Simultaneous Distillation–Extraction of Essential Oils from Rosmarinus officinalis L.

The present study describes a procedure to isolate essential oils from Rosmarinus officinalis L. using simultaneous distillation–extraction (SDE). Rosmarinus officinalis L. can be used for medicinal purposes, as well in the cooking and cosmetics industries. SDE technique extraction combines a steam distillation combined with a continuous extraction using a solvent or a co-solvent mixture, providing faster extractions with low extraction solvent volumes. The effect of the solvent nature and the extraction time on the simultaneous distillation–extraction efficiency was evaluated. The best performance was achieved using pentane as a solvent for 1 h of extraction. The essential oils obtained by simultaneous distillation–extraction extracts were analyzed by gas chromatography with flame ionization detection (GC-FID). Extraction efficiencies ranged from 40 to 70% for the majority of the compounds tested, and the precision (measured by the relative standard deviation) varied between 6 and 35%. Among the compounds analyzed the most abundant in the Rosmarinus officinalis L. sample were 1,8-cineole, (-) –borneol, α-pinene, (S)-(-)- α–terpineol, (-)-bornyl acetate, linalool, and 2,2,6-trimethylcyclohexanone. The SDE method proved to be a suitable option for obtaining extracts free from cuticular waxes or chlorophylls.

Pinaceae Species: Spruce, Pine and Fir as a New Culinary Herb and Spice

The Pinaceae family has traditionally been used as medicine, resorted to as a famine food and for ornamental purposes as Christmas trees. In the last few years numerous restaurants have been using different species of Pinaceae family as a garnish or an aromatic spice, using them in different culinary applications like oils and infusions to flavor dressings and broths. Abies grandis (Grand fir), Pseudotsuga menziesii (Douglas fir), Pinus sylvestris (Scots pine) and Picea abies (Norway spruce) were researched on taxonomy, habitats and non-edible uses, culinary traditions, health and nutritional properties, aroma profile. The main compounds in Pinaceae family are monoterpenes, oxygenated monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, oxygenate sesquiterpenes, diterpenes and hydrocarbons, especially α-β-pinene, limonene, α-terpinene, and even bornyl acetate, responsible for aroma compounds such as citrusy-, woody-, herbal-, or piney aromas. Modern gastronomy uses, sensory analysis and culinary applications were applied for demonstrating the possibilities on modern culinary application in this novel yet traditional spice.

Chemical Composition of Fir, Pine and Thyme Essential Oils and Their Effect on Onion (Allium cepa L.) Seed Quality

Botrytis allii and B. cinerea are important seed-transmitted pathogens of onion. The aim of this study was to determine the chemical compositions of fir, pine and thyme essential oils and evaluate their effects on the germination, vigour and health of onion seeds. Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectroscopy was used for the analysis of the oils’ chemical compositions. Seed germination, vigour and health tests were performed on untreated seeds and on seeds treated with volatile compounds of the oils applied at a concentration of 0.2 µL cm−3 for 6, 12, 24, 48 and 72 h or at a concentration of 0.4 µL cm−3 for 3, 6 and 12 h. The main components of fir oil were bornyl acetate (55.5%) and α-pinene (15.6%), pine oil contained mostly α-pinene (35.5%) and β-pinene (18.6%), and thymol (34.2%) and p-cymene (26.2%) prevailed in thyme oil. Almost all treatments significantly reduced seed infestation with Alternaria alternata and Fusarium spp., and some effectively controlled Botrytis spp., however, seed health improvement was usually associated with deterioration of seed germination and vigour. Only treatment with fir oil at a concentration of 0.2 µL cm−3 for 6 h effectively controlled seed-borne pathogens and positively affected seed germination. Considering the beneficial effect of the oils on seed health, further studies are necessary in order to establish the optimal conditions for onion seed treatment.

Chemical Compounds, Antioxidant Activities, and Inhibitory Activities Against Xanthine Oxidase of the Essential Oils From the Three Varieties of Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) Receptacles

Background/Aim: Essential oils of sunflower receptacles (SEOs) have antibacterial and antioxidant potential. However, the differences of biological activities from the different varieties of sunflowers have not been studied till now. The purpose of this study was to compare the differences of chemical compounds, antioxidant activities, and inhibitory activities against xanthine oxidase (XO) of SEOs from the three varieties of sunflowers including LD5009, SH363, and S606.Methods: SEOs were extracted by using the optimal extraction conditions selected by response surface methodology (RSM). Chemical compounds of SEOs were identified from the three varieties of sunflowers by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Antioxidant activities of SEOs were detected by 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and iron ion reduction ability. Inhibitory activities of SEOs against XO were measured by using UV spectrophotometer. XO inhibitors were selected from the main chemical compounds of SEOs by the high-throughput selections and molecular simulation docking.Results: The extraction yields of SEOs from LD5009, SH363, and S606 were 0.176, 0.319, and 0.580%, respectively. A total of 101 chemical compounds of SEOs were identified from the three varieties of sunflowers. In addition, the results of inhibitory activities against XO showed that SEOs can reduce uric acid significantly. Eupatoriochromene may be the most important chemical compounds of SEOs for reducing uric acid. The results of antioxidant activities and inhibitory activities against XO showed that SEOs of LD5009 had the strongest antioxidant and XO inhibitory activities. The Pearson correlation coefficient (r > 0.95) showed that γ-terpinene, (E)-citral, and L-Bornyl acetate were highly correlated with the antioxidant activities and XO inhibitory ability.Conclusion: SEOs had antioxidant activities and XO inhibitory ability. It would provide more scientific information for utilization and selection of varieties of sunflowers, which would increase the food quality of sunflowers and incomes of farmers.

Chemical Constituents of Functional Food Amomum villosum to Combat Human Diseases

Background: Amomum villosum is an important medicinal and edible plant owing to its valuable compositions of volatile and non-volatile compounds. Objective : In order to reveal the chemical constituents and medicinal values of A. villosum against various diseases. Methods : A critical and comprehensive data mining from 2004 to 2021 was performed based on CNKI, PubMed, and google. Results: 120 Compounds have been reported collectively in seeds, peels, and rhizomes of A. villosum, 10 compounds were common however the content of bornyl acetate was maximum in seeds and peels. Similarly, Amomi fructus of China and Vietnam showed 59 different types of volatile compounds while 13 were common, the round large black fruits (1.56% bornyl acetate and 4.05% volatile oil) and long small red fruits type (1.64% bornyl acetate and 3.04% volatile oil) from China showed good quality and high medicinal values. In addition, Amomi fructus manifested 30~40 kinds of nonvolatile compounds, i.e., phenolic, polysaccharides, saponins, flavonoid, vanillic acid, catechin, epicatechin, polydatin, isoquercitrin, quercitrin, glycosides, inorganic and organic acids. Conclusion: A. villosum is widely used as anti-inflammatory, gastrointestinal protection, anti-obesity, anticancer, antioxidant, analgesic, bacteriostasis, antidiabetic and anti-COVID-19 etc. So, it is manifested that the fruit, flowers, roots, stems, and leaves of A. villosum can be used as a medicine, especially fruit (Amomi fructus=Sharen) as the best functional food for the COVID-19 treatment and gastrointestinal protection as well as prevention of other diseases.

Cardiorespiratory Interaction and Autonomic Sleep Quality Improve during Sleep in Beds Made from Pinus cembra (Stone Pine) Solid Wood

Cardiorespiratory interactions (CRIs) reflect the mutual tuning of two important organismic oscillators—the heartbeat and respiration. These interactions can be used as a powerful tool to characterize the self-organizational and recreational quality of sleep. In this randomized, blinded and cross-over design study, we investigated CRIs in 15 subjects over a total of 253 nights who slept in beds made from different materials. One type of bed, used as control, was made of melamine faced chipboard with a wood-like appearance, while the other type was made of solid wood from stone pine (Pinus cembra). We observed a significant increase of vagal activity (measured by respiratory sinus arrhythmia), a decrease in the heart rate (as an indicator of energy consumption during sleep) and an improvement in CRIs, especially during the first hours of sleep in the stone pine beds as compared to the chipboard beds. Subjective assessments of study participants’ well-being in the morning and sub-scalar assessments of their intrapsychic stability were significantly better after they slept in the stone pine bed than after they slept in the chipboard bed. Our observations suggest that CRIs are sensitive to detectable differences in indoor settings that are relevant to human health. Our results are in agreement with those of other studies that have reported that exposure to volatile phytochemical ingredients of stone pine (α-pinene, limonene, bornyl acetate) lead to an improvement in vagal activity and studies that show a reduction in stress parameters upon contact with solid wood surfaces.

Tripleurospermum disciforme (C.A.Mey.) Sch.Bip., Tanacetum parthenium (L.) Sch.Bip, and Achillea biebersteinii Afan.: efficiency, chemical profile, and biological properties of essential oil

Background Tripleurospermum disciforme (C.A.Mey.) Sch.Bip., Tanacetum parthenium (L.) Sch.Bip., and Achillea biebersteinii Afan. are the most important species of the Asteraceae family that are used in traditional medicine as antiseptics, analgesics, and anti-ulcers. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the yield, chemical profile, and antibacterial and antifungal properties of the essential oils of these three species for the first time. For this purpose, plant materials were collected in June 2019 from Javinan region (Kashan, Iran). Results Based on the ANOVA results the species had a significant effect on yield, chemical composition, and diameter of the inhibition zone of some microorganisms (P ≤ 0.01). The highest yield belonged to T. disciforme essential oil (~ 1.433%). Analysis of essential oil compounds showed that in T. disciforme, anisole, p-1-cyclohexen-1-yl- (55.95%), modephene (10.00%), and cis-β-farnesene (11.94%), in T. parthenium, camphor (43.43%), camphene (9.40%), and bornyl acetate (6.76%), and in A. biebersteinii linalool (34.49%), p-cymene (15.31%), and α-terpineol (7.43%) were the main and predominant compounds. The highest inhibition zone diameter by the essential oil of T. parthenium and A. biebersteinii against Aspergillus brasiliensis (~ 13 mm) was observed. The strongest inhibitory and lethal activity was related to T. disciforme essential oil against Klebsiella pneumoniae, Shigella dysenteriae, Escherichia coli (~ 8.50 mm), and Candida albicans (MIC and MBC = 62.5 μg/mL), which were equivalent to rifampin and twice as potent as nystatin, respectively. Conclusions Therefore, the essential oil of the studied species of Asteraceae may be a promising and potential strategy for controlling some microorganisms and a possible natural alternative to some antibiotics. Graphic Abstract

Antimicrobial Activity and Composition of Five Rosmarinus (Now Salvia spp. and Varieties) Essential Oils

Salvia rosmarinus Spenn. and Salvia jordanii J.B.Walker are aromatic evergreen shrubs belonging to the Lamiaceae family. Their aerial parts have been used since ancient times as natural preservatives. The present study reported the investigation of the chemical profile and the extraction yield of the essential oils (EOs) obtained from the dried aerial parts of four cultivars of Salvia rosmarinus (‘Boule’; ‘Vicomte de Noailles’; ‘Gorizia’; ‘Joyce de Baggio’) and the species S. jordanii, together with their antibacterial and antifungal activities. The phytochemical investigation evidenced a predominance of oxygenated monoterpenes in all the samples (57.5–77.1%), except in ‘Boule’, in which the hydrocarbon form prevailed (50.2%). Principal Component Analysis (PCA) of the matrix taxa × compounds showed that nine compounds have a significant discriminating function between the samples. ‘Vicomte de Noailles’ was characterized by high amounts of camphor and 14-hydroxy-9-epi-(E)-caryophyllene, while ‘Gorizia’ and Jord differed in their predominance of camphene, borneol, bornyl acetate, and α-humulene. Lastly, ‘Boule’ and ‘Joyce de Baggio’ segregated separately and were characterized by high amounts of α-pinene, myrcene, and verbenone. The selected EOs presented a moderate antibacterial activity on the tested bacterial strains and resulted not active on the tested yeast species.

A Comparison of Two Monoterpenoid Synthases Reveals Molecular Mechanisms Associated With the Difference of Bioactive Monoterpenoids Between Amomum villosum and Amomum longiligulare

The fruits of Amomum villosum and Amomum longiligulare are both used medicinally as Fructus Amomi the famous traditional Chinese medicine, however, the medicinal quality of A. villosum is better than that of A. longiligulare. Volatile terpenoids in the seeds, especially bornyl acetate and borneol, are the medicinal components of Fructus Amomi. The volatile terpenoids and transcriptome of developing seeds of A. villosum and A. longiligulare were compared in this study. The result revealed that the bornyl acetate and borneol contents were higher in A. villosum than in A. longiligulare. Additionally, six terpenoid synthase genes (AlTPS1–AlTPS6) were screened from the transcriptome of A. longiligulare, and AlTPS2 and AlTPS3 were found to share 98 and 83% identity with AvTPS2 and AvBPPS (bornyl diphosphate synthase) from A. villosum, respectively. BPPS is the key enzyme for the biosynthesis of borneol and bornyl acetate. Biochemical assays improved that AlTPS2 had an identical function to AvTPS2 as linalool synthase; however, AlTPS3 produced camphene as the major product and bornyl diphosphate (BPP) as the secondary product, whereas AvBPPS produced BPP as its major product. There was only one different amino acid between AlTPS3 (A496) and AvBPPS (G495) in their conserved motifs, and the site-directed mutation of A496G in DTE motif of AlTPS3 changed the major product from camphene to BPP. Molecular docking suggests that A496G mutation narrows the camphene-binding pocket and decreases the BPP-binding energy, thus increases the product BPP selectivity of enzyme. In addition, the expression level of AvBPPS was significantly higher than that of AlTPS3 in seeds, which was consistent with the related-metabolites contents. This study provides insight into the TPS-related molecular bases for the biosynthesis and accumulation differences of the bioactive terpenoids between A. villosum and A. longiligulare. BPPS, the key gene involved in the biosynthesis of the active compound, was identified as a target gene that could be applied for the quality-related identification and breeding of Fructus Amomi.