H. Rodolfo Juliani

Bioactivity of Essential Oils and Their Components

The present review demonstrates that EOs and their components have many functional properties and exert their action in mammals as well as in other organisms (insects, fungi, bacteria and viruses). The synergistic effect of EO components is a promising field that could lead to the optimisation of a given bioactivity. This phenomenon has been observed in many activities, such as those of antimicrobials, antioxidants, analgesics and semiochemicals. EOs are complex mixtures of components that show higher activities than their isolated components; their final activities are due to the combine effects of several minor components. Thus, EOs contain multifunctional components that exert their activities through different mechanisms. EOs and their components may have new applications against various diseases of different origins (cancer, fungal, bacterial or viral), because some of these complex diseases require multiple components and multifunctional therapies.

LC-MS Method for the Simultaneous Quantitation of the Anti-inflammatory Constituents in Oregano (Origanum Species)

Oregano (Origanum spp.), a popular herb in western and Middle Eastern cuisine, was reported to show anti-inflammatory activities in vitro and in vivo but without any information as to the compounds responsible, whether the plants were authenticated or only contained true Origanum spp. Using a wide range of botanically authenticated oregano, we were able to show that oregano had anti-inflammatory activity and then using biodirected-guided fractionation, identified the anti-inflammatory agents in oregano as rosmarinic acid, oleanolic acid, and ursolic acid. In this study, we successfully developed an LC-MS (SIM mode) method to achieve coquantitation of these three organic acids with the application of a unique tandem column system. The detection of rosmarinic acid was optimal under negative ion mode of SIM, whereas oleanolic acid and ursolic acid were sensitive to positive ion mode. The simultaneous quantitation was attained by setting two time segments in one run to facilitate the ESI polarity switch. For the investigated analytes romarinic acid, oleanolic acid, and ursolic acid, good linearities (r(2) > 0.999) were obtained for each calibration curve. Validation for this method showed a precision (relative standard deviation) ranging from 4.84 to 6.41%, and the recoveries varied from 92.2 to 100.8% for the three analytes. A quantitative survey of these anti-inflammatory constituents in different oregano species (O. vulgare ssp. hirtum, O. vulgare, and O. syriacum) and chemotypes within the species varied significantly in their accumulation of rosmarinic, oleanolic, and ursolic acids. Significant variation in chemical composition between species and within a species was found.

Chemical Diversity of Lippia multiflora Essential Oils from West Africa

Abstract The essential oil content, composition and the physicochemical properties of Lippia multiflora leaves from twelve different regions in Ghana were characterized in this study. The Ghanaian oils showed a significant variability in their chemical composition and five chemotypes were identified. The oil from Aframso Bridge was yellow with a refractive index (RI) of 1.4853, density (DE) of 0.894 and was dominated by linalool (29%) and germacrene D (28%) with fresh, and slightly medicinal and spicy aroma. Ghanaian samples from Seikwa, Buem Nsuta and Golokwati were characterized by high levels of sesquiterpenes (45–70%). The aroma was medicinal/herbaceous and the color was typically yellow, except the oil from Seikwa which was dark orange-yellow, RI ranging from 1.4920 to 1.5043 and DE 0.893 to 0.93 D. The oils from Nyankpala, Sari, Amantin, Atebubu and Kobre contained high levels of aromatic monoterpenes (p-cymene 14–19%, thymol 30–40%, and thymyl acetate 14–17%). The oils were characterized as spicy and the color ranged from dark yellow (Nyankpala, Sari and Kobre) to yellow (Atebubu and Amantin) (RI 1.4969 to 1.5020, DE 0.9207 to 0.9344). The oil from Ho showed lower levels of aromatic monoterpenes and higher levels of farnesol, the oil was yellow and aroma woody/camphoraceous (1.492 RI, 0.893 D). In contrast, oils from Nsawkaw and Kofiase-Kubesiase were composed of high amounts of 1,8-cineole (43–47%), sabinene (12–15%, respectively), and were light yellow (RI 1.4695 to 1.4712, DE 0.8995 to 0.9002). A cluster analysis was performed for comparison and characterization of L. multiflora oils from Ghana other 33 oils from 10 African countries. The oils from Ghana with these five chemotypes appeared to be the most diverse oils in Sub-Saharan Africa.

A rapid LC/MS/MS method for the analysis of nonvolatile antiinflammatory agents from Mentha spp.

UNLABELLED Mints (Mentha spp.), aromatic crops grown largely for their essential oils, also are rich sources of nonvolatile antiinflammatory agents. Identification and quantitation of the constituents responsible for their antiinflammatory activity is challenging owing to the lack of suitable chromatographic methodology. In the present research, the simultaneous quantitation of antiinflammatory constituents rosmarinic acid, oleanolic acid, and ursolic acid in mints was attained by using a unique tandem HPLC column system coupled with an electrospray ionization mass detection (MRM mode). The ion mode optimization for rosmarinic acid under negative and triterpenoid acids under positive was achieved by setting 2 time segments in a single run where the polarity mode was switched from negative (0 to 10 min) to positive (10 to 40 min). For the investigated concentration ranges of antiinflammatory agents in mints, good linearities (r² ≥ 0.998) were obtained for each calibration curve. Validation of precision and accuracy for this method showed that intra- and inter-day repeatabilities for all analytes were less than 5.51%, and the recoveries varied from 97.8% to 99.3%. The developed LC/MS/MS assay provides a suitable quality control method for the determination of antiinflammatory constituents in Mentha spp. There is a wide range of diversity in the natural product composition for these acids across the Mentha germplasm collection evaluated. The presence of these antiinflammatory acids in post-distilled mints shows that value-added nutraceutical enriched products can be developed with proper processing and recovery systems in addition to the distillation and capture of the valuable volatile essential oils. PRACTICAL APPLICATION Results from this research would benefit both commercial farmers growing mint for essential oil and those in the food industry where value-added phytopharmaceutical enriched products can be developed with proper processing, quality control, and recovery systems during mint essential oil distillation.