Felice Senatore

Potential allelochemicals from the essential oil of Ruta graveolens

The essential oil of aerial parts of Ruta graveolens was obtained by hydrodistillation with a 0.74% yield on a dry weight basis. Thirty-eight components were identified by GC and GC-MS analyses. 2-Ketones predominated in the essential oil, with undecan-2-one (46.8%) and nonan-2-one (18.8%) as the main constituents. The essential oil and some of its constituents were tested for their allelopathic activity in vitro on radish germination and radicle growth in light and darkness. The essential oil and some of its minor constituents were effective and dose-dependent inhibitors of both the germination and radicle growth; 2-ketones are not active. The possible allelopathic activity of rue essential oil and some its isolated constituents is reported.

Essential oils of Salvia bracteata and Salvia rubifolia from Lebanon: Chemical composition, antimicrobial activity and inhibitory effect on human melanoma cells.

AIM OF THE STUDY Salvia bracteata Banks et Sol. and Salvia rubifolia Boiss. are known in folk medicine of Lebanon for the treatment of microbial infections, cancer, urinary and pulmonary problems. In the present study the chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of essential oils from aerial parts of Salvia bracteata and Salvia rubifolia collected in Lebanon were evaluated. The oils were also tested for their potential antiproliferative effects against M14 human melanoma cells. MATERIAL AND METHODS The oils were studied by GC and GC-MS and their antibacterial activity (MIC and MBC) was tested against ten bacteria species using the broth dilution method. The inhibitory effect on human melanoma cells (measurement of cell vitality, cell membrane integrity and genomic DNA fragmentation) was studied using MTT assay, calculation of LDH release and COMET assay. RESULTS The oils showed a good antibacterial activity (MIC = 50 microg/ml) against Gram+ bacteria. They besides exhibited an inhibitory effect on the human cancer cells examined inducing also apoptotic cell death, but the oil of Salvia rubifolia was significantly (p < 0.001) more active as compared to the oil of Salvia bracteata. CONCLUSION The results on the pharmacological activities of these Salvia species provide an in vitro scientific support for the use of these plants in traditional herbal preparations.

Medicinal plants and phytotherapy in the Amalfitan Coast, Salerno Province, Campania, southern Italy

This paper reports the results of an investigation carried out from April 1990 to October 1991 in the Amalfitan Coast, Salerno Province (Southern Italy). One hundred and twenty-five species are used in traditional medicine, belonging to 53 families; some of these were unknown in Italian phytotherapy or present an unknown therapeutic use. For each species, the vernacular name, the formulation and the popular use are presented.

Chemical Composition and Antimicrobial Activity of the Essential Oils from Three Chemotypes of Origanum vulgare L. ssp. hirtum (Link) Ietswaart Growing Wild in Campania (Southern Italy)

Essential oils obtained from inflorescences of three Origanum vulgare L. ssp. hirtum (Link) Ietswaart samples, growing wild in different locations in Campania (Southern Italy), were analysed. Three chemotypes were found: the first, with a prevalence of carvacrol/thymol; the second, characterized by the prevalence of thymol/α-terpineol; the third, featuring a prevalence of linalyl acetate and linalool. This chemical study attempts to provide a contribution in shedding light on the relationship between chemical composition and biotypes and/or chemotypes in Origanum vulgare ssp. hirtum. The essential oils were also evaluated for their antibacterial activity against 10 selected microorganisms. The data obtained contribute to the future view to use the essential oils as natural preservatives for food products, due to their positive effect on their safety and shelf life.

Traditional phytotherapy in the Peninsula Sorrentina, Campania, Southern Italy

A study on the wild and cultivated medicinal plants used in the Peninsula Sorrentina (southern Italy) is reported; 129 plants distributed among 53 different families beloning to Pteridophytes, Gymnosperms and Angiosperms are used in the treatment of various human diseases. The use of some species is reported for the first time in this paper.

Evaluation of the migration of mutagens/carcinogens from PET bottles into mineral water by Tradescantia/micronuclei test, Comet assay on leukocytes and GC/MS.

This study monitored the release of mutagenic/carcinogenic compounds into mineral water (natural and carbonated) from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles, using a plant mutagenicity test which reveals micronuclei formation in Tradescantia pollen cells (Trad/MCN test), a DNA damage assay (Comet assay) on human leukocytes and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) for the characterisation of migrants. The water samples were collected at a bottling plant and stored in PET bottles for a period ranging from 1 to 12 months. Every month some samples were randomly collected and lyophilised, the residual powders were extracted with organic solvents and then analysed by GC/MS and tested for DNA damage in human leukocytes, or reconstituted with distilled water to obtain concentrates for the exposure of Tradescantia inflorescences. Micronuclei increase in pollen was found only in natural mineral water stored for 2 months. DNA-damaging activity was found in many of the natural and carbonated water samples. Spring water was negative in the plant micronuclei test and the Comet assay, whereas distributed spring water showed DNA-damaging effects, suggesting a possible introduction of genotoxins through the distribution pipelines. GC/MS analysis showed the presence in mineral water of di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate, a nongenotoxic hepatocarcinogenic plasticizer, after 9 months of storage in PET bottles.

Antimicrobial and antioxidant properties of the essential oil of Salvia lanigera from Cyprus

The essential oil of aerial parts of Salvia lanigera Poir. (Lamiaceae) growing wild in Cyprus was obtained by hydrodistillation and was analysed by GC and GC-MS. A total of 67 compounds, representing 93.6% of the oil, were identified, and the major components were showed to be thymol (12.1%), hexadecanoic acid (6.0%), carvacrol and α-thujone (5.7%). The essential oil was assayed for its antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. Antimicrobial activity of the oil, evaluated using the broth dilution method, resulted higher against Gram-positive bacteria than the other referenced strains tested. Antioxidant activity of the oil was evaluated by using DPPH and FRAP methods together with three antioxidant standards, L-ascorbic acid, tert-butyl-4-hydroxy toluene (BHT) and gallic acid. The activity of the sample in both methods was higher than that of all of standards used at the same dose.

Chemical composition and anticancer activity of essential oils of Mediterranean sage (Salvia officinalis L.) grown in different environmental conditions

Salvia officinalis L. can be found worldwide and its leaves are commonly used as ingredient in food industry. Sage essential oil is applied in the treatment of a range of diseases and has been shown to possess different biological activities. The objectives of our research were to study the effects of environment on crop, chemical composition and anticancer activity on S. officinalis essential oil. Sage was cultivated at eighteen experimental sites in south-central Italy (Molise) in different growing environments. The essential oils (S1-S18), extracted by hydrodistillation, were analyzed by GC and CG/MS. Results show that the main components were α-thujone, camphor, borneol, γ-muurolene and sclareol for all the samples, but the percentages of these compounds varied depending on environmental factors such as altitude, water availability and pedo-climatic conditions. The growth-inhibitory and proapoptotic effects of the eighteen sage essential oils were evaluated in three human melanoma cell lines, A375, M14, and A2058.

Chemical constituents and biological activities of Nepeta species.

Contents1. Introduction2. Chemical Constituents2.1. Monoterpenes2.1.1. Nepetalactones and Related Compounds2.1.2. Iridoid Glucosides2.1.3. Other Monoterpenes2.2. Sesquiterpenes2.3. Diterpenes2.4. Triterpenes2.5. Flavonoids2.6. Phenols2.7. Essential Oils2.8. Others3. Biological Activities3.1. Activity on Central Nervous System3.2. Antibacterial, Antifungal, and Antiviral Activities3.3. Antioxidant Activity3.4. Antinociceptive, Analgesic, and Anti-Inflammatory Activities3.5. Cytotoxic Activity3.6. Phytotoxic Activity3.7. Spasmolytic and Bronchodilatory Activities3.8. Anti-Atherosclerotic Activity3.9. Vasorelaxant and Platelet-Aggregation Activity3.10. Feline-Attractant and Insect-Repellent Activities4. Concluding Remarks1. Introduction. – The genus Nepeta, one of the largest genera of the Lamiaceaefamily, belongs to the subfamily Nepetoideae and tribe Mentheae. It comprises ca. 300herbaceous perennial, rarely annual species most of which are spread out over thelarger part of central and southern Europe, the Near East, central and southern Asia,and some areas of Africa. The plants of this genus have beautiful flowers with apleasantodor;thepollengrainsarehexacolpate[1].Thegreatestdiversityandrichness

Essential oils from two Peruvian Satureja species

The essential oils from the aerial parts of Satureja boliviana Briq. and S. brevicalix Epl. (Lamiaceae) from Cusco Department, Peru, were obtained by hydrodistillation in 1.03% (v/w) and 0.96% (v/w) yields related to dry weight. By GC–MS analyses, 65 compounds were identified in both oils. Oxygenated monoterpenes constituted 81.5% and 87.0% of the oils of S. boliviana and S. brevicalix, respectively. In both oils, menthone (24.2% and 35.7%) and isomenthone (29.7% and 25.1%) were the main components. For S. boliviana, some differences were found compared with oil analysed in earlier studies, which could suggest the possible occurrence of chemical types.