Content Of Sesquiterpenes Research Articles

Research on using Aquilaria sinensis callus to evaluate the agarwood-inducing potential of fungi.

Agarwood is a precious resinous heartwood highly valued for its cultural, religious, and medicinal significance. With the increasing market demand, natural agarwood resources are rapidly depleting, making the development of effective artificial induction methods for agarwood highly significant. This study aims to explore the feasibility of using callus tissue to assess the ability of fungi to induce agarwood formation. We selected two fungi isolated from Aquilaria sinensis, W-1 (Podospora setosa) and W-15 (Alternaria alstroemeriae), and used the known agarwood-inducing fungi YMY (Pestalotiopsis sp.) as a positive control, by treating A. sinensis callus with their fermented filtrates. The experimental results showed that W-1 and W-15 treatments significantly enhanced the activity of Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and Peroxidase (POD) in the callus tissue and upregulated the expression of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA synthase (HMGS), 1-deoxy-D-xylulose-5-phosphate reductoisomerase (DXR), and sesquiterpene synthase (ASS-1). GC-MS analysis further confirmed that the contents of sesquiterpenes and aromatic compounds in A. sinensis treated with W-1 and W-15 were significantly elevated, suggesting that these fungi possess the capacity to induce the formation of agarwood. This study demonstrates that using callus tissue to screen fungi capable of inducing agarwood is feasible and effective, providing new insights for screening fungi resources that efficiently induce agarwood formation in the future.

Responses of needle terpene concentrations and characteristics of resin canals to different warming treatments in Scots pine and Norway spruce seedlings grown in a field experiment

We studied responses of needle terpene concentrations and resin canal characteristics to warming in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) and Norway spruce (Picea abies) seedlings grown in a controlled field set-up in eastern Finland. Warming was simulated during the growing seasons using infrared heaters that increased air temperature in study 1 (2016–2019) by 1°C and in study 2 (2019–2020) by 2°C and 4°C, compared to ambient conditions. Terpenes were sampled in study 1 from non-matured current year and matured previous year needles in June 2019, and study 2 from mature current-year needles in August 2020. In study 1, we also studied resin canal anatomy. We found that 1°C elevation of temperature caused two-fold increase in concentrations of total terpenes, oxygenated monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes of non-matured current year needles of Norway spruce. Further, it caused 1.3-1.8-fold increases in sesquiterpene concentrations both in unmatured and matured needles of Scots pine. It also decreased resin canal diameter of mature needles in Norway spruce. In study 2, the stronger warming treatments did not affect terpene concentrations of matured current-year needles in either species. Based on our findings, even minor elevation of temperature may affect terpene concentrations of non-mature needles in boreal conifers.

Surviving adversity: Exploring the presence of Lunularia cruciata (L.) Dum. on metal-polluted mining waste.

The tailings dump of Barraxiutta (Sardinia, Italy) contains considerable concentrations of heavy metals and, consequently, is scarcely colonized by plants. However, wild populations of the liverwort Lunularia cruciata (L.) Dum. form dense and healthy-looking carpets on this tailing dump. L. cruciata colonizing the tailing dump was compared with a control population growing in a pristine environment in terms of: (i) pollutant content, (ii) photochemical efficiency, and (iii) volatile secondary metabolites in thalli extracts. L. cruciata maintained optimal photosynthesis despite containing considerable amounts of soil pollutants in its thalli and had higher sesquiterpene content compared to control plants. Sesquiterpenes have a role in plant stress resistance and adaptation to adverse environments. In the present study, we propose enhanced sesquiterpenes featuring Contaminated L. cruciata as a defence strategy implemented in the post-mining environment.

Comprehensive Modulation of Secondary Metabolites in Terpenoid-Accumulating Mentha spicata L. via UV Radiation.

In plants, secondary metabolites change in response to environmental conditions. These changes co-regulate resilience to stressful environmental conditions, plant growth and development, and interactions between plants and the wider ecosystem, while also affecting soil carbon storage and atmospheric and climatic conditions. The objective of this study was to determine the association between UV exposure and the contents of key metabolites, including amino acids, phenolics, flavonoids, terpenoids, carotenoids, tocopherols, and phytosterols. Mentha spicata plantlets were grown in tissue culture boxes for 30 days and then exposed to a low dose of broadband UV-B (291-315 nm; 2.8 kJm-2 biologically effective UV) enriched light for eight days. Metabolite contents were quantified either immediately after the final UV exposure, or after seven days of recovery under photosynthetically active radiation. It was found that UV promoted the production of flavonoids (1.8-fold) ahead of phenolic acids (unchanged). Furthermore, the majority of monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes, constituents of valuable mint essential oil, were significantly increased through UV treatment (up to 90-fold for α-linalool). In contrast, the contents of carotenoids and tocopherols did not increase following UV exposure. A comparison between plants sampled immediately after UV exposure and after seven days of recovery showed that there was an overall increase in the content of carotenoids, mono- and sesquiterpenes, phenolics, and amino acids following recovery, while the contents of sterols and tocopherols decreased. These UV-induced changes in metabolite profile may have important consequences for agriculture, ecology, and even the global climate, and they also provide an exciting opportunity to enhance crop value, facilitating the development of improved products with higher levels of essential oils and added benefits of enhanced flavour, colour, and bioactive content.

Anatomical, chemical and endophytic fungal diversity of a Qi-Nan clone of Aquilaria sinensis (Lour.) Spreng with different induction times.

Recently, some new Qi-Nan clones of Aquilaria sinensis (Lour.) Spreng which intensively produces high-quality agarwood have been identified and propagated through grafting techniques. Previous studies have primarily focused on ordinary A. sinensis and the differences in composition when compared to Qi-Nan and ordinary A. sinensis. There are few studies on the formation mechanism of Qi-Nan agarwood and the dynamic changes in components and endophytic fungi during the induction process. In this paper, the characteristics, chemical composition, and changes in endophytic fungi of Qi-Nan agarwood induced after 1 year, 2 years, and 3 years were studied, and Qi-Nan white wood was used as the control. The results showed that the yield of Qi-Nan agarwood continued to increase with the induction time over a period of 3 years, while the content of alcohol extract from Qi-Nan agarwood reached its peak at two years. During the formation of agarwood, starch and soluble sugars in xylem rays and interxylary phloem are consumed and reduced. Most of the oily substances in agarwood were filled in xylem ray cells and interxylary phloem, and a small amount was filled in xylem vessels. The main components of Qi-Nan agarwood are also chromones and sesquiterpenes. With an increasing induction time, the content of sesquiterpenes increased, while the content of chromones decreased. The most abundant chromones in Qi-Nan agarwood were 2-(2-Phenethyl) chromone, 2-[2-(3-Methoxy-4-hydroxyphenyl) ethyl] chromone, and2-[2-(4-Methoxyphenyl) ethyl] chromone. Significant differences were observed in the species of the endophytic fungi found in Qi-Nan agarwood at different induction times. A total of 4 phyla, 73 orders, and 448 genera were found in Qi-Nan agarwood dominated by Ascomycota and Basidiomycota. Different induction times had a significant effect on the diversity of the endophytic fungal community in Qi-Nan. After the induction of agarwood formation, the diversity of Qi-Nan endophytic fungi decreased. Correlation analysis showed that there was a significant positive correlation between endophytic fungi and the yield, alcohol extract content, sesquiterpene content, and chromone content of Qi-Nan agarwood, which indicated that endophytic fungi play a role in promoting the formation of Qi-Nan agarwood. Qi-Nan agarwood produced at different induction times exhibited strong antioxidant capacity. DPPH free radical scavenging activity and reactive oxygen species clearance activity were significantly positively correlated with the content of sesquiterpenes and chromones in Qi-Nan agarwood.

Diversity and dose-dependent allelopathic potential of volatile sesquiterpenes from root extracts of Chrysanthemum morifolium cultivars

Chrysanthemum × morifolium Ramat. (chrysanthemum) is rich in terpenoids in both aboveground and belowground parts with multiple biological functions. This study aims to comprehensively assess the diversity of root-derived terpenoids and their potential role in plant-plant interaction in chrysanthemums. By GC–MS identification, we revealed the intraspecific variation of terpenoid components dominated by sesquiterpenes in the root extracts among 26 chrysanthemum cultivars with different application types (including cut-flower, ground-cover and tea cultivars). The total terpenoid content in tea cultivars was generally higher than that in ground-cover and cut-flower cultivars. In this context, the correlation between the terpenoids from root extracts and allelopathic effect was established. The root extract of tea, cut-flower and ground-cover cultivars could universally promote the root length of Lactuca sativa seedling without significant effect on bud length. Moreover, the root extracts of tea and cut-flower cultivars showed no significant effects on the bud length and root length of Echinochloa crus-galli seedlings, whereas the root extract of ground-cover cultivars could significantly promote the bud length and inhibit the root length of E. crus-galli seedlings. OPLS analysis successfully correlated the content of sesquiterpenes (β-farnesene, β-elemene, β-bisabolene, neollocimene, β-sesquiphellandrene and α-longipinene) with bud and root length of L. sativa and E. crus-galli seedlings. Additionally, root extracts of 3 representative cultivars in each application type displayed dose-dependent effect in the seed germination of L. sativa. These findings provide a scientific basis for the development of eco-friendly herbicides\\plant growth regulator and the arrangement of reasonable farming systems in chrysanthemum.

Exploring the versatility of sesquiterpene biosynthesis in guava plants: a comparative genome-wide analysis of two cultivars

Psidium guajava L., a fruit crop belonging to the Myrtaceae family, is highly valued for its nutritional and medicinal properties. The family exhibits a diverse chemical profile of essential oils and serves as a valuable resource due to its ecological interactions, adaptability, and dispersal capacity. The Myrtaceae family has been extensively studied for its terpenoids. Genetic studies have focused on foliar terpene yield in species from the Eucalypteae and Melaleucaceae tribes. To understand the evolutionary trends in guava breeding, this study predicted terpene synthase genes (TPS) from different cultivars. Through this analysis, 43 full-length TPS genes were identified, and approximately 77% of them exhibited relative expression in at least one of the five investigated plant tissues (root, leaf, bud, flower, and fruit) of two guava cultivars. We identified intra-species variation in the terpene profile and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in twelve TPS genes, resulting in the clustering of 62 genotypes according to their essential oil chemotypes. The high concentration of sesquiterpenes is supported by the higher number of TPS-a genes and their expression. The expansion for TPS sub-families in P. guajava occurred after the expansion of other rosids species. Providing insight into the origin of structural diversification and expansion in each clade of the TPS gene family within Myrtaceae. This study can provide insights into the diversity of genes for specialized metabolites such as terpenes, and their regulation, which can lead to a diverse chemotype of essential oil in different tissues and genotypes. This suggests a mode of enzymatic evolution that could lead to high sesquiterpene production, act as a chemical defense and contribute to the adaptive capacity of this species to different habitats.

Combined analysis of GC-MS, RNA-seq and ATAC-seq elucidates the essential oils variation and terpenes biosynthesis in Citrus grandis ‘Tomentosa’

Citrus grandis ‘Tomentosa’ (CGT) contain abundant essential oils (EOs), while the variation of them among different varieties is still unclear which hinders the fully utilization of CGT EOs in industry. Besides, the molecular mechanism underlying the accumulation of EOs in Citrus family remains largely unknown. In this study, multi-omics including GC-MS (gas chromatography-mass spectrometry), RNA-seq (ribonucleic acid sequencing), and ATAC-seq (assay for transposase-accessible chromatin using sequencing) were applied for three varieties of CGT (‘ZM’, ‘FM’, and ‘GQ’) to reveal the CGT EOs variation at the chemical, transcriptional and chromatinic levels. CGT EOs mainly consist of monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes, and the total terpenes amounts in three varieties rank as ‘ZM’ > ‘FM’ > ‘GQ’. The total amount of monoterpenes in ‘ZM’ is almost triple than that in ‘FM’ and is septuple than that in ‘GQ’. The average contents of sesquiterpenes in the EOs of ‘ZM’, ‘FM’, and ‘GQ’ are 73.9 ug/g, 42.65 ug/g and 1.75 ug/g, respectively. RNA-seq analysis among the three varieties demonstrated that the structural genes of 1-DEOXY-D-XYLULOSE 5-PHOSPHATE SYNTHASE (DXS) and 1-DEOXY-D-XYLYLOSE 5-PHOSPHATE REDUCTOISOMERASE (DXR) are differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in MEP pathway for the biosynthesis of monoterpenes, and 3-HYDROXY-3-METHYLGLUTARYL-COA REDUCTASE (HMGR) is the DEG for sesquiterpenes synthesis in MVA pathway. Integrated GC-MS, RNA-seq and ATAC-seq analysis reveals 9 transcriptional factors were predicted to regulate the terpenes synthesis in the exocarps of CGT. The present investigation provides important information for manufacturers and breeders of CGT who require raw materials and germplasm of CGT in better quality for the production of EOs.

Antibiosis of Salicylic acid Pre-Hardening Treatments of Cowpea on Development of Pod Sucking Bug, Clavigralla tomentosicollis Stal. (Hemiptera: Coreidae)

to control physiological interactions of Phytophagous insects The experiment was conducted at the University Research farm, Faculty of Agriculture Bayero University, Kano (11°58 ‘N, 8° 25’ E and 457m above sea level) to evaluate the effect of SA-treatment on Development of Pod sucking bug of cowpea. Four different cowpea varieties (IT97K-1069-6, IT98K-205-8, IT89KD-288 and Dan’ila) pre-hardened with Salicylic acid were established in various replicated field cages in completely randomized design. Five-pairs each of fresh bugs were introduced into the various cages. These were allowed for 2-weeks to mate and oviposit after which all adult insects are removed. Introduced insects showed variable developmental response to the different Pre-hardened cowpea varieties in SA hormones (P<0.001). Interactions of treatments and varieties was also found significant (P<0.001).Cowpea seeds treated with lower (5ppm) concentrations of SA show greater deleterious effects on the development of the pod bugs than the higher (10 & 20ppm) concentrations and the controls (Distilled water & Untreated seeds). Of the four Cowpea varieties screened, IT97K-1069-6 and IT89KD-288 of 5ppm SA-treatments show higher antibiosis on development of C. tommentosicollis, resulting to low oviposition (41.33 and 45.67), higher percentage nymphal mortalities (71.59% and 77.24%) and mean unhatched eggs of 27.33 and 32.00 respectively, with smaller adults bugs (3.55mg and 3.27mg) at emergence. Phytochemical screening of the treatments using GC-MS analysis showed high concentrations of cumene, eugenol and sesquiterpenes in the tolerant varieties. These relations should be explored extensively toward sustainable plant protection.

Effects of hydrolyzed animal protein application on nitrogen translocation, phenolic and volatile profile of Ocimum basilicum L. under salinity conditions

The application of biostimulants based on hydrolysed animal protein to leaves (foliar) or nutrient solution was studied on hydroponically grown Genovese 'Marian' basil grown under salinity conditions. The effect on N yield and N fertilizer utilization was tested with the stable isotope 15N, which indicated the part of the plant that accumulated the highest amount of N. The use of the biostimulant in the nutrient solution produced the best results regarding N fertilizer utilization and N yield, being about 13 % higher than the foliar application and 24 % higher than the salt control (SC) treatment. In general, basil leaves contained the most N from the fertilizer. The total analysed phenolic content (TAPC) was 270.1 % higher in the nutrient solution-applied biostimulant (NSB) than in the control (C) treatment and 211.9 % higher than in the SC treatment. Foliar application of the biostimulant (FB) showed lower efficacy than NSB regarding phenolic contents. The most abundant individual phenolics in basil were dihydroxyphenyllactic acid dimer, caffeic acid hexoside derivatives, and rosmarinic acid. NSB increased the total sesquiterpene content by 25.2 % and the total alcohol content by 31.8 % compared to SC treatment. In addition, NSB increased the total aldehydes content by 27.0 % compared to SC treatment. The total volatile content was less variable than the individual volatiles. The results of our study show how different application methods of the biostimulant affect nitrogen conversion and utilization in different plant parts of basil and how they influence the internal quality of basil.

Comparative Analysis of Chemical Compositions of Mentha L. Plant Extracts by Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry after Hydrodistillation and Subcritical Extraction

The results of a study of the composition of essential oil and extracts obtained by hydrodistillation and subcritical extraction from plants of the genus Mentha L. are presented. The test samples were peppermint (Mentha piperita L.) and horsemint (Mentha longifolia L.). Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry was used to identify and compare the component composition of essential oils and extracts from Mentha L. plants. The composition of the essential oil of horsemint differs from the essential oil of peppermint by the high concentration of linalool and the absence of pulegone and piperitone. The component composition of the extracts of peppermint and horsemint, obtained under conditions of subcritical extraction with water and acetone, was studied. The concentration of monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, and esters increased in the transition from the essential oil to the acetone subcritical extract of both types of mint. In the water extract of peppermint, there were practically no sesquiterpenoids or esters; there was a general decrease in the yield of all components compared to the essential oil and acetone extract.

GLV reveal species differences and responses to environment in alpine shrub Rosa sericea complex

Plant Volatile components are an ecological adaptation mechanism of plants that can reflect species differences and environment information where it is located. The alpine shrub Rosa sericea complex consists of several allied species, which are morphologically similar and difficult to distinguish, they are typical distribution along the elevation in the Himalayas and the Transverse Ranges. We selected two typical areas to find that the different species could be distinguished by their “green leaf volatile components” (GLV) composition as well as their geographical location, and it was evident that species with glands had higher sesquiterpene content. Correlation analysis revealed the relation between volatile components and ecology factors (climate factors, soil factors, phyllospheric microorganisms). Our study adds a new perspective and basis for the environmental adaptations of different species in the alpine shrub Rosa sericea complex from a chemical ecology perspective.

Characterization of Health Beneficial Components in Discarded Leaves of Three Escarole (Cichorium endivia L.) Cultivar and Study of Their Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Activities.

Plants of genus Cichorium (Asteraceae) can be used as vegetables with higher nutritional value and as medicinal plants. This genus has beneficial properties owing to the presence of a number of specialized metabolites such as alkaloids, sesquiterpene lactones, coumarins, unsaturated fatty acids, flavonoids, saponins, and tannins. Cichorium endivia L., known as escarole, has achieved a common food status due to its nutritionary value, bitter taste, and the presence of healthy components, and is eaten cooked or raw in salads. Presently, wastes derived from the horticultural crops supply chain are generated in very large amounts. Vegetable waste comprises the discarded leaves of food sources produced during collection, handling, transportation, and processing. The external leaves of Cichorium endivia L. are a horticultural crop that is discarded. In this work, the phytochemical profile, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities of hydroalcoholic extract obtained from discarded leaves of three cultivars of escarole (C. endivia var. crispum 'Capriccio', C. endivia var. latifolium 'Performance' and 'Leonida') typical horticultural crop of the Campania region were investigated. In order to describe a metabolite profile of C. endivia cultivars, the extracts were analysed by HR/ESI/Qexactive/MS/MS and NMR. The careful analysis of the accurate masses, the ESI/MS spectra, and the 1H NMR chemical shifts allowed for the identification of small molecules belonging to phenolic, flavonoid, sesquiterpene, amino acids, and unsaturated fatty acid classes. In addition, the antioxidant potential of the extracts was evaluated using cell-free and cell-based assays, as well as their cytotoxic and anti-inflammatory activity. All the extracts showed similar radical-scavenging ability while significant differences between the three investigated cultivars emerged in the cell-based assays. The obtained data were ascribed to the content of polyphenols and sesquiterpenes in the extracts. Accordingly, C. endivia by-products can be deemed an interesting material for healthy product formulations.

In vivo elicitation is efficient in increasing essential oil yield with high anti-inflammatory sesquiterpene content in Varronia curassavica Jacq.

In vivo elicitation is efficient in increasing essential oil yield with high anti-inflammatory sesquiterpene content in Varronia curassavica Jacq.

Terpenoid VOC profiles and functional characterization of terpene synthases in diploid and tetraploid cytotypes of Chrysanthemum indicum L

Chrysanthemum indicum L. is a valuable medicinal plant with diploid and tetraploid forms that are widely distributed in central and southern China, and it contains abundant volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Despite the discovery of some terpene synthase (TPS) in C. indicum (i.e., CiTPS) in previous studies, many TPSs and their corresponding terpene biosynthesis pathways have yet to be discovered. In the present study, terpenoid VOCs in different tissues from two cytotypes of C. indicum were analyzed. We identified 52 types of terpenoid VOCs and systematically investigated the content and distribution of these compounds in various tissues. The two cytotypes of C. indicum exhibited different volatile terpenoid profiles. The content of monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes in the two cytotypes showed an opposite trend. In addition, four full-length candidate TPSs (named CiTPS5–8) were cloned from Ci-GD4x, and their homologous TPS genes were screened based on the genome data of Ci-HB2x. These eight TPSs displayed various tissue expression patterns and were discovered to produce 22 terpenoids, 5 of which are monoterpenes and 17 are sesquiterpenes. We further proposed corresponding terpene synthesis pathways, which can enable the establishment of an understanding of the volatile terpenoid profiles of C. indicum with different cytotypes. This knowledge may provide a further understanding of germplasm in C. indicum and may be useful for biotechnology applications of Chrysanthemum plants.

Effects of processing methods on the aroma constituents of hihatsumodoki (Piper retrofractum Vahl).

Hihatsumodoki (Piper retrofractum Vahl) is a traditional spice from Okinawa (Japan) that can be processed in different ways to create the desired flavor. Herein, we examined the effects of processing (sun-drying, oven-drying, roasting, and steaming) on the volatile aroma constituents of hihatsumodoki fruits. Among the 106 chromatographic peaks observed in total, 58 were assigned to known aroma compounds. The relative contents of terpenes, for example, linalool, β-caryophyllene, α-caryophyllene, and germacrene D, ranged from 57.6% to 88.1%. Sun-drying decreased the content of aldehydes such as hexanal and trans-2-hexenal but did not significantly affect the total content of aroma compounds. The amount of aroma compounds released during oven-drying and roasting increased with temperature up to a certain point (90°C) and decreased at an excessively high temperature of 180°C. High-temperature roasting generated Maillard reaction products such as furans and furanones, which could impart sweet caramel odors. Steamed fruits had the lowest content of aroma compounds, which was ascribed to the loss of these compounds to vapor. Meanwhile, drying steamed fruits resulted in an approximately 3.6-fold increase in their aroma compound content, and the content of sesquiterpenes in the steamed-dried fruits was similar to that in fruits exposed to high temperatures. The effects of processing on aroma quality were visualized using multivariate statistical analysis. The aroma characteristics of roasted (180°C), steamed, and steamed-dried fruits were different from those of the control. The combined findings provide useful information for the selection of processing methods to achieve the desired flavor of hihatsumodoki. Practical Application: This study reveals the effects of different processing methods on the aroma profile of hihatsumodoki (Piper retrofractum Vahl), a subtropical spice from Okinawa (Japan). The results facilitate the selection of preferred hihatsumodoki flavors for household and industrial applications in foods and beverages. In addition, they inspire research on the processing-induced flavor changes of other tropical or subtropical spices.

Influence of Season and Habitat on the Essential Oils Composition, Allelopathy, and Antioxidant Activities of Artemisia monosperma Delile

Plants belonging to the Artemisia genus (Asteraceae) are widely distributed worldwide and have many ethnopharmacological, traditional, therapeutic, and phytochemical aspects. Artemisia monosperma is an important aromatic plant due to its traditional and therapeutic uses and phytochemical diversity, including essential oils (EOs). The EO chemical profile of aromatic plants has been reported to be affected by exogenous and endogenous factors. Geographic and seasonal variations are crucial factors shaping the chemical composition of the EO. Herein, the variations of the yields, chemical profiles, and allelopathic and antioxidant activities of A. monosperma EOs collected from three regions in four seasons were assessed. A slight variation in the oil yields was observed among regions and seasons, while the chemical profile, characterized via GC-MS, exhibited significant quantitative and qualitative variation among either regions or seasons. Sesquiterpenes were the main components of all EOs, with significant variation in concentration. In most EO samples, the summer-plant samples had the highest concentration of sesquiterpenes, followed by spring, winter, and autumn. The 7-epi-trans-sesquisabinene hydrate, 6-epi-shyobunol, dehydro-cyclolongifolene oxide, isoshyobunone, diepicedrene-1-oxide, dehydro-aromadendrene, and junipene were the main compounds of all the EO samples. The extracted EOs of the A. monosperma samples showed considerable allelopathic activity against the weed Dactyloctenium aegyptium and the crop Lactuca sativa. A significant variation in allelopathic activity was observed among samples collected during different seasons, while the samples of the autumn and summer seasons had more potential. Also, L. sativa was more affected by the EO compared to D. aegyptium, reflecting that weeds are more resistant to allelochemicals. In this context, the EOs of A. monosperma samples exhibited substantial antioxidant activity with the same pattern of allelopathic activity, whereas the samples of the autumn and summer seasons showed higher antioxidant activity. These biological activities of the EOs could be ascribed to the higher content of oxygenated compounds. The present study revealed that seasons have a substantial effect on EO production as well as composition. In consequence, the biological activities varied with the variation of the chemical profile of the EO. These results show the importance of season/timing for sampling aromatic plants.

Effects of volatile sesquiterpenes from Japanese cedarwood on visual processing in the human brain: an event-related potential study

Odor environments in living spaces can influence human physiological and psychological states. To elucidate the effect of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) of wood in living spaces on the modulations of cognitive processing, we built two experimental huts to simulate wooden construction living spaces. One hut was made of cedarwood (Cryptomeria japonica), and the other was made of resin. We used cedarwood and resin, because they are often used as construction materials in Japan. In both huts, we measured the participants’ first positivity in the early visual cortex (P1), the third positivity elicited by voluntary attention (P3b), and the automatic occipital negativity to infrequent visual stimuli in event-related potentials (ERPs), while they performed a visual discrimination task. The VOCs in both huts were measured by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The concentration of volatile sesquiterpenes was significantly increased in the cedarwood hut. Neither P1 nor P3b was affected by the cedarwood hut. Compared to the resin hut, we observed significantly larger occipital negativities to the infrequent stimuli in the cedarwood hut in the time windows of 280–300 ms at the mid-occipital region. These findings suggest that the increased concentration of volatile sesquiterpenes emitted from cedarwood facilitates the human brain’s response to changes in visual stimuli.

Сultivation experiment of Origanum vulgare L. in Northern Kazakhstan using nitrogen fertilizer

The purpose of the research is to determine the effect of ammonium nitrate fertilizer on the growth and yield of Origanum vulgare L. essential oil grown in Northern Kazakhstan. One-factor analysis proved that the introduction of ammonium nitrate positively affected the growth and yield of O. vulgare L., the yield of essential oil and the content of its individual components. Plant height increased by 19.3%, bush size – by 17.4%, yield – by 11.8%. Essential oil output of O. vulgare L. at the experimental site, compared to the control site, increased by 20% and the yield of extraction reached 0.60% and 0.48%, respectively. The largest number of components was related to monoterpenes (52.57% in the experimental section, -50.10% in the control section), the most common were γ-Terpinene, β-Sabinene, Carvacrol and trans-β-Ocimene. Sesquiterpene content in the experimental sample was 37.19%, compared to 38.5250% in the control sample, in which Germacrene D and Caryophyllene were the most common components. Cluster analysis showed that the essential oil composition of O. vulgare L. from Kazakhstan is similar to the composition of the essential oil of plants from Moldova, Poland, Turkey (Anatolia), Latvia and Russia. Germacrene D, Carvacrol and β-Sabinene were the binding components of plants from Kazakhstan and Moldova. The similarity between plants from Kazakhstan and other countries in the same cluster was due to the Germacrene D content (cluster’s average value was 10.1%) and the content of Spathulenol (4.9%).

Digital Technologies Applied to Control the One-Step Process of Cannabis Olive Oil Preparations

The reproducibility of an extemporaneous preparation is an essential condition for guaranteeing the quality, efficacy, and safety of the medicinal product. This study aimed to develop a controlled one-step process for cannabis olive oil preparations by applying digital technologies. For this purpose, the chemical profile of cannabinoid contents in oil extracts of Bedrocan, FM2, and Pedanios varieties obtained with the already in use method, proposed by the Italian Society of Compounding Pharmacists (SIFAP), was compared with two new methods, specifically the Tolotto Gear® extraction method (TGE) and the Tolotto Gear® extraction method preceded by a pre-extraction procedure (TGE-PE). HPLC analyses showed that the concentration of THC using cannabis flos with a high THC content (over 20% w/w) was always higher than 21 mg/mL for the Bedrocan variety and close to 20 mg/mL for the Pedanios variety when applying TGE, while with TGE-PE, the THC concentration was higher than 23 mg/mL for the Bedrocan variety. For the FM2 variety, the amounts of THC and CBD in the oil formulations obtained using TGE were higher than 7 mg/mL and 10 mg/mL, respectively, and for TGE-PE, the concentrations of THC and CBD were higher than 7 mg/mL and 12 mg/mL, respectively. GC-MS analyses were performed to define the terpene contents in the oil extracts. The samples of Bedrocan flos extracted with TGE-PE displayed a distinctive profile, highly rich in terpenes and devoid of oxidized volatile products. Thus, TGE and TGE-PE allowed performing a quantitative extraction of cannabinoids and increasing the total mono-di-tri terpenes and sesquiterpene concentrations. The methods were repeatable and applicable to any quantity of raw material, preserving the phytocomplex of the plant.