Antoaneta Trendafilova

Ultrasound-assisted extraction of alantolactone and isoalantolactone from Inula helenium roots.

This work deals with ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) of alantolactone and isoalantolactone from the roots of Inula helenium L., a well-known medicinal plant. The effects of ethanol concentration, extraction time, temperature and number of extraction steps on the extraction yields of both sesquiterpene lactones were investigated. Gas chromatographic (GC) method was used for simultaneous determination of their contents in the corresponding extracts. A comparison with classical extraction methods [maceration, infusion and micro steam distillation-extraction (MSDE)] showed that the amounts of alantolactone and isoalantolactone achieved by UAE with 70 and 96% EtOH for 30 min at room temperature were higher or almost equal to those obtained by maceration for 24 hours.

Sideritis scardica Griseb., an endemic species of Balkan peninsula: Traditional uses, cultivation, chemical composition, biological activity

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Sideritis scardica Griseb. is an endemic species in the Balkan Peninsula. It is used in traditional medicine as a loosening agent in bronchitis and bronchial asthma; against the common cold and lung emphysema; in the treatment of inflammation, gastrointestinal disorders and coughs; and as an active constituent of dietary supplements for the prevention of anemia. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the traditional use, phytochemistry, biological activity, cultivation, and extraction of Sideritis scardica and to highlight the gaps in our knowledge which deserves further research. MATERIALS AND METHODS The present review is based on information collected from scientific journals, books, and electronic search. These sources include Scopus, Pubmed, Web of Science, and Google scholar as well as local books on ethnopharmacology and botany of this plant. RESULTS The reported data on phytochemical studies, biological activity, cultivation, extraction, and traditional uses have been reviewed. Variability in essential oil composition of wild growing and cultivated taxa depending on ecological conditions was discussed. Flavonoids, phenylethanoids, diterpenoids, aliphatic compounds, etc. identified so far have been summarized. A comparative study on the effectiveness of different methods, solvents, and parameters of extraction has also been discussed. A broad range of activities of plant extracts and fractions as antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic, antioxidant, gastroprotective, antiglioma, and triple monoamine reuptake inhibition as well as cultivation of the species as an approach for conservation of the natural habitats and provision of herb with high and permanent quality has also been presented. CONCLUSIONS Sideritis scardica has become very popular and widely advertised herb in Europe. Although some of ethnobotanical uses have been proved through in vitro experiments, further studies of the individual compounds or chemical class of compounds responsible for the pharmacological effects and the mechanisms of action are necessary. In addition, the toxicity and the side effects from the use of Sideritis scardica as well as clinical trails need attention. The variability in the chemical composition of this medicinal plant depending on the origin requires development of a protocol for its standardization. For the practice it is important to improve cultivation conditions in order to increase the accumulation of biologically active compounds and to obtain herb with permanent and good quality.

Xanthanolides of Xanthium italicum Moretti and Their Biological Activity

Seven xanthanolides were identified in the extract of X. italicum leaves. Antibacterial and cytotoxic activities were found for the total extract and its major constituents xanthinin and xanthatin.

Eudesmanolides from Artemisia pontica

The aerial parts of Artemisia pontica afforded seven new 5-hydroxyeudesmanolides in addition to the known sesquiterpene lactones artemin, 5-epi-artemin and 8α-hydroxytaurin. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated on the basis of the spectral findings.

Inhibitory effect of lactone fractions and individual components from three species of the Achillea millefolium complex of Bulgarian origin on the human neutrophils respiratory burst activity

Achillea species are widely used in folk medicine for treatment of inflammatory diseases. The inhibitory effect on the human neutrophils respiratory burst activity of total extracts, their fractions and some main constituents of the flower heads from Achillea asplenifolia, A. collina and A. distans belonging to A. millefolium complex of Bulgarian origin, were tested by the modified method of Tan and Berridge. Seven from the investigated fractions showed activity similar or higher than that of indomethacine and might be evaluated as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents.

Highly oxygenated sesquiterpenes in Artemisia alba Turra

Ten new sesquiterpene alcohols of which seven germacranes, a eudesmane, a guaiane and an oplopane were isolated from the aerial parts of Artemisia alba Turra. Their structures and relative stereochemistry were elucidated by spectral methods ((1)H and (13)C NMR, COSY, HSQC, HMBC, NOESY, and MS). In addition, the known 7-hydroxycadin-4-en-3-one, centaureidin and axillarin were found for the first time in the studied species.

Sesquiterpene lactones with the uncommon rotundane skeleton from Artemisia pontica L.

Six sesquiterpene lactones with the very rare tricyclic rotundane skeleton have been isolated from the aerial parts of Artemisia pontica L. The structure of these new compounds, named rotundopontilide A-F, was elucidated by spectral analysis.

A new cembrane glycoside in Asterothamnus centrali-asiaticus from Gobi desert

A new cembrane glycoside, nephthenol 15-O-β-d-quinovoside, was isolated from the aerial parts of Asterothamnus centrali-asiaticus. Its structure was elucidated by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic analysis, as well as by mass spectrometry. This is the first report of the occurrence of a cembrane glycoside in vascular plants.

Seco-eremophilanolides from Senecio macedonicus

Four sesquiterpene lactones with seco-eremophilane skeleton have been isolated from the leaves of Senecio macedonicus, two of which are new C-8 epimeric secomacrotolides. Their structures were elucidated by spectral analysis.

Essential oil composition of Inula britannica L. from Bulgaria

Abstract The separately distilled flowers (F) and leaves’ (L) essential oils of Inula britannica L. were investigated using capillary gas chromatography–flame ionization detector (GC–FID) and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). A total of 83 constituents, representing 96.91% (F) and 96.73% (L) of the total oils, were registered. The oils were rich in terpenoids (57.85% and 77.28%), of which sesquiterpenoids dominated. The main constituents of the essential oils were viridiflorol (7.17%–8.20%) and himachalol (3.45%–8.71%) followed by 6,10,14-trimethyl-2-pentadecanone (5.43%–2.95%), 13-tetradecanolide (3.93%–4.87%) and 3-methyl-4-propyl-2,5-furandione (4.06%–0.29%).