Donata Ricci

Senescence delay and change of antioxidant enzyme levels in Cucumis sativus L. etiolated seedlings by ELF magnetic fields

We exposed cucumber Cucumis sativus L. etiolated seedlings to a 50 Hz, 1-Gauss magnetic field (MF) 24 h per day for 2 weeks in the dark, starting from complete divarication of cotyledons and observed quickened growth and prolonged life of EMF-exposed seedlings compared to the controls. Since this phenomenon may be due to MF-induced delay in the senescence process which, in turn, is believed to be dependent on the potency of the seedling oxidative defense system, we assayed some related enzymes and found that the combined action of higher levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione reductase (GR) in MF-exposed seedlings may promote their survival and delay the appearance of signs of decay.

The In Vitro Action of Essential Oils on Different Organisms

Abstract The antifungal action of eight (Lavandula hybrid, Salvia officinalis L., Rosmarinus officinalis L., Thymus vulgaris L., Origanum vulgare L., Mentha piperita L., Coriandrum sativum L. and Laurus nobilis L.) essential oils was tested in vitro against Phytophtora cinnamomi Rads., Pyrenochaeta lycopersici Kleb. and Verticillium dahliae Kleb., using different concentrations (up to 1600 ppm). The fungistatic + fungicidal activity of the oils was determined, and the most effective essential oils were found to be those of oregano, thyme, peppermint and coriander. Moreover, the oils were tested to determine the antifungal activity against two fungi (Candida albicans, Trichophyton mentagrophytes) that are pathogens for humans.

Chemical Composition and Antifungal Activity of Essential Oil Obtained from In Vitro Plants of Thymus mastichina L.

Abstract The essential oil isolated from plantlets of Thymus mastichina L. ssp. mastichina cultured in vitro was analyzed by GC and GC/MS. The oil was characterized by the richness of 1,8-cineole (55.5%) and linalool (24.5%). These results are in accordance with the chemical composition previously reported for this taxon. The oil showed antifungal activity against eight pathogenic fungi of die genus Fusarium with MICs and MFCs ranging from 1500 to 2100 μg/mL and from 2.0 to 2.4 mg/mL, respectively.

Composition and Antifungal Activity of Two Essential Oils of Hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis L.)

Abstract The two essential oils isolated from plants of hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis L. ssp. officinalis) grown in two different localities near Urbino (Marche, Italy) were analyzed by GC and GC/MS. The major components were pinocamphone (34% and 18.5%), isopinocamphone (3.2% and 29%) and β-pinene (10.5% and 10.8%). The major differences in the composition of the oils were detectable in the ratio of pinocamphone/isopinocamphone, in the percentage of linalool (0.2% and 7.9%) and camphor (0.3% and 5.3%). The oils showed antifungal activity against 13 strains of phytopathogenic fungi; the activity of the oil extracted from plants grown at 1000 m above sea level showed higher activity.

Composition of the essential oil of Peucedanum verticillare.

Analysis by GC and GC/MS of the essential oil obtained from aerial parts and fruit of Peucedanum verticillare revealed 32 components. The major constituents were found to be sabinene and (E)-anethole in the leaf and branch oil, sabinene in the fresh fruit oil and β-caryophyllene, α-phellandrene, (Z)-β-farnesene and β-bisabolene in the dried fruit oil.

Polyphenols profile and antioxidant activity of skin and pulp of a rare apple from Marche region (Italy)

BackgroundApples are an important source of polyphenols in the human diet and the consumption of this fruit has been linked to the prevention of degenerative diseases.ResultsCatechins, procyanidins, hydroxycinnamic acids, flavonol glycosides, dihydrochalcone glycosides and one anthocyanin: cyanidin-3-O-galactoside, were identified both in the peel and pulp. Procyanidins, catechins and flavonols represent the main constituents of peel. Concerning the antioxidant activity, in the reduction of the stable DPPH radical and in the inhibition of lipid peroxidation, the ethanolic extracts of red peel and red pulp showed a good similar activity comparable to ascorbic acid in the DPPH test and about ten times more active than BHT in the lipoxygenase test, and were much more active than aqueous extracts. The ORAC value of red pulp aqueous extract resulted comparable to that of red berries: vaccinium, rubus and ribes, foods appreciated for their health value.ConclusionThis apple contains an appreciable amount of polyphenols also in the flesh; this variety with red flesh can also be useful for researchers engaged in apples varietal innovation in addition to being used as food apple.

Anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antifungal furanosesquiterpenoids isolated from Commiphora erythraea (Ehrenb.) Engl. resin

The topical anti-inflammatory, free radical scavenging and antifungal activities of essential oils and extracts of Commiphora erythraea (Ehrenb.) Engl. resin were investigated. The hexane extract significantly inhibited oedema when applied topically in Croton oil-induced ear oedema assay in mice. The same extract showed antioxidant activity in DPPH radical scavenging assay. A bioguided separation of the hexane extract led to the isolation of furanosesquiterpenoids 1 and 2 that showed a weak antifungal activity, while compounds 3-5 resulted to be antioxidant (EC(50) 4.28, 2.56 and 1.08 mg/mL, respectively) and anti-inflammatory (30, 26 and 32% oedema reduction, respectively).

Chemical composition and antifungal activity of the essential oil of Satureja montana from central Italy

Bo,” Urbino, Italy; 2) Dipartimento di Scienze del Farmaco, Via dei Vestini 31, 66013 Chieti Scalo (CH), Italy, fax: +3908713555315, e-mail: fepifano@unich.it; 3) Dipar timento di Chimica e Tecnologia del Farmaco, Sezione di Chimica Organica, Universita degli Studi, Via del Liceo, 06123 Perugia, Italy. Published in Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 5, pp. 514-515, September-October, 2007. Original article submitted June 16, 2006.

Phytotoxic clerodane diterpenes from Salvia miniata Fernald (Lamiaceae).

Our ongoing research to identify natural growth inhibitors with diterpene and triterpene skeletons exuding from the surface of the aerial parts of Salvia species led us to study Salvia miniata Fernald. Ten clerodane diterpenoids were found, along with three known diterpenes. Most of the isolated compounds from S. miniata inhibited the germination of Papaver rhoeas L. and Avena sativa L. in Petri dish experiments. Parallel results have been obtained in experiments carried out to evaluate the subsequent growth of the seedlings of the target species in the presence of the tested compounds.

Composition and antifungal activity of essential oil of Salvia sclarea from Italy

Salvia sclarea L. (clary sage) is a biennial or perennial shrub, native to southern Europe and belonging to the family of Lamiaceae [1]. Oil of clary sage has been reported to exert a depressant action on the CNS in mice and a hydrocolerethic effect in rats [2], a topical antiinflammatory activity in porcine buccal mucosa [3], and to act as a stomachic in digestive disorders and in kidney diseases. In Italy S. sclarea is traditionally used to cure coughs and as a stomachic or to treat intestinal spasms [4]. The chemical composition of S. sclarea essential oils of different origins has been reported [5] and a significant antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus epidermis, S. aureus, and Candida albicans has been observed. To the best of our knowledge, the antifungal activity of S. sclarea oil on phytopathogenic fungi has so far been studied only on three fungi [5]. The aim of this work was to examine the chemical composition of the essential oil of S. sclarea collected near Urbino (central Italy) and to evaluate the activity of the oil and two of its major components on the growth of four phytopathogenic fungi, Fusarium oxysporum, Botrytis cinerea, Rhizoctonia solani, and Alternaria solani. The chemical composition of the essential oil is reported in Table 1. The major components of the oil were linalool (24.5%), linalyl acetate (20.9%), geranyl acetate (6.3%), (E)β-ocimene (5.7%), and caryophyllene oxide (5.3%). The in vitro antimicrobial activity of the essential oil of S. sclarea showed that R. solani is totally inhibited at 800 ppm, and B. cinerea at 1600 ppm, both by fungistatic effects, and F. oxysporum and A. solani at 3200 ppm by fungicidal and fungistatic effect, respectively (see Table 2). Results (expressed as MIC values) obtained from the agar dilution method are respectively 700 ppm for R. solani , 950 ppm for B. cinerea, and 1800 and 1900 ppm for F. oxysporum and A. solani , respectively, while MFCs are 1450 ppm for R. solani , 3000 for F. oxysporum and B. cinerea, and more than 3200 for A. solani (Table 3). The most sensitive microorganism tested with the lowest MIC value was therefore R. solani . Pure commercial linalool and linalyl acetate were then tested independently for their antifungal action on the fungal strains tested and showed different degrees of inhibition. The MIC val u s obtained for pure linalool on R. solani , B. cinerea, F. oxysporum, and A. solani were 200, 300, 800, and 1000, respectively, and MFCs obtained for the same fungi were 2400, 2400, 2800, and 3200 respectively. The MIC value for linalyl acetate, tested on all fungal strains, was over 4000 ppm. Basing on the literature data, [5] it is conceivable that the activity of oil from S. sclarea could be due mainly to the presence of linalool.