Magdalena Sikora

Lavender, tea tree and lemon oils as antimicrobials in washing liquids and soft body balms.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of commercial essential oils: lavender, tea tree and lemon, antimicrobials in washing liquid and O/W soft body balm. The inhibition efficacy of essential oils in washing liquid (1% alone or in mixtures), in soft body balm (0.5% alone), as well as combined with the synthetic preservative DMDM hydantoin and 3‐iodo‐2‐propynyl butyl carbamate mixture (0.1 and 0.3%), was tested against S. aureus ATCC 6538, P. aeruginosa ATCC 9027, Candida sp. ŁOCK 0008 and A. niger ATCC 16404 in compliance with the European Pharmacopoeia standards. The components of the system preserving soft body balm were supplemented with a solubilizer. Washing liquids containing only essential oils met Criterion A E.P. only for S. aureus, Candida sp. and A. niger. In soft body balm formulations, oils at a concentration of 0.5% did not reveal any preserving activity. The introduction of a solubilizer to a system containing 0.5% tea tree oil led to a substantial increase in the bacteriostatic activity of the formulation, but did not significantly affect its fungistatic properties. A combination of 0.5% tea tree oil, 5% solubilizer and 0.3% synthetic preservative ensured the microbiological stability of soft body balm in accordance with Criterion A E.P.

Preparation of homochiral (S)- and (R)-1-(2-furyl)ethanols by lipase-catalyzed transesterification

Abstract 1-(2-Furyl)ethanol 1 was resolved by irreversible transesterification with vinyl acetate using Lipozyme IM or Porcine Pancreas Lipase (PPL) in an organic solvent. (S)-alcohol (99% e.e.) was obtained in 80–85% yield using Lipozyme IM in carbon tetrachloride while (R)-1-(2-furyl)ethyl acetate (96% e.e.) in 75–80% yield resulted from transesterification using Lipozyme IM in hexane or PPL in tetrahydrofuran.

Comparison of qualitative and quantitative chemical composition of hydrolate and essential oils of lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)

The chemical composition of essential oils and hydrolate from dried lavender flowers (Lavandula angustifolia) was determined. Organic compounds were isolated from the hydrolate by the liquid–liquid (LLE) method. Optimal conditions for LLE (pentane, five extraction cycles, 40 mL, salting out [5% NaCl]) were determined by the Taguchi method. As many as forty-seven compounds were identified both in the essential oil (Oe) and in the essential oil isolated during the preparation of hydrolate (OeH), representing 94.9% of the content of Oe and 95.7% of OeH. The main compounds in OeH and Oe are: linalool (24.6% and 24.9%, respectively), linalyl acetate (14.4% and 18.0%, respectively) and borneol (6.2% and 6.3%, respectively). The most abundant compounds are oxygenated derivatives of monoterpenes (74.3% Oe, 73.4% OeH), including monoterpene alcohols (40.5% Oe, 38.0% OeH). In the hydrolate (H), twenty-four compounds, representing 83.8% of its composition, were identified. The main ingredients are: linalool (26.5%) and borneol (9.0%). Also here, oxygenated derivatives of monoterpenes predominate (78.1%), consisting mainly of alcohol monoterpenes (50.7%). In the hydrolate, the presence of acetate linalyl, monoterpenes, or sesquiterpenes was not found. Quantitative analysis of Oe, OeH and H was conducted for selected chemical compounds.

Short synthetic route to the enantiomerically pure (R)-(+)-γ-decalactone

Abstract An efficient procedure for the preparation of homochiral (R)-(+)-γ-decalactone 4 based on castor oil ozonolysis is described. The key intermediate, (R)-(−)-1,3-nonandiol 1, was transformed into monotosylate 2 and then reacted with sodium cyanide to give (R)-(−)- 4 - hydroxydecanitrile 3. Treatment of the latter with a dilute hydrochloric acid provided the enantiomerically pure lactone 4.

The use of high frequency ultrasound imaging in skin moisturization measurement

The appropriate skin hydration level enables its normal function and healthy appearance.

Effect of Drying on the Composition of Essential Oil from Lavandula angustifolia

Abstract Qualitative and quantitative differences in essential oil hydrodistilled from fresh and dried flowers of lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) harvested in Poland were investigated by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) and near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). Drying prior to hydrodistillation resulted in large losses of essential oil (over 40 %). Sixty-five compounds were identified in the essential oil isolated from fresh material and 73 in that from dried material. The main ingredients of the essential oil were oxygenated monoterpenes (over 70 %). Essential oil from dried lavender was shown to have smaller quantities of monoterpene esters (12.9 %) with an increased amount of alcohol (4.3 %).The possibility of using NIRS for rapid and precise identification of essential oils as well as for determination of the origin of plant material was successfully demonstrated.

Synthesis of enantiomerically pure volatile compounds derived from (R)-3-hydroxynonanal

Abstract Practical preparations of enantiomerically pure R -configured 3-hydroxynonanal dimethyl acetal, 3-acetoxynonanal dimethyl acetal, methyl 3-acetoxynonanoate, δ-undecalactone, 1,3-nonanediol and its esters, 1,4-decanediol and its esters and 2-hexyltetrahydrofuran based on the ozonolysis product of commercial castor oil are described.

Further study on the one-pot synthesis of (E)-2-nonenal from castor oil

A one-step procedure is described for the synthesis of (E)-2-nonenal from commercial castor oil by ozonolysis in methanol, followed by reduction of the ozonide products with dimethyl sulfide and exposure of the resulting intermediate product to dilute sulfuric acid. The developed process allows the production of the aldehyde with a yield of 80% at a purity of 95%. The method has advantages over all those reported earlier, because of inexpensive raw material and reducing agent, recycling of the solvent and its unusual simplicity.

Preservative activity of lavender hydrosols in moisturizing body gels

The study was undertaken to verify the antimicrobial activity of Lavandula angustifolia hydrosols in moisturizing body gels. The inhibition efficacy of four lavender hydrosols (obtained from fresh or dry herbs or flowers) was tested against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538, Escherichia coli ATCC 1627, Candida sp. ŁOCK 0008 and Aspergillus niger ATCC 16404 in compliance with the standards of the European Pharmacopoeia Commission. Although the tested hydrosols did not express any remarkable antimicrobial action when tested via the macrodilution method, they show preservative activity in cosmetic preparations. Criterion A for fungi was fulfilled for the cosmetic formulation containing dried flower hydrosol (reduction of the inoculum by two logarithmic units within 14 days with no increase up to the 28th day) and Criterion B for bacteria E. coli and Staph. aureus (reduction of the inoculum by three logarithmic units within 14 days with no increase up to the 28th day). The fresh herb lavender hydrosol in the cosmetic formulation was regarded as the second one effectively satisfying Criterion B for bacteria, but its activity against fungi was below the acceptance value set out in the official regulations. Lavender hydrosols used as a replacement for water phase in cosmetics may contribute to maintaining microbiological stability of cosmetic formulations.

A comparative study on composition and antioxidant activities of supercritical carbon dioxide, hexane and ethanol extracts from blackberry (Rubus fruticosus) growing in Poland

BACKGROUND Large quantities of blackberry seeds are produced as a pomace during the processing of juice and jam production; this by-product is a very interesting raw material both for oil manufacturing and as a source of bioactive compounds. In this work the composition, yield and antioxidant activity of three types of Rubus fructicosus pomace extracts isolated by liquid extraction using solvents of different polarity, as well with supercritical CO2 fluid extraction have been compared. RESULTS The highest extract yield was reported for Soxhlet extraction using ethanol as a solvent (14.2%). Supercritical carbon dioxide and hexane extracts were characterised by the highest content of phytosterols (1445 and 1583 mg 100 g-1 of extract, respectively) among which β-sitosterol was the main one, while the concentration of tocopherols, with predominant γ-isomer, was the highest for both hexane and ethanol extracts, being 2364 and 2334 mg 100 g-1 , respectively. Using a GC-MS method 95 volatiles, in which non-saturated aldehydes were predominant, were identified in the essential oil of seed pomace and in the volatile oil isolated from supercritical extract. The ethanolic extract which is characterised by the highest phenolic content (9443 mg GAE 100 g-1 ) exhibited the highest antioxidant activity (according to the ABTS•+ and DPPH• assays). CONCLUSION All pomace extracts examined were of high quality, rich in essential omega fatty acids and with a very high content of bioactive compounds, such as phytosterols and tocopherols. The high nutritional value of extracts from berry seed pomace could justify the commercialisation of specific extracts not only as food additives but also as cosmetic components.