Comparative Study on the Chemical Composition and Biological Activities of the Essential Oils of Lavandula angustifolia and Lavandula x intermedia Cultivated in Lebanon.

The phytochemical profile of essential oils is influenced by genetic and paragenetic factors. In this research, we studied the essential oils of Lavandula angustifolia and Lavandula x intermedia cultivated in Lebanon. The latter is a cross hybrid between Lavandula angustifolia and Lavandula latifolia and is also known as lavandin and Lavandula hybrida. Specifically, the chemical composition and biological activities (antibacterial, antioxidant, anticancer, and hemolytic) of the essential oils were assessed. GC-MS results showed marked differences in the chemical compositions of the oils. For example, linalool was more abundant in L. x intermedia (44.15%) than in L. angustifolia (32%), while an opposite trend was observed for the percentages of 1,8-cineole (8.6% in L. angustifolia and 4.0% in L. x intermedia). FTIR analysis confirmed the richness of both oils in monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes. In terms of antioxidant activity, L. angustifolia essential oil demonstrated significantly better activity (IC50= 5.24 ± 1.20 mg/mL) compared to L. x intermedia oil in the DPPH radical scavenging assay. MTT cell viability assays revealed that L. angustifolia essential oil was a slightly more potent antiproliferative agent than L. x intermedia oil on human colorectal (HCT-116) and human breast (MCF-7) cancer cells. The antibacterial activity of the essential oils was tested against Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, and Serratia marcescens. Both oils showed good antibacterial activities with MIC values of 0.174 and 0.169 mg/mL for L. angustifolia and L. x intermedia oils, respectively. MBC determinations revealed that the antibacterial activity was bactericidal against all bacteria, except Staphylococcus aureus. Furthermore, both essential oils did not exhibit notable hemolytic activity on red blood cells. Overall, Lebanese L. angustifolia and L. x intermedia essential oils have promising industrial and medicinal values.

Chemosensory analysis of emotional wines: Merging of explicit and implicit methods to measure emotions aroused by red wines.

Wine is a cultural product capable of arousing emotions. Measuring emotions and figuring out how much they could influence preferences or purchase decisions of consumers is a new trend in sensory and consumer research. However, the complexity of feelings makes the measure of emotions extremely challenging. Thus, a comprehensive understanding of emotions related to sensory stimuli in wine tasting is still missing. The purpose of the study is to evaluate the emotional power of tasting red wines using a multidisciplinary approach, combining sensory analysis performed by trained panelists, implicit and explicit measurements of emotions and chemical analysis of the wines tasted. Various red wines, renowned for their high polyphenol content and expected to exhibit rich texture, mouthfeel, and aging potential, have been utilized to this extent. The results obtained showed that the emotions measured were well-correlated with quantitative and hedonic attributes obtained using classic sensory analysis. Some aromatic molecules can be identified as markers capable of eliciting positive and negative emotional reactions. While increasing literature in the topic is recently available, our study appears to be the first highlighting the presence of autonomic nervous system (ANS) differences verified by means of electrocardiogram (ECG) features, related to explicit and complete sensory patterns, in response to sensory stimuli related to emotional wine, with higher sympathetic values at extrema and vagal increase in the presence of neutral sensory compounds.

Characterization of Volatile Organic Compounds and Essential Oil Profile of Pittosporum tobira (Thunb.) W.T. Aiton Cultivated in Tunisia.

The chemical compositions of the essential oils (EOs) of roots, young and old leaves and stems, and flowers of Pittosporum tobira (Thunb.) W.T. Aiton cultivated in Tunisia and of the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by the powder of each organ were identified. The EOs are extracted from fresh material by hydrodistillation, whereas the VOCs are obtained by head space solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) from the powdered dry tissues. Fifty-eight VOCs are identified, while, 105 components are detected for the EOs. The main EOs compounds are α-neoclovene, ß-caryophyllene and limonene in roots (22.56, 12.52, and 8.59 %, respectively), viridiflorol in young stems, flowers and young leaves (34.90, 31.60, and 24.60 %, respectively), α-cadinol in young stems and leaves, and flowers (13.80, 10.40, and 9.10 %, respectively), (E)-nerolidol in flowers (13.30 %), and germacrene D in old stems (9.06 %). The major detected VOCs are n-undecane, mainly in young and old leaves (71.40 and 40.90 %, respectively), n-nonane in young leaves and flowers (31.80 and 27.10 %, respectively), α-cubebene in old stems and flowers (22.60 and 15.50 %, respectively), and α-gurjunene and ß-gurjunene in roots (14.20 and 12.20 %, respectively). Principal Component Analysis (PCA) carried out on the 26 main volatile compounds (relative content exceeding 6 %) identified both by HS and in the EOs allowed their classification into two groups; compounds specific to roots and those specific to aerial parts. The later are subdivided in to two subgroups; old leaves and stems compounds subgroup, and young leaves and stems, and flowers one. We can notice that the two methods used to extract P. tobira volatile compounds and identify them are complementary. This study defines and differentiates, for the first time, the specific aroma profile of P. tobira from Tunisia. In addition to its ornamental value, all the organs of this species, could be valued as a source of volatile compounds useful in perfume, cosmetics and as food flavoring products.

Essential oil composition of passiflora foetida L. (passifloraceae) flowers and chemical-biology study of the leaves extracts and isolated compound.

Passiflora foetida is a climbing herb employed in ethno-medicine for the treatment of various ailments. The essential oil from flowers of P. foetida was obtained by hydrodistillation. The ethanol extract of the leaves was dissolved in water, then partitioned with n-hexane and n-butanol to obtain the various fractions; the fractions and isolated compound were subjected to in vitro antioxidant activity. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry afforded the identification of forty-two constituents in the floral oil, dominated by ß-caryophyllene (17.2%), cedrol (11.5%), and α-humulene (11.5%). The n-butanol fraction was the most active (70% inhibition and absorbance 0.401; 100 µg/mL) in the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radicals and ferric reducing power assays, respectively. Chromatographic analysis facilitated the isolation of 8-C-ß-d-glucosylapigenin (vitexin) from the butanol fraction of P. foetida. Vitexin demonstrated good antioxidant activities (75% inhibition and absorbance 0.424; 100 µg/mL) compared with ascorbic acid. The volatile metabolites of P. foetida flowers are reported for the first time.

Chemical Composition, Repellent, and Phytotoxic Potentials of the Fractionated Resin Essential Oil from Araucaria heterophylla Growing in Tunisia.

The resin essential oil (REO) of the Tunisian Araucaria heterophylla trunk bark was investigated for its chemical composition. Then, it was evaluated for its insecticidal and allelopathic activities. The REO was obtained by hydrodistillation for 9 h (yield of 4.2 % w/w). Moreover, fractional hydrodistillation was carried out at 3-hour intervals, resulting in 3 fractions (R1-R3), to facilitate chemical identification and localization of the aforementioned biological activities. GC/MS analysis of the obtained samples allowed the identification of 25 compounds, representing between 91.2 and 96.3 % of their total constituents, which consisted predominantly of sesquiterpene hydrocarbons, oxygenated sesquiterpenes and diterpene hydrocarbons. α-Copaene (10.8 %), γ-muurolene (5.8 %), α-copaen-11-ol (7.8 %), spathulenol (10.5 %), 15-copaenol (8.2 %), ylangenal (10.3 %), dehydrosaussurea lactone (7.7 %), and sandaracopimaradiene (11.4 %) were identified as major compounds. The second part aimed to assess the impact of the A. heterophylla EO and its three fractions for their insecticidal and repellent activity against Tribolium castaneum (Herbst), a stored grain pest, of which a strong repellent activity was noted. In addition, the studied samples showed high phytotoxic effects against Lactuca sativa. The third fraction (R3) performed a total inhibitory potential on seed germination and seedling growth of the target plant. Furthermore, alongside this discovery, an estimation was conducted through molecular docking analysis. Wherein the main compounds of the studied samples were docked into the active pocket of protoporphyrinogen IX oxidase (PDB: 1SEZ), a key enzyme in chlorophyll biosynthesis. Thus, it is recommended to use the REO of A. heterophylla as a natural herbicide.

Investigating the Wound-Healing Potential of a Nanoemulsion-Gel Formulation of Pituranthos tortuosus Essential Oil.

This study explores a nanoemulsion (NE)-based gel incorporating Tunisian Pituranthos tortuosus essential oil, with a focus on its wound-healing potential. The essential oil, extracted via hydrodistillation, underwent GC-MS analysis for compositional verification. The physicochemical characterization included dynamic light scattering (DLS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), zeta potential measurement, pH, and viscosity. The gelification of the NE facilitated topical application. The results revealed an average extraction yield of 0.45% and identified 38 compounds in the essential oil. The NE exhibited a particle size of 27 ± 0.4 nm, a polydispersity index (PDI) of 0.3, and a zeta potential of -22.8 ± 1.4 mV. The stability of the gelified preparation was confirmed through thermodynamic stability studies, TEM observations, and zeta and size results. In vivo experiments confirmed significant wound-healing effects, highlighting the promising role of the NE-based gel in healthcare advancements. This research underscores the potential of novel phyto-based delivery systems in wound care.

First investigation of the chemical composition, antioxidant, antimicrobial and larvicidal activities of the essential oil of the subspecies Ononis angustissima Lam. subsp. filifolia Murb.

This study is the first to explore the essential oil of Ononis angustissima Lam. subsp. filifolia Murb., a subspecies growing in the Algerian northeastern Sahara. The chemical composition was evaluated by GC/GC-EIMS. Antioxidant activity was evaluated using two methods. Thirty-four (91.6%) individual components were identified. The main constituents were linalool (12.6%), hexahydrofarnesylacetone (8.4%), ß-eudesmol (6.6%), α-cadinol (6.4%) and T-cadinol (6.1%). The findings provide a chemical basis for understanding relationships between North African subspecies, supporting botanical and genetic classification. The oil exhibited moderate scavenging activity against DPPH radicals (IC50 = 102.30 µg/ml) and high activity in the ß-carotene bleaching assay (91.346%). Antimicrobial tests revealed effectiveness against Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 and ATCC 43300), limited impact on Gram-negative bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853 and Escherichia coli ATCC 25922), and good inhibition against Aspergillus niger and Scedosporium apiospermum. A notable larvicidal activity was observed against Date Moth, particularly on L2 larvae.

First report on the chemical composition and the free radical scavenging and antimicrobial activities of the essential oil of Ononis aurasiaca, an endemic plant of Algeria.

This study represents the first investigation of the chemical composition and the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of Ononis aurasiaca Förther & Podlech, a plant species endemic to the Aures Mountains of Algeria. The essential oil of the plant aerial parts was analysed using GC-MS. The in vitro antioxidant activity was evaluated using three methods. A total of 44 compounds were identified. The major constituents were dodecanal, hexahydrofarnesylacetone, 2-tridecanone, phytol, 1-heneicosene, and n-heneicosane. The oil displayed significant activity in the ß-carotene bleaching assay, moderate scavenging activity against DPPH radicals and a low ability to reduce iron ions. Antibacterial tests conducted on four strains revealed effectiveness primarily against Gram-positive strains, specifically Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 and ATCC 43300, while showing limited impact on Gram-negative strains, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853 and Escherichia coli ATCC 25922. Antifungal activity tests involving two moulds revealed a stronger inhibition against Scedosporium apiospermum compared to Aspergillus niger.

In Vitro Anticancer and Antibacterial Activities of the Essential Oil of Forsskal's Basil Growing in Extreme Environmental Conditions.

Many species belonging to the genus Ocimum are used for aromatic, medicinal, and cosmetic purposes. The essential oil (OFEO) obtained by hydrodistillation of the flowering aerial parts of Forsskal's Basil "Ocimum forskolei Benth" growing in extreme environmental conditions in Mecca Region, Saudi Arabia was analyzed by GC-MS. The main constituents were phenylpropanoids (methyl eugenol 55.65% and eugenol 11.66%), monoterpene (linalool 9.75%), and sesquiterpenes (germacrene D 3.72% and ß-caryophyllene 2.57%). The OFEO was tested against MCF7, HT29, and HCT116 cancer cells and compared with normal fibroblast cells (MRC5). The MTT assay showed that HCT116 was more sensitive to OFEO (IC50 5.34 µg/mL), which reduced the number of HCT116 colonies at 6 µg/mL, while causing complete colony death at 12 and 24 µg/mL. Western Blotting and qRT-PCR were used to evaluate the level change of different proteins with respect to GAPDH. OFEO upregulated the apoptotic protein (caspase 3), and downregulated the cell proliferation proteins (AKT and pAKT), cell cycle arrest (PCNA, Cyclin D1), and the anti-apoptotic Bcl2 proteins. OFEO was also tested against reference strains of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria including Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus by using the well-diffusion and assessing their MICs, which ranged from 250 to 500 µg/mL.

Effect of Flavoring with Rosemary, Lemon and Orange on the Quality, Composition and Biological Properties of Olive Oil: Comparative Study of Extraction Processes.

The goal of this work was to investigate the impact of the flavoring of some aromatic plants/spices, including rosemary (R), lemon (L) and orange (O) at the concentration of 5% and 35% (w/w) added by 2 methods (conventional maceration and direct flavoring), on quality attributes, chemical changes and oxidative stability of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO). Six flavored oils were obtained (EVOO + O, O + O, EVOO + R, O + R, EVOO + L and O + L). The physicochemical parameters (water content, refractive index, acidity and peroxide value, extinction coefficient, fatty acids, volatile aroma profiles, Rancimat test, phenols and pigments composition) of the flavored oils were investigated. Based on the results obtained, it was observed that flavoring with a conventional process provided increased oxidative stability to the flavored oils, especially with rosemary (19.38 ± 0.26 h), compared to that of unflavored oil. The volatile profiles of the different flavored oils revealed the presence of 34 compounds with the dominance of Limonene. The fatty acid composition showed an abundance of mono-unsaturated fatty acids followed by poly-unsaturated ones. Moreover, a high antioxidant activity, a significant peripheral analgesic effect (77.7% of writhing inhibition) and an interesting gastroprotective action (96.59% of ulcer inhibition) have been observed for the rosemary-flavored oil. Indeed, the flavored olive oils of this study could be used as new functional foods, leading to new customers and further markets.

Chemical Composition and Insecticidal Activity against Tribolium Castaneum of Thapsia garganica L. Seed Essential Oil.

Due to the several side effects of synthetic pesticides, including environmental pollution, threats to human health, and the development of pest resistance to insecticides, the use of alternative healthy, available and efficient agents in pest management strategies is necessary. Recently, the use of essential oil obtained from aromatic plants has shown significant potential for insect pest management. For this reason, the essential oil isolated from seeds of Thapsia garganica L. was investigated for the first time for its chemical profile, and its toxicity and repellency effects against Tribolium castaneum adults. Qualitative and quantitative analyses of the chemical composition by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC/MS) revealed the presence of 18 organic volatiles representing 96.8 % of the total constituents. The main compounds were 1,4-dimethylazulene (51.3 %) followed by methyl palmitate (8.2 %), methyl linoleate (6.2 %) and costol (5.1 %). Concerning the repellent effect, results revealed that SEO (Seed Essential Oil) was very repellent towards T. castaneum adults, with 100 % repellency after 2 h of exposure. Furthermore, the essential oil exhibited remarkable contact toxicity against T. castaneum (93.3 % of mortality) at the concentration of 10 % (v/v). The median lethal dose (LD50 ) of the topical application of the seed essential oil was 4.4 %. These encouraging outcomes suggested that the essential oil from T. garganica seeds could be considered a potent natural alternative to residual persistent and toxic insecticides.

Resilience of Stevia rebaudiana (Bertoni) Bertoni in the Underwater Biospheres of Nemo's Garden®: Adaptation to New Cultivation Systems.

The Nemo's Garden® project is an alternative production system for areas with scarce cultivable land but significant presence of water; thus, it is an interesting intervention to address the climate crisis. This work aimed to evaluate the micromorphological, biochemical, and phytochemical characteristics of Stevia rebaudiana (Bertoni) Bertoni grown underwater compared to the terrestrial specimens. The micromorphological analyses, performed on the leaves using light microscopy, fluorescence microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy, evidenced a general uniformity of the trichome morphotype and distribution pattern. The histochemical investigation indicated the simultaneous presence of terpenes and polyphenols in the trichome secreted material from the underwater samples and a prevailing polyphenolic content in the terrestrial specimens; this was also confirmed by biochemical analyses (26.6 mg GAE/g DW). The characterization of non-volatile components, performed using HPLC-MS, showed similar chemical profiles in all the samples, which were characterized by phenolic compounds and steviol glycosides. The volatile compounds, evaluated using HS-SPME coupled with GC-MS, showed sesquiterpene hydrocarbons as the main class in all the analyzed samples (80.1-93.9%). However, the control plants were characterized by a higher content of monoterpene hydrocarbons (12.1%). The underwater biosphere environment did not alter S. rebaudiana micro-morphological characters, although slight qualitative changes were evidenced for the compounds produced as a response to the growth conditions.

Comparing Metabolomic and Essential Oil Fingerprints of Citrus australasica F. Muell (Finger Lime) Varieties and Their In Vitro Antioxidant Activity.

Comparative chemical analyses among peel and pulp essential oils (EOs) and methanolic extracts of four Citrus australasica varieties (Red, Collette, Pink Ice, and Yellow Sunshine), and the hybrid Faustrime, were performed using GC-MS and UHPLC-DAD-HR-Orbitrap/ESI-MS. Peel and pulp extracts were also analysed for their in vitro antioxidant activity on a Balb/3T3 clone A31 mouse embryo fibroblast cell line. The results of peel and pulp EOs were mainly characterised by monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes, respectively. All peels displayed a higher total phenol content (TPC) than pulps, and consequently a greater antioxidant activity. Collette peels and Pink Ice pulps showed the highest amount of identified flavonoids (e.g., luteolin, isosakuranetin, and poncirin derivatives). Collette and Red peels were rich in anthocyanins (delphinidin and petunidin glycosides), exhibiting the maximum protective activity against induced oxidative damage. In conclusion, finger lime fruits are good sources of health-promoting phytocomplexes, with the Red, Collette, and Pink Ice varieties being the most promising.

Essential Oil Biodiversity of Achillea ligustica All. Obtained from Mainland and Island Populations.

BACKGROUND: The genus Achillea is rich in essential oil (EO) with high chemical diversity. In this study, eight EO samples obtained from flowers and leaves of Achillea ligustica All. collected on the Mediterranean mainland and island locations were analyzed to evaluate their possible chemical diversity. METHODS: Sixteen samples of EO were analyzed by GC-MS, leading to the identification of 95 compounds in the leaves and 86 compounds in the flowers; a statistical analysis was performed to determine the chemical polymorphism. RESULTS: Monoterpenes, such as ß-pinene, borneol, ɑ-terpineol and isobornyl acetate, were more abundant in the continental samples, while the insular samples were richer in 1,8-cineole. Fragranyl acetate and fragranol were detected in remarkable concentrations in sample 8. The fruits of sample 8 were then cultivated under controlled agronomic conditions, providing plants rich in these compounds (sample 9). The geographical variability influenced the EO compositions, with unique observed chemotypes and a high degree of diversity among samples collected in various areas (mainland or island). Statistical analyses did not reveal any pattern between the geographical provenience and the compositions. CONCLUSION: Samples were distributed based on the plant organ, confirming the already reported high degree of chemical polymorphism of this species. Sample 8 could be used as a source of fragranol and fragranyl acetate, with potential applications in the insecticidal and pheromone industries.

A new chemotype with high tricyclene content from the essential oil of Salvia aegyptiaca L. growing in Algerian Pre-Sahara.

The essential oil obtained by hydrodistillation from the aerial parts of Salvia aegyptiaca L. (Lamiaceae) growing wild in pre-Saharan region of Algeria, was analysed by GC-MS. Forty-one compounds were detected, representing 87.9% of the whole oil. The essential oil of S. aegyptiaca is characterized by the predominance of monoterpene derivatives (70.6%). The major constituents were tricyclene (22.9%), followed by limonene (17.5%), ß-pinene (7.4%), caryophyllene oxide (3.2%) and ß-caryophyllene (3.1%). Tricyclene, the main component in our analysis is generally absent in the volatile oils from other Salvia species, therefore, the Algerian accession of S. aegyptiaca may be categorized as a new chemo-type.[Formula: see text].

Chemical characterization and nutritional quality investigations of healthy extra virgin olive oil flavored with chili pepper.

The production of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) flavored with diverse spices, herbs, fruits, and vegetables or natural aromas is believed to provide advantageous properties considering either the high nutritional value or biological activity in addition to the flavoring and industrial aspects. The biological activities including antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of Tunisian EVOO obtained from "Chemlali" variety and mixed with chili pepper were investigated. Molecular analyses, including the detection of twelve olive-infecting viruses and Pseudomonas savastanoi pv savastanoi, were performed to ensure that the samples were obtained from healthy olive trees and EVOO quality was not affected. Quality parameters like free acidity, peroxide number, oxidative stability, and specific absorption at K232 nm and K270 nm were also investigated and no significant variation was revealed. The content of minor compounds such as chlorophylls, carotenoids, and total phenols showed minor changes. However, the profiles of the volatile compounds showed remarkable differences, which appeared to be the main factor for the observed variability in consumer acceptance. The results showed for the first time high quantities of polyphenols and ortho-diphenols. Four colorimetric methods were used for the determination of the antioxidant activity, namely DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, and ß-carotene test. Compared to the control, a higher level of antioxidant activity was observed for the flavored EVOO. Furthermore, significant results were obtained in the antimicrobial tests. The quality parameters of the mixture showed no alteration compared to the control. Finally, all the measurements and the chemical characterization gave a scientific basis for food technology innovation of new food products.

Leaf UV-B Irradiation and Mycorrhizal Symbionts Affect Lettuce VOC Emissions and Defence Mechanisms, but Not Aphid Feeding Preferences.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and ultraviolet-B radiation (UV-B) play important roles in plant-insect interactions by altering plant physiology and histology. We hypothesized that UV-B-induced oxidative stress was mitigated by AMF symbiosis. In this study, we conducted a multifactorial experiment to explore lettuce plant response to AMF inoculation and UV-B exposure (0.4 W m-2; 16 h d-1; 2 weeks), either together or individually, as well as the interaction with the polyphagous insect pest Myzus persicae (Sulzer). Lettuce plants subjected to UV-B radiation showed an increase in callose and oxidative stress indicators, as well as a decrease in stomatal density. Mycorrhizal colonization cancelled out the effect of UV-B on stomatal density, while the symbiosis was not affected by UV-B treatment. The plant volatile emission was significantly altered by UV-B treatment. Specifically, the non-terpene 1-undecene abundance (+M/+UVB: 48.0 ± 7.78%; -M/+UVB: 56.6 ± 14.90%) was increased, whereas the content of the non-terpene aldehydes decanal (+M/+UVB: 8.50 ± 3.90%; -M/+UVB: 8.0 ± 4.87%) and undecanal (+M/+UVB: 2.1 ± 0.65%; -M/+UVB: 1.20 ± 1.18%) and the sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (+M/+UVB: 18.0 ± 9.62 %; -M/+UVB: 19.2 ± 5.90%) was decreased. Mycorrhization, on the other hand, had no significant effect on the plant volatilome, regardless of UV-B treatment. Aphid population was unaffected by any of the treatments, implying a neutral plant response. Overall, this study provides new insights about the interactions among plants, UV-B, and AMF, outlining their limited impact on a polyphagous insect pest.

Chemical composition, antioxidant and anticholinesterase activity of the essential oil of algerian cachrys sicula L.

In this work, in order to explore a new Algerian medicinal plant used in traditional medicine, the essential oil of the leaves of Cachrys sicula L. (Apiaceae) collected from Algeria, obtained by hydrodistillation, was analyzed by GC/MS. Thirty-two compounds were identified accounting for 98.6% of the total oil, which is characterized by a high content of monoterpene hydrocarbons (74.8%). The main constituents of the essential oil were ß-pinene (17.9%), sabinene (17.8%), myrcene (12%), and α-pinene (11.4%). In vitro antioxidant activity of the essential oil was assayed by three methods, namely ABTS•+, metal chelating, and DPPH• assays. The antioxidant activity of the oil was higher in the ABTS•+ method. Anticholinesterase activity was screened by the Ellman method against acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) which are the chief enzymes of Alzheimer's disease. The results showed mild acetylcholinesterase and good butyrylcholinesterase inhibitory effects.

Essential oil composition of Salvia rosmarinus Spenn. wild samples collected from six sites and different seasonal periods in Elba Island (Tuscan Archipelago, Italy).

The hydrodistilled essential oils from eighteen samples of Salvia rosmarinus Spenn. collected in six localities of Elba Island (Tuscany, Italy) during three different seasonal periods were analyzed by GC-MS for the first time. Fifty-five components were identified, representing 96.8-99.6% of the total chemical composition. All the tested essential oils were characterized by a high content of monoterpenes (oxygenated 49.2-80.3%; hydrocarbons 18.7-48.3%). Among them, 1,8-cineole (26.4-49.1%), α-pinene (4.5-34.8%), camphor (1.1-18.8%) and borneol (1.7-16.2%) were the main constituents. The high amount of 1,8-cineole/α-pinene/camphor/borneol may suggest the presence of an intermediate rosemary chemotype. Statistical analysis was also performed on the essential oil (EO) composition evidenced an expected difference depending on the collection seasons, to the geographical areas and soil composition. A comparison with the essential oil composition from S. rosmarinus collected in all the other islands of Tuscan Archipelago (Italy) was also reported, together with a Multivariate Statistical Analysis.

Chemical constituents and anticholinesterase activity of the essential oil of Algerian Elaeoselinum thapsioides (Desf.) maire.

Elaeoselinum thapsioides (Desf.) Maire (Apiaceae) is an Algerian medicinal plant used in traditional medicine to treat different diseases. The essential oil obtained by hydrodistillation from the aerial parts of Elaeoselinum thapsioides growing wild in Algeria, was analyzed by GC-MS for the first time. Forty-five compounds were detected, accounting for 93.8% of the total oil, which was characterized by a high content of hydrocarbons derivatives of monoterpenes (75.9%). Myrcene (61.0%) was the principal constituent of the essential oil, followed by germacrene D (10.3%), α-pinene (6.5%) and ß-pinene (2.9%). In vitro anticholinesterase activity of the essential oil was investigated by the Ellman method that evidenced a low acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase inhibitory effect.[Formula: see text].