Isiaka A. Ogunwande

Composition of essential oils of four Hedychium

BackgroundVietnam is a country blessed with many medicinal plants widely used as food and for medicinal purposes, and they contain a host of active substances that contribute to health. However, the analysis of chemical constituents of these plant species has not been subject of literature discussion.ResultsIn this study, the chemical compositions of essential oils of four Hedychium species, obtained by hydrodistillation, were determined by means of gas chromatography-flame ionization detector (GC-FID) and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) techniques. Individually, α-pinene (52.5%) and β-pinene (31.8%) were present in the leaf oil of Hedychium stenopetalum Lodd., while linalool (45.2%), (E)-nerolidol (8.7%) and α-pinene (5.0%) were identified in the root. The leaf of Hedychium coronarium J. König was characterized by α-pinene (20.0%), linalool (15.8%), 1,8-cineole (10.7%), α-pinene (10.1%) and α-terpineol (8.6%); while α-pinene (23.6%), α-humulene (17.1%) and β-caryophyllene (13.0%) were identified in the root. Hedychium flavum Roxb., gave oil whose major compounds were α-pinene (22.5%), α-humulene (15.7%) and β-caryophyllene (10.4%) in the leaf; α-humulene (18.9%), β-caryophyllene (11.8%) and α-pinene (11.2%) in the stem, as well as α-pinene (21.8%), linalool (17.5%) and 1,8-cineole (13.5%) in the root. The main constituents of Hedychium ellipticum Buch.-Ham. ex Smith were (E)-nerolidol (15.9%), α-pinene (11.8%) and bornyl acetate (9.2%) in the leaf with 1,8-cineole (40.8%), α-pinene (18.3%) and α-pinene (11.0%) occurring in the root.ConclusionsUbiquitous monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes were identified as characteristic markers for Hedychium species. This work is of great importance for the evaluation of Hedychium essential oils grown in Vietnam.

Identification of the main volatile compounds in the leaf and flower of Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsl) Gray

The composition of the essential oils of the leaves and flowers of Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsl) A. Gray, Mexican sunflower, are reported. The oils were obtained by hydrodistillation in an all-glass Clevenger-type apparatus and analyzed by GC–MS. The leaf oil was comprised of an abundance of α-pinene (32.9%), β-caryophyllene (20.8%), germacrene D (12.6%), β-pinene (10.9%) and 1, 8-cineole (9.1%). Germacrene D (20.3%), β-caryophyllene (20.1%) and bicyclogermacrene (8.0%) characterized the oil of the flower. A number of aliphatic fatty acids and a diterpenoid compound, sandaracopimaradiene, that were present in the flower, could not be detected in the leaf oil.

Chemical composition, antimicrobial, and cytotoxicity studies on S. erianthum and S. macranthum essential oils.

Context: Solanum erianthum D. Don and Solanum macranthum Dunal (Solanaceae) are widely used in traditional medicine. The leaves act as an abortifacient and in particular to treat leucorrhoea, sores, and skin irritations. Objective: This study was undertaken to characterize the volatile constituents of the leaf and fruit essential oils of S. erianthum and S. macranthum; their antimicrobial and in vitro cytotoxic bioassay against human breast and prostate tumor cells. Methods: The volatile oils were obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed for their constituents by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations (MIC) were determined using the microbroth dilution technique while the cytotoxic potentials were evaluated using the Cell Titre 96(R) AQueous Non-Radioactive Cell Proliferation Assay method. Results: Solanum erianthum essential oils were characterized by the abundance of α-terpinolene (17.8%), α-phellandrene (17.5%), p-cymene (15.7%) and β-pinene (11.7%) in the leaves; α-humulene (23.1%), humulene epoxide II (20.0%), caryophyllene oxide (16.5%), methyl salicylate (11.8%) and β-caryophyllene (10.9%) in the fruits. The leaf oil of S. macranthum consisted of (E)-phytol (29.0%), pentadecanal (28.1%) and pentadecane (7.7%) while the major fruit oil constituents were α-humulene (36.5%), β-caryophyllene (17.8%), ethyl palmitate (9.4%), and methyl salicylate (8.2%). Solanum erianthum leaf volatile oil demonstrated potent inhibitory activity against Hs 578T and PC-3 human breast and prostate tumor cells respectively. In addition, the Solanum essential oils exhibited significant antimicrobial activity (19.5–625 µg/mL) on pathogens employed in the assay. Conclusion: The Solanum essential oils possess strong antimicrobial activity in addition to the potent cytotoxic potential of S. erianthum leaf oil against Hs 578T and PC-3 cells.

Study on the volatile oil contents of Annona glabra L., Annona squamosa L., Annona muricata L. and Annona reticulata L., from Vietnam.

The volatile compounds identified from four species of Annona from Vietnam are being reported. The oils were obtained from aliquots of plant samples by steam distillation and subjected to GC and GC–MS analysis. The main compounds of Annona glabra L., were β-caryophyllene (21.5%) germacrene D (17.7%), α-cadinol (5.4%) and β-elemene (5.2%). Annona squamosa L., comprised mainly of α-pinene (1.0–11.9%), limonene (0.8–11.7%), β-cubebene (0.5–13.0%), β-caryophyllene (11.6–24.5%), spathulenol (0.8–9.0%), caryophyllene oxide (1.0–10.6%) and α-cadinol (3.3–7.8%). The significant constituents of Annona muricata L., were α-pinene (9.4%), β-pinene (20.6%), ρ-mentha-2,4(8)-diene (9.8%), β-elemene (9.1%) and germacrene D (18.1%). However, camphene (0.2–6.6%), α-copaene (2.0–7.3%), β-elemene (5.9–16.6%), β-caryophyllene (8.3–14.9%), β-bisabolene (0.4–10.2%), δ-cadinene (1.7–4.8%) and germacrene D (9.3–22.8%) were the main compounds common to samples of Annona reticulata L. There were significant amounts of sabinene (11.2% and 2.7%; leaf and stem bark) and bicycloelemene (9.6% and 6.1%; stem and bark).

Chemical compositions of the leaf essential oils of some Annonaceae from Vietnam

The leaf oils of some genus of Annonaceae collected from Vietnam in December 2009 were analyzed by capillary gas chromatography (GC) and GC coupled with mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The major compounds identified in the oil of Artabotrys pallens Ast. were α-gurjunene (21.9%), α-phellandrene (20.1%) and bicycloelemene (9.6%). The oil of Goniothalamus tamirensis Pierre ex Finet & Gagnep. contained β-selinene (12.3%), bicyclogermacrene (10.9%), caryophyllene oxide (10.4%) and bicycloelemene (5.6%) in abundance. However, β-pinene (33.4%), α-pinene (32.3%) and β-caryophyllene (10.5%) were the most quantitative significant constituents of Dasymaschalon rostratum Merr. & Chun. From the oil of Uvaria pierrei Finet & Gagnep. we could identified bicycloelemene (18.3%), germacrene D (30.2%), bicyclogermacrene (26.4%) and β-bisabolene (7.7%) as the major compounds, while γ-elemene (54.0%) was the most singly abundant constituent of Uvaria dac Pierre ex Finet & Gagnep oil. All the other compounds were identified in amount less than 5% with the most prominent ones being myrcene (3.8%) and limonene (3.8%). In addition, the oil of Melodorum vietnamensis Ban., had an abundance of α-pinene (15.4%), bicyclogermacrene (13.9%), bicycloelemene (10.8%) and β-caryophyllene (9.9%). The chemotaxonomic importance of the results was also discussed.

Studies on the Volatile Oils of Momordica charantia L. (Cucurbitaceae) and Phyllanthus amarus Sch. et Thonn (Euphorbiaceae)

Abstract The oils obtained from the aerial shrubs of Momordica charantia L. and Phyllanthus amarus Sch. et Thonn from Nigeria, were analyzed for their constituents by means of gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Sixty-three different compounds, amounting to 88.8% of the total oil contents, were identified in the oil of M. charantia. It comprised of (Z)-3-hexenol (34.7%), (E)-2-hexenol (10.1%), and phytol (8.3%) as the major compounds. Linalool (5.8%) was the only monoterpenoid identified in a significant amount. Results from analysis of the oil of P. amarus revealed that eighty-two identified compounds were responsible for 87.6% of the oil content. The “stone-breaker” shrub oil was characterized by the dominance of linalool (36.4%) and phytol (13.0%). Moreover, compounds such as hexahydrofarnesyl acetone (3.4%), pentacosane (2.5%), and naphthalene (2.4%) occurred above 1%.

Comparative Analysis of the Oils of Three Ficus Species from Nigeria

Abstract The oil composition of three Ficus species (Moraceae): Ficus lutea Vahl., Ficus polita Vahl., and Ficus thonningii Blume., were studied by GC and GC/MS. The main compounds in F. lutea were acorenone B (20.7%) and phytol (16.2%), with significant quantities of demethoxyageratochromene (6.0%), 6, 10, 14-trimethyl-2-pentadecanone (5.1%) and zingiberene (5.2%). However, F. polita had phytol (23.3%) and 6, 10, 14-trimethyl-2-pentadecanone (15.0%) in abundance, in addition to sizeable proportions of (E)-6, 10-dimethyl-5, 9-undecadien-2-one (7.3%) and drimenol (5.8%), while F. thonningii comprised 6, 10, 14-trimethyl-2-pentadecanone (18.8%) and phytol (14.7%). Acorenone B (7.6%) and β-gurjunene (6.3%) were also observed in higher amounts. Phytol and 6, 10, 14-trimethyl-2-pentadecanone seem to be the marker components of Nigerian grown Ficus species as it is evident in this report and previous studies.

Sesquiterpenes-Rich Essential Oils of Polyalthia longifolia Thw. (Annonaceae) from Nigeria

Abstract The essential oils of the leaf and stem bark of Polyalthia longifolia Thw. (Annonaceae) have been studied for their constituents by means of GC and GC/MS. The leaf oil was almost exclusively composed of sesquiterpene derivatives, being represented by allo-aromadendrene (19.7%), caryophyllene oxide (14.4%), β-caryophyllene (13.0%), β-selinene (7.9%), α-humulene (7.0%) and ar-curcumene (6.8%). However, α-copaene and α-muurolol (ca. 8.7%), β-selinene (8.6%), viridiflorene (8.1%), α-guaiene (7.8%), allo-aromadendrene (7.4%) and δ-cadinene (7.0%) were the major constituents occurring in the oil of the bark sample. All the other sesquiterpenoid compounds were observed in amount greater than 1%. α-Pinene (0.5%) and camphene (tr), which are the two monoterpenoids present in the leaf oil, could not be detected from the bark essential oil.

Essential Oils from the Medicinal Plants of Africa

Numerous species of medicinal plants from Africa are important aromatic and ornamental plants, as well as being medicinal. Many of these species produce essential oils, which have applications in folk and modern medicine, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical industries. Essential oils generally have a broad spectrum of bioactivity, owing to the presence of several active ingredients that work through various modes of action. Due to their mode of extraction, mostly by distillation, essential oils contain a variety of volatile molecules such as terpenes and phenol-derived aromatic and aliphatic components. Aromatic and medicinal plants of Africa, comprises of important families which are currently the subject of phytochemical attention due to their biological and chemical diversity. The genera are widespread throughout the world, and are important plants in African traditional medicine, being used for the treatment of diseases such as malaria, hepatitis, cancer, inflammation, and infections by fungi, bacteria, and viruses. Extensive studies on aromatic and medicinal plants from Africa have led to the identification of many novel compounds as well as essentials oils. This review summarizes the research into the major constituents and biological activities of essential oils from aromatic and medicinal plants of Africa between the years 2007 and 2012.

Insecticidal Activity and Chemical Composition of the Morinda lucida Essential Oil against Pulse Beetle Callosobruchus maculatus

Insecticidal activity of essential oil extracted from Morinda lucida was tested on pulse beetle Callosobruchus maculatus, which is a pest that causes serious damage to several pulses. The insecticidal activity was compared with two pesticides, Phostoxin and Primo-ban-20. 120 mixed sex adult C. maculatus were introduced, along with 30 g of cowpeas. Four concentrations (0.40, 0.20, 0.10, and 0.05 μg/mL) of the M. lucida essential oil, Phostoxin, and Primo-ban-20 were tested. Essential oil chemical composition was analyzed by GC-MS. M. lucida essential oil showed a high toxicological effect, producing 100% mortality after 72 hours at a dose of 0.20 μg/mL. M. lucida essential oil had a potent insecticidal activity (LC90 = 0.629 μg/mL) compared to both pesticides, Phostoxin (LC90 = 0.652 μg/mL) and Primo-ban-20 (LC90 = 0.726 μg/mL), at 24 h. The main compounds of the essential oil were the oxygenated monoterpenoids, 1,8-cineole (43.4%), and α-terpinyl acetate (14.5%), and the monoterpene hydrocarbons, mostly sabinene (8.2%) and β-pinene (4.0%). Results clearly indicate that M. lucida essential oil can be used as an effective alternative for pulse beetle C. maculatus control, and it could be tested against other pulse beetles affecting Asia and Africa and throughout the world, thereby reducing use of synthetic pesticides.