Jelena Vukojević

Chemical composition of essential oils of Thymus and Mentha species and their antifungal activities.

The potential antifungal effects of Thymus vulgaris L., Thymus tosevii L., Mentha spicata L., and Mentha piperita L. (Labiatae) essential oils and their components against 17 micromycetal food poisoning, plant, animal and human pathogens are presented. The essential oils were obtained by hydrodestillation of dried plant material. Their composition was determined by GC-MS. Identification of individual constituents was made by comparison with analytical standards, and by computer matching mass spectral data with those of the Wiley/NBS Library of Mass Spectra. MIC’s and MFC’s of the oils and their components were determined by dilution assays. Thymol (48.9%) and p-cymene (19.0%) were the main components of T. vulgaris, while carvacrol (12.8%), α-terpinyl acetate (12.3%), cis-myrtanol (11.2%) and thymol (10.4%) were dominant in T. tosevii. Both Thymus species showed very strong antifungal activities. In M. piperita oil menthol (37.4%), menthyl acetate (17.4%) and menthone (12.7%) were the main components, whereas those of M. spicata oil were carvone (69.5%) and menthone (21.9%). Mentha sp. showed strong antifungal activities, however lower than Thymus sp. The commercial fungicide, bifonazole, used as a control, had much lower antifungal activity than the oils and components investigated. It is concluded that essential oils of Thymus and Mentha species possess great antifungal potential and could be used as natural preservatives and fungicides.

Lignin degradation by selected fungal species.

As biological decomposition of plant biomass represents a popular alternative environmental-friendly and economically justified process, screening of ligninolytic enzyme systems of various fungal species is a topical study area. The goal of the study was to obtain clear insight into the dynamics of laccase, Mn-dependent peroxidase, and Mn-independent peroxidase activity and levels of wheat straw lignin degradation in seven wood-rotting fungi. The best laccase producers were Pleurotus ostreatus and Pleurotus eryngii. Lenzites betulinus and Fomitopsis pinicola were the best Mn-dependent peroxidase producers, and P. ostreatus the weakest one. The peak of Mn-independent peroxidase was noted in Dichomytus squalens, and the minimum value in P. ostreatus. The profiles of the three enzymes, obtained by isoelectric focusing, were variable depending on the species and cultivation period. D. squalens was the best lignin degrader (34.1% of total lignin amount), and P. ostreatus and P. eryngii the weakest ones (7.1% and 14.5%, respectively).

Essential Oil Composition of Cymbopogon winterianus. and Carum carvi. and Their Antimicrobial Activities

Abstract The chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of Cymbopogon winterianus. Jowitt (syn. Cymbopogon nardus. (L.) W. Watson var. mahapengiri. Winter) (Poaceae) and Carum carvi. L. (Apiaceae) essential oils were investigated against 19 fungal and 7 bacterial species. Among the tested species were food contaminants, spoilage fungi, as well as plant or fungi and animal pathogens. In order to determine minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) minimal fungicidal concentrations (MFCs) and minimal bactericidal concentrations (MBCs), microdilution tests were used. Citronellal and trans.-geraniol were dominant in Cymbopogon winterianus. oil, whereas carvone and limonene were the main components in Carum carvi. oil. The essential oil of C.. carvi. possessed stronger antifungal and antibacterial potential than did citronella oil

Antioxidant properties of some lichen species

Antioxidant activity of the acetone, methanol and aqueous extracts of the lichens Cladonia furcata, Hypogymnia physodes, Lasallia pustulata, Parmelia caperata and Parmelia sulcata has been screened in vitro by using different methods (DPPH radical scavenging, superoxide anion radical scavenging, reducing power, determination of total phenolic compounds and determination of total flavonoid content). Of the lichens tested, Lasallia pustulata had powerful antioxidant activities. Acetone, methanol and aqueous extracts of this lichen showed 90.93, 69.87 and 65.08% DPPH radical scavenging activities. Moreover, the tested extracts had effective reducing power and superoxide anion radical scavenging. Those various antioxidant activities were compared to standard antioxidants such as ascorbic acid, butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and α-tocopherol. In addition, total content of phenol and flavonoid in extracts were determined as pyrocatechol equivalent, and as rutin equivalent, respectively. The strong relationships between total phenolic and flavonoid contents and the antioxidative activities of tested extracts suggest that these compounds play important role in antioxidant activity. The present stady shows that tested lichen species demonstrated a strong antioxidant activity and can be considered as good sources of natural antioxidants.

Biology of Pleurotus eryngii and role in biotechnological processes : a review

Pleurotus eryngii is considered a complex species owing to a perplexed structure within species and a wide geographical distribution. Due to its remarkable flavor, high nutritional value, and numerous medicinal features, P. eryngii is commercially cultivated on various raw plant materials. Its efficacy in using nutrients from lignocellulose residues is based on possession of a potent ligninolytic enzyme system, constituted of laccase, Mn-oxidizing peroxidases, and aryl-alcohol oxidase, which successfully degrade different aromatic compounds. Similarly, due to the ability of these enzymes, P. eryngii plays a very important role in many biotechnological processes, such as food production (edible basidiomata), biotransformation of raw plant materials to feed, biopulping and biobleaching of paper pulp, as well as bioremediation of soil and industrial waters.Pleurotus eryngii is considered a complex species owing to a perplexed structure within species and a wide geographical distribution. Due to its remarkable flavor, high nutritional value, and numerous medicinal features, P. eryngii is commercially cultivated on various raw plant materials. Its efficacy in using nutrients from lignocellulose residues is based on possession of a potent ligninolytic enzyme system, constituted of laccase, Mn-oxidizing peroxidases, and aryl-alcohol oxidase, which successfully degrade different aromatic compounds. Similarly, due to the ability of these enzymes, P. eryngii plays a very important role in many biotechnological processes, such as food production (edible basidiomata), biotransformation of raw plant materials to feed, biopulping and biobleaching of paper pulp, as well as bioremediation of soil and industrial waters.

Chemical Composition and Antimicrobial Activities of Essential Oils of Myrrhis odorata (L.) Scop, Hypericum perforatum L and Helichrysum arenarium (L.) Moench

Abstract The chemical composition and antimicrobial activities of essential oils isolated from Myrrhis odorata, Hypericum perforatum and Helichrysum arenarium were investigated against seven bacterial and six fungal species. Activity against the bacteria and C. albicans were investigated by a bioautographic test on TLC plates, while all the other fungi were tested by a microdilution test. The oil of H. arenarium showed the best antibacterial activity, while M. odorata oil showed the lowest effect, to compare with commercial products. In contrast, the best antifungal activity was observed for M. odorata oil, while H. arenarium showed the lowest antifungal potential. Minimal inhibitory and fungicidal concentrations for fungi were 0.5–120 μg/mL. The oil of M. odorata showed better activity then commercial product and it can be seen that this oil is very effective against all fungi tested.

Chemical composition and antifungal activity of Illicium verum and Eugenia caryophyllata essential oils

1) University of Belgrade-Faculty of Biology, Institute of Botany and Botanical Garden “Jevremovac”, Studentski trg 16, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia, e-mail: simicana@bfbot.bg.ac.yu; 2) Institute for Biological Research “Sinisa Stankovic”, Bulevar Despota Stefana142, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia; 3) Institute for Medicinal Plant Research “Dr Josif Pancic”, Tadeusa Koscuska 1, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia. Published in Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 2, pp. 220–221, March–April, 2009. Original article submitted July 18, 2007. CHEMICAL COMPOSITION AND ANTIFUNGAL ACTIVITY

Isolation and structural elucidation of two secondary metabolites from the filamentous fungus Penicillium ochrochloron with antimicrobial activity

In this investigation, the extracts of filamentous fungi exhibited inhibitory effect on the growth of Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria, as well as against the yeast Candida albicans. Penicillium ochrochloron has been proven as the most active fungus against all tested microorganisms. Further bio-guided chemical analysis of P. ochrochloron afforded two components with antimicrobial activity identified as (-) 2, 3, 4-trihydroxybutanamide and (-) erythritol.

Antifungal activity of the essential oil of Thymus vulgaris L. and thymol on experimentally induced dermatomycoses.

The in vivo evaluation of the toxicological and antifungal activity of the essential oil of Thymus vulgaris L. and its main component thymol was made on 2-month-old male Wistar rats. We examined the therapeutic potency against experimentally induced dermatomycoses in rats, using the most frequent dermatomycetes, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, T. rubrum, and T. tonsurans. The therapeutic efficacy of a 1% solution of the essential oil of Thymus vulgaris and thymol as well as the commercial preparation bifonazole was evaluated. During the 37-day observation period the oil-treated animals were cured.

Chemical composition and antifungal activities of essential oils of Satureja thymbra L. and Salvia pomifera ssp. calycina (Sm.) Hayek

Abstract This work covers the chemical composition and antifungal activities of essential oils isolated from savory (Satureja thymbra) and sage (Salvia pomifera ssp. calycina) analyzed using GC/MS. The main components of S. thymbra oil were γ-terpinene (23.2%) and carvacrol (48.5%). The main components in S. pomifera oil were α-thujone (20.4%) and β-thujone (36.1%). The oils were assayed for antifungal activity against Mycogone perniciosa. This mushrooms pathogen is very contagious and results in severe crop losses. Compounds were investigated by the microatmosphere method. The oil of S. thymbra showed the best antifungal activity. Minimal inhibitory and fungicidal quantities were 0.05–0.25 μL/mL.