Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of the essential oil of Teucrium ramosissimum (Lamiaceae)

The phytochemical composition of the essential oil of Teucrium ramosissimum (aerial parts), harvested in a mountainous region of Tunisia, was analyzed. A total of 68 compounds, accounting for 99.44% of the essential oil, were identified by GC and GC/MS. The major compounds were beta-eudesmol (61; 44.52%), caryophyllene oxide (56; 9.35%), alpha-thujene (1; 5.51%), sabinene (4; 4.71%), and T-cadinol (59; 3.9%). The essential oil, which is being used in Tunisian folk medicine against infectious diseases, was tested for its antimicrobial properties against five different bacteria, and found to have weak to moderate activity, with minimal-inhibitory-concentration (MIC) and minimal-bactericidal-concentration (MBC) values in the range 0.24-0.36 and 1.3-2.9 mg/ml, resp.     

Behavioral activity of catnip (Lamiaceae) essential oil components to the German cockroach (Blattodea: Blattellidae)

The essential oil of catnip, Nepeta cataria L., contains two isomers of nepetalactone, E,Z-and Z,E-nepetalactone, and was tested for repellent activity to adult male German cockroaches, Blattella germanica (L.), in a choice-test arena. The two isomers of nepetalactone were purified by using preparative thin-layer chromatography and tested for behavioral activity in the choice-test arena. Significant differences due to concentration were detected by analysis of variance, and the responses were compared by least-squared means analysis. The activities of the essential oil and purified isomers were compared with N,NA-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide (DEET) by a paired t-test. E,Z-Nepetalactone was the most active of the compounds tested, being significantly more active to this species than equivalent doses of DEET, the essential oil, or Z,E-nepetalactone. Antennectomized insects showed no response to concentrations that were active against intact insects.     

The essential oil secretory structures of Prostanthera ovalifolia (Lamiaceae)

The structure of the essential oil secretory tissues of Prostanthera ovalifolia R.Br was investigated using bright- and dark-field optical microscopy, and scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The leaves of P. ovalifolia have glandular trichomes of the peltate type common to many Lamiaceae species. The trichomes consist of a basal cell embedded in the epidermis, a stalk cell with heavily cutinized walls and a 16-celled secretory head, but they differ from those of many previously reported Lamiaceae species in their morphological form defined by the elevated cuticle. The sub-cuticular space contains a mixture of lipid and aqueous phases. Secretory cells have dense cytoplasm with many leucoplasts present. Volatile terpenoids are eliminated from the cytoplasm into the sub-cuticular space, the site of essential oil accumulation, via granulocrine secretion.     

Glandular trichomes and essential oil constituents ofCalamintha menthifolia (Lamiaceae)

Plant material ofCalamintha menthifolia was collected from two populations grown in the Vikos-Aoos area (NW. Greece). The structure and ontogeny of the glandular trichomes and the chemical composition of the secreted essential oil were studied. The leaves ofC. menthifolia have numerous glandular trichomes of three morphological distinct types: 1) glandular scales with a unicellular foot and stalk, and a 12-celled head, 2) glandular hairs with a unicellular foot and stalk, and a unicellular pear-shaped head and 3) glandular hairs with a unicellular foot, a bicellular stalk and a unicellular elongated head. Qualitative and quantitative GC-MS analyses of the essential oils revealed piperitone oxide as the main constituent in both populations. In the light of these results the relationships beweenC. menthifolia and other members of theSatureja group as well as its taxonomy are discussed.     

Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of Satureja hortensis L. essential oil

Essential oil of Satureja hortensis L. was analyzed by GC and GC/MS and tested by a broth micro-well dilution method for activity against multiresistant clinical isolates of pathogenic bacteria from 10 different genera: Klebsiella, Escherichia, Proteus, Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Pseudomonas, Enterococcus, Enterobacter, Citrobacter and Acinetobacter. The main compounds in the oil were carvacrol (67%), γ-terpinene (15.3%) and p-cymene (6.73%). The oil showed activity against all tested strains. MIC/MBC values were in the range of 0.78-25 μl/ml, with the exception of the strain P. aeruginosa. Microbicidal concentration for this particular strain (50 μl/ml) was the highest tested concentration. The oil showed inhibitory and bactericidal effect at the same concentration (MIC=MBC) for all but three strains.     

A new species of Satureja (Lamiaceae) from the Chihuahuan Desert region

Satureja maderensis of sect.Gardoquia from the pine-fir forests of the Sierra de la Madera in central Coahuila is described.     

Antimicrobial activity of some Satureja essential oils

The genus Satureja is represented by fifteen species of which five are endemic and Satureja pilosa and S. icarica have recently been found as new records for Turkey. Aerial parts of the Satureja pilosa, S. icarica, S. boissieri and S. coerulea collected from different localities in Turkey were subjected to hydrodistillation to yield essential oils which were subsequently analysed by GC and GC/MS. The main constituents of the oils were identified, and both antibacterial and antifungal bioassays were applied. Carvacrol (59.2%, 44.8%, 42.1%) was the main component in the oils of S. icarica, S. boissieri and S. pilosa, respectively. The oil of S. coerulea contained beta-caryophyllene (10.6%) and caryophyllene oxide (8.0%) as main constituents.     

Diversity of essential oil glands of clary sage (Salvia sclarea L., Lamiaceae)

The Lamiaceae is rich in aromatic plant species. Most of these species produce and store essential oils in specialised epidermal oil glands, which are responsible for their specific flavour. Two types of glands producing essential oil and possessing different morphological structure can be found in Salvia sclarea : peltate and capitate glands. The content of single oil glands from different positions on the plant (corolla, calyx and leaf) were sampled using an SPME fibre and analysed by gas chromatography in order to study variability of the essential oil composition. It was found that the composition of terpenoids is quite variable within an individual plant. Capitate oil glands mainly produce three essential oil compounds: the monoterpenes linalool and linalyl acetate, and the diterpene sclareol. Peltate oil glands, however, accumulate noticeable concentrations of sesquiterpenes and an unknown compound (m/z = 354). Furthermore, the oil composition varies within each gland type according to the plant organ. Linalool and linalyl acetate are characteristic substances of flowers, whereas the sesquiterpenes occur in higher proportions in leaves. Even within one gland type on a single leaf, the chemical variability is exceedingly high.     

Chemical analysis and biological activities of the essential oil of Teucrium leucocladum Boiss. (Lamiaceae)

The chemical composition of the water-distilled essential oil and n-hexane–ether extract of Teucrium leucocladum Boiss. were determined by GLC and GLC–MS. Altogether 72 compounds were identified. The sesquiterpene alcohols, patchouli alcohol (31.24% and 29.66%) and α-cadinol (9.29% and 21.54%) were the main components in the oil and the extract, respectively. α-Cadinol was isolated and characterized using MS, ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR spectral analyses. Furthermore, the oil and the extract were tested for their bacterostatic and antifungal activities; they showed broad and potent activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus subtilis and Candida albicans. A marked larvicidal activity of the essential oil, n-hexane–ether extract and crude ethanolic extract was also observed against Culex pipiens, Musca domestica and Ceratitis capitata larvae.     

Chemical polymorphism of essential oil in Thymus praecox ssp. arcticus (Lamiaceae) from Greenland

The chemistry of the essential oil of Thymus praecox Opiz ssp. arcticus (E. Durand) Jalas from Greenland was studied with the intention of comparing it with the results obtained earlier from Icelandic material. All the 17 samples collected at different localities of South–West Greenland were found to contain linalyl acetate as main component besides some sesquiterpene hydrocarbons and some oxygenated sesquiterpenes. The variable content of the sesquiterpene alcohols, nerolidol and hedycaryol in the essential oil gave reason to define four different chemotypes. The pattern of the chemotype characterizing compounds was identical with that of four of the seven chemotypes found earlier to be the most widely distributed in Iceland, namely chemotypes B, C, D, and F. No correlation between the occurrence of a certain type and special environmental conditions was found. That the essential oil chemistry and the appearance of polychemism in the Greenland Thymus plants accords so well with that of the Icelandic ones, indicates that the distance of nearly 300 km between Iceland and Greenland has not led to locally limited "chemical races" within Thymus praecox ssp. arcticus. These findings are contrary to the results obtained in some Mediterranean Thymus species.     

Efficiency of essential oil (Satureja montana) in controlling the ascospherosis in the honey bee (Apis mellifera) under field conditions.

With the aim of testing its effect in the control of ascosphaerosis in bees, the essential oil of ajedra was incorporated into three types of feed in five different concentrations. Syrup (water and honey) with 0.1% were the best tolerated by the bees, with no colonial changes after a single feed. Later, the ascosphaerosis was introduced in a controlled manner into eight hives. For this, a 10 e6/ml spore suspension was applied by nedulisor three times a week for four weeks to ensure its abundant presence inside the hives. This was continued for the next four weeks period, and at the same time portions of brood-comb in a known state (24 h before operculation) were removed from the hives and heat shocked for 24 h (22 -/+ 2 degrees C), then replaced in the hives for their opercultion, finally removing them and maintaining them at 35 degrees C and 70% relative humidity until the appearance of typical disease symptoms (mummification of the larvae).The hives were randomly divided into two groups of four. One group received 500 ml of syrup with 0.1% oil of ajedra, twice a week for four weeks. The other was kept as the control, receiving syrup without medication. 27.6% of the selected larvae in the treated hives showed mummification, compared with 79.1% in the control hives. The treatment was perfectly tolerated by the bee colonies, showing no changes in their subsequent development.     

Chemical composition and anti-Helicobacter pylori effect of Satureja bachtiarica Bunge essential oil

Resistance of H. pylori strains to common antibiotics has been developed in different parts of the world and continues to increase. It is important to investigate the novel and efficient anti-H. pylori drugs, among which the plants would be suitable sources.Satureja bachtiarica Bunge is traditionally used as antimicrobial agent. In this study, we evaluated the antibacterial activity of S. bachtiarica Bunge essential oil against 10 clinical isolates of Helicobacter pylori by disc diffusion and agar dilution methods. The chemical composition of essential oil was analyzed by GC and GC–MS. Carvacrol (45.5%) and thymol (27.9%) were the primary constituents of oil, followed by p-cymene (4.4%), and γ-terpinene (4.0%). S. bachtiarica essential oil showed strong antibacterial activity against clinical isolates of H. pylori (17.6 ± 1.1 mm and 0.035 ± 0.13 μl/ml). Carvacrol, as the first main component, had a significant role in this effect, whereas in the presence of thymol, the antibacterial effect of carvacrol was reduced. Therefore, S. bachtiarica essential oil can be applied as an alternative agent for treatment of H. pylori infections. More studies would be required to better clarify its mechanism of action on H. pylori.     

Antimicrobial activity, essential oil composition and micromorphology of trichomes of Satureja laxiflora C. Koch from Iran

The antimicrobial activity, essential oil composition and micromorphology of trichomes of Satureja laxiflora C. Koch, a native plant from Iran, were studied. The essential oil was obtained from the aerial parts at the flowering stage by hydrodistillation, and analyzed by GC and GC/MS. Thirty-three compounds representing 99.1% of the total oil were characterized. The major compounds were thymol (63.9%) and gamma-terpinene (11.9%) followed by carvacrol (4.8%), p-cymene (3.9%), geraniol (3.2%) and geranyl acetate (3.1%). Furthermore, the essential oil and its three main components were tested against two bacteria and three fungi. The result of the bioassays has been shown that the oil possesses potent antimicrobial property. Chemical studies confirmed that a major portion of this antimicrobial activity is due to thymol present in the oil. Micromorphological analysis by SEM of both vegetative and reproductive organs revealed the presence of abundant sessile capitate and sparse short-stalked glandular trichomes along with retrorse eglandular hairs, giving useful diagnostic characters for identification of this medicinal plant.     

Chemical composition,antimicrobial, antioxidative and anticholinesterase activity of Satureja Montana L. ssp montana essential oil

The present study investigates the chemical compositions of three Satureja montana L. ssp montana essential oils and correlates chemical variability with biological activities. GC/MS analysis showed that with an increase in altitude (100–500–800 m), a higher content of linalool, terpinen-4-ol and cis-sabinene hydrate was found, while the percentage of phenolic compounds, thymol and carvacrol decreased. Antimicrobial activity of the essential oils was tested against 7 fungal and 23 bacterial strains. The essential oil characterized by the highest content of phenols and alcohols exhibited the highest antimicrobial potential. The correlation analysis showed that the major carriers of the obtained antioxidant activity are oxygenated monoterpenes. All essential oils inhibited human serum cholinesterase activity. High antimicrobial potential, together with moderate antioxidant capacity and strong inhibition of human serum cholinesterase, classifies S. montana essential oil as a natural source of compounds that can be used in the treatment of foodborne and neurological diseases, wound and other infections, as well as for general health improvement.     

Calamintha cretica (Lamiaceae), a Cretan endemic: Distribution and essential oil composition

The distribution of Calamintha cretica , a taxon restricted on the massif of Levka Ori (White Mountains W. Crete, Greece), is presented. The essential oils of three populations were examined by means of GC and GC-MS. The essential oil yield varied from 0.5% to 1.9%, whereas the major compounds were in all cases piperitenone oxide (26.4–41.3%) and piperitone oxide (33.8–59.9%). Like all other Calamintha taxa examined to date, it is a species rich in p -menthane compounds. The results are further discussed in relation to their chemotaxonomic value.     

Satureja khozestanica essential oil ameliorates progression of diabetic nephropathy in uninephrectomized diabetic rats

Diabetic nephropathy is the common cause of leading to end stage of renal disease (ESRD). Satureja khozestanica essential oil (SKEO) was used as an antioxidant and antidiabetic for the inhibition of diabetic nephropathy. Forty male rats were uninephrectomized and divided in four groups randomly; group one as control, group two diabetic untreatment, groups three and four treatment with SKEO by 250 or 500 ppm in drinking water, respectively. Diabetes was induced in the second, third and fourth groups by alloxan injection subcutaneously. After eight weeks treatment, serum malondialdehyde, serum creatinine and serum urea were measured. The kidney paraffin sections were stained by periodic acid Schiff method. Glomerular volume and glomerular number were estimated by stereological rules. Glomerular sclerosis was studied semi-quantitatively. The means were compared by SPSS 13 software and Mann-Whitney test at p < 0.05. Satureja khozestanica essential oil (250 or 500 ppm) significantly inhibited the progression of glomerular hypertrophy, glomerular number loss, glomerulosclerosis, lipid peroxidation, serum urea and creatinine compared with the diabetic untreated group. The level of glomerular number, serum malondialdehyde, serum creatinine and urea in the treated groups was significantly maintained at the same level as that of the control group. In conclusion, satureja essential oil significantly can ameliorate glomerular hypertrophy, loss of glomerular number, glomerulosclerosis and attenuated serum urea and serum creatinine in diabetic rats.     

Acaricidal activity of the essential oil from Tetradenia riparia (Lamiaceae) on the cattle tick Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus (Acari; Ixodidae)

Tetradenia riparia (Lamiaceae) is a well-known herbal medicine with a variety of useful properties, including its acaricidal effect. This experiment was carried out to study the bioacaricidal activity of T. riparia essential oil (EO) against engorged females of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus (Acari; Ixodidae). For this purpose, nine serial concentrations (12.50%, 6.25%, 3.75%, 1.80%, 0.90%, 0.45%, 0.22%, 0.11%, and 0.056% w/v) of T. riparia were used for the adult immersion test (AIT). For the larval packet test (LPT), we used 14 serial concentrations (100.00%, 50.00%, 25.00%, 12.50%, 6.25%, 3.65%, 1.82%, 0.91%, 0.45%, 0.228%, 0.114%, 0.057%, 0.028%, and 0.014% w/v). The results for AIT showed 100.00% and 2.05% mortality, 19.00 and 90.20% for the total number of eggs, egg-laying inhibition of 0.00% and 90.20%, hatchability inhibition of 0.00% and 70.23%, and product effectiveness of 100.00% and 2.89%, respectively. The AIT indicated that the LC₅₀ and LC_99.9, calculated using the Probit test, were for mortality (%) 0.534 g/mL (0.436–0.632) and 1.552 g/mL (1.183–1.92); for total number of eggs were 0.449 g/mL (0.339–0.558) and 1.76 g/mL (1.27–2.248); and for hatchability inhibition were 0.114 g/mL (0.0–0.31) and 2.462 g/mL (1.501–3.422), respectively. Larvae between 14 and 21 days old were fasted and placed in each envelope. Bioassays were performed at 27° ± 1 °C, RH ? 80%. Larval mortality was observed 24 h after treatment and showed 10.60–100% mortality in the LPT bioassay. The LPT showed that the LC₅₀ and LC_99.9 were 1.222 g/mL (0.655–1.788) and 11.382 g/mL (7.84–14.91), respectively. A positive correlation between T. riparia EO concentration and tick control, was observed by the strong acaricidal effects against R. (B.) microplus, and the mortality rate of ticks was dose-dependent. Our results showed that T. riparia is a promising candidate as an acaricide against resistant strains of R. (B.) microplus.     

Chemotaxonomic and Micromorphological Traits of Satureja montana L. and S. subspicata Vis. (Lamiaceae)

Satureja montana and S. subspicata are used as spice, pepper substitute, for preparing tea, juice, and as a medicine. Fourteen populations (seven per species) of Satureja montana L. and S. subspicata Vis . growing in Croatia were examined to determine the chemical composition of the essential oil (analyzed by GC‐FID and GC/MS), the content of macroelements (Na, K, Ca, Mg) and trace elements (B, Fe, Cu, Mn, Zn, Al, Pb, Cr, Cd, Ni, Hg, As) analyzed by ICP‐AES, antioxidant compounds (analyzed by UV/VIS spectrophotometer), and the types and distribution of trichomes (analyzed by scanning electron microscopy). The main constituents of the essential oil were carvacrol and thymol in S. montana (all populations belong to one phenol chemotype), while α‐eudesmol, β‐eudesmol, and spathulenol dominated in S. subspicata (three chemotypes could be distinguished). Both species possess considerably higher quantities of Ca and Mg, and moderate concentrations of K and Na, while Hg and As levels were below the limit of quantification. Non‐glandular trichomes, peltate trichomes, and three types of capitate trichomes were observed on leaves, stem, calyx, and corolla.     

A reexamination of North American Satureja s.l. (Lamiaceae) in light of molecular evidence

Satureja s.l. (Lamiaceae) is a large complex (ca. 225 spp.) that is variably treated as comprising from one to as many as 17 genera. The North American representatives are usually assigned toCalamintha, Clinopodium, Micromeria, Piloblephis, orSatureja. A recent chloroplast DNA restriction site analysis indicates that inclusion ofSatureja s.str.,Micromeria, andPiloblephis in the group renders it non-monophyletic. After exclusion of these three genera, a study of morphological variation in the remainder of the complex suggests that it is best treated as three genera, two of which do not occur in North America (Cyclotrichium and “Obtegomeria” [Doroszenko, ined., to be validated else-where]). The third comprises ca. 100 species, 11 of them native to North America north of Mexico. WithSatureja s.str. excluded, the name with priority for the latter genus isClinopodium. The indigenous North American species and their more frequently used synonyms are tabulated. A new combination,Clinopodium chandleri, is made.