Silvana Petrović

In situ antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of naturally occurring caffeic acid, p-coumaric acid and rutin, using food systems.

BACKGROUND Three pure compounds that naturally occur in plants were of particular interest to our study regarding the possibility of using them as food preservatives: p-coumaric acid (found in peanuts, tomatoes, carrots, garlic, wine, vinegar, etc.), caffeic acid (found in argan oil, oats, wheat, rice and olive oil) and rutin (found in asparagus, citrus fruits, berries, apple, apricot, asparagus, beef and beer). In the following study we investigated in situ antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of three pure compounds, namely caffeic acid, p-coumaric acid and rutin, naturally occurring in plants. RESULTS Two food systems were used in order to obtain information on how these compounds react in actual food systems rather than microbiological media. The results indicated good antioxidant activity in in situ food systems. For tested phenolic compounds it was further shown that they successively inhibited the development of the isolated food contaminant Staphylococcus aureus in chicken soup. Panelist found that organoleptic characteristics of chicken soup and pork meat improved after treatment with phenolics. CONCLUSION Our findings alone, along with the potential use of phenolic compounds that are widespread in nature, may imply their potential use as preservatives in the food industry.

A taraxasterol derivative and phenolic compounds from Hieracium gymnocephalum

Abstract From the aerial parts of Hieracium gymnocephalum the new triterpene, 21α-hydroxy-taraxasterol and flavone diglycosides luteolin 7-O-α- l -rhamnosyl(1→6)-β- d -glucoside and luteolin 7-O-β- d -xylosyl(1→6)-β- d -glucoside were isolated, as well as further common triterpenes, phenolic acids and flavones. The structures were established from spectral data (UV, MS, 1H and 13C NMR).

Essential Oil of Stachys officinalis (L.) Trevis. Lamiaceae from Montenegro

Abstract The aerial parts of Stachys officinalis(L.) Trevis., collected from Velika Greda locality at Durmitor mountain (Montenegro), contained 0.5% of essential oil. Using GC and GC/MS, 32 constituents were identified. A mixture of isocaryophyllene and β-caryophyllene (22.9 %) was identified as its principal component.

Essential Oil of Wild Growing Mentha pulegium L. from Yugoslavia

Abstract The essential oil of Mentha pulegium L., Lamiaceae was obtained by steam distillation of the herb, collected during the period of full flowering, when 0.2% was gained. The analysis of its chemical composition was performed using GC and GC/MS. Twenty-two components (89.9% of the total oil) were identified. The principal one was menthone (30.9%), while the other important were pulegone (14.1%) and neomenthol (13.8%) and caryophyllene oxide (9.0%).

Aromatic Plants of Yugoslavia. I. Chemical Composition of Oils of Achillea millefolium L. ssp. pannonica (Scheele) Hayak, A. crithmifolia W. et K., A. serbica Nym. and A. tanacetifolia All.

Abstract We used GC/MS to determine the chemical composition of the essential oils of wild Achillea plants native to Yugoslavia: Achillea millefolium L. ssp. pannonica (Scheele) Hayak, A. crithmifolia W. et K., A. serbica Nym. and A. tanacetifolia All. Seventy-four components were identified. All four oils contained camphor (4–16%), 1,8-cineole (6–23%) and borneol (4–16%). In addition, artemisia ketone (4%) was found in A. crithmifolia, α-thujone (4.5%) in Achillea millefolium, yomogi alcohol and 2-pyrolidone were specific to A. serbica, and A, crithmifolia contained cis-chrysanthenol (1.4%) and large amounts of the corresponding acetate (23.4%).

Evaluation of Hypericum perforatum oil extracts for an antiinflammatory and gastroprotective activity in rats

Oil extracts of Hypericum perforatum L. (Oleum Hyperici) were prepared in three different ways according to the prescriptions from traditional medicine. Variability of constituents and biological activity were evaluated in the obtained oil extracts. The carrageenan‐induced rat paw edema test has been used for screening the antiinflammatory activity, while the indomethacin‐induced rat gastric mucosa damage test was used for evaluation of gastroprotective activity. All examined oil extracts possessed antiinflammatory and gastroprotective activity. Among them, the oil extract prepared by maceration with 96% ethanol, followed by extraction with sunflower oil by heating on a water bath (extract 2), in a dose of 1.25 mL/kg p.o., exhibited the highest antiinflammatory effect (95.24 ± 11.66%) and gastroprotective activity (gastric damage score of 0.21 ± 0.12). The same oil extract had the highest content of quercetin and I3,II8‐biapigenin (129 ± 9 µg/mL and 52 ± 4 µg/mL, respectively). Quercetin and I3,II8‐biapigenin exhibited antiinflammatory activity similar to those of indomethacin as well as significant gastroprotective activity. The results provide evidence for the usage of Oleum Hyperici as an antiinflammatory and gastroprotective agent, which has been based previously only on ethnopharmacological claims. Copyright

CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF TWO WILD SPECIES OF THE GENUS SALVIA L. FROM YUGOSLAVIA: SALVIA AETHIOPIS AND SALVIA VERTICILLATA

Abstract We compared two wild Salvia species found in Yugoslavia: S. aethiopis L. and S. verticillata L. Both oils contained β-caryophyllene as main constituent (27.5% and 13.3%, respectively), but differed by the presence of germacrene D (10.9%) andcaryophyllene oxide (6.4%) in the first, and γ-muurolene (10.3%) and trans-chrysanthenol (6.1%) in the second.

Flavonoid and phenolic acid patterns in seven Hieracium species

Abstract The methanolic extracts of Hieracium gymnocephalum, H. suborienii, H. blecicii, H. coloriscapum, H. guentheri-beckii, H. naegelianum and H. rotundatum were analysed by HPLC and TLC in order to examine their flavonoids and phenolic acids. With the exception of H. rotundatum, which grows in shaded places, all species exhibit a similar pattern of phenolic substances with chlorogenic acid, 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid and luteolin 7-O-glucoside as the main compounds. The chemotaxonomic significance is discussed.

Essential oil of the herb of Stachys recta L., Lamiaceae from Serbia.

Abstract The aerial parts of wild Stachys recta L., Lamiaceae, collected in the vicinity of Nis (Southern Serbia) during the full blooming stage, contained only 0.014% of essential oil. Using GC and GC/MS, 32 components were identified, predominantly alcohols and adequate oxides. The major constituent was 1-octen-3-ol (19.7%). The other important components were caryophyllene oxide, humulene oxide and nerolidol, but present in significantly lower amounts (4.6%, 3.8% and 3.6%, respectively).

Composition of the Essential Oil of Nepeta rtanjensis Diklic et Milojevic, Lamiaceae from Serbia

Abstract The essential oil from the aerial parts of Nepeta rtanjensis Diklic et Milojevic, Lamiaceae was obtained by steam distillation of the herb, collected in full blooming stage, with an average yield of 0.3%. Nineteen constituents (95-0% of the total oil) were identified by mass spectrometry. The principal one was 4aα,7α,7aβ-nepetalac-tone (86.4%), along with 2-methoxy-p-cresol (1.5%), α-pinene (1.4%) and 1,4-dimethyl-benzene (1.0%). All the others were present in quantities below 1%.