Chemical composition, antifungal, antioxidant and hemolytic activities of Moroccan Thymus capitatus essential oil.

This study aimed to define the chemical composition of Moroccan Thymus capitatus essential oil, and to investigate its in vitro antioxidant and antifungal activities against human pathogenic fungi. Chemical analysis using GC-FID and GC-MS system revealed 28 constituents, representing 99% of total compounds. Oxygenated monoterpenes represented the highest proportion (79.79%), among which carvacrol (75.73%) was the predominant compound, followed by linalol (2.26%). Monoterpene hydrocarbons represented the second major fraction (16.29%): within them, the predominant constituents were γ-terpinene (5,55%), ρ-cymene (5,50%), and ß-caryophyllene (2.73%). Antioxidant activity was performed by DPPH scavenging, ß-carotene bleaching inhibition, and ferric reducing power. T. capitatus revealed pronounced DPPH radical scavenging activity (IC50=110.53µg.mL-1), strong ferric reducing ability (EC50=644.4µg.mL-1), and a remarkable degree of protection against lipid peroxidation during ß-carotene bleaching inhibition (IC50=251.76µg.mL-1). Antifungal activity was carried out against Candida, Aspergillus, and Rhizopus species by microdilution method.  T. capitatus   exhibited potent anticandidal activity (MIC=125-500µg.mL-1) and strong inhibition against filamentous fungi (MIC=250-500µg.mL-1). Its hemolytic activity against human erythrocytes had a low toxic effect at concentrations lower than 1250µg.mL-1. The useful antioxidant properties and broad antifungal effect of T. capitatus EO confirm its considerable potential for the food industry and for phytopharmaceutical production.

Chemical Characterization, DNA-Damage Protection, Antiproliferative Activity and in Silico Studies of the Essential Oils from Perralderia coronopifolia Coss.

In this study, for the first time, we analyzed the chemical composition of essential oils (EOs) steam-distilled from the flowers and leaves of Perralderia coronopifolia by GC-FID/MS. The objective was to explore new anticancer and antioxidant bioactive substances and understand their mechanisms of action through the use of plant-derived natural products. The major chemical components characterizing the EOs were cis-chrysanthenyl acetate 1, 6-oxocyclonerolidol 2, cis-8-acetoxychrysanthenyl acetate 3, and 6α-hydroxycyclonerolidol 4, respectively. Furthermore, the EOs inhibited cell proliferation in HeLa (human cervix carcinoma) and PC3 (human prostate cancer) cells and protected plasmid DNA from oxidative damage caused by UV-photolyzed H2 O2 . Employing a molecular docking study, we elucidated the main compounds' inhibition mechanisms. Consequently, the antitumor activity could be related to the inhibitory property of compound 3 against CDC25B phosphatase. The evaluation of ADMET (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity) properties and the density functional theory (DFT) calculations of the major compounds, especially compound 3, offer potential insights for designing and developing new cancer drug candidates. In conclusion, our study provides a framework for future research and development in the field by establishing a scientific foundation for the use of Perralderia coronopifolia essential oils as a prospective source of antioxidant and anticancer agents.

Chemical Composition of Essential Oil of Cymbopogon schoenanthus (L.) Spreng from Burkina Faso, and Effects against Prostate and Cervical Cancer Cell Lines.

The aim of this research was to evaluate the essential oil of Cymbopogon schoenanthus (L.) Spreng. (C. schoenanthus) from Burkina Faso in terms of cytotoxic activity against LNCaP cells, derived from prostate cancer, and HeLa cells, derived from cervical cancer. Antioxidant activities were evaluated in vitro. Essential oil (EO) was extracted by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC/FID and GC/MS. Thirty-seven compounds were identified, the major compounds being piperitone (49.9%), δ-2-carene (24.02%), elemol (5.79%) and limonene (4.31%). EO exhibited a poor antioxidant activity, as shown by the inhibition of DPPH radicals (IC50 = 1730 ± 80 µg/mL) and ABTS+. (IC50 = 2890 ± 26.9 µg/mL). Conversely, EO decreased the proliferation of LNCaP and HeLa cells with respective IC50 values of 135.53 ± 5.27 µg/mL and 146.17 ± 11 µg/mL. EO also prevented LNCaP cell migration and led to the arrest of their cell cycle in the G2/M phase. Altogether, this work points out for the first time that EO of C. schoenanthus from Burkina Faso could be an effective natural anticancer agent.

Aromatic Plants from Plateau des Cataractes: Occurrence of the Citronella Chemotype of Cymbopogon flexuosus (Nees ex Steud.) W.Watson Acclimatized in Congo-Brazzaville.

Cymbopogon flexuosus var. flexuosus (citral chemotype) was introduced in a local plantation in 2006 at Plateau des Cataractes, Congo-Brazzaville to remedy the difficult adaptation and low production of essential oil of C. citratus, a source of citral. After some 10 years of acclimatization, C. flexuosus had adapted perfectly with a very high biomass and essential oil production. A citronella chemotype (Cymbopogon flexuosus var. albescens) was unexpectedly identified among lemongrass in the field, grown in a local experimental citronella plot covering 0.25 ha. Its essential oil was extracted by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC and GC/MS to determine its chemotype. The citronella chemotype indicated by the chemical profile found was confirmed by descriptive statistics (radar plot) and by principal component analysis (PCA) and ascending hierarchical clustering (AHC).

Chemical variation of essential oil constituents of Ocimum gratissimum L. from Benin, and impact on antimicrobial properties and toxicity against Artemia salina leach.

To determine the period of harvest that optimizes the antimicrobial activities of the essential oil of Ocimum gratissimum L. from Benin, aerial plant parts were collected at two vegetative stages (pre- and full-flowering) and three sampling times (7 am, 1 pm, and 7 pm). Extraction by hydrodistillation yielded between 0.65 and 0.78% of essential oils. Characterization of the oils by GC-FID and GC/MS analysis revealed the presence of monoterpenes (87.26-93.81%), sesquiterpenes (5.57-11.34%), and aliphatic compounds (0.15-0.18%), with p-cymene (1; 28.08-53.82%), thymol (2; 3.32-29.13%), γ-terpinene (3; 1.11-10.91%), α-thujene (4; 3.37-10.77%), and ß-myrcene (5; 4.24-8.28%) as major components. Two chemotypes were observed, i.e., a p-cymene/thymol and a p-cymene chemotype, for plants harvested at 7 am for the former and at 1 pm or 7 pm for the latter, respectively. The oils were fungicidal against Candida albicans, with the sample from full-flowering plants collected at 7 am being the most active (MIC = 0.06±0.00 mg/ml). The chemical variation of the oils also influenced the antimicrobial effect against Staphylococcus aureus; the most active oil was obtained from plants at the pre-flowering stage collected at 7 am (MIC=0.24±0.01 mg/ml). Escherichia coli was insensitive to the chemical variation of the oils (MICs of ca. 0.48±0.02 mg/ml for all oils). Moreover, the essential oils showed low toxicity against Artemia salina Leach larvae, with LC(50) values in the range of 43-146 µg/ml. This is the first study of the interaction between the daytime of collection and vegetative stage of the plants and the antimicrobial properties and toxicity of the essential oil of O. gratissimum from Benin.

Essential oil constituents of Juniperus oxycedrus L. and Cupressus sempervirens L. (Cupressaceae) growing in Aures region of Algeria.

The purpose of this study was to determine the chemical composition of essential oils from the aerial parts of two species belonging to the Cupressaceae family growing in the Aures region of Algeria Juniperus oxycedrus and Cupressus Sempervirens. The analysis by GC-MS and GC-FID techniques showed the presence of 38 compounds in J. oxycedrus oil where the major constituents were manoyl oxide (23.5%), pentadecan-2-enone 6Z (12.6%), abietatriene (8.0%), abieta-8,11,13-triene-7-one (6.5%), cubebol (4.6%), epi-torilenol (3.8%) and α-cadinol (2.6%), while, a total of 65 compounds were showed in C. sempervirens oil where the major constituents were α-pinene (68.0%), epi-cedrol (6.1%), α-terpenyl acetate (3.5%) and germacrene D (2.5%). It is the first time that the compounds pentadecan-2-enone 6Z, abieta-8,11,13-trien-7-one, cubebol and epi-torilenol have been identified in our J. oxycedrus and epi-cedrol in C. sempervirens essential oils with high contents, as we noticed the absence of α-pinene in our J. oxycedrus essential oil.

Chemical composition, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative activities of the essential oil of Cymbopogon nardus, a plant used in traditional medicine.

Objectives Natural products commonly used in traditional medicine, such as essential oils (EOs), are attractive sources for the development of molecules with anti-proliferative activities for future treatment of human cancers, e.g., prostate and cervical cancer. In this study, the chemical composition of the EO from Cymbopogon nardus was characterized, as well as its antioxidativeproperties and anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative activities on LNCaP cells derived from prostate cancer. Methods The chemical composition of the EO was determined by GC/FID and GC/MS analyses. The antioxidative properties were assessed using DPPH radical scavenging assay and ABTS+• radical cation decolorization assay, and the anti-inflammatory capacity was determined by the inhibition of the lipoxygenase activity. Antiproliferative activity was evaluated by MTT assay. Results Collectively, our data show that the major constituents of C. nardus EO are citronellal (33.06 %), geraniol (28.40 %), nerol (10.94 %), elemol (5.25 %) and delta-elemene (4.09 %). C. nardus EO shows modest antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity compared to the standard galic acid. C. nardus EO exhibits the best antiproliferative activity on the prostate cancer cell line LNCaP with an IC50 of 58.0 ± 7.9 µg/mL, acting through the induction of the cell cycle arrest. Conclusions This study has determined that C. nardus EO efficiently triggers cytotoxicity and pens a new field of investigation regarding the putative use of this EO in vivo.

How Chemical and Sensorial Markers Reflect Gentian Geographic Origin in Chardonnay Wine Macerated with Gentiana lutea Roots?

A Burgundian Chardonnay wine was enriched with Gentiana lutea root powders originating from two French mountain sites (Massif Central and Jura) in order to prepare semi-dry gentian aromatized Chardonnay wine-based drinks. These novel alcoholic beverages were chemically and sensorially characterized for evaluating if the gentian geographic origin influenced bitter and elemental and volatile composition and sensory profiles in the final products. For that, the chemical fingerprint of gentian powders and wines were carried by headspace solid phase microextraction gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC), liquid chromatography coupled to diode array detector (LC-DAD) and inductive coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). The mineral and volatile analysis show that the geographic distinction is more obvious in gentian powders compared to gentian macerated wines. Interestingly the maceration process in Chardonnay wine involves extraction processes revealing statistical distinctions in other chemical markers of gentian origin, like for amarogentin and loganic acid or some mineral elements such as barium and aluminum that affect undoubtedly bitterness perception and sensory properties in macerated wines compared to unmacerated wine. Additionally, the gentian volatile 2-methoxy-3-sec-butylpyrazine and the Chardonnay wine volatile ethyl-9-decenoate differentiated, respectively by extraction and powder adsorption mechanisms could be responsible of more subtle sensory differentiations between macerated wines from two distinct gentian origins.

Chemical Composition, Antioxidant and Cytotoxic Activities of Hyptis suaveolens (L.) Poit. Essential Oil on Prostate and Cervical Cancers Cells.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Hyptis suaveolens is an aromatic plant used in traditional medicine in Burkina Faso for management of various diseases including wounds and inflammatory diseases. Thus, the objective of this work was to characterize the chemical composition, antioxidant and cytotoxic activity of Essential Oil (EO) of H. suaveolens from Burkina Faso on cultured cancer cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The chemical composition of EO was determined by GC/FID and GC/MS analysis and the antioxidant activity was evaluated through inhibition of DPPH radicals and ABTS +• radical cations. The cytotoxic activity in prostate cancer cells (LNCaP) and cervical cancer cells (HeLa) of EO was evaluated by MTT assay and effect on cells cycle by flow cytometry analysis. RESULTS: A total of 58 compounds were identified in the EO of H. suaveolens of which the major compounds identified are Sabinene 14.03%, ß-Pinene 5.92%, Limonene 4.40%, Eucalyptol 12.78%, Trans-Oxide of Linalol 5.43%, ß-Caryophyllene 11.27%, Germacrene-D 3.04% and Bicyclogermacrene 8.08%. The EO of H. suaveolens showed antioxidant activity and concentration dependent antiproliferative activities with G0/G1 arrest on LNCaP and HeLa cells. CONCLUSIONS: This work help to justify some uses of H. suaveolens in traditional medicine in Burkina Faso and also, presents a promising new application for the essential oil of H. suaveolens in prostate and cervical cancer research.

Optimization of the extraction of the p-menthadienol isomers and aristolone contained in the essential oil from Elyonurus hensii using a 23 full factorial design.

The aim of this study was to optimize the extraction of p-menthadienol isomers and aristolone from the essential oil of Elyonurus hensii by hydrodistillation. The study of the seasonal variation in the chemical composition has shown that the plant material has been subject to a natural selection regarding the biosynthesis of the p-menthadienol isomers: during periods of water stress, the extracts are rich in cis and trans-p-mentha-1(7),8-dien-2-ol and poor in cis and trans-p-mentha-2,8-dien-1-ol. Regarding the modeling, eight experiments were carried out by considering three easily interpretable factors (the extraction duration, the residual water content and the state of the division of the plant material). The average yield was 1.33% for the aerial part and 0.74% for the roots. The residual water content is the most important factor, which significantly influences the average yield of the essential oil and the content of the major constituents. Regarding the aerial part, a low residual water content of the plant material varies the essential oil yield (from 0.40% to 2.11%) and the content of cis and trans-p-mentha-2.8-dien-1-ol (from 15.87% to 23.24%). At the root level, the samples that have a very low residual water content provide extracts richer in aristolone. The combined effects of the extraction duration, the state of division, and the residual water content influence greatly the extraction of aristolone (from 36.68% to 54.55%). However, these interactions are more complex and difficult to assess.

Chemical composition, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative activities of essential oils of plants from Burkina Faso.

This research highlights the chemical composition, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative activities of essential oils from leaves of Ocimum basilicum, Ocimum americanum, Hyptis spicigera, Lippia multiflora, Ageratum conyzoides, Eucalyptus camaldulensis and Zingiber officinale. Essential oils were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and gas chromatography-flame ionization detector. Major constituents were α-terpineol (59.78%) and ß-caryophyllene (10.54%) for Ocimum basilicum; 1, 8-cineol (31.22%), camphor (12.730%), α-pinene (6.87%) and trans α-bergamotene (5.32%) for Ocimum americanum; ß-caryophyllene (21%), α-pinene (20.11%), sabinene (10.26%), ß-pinene (9.22%) and α-phellandrene (7.03%) for Hyptis spicigera; p-cymene (25.27%), ß-caryophyllene (12.70%), thymol (11.88), γ-terpinene (9.17%) and thymyle acetate (7.64%) for Lippia multiflora; precocene (82.10%)for Ageratum conyzoides; eucalyptol (59.55%), α-pinene (9.17%) and limonene (8.76%) for Eucalyptus camaldulensis; arcurcumene (16.67%), camphene (12.70%), zingiberene (8.40%), ß-bisabolene (7.83%) and ß-sesquiphellandrène (5.34%) for Zingiber officinale. Antioxidant activities were examined using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) methods. O. basilicum and L. multiflora exhibited the highest antioxidant activity in DPPH and ABTS tests, respectively. Anti-inflammatory properties were evaluated by measuring the inhibition of lipoxygenase activity and essential oil of Z. officinale was the most active. Anti-proliferative effect was assayed by the measurement of MTT on LNCaP and PC-3 prostate cancer cell lines, and SF-763 and SF-767 glioblastoma cell lines. Essential oils from A. conyzoides and L. multiflora were the most active on LNCaP and PC-3 cell lines, respectively. The SF-767 glioblastoma cell line was the most sensitive to O. basilicum and L. multiflora EOs while essential oil of A. conyzoides showed the highest activity on SF-763 cells. Altogether these results justify the use of these plants in traditional medicine in Burkina Faso and open a new field of investigation in the characterization of the molecules involved in anti-proliferative processes.

Chemical variability of essential oils in natural populations of Cupressus dupreziana.

Essential oils extracted from dried leaves of Cupressus dupreziana A. Camus, an endemic species in the Tassili n'Ajjer (Central Sahara of Algeria), were analyzed by gas chomatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Analyses were carried out on 164 trees of 26 natural populations in order to determine the intra-specific variability. Thirty-two terpenoids were identified, the major ones being alpha-pinene (11.5-44.2), delta3-carene (5.7-31.7) and germacrene-D (15.7-54.1). The terpenoid markers used made it possible to determine the individual patterns of chemotypic variability. This variability confirmed that genetic factors were not responsible for the decrease in the number of this species, the main reason probably being the Tassili n'Ajjer desertification.

Essential oil of three Uvaria species from Ivory Coast.

Different parts of Uvaria ovata (Dunals) A, U. anonoides Baker f. and U. tortilis A. Chev were collected from Ivory Coast, in Toumodi (center), Agboville (south-east) and Sikensi (south), respectively. The essential oils, obtained by hydrodistillation using a Clevenger-type apparatus, were investigated by CG and CG/MS. The proportion of the chromatographed constituents identified varied from 92.5% to 98.5%. For U. ovata, the root bark oil comprised mainly camphene (10.2%), beta-pinene (10.1%), epi-alpha-cadinol (13.2%) and intermedeol (9.7%), while the oil of the stem bark was dominated by epi-alpha-cadinol (27.3%), intermedeol (11.9%) and benzyl benzoate (13.4%). The oil of the leaves showed beta-caryophyllene (15.6%), germacrene D (24.2%) and benzyl benzoate (18.3%) as the most abundant constituents. The leaf oil of U. anonoides was rich in 2,5-dimethoxy-p-cymene (15.5%), bicyclogermacrene (21.3%) and benzyl benzoate (8.7%), while, gamma-terpinene (31.7%), beta-caryophyllene (23.9%) and germacrene D (15.8%) constituted the main components of the stem bark oil of U. tortilis.

Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of essential oils of Genista ulicina and G. vepres.

The hydrodistilled oils from the aerial parts of Genista ulicina Spach. and G. vepres Pomel., which are endemic to Algeria, were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). In the oil of G. ulicina, 41 compounds were identified representing 90.8% of the total oil, and in G. vepres, 61 compounds representing 84.5% of the total oil. The analyses showed that the major constituents of the oils were lauric acid (14.3%-8.5%), myristic acid (11.5%-5%), linoleic acid (3.1%-11.7%) and palmitic acid (18.6%-26.4%). Using a diffusion method, the oils showed significant antibacterial activities against Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853) and Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923).