Volatile Chemical Constituents Research Articles

Metabolic profiling and enzyme inhibitory activity of the essential oil of citrus aurantium fruit peel

BackgroundBitter orange (Citrus aurantium) is a fruiting shrub native to tropical and subtropical countries around the world and cultivated in many regions due to its nutraceutical value. The current study investigated the metabolic profiling and enzyme inhibitory activities of volatile constituents derived from the C. aurantium peel cultivated in Egypt by three different extraction methods.MethodsThe volatile chemical constituents of the peel of C. aurantium were isolated using three methods; steam distillation (SD), hydrodistillation (HD), and microwave-assisted hydrodistillation (MAHD), and then were investigated by GC-MS. The antioxidant potential was evaluated by different assays such as DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, CUPRAC, and phosphomolybdenum and metal chelating potential. Moreover, the effect of enzyme inhibition of the three essential oils was tested using BChE, AChE, tyrosinase, glucosidase, as well as amylase assays.ResultsA total of six compounds were detected by GC/MS analysis. The major constituent obtained by all three extraction methods was limonene (98.86% by SD, 98.68% by HD, and 99.23% by MAHD). Differences in the composition of the compounds of the three oils were observed. The hydrodistillation technique has yielded the highest number of compounds, notably two oxygenated monoterpenes: linalool (0.12%) and α-terpineol acetate (0.1%).ConclusionIn our study differences in the extraction methods of C. aurantium peel oils resulted in differences in the oils’ chemical composition. Citrus essential oils and their components showed potential antioxidant, anticholinesterase, antimelanogenesis, and antidiabetic activities. The presence of linalool and α-terpineol acetate may explain the superior activity observed for the oil isolated by HD in both radical scavenging and AChE inhibition assays, as well as in the enzyme inhibition assays.

Insights into Metabolites Profiling and Pharmacological Investigation of Aconitum heterophyllum wall ex. Royle Stem through Experimental and Bioinformatics Techniques.

The Aconitum genus is a leading source of a wide range of structurally diverse metabolites with significant pharmacological implications. The present study investigated metabolite profiling, pharmacological investigation, anticancer potential, and molecular docking analysis of the stem part of Aconitum heterophyllum (AHS). The metabolite profiling of the AHS extract was experimentally examined using LC-MS/MS-orbitrap in both modes (ESI+/ESI-) and GC-MS in EI mode. The in vitro MTT model was used to study the anticancer potential, while the in vivo animal model was used to study the anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities. The MOE software was used for the molecular docking study. A total of 118 novel and previously known metabolites, among 44 metabolites (26 in ESI+ positive mode and 18 in ESI- negative mode) in the MeOH extract, while 74 metabolites (46 in ESI+ and 28 in ESI- mode) were identified in the n-hexane extract via LCMS/MS. The identified metabolites include 24 phenolic compounds, 18 alkaloids, 10 flavonoids, 24 terpenoids, 2 coumarins, 2 lignans, and 38 other fatty acids and organic compounds. The major bioactive metabolites identified were hordenine, hernagine, formononetin, chrysin, N-methylhernagine, guineesine, shogaol, kauralexin, colneleate, zerumbone, medicarpin, boldine, miraxinthin-v, and lariciresinol-4-O-glucoside. Furthermore, the GC-MS study helped in the identification of volatile and nonvolatile chemical constituents based on the mass spectrum and retention indices. The methanol extract significantly inhibited tumor progression in H9c2 and MDCK cancer cells with IC50 values of 186.39 and 199.63 μg/mL. In comparison, the positive control aconitine exhibited potent IC50 values (132.32 and 141.58 μg/mL) against H9c2 and MDCK cell lines. The anti-inflammatory (carrageenan-induced hind paw edema) and antinociceptive (acetic acid-induced writhing) effects were significantly dose-dependent, (p < 0.001) and (p < 0.05), respectively. In addition, a molecular docking study was conducted on identified ligands against the anti-inflammatory enzyme (COX-2) (PDB ID: 5JVZ) and the cancer enzyme ADAM10 (PDB ID: 6BDZ) which confirmed the anti-inflammatory and anticancer effects in an in silico model. Among all ligands, L2, L3, and L7 exhibit the most potent potential for inhibiting COX-2 inflammation with binding energies of -7.3424, -7.0427, and -8.3562 kcal/mol. Conversely, against ADAM10 cancer protein, ligands L1, L4, L6, and L7, with binding energies of -8.0650, -7.7276, -7.0454, and -7.2080 kcal/mol, demonstrated notable effectiveness. Overall, the identified metabolites revealed in this AHS research study hold promise for discovering novel possibilities in the disciplines of chemotaxonomy and pharmacology.

Effect of membrane properties on the odor emanating from training aids for explosive-detecting canines.

Canines are widely used for real-time detection of explosives and have proven to be on par with instrumental methods. Canines are thought to rely largely upon detection of volatile chemical constituents of the explosives, though not necessarily the explosive itself. Hence, it is crucial to understand the odor available to them as generated by training aids. Previous studies have established that the Training Aid Delivery Device (TADD) developed by SciK9 is a reliable training aid that reduces cross-contamination and doubles as a storage device. A TADD comprises a standardized container, a synthetic membrane, a membrane holder, and a lid. In the work presented, activated charcoal strips were placed above and below the TADD membrane to determine the relative amounts of volatiles emitted by dynamite (i.e., ethylene glycol dinitrate (EGDN) and trinitroglycerin (NG)). The strips were eluted and the extracts tested using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in negative ion chemical ionization mode. A series of t-tests at 95% confidence level were performed to determine any differences in vapor composition above and below the membranes. Nine synthetic membranes and six glass fiber membranes were tested in this study. It was expected that the relative concentration of volatiles would remain the same on both sides of the membrane; however, selective removal of nitroglycerin by some membranes was observed. Synthetic membranes with larger pore sizes showed no alteration in the vapor composition. Both synthetic and glass fiber membranes did not show a significant change in relative concentration of the other volatile compound in dynamite, i.e., EGDN. Out of all the membranes tested, three synthetic membranes and four glass fiber membranes showed selective alteration in odor availability of nitroglycerin in dynamite. For training purposes, membranes that do not alter the vapor composition should be used in the training aid.

Evaluation of Growth, Fruit Yield, Volatile Oil Productivity and Chemical Constituents of Coriander under Different Rates of Phosphorus Fertilization and Biomagic

Evaluation of Growth, Fruit Yield, Volatile Oil Productivity and Chemical Constituents of Coriander under Different Rates of Phosphorus Fertilization and Biomagic

Characterization of the microbiome and volatile compounds in anal gland secretions from domestic cats (Felis catus) using metagenomics and metabolomics

Many mammals rely on volatile organic chemical compounds (VOCs) produced by bacteria for their communication and behavior, though little is known about the exact molecular mechanisms or bacterial species that are responsible. We used metagenomic sequencing, mass-spectrometry based metabolomics, and culturing to profile the microbial and volatile chemical constituents of anal gland secretions in twenty-three domestic cats (Felis catus), in attempts to identify organisms potentially involved in host odor production. We found that the anal gland microbiome was dominated by bacteria in the genera Corynebacterium, Bacteroides, Proteus, Lactobacillus, and Streptococcus, and showed striking variation among individual cats. Microbiome profiles also varied with host age and obesity. Metabolites such as fatty-acids, ketones, aldehydes and alcohols were detected in glandular secretions. Overall, microbiome and metabolome profiles were modestly correlated (r = 0.17), indicating that a relationship exists between the bacteria in the gland and the metabolites produced in the gland. Functional analyses revealed the presence of genes predicted to code for enzymes involved in VOC metabolism such as dehydrogenases, reductases, and decarboxylases. From metagenomic data, we generated 85 high-quality metagenome assembled genomes (MAGs). Of importance were four MAGs classified as Corynebacterium frankenforstense, Proteus mirabilis, Lactobacillus johnsonii, and Bacteroides fragilis. They represent strong candidates for further investigation of the mechanisms of volatile synthesis and scent production in the mammalian anal gland.

A pharmacokinetic study on twenty-one compounds in rat plasma by integrating UPLC-QQQ-MS/MS with GC-MS after oral administration of Suxiao Jiuxin pill

Suxiao Jiuxin pill (SX) was a commonly used traditional Chinese medical preparation for treating acute myocardial infarction. However, fewer studies have been reported for comprehensively investigating the pharmacokinetic of the non-volatile and volatile chemical constituents in SX. For current study, a comprehensive and sensitive quantitation of twenty-one compounds in rat plasma was developed and validated by integrating UPLC-QQQ-MS/MS with GC-MS after oral administration of SX. The pharmacokinetic study was performed under acceptable specificity, linearity, sensitivity, precision and accuracy, recovery, matrix effect and stability. Ultimately, borneol, isoborneol, senkyunolide A, senkyunolide Ⅰ, ligustilide, ferulic acid, neocnidilide, senkyunolide H and levistolide A were detected. Their ranges of Tmax, Cmax, T1/2z and AUC (0-∞) were 0.07 ∼ 0.33 h, 5.24 ∼ 683.35 μg/L, 0.29 ∼ 1.08 h and 6.55 ∼ 474.62 μg/L*h, respectively. This study would be meaningful in better revealing the therapeutic material basis of SX. Furthermore, it could provide reference on pharmacological effect of SX against acute myocardial infarction.

Essential Oils of Garcinia spp. and Their Biological Activities

Garcinia is the largest genus in the Clusiaceae family. Plants of Garcinia are widely distributed in Africa, Asia, Australia, Central America, Madagascar, and Polynesia. There are over 400 species of Garcinia found in the lowland tropical forests. Garcinia are known for their medicinal values due to the presence of biologically active constituents. Plants with medicinal values play a key role in human health and disease prevention. Plant-based natural products such as essential oils (EOs) have been employed for centuries owing to their beneficial effects. Generally, EOs are a mixture of volatile chemical constituents comprising mainly terpenoids and phenylpropanoids. They play diverse roles as biologically active agents. To date, EOs have found wide applications in pharmaceutical, food, flavour and fragrance. This review discusses the volatile chemical constituents of EOs extracted from different plant parts of Garcinia. The biological activities of Garcinia EOs are highlighted to explore their therapeutic potential.

GC-MS Analysis and Bioactivity Screening of Leaves and Fruits of Zanthoxylum armatum DC.

Zanthoxylum armatum DC. is a plant that has been homologated for medicine and food by the Chinese for three thousand years. In this study, the essential oils of fresh leaves and fruits were extracted by hydrodistillation, the aromas of fresh leaves and fruits were extracted by headspace solid-phase microextraction and their chemical compositions were analyzed by gas chromatography mass spectrometry. The main components of the leaf essential oils were linalool (62.01%), 2-undecanone (9.83%) and 2-tridecanone (5.47%); the fruit essential oils were linalool (72.17%), limonene (8.05%) and sabinene (6.77%); the leaf aromas were limonene (39.15%), β-myrcene (15.8%), sabinene (8.17%) and linalool (5.25%); the fruit aromas were limonene (28.43%), sabinene (13.56%), linalool (11.47%) and β-myrcene (8.64%). By comparison, it was found that the composition of leaf essential oils and fruit essential oils were dominated by oxygenated monoterpenes, while the composition of their aromas were both dominated by monoterpenes; the relative content of non-terpene components in leaf essential oil and leaf aroma is second only to oxygenated monoterpenes, while their content in fruits is low; the chemical composition of leaf aromas and fruit aromas were richer than those of essential oils. In this study, we reported for the first time that the antitumor, tyrosinase inhibition, HMGR inhibition and nitric oxide production inhibition activity of leaf essential oils were stronger than those of fruit essential oils in in vitro tests. The results of the study can provide a reference for the recycling and green low-carbon transformation of the leaves, and also help to deepen the understanding of the value of the volatile chemical constituents of this plant in “forest medicine” or “aromatherapy”, and provide new ideas for the transformation of the value of the plant in the secondary and tertiary industry chain.

GC-MS Analysis of Bioactive compounds present in different extracts of an Endemic tree Huberantha senjiana (Annonaceae) leaves

Objective: To explore the volatile chemical constituents present in different crude extracts of Huberantha senjiana (H. senjiana) leaves. Method: The coarsely powdered foliar parts of the leaves were extracted sequentially with solvents of increasing polarity like n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, isopropyl alcohol, and methanol. The extracts obtained were subjected to GC-MS analysis. Results: The analysis revealed the presence of different non-polar compounds in all five extracts in different concentrations. The bioactive Phyto compounds were recognized and characterized based on their retention and elution order in an analytical column. The mass spectra are matched with the inbuilt database of the NIST 8 library to identify the compound present. Conclusion: The present study is considered to be the preliminary study that reveals the presence of volatile components in different leaf extracts of H. senjiana which will serve as a reference for future studies.

Analysis of Volatile and Nonvolatile Constituents in Gin by Direct-Infusion Ultrahigh-Resolution ESI/APPI FT-ICR Mass Spectrometry

Gin is one of the most consumed distilled alcoholic spirits worldwide, with more than 400 million liters sold every year. It is most often produced through redistillation of agricultural ethanol in the presence of botanicals, most notably juniper berries, which give gin its characteristic flavor. Due to its natural ingredients, gin is a complex mixture of hundreds of volatile and nonvolatile chemical constituents. In this work, ultrahigh-resolution Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR) mass spectrometry was used for the compositional analysis of 16 commercially produced gins. Two complementary ionization methods, namely, electrospray ionization (ESI) and atmospheric-pressure photoionization (APPI), were employed to cover a wider compositional space. Each gin provided unique chemical fingerprints by ESI and APPI, which allowed semiquantitative analysis of 135 tentatively identified compounds, including terpene hydrocarbons, terpenoids, phenolics, fatty acids, aldehydes, and esters. Most of these compounds have not been previously reported in gins. While chemical fingerprints were rather similar between most products, some products contained unique compounds due to their special natural ingredients or the production methods applied. For instance, a barrel-matured gin contained a high content of syringaldehyde and sinapaldehyde, which are typical phenolic aldehydes originated from oak wood. In addition, the relative abundance of vanillin, vanillic acid, gallic acid, coniferyl aldehyde, and syringaldehyde was clearly higher than in the other gin samples. Ultrahigh-resolution FT-ICR MS serves as a powerful tool for direct chemical fingerprinting of gin or any other distilled spirit, which can be used for rapid product quality screening, product optimization, or possible counterfeit product discovery.

Chemical Constituents and Biological Activities of Essential Oils from Four Species of Bamboo Genus Schizostachyum

Volatile chemical constituents of four species of local bamboo (Schizostachyum blumei Nees., Schizostachyum brachycladum Nees., Schizostachyum lima (Blanco) Merrill and Schizostachyum pilosum S.Dransf.) were investigated. The oils were obtained from bamboo culm through steam distillation and profiled using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GCMS). A total of 59 volatile constituents were identified, and these contained oxygenated sesquiterpene, α-elemol (8.2~21.1 %), coumaran (6.7~32.3 %), guaiacol-4-vinyl (0.6~0.9 %), palmitic acid (1.5~25.6 %), pentacosane (0.1~0.2 %), phytol (1.0~12.6 %), phytol acetate (0.5~1.7 %) and trans-squalene (0.2~1.6 %) consistently in the specimens studied. Based on the observation, S. pilosum exhibited wider diameter of inhibition against Escherchia coli and Staphylococcus aureus compared to the other species of Schizostachyum essential oil.

Fumigant toxicity and behavioral inhibition of garlic against red imported fire ants (Solenopsis invicta).

In order to control the Solenopsis invicta (S. invicta) in a safe and ecofriendly manner, this study evaluated the fumigating activity of garlic and its effect on the behavior of S. invicta. The volatile compounds and chemical constituents from garlic were collected by solid phase micro-extraction and identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The results showed that garlic contains 21 compounds, and that diallyl disulfide (46.51%) and (E)-1-Allyl-2-(prop-1-en-1-yl) disulfane (34.68%) were the main constituents in garlic. In addition, garlic showed strong fumigant activity and behavioral inhibition against workers.The LC50 values of diallyl disulfide and methyl allyl disulfide against S. invicta at 12h were 0.05 and 0.07μg/L, respectively. The grasping and walking abilities of ants were significantly suppressed. Moreover, minor workers were more susceptible than major workers. Thus, S. invicta can be controlled with garlic and some of its compounds as an eco-friendly approach. Results from the study could provide valuable advances for future fumigant development and possible utility in fumigant use.

Analysis of Volatile Constituents in Curcuma Species, viz. C. aeruginosa, C. zedoaria, and C. longa, from Nepal.

The genus Curcuma, composed of 93 species mainly originating from Asia, Australia, and South America, has been used for medicinal purposes, aromatic, and nutritional values as well as cosmetic. It plays a vital role in flavoring and coloring as well as exhibiting therapeutic agents against different diseases. Nepalese farmers are unaware of the essential oil compositions of Curcuma species, viz. C. aeruginosa, C. zedoaria, and C. longa. The investigation of these three essential oils provides insight into their potential as cash crops and earns a reasonable return from their production. The essential oils were obtained from the rhizomes of each plant by hydrodistillation and subjected to Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC–MS) analysis to identify its volatile chemical constituents as well as chiral GC-MS to identify the enantiomeric distribution of chiral terpenoids. The order of extraction yields were C. longa (0.89%) > C. zedoaria (0.74%) > C. aeruginosa (0.37%). In total, the presence of 65, 98, and 84 compounds were identified in C. longa, C. zedoaria, and C. aeruginosa, representing 95.82%, 81.55%, and 92.59% of the total oil, respectively. The most abundant compounds in C. longa essential oils were ar-turmerone (25.5%), α-turmerone (24.4%), β-turmerone (14.0%), terpinolene (7.2%), β-sesquiphellandrene (5.1%), α-zingiberene (4.8%), β-caryophyllene (2.9%), ar-curcumene (1.6%) and 1,8-cineole (1.3%). The most dominant compounds in C. zedoaria were curzerenone (21.5%), 1,8-cineole (19.6%), curzerene (6.2%), trans-β-Elemene (5.1%), camphor (2.6%), and germacrone (2.3%). The major components in C. aeruginosa were curzerenone (59.6%), germacrone (5.3%), curzerene (4.7%), camphor (3.6%), trans-β-Elemene (2.6%), and β-eudesmol (1.6%). C. zedoaria, and C. aeruginosa essential oil from Nepal for the very first time. This study reports for the first time chiral terpenoids from C. aeruginosa, C. zedoaria, and C. longa essential oil. A chemical blueprint of these essential oils could also be used as a tool for identification and quality assessment.

Chemical profile and antimicrobial activity of essential oil and methanol extract from peels of four Durio zibethinus L. varieties

Durio zibethinus L. (durian) belongs to the Malvaceae family. It is known as the “King of Tropical Fruit” because of its unique characteristics. The edible part of durian, however, is only about 33% of the fruit while the non-edible parts such as the seed and peels (rinds) are considered as fruit waste responsible for environmental pollution. Thus, the present study was carried out to compare the percentage yields and volatile components from methanol extract and essential oils of the peels of four varieties of durian (Raja Kunyit [D197], Hajah Hasmah [D168], Sultan [D24], and Golden Bun [D13]). The antimicrobial activity of all the extracts and their volatile chemical constituents were also evaluated. Cold maceration was used for the solvent (methanol) extraction. The essential oil extraction was carried out using hydro-distillation and solvent-free microwave extraction (SFME) methods. The antimicrobial activity was evaluated against selected microbes using the well diffusion method while the characterization of chemical constituents in the essential oils and crude methanolic extracts was carried out using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS). The highest yields of essential oils were obtained from D24 which were 0.030% and 0.014% from SFME and hydro-distillation extraction, respectively, while the highest and most significant (p < 0.05) yield of methanol extract (8.79%) was obtained from D197. From the GC–MS analysis, butanoic acid was the major compound in the essential oil of durian peels in the four varieties of durians evaluated. Besides butanoic acid, 1-tridecene, 1-pentadecene, and 1-heptadecene were also present in the four varieties. The D168 possesses strong activity against three bacteria (Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa). More novel extraction techniques, bioactivity assays, and characterization are, however, recommended to further explore the potential benefits of durian peels.

Turmeric Oil: Composition, Extraction, Potential Health Benefits and Other Useful Applications

The turmeric essential oil of Curcuma species has extensively more useful properties due to its rich phytochemical profile. The concentration of volatile chemical constituents varies according to their type of applied plant part (i.e., root, rhizome, leaves, and flower) for extraction and type of the adopted extraction method. Novel extraction and purification methods, subcritical CO2 , supercritical CO2 , pressurized liquid extraction, and molecular distillation are found to be more efficient for good recovery of this volatile oil, along with increased concentrations of specified compounds. Not only have the curcuminoid compounds had a broad potential in the field of pharmacology but also the turmeric oil is found to have great applicability in treating several diseases and disorders. Turmeric oil possesses good antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer, anti-hyperlipidemic anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, and hepato-protective properties. Apart from medicinal fields, this oil has also a great future in the cosmetics, pesticide, and food industries due to its rich chemical profile. The present review focuses on providing information about turmeric oil in terms of its physicochemical properties, chemical composition, and available traditional extraction techniques, as well as available novel extraction options, actual health benefits, and other useful applications. It is hoped that the reported information is helpful for further discovery in the area of food, pharmaceutical, and cosmeceutical applications.

Evaluation of volatile constituents, exudation of resin and occurrence of galls of Protium aracouchini (Aubl.) Marchand

Protium aracouchini (Aubl.) Marchand [sin Icica aracouchini Aubl.], which occurs in the Adolpho Ducke Forest Reserve, in the Brazilian Amazon, was evaluated for the presence of galls, for resin exudation and the composition of the essential oils from the aerial parts and the resin. The experiment to stimulate the exudation of resin from the trunk was conducted using a 2-chloroethylphosphonic acid solution. The resin produced after 40 days and the aerial parts had their essential oils extracted in a Clevenger apparatus and the volatile chemical constituents were analyzed using GC/MS. The non-oxygenated sesquiterpenes α-copaene (21.15%) and α-gurjunene (13.69%), in addition to the oxygenated sesquiterpene spathulenol (10.32%), were detected as the majority constituents of the essential oil of the leaves, and a concentration similar to that of α-gurjunene was found in the branches (13.28%). The resin essential oil showed a high concentration of hydrocarbon monoterpenes (76.49%) with a predominance of α-pinene (17.57%) and limonene (46.11%). Four gall morphotypes were found associated with this species. The present study reports for the first time information on the volatile constituents and the resinous potential of P. aracouchini, and registers the morphotypes of the galls that help in the taxonomy of the species.

Comparisons of the anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and hemostatic activities and chemical profiles of raw and charred Schizonepetae Spica

Ethnopharmacological relevanceA common view in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theory is that “processing can alter the efficacy of crude drugs”. The clinical usage of some processed products may have already changed greatly over time during the development of modern scientific analysis. Therefore, the view of “processing can alter the efficacy of crude drugs” should be confirmed by comparative studies. Schizonepetae Spica (SS), a Chinese medicinal herb, is the dried spike of Schizonepeta tenuifolia Briq. It is available in two forms: raw products and charred products (Schizonepetae Spica Carbonisata, SSC; raw SS processed by stir-frying until carbonization). Raw SS is commonly used to treat TCM symptoms that resemble common cold, fever, respiratory tract infection and allergic dermatitis, while SSC has long been used as a remedy for TCM symptoms that resemble bloody stool and metrorrhagia. Aim of the studyWe aimed to examine whether stir-fry processing alters the anti-inflammatory, antiviral and hemostatic activities of SS and explore the chemical profile behind the potential changes in medicinal properties caused by stir-fry processing. Materials and methodsWe used cell models to examine the anti-inflammatory and antiviral effects of raw SS and SSC. The bleeding time of the tail bleeding model and clotting time of the capillary method in mice were used to compare the hemostasis properties of raw SS and SSC. The chemical profiles of SS and SSC were compared using a method combining gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and high-performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (HPLC/Q-TOF-MS) analysis. ResultsThe anti-inflammatory effects of SSC were less potent than those of raw SS. Both raw SS and SSC effectively inhibited viral infection in a dose-dependent manner, with IC50 values of 96.30 and 9.73 μg/mL and selectivity index (SI) values of >1.56 and 7.78, respectively. Interestingly, SSC showed more potent antiviral activities than raw SS. Intragastric administration of raw SS and SSC to mice demonstrated that the hemostatic effects of SSC were more potent than those of raw SS. By comparing the volatile chemical profiles of SSC, we found that twenty-nine constituents disappeared and that fifty-four new constituents were formed while the relative contents of five other components decreased and three other components increased. Additionally, the nonvolatile chemical profiles of raw SS and SSC differed, with thirty-two lower peaks and seven higher peaks in SSC than in SS. ConclusionOur study showed that raw SS and SSC support traditional practice for the clinical applications of these two products except for raw SS used for the treatment of viral infection. It is a fascinating challenge to form SSCs with both traditional hemostatic activities and antiviral properties after stir-fry processing. In addition, the volatile and nonvolatile chemical constituents of raw SS changed dramatically during processing. Further studies are warranted to explore whether the change in chemical constituents is in accordance with the purpose of processing.

Chemical profiling, cytotoxic and antioxidant activity of volatile oil isolated from the mint (Mentha spicata L.,) grown in Oman

The study aimed to characterize the volatile constituents of Mentha spicata L., grown in Oman, and to investigate in vitro cytotoxic and antioxidant activities of the volatile oil. The pale-yellow color essential oil (% yield 0.55% v/w) showed the presence of thirteen compounds representing 99.19% of the total constituents. d-Carvone (65.21%) and dl-limonene (27.28%) were identified as the major volatile chemical constituents. Mint oil exhibited promising antioxidant (IC50 = 26.64 μg/mL) and cytotoxic activity (LC50 = 245 μg/mL). CLC predicted d-carvone to be active against thyroid gland undifferentiated (anaplastic) carcinoma, pancreatic carcinoma, brain carcinoma, and lymphoblastic leukemia while dl-limonene could be effective against skin melanoma, breast adenocarcinoma in addition to the above carcinomas. Omani spearmint volatile oil exhibited promising cytotoxic and antioxidant activities. However, further detailed studies are warranted to develop mint oil as a natural antioxidant and to unlock its hidden cytotoxic potential.

Chemical investigation, antifungal activity and anatomical aspects of Protium puncticulatum J.F Macbr. and Protium tenuifolium (Engl.) Engl

Protium Burm. f. (Burseraceae) is well known in the Brazilian Amazon for its diversity of species, though some of them are difficult to identify based on only morphological characteristics. We investigated the species Protium puncticulatum J.F. Macbr. and Protium tenuifolium (Engl.) Engl. in relation to their chemical constituents and some biological aspects. The phytochemical study of the hexane extract from the trunk of P. puncticulatum led to the identification of a mixture of triterpenes: α, β-amyrin (1 and 2), and lupeol (3); the methanolic extract gave the lignans 7-oxo-parabenzolactone (4) and 7’-hydroxy-9α-methylcubebin (5); this last lignan showed a MIC of 320 μg/mL for Candida albicans and 160 μg/mL for Cryptococcus neoformans and C. gattii. The hexane extract from the branches of P. tenuifolium also provided a mixture of α and β-amyrin (1, 2); the methanolic extract gave dimeric alkylresorcinols named integracin B (6) and integracin A (7). Analyses of anatomical characteristics confirmed the identity of the species Protium tenuifolium (Engl.) Engl. Essential oils obtained via hydrodistillation from the fresh bark of the trunk of P. tenuifolium showed a predominance of the monoterpenes limonene (56.17%), α-phellandrene (16.22%) and ρ-cymene (10.52%). This study is important since it increases knowledge on the volatile and non-volatile chemical constituents of the woody parts of two species of Protium from the Amazon.

Chemical Fingerprinting of Cryptic Species and Genetic Lineages of Aneura pinguis (L.) Dumort. (Marchantiophyta, Metzgeriidae).

Aneura pinguis (L.) Dumort. is a representative of the simple thalloid liverworts, one of the three main types of liverwort gametophytes. According to classical taxonomy, A. pinguis represents one morphologically variable species; however, genetic data reveal that this species is a complex consisting of 10 cryptic species (named by letters from A to J), of which four are further subdivided into two or three evolutionary lineages. The objective of this work was to develop an efficient method for the characterisation of plant material using marker compounds. The volatile chemical constituents of cryptic species within the liverwort A. pinguis were analysed by GC-MS. The compounds were isolated from plant material using the HS-SPME technique. Of the 66 compounds examined, 40 were identified. Of these 40 compounds, nine were selected for use as marker compounds of individual cryptic species of A. pinguis. A guide was then developed that clarified how these markers could be used for the rapid identification of the genetic lineages of A. pinguis. Multivariate statistical analyses (principal component and cluster analysis) revealed that the chemical compounds in A. pinguis made it possible to distinguish individual cryptic species (including genetic lineages), with the exception of cryptic species G and H. The classification of samples based on the volatile compounds by cluster analysis reflected phylogenetic relationships between cryptic species and genetic lineages of A. pinguis revealed based on molecular data.