Dracocephalum Moldavica Research Articles

Characterization of triacylglycerol and diacylglycerol composition of plant oils using high-performance liquid chromatography–atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry

Triacylglycerols (TGs) and diacylglycerols (DGs) in 16 plant oil samples (hazelnut, pistachio, poppy-seed, almond, palm, Brazil-nut, rapeseed, macadamia, soyabean, sunflower, linseed, Dracocephalum moldavica, evening primrose, corn, amaranth, Silybum arianum) were analyzed by HPLC–MS with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) and UV detection at 205 nm on two Nova-Pak C 18 chromatographic columns connected in series. A single chromatographic column and non-aqueous ethanol–acetonitrile gradient system was used as a compromise between the analysis time and the resolution for the characterization of TG composition of five plant oils. APCI mass spectra were applied for the identification of all TGs and other acylglycerols. The isobaric positional isomers can be distinguished on the basis of different relative abundances of the fragment ions formed by preferred losses of the fatty acid from sn-1(3) positions compared to the sn-2 position. Excellent chromatographic resolution and broad retention window together with APCI mass spectra enabled positive identification of TGs containing fatty acids with odd numbers of carbon atoms such as margaric (C17:0) and heptadecanoic (C17:1) acids. The general fragmentation patterns of TGs in both APCI and electrospray ionization mass spectra were proposed on the basis of MS n spectra measured with an ion trap analyzer. The relative concentrations of particular TGs in the analyzed plant oils were estimated on the basis of relative peak areas measured with UV detection at 205 nm.

Biology of growth and development Dracocephalum moldavica L. in conditions of Steppe zone on the south of Ukraine

Biology of growth and development Dracocephalum moldavica L. in conditions of Steppe zone on the south of Ukraine

ANTIOXIDANT PROPERTIES OF MOLDAVIAN DRAGONHEAD (DRACOCEPHALUM MOLDAVICA L.)

ABSTRACTThe antioxidant power of acetone oleoresin (AO), deodorized acetone extract (DAE) and methanol extract (ME) isolated from Moldavian dragonhead (Dracocephalum moldavica L.) leaves and flowering parts was tested in stripped corn oil and 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging system. The activity of ME or rosmarinic acid mixtures with α‐tocopherol was also determined in corn oil. The results showed that methanol was a considerably more effective solvent to extract antioxidative substances from dragonhead than acetone. Dragonhead ME was efficient both in retarding corn oil peroxidation and in scavenging DPPH free radicals. The effectiveness of dragonhead AO isolated from the whole herb and DAE isolated from deodorized herb was significantly lower. Their activities were similar in DPPH radical scavenging, whereas DAE was more efficient in stripped corn oil than AO. Dragonhead ME was fractionated by thin

Essential Oil Composition of Some Plants Cultivated in Mongolian Climate

The oils of Mentha piperita L., Coriandrum sativum, Anethum graveolens L., Petroselinum crispum (Mill.) Nym. ex A.W. Hill, Foeniculum rulgare Mill. ssp. capillaceum Gilib. var. dulce Mill., Satureja hortensis L., Thymus vulgaris L, Ocimum hasilicum L., Dracocephalum moldavica L, Laurus nohilis L and Carum carvi L., which were produced from plants grown in Mongolia between 1989-1993 were analyzed by GC and GCVMS. Although the expected major components were found in each of the oils, their amounts varied from their commercial equivalents.

Antioxidative activity of purple peril (Perilla frutescens L.), moldavian dragonhead (Dracocephalum moldavica L.), and roman chamomile (Anthemis nobilis L.) extracts in rapeseed oil

AbstractThe antioxidant acticities (AA) of acetone oleoresins (AO) and deodorized acetone extracts (DAE) of Roman chamomile (Anthemis nobilis L.), purple peril (Perilla frutescens L.), and Moldavian dragonhead (Dracocephalum moldavica L.) were tested in refined, bleached, and deodorized rapeseed oil by the Schaal oven test at 50°C. The addition of 1,000 ppm of AO and DAE of moldavian dragonhead and Roman chamomile significantly stabilized rapeseed oil. Their AA at the used concentration were higher than AA of a synthetic antioxidant, butylated hydroxytoluene (200 ppm), in reducing the rate of peroxide value increase to 20 meq/kg. AA of AO of purple peril was not significant, while DAE of this plant increased autoxidation induction period by 22%. It is also worthy of notice that AA of DAE from all investigated plants was slightly higher than AA of AO obtained from the same plants.

The Effect of Some Agrotechnical Factors on the Herb Yield and Volatile Oil of Dragonhead

ABSTRACT The effects of different propagation methods, mulching and nitrogen fertilization on the herb yield and volatile oil content and composition of dragonhead (Dracocephalum moldavica L.) were studied in order to find the optimal cultivation techniques for Finnish conditions. Transplants gave a higher herb yield than sown plants, and an oil richer in geranyl acetate. Mulching had no effect on the volatile oil content or composition. The herb yield was greater in 1987, because of a cold summer. Moderate nitrogen fertilization (<30 kg/ha) significantly increased the herb yield, and higher doses had no further effect.

The Effect of Nitrogen Fertilization on the Herb Yield of Dragonhead

The influence of a top-dressing of nitrogen fertilizer (calcium nitrate, CaNO3) on the individual plant height and weight, herb yield and nitrate content of dragonhead (Dracocephalum moldavica L.) was studied in 1987 in Puumala, Finland. The nitrogen doses applied ranged from 0 to 270 kg/ha. Nitrogen fertilization increased both the individual plant height and weight, the fresh and dry herb yield and the nitrate content of the plants. However, no optimum nitrogen dose could be found since the maximum was not reached in most of the cases. An exception was the herb yield (d.w.) of transplanted plants, harvested at the flowering stage, where a nitrogen dose of 70—80 kg/ha gave the highest yield. If the plants were allowed to grow a few weeks more the yield was four fold compared to the earlier harvesting. Sown plants gave a yield two times higher than the transplanted plants, but this was partly due to the greater plant density on the sown plots.

Variation of the main terpenes in dragonhead (Dracocephalum moldavica L.) during growth

AbstractThe essential oil from dragonhead, Dracocephalum moldavica L., was studied with special attention being paid to the yield of oil and how the amount of the main components changes during the vegetative period. The oil reaches its maximum level during the flowering, as is also the case with geranyl acetate, geranial and geraniol. The content of neral, however, decreases during flowering. These observations indicate that the biosynthesis of geranyl acetate is dominant at the beginning of the vegetative period, but is superseded by biosynthesis of geranial and geraniol, from the early stage of flowering. The optimum harvest time proved to be during the flowering stage, when the oil content is highest and thus also the amount of the main terpenes is highest.

Capillary gas chromatographic ‐ mass spectrometric determination of the flavour composition of dragonhead (Dracocephalum moldavica L.)

AbstractThe flavour composition of dragonhead (Dracocephalum moldavica L.) was analysed by capillary gas chromatography ‐ mass spectrometry. Altogether 57 compounds were identified and 11 unknown components detected. The volatile oil of dragonhead consists mainly of oxygenated, acyclic monoterpenes; geranyl acetate, geranial, neral, geraniol and neryl acetate together account for about 90% of the oil. Monoterpene hydrocarbons are present only in trace amounts. The compounds which could not be identified are oxygenated monoterpenes, oxygenated sesquiterpenes, one sesquiterpene hydrocarbon and a mixture of an oxygenated monoterpene and a sesquiterpene hydrocarbon.