Éva Héthelyi

Essential Oil of Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) of Hungarian Origin

Abstract Because of its sensitivity to cold, rosemary was not previously cultivated in Hungary. As a result of the selection work, we have been successful in isolating a frost-resistant selection of rosemary, the cultivation of which is now underway. The composition of the oil of this new rosemary selection is slightly different to other rosemary oils. The major components of the oil were α-pinene (4.1–14.4%), 3-octanone (trace-10.0%), β-pinene (5.3–13.7%), 1,8-cineole (21.3–46.4%), camphor (13.0–31.0%) and verbenone (2.5–11.1%). Among the components identified by GC and GC/MS, 3-octanone and verbenone were found to be the characteristic constituents of the oil of the new Hungarian selection. It was also found to possess antimicrobial activity.

Composition of the Essential Oil of Clone 409 of Tanacetum vulgare and 2D NMR Investigation of trans-Chrysanthenyl Acetate

ABSTRACT The essential oil from clone 409 of Tanacetum vulgare contains trans-chrysanthenyl acetate (75%) and trans-chrysanthenol (5–10%). The composition was determined by GC, GC/MS, 1H- and 13C-NMR spectroscopy. The structures of the main components were established by two-dimensional NMR techniques. Unambiguous assignment of all chemical shifts was achieved and coupling constants of diagnostic interest were determined.

Separation and identification of antibacterial chamomile components using OPLC, bioautography and GC-MS

Components of 50% aqueous ethanol chamomile (Matricaria recutica L.) flower extract, previously found antibacterial in a TLC-bioautographic study, were separated and isolated by the use of on-line overpressured layer chromatography (OPLC). This system consisted of an OPLC 50 BS system, an on-line coupled flow-through UV detector, and a manual fraction collector. The collected fractions were investigated by GC-MS analysis and by TLC re-chromatography with subsequent visualization, performed after use of the vanillin-sulphuric acid reagent, or under UV illumination, or applying bioautographic detection. The main compounds of the collected 11 fractions were identified by GC-MS. The results showed that the antibacterial effect of 50% aqueous ethanol extract of chamomile is ascribable to cis-, trans-spiroethers, and the coumarins like herniarin and umbelliferone.

Essential Oil Composition of Three Cultivated Thymus Chemotypes from Hungary

Abstract The essential oils of three Hungarian cultivated thymes (Thymus vulgaris L., Thymus x citriodorus (Pers.) Schreb, Thymus x citriodorus “archers gold”) were obtained by steam distillation of air-dried plant materials and analyzed by GC and GC/MS. Three different chemotypes were found. In the oil of T. vulgaris thymol (45.6%), in T. x citriodorus geraniol (39.2%) and in T. x citriodorus, “archers gold,” carvacrol (43.5%) was the main component. Among the other constituents, p-cymene, β-caryophyllene, geranial, 1,8-cineole and γ-terpinene were characterized.

Application of Direct Bioautography and SPME-GC-MS for the Study of Antibacterial Chamomile Ingredients

The isolation and characterization of antibacterial chamomile components were performed by the use of direct bioautography and solid phase microextraction (SPME)-gas chromatography (GC)-mass spectrometry (MS). Four ingredients, active against Vibrio fischeri, were identified as the polyacetylene geometric isomers cis- and trans-spiroethers, the coumarin related herniarin, and the sesquiterpene alcohol (−)-alpha-bisabolol.

In-situ clean-up and OPLC fractionation of chamomile flower extract to search active components by bioautography

Bioassay-guided isolation of antibacterial components of chamomile flower methanol extract was performed by overpressured layer chromatography (OPLC) with on-line detection, fractionation combined with sample clean-up in-situ in the adsorbent bed after off-line sample application. The antibacterial effect of the eluted fractions and of those compounds remaining on the adsorbent layer after separation was tested with direct bioautography (DB) against the bioluminescent Pseudomonas savastanoi pv. maculicola and Vibrio fischeri. The fractions with high biological activity were analyzed by solid phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (SPME-GC-MS) and liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Two active uneluted compounds were characterized by off-line OPLC-MS using a thin-layer chromatography (TLC)-MS interface. Mainly, essential oil components, coumarins, flavonoids, phenolic acids, and fatty acids were identified in the active fractions.

Chemical Composition of the Artemisia annua Essential Oils from Hungary

ABSTRACT Chemical composition of the essential oils of 85 individuals of Artemisia annua L. was determined by GC. The plant material was cultivated in Budaors (near Budapest). The essential oil content varied between 0.48–0.81%. The main components of the oil obtained from fresh flowering shoots were artemisia ketone (33–75%) and artemisia alcohol (15–56%). Five other components of the oils were identified by GC/MS. Four different types of A. annua oils were identified: (a) 41% of the individuals contained artemisia ketone (75%) and artemisia alcohol (15%); (b) a decreasing ratio of artemisia ketone and an increasing ratio of artemisia alcohol (38% of the individuals); (c) artemisia ketone (50%) and artemisia alcohol (45%) (14% of individuals); and (d) artemisia ketone (33%) and artemisia alcohol (56%) (7% of individuals).

Composition of essential oil in genetically transformed roots of Ruta graveolens

The composition of essential oil obtained by hydrodistillation from genetically transformed roots of common rue (Ruta graveolens L.) was analyzed. Using gas chromatography and complex gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, it was established that the major component of rue essential oil was a root-specific sesquiterpene geijerene comprising 67% of total amount of volatile compounds. In essential oil of cultured rue roots, furocoumarins characteristic of intact plant roots were found, viz. osthole, halepensin, and rutacultin. The content of essential oil in genetically transformed rue roots was 0.23% of root dry weight, which is comparable with that in the roots of intact plants. The long-term maintenance in the in vitro cultured rue roots of a capability for the synthesis of essential oil major components characteristic of intact plants allows their usage for studying the physiological activity of these volatile compounds and their putative role in the plant root interaction in biocenoses.

Essential oil constituents of intact plants and in vitro cultures of Tagetes patula L

Abstract The occurrence of volatile compounds in flowers and roots of intact plants and in vitro hairy root cultures of Tagetes patula L. was investigated by GC and GC/MS. The flowers oil was dominated by mono- and sesquiterpenes. The main component was the sesquiterpene hydrocarbon β-caryophyllene (50.2%). However, the oils of normal roots and hairy root cultures were found to contain sulfur-containing thiophene structures. The following four compounds were identified: 5-(3-buten-1-ynyl)-2,2′-bithiophene (BBT), 5-(3-penten-1-ynyl)-2,2′-bithiophene (PBT), 2,2′:5′,2″- terthiophene (α-terthiophene) and 5-(4-acetoxy-1-butynyl)-2,2′-bithiophene (BBTOAc). The main components were BBT (47.0%) and α-terthiophene (19.8%) in the normal root oil and BBT (25.0%), α-terthiophene (14.3%) and BBTOAc (13.7%) in hairy root oil, respectively.