SPME-GC-MS and PTR-ToF-MS Techniques for the Profiling of the Metabolomic Pattern of VOCs and GC-MS for the Determination of the Cannabinoid Content of Three Cultivars of Cannabis sativa L. Pollen.

Considering the large number of volatile molecules that characterize Cannabis sativa L., adequate investigation supported by the application of robust and effective analytical methods is essential to better understand the impact of these low- and medium-molecular-weight molecules on the entire phytocomplex. This work aimed to characterize the volatile fraction of the chemical profile of three different cultivars of Cannabis sativa L. pollen, grown in Italy, which were thoroughly investigated by the application of two complementary techniques: SPME-GC-MS and PTR-ToF-MS. Furthermore, in order to provide more information on the chemical profile of the matrices under study, the cannabinoid content of the hexane extracts was also measured by GC-MS. Until now, no similar study, in terms of survey techniques applied, has been performed on C. sativa pollen. The obtained results showed a high content of volatile molecules, which differentiated the three matrices. The data relating to the content of cannabinoids were also interesting as they showed that one of the three cultivars was richer than the others. Finally, an in-depth statistical survey was performed to better compare the investigated samples and identify the molecules that most contribute to differentiating them. The findings of this study may be useful for integrating the compositional information on C. sativa L.

A Comparative Study of the Chemical Composition by SPME-GC/MS and Antiradical Activity of Less Common Citrus Species.

Citrus secondary metabolites, such as terpene compounds, are very important for human health due to their bioactivity including anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and antioxidant effects. In this work, for the first time, the volatile chemical composition of peels and juices from four different Citrus species (C. junos, Citrus × aurantium, C. aurantium 'Bizzarria' and C. medica 'Florentina', commonly known as Yuzu jeune, Oni Yuzu, Bizzarria orange and Florence cedar, respectively) was investigated by Solid-Phase Microextraction-Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (SPME-GC/MS) technique and the antiradical activity was also examined. The results showed that limonene and γ-terpinene were the main volatile substances detected both in the juices and in the peels, followed by other minority compounds responsible for the phyto-complex of the unique aromas which characterize each individual analyzed Citrus species. Principal component analysis (PCA), performed on volatile compounds, showed both some correlation as well as a clear separation between the juice and the peel of each species. Among them, Oni Yuzu juice was found to be the richest in total polyphenols and flavonoids while its capacity to scavenge ABTS•+ and DPPH• radicals was similar to that of Yuzu Jeune and Bizzarria orange.

Chemical Composition and Bio-efficacy of Essential Oils from Italian Aromatic Plants: Mentha suaveolens, Coridothymus capitatus, Origanum hirtum and Rosmarinus officinalis.

The chemical composition, antifungal, antioxidant and cytotoxic activities of the essential oils (EOs) of mint (Mentha suaveolens), thyme (Coridothymus capitatus), oregano (Origanum hirtum) and rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) were investigated. The antifingal properties of the EOs were investigated againstfour species of Candida by a microdilution method. Cytotoxicity was tested on human keratinocyte (HaCaT) and lung cancer (A549) cell lines using the MTT test. DPPH· and ABTS·+ spectrophotometric assays and DPPH-- ABTS-+(HP)TLC-bioautographic assays were used to evaluate the antioxidant activity. The main compounds of thyme and oregano EOs were carvacrol and thymol, respectively; piperitenone oxide and y-terpinene were the most abundant compounds ofmint and rosemary EOs, respectively. All EOs showed activity against all Candida species in a range between 760 ± 290 to 3120 ± 0.0 µg/mL. Among the EOs, that of M suaveolens showed a stronger cytotoxic activity on HaCaT cells. Thyme, oregano and rosemary EQs exhibited important antioxidant activities by ABTS` assay compared with trolox.

Aggregation Behavior of 6-Isocassine and N-Methyl-6-Isocassine: Insights into the Biological Mode of Action of Lipid Alkaloids.

The aggregation behavior of 6-isocassine and N-methyl-6-isocassine, two piperidin-3-ol alkaloids isolated respectively from the barks of Prosopis nigra and P. affinis, was investigated using a combination of NOE experiments and diffusion measurements in solvents of varying polarity and hydrogen bonding capacity. While the NOE enhancements for N-methyl-6-isocassine are positive, regardless of the solvent, those for 6-isocassine shift from negative to positive when going from chloroform-d to methanol-d(4) solution. In addition, despite the self-diffusion coefficients of both compounds being virtually identical in methanol-d4, N-methyl-6-isocassine diffuses nearly twice as fast as the non-methylated alkaloid in chloroform-d. The changes in rotational and translational dynamics observed between solvents for 6-isocassine suggest that the molecule forms dimeric head-to-head aggregates in non-polar aprotic environments, a behavior that could help explain the biological mode of action that has been proposed for this type of alkaloids.

GLC-MS profiling of non-polar extracts from Phlomis bucharica and P. salicifolia and their cytotoxicity / Perfiles GLC-MS de extractos no polares de Phlomis bucharica y P. salicifolia y su citotoxicidad

Phlomis species (Phlomis bucharica Regel and P. salicifolia Regel) have been traditionally used by Uzbek people as stimulant, tonic, diuretic, and in the treatment of ulcers, hemorrhoids, wounds and gynecological problems. In the present study, we characterized the chemical composition of non-polar extracts from P. bucharica and P. salicifolia by high resolution GLC-MS and evaluated their cytotoxicity. Concentrations of hexadecanoic acid in hexane and chloroform extracts were higher in P. bucharica than in P. salicifolia. 1,8- Cineol, camphor, borneol, alfa-terpinol, thymol, and isobornyl acetate were detected in P. bucharica but not in P. salicifolia. About 45 components were identified in P. bucharica and 40 in P. salicifolia. The chloroform extract from P. bucharica showed cytotoxicity in HeLa and HL-60 cells, with IC50 values of 26.07 and 29.42 ug/ml, respectively.

Las especies Phlomis (Phlomis bucharica Regel y P. salicifolia Regel) se han utilizado tradicionalmente por la gente de Uzbekistán como estimulante, tónico, diurético, y en el tratamiento de las úlceras, hemorroides, heridas y problemas ginecológicos. En el presente estudio, hemos caracterizado la composición química de los extractos no polares de P. bucharica y P. salicifolia por GLC-MS de alta resolución y se evaluó su citotoxicidad. Las concentraciones de ácido hexadecanoico en extractos de hexano y cloroformo fueron mayores en P. bucharica que en P. salicifolia. 1,8-cineol, alcanfor, borneol, se detectaron alfa-terpinol, timol, y acetato de isobornilo en P. bucharica pero no en P. salicifolia. Cerca de 45 componentes fueron identificados en P. bucharica y 40 en P. salicifolia. El extracto de cloroformo a partir de P. bucharica mostró citotoxicidad en células HL-60 y HeLa, con valores de CI 50 de 26,07 y 29,42 ug/ml, respectivamente.

Identification and isolation of non-polar compounds from the chloroform extract of Scutellaria ramosissima.

In the present study, chloroform extract obtained from aerial parts of Scutellaria ramosissima was phytochemically investigated. A non-polar fraction was obtained from the chloroform extract and the chemical composition of this fraction was identified by GC-MS. The major components of the non-polar fraction of S. ramosissima were determined as heneicosane (12.18%), palmitic acid (11.79%), acetovanillone (6.28%), 5,6-dihydroxy-7,8-dimethoxyflavone (31.87%), (9Z)-octadecenoic (oleic) acid (8.21%), stigmasterol (2.68%), ß-sitosterol (2.65%) and 5,2'-dihydroxy-6,7,8,6'-tetramethoxyflavone (2.13%). In addition, 5,6-dihydroxy-7,8-dimethoxyflavone was isolated from the same fraction by PTLC.

Abietane diterpenoids from callus cultures of Taxus baccata.

A new compound was isolated from calli of Taxus baccata L. and assigned the structure 3beta,11-dihydroxy-12-methoxyabieta-8,11,13-triene-7-one. Two other metabolites were identified as 3-oxocryptojaponol and taxamairein C, both previously isolated from Taxus mairei.