Szabolcs Szarka

Separation and identification of antibacterial chamomile components using OPLC, bioautography and GC-MS

Components of 50% aqueous ethanol chamomile (Matricaria recutica L.) flower extract, previously found antibacterial in a TLC-bioautographic study, were separated and isolated by the use of on-line overpressured layer chromatography (OPLC). This system consisted of an OPLC 50 BS system, an on-line coupled flow-through UV detector, and a manual fraction collector. The collected fractions were investigated by GC-MS analysis and by TLC re-chromatography with subsequent visualization, performed after use of the vanillin-sulphuric acid reagent, or under UV illumination, or applying bioautographic detection. The main compounds of the collected 11 fractions were identified by GC-MS. The results showed that the antibacterial effect of 50% aqueous ethanol extract of chamomile is ascribable to cis-, trans-spiroethers, and the coumarins like herniarin and umbelliferone.

Application of Direct Bioautography and SPME-GC-MS for the Study of Antibacterial Chamomile Ingredients

The isolation and characterization of antibacterial chamomile components were performed by the use of direct bioautography and solid phase microextraction (SPME)-gas chromatography (GC)-mass spectrometry (MS). Four ingredients, active against Vibrio fischeri, were identified as the polyacetylene geometric isomers cis- and trans-spiroethers, the coumarin related herniarin, and the sesquiterpene alcohol (−)-alpha-bisabolol.

Essential oil constituents of intact plants and in vitro cultures of Tagetes patula L

Abstract The occurrence of volatile compounds in flowers and roots of intact plants and in vitro hairy root cultures of Tagetes patula L. was investigated by GC and GC/MS. The flowers oil was dominated by mono- and sesquiterpenes. The main component was the sesquiterpene hydrocarbon β-caryophyllene (50.2%). However, the oils of normal roots and hairy root cultures were found to contain sulfur-containing thiophene structures. The following four compounds were identified: 5-(3-buten-1-ynyl)-2,2′-bithiophene (BBT), 5-(3-penten-1-ynyl)-2,2′-bithiophene (PBT), 2,2′:5′,2″- terthiophene (α-terthiophene) and 5-(4-acetoxy-1-butynyl)-2,2′-bithiophene (BBTOAc). The main components were BBT (47.0%) and α-terthiophene (19.8%) in the normal root oil and BBT (25.0%), α-terthiophene (14.3%) and BBTOAc (13.7%) in hairy root oil, respectively.