Khc Başer

Volatile composition, antioxidant activity, and antioxidant components in saffron cultivated in Turkey

ABSTRACT Oven dried cut stigmas of Crocus sativus L. cultivated in Eskisehir and Safranbolu regions of Turkey were subjected to micro distillation to extract steam volatiles. They were then analysed by Gas Chromatography and Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry, simultaneously. The colour compounds were extracted with 80% methanol and analysed by High Pressure Liquid Chromatography HPLC/DAD and HPLC/MS/MS. The activities of the extracts of saffron against 2,2ʹ-azinobis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid free radical (ABTS●+) were investigated using on-line (HPLC-ABTS●+) and off-line methods. Safranal (62.1 and 49.3%) and α-isophorone (10.0 and 16.3%) were found as the characteristic aromatic volatiles in the Eskisehir and Safranbolu samples, respectively. Crude saffron extracts showed high total antioxidant activity against ABTS●+ radical.

Composition of Cyclotrichium niveum Essential Oil: Enantiomeric Separation of Pulegone and Repellent Activity Against the Lone Star Tick, and Yellow Fever Mosquito

Ticks and mosquitoes transmit pathogens that can cause serious and sometimes fatal diseases to humans and other animals. Chemical repellents are an important personal protection tool to protect humans and livestock from arthropod bites. Our research programs focuses on the discovery of naturally occurring insecticides and repellents that can be used to further reduce disease transmission risk to animals. The most widely used topical repellent is a synthetic compound, DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide). However, concerns over the safety of DEET lead to some user acceptability issues among repellent users. Consequently, there has been an increase in focus on alternative repellents from the natural sources. As part of our efforts to identify natural repellents, we investigated the essential oil of Cyclotrichium niveum (Boiss.) Manden. (Labiatae) as a repellent against the lone star tick, Amblyomma americanum nymphs, and against adult yellow fever mosquitoes, Aedes aegypti. Cyclotrichium niveum essential oil showed good repellent activity against both species and pulegone was more effective against A. americanum and Ae. aegypti. The enantiomeric distribution of (R)-(+)-pulegone was determined by using Rt-βDEXse fused silica chiral capillary column using multidimensional GC-MS system.Acknowledgements: This study was supported by USDA, ARS grant No. 56 – 6402 – 1-612 and Deployed War-Fighter Protection (DWFP) Research Program and the U.S. Department of Defense through the Armed Forces Pest Management Board (AFPMB).

Sulphur containing volatiles of Barbarea vulgaris W.T. Aiton from Kazakhstan

The most of samples were rich in sulfur containing compounds. Methyl (methylthio) methyl disulfide (14.5%), dimethyl trisulfide (11.2%), dimethyl sulfide (3.4%) were detected in the herb of B. vulgaris from Akmolinskaya province. Chemical composition of the flower and leaf volatiles was found to show some differences. Isopropyl isothiocyanate (36.7%) was the main constituent in flower, while phytol (25.7%), hexadecanoic acid (9.3%), hexahydrofarnesyl acetone (7.4%), dodecanoic acid (5.5%) and isopropyl isothiocyanate (5.3%) were detected in the leaf. It should be noted that another sample of B. vulgaris from Akmolinskaya province was found to be very different in volatile composition. Namely, borneol (20.3%), camphene (13.5%), bornyl acetate (8.0%) and germacrene D (5.4%) were the major constituents.

In vitro effect of Myrrh extracts on the viability of Schistosoma mansoni larvae

Schistosomiasis, a parasitic disease caused by trematode flatworms of the genus Schistosoma, represents a growing concern in the Sub-Saharan Africa, where up to 80% of the population is infected. Mirazid®, a commercial drug obtained by combination of two solvent extracts of Myrrh, the oleo-gum-resin from the stem ofCommiphora molmol Engl. ex Tschirch (Burseraceae), is marketed in Egypt since 2001 as an alternative treatment for schistosomiasis [1]. However, recent independent studies question its efficacy. All experiments conducted with Myrrh so far are either in vivo tests or clinical trials, but no in vitro data is available. In order to shed light into controversy around Myrrh, two commercial Myrrh samples (from S. Africa and M. East) were extracted and/or combined as described a) for Mirazid®; first with petroleum ether (A), subsequently with MeOH (B) b) hydrodistillation to yield volatile oil c) for myrrh (8.5 parts of resin + 3.5 parts of volatile oil) [2– 4]. They were also extracted with MeOH and then partitioned between hexane, CHCl3 and aqueous MeOH. As the combination ratios of the extracts A+B in Mirazid® are unclear, extracts A/B were combined in simple ratios. In the medium throughput visual S. mansoni larval assay, all lipophilic extracts, the combinations, and the essential oils showed moderate, but differenzial activity (IC50s 7.18–32.69μg/ml). The extracts and the essential oils were also different phytochemically (by TLC, 1H NMR, GC-MS). This study shows that Myrrh has antischistosomal potential, but the origin of the plant material and extraction method is of importance.

Appraisal of in vitro neuroprotective effects of Turkish Pinus L. species and pycnogenol and essential oil analyses

Pycnogenol, the French maritime pine bark extract, has been popular recently for its various health effects including memory enhancement. Therefore, we aimed to determine neuroprotective effect of the acetone, ethyl acetate, and ethanol extracts and essential oils of the shoots and needles of P. brutia Ten., P. halepensis M.Bieb.,P. nigra Link, P. pinea L., and P. sylvestris L., which are the Pinus species growing in Turkey, and pycnogenol by in vitro experiments using enzyme inhibition and antioxidant assays. Inhibitory activity of the extracts, essential oils, and pycnogenol was assessed against acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), connected to Alzheimers disease. Since neurodegeneration is associated with oxidative damage caused by free radicals and metal accumulation, antioxidant activity of the extracts, essential oils, and pycnogenol was measured using the methods; 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and N,N-dimethyl-pphenylendiamine (DMPD) radical scavenging activity as well as ferric ion-chelation capacity and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) tests. Chemical compositions of the essential oils were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Accordingly, the best AChE inhibition was caused by the shoot essential oil of P. halepensis (83.91±3.95%), while the needle ethanol extract displayed a high profile of BChE inhibition (82.47±5.57%) at 200μg/mL. AChE and BChE inhibitions by pycnogenol were 63.33±0.22% and 83.67±0.22%, respectively. The extracts and essential oils exerted moderate activity in antioxidant tests. However, many of them displayed similar or greater activity ferric ion-chelation capacity (26.49±4.47% –67.77±3.33%) than that of pycnogenol (29.14±2.00%). Our findings revealed that the Turkish pine species and pycnogenol possess neuroprotective effects by the in vitromethods applied herein.

Quantitative Determination of Gallic acid and Cyanidin-3-O-Glucoside within Sumac Extracts by HPLC-MS/MS

In this study gallic acid and cyanidin-3-O-glucoside contents of Water and MeOH %70 extracts of sumac were investigated using with HPLC ESI/MSMS MRM method. The assay performed in different concentrations of gallic acid and cyanidin-3-O-glucoside chloride as standard solutions. The diagnostic fragmentations of gallic acid and cyanidin-3-O-glucoside were used 168.7/125–79 and 448.7/287–150 respectively for MRM quantitative determination.

Characterization and Comparison of Five Eucalyptus Essential Oils and their Repellent Activity Against Aedes aegypti

Mosquitoes are vectors for many pathogens that cause diseases, such as malaria, dengue fever, yellow fever, Rift Valley fever, and Chikungunya. When significant levels of transmission occur, epidemics can result producing high rates of human morbidity and mortality. Currently, the development of naturally occurring insecticides and repellents is under exploration to increase and improve our ability to protect humans from mosquito bites, and ultimately to reduce the transmission risk of mosquito-borne illnesses [1]. Through the Deployed War-Fighter Protection (DWFP) Research Program, we have expanded our role in exploration and identification of new natural compounds for mosquito toxicants and repellent activity. Ultimately, our goal is to find new efficacious compounds with low mammalian and environmental toxicity. Repellents are one of the most common methods of personal protection from mosquito bites. The most effective topical repellent, DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-methylbenzamide), was discovered in 1954 and is still in widespread use today. Although effective against a wide range of insects, some individuals prefer to use an alternative repellent based on natural products. Plants are an excellent source of candidate mosquito repellents because they constitute a rich source of bioactive chemicals. The present work reports on the repellent activity of 5 Eucalyptus essential oils against Aedes aegypti. Acknowledgements: This study was supported by a grant from the Deployed WarFighter Protection (DWFP) Research Program and the U.S. Department of Defense through the Armed Forces Pest Management Board (AFPMB). References: [1] Quinn BP, et al. (2007)J Chromatogr A, 1160: 306–310.

GC-MS Fingerprinting of Angelica sinensis and A. archangelica Root Components and Mosquito Deterrent Activity

Angelica sinensis and A. archangelica belong to the Umbelliferae and both are used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat gynecological and intestinal disorders. Phytochemically these species are very different and are often misidentified in the market and herbal shops and sold interchangeably and incorrectly. The largest part of A. archangelica oil was comprised of monoterpene hydrocarbons such as α-pinene (24.5%), δ-3-carene (13.8%), β-phellandrene (10.1%), p-cymene (8.8%), limonene (8.4%) and sabinene (6.3%). The dominant component of three A. sinensis collections was (Z)-ligustilide (61– 69%). Phthalides and monoterpene hydrocarbons were determined to be good systematic markers or chemical fingerprints for A. sinensis and A. archangelica root oils. Bioassay-guided fractionation using the Colletotrichum direct-bioautography assay led to isolate one active compound, (Z)-ligustilide. Since phthalide derivatives have a history of insecticidal activity we also evaluated (Z)-ligustilide for anti-mosquito activity. (Z)-Ligustilide deterred the biting of two mosquito species more effectively than Deet.