Peđa Janaćković

Antimicrobial activity of essential oils and ethanol extract of Phlomis fruticosa L. (Lamiaceae).

The essential oils and an ethanol extract of Phlomis fruticosa L. were evaluated for antibacterial and antifungal activities. Seven bacterial and seven fungal species were used. Among them were human, animal and plant pathogens, food poisoning bacteria and fungi which are known as potential mycotoxin producers. The essential oils showed antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Micrococcus luteus. The essential oils extracted from the plants collected from two different localities showed similar antibacterial activities. The antifungal activity of the essential oils was positive against Aspergillus niger, A. ochraceus, Cladosporium cladosporioides, Fusarium tricinctum and Phomopsis helianthi. The ethanol extract showed antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis and antifungal activity against Aspergillus niger, A. ochraceus, Cladosporium cladosporioides, Fusarium tricinctum and Phomopsis helianthi.

Variability of the needle essential oils of Juniperus deltoides R.P.ADAMS from different populations in Serbia and Croatia.

The essential‐oil compositions of one Croatian and three Serbian populations of Juniperus deltoides R.P.Adams have been determined by GC/MS analysis. In total, 147 compounds were identified, representing 97.3–98.3% of the oil composition. The oils were dominated by monoterpenes, which are characteristic components for the species of the section Juniperus. Two monoterpenes, α‐pinene and limonene, were the dominant constituents, with a summed‐up average content of 49.45%. Statistical methods were used to determine the diversity of the terpene classes and the common terpenes between the newly described J. deltoides populations from Serbia and Croatia. Only reports on several specimens from this species have been reported so far, and there are no studies that treat population diversity. Cluster analysis of the oil contents of 21 terpenes showed high correlation with the geographical distribution of the populations, separating the Croatian from the Serbian populations. The comparison of the essential‐oil compositions obtained in the present study with literature data, showed the separation of J. deltoides and J. oxycedrus ssp. oxycedrus from the western Mediterranean region.

Essential‐Oil Variability of Juniperus deltoides R.P.Adams along the East Adriatic Coast – How Many Chemotypes Are There?

The composition of the essential oils isolated from twigs of ten Juniperus deltoides R.P. Adams populations from the east Adriatic coast was determined by GC‐FID and GC/MS analyses. Altogether, 169 compounds were identified, representing 95.6–98.4% of the total oil composition. The oils were dominated by monoterpenes (average content of 61.6%), which are characteristic oil components of species of the Juniperus section. Two monoterpenes, α‐pinene and limonene, were the dominant constituents, comprising on average 46.78% of the essential oils. Statistical methods were deployed to determine the diversity of the terpene classes and the common terpenes between the investigated populations. These statistical analyses revealed the existence of three chemotypes within all populations, i.e., a α‐pinene, limonene, and limonene/α‐pinene type.

Frankincense and myrrh essential oils and burn incense fume against micro-inhabitants of sacral ambients. Wisdom of the ancients?

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Essential oils obtained from resins of Boswellia carteri Birdw. and Commiphora myrrha (Nees) Engl., commonly known as frankincense and true myrrh respectively, have been used extensively since 2800 BCE for the treatment of skin sores, wounds, teeth, inflammation, and urinary tract diseases in traditional medicine; for preparation of mummification balms and unguents; and also as incense and perfumes. Since ancient times, burning of frankincense and myrrh in places of worship for spiritual purposes and contemplation (a ubiquitous practice across various religions) had hygienic functions, to refine the smell and reduce contagion by purifying the indoor air. AIM OF THE STUDY The general purpose of the study was to assess the in vitro antimicrobial potential of the liquid and vapour phases of B. carteri and C. myrrha essential oils and burn incense, as well as to test the effectiveness of their in situ application to cleanse microbially-contaminated air within the ambient of an investigated 17th-century church. MATERIALS AND METHODS The chemical composition of B. carteri and C. myrrha essential oils, obtained by hydrodistillation of frankincense and true myrrh oleo gum resins was determined using GC/MS, and antimicrobial properties of their liquid and vapour phases were assessed by the broth microdilution and microatmosphere diffusion methods. Chemical analysis of burn incense fume obtained using bottle gas washing with dichloromethane as a solvent was performed by GC/MS, while its antimicrobial activity was evaluated using a modified microatmosphere diffusion method to evaluate germination inhibition for fungi and CFU count reduction for bacteria. The in situ antimicrobial activity of B. carteri burn incense and essential oil vapour phase was assessed in the sealed nave and diaconicon of the church, respectively. RESULTS The dominant compounds of B. carteri EO were α-pinene (38.41%) and myrcene (15.21%), while C. myrrha EO was characterized by high content of furanoeudesma-1,3-diene (17.65%), followed by curzerene (12.97%), β-elemene (12.70%), and germacrene B (12.15%). Burn incense fume and soot had α-pinene (68.6%) and incensole (28.6%) as the most dominant compounds, respectively. In vitro antimicrobial assays demonstrated high bacterial and fungal sensitivity to the liquid and vapour phases of EOs, and burn incense fume. In situ application of B. carteri EO vapour and incense fume resulted in reduction of air-borne viable microbial counts by up to 45.39 ± 2.83% for fungi and 67.56 ± 3.12% for bacteria (EO); and by up to 80.43 ± 2.07% for fungi and 91.43 ± 1.26% for bacteria (incense fume). CONCLUSIONS The antimicrobial properties of essential oil derived from frankincense, a compound with well-known traditional use, showed that it possesses a clear potential as a natural antimicrobial agent. Moreover, the results suggest possible application of B. carteri EO vapour and incense fume as occasional air purifiers in sacral ambients, apart from daily church rituals.

Pollution by Urticaceae pollen—influence of selected air pollutants and meteorological parameters

The goal of this study was to analyze the influence of pollutants (concentrations of NO2, SO2, and soot in the air) and meteorological parameters (air temperature, humidity, wind speed, air pressure, cloud index) on Urticaceae pollen type emission measured in the region of Subotica, Serbia. The concentrations of the air pollutants, Urticaceae pollen, and meteorological parameters were measured over a 5-year period (2009–2013), followed by a statistical analysis of the values obtained. For most of the years examined, the concentration of NO2 correlates significantly with the concentration of Urticaceae pollen type. It was also established that air temperature, humidity, wind speed, atmospheric pressure, and cloud index have an influence on Urticaceae pollen type emission, while SO2 and soot do not contribute.

Sesquiterpene lactones and flavonoids from Anthemis ruthenica growing wild in Serbia

0009-3130/11/4703-0459 2011 Springer Science+Business Media, Inc. 1) Institute for Chemistry, Technology and Metallurgy, Njegoseva 12, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia; 2) University of Belgrade, Faculty of Chemistry, Studentski trg 16, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia, e-mail: smilo@chem.bg.ac.rs; 3) University of Belgrade, Faculty of Biology, Studentski trg 16, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia. Published in Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 3, p. 408, May–June, 2011. Original article submitted January 28, 2010. Chemistry of Natural Compounds, Vol. 47, No. 3, July, 2011 [Russian original No. 3, May–June, 2011]