Composition Of Essential Oil Research Articles

Chemical Composition and Anticancer Activity of Essential Oils from Cyperaceae Species: A Comprehensive Review

Cancer is one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide, and the currently available therapies are often associated with severe side effects, including nephrotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, and cardiotoxicity. In this context, essential oils (EOs) have stood out as a less toxic natural alternative, with their anticancer potential widely investigated in in vitro and in vivo studies. The present study aimed to review, for the first time, the chemical composition, anticancer potential, and biological safety of EOs extracted from species of the Cyperaceae family. Research was conducted in different databases, covering publications from the first report on the topic in 1989 to November 2024. This review highlights 33 Cyperaceae species known to produce essential oils, with sesquiterpenes (67%) identified as the predominant compounds. The notable compounds across multiple species include cyperene, cyperotundone, caryophyllene oxide, and mustakone. Regarding the pharmacological potential, the EOs of Cyperus rotundus, Cyperus kyllingia, and Cyperus longus exhibited high cytotoxic activity against the HCT-116, HepG2, MCF-7, HeLa, and NCI-H187 cell lines. The mechanisms of action associated with the anticancer effect of EOs include DNA fragmentation, cell cycle arrest, and induction of apoptosis. Acute toxicity reports indicate that only the EOs of Cyperus articulatus have been evaluated in rodents and deemed biologically safe.

Chemical Composition of Essential Oil from Knema squamulosa and its Biological Activity

Chemical Composition of Essential Oil from Knema squamulosa and its Biological Activity

Ornithine enantiomers modulate essential oil yield and constituents and gene expression of monoterpenes synthase in Salvia officinalis under well-watered and drought stress conditions.

The impact of drought stress on plant growth, development, and productivity presents a significant challenge in various environments worldwide. The exogenous application of polyamines as osmotically active materials plays a crucial role in enhancing plant tolerance to environmental stress. In this study, we examined the effects of L- and D-enantiomers of ornithine (0 and 1 mM) under both well-watered and drought stress conditions on the growth traits, essential oil (EO) yield, and composition, gene expression, and total phenolic and flavonoid content of Salvia officinalis. The experiment was designed as a factorial experiment using a completely randomized design with three replications. The results demonstrated that drought stress led to a decrease in plant biomass and an increase in EO content, chemical profiles of the EO, and total phenolic and flavonoid content compared to the respective control values. However, the exogenous supplementation of ornithine particularly D-ornithine resulted in enhanced stem, leaf, and total plant biomass, a 20% increase in EO content, and a 75% increase in yield. Additionally, these were increases of 11.76% in total phenol and 70%, 105.66%, and 114.28% in flavonoid content when compared to well-watered plants without ornithine supplementation. These improvements were strongly linked to growth enhancement, as evidenced by principal component analysis (PCA). The EO extracted from S. officinalis consisted of 22 compounds, primarily monoterpenes, including α-thujone (18.47-41.65%), camphor (15.05-25.17%), 1,8-cineole (10.12-21.6%), and β-thujone (6.23-21.2%). The percentage of these volatile compounds was found to be highest in D-ornithine-treated stressed plants compared to control conditions. The interaction between water availability and the application of D-ornithine and L-ornithine significantly influenced the expression of borneol diphosphate synthase (BS), sabinene synthase (SS), and cineole synthase (CS) under drought stress, with notable upregulation observed compared to normal growth conditions. Specifically, D-ornithine enhanced the expression of BS and SS by 45.29% and 113.63%, respectively, under drought stress, while both D-ornithine and DL-ornithine significantly increased CS expression. The present results suggest that D-ornithine may serve as a stress-protecting compound, increasing total phenol and flavonoids content, thereby enhancing the capacity of the antioxidant system and increasing EO compounds under drought stress.

Chemical Composition of Essential Oils and Their Potential Applications in Postharvest Storage of Cereal Grains

Insect infestation and microbial, particularly mold contamination, are the major causes of stored grain deterioration during postharvest storage, which results in a significant loss in grain quality and quantity, and the formation of toxic chemicals such as mycotoxins. Pesticides, together with physical protection strategies, have been widely used to control insects and molds in stored grains, but their uses present significant environmental and health problems. This has led to the exploration of safer pesticide alternatives. Essential oils (EOs) are highly concentrated materials extracted from leaves, stems, flowers, seeds, roots, fruit rinds, resins, or barks. They are multifunctional due to their complex chemical composition. Thus, EOs are frequently used for their therapeutic, antimicrobial, odoriferous, and flavor properties in a wide range of products like medicine, cosmetics, and foods. This review provides comprehensive information on the chemical compositions of EOs commonly used in the food industry, factors influencing EO composition, and recent studies on the potential of EOs as alternatives to synthetic pesticides and fungicides for stored grain protection. The relationship between chemical compositions of EOs and their anti-insects and antimicrobial potentials, as well as current approaches/technologies of using EOs for food preservation, are also covered. However, this review also highlights the need for research on the development of feasible and affordable methodologies to apply effective EOs or encapsulated EOs in grain storage settings, particularly for organic grain protection.

Optimizing nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium requirements to improve Origanum dubium Boiss. growth, nutrient and water use efficiency, essential oil yield and composition

Optimizing nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium requirements to improve Origanum dubium Boiss. growth, nutrient and water use efficiency, essential oil yield and composition

Evaluation of the rainfed and irrigated conditions on biomass and essential oil yield of German chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) in response to melatonin foliar application

German chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.) is a valuable medicinal plant known for its rich content of bioactive compounds, including chamazulene, α-bisabolol, and α-bisabololoxide A. Drought stress poses a significant challenge to agricultural productivity and negatively affects the growth and yield of chamomile. This study aimed to investigate the effects of foliar-applied melatonin on the antioxidant capacity and secondary metabolite production of M. chamomilla under both rainfed and irrigated conditions. The research was conducted using a randomized complete block design with three replications during the 2022–2023 period. To impose drought stress, we compared rainfed and irrigated treatments, while melatonin was applied at three concentrations (0, 100, and 200 mM). The composition of essential oils was analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Results indicated that the application of melatonin significantly improved essential oil content and plant performance under drought conditions. In rainfed situations, applying 100 mM of melatonin increased the essential oil rate by 45%, reaching 1.45% compared to the control group. Under irrigated conditions, the highest essential oil yield of 0.33 g per plant was also achieved with 100 mM melatonin. The maximum proline content of 4.05 mg/g of fresh weight was found in rainfed cultivation with 200 mM melatonin. Plants receiving irrigation with 200 mM melatonin demonstrated the highest values for relative water content (83.2 mg/g fresh weight), total chlorophyll (3.99 mg/g fresh weight), and dry matter (16.61 g). GC and GC-MS analyses revealed that secondary metabolites ranged from 39.85 to 56.97%, with α-bisabolol, chamazulene, and α-bisabololoxide B being the major components. Path analysis showed strong direct effects of essential oil rate (0.921), proline (1.397), and relative water content (1.115) on dry mass, with R² values reaching 95.4% in the final model. The analysis indicated that all measured traits influenced dry mass, with relative water content directly affecting dry mass and essential oil rate positively influencing both proline and dry mass. Based on these findings, combining rainfed cultivation with melatonin application is a promising and environmentally friendly strategy to enhance drought tolerance, growth, and biochemical content in German chamomile.

Essential Oil Variability of Juniperus Oxycedrus s.l. Taxa in Southeast Europe-A Chemophenetic Approach.

The essential oil (EO) composition of 14 natural populations of two Juniperus oxycedrus s.l. Taxa (J. deltoides and J. macrocarpa) was studied in southeast Europe. These two genetically close taxa have different distributions. EOs were dominated by monoterpene hydrocarbons (33.8-64.1%), although sesquiterpenes and diterpenes were also present in high concentrations in several populations. Limonene, α-pinene, manoyl oxide, and cedrol were the most abundant compounds, though EO profiles differed between taxa. In almost all samples of J. macrocarpa, α-pinene was the most abundant compound. Most individuals of J. deltoides had one of the three chemotypes- α-pinene, limonene and limonene/α-pinene, though six others were detected in a smaller number of individuals. Multivariate statistics examined variability with population, species, and environmental characteristics. The most common chemotypes of J. deltoides allowed the separation of populations along the climate line/proximity to the Mediterranean Sea, with α-pinene being more common in continental populations. In addition, multivariate statistical analysis based on leaf EO composition showed a clear separation between J. deltoides and J. macrocarpa populations from southeast Europe. This study emphasizes the importance of large-scale chemophenetic studies.

Chemical composition, antibacterial and antioxidant activities of Piper betle and Anethum graveolens essential oils against Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus clinical isolates.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is one of the leading causes of infection worldwide due to its antimicrobial resistance. Plant-derived essential oils (EOs) have undergone extensive observational and clinical research to explore their antimicrobial properties. The present study aimed to check mec A positive MRSA isolates using sequencing analysis, determination of chemical composition using gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS), antioxidant, and antimicrobial activity of Anethum graveolens and Piper betle EOs against the infectious agent MRSA. The result demonstrates a significant antibacterial activity of both essential oils against MRSA clinical isolates. GC-MS analysis of Piper betle showed (41.06%) 3-Allyl-6-methoxyphenol (Eugenol) as the major compound, whereas Anethum graveolens exhibited o-cymene (14.01%) abundantly. Piper betle essential oil retained appreciable levels of total phenolic (39.5 ± 10.9mg/g of gallic acid equivalents) and flavonoid content (216 ± 145mg quercetin equivalent/g), when compared to Anethum graveolens essential oil. A strong correlation was observed between antioxidant activity (DPPH, FRAP, and ABTS), total phenolic, and total flavonoid content in the Piper betle and displayed using principal component analysis (PCA) and a scatter matrix plot. Parallelly, clear morphological bacterial alterations were visualized by scanning electron microscopy after treating it with essential oils. MRSA showed malformed cell surfaces or broken cells with pore formation and septae. These findings imply that both essential oils are potential natural sources of antimicrobials against the MRSA superbug. They can also be used in combination therapies with other plant EOs or with traditional antibiotics to combat the rise of bacteria resistance.

INFLUENCE OF HUMUS FERTILIZATION ON YIELD AND ESSENTIAL OIL ACCUMULATION OF THYMUS × CITRIODORUS

Thymus × citriodorus is medicinal, aromatic, essential oil bearing plant, this hybrid can accumulate commercial important chemical compound – geraniol in it’s essential oil. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of fertilization with humus on the yield, for parameters of some leaf epidermal structures,as well as on the quantitative and qualitative composition of essential oils of T. × citriodorus plants that were grown in an open ground for three years. The experiment was done in eight experimental plots: four experimental plots were used as control and other four– for fertilization with humus. The essential oil was isolated by hydrodistillation and analysed by GC–FID and GC–MS. The results showed that fertilization with humus significantly positive affected the height of plant, the area covered by plant and the length of inflorescences in the first experimental year, the density of stomata in both epidermis of leaf in the first and second experimental years, but significantly negative affected the density of glandular trichomes in lower epidermis of leaf in the second experimental year. Fertilization with humus did not affect the percentage and composition of essential oil.

Essential oil composition, invitro antidiabetic, cytotoxicity, antimicrobial, antioxidant activity, and in silico molecular modeling analysis of secondary metabolites from Justicia schimperiana.

Justicia schimperiana, known as "Dhumuugaa" in Afan Oromo and "Sensel" or "Smiza" in Amharic, is traditionally used to treat ailments such as scabies, fever, asthma, diarrhea, malaria, and more. This study explored the chemical composition and biological activity of its extracts and isolated compounds. The essential oils were extracted using the hydrodistillation method, and their chemical composition was evaluated using GC-MS. GC-MS analysis identified 54 and 52 chemical components in the essential oils (EOs) from roots and leaves, respectively. The structures of the isolated compounds have been identified using 1D and 2D-NMR techniques. Six compounds- β-sitosterol (1), 5-methoxy durmillone (2), trans-resveratrol (3), tricuspidatol A (4), kaempferol-3-O-α-rhamnopyranoside (5), and kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside (6)- were isolated from the root extracts and reported for the first time in this species. The antimicrobial activity was evaluated using the broth microdilution technique. EOs extracts showed significant antibacterial activity, particularly against Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus agalactiae, while compound 6 showed potent activity with an MIC of 0.25 μg/mL. The antioxidant activity revealed strong radical scavenging for compounds 5 and 6, with extracts also demonstrating significant α-amylase inhibitory effects and moderate cytotoxicity against the MCF-7 cell line. Molecular docking and ADMET analysis highlighted compounds 5 and 6 as promising therapeutic agent. These findings highlight the medicinal potential of J.schimperiana roots, warranting further exploration.

Nanosilicon application changes the morphological attributes and essential oil compositions of hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) under water deficit stress

Various practical strategies have been employed to mitigate the detrimental effects of water deficit stress on plants such as application of nano-stimulants. Nanosilicon plays a crucial role in alleviating the deleterious impacts of both abiotic and biotic stresses in plants by modulating various phyto-morphological and physiological processes. This study aimed to examine the combined effects of drought stress and nanosilicon application on the morphological traits and essential oil content and compositions of hemp (Cannabis sativa L.), in which four-week-old seedlings were subjected to irrigation treatments at four levels, including 100% (control), 80% (mild stress), 60% (moderate stress) and 40% (severe stress) field capacity and nanosilicon at three concentrations (0, 0.5 and 1.5 mM) in a completely randomized factorial design experiment with three replications for 40 days. The results showed that the maximum plant height (109.07 cm), number of nodes (33.3), and number of flowering branches (29.4) were recorded under the treatment of 1.5 mM nanosilicon and 100% FC. The lowest fresh and dry weights of aerial parts were associated to the severe drought stress (40% FC) without nanosilicon application. The mild water stress (80% FC) combined with foliar application of 1.5 mM nanosilicon led to highest EO content (0.17%) compared with the other treatments. However, the highest content of cannabidiol in the essential oil was achieved in the severe water stress (40% FC) and treatment of 0.5 mM nanosilicon. The results showed that the application of nanosilicon improved the morphological characteristics and also changed the content and compositions of the hemp plants under drought stress conditions.

Essential oils from Amorpha fruticosa against hepatocellular carcinoma based on network pharmacology

BackgroundAmorpha fruticosa was used for treating burn, ambustion, carbuncle, and eczema in the traditional Chinese medicine. Although more and more attention has been paid to its biological activity recently, the antitumor activities of the essential oils (EOs) extracted from its leaves (AFLEO) and flowers (AFFEO), and their molecular mechanisms have never been reported up to now. The objective of present study was to examine the chemical compositions of AFLEO and AFFEO, then investigate the effects and pharmacological mechanism of EOs against hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).MethodsThe chemical compositions of EOs were examined using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The inhibitory effect of the EOs on HCC was evaluated by MTT assay. The detected components of AFLEO and AFFEO were performed ADME screening to examine their drug-likeness. Then a PPI network, compound-target network, compound-target-pathway network, gene ontology, and KEGG enrichment for HCC were applied to identify the targets and pathways for AFLEO and AFFEO against HCC. Molecular docking of the main components and their targets was performed to predict the binding affinity. Western blotting was used to verify the results.Results30 components were identified from AFLEO, while 22 components from AFFEO. Both AFLEO and AFFEO inhibited the proliferation of HCC cells in a time and dose-dependent manner. 10 compounds of AFLEO and 9 compounds of AFFEO were screened out for further analysis. 28 hub targets of AFLEO and 40 hub targets of AFFEO were detected by PPI network. KEGG analysis revealed that pathways in cancer, chemical carcinogenesis - receptor activation and proteoglycans in cancer were related to the EOs against HCC. Molecular docking confirmed that the main component of the EOs has high affinity to the targets of HCC.ConclusionsAFLEO and AFFEO may suppress HCC by acting on multiple targets and regulating multiple pathways.

The utility and chemotaxonomic significance of volatiles for inferring phylogeny in Chaerophyllum (Apiaceae): Essential oil composition of Myrrhoides nodosa (L.) Cannon.

Gas chromatography and GC/MS analysis of essential oil composition obtained from different parts of Myrrhoides nodosa (L.) Cannon has been carried out. Regarding the essential oil composition, 33 compounds have been identified in the oil isolated from the aerial parts of M. nodosa and 42 from roots (accounting for 98.2% and 96.9% of all, respectively), with germacrene D (60.7%) being the major component in aerial parts. On the other hand, the essential oils obtained from roots of M. nodosa consisted mainly of nonterpenoid compounds with methyl eugenol (30.4%) as dominant compound. The potential use of chemical composition of essential oils as chemotaxonomic markers in determining chemotaxonomic relationships of the genus Myrrhoides, which is a monotypic genus with only one species: Myrrhoides nodosa (L.) Cannon, and with those of related genus Chaerophyllum have been discussed in detail. The obtained results fully justify the latest systematization in which the species Myrrhoides becomes member of Chaerophyllum genus again.

Chemical Composition and Anti-sickling Activity of the Essential Oil From the Leaves of Lantana Montevidensis (Spreng.) Briq (Verbenaceae) Growing Wild in the Western Region of Democratic Republic of Congo.

Lantana montevidensis (Spreng.) Briq. is a shrub native to South American countries. In Congolese traditional medicine, its leaves are used as herbal tea or in steam inhalation therapy for the treatment of respiratory disorders. The goal of this study was to determine the chemical composition and the anti-sickling activity of the essential oil obtained from the leaves of this species growing wild in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Previous studies on the chemical composition of this species essential oil showed that it is mainly rich in sesquiterpene hydrocarbons such as (E)-caryophyllene, germacrene-D, (Z)-caryophyllene, valencene, bicyclogermacrene, (E)-nerolidol, β-selinene, sabinene, γ-terpinene, and β-elemene in different ratios. The gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of our oil revealed that it is rather rich in monoterpenes, with geranial (24.13%), neral (17.73%), limonene (8.27%), γ-terpinene (2.81%), p-cymene (2.36%), geraniol (2.33%), nerol (1.52%), citronellol (1.37%), linalool (1.24), and carvone (1.20%) as major constituents. Germacrene D (4.21%), α-elemol (3.53%), and β-caryophyllene (1.08%) were the only main sesquiterpenes detected, besides 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one (3.51%). The Emmel test performed on this essential oil displayed a strong anti-sickling activity at the concentration of 625µg/mL.

Impact of Soil Factors and Climate on Phytochemical Characteristics of Stachyslavandulifolia Vahl.

This study investigates the influence of environmental factors on the secondary metabolites of Stachyslavandulifolia Vahl., focusing on how soil properties, temperature, and precipitation affect the yield and chemical composition of its essential oils. The research was conducted in two domains within three rangelands in Mazandaran province, Iran. Data were analyzed using SPSS software. The findings indicated significant variations in essential oil yield across the southern domains of all three study areas. Variance analysis revealed that the interaction between area and domain significantly influenced most of the essential oil compositions, with exceptions for α-copaene, α-thujene, spathulenol (CAS), germacrene-D, hexadecanoic acid, and cis-farnesol. The mean comparison demonstrated substantial differences in the compositions of α-pinene, α-thujene, myrcene, phytol, and bicyclogermacrene between the northern and southern domains. Furthermore, correlation analysis identified significant relationships between essential oil compositions and various soil factors, such as moisture content, soil stability index, bulk density, phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), calcium oxide (CaO), magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na), nitrogen (N), sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), silt, clay, and organic matter. However, due to the favorable habitat conditions, no significant correlations were observed between temperature, rainfall, and the essential oil compositions in these areas.

Enhancing growth, yield, essential oil content, and composition of holy basil (Ocimum tenuiflorum L.) using red algae-based bio-stimulant under acidic conditions of the Western Himalayas

BackgroundThe rising costs of synthetic fertilizers highlight the need for eco-friendly alternatives to enhance essential oil production in aromatic plants. This study evaluated the effects of red algae seaweed extract [Solieria chordalis (C. Agardh) J. Agardh] on holy basil (Ocimum tenuiflorum L.) in the Western Himalayas, by using five concentrations (0.0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, and 10.0 mL/L) and two application methods (drenching and foliar spray) in a factorial randomized block design analysing data at 5% significance level. Seaweed extract significantly improved growth and yield, with the highest essential oil content and biomass. By examining various concentrations and application techniques, the study seeks to determine the best practices for maximizing essential oil production.ResultsApplication of S. chordalis at 7.5 mL/L, increased essential oil content by 71.4% and biomass by 63.4% compared to the control. The foliar application also resulted in 50% higher essential oil content than drenching. Application of S. chordalis at 7.5 mL/L significantly enhanced essential oil components like eugenol, methyl eugenol, and methyl cinnamate by 61.5%, 17.6% and, 48.4%, respectively, compared to control. Based on the results of the present study, the foliar application of 7.5 mL/L seaweed extract is recommended for optimizing holy basil growth, biomass yield, essential oil content and composition.ConclusionsBased on the results of the present study, the foliar application of 7.5 mL/L seaweed extract is recommended for optimizing holy basil growth, biomass yield, essential oil content and composition. This study encourages the utilization of bio-stimulants, enhancing sustainability, and resilience in agriculture.

Limonene and Fatty Acid Content of the Volatile Oil of Raphia australis Fruit Pulp and Their Synergistic In vivo Anti-Inflammatory Activity

Aim: To evaluate the in vivo anti-inflammatory activity of the essential oil and fatty acid compositions of the volatile oil of Raphia australis fruit pulp. Method: The oils of pulp and seed of Raphia australis were isolated using Clevenger apparatus and were further subjected to GC-MS analyses. Anti-inflammatory test was carried out on the pulp of Raphia australis oils using four groups of rats comprising six rats per group (n=5). Group one were administered normal saline (0.09 % v/v NaCl) while group 1, 2 and 3 were administered 40 mg kg-1(volatile oil), 80 mg kg-1 (volatile oil) and 100mg kg-1 aspirin, respectively. Inflammation was induced in all the groups using lipopolysaccharide. Results: From the GCMS analysis, 20 compounds were detected in the oil of R. australis pulp while 19 compounds were shown to be present in the seed oil. The total fatty acid content of R. australis seed oil was 38.1 %. The rest were essential oil compounds (21.6 %). There are 6.6% unknown compounds present in the oil obtained from the seed of R. australis. The essential oil content of the pulp of R. australis was 68.6 %. The pulp contained 16 % of fatty acids with 9.1 % unknown compounds. The limonene content (38.4 %) of Raphia australis pulp was found to be about 6 times higher than that of the seed (6.3 %). However, the quantity of hexadecenoic acid obtained from the seed (34.4 %) was more than 3 times higher than the amount found in the pulp (10.8%). Other volatile compounds present in the pulp include 2-pentylfuran (3.2 %), germacrene D (7.1 %), nonanal (3.3 %) alpha cadinene (5.2 %), tertradecanoic acid (2.2 %) while nonanal (8.5 %), eicosane (3.9 %) b-pinene (2.2%), 2 pentyl furan (1.9%) and tetradecanoic acid (1.7 %) constitute the major component of the rest of the volatile oil of the seed of Raphia australis. The result of inflammatory activity of the volatile oil of Raphia australis pulp using adult male mice showed that 80 mg kg-1 dose of the oil elicited a significant anti-inflammatory effect (P<0.01) when compared to 100mg kg-1 of aspirin (P<0.01). The analgesic activities of aspirin (P<0.05) and the 80 mg kg-1 dose (P<0.05) of the oil were only significant in the inflammatory phase of the analgesic test. Conclusion: These results show that the volatile oil of Raphia australis has therapeutic potential for use in the management of inflammation-related disorders.

Revitalization of Old Rose (Rosa damascena Mill.) Garden for Agumenting Growth, Flower Yield and Essential Oil Quality by Pruning and Fertilizer Application

The flower quality and essential oil concentration plays a critical role in marketing in local and international market. To unfold yield potential of the plants in old garden, cultural practices and nutrition remain the only feasible option as a part of management to the farmer to provide congenial environment to the plant. The impact of pruning and fertilizer application on growth, flower yield, volatile oil composition, physiological and biochemical processes are still poorly investigated on damask rose. Hence, the field experiment was led-out with nine treatment conditions encompassing three pruning systems and three fertilizer dosages to standardize the best practice to rejuvenate the old rose garden. The results showed that the pruning at 60 cm from ground level and application of 200:100:100 N, P2O5 and K2O kg ha-1exhibited maximum increase in growth parameters and flowering parameters like bud length (13.17 cm), diameter (5.52 cm), number of flowers per plant (273.41), flower yield (66.54 q ha-1) and vase life (9.37 days) followed by pruning at 45 cm from ground level and application of 150:75:75 N, P2O5 and K2O kg ha-1. Essential oil characters like volatile oil percentage (0.051 %) and volatile oil productivity (0.973 l plant-1) were highest in treatments of pruning at 60 cm from ground level and application of 200:100:100 N, P2O5 and K2O kg ha-1. From the experiment it is suggested that the old rose gardens can be rejuvenated by pruning and fertilizer application for better growth, flower production and increase in essential oil.

Comparison between the chemical composition of essential oils isolated from biocultivated Salvia rosmarinus Spenn. (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) and some commercial products

Comparison between the chemical composition of essential oils isolated from biocultivated Salvia rosmarinus Spenn. (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) and some commercial products

Comparative qualitative and quantitative analysis of common myrtle and eucalyptus twiggy essential oils

Introduction. In the family Myrtaceae (Myrtaceae L.) there are more than 100 genera and more than 3000 representatives. Insufficiency of data on diagnostics of raw materials of common myrtle and closely related species is an actual problem of modern pharmacognosy. The aim of the present study is a comparative qualitative and quantitative analysis of essential oil components of leaves of common myrtle, closely related to Myrtle species – Eucalyptus twiggy of family Myrtaceae, as well as industrial samples of essential oils of Myrtle and Eucalyptus by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Material and methods. Leaves of common myrtle harvested in the Republic of Crimea (Russia) and Relizane province (Algeria) were used as objects of research. Also as objects of comparison were used leaves of eucalyptus twiggy, harvested in Abkhazia, and industrial samples of common myrtle and eucalyptus twiggy essential oils. Samples of essential oil were obtained from leaves of myrtle and eucalyptus. Essential oil samples were obtained from myrtle and eucalyptus leaves and the qualitative and quantitative composition of their components was determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Results and discussion. Essential oils samples of Myrtaceae representatives leaves are characterised by a high content of mono- and bicyclic monoterpenes, but they differ significantly in dominant components depending on the place of growth. In a sample of essential oil from the leaves of Crimean Myrtle, 1,8-cineol (eucalyptol) dominates, and in a sample from the leaves of Algerian Myrtle, α-pinene dominates. In the study, it was found that some identified components of the common myrtle essential oil, such as myrtenyl acetate, humulene, linalyl acetate, β-myrcene and their derivatives, were absent in the eucalyptus twiggy essential oil, which may serve as a diagnostic sign for Myrtus species. On the contrary, the presence of globulol and its derivatives in the component composition of essential oil was found only in samples of Eucalyptus viminalis L. species and are not determined in the common myrtle essential oil. Industrial samples of essential oils are characterised by the absence of such important components of Myrtle essential oil as α-pinene, globulol, myrtenyl acetate, geraniol, linalool, terpinen-4-ol, humulene and its derivatives. Conclusion. Species specificity of the common myrtle can be confirmed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry on diagnostically significant components of the common myrtle essential oil, which are absent in the essential oil of the species closely related to myrtle – еucalyptus twig, which can be used in the preparation of the draft pharmacopoeial article on a new type of medicinal plant raw material – ‘Common myrtle leaves’.