Danuta Kalemba

Antimicrobial activity of geranium oil against clinical strains of Staphylococcus aureus.

The aim of this work was to investigate the antibacterial properties of geranium oil obtained from Pelargonium graveolens Ait. (family Geraniaceae), against one standard S. aureus strain ATCC 433000 and seventy clinical S. aureus strains. The agar dilution method was used for assessment of bacterial growth inhibition at various concentrations of geranium oil. Susceptibility testing of the clinical strains to antibiotics was carried out using the disk-diffusion and E-test methods. The results of our experiment showed that the oil from P. graveolens has strong activity against all of the clinical S. aureus isolates—including multidrug resistant strains, MRSA strains and MLSB-positive strains—exhibiting MIC values of 0.25–2.50 μL/mL.

The effects of thyme (Thymus vulgaris) and rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) essential oils on Brochothrix thermosphacta and on the shelf life of beef packaged in high-oxygen modified atmosphere.

The objective of the study was to determine the Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of thyme (29.4% thymol, 21.6% p-cymene) and rosemary essential oils (27.6% 1,8-cineole, 13.5% limonene, 13.0% β-pinene) against Brochothrix thermosphacta and to establish the feasibility of their use as components of modified atmosphere during beef refrigerated storage. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of thyme oil against B.xa0thermosphacta is 0.05% and that of rosemary oil 0.5%. The MIC values are independent on strain and temperature of growth, however the bactericidal effects are strain dependent. The addition of any of oil at a concentration equal to 2MIC to the modified atmosphere (80% O(2)/20% CO(2)) does not significantly influence the microbial quality of meat. At the same time, such a concentration of the essential oils was considerably detrimental to the organoleptic factors.

Constituents of the essential oil of Solidago gigantea Ait. (giant goldenrod)

The hydrodistilled essential oil of aerial parts of S. gigantea was investigated by GC, GC–MS and NMR spectroscopy. Two samples (1990/91, Warsaw, and 1998, Łodź) yielding 0.55% and 70% of essential oil, were analysed in 1992 and 1998. Ninety constituents (96% of the total oil) were identified in the first sample and 85 (98%) in the second. α-Pinene (7.0/4.1%), myrcene (2.5/2.6%), p-cymene (2.2/0.6%), (−)-bornyl acetate (4.4/2.9%), α- (6.1/4.0%) and γ-gurjunene (2.5/2.1%) (−)-germacrene D (21.6/23.5%), (−)-ledol (1.2/2.1%), eudesma-4(15),7-dien-1β-ol (1.9/2.5%) and (−)-cyclocolorenone (8.1/32.4%) are the main constituents. The structures of three new sesquiterpenes were established by NMR data: epi-torilenol (5αH, 6βH, 7αH, 8βH, 10α-6,8-cycloeudesm-4(15)-en-lα-ol, 0.4/0.1%), 1,10-seco-eudesma-4(15),5(10)-dien-1-al (0.9%/trace) and cis-eudesm-4(10)-en-1-one (0.2%/trace). Copyright

Influence of plant growth regulators on volatiles produced by in vitro grown shoots of Agastache rugosa (Fischer & C.A.Meyer) O. Kuntze

The composition of volatile organic compounds emitted by in vitro shoots of Agastache rugosa (Fischer & C.A. Meyer) O. Kuntze (Lamiaceae) was studied using headspace solid-phase microextraction–gas chromatography–mass spectrometry and compared to the those emitted by adult plants and in vitro-germinated seedlings. Shoot-tip explants were cultured on a solid MS medium supplemented with either 4.4xa0μM 6-benzyladenine (BA), 9.3xa0μM kinetin, or 0.45xa0μM thidiazuron and with either 0.57xa0μM indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) or 0.41xa0μM picloram. Shoot proliferation was observed in all these treatments. The presence of these plant growth regulators in the culture medium significantly influenced the composition of volatiles as well as morphogenetic responses observed. The number and quality of regenerating shoots and frequency of axillary bud break were highest in medium containing the BA + IAA combination. Sixty-five compounds were identified in the headspace of the in vitro-produced material and plants cultivated in the field. The in vitro shoots emitted both hydrocarbon (limonene, α-pinene) and oxidized (menthone, isomenthone, pulegone) monoterpenes. The composition of monoterpenes differed depending on the type of auxin—rather than cytokinin—in the medium. The emission of phenylallyl compounds, such as estragole, a major compound in field-grown plants, was markedly lower in shoot cultures.

Constituents of the essential oil of Solidago virgaurea L.

The steam-distilled essential oil of Solidago virgaurea L. was investigated by GC, GC–MS and NMr spectroscopy. Sixty components were identified. The main constituents are α-pinene, myrcene, β-pinene, limonene, sabinene and germacrene-D. Copyright

Essential Oil Composition of the Different Parts and In Vitro Shoot Culture of Eryngium planum L.

The essential oils obtained by hydrodistillation from the different parts (inflorescence, stalk leaves, rosette leaves and root) as well as from in vitro shoot culture of Eryngium planum L. were analyzed by GC-FID-MS in respect to their chemical composition. The different parts of E. planum and in vitro shoots showed different yields. The part with higher amount was the inflorescences, followed by the stalk leaves and in vitro shoots, rosette leaves and finally roots. The essential oils obtained from rosette leaves and in vitro-derived rosettes had totally different composition. Quantitative differences were also found between compounds of intact plant organs. The main components of stalk leaf oil and rosette leaf oil were monoterpene (limonene, α- and β-pinene) and sesquiterpene hydrocarbons. In inflorescence oil cis-chrysanthenyl acetate (43.2%) was accompanied by other esters (propionate, butanoate, hexanoate and octanoate) and numerous oxygenated sesquiterpenes. Root oil and in vitro shoot oil contained mainly (Z)-falcarinol and 2,3,4-trimethylbenzaldehyde. This is the first report on the chemical composition of this species.

Constituents of the essential oil of Artemisia asiatica Nakai

The hydrodistilled essential oil of Artemisia asiatica Nakai was investigated by GC, GC–MS and NMR spectroscopy. About 80 components were identified. The main constituents are 1,8-cineole, selin-11-en-4α-ol, terpinen-4-ol, borneol and α-terpineol. Copyright

Comparison of the Essential Oil Composition of Selected Impatiens Species and Its Antioxidant Activities

The present paper describes the chemical composition of the essential oils obtained by hydrodistillation from four Impatiens species, Impatiens glandulifera Royle, I. parviflora DC., I. balsamina L. and I. noli-tangere L. The GC and GC-MS methods resulted in identification of 226 volatile compounds comprising from 61.7%–88.2% of the total amount. The essential oils differed significantly in their composition. Fifteen compounds were shared among the essential oils of all investigated Impatiens species. The majority of these constituents was linalool (0.7%–15.1%), hexanal (0.2%–5.3%) and benzaldehyde (0.1%–10.2%). Moreover, the antioxidant activity of the essential oils was investigated using different methods. The chemical composition of the essential oils and its antioxidant evaluation are reported for the first time from the investigated taxon.

Effects Of Thyme (Thymus Vulgaris L.) And Rosemary (Rosmarinus Officinalis L.) Essential Oils On Growth Of Brochothrix Thermosphacta

The objective of the study was to investigate the chemical composition of Polish rosemary and thyme oils and to quantify the effects of these oils againstxa0Brochothrix thermosphacta. The major constituents of the thyme oil investigated were monoterpenes: thymol (29.4%) and p-cymene (21.6%). The rosemary oil represents 1,8-cineole chemotype (1,8-cineole 27.6%, limonene 13.5% and β-pinene 13.0%). The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of thyme oil forxa0B. thermosphactaxa0is 0.05% and that of rosemary oil 0.5%. MIC values are not dependent on the temperature of the cultures orxa0B. thermosphactaxa0strain. However, the most significant influence of both oils onxa0B. thermosphactaxa0growth was observed at 4°C than at 25°C. n n xa0 n n Key words:xa0Brochothrix thermosphacta, thyme oil, rosemary oil.