Partitioning the relative contributions of inorganic plant composition and soil characteristics to the quality of Helichrysum italicum subsp. italicum (Roth) G. Don fil. essential oil.

Composition of Helichrysum italicum subsp. italicum essential oil showed chemical variability according to vegetation cycle, environment, and geographic origins. In the present work, 48 individuals of this plant at different development stages and the corresponding root soils were sampled: i) 28 volatile components were identified and measured in essential oil by using GC and GC/MS; ii) ten elements from plants and soils have been estimated using colorimetry in continuous flux, flame atomic absorption spectrometry, or emission spectrometry (FAAS/FAES); iii) texture and acidity (real and potential) of soil samples were also reported. Relationships between the essential-oil composition, the inorganic plant composition, and the soil characteristics (inorganic composition, texture, and acidity) have been established using multivariate analysis such as Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and partial Redundancy Analysis (RDA). This study demonstrates a high level of intraspecific differences in oil composition due to environmental factors and, more particularly, soil characteristics.

Geraniol restores antibiotic activities against multidrug-resistant isolates from gram-negative species.

The essential oil of Helichrysum italicum significantly reduces the multidrug resistance of Enterobacter aerogenes, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Acinetobacter baumannii. Combinations of the two most active fractions of the essential oil with each other or with phenylalanine arginine beta-naphthylamide yield synergistic activity. Geraniol, a component of one fraction, significantly increased the efficacy of beta-lactams, quinolones, and chloramphenicol.

Detailed analysis of the essential oil from Cistus albidus L. by combination of GC/RI, GC/MS and 13C-NMR spectroscopy.

The composition of the essential oil of Cistus albidus (L.) obtained from plants growing wild in Provence (France) has been investigated using GC-RI (RI = retention indices), GC/MS and (13)C-NMR. Eighty-eight components were reported accounting for 81.8% of the essential oil. This essential oil was characterized by a high content of sesquiterpenes with alpha-zingiberene (12.8%), alpha-curcumene (7.7%), (E)-beta-caryophyllene (5.9%), alpha-cadinol (5.4%), alpha-bisabolol (4.1%), caryophyllene oxide (3.8%), allo-aromadendrene (3.4%), delta-cadinene (3.4%), and germacrene D (3.1%) being the main components.

Analysis of volatile constituents isolated by hydrodistillation and headspace solid-phase microextraction from Adenostyles briquetii Gamisans.

The volatile fraction of the whole plant and separated organs of Adenostyles briquetii Gamisans (syn. Cacalia briquetii; family Asteraceae), an endemic species from Corsica, has been studied by headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME), GC and GC-MS(EI and CI). A total of 141 components were identified, representing 93% of the entire amount. The volatile fraction was characterised by sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (52.8%) and oxygenated sesquiterpenes (25.9%). The major components were germacrene D (18.5%), zingiberene (12.9%) and beta-oplopenone (10.8%). The influence of HS-SPME parameters on the extraction of family components is reported for the first time.

Analysis of the essential oil from the roots of Eupatorium cannabinum subsp. corsicum (L.) by GC, GC-MS and 13C-NMR.

Eupatorium cannabinum subsp. corsicum (L.) is an endemic subspecies from the island of Corsica. The essential oil from the roots of this aromatic plant has been studied by GC, GC-MS and by 13C-NMR. In contrast to the essential oil from the aerial parts, which is dominated by hydrocarbon compounds (76.9%) and particularly by sesquiterpene components (43.3%), the essential oil from the roots was characterized by a high content of oxygenated compounds (61.0%), particularly oxygenated monoterpenes (54.0%). In the root oil, 106 components were identified representing 96.1% of the total amount. This oil was dominated by the monoterpenes esters (33%), the major components of which were neryl isobutyrate (17.6%), thymyl methyl oxide (15.1%), delta-2-carene (14.5%) and beta-pinene (5.7%). Aromatic esters, nerol derivatives (esters and diesters) and a benzofuran were investigated by GC-MS using different ionization modes including electron impact ionization, and positive- and negative-chemical ionization. These components have not previously been reported in the essential oil of aerial parts of E. cannabinum from Corsica island.

Composition of the leaf, stem bark and root bark oils of Isolona cooperi investigated by GC (retention index), GC-MS and 13C-NMR spectroscopy.

The leaf, stem bark and root bark oils of Isolona cooperi Hutchinson & Dalziel from the Ivory Coast have been analysed by GC (retention index), GC-MS and 13C-NMR spectroscopy. Two types of essential oil were produced by the plant. The leaf and stem bark oils were monoterpene-rich, containing principally (Z)-beta-ocimene and gamma-terpinene and three lactones, 5-[(E and Z)-hexylidene]-5H-furan-2-ones and massoia lactone, were present in appreciable amounts. Conversely, the root bark oil was dominated by 5-isopentenylindole and (E)-beta-caryophyllene. The strategy for the analysis of each oil was adapted according to the nature of the components.

Analysis of the essential oil from aerial parts of Eupatorium cannabinum subsp. corsicum (L.) by gas chromatography with electron impact and chemical ionization mass spectrometry.

Eupatorium cannabinum subsp. corsicum (L.), an aromatic plant, is an endemic subspecies from Corsica. The essential oil from aerial parts of E. cannabinum subsp. corsicum was studied by GC, GC/MS and 13C NMR. One hundred and forty-seven components were identified representing 93.6% of the total amount. The main constituents are germacrene D (28.5%), alpha-phellandrene (19.0%) and para-cymene (5.2%). A particularity of this essential oil is the presence of monoterpene esters derived from nerol, lavandulol, borneol, thymol and 8,9-dehydrothymol. These compounds have been investigated using GC/MS in different ionization modes like electron impact (EI), positive chemical ionization (PCI) and negative chemical ionization (NCI).

Combined analysis of the essential oil of Chenopodium ambrosioides by GC, GC-MS and 13C-NMR spectroscopy: quantitative determination of ascaridole, a heat-sensitive compound.

A commercial sample of the essential oil of Chenopodium ambrosioides L. from Madagascar was analysed by GC, GC-MS and 13C-NMR. By GC analysis, the major constituents were found to be ascaridole (1) (41.8%), isoascaridole (2) (18.1%), p-cymene (16.2%), alpha-terpinene (9.7%) and limonene (3.8%). However, ascaridole undergoes a partial thermal isomerisation to 2 and hence the amount of 1 is under-estimated by GC analysis. The actual contents of 1 and 2 (55.3 and 4.6%, respectively) were obtained following combined analysis of the sample by GC and 13C-NMR. Several hydroxy- and polyhydroxy-menthanes were identified by 13C-NMR.

Eudesm-5-en-11-ol from Helichrysum italicum essential oil.

Eudesm-5-en-11-ol was isolated from the oil of Helichrysum italicum and its structure was elucidated by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy.

Dihydroagarofurans: the fourth isomer isolated from Cedrelopsis grevei bark oil.

4-Epi-cis-dihydroagarofuran was isolated from the bark oil of Cedrelopsis grevei and its structure was elucidated by 1D and 2D-NMR spectroscopy.