Ana M. Molina

Free radical scavengers from Mutisia friesiana (Asteraceae) and Sanicula graveolens (Apiaceae).

The water‐soluble extract of Sanicula graveolens (Apiaceae) and Mutisia friesiana (Asteraceae) showed radical scavenging activity in the DPPH decoloration assay. Bioassay‐guided isolation led to caffeic acid derivatives and flavonoids as the main active compounds of both species. After hydrolysis, caffeic acid and quercetin proved to be the bioactive principles of both plants. Copyright

Essential oils of Satureja boliviana and S. parvifolia growing in the region of Jujuy, Argentina

Essential oils of aerial parts of Satureja parvifolia and S. boliviana of Argentina were analysed by GC-MS and GC-FID. Fifty-six components were identified. The main compound of S. parvifolia essential oil is piperitenone oxide. The most abundant constituents identified in S. boliviana essential oil were y-terpinene, s- caryophyllene, germacrene-D, bicyclogermacrene, l ,&cineol and linalool. Copyright 0 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Antifungal Activity of the Essential Oils of Callitris neocaledonica and C. sulcata Heartwood (Cupressaceae)

Mortality due to fungal infections has increased substantially, becoming a worldwide problem in public health. As a contribution to the discovery of new antifungal agents, the properties of the heartwood essential oils of two trees growing in New Caledonia, Callitris neocaledonica and C. sulcata (Cupressaceae) were investigated. The essential oils extracted by hydrodistillation were characterized by GC‐FID and GC/MS analyses. From C. neocaledonica oil, 31 constituents were identified, representing 97.0% of the total oil composition, which was mainly constituted by oxygenated sesquiterpenes (88%). Among them, guaiol (1; 30.2%), bulnesol (2; 12.5%), α‐eudesmol (3; 10.5%), β‐eudesmol (4; 10.5%), γ‐eudesmol (10.2%), and elemol (4.9%) predominated. The chemical composition of C. sulcata oil, from which 39 constituents were identified (96.8% of the total oil composition), showed some similarities with that of C. neocaledonica oil. The major constituents were also oxygenated sesquiterpenes, accounting for 78.5% of the oil, amongst them, mainly compounds 1 (16.1%), 3 and 4 (9.7% each), as well as 2 (7.4%). The antifungal activity of the oils against clinical isolates of four dermatophytic fungi (Trichophyton mentagrophytes, T. rubrum, Microsporum canis, and M. gypseum) and six yeasts (Candida albicans, C. parapsilosis, C. glabrata, C. krusei, Cryptococcus neoformans, and Cryptococcus gattii) was tested by determining minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) using the microdilution method. The best antifungal activities of the C. neocaledonica and C. sulcata oils were obtained against C. krusei (MICs of 3.9 and 0.975 μg/ml, resp.). These MIC values were similar to those of the reference drugs itraconazole and fluconazole (1.0 and 0.5 mg/ml, resp.). The oils were also subjected to a screening for their possible DPPH. (2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl) radical‐scavenging activity. C. neocaledonica essential oil was more active than C. sulcata oil (93.3 vs. 32.2% DPPH. scavenged at 250 μg/ml).

Northwestern Argentina: A Center of Genetic Diversity of Lemon Verbena (Aloysia citriodora Paláu, Verbenaceae)

The aerial parts of lemon verbena (Aloysia citriodora Paláu) are worldwide used due to their medicinal and aromatic properties. The essential‐oil and acteoside contents have been proposed as the main quality markers for their pharmacological and organoleptic features. The northwestern region of Argentina has been repeatedly proposed as the place of origin for this species. For this reason, the essential‐oil yields and chemical compositions of leaves of 25 populations of lemon verbena from both wild collections and experimental crops from this region were studied. Plants from six different collections were subsequently grown on the same experimental parcel located at Cerrillos, Salta province, during more than seven years. In addition, the acteoside contents determined in all the samples collected in 2010 showed significant variations (from 0.5 to 4.0%). Large differences were observed in the essential‐oil composition and yields, which ranged from 0.4 to 2.1% (v/w). Nevertheless, most of the samples complied with the European Pharmacopoeia specifications. A remarkable chemical diversity with at least four clearly defined chemotypes was detected in this region. Therefore, it would be urgent to encourage actions to protect these genotypes of lemon verbena in the northwestern Argentina.