K. H.C. Baser

Composition of the essential oils of Turkish Origanum species with commercial importance

ABSTRACT In Turkey Origanum is represented by 23 species comprising 31 taxa. Commercially important Origanum species include O. onites, O. majorana, O. minutiflorum, O. vulgare and O. syriacum. These species are annually exported in quantities exceeding 4,000 tons. GC and GC/MS profiles of the essential oils of the above mentioned Origanum species are presented in a comparative manner. Oils from O. vulgare subsp. hirtum were found to contain carvacrol (23.4–78.7%) and thymol (0.01–39.8%), while O. syriacum var. bevanii contained carvacrol (42.5%) and thymol (24.8%). Oils from O. majorana and O. minutiflorum appeared to be more stable in carvacrol, containing 78.3–79.5% and 75.1–83.6% respectively. Two chemotypes of O. onites were found: a carvacrol-type (carvacrol (66.5–80.4%)) and a linalool-type (linalool (90.0–91.9%)).

Inhibition of DNA synthesis by carvacrol in mouse myoblast cells bearing a human N-RAS oncogene.

Monoterpenes are dietary components found in the essential oils of a wide variety of plants. A number of these monoterpenes have antitumor activity. We have investigated the effects of carvacrol obtained by fractional distillation of Origanum onites L. essential oil, on DNA synthesis of N-ras transformed myoblast cells, CO25. Incubation of the cells with different doses of carvacrol prevented DNA synthesis in the growth medium and ras-activating medium, which contains dexamethasone. This result demonstrates that carvacrol inhibits growth of myoblast cells even after activation of mutated N-ras oncogene, suggesting the possibility that carvacrol may find application in cancer therapy.

Bioactivity-Guided Fractionation and GC/MS Fingerprinting of Angelica sinensis and Angelica archangelica Root Components for Antifungal and Mosquito Deterrent Activity

Bioassay-guided fractionation of the chloroform extract from the roots of Angelica sinensis led to isolation and characterization of (Z)-ligustilide using direct-bioautography with Colletotrichum species. The structure of (Z)-ligustilide was confirmed by (1)H and (13)C NMR spectroscopy and GC/MS. (Z)-Ligustilide deterred the biting of two mosquito species more effectively than DEET. Three different A. sinensis accessions and one Angelica archangelica root oil were evauated by GC and GC/MS, and the dominant component in A. sinensis was 61-69% (Z)-ligustilide. Two other prominent compounds in A. sinensis oils were 5.7-9.8% (E)-3-butylidene phthalide and 1.5-2.3% (Z)-3-butylidene phthalide. The main constituents that comprised A. archangelica oil were monoterpene hydrocarbons such as 24.5% alpha-pinene, 13.8% delta-3-carene, 10.1% beta-phellandrene, 8.8% p-cymene, 8.4% limonene, and 6.3% sabinene. Phthalides and monoterpene hydrocarbons were determined to be good systematic markers or chemical fingerprints for A. sinensis and A. archangelica root oils. Chemical fingerprinting by GC/MS of A. sinensis also confirmed the misidentification of one A. archangelica sample sold in the Chinese market.

CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF TURKISH MYRTLE OIL

Abstract The chemical composition of essential oils from leaves and branches + leaves of Myrtus communis L. (Myrtaceae) was examined by GC/MS technique. The main components were found to be 1,8-cineole (18.3% and 10.5%), linalool (16.3% and 18.6%) and myrtenyl acetate (14.5% and 10.8%).

Essential oils of Nepeta species growing in Turkey.

Essential oils from 22Nepetaspecies growing in Turkey have been studied. Results of GC/MS analyses of the essential oils have shown that four Nepeta species contain 4aα-7α-7aα-nepetalactone as the major component. 4aα-7α-7aβ-Nepetalactone was the main constituent in N. racemosa. Seven Nepeta species contained caryophyllene oxide as the main constituent in their essential oils. 1,8-Cineole/linalool were the major components in the essential oils of six species. β-Pinene,α-terpineol,germacrene-D,and spathulenol were the main constituents in the essential oils fromN. phyllochlamys, N. viscida, N. sorgerae, andN. trachonitica, respectively.

The Essential Oil of Origanum vulgare subsp. hirtum of Turkish Origin

ABSTRACT Water distilled essential oils of 23 collections of Origanum vulgare subsp. hirtum from the Aegean region of Turkey were analyzed by GC and GC/MS. Forty-eight compounds which amounted to 95.09–99.49% of the total components detected were identified. Carvacrol content in the oils varied between 23.43–78.73%.

Gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric analysis of volatiles obtained by four different techniques from Salvia rosifolia Sm., and evaluation for biological activity

Four different isolation techniques, conventional hydrodistillation (HD), microwave-assisted hydrodistillation (MWHD), microdistillation (MD) and micro-steam distillation-solid-phase microextraction (MSD-SPME), have been used to analyze the volatile constituents from the aerial parts of Salvia rosifolia Sm. by gas chromatography and gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. HD and MWHD techniques produced quantitatively (yield, 0.39% and 0.40%) and qualitatively (aromatic profile) similar essential oils. alpha-Pinene (15.7-34.8%), 1,8-cineole (16.6-25.1%), beta-pinene (6.7-13.5%), beta-caryophyllene (1.4-5.0%) and caryophyllene oxide (1.4-4.4%) were identified as major constituents of this Turkish endemic species. Besides, the hydrodistilled oil of S. rosifolia was evaluated for antibacterial, antifungal, anticancer, antioxidant and cytotoxic activities. The hydrodistilled oil of S. rosifolia showed antibacterial activity against Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) with a MIC value of 125microg/mL. Other human pathogenic microorganisms (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacter aerogenes, Salmonella typhimurium, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Candida albicans) were also inhibited within a moderate range (MIC=125-1000microg/mL). Antifungal activity of the oil was also observed against the strawberry anthracnose-causing fungal plant pathogens Colletotrichum acutatum, C. fragariae and C. gloeosporioides. No cytotoxicity was observed for S. rosifolia oil up to 25mg/mL against malignant melanoma, epidermal, ductal and ovary carcinoma.

Essential Oils of Mentha Species from Northern Turkey

Abstract Out of 8 species and 15 taxa (including hybrids) of Mentha existing in the flora of Turkey, 8 taxa belonging to 6 species were investigated for essential oils. Of 272 samples collected from 181 stations in northern Turkey, 85 were subjected to water distillation and GC/MS analysis. The taxa investigated were as follows: Mentha pulegium, M. suaveolens, M. aquatica, M. spicata var. spicata, M. longifolia ssp. longifolia, M. longifolia ssp. typhoides, M. x dumetorium, M. x villosa-nervata. The authors discuss chemotypic variations based on the results of essential oil analysis, soil analysis and chromosome counts.

Fatty Acid Composition of Pistachio Nuts in Turkey

In this study oil yields and fatty acid compositions in the kernels of two varieties (Uzun and Siirt) of pistachio grown in different region of Turkey were investigated. Kernel oils were obtained by Soxhlet extraction using petroleum ether. The yields were found to be 57.1-58.9% and 56.1-62.6 respectively for the Uzun and Siirt varieties, on a moisture-free basis. Fatty acid composition of oils were analysed by GC/MS in the methyl ester form. Fourteen fatty acid components representing about 99% of the total oils were characterised. Oleic acid (55.4-62.6% and 60.7-65.5%, respectively) was the main fatty acid component in both varieties. Pentadecanoic acid, (Z)-7-hexadecenoic acid, margaric acid, Z-7-octadecenoic acid, arachidic acid, 11-eicosenoic acid, and behenic acid were detected in both varieties for the first time.

A novel wound healing ointment: a formulation of Hypericum perforatum oil and sage and oregano essential oils based on traditional Turkish knowledge.

AIM OF THE STUDY Hypericum perforatum L. (Hypericaceae), olive oil (Oleaceae), Origanum Tourn ex L. and Salvia L. species (Lamiaceae) are used against inflammatory disorders and for healing of skin wounds in traditional Turkish medicine. A new ointment formulation was developed to provide more efficient wound healing activity. The content of the formulation was as follows; olive oil extract of flowering aerial parts of Hypericum perforatum L., olive oil, an equivalent mixture of Origanum majorana L. and Origanum minutiflorum Schwrd. et Davis essential oils (Origani aetheroleum), Salvia triloba L. essential oil. The aim of the present study is to assess the wound healing potential of this new formulation by using in vivo and in vitro models as well as histopathological methods. MATERIALS AND METHODS For the evaluation of wound healing potential of this formulation (HPP crème mit Rotöl ointment) in vivo wound healing experimental models were employed on rats and mice and the efficiency was comparatively assessed against a reference ointment Madecassol(®). Tissue sections were also evaluated histopathologically. Furthermore, the wound healing activity of each component was also investigated individually to determine the improvement in the healing capacity of the formulation. RESULTS The ointments of HPP crème mit Rotöl and Hypericum perforatum L. demonstrated the highest activities on both wound models when compared to reference ointment Madecassol(®), while the other ingredients did not show any remarkable wound healing effect. However, the efficacy of the formulation was remarkably higher than the Hypericum L. ointment alone which was also confirmed by histopathological evaluation. On the other hand, the formulation did not reduce elastase activity in vitro, but inhibited the collagenase activity. HPP crème mit Rotöl also exerted bactericidal and candicidal activities. CONCLUSIONS The experimental studies revealed that HPP crème mit Rotöl formulation displays remarkable wound healing activity. To be acting on the different stages of wound healing process could be considered as a beneficial effect of the formulation for the treatment of wounds.