pestle mortar (PR). The essential oil of fresh rhizomes (FR) was also extracted to look for chemical variations depending on the respective comminution methods. Over thirty-three compounds were identified in the collections using GC-FID and GC-MS techniques. Zerumbone (69.66 ± 2.17 %- 73.9 ± 3.76%) was identified as the major compound in the collections followed by α-humulene (5.40 ± 1.38–14.99 ± 0.74%), humulene oxide-I (3.10 ± 0.23–3.81 ± 0.46%), humulene oxide-II (2.05 ± 0.06–2.47 ± 0.63%) and camphene (3.33 ± 0.68–3.56 ± 0.33%).

Environment Impacts and Composition - Biotoxic Activity in Natural Hydrocarbon Raw Materials & Processed Products

The paper aims to figure out What are environment impacts and composition - biotoxic activity in natural hydrocarbon raw materials and processed products. By using descriptive method for primary model, synthesis methods and process analysis and analysis of difficulties and discussion, The study of this problem point that, to assess the environmental impact of hydrocarbons on the biosphere, an accurate knowledge of the physical properties and chemical composition of oil and gas. Numerous tragic examples of accidents, such as those associated with a leak hydrogen sulfide gases. Hydrogen sulfide, due to its higher density relative to air settles in the lowlands of the relief, accumulating in calm weather in concentrations up to lethal. This leads to the death of animals and the death of people. The latter could be avoid by going to elevated windward areas, i.e., knowing the physical properties of this toxic gas.

Seasonal variation of essential oil of germplasm of Lippia origanoides Kunth. (Verbenaceae)

The biological activities attributed to Lippia origanoidesKunth. vary according to the chemical composition of its essential oil, which can be related to weather factors. The aim of this research was the seasonal study of the essential oil chemical composition taken from L. origanoidesaccessions maintained in germplasm bank in vivo. The essential oil was extracted by hydrodistillation in Clevenger apparatus and identification of the components was done by GC-MS. We have identified 15 compounds of which carvacrol, p-cymene, thymol and methyl-ether-thymol were majority throughout the year for most accessions. In three accessions showed fluctuations in the production of the major compound during the year like the α-pinene, limonene and borneol. The essential oil showed variation in chemical composition throughout the year, the major compound in most of the accessions during the year is carvacrol. In some accessions, there are alterations of the majority component.

Volatile Oil Chemical Composition of Wild, Edible Centaurea scabiosa L. and Its Cytotoxic Activity.

Centaurea species are well known as a source of phytopharmaceuticals having both beneficial and harmful influences on human health. Centaurea scabiosa L. is a wild edible plant used in Mediterranean cuisine in the Dalmatian region of Croatia. We have assessed the volatile oil's chemical composition using GC/MS chromatography and its cytotoxic activity on human fibroblasts using the MTT test. Data on chromosome number, obtained by classical karyological methods, and genome size, assessed by flow cytometry, of the same plant material of C. scabiosa, were also given. The major chemical compounds found in C. scabiosa volatile oil were heptacosane, caryophyllene oxide, alloaromadendrene epoxide, α-cyperone, and α-bisabolol. This volatile oil showed no cytotoxicity on human fibroblasts in a dose range of 0.01-1 g/L. The chromosome number of a C. scabiosa sample from Croatia showed 2n = 20 + 2B chromosomes. The total genome DNA amount of 2C = 3.3 ± 0.01 pg or 1 Cx = 1628 Mbp presents the first report on the genome size of this species from Croatia. The presented results support the idea of using this plant in the human diet. To our knowledge, this is the first report on edible C. scabiosa species in general and in particular from Croatia.

The Yield, Chemical Composition, and Antioxidant Activities of Essential Oils from Different Plant Parts of the Wild and Cultivated Oregano (Origanum vulgare L.)

The present study focuses on the yield, chemical composition, and antioxidant activity of essential oils from different parts (flowers or leaves/stems) of cultivated plants grown under pearl shade nets with a 40% shaded index or in nonshaded plants and wild-grown oregano. The chemical composition of isolated essential oils was determined by GC/MS and GC/FID. Antioxidant activity was determined using the DPPH assay. The highest yield of oregano essential oils (OEOs) was obtained in cultivated shaded plants (flowers) at 0.35 mL/100 g p.m., in contrast to nonshaded plants (flowers), where the yield of OEOs was low (0.21 mL/100 g p.m.). Qualitative and quantitative analyses of the OEOs identified 16–52 constituents that varied with origin and plant organs. The oxygenated sesquiterpene caryophylleneoxide (7.4–49.9%) was predominant in all the essential oil samples. Other major constituents were sesquiterpene hydrocarbon-germacrene D (8.4–22.5%) and (E)-caryophyllene (8.5–10.8%), monoterpene hydrocarbon-sabinene (1.6–7.7%), and oxygen-containing monoterpenes-terpinen-4-ol (1.5–7.0%). The plant part has a significant effect on the antioxidant activity of OEOs, while the influenceof modified light under the shade nets is significantly lower. The OEOs from wild flowers showed the highest antioxidant activity, with an EC50 value of 4.78 mg/mL. OEOs from cultivated nonshaded plants (flowers) recorded the lowest antioxidant activity with an EC50 value of 24.63 mg/mL. The results suggest that the yield and quality of OEOs can be scaled-up by optimizing plant production in comparison with wild-growing plants. The content and quality of OEO can be increased by optimizing its production compared to plants from the spontaneous flora. Adequate cultivation techniques, such as shading, can achieve high-quality oregano yields and better quality parameters in terms of specific OEO components and meet the different requirements of the market and industrial sectors.

Essential Oil and Non-Volatile Metabolites from Kaunia longipetiolata (Sch.Bip. ex Rusby) R. M. King and H. Rob., an Andean Plant Native to Southern Ecuador.

Kaunia longipetiolata (Sch.Bip. ex Rusby) R. M. King and H. Rob. (Asteraceae) is a plant native to southern Ecuador. The dry leaves afforded, by steam distillation, an essential oil that was qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed by GC-MS and GC-FID, respectively, on two orthogonal columns of different polarity. Sesquiterpenes predominated in the volatile fraction, among which α-zingiberene (19.7-19.1%), ar-curcumene (17.3-18.1%), caryophyllene oxide (5.1-5.3%), (Z)-β-caryophyllene (3.0-3.1%), (2Z,6Z)-farnesal (2.6-3.6%), and spathulenol (2.0-2.1%) were the major components. In addition to the identified compounds, two main unidentified constituents (possibly oxygenated sesquiterpenes) with probable molecular masses of 292 and 230, respectively, were detected. They constituted about 5% and 8% (w/w), respectively, of the whole essential oil. The oil chemical composition was complemented with the enantioselective analysis of ten chiral components. Four scalemic mixtures and six enantiomerically pure terpenes were identified. An enantiomeric excess (ee) was determined for (1R,5R)-(+)-β-pinene (65.0%), (R)-(-)-α-phellandrene (94.6%), (S)-(+)-linalool (15.0%), and (R)-(-)-terpinen-4-ol (33.8%). On the other hand, (1R,5R)-(+)-α-pinene, (1R,5R)-(+)-sabinene, (S)-(-)-limonene, (S)-(+)-β-phellandrene, (1R,2S,6S,7S,8S)-(-)-α-copaene, and (R)-(+)-germacrene D were enantiomerically pure. Finally, the non-volatile fraction obtained by extraction of the leaves with MeOH was investigated. Eight known compounds were isolated by liquid column chromatographic separations. Their structures were determined by NMR spectroscopy as dehydroleucodine, kauniolide, (3S,3aR,4aR,6aS,9aS,9bR)-3-hydroxy-1,4a-dimethyl-7-methylene-5,6,6a,7,9a,9b-hexahydro-3H-oxireno[2',3':8,8a]azuleno[4,5-b]furan-8(4aH)-one, novanin, bisabola-1,10-diene-3,4-trans-diol, (R)-2-(2-(acetoxymethyl)oxiran-2-yl)-5-methylphenyl isobutyrate, eupalitin-3-O-glucoside, and 3,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid. Literature data about the identified metabolites indicate that K. longipetiolata is a rich source of biologically active natural products.

Combining green manure and cattle manure to improve biomass, essential oil, and thymol production in Thymus vulgaris L.

Green manure can be used as an alternative to animal manure and organic compounds and can also be part of the management practices for medicinal plant production systems. The objective of this study was to use a combination of sunn hemp ( Crotalaria juncea ) and cattle manure in the fertilization of Thymus vulgaris L. plants to design better production strategies. The effects on vegetative growth , nutrient accumulation, essential oil production and chemical composition, photosynthetic pigments , and antioxidant activity were investigated. On the basis of four rates of cattle manure (0, 3, 6, and 9 kg m −2 ), additional four rates of green manure (0, 3, 6, and 9 kg m −2 sunn hemp) were added to each rate of cattle manure plus a positive control treatment (chemical fertilizer), totaling 17 treatments. The combination of organic manures (green and cattle manure) as well as the chemical fertilizer positively affected the dry weight of thyme leaves, stems, and roots. The combination of the highest doses of cattle and sunn hemp manure (9 kg·m −2 and 9 kg·m −2 , respectively) resulted in an accumulation of total dry weight 10 times greater than that of the treatment without fertilization, which was significantly higher than that of the control treatment (0 kg m −2 cattle manure and 0 kg m −2 sunn hemp). Only application of green manure ( Crotalaria juncea ) has positive affected in dry weight. Significant increases in total and a and b chlorophylls and carotenoids were observed in thyme plants with the use of organic fertilizers . The essential oil production and chemical composition were improved by organic fertilization. The highest percentage of thymol (65.42%) was obtained in the group with 9 kg m −2 cattle manure and 3 kg·m −2 green manure. The application of both cattle manure and green manure increased the antioxidant activity of thyme, and this activity was correlated with high levels of carotenoids. The combined use of green and cattle manures is an inexpensive way to increase the yield of thyme and its essential oil and thymol production, and it can reduce the use of chemical fertilizers and thus is ecologically sound for the cultivation of medicinal plants. • Green manure improves the production and quality of thyme cultivation. • Essential oil and thymol are responsive to combined organic fertilization. • Organic fertilizer combination improves growth and antioxidant response. • Cattle manure in thyme fertilization results in better plant performance. • Nutrients in leaves was high under cultivation at the highest organic fertilization.