Achillea ligustica: composition and antimicrobial activity of essential oils from the leaves, flowers and some pure constituents

The composition of the essential oils obtained from the leaves and the flowers of Achillea ligustica (Asteraceae) growing in Sicily has been studied. The main constituents of the leaves were 4-terpineol (19.3%), carvone (8.9%), γ-terpinene (7.2%) and β-phellandrene (6.8%). 4-terpineol (12.0%), carvone (10.0%), and β-phellandrene (5.4%), along with linalool (20.4%) and cedrol (4.3%) were detected in the flower’s oil. Furthermore, the antimicrobial activity of the essential oils and of some of the main constituents were assayed on bacteria and fungi. In memory of Prof. Ivano Morelli (1940–2005)     

Acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase inhibitory activity of Pinus species essential oils and their constituents

This study aimed to investigate the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) inhibitory activity of the essential oils from Pinus nigra subsp. nigra, P. nigra var. calabrica, and P. heldreichii subsp. leucodermis. This activity is relevant to the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), since cholinesterase drugs are currently the only drugs available to treat AD. P. heldreichii subsp. leucodermis exhibited the most promising activity, with IC₅₀ values of 51.1 and 80.6?μg/mL against AChE and BChE, respectively. An interesting activity against AChE was also observed with P. nigra subsp. nigra essential oil, with an IC₅₀ value of 94.4?μg/mL. Essential oils were analyzed by GC and GC-MS with the purpose of investigating their relationships with the observed activities. Among the identified constituents, terpinolene, β-phellandrene, linalyl acetate, trans-caryophyllene, and terpinen-4-ol were tested. trans-Caryophyllene and terpinen-4-ol inhibited BChE with IC₅₀ values of 78.6 and 107.6?μg/mL, respectively. β-Phellandrene was selective against AChE (IC₅₀ value of 120.2?μg/mL).     

广西小叶红叶藤挥发油化学成分及抗氧化性研究

采用气相色谱-质谱联用技术对小叶红叶藤挥发油的化学成分进行分析,并用DPPH·法、ABTS,+法和铁氰化钾还原法对其抗氧化能力进行研究.结果表明:从小叶红叶藤挥发油分离出221个色谱峰,共鉴定64个化合物,占挥发油总量的95.72％,主要成分为dl-薄荷酮(53.43％)、(E)-薄荷酮(14.20％)、5-甲基-2-...     

十九种植物精油对茶丽纹象甲成虫的驱避和拒食活性

为了寻找茶丽纹象甲Myllocerinus aurolineatus Voss无公害防治新途径,采用行为生测法测定了19种植物精油对茶丽纹象甲的驱避和拒食活性。结果表明:大蒜油allitridi、芸香(Cantleyt corniculata(Becc)Howard)油、丹参(Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge.)、穿心莲(Andrographis paniculata(Burm.f.)Nees)、艾叶(Artemisia argyi Levl.et Vant.)、薰衣草(Lavender angustifolia Mill.)、何首乌(Fallopia multiflora(Thunb.)Harald.)、苦参(Sophora flavescens Alt.)、黄岑(Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi)、益母草(Leonurus heterophyllus Sweet)和金银花(Lonicera Japonica Thunb.)提取物对象甲的雄性和(或)雌性具有驱避活性。其中,大蒜油、丹参、何首乌和苦参又分别对象甲的雌性或雄性具有显著的选择性拒食活性;与对照相比,芸香油和金银花提取物对象甲具有非选择性拒食活性,而大蒜油和益母草提取物会显著提高象甲的取食量。艾叶、薰衣草和黄岑提取物对象甲仅表现出一定的驱避活性,未表现出拒食活性。与对照相比,穿心莲提取物对象甲具有显著的引诱作用。本研究证明芸香油、丹参、何首乌、苦参和金银花5种物质对象甲具有多方面的作用活性,具有很好的研究价值和实践意义。     

加拿大一枝黄花精油的化学成分及其抗菌活性

用GC—MS联用技术分析了加拿大一枝黄花（Solidago canadensis L．）精油的化学组成和含量,并测定了精油对6种农业病原真菌的抗菌活性。从加拿大一枝黄花的精油中鉴定出50种成分,占色谱峰总面积的91．08％,（＋）一大拢牛儿烯D（28．64％）、α-蒎烯（15、08％）、柠檬烯（11．80％）为精油的主要成分。抗菌活性研究结果表明,加拿大一枝黄花精油对水稻纹枯病和黄瓜立枯病的抑制作用最强,对番茄灰霉病显示出中等抑制作用,但对番茄早疫病、菜豆炭疽病和葡萄炭疽病的抑制作用很弱。     

芳樟无性系叶精油及芳樟醇含量变异分析

芳樟[ Cinnamomum camphora var.linaloolifera Fujita.]个体自然结果率极低,甚至只开花不结实,而其群体结果率却较高[1].通过自然授粉繁殖的芳樟子代叶精油类型(主要成分)存在分离现象,如叶精油主含芳樟醇的母株,可产生叶精油主含樟脑和桉叶油素的有性后代,且后代个体间芳樟醇含量差异大[2].而以此为原料提取的精油实为杂樟油,提纯难度大,市场价格受到严重影响,因此利用无性系收割枝叶方式进行芳樟香料林产业化开发受到广泛重视[3].精油为植物次生代谢物,其含量及组成受遗传和环境因子双重控制[4-6],因而,使芳樟优良无性系叶精油及其主成分保留母株的优良特性并保持稳定,是实现芳樟产业化开发的关键.作者对优良芳樟组培和扦插无性系叶精油及芳樟醇含量进行了测定,并分析其变异状况,以期为芳樟产业化开发提供实验数据.     

Antifungal activity of Juniperus essential oils against dermatophyte, Aspergillus and Candida strains

AIMS: The increasing resistance to antifungal compounds and the reduced number of available drugs led us to search therapeutic alternatives among aromatic plants and their essential oils, empirically used by antifungal proprieties. In this work the authors report on the antifungal activity of Juniperus essential oils (Juniperus communis ssp. alpina, J. oxycedrus ssp. oxycedrus and J. turbinata). METHODS AND RESULTS: Antifungal activity was evaluated by determination of MIC and MLC values, using a macrodilution method (NCCLS protocols), on clinical and type strains of Candida, Aspergillus and dermatophytes. The composition of the oils was ascertained by GC and GC/MS analysis. All essential oils inhibited test dermatophyte strains. The oil from leaves of J. oxycedrus ssp. oxycedrus is the most active, with MIC and MLC values ranging from 0.08-0.16 microl ml(-1) to 0.08-0.32 microl ml(-1), respectively. This oil is mainly composed of alpha-pinene (65.5%) and delta-3-carene (5.7%). CONCLUSIONS: J. oxycedrus ssp. oxycedrus leaf oil proved to be an emergent alternative as antifungal agent against dermatophyte strains. delta-3-Carene, was shown to be a fundamental compound for this activity. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Results support that essential oils or some of their constituents may be useful in the clinical management of fungal infections, justifying future clinical trials to validate their use as therapeutic alternatives for dermatophytosis.     

Antimicrobial activity of essential oils isolated from Portuguese endemic species of Thymus

AIMS: Thymus species are wild species mostly found in the arid lands of Portugal. Possible antimicrobial properties of Thymus essential oils have been investigated. The chemical composition of the essential oils and the antimicrobial activity of Thymus mastichina (L) L. subsp. mastichina, T. camphoratus and T. lotocephalus from different regions of Portugal were analysed. METHODS AND RESULTS: Hydrodistillation was used to isolate the essential oils and the chemical analyses were performed by gas chromatography (GC) and GC coupled to mass spectrometry. The antimicrobial activity was tested by the disc agar diffusion technique against Candida albicans, Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, Proteus mirabilis, Salmonella spp. and Staphylococcus aureus. Pure linalool, 1,8-cineole and a mixture (1 : 1) of these compounds were included. Linalool, 1,8-cineole or linalool/1,8-cineole and linalool/1,8-cineole/linalyl acetate were the major components of the essential oils, depending on the species or sampling place. The essential oils isolated from the Thymus species studied demonstrated antimicrobial activity but the micro-organisms tested had significantly different sensitivities. CONCLUSIONS: The antimicrobial activity of essential oils may be related to more than one component. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Portuguese endemic species of Thymus can be used for essential oil production for food spoilage control, cosmetics and pharmaceutical use. Further studies will be required to elucidate the cell targets of the essential oil components.     

Biocides formulation of essential oils having antimicrobial activity

Essential oils of fennel, peppermint, caraway, eucalyptus, geranium and lemon were tested for their antimicrobial activities against some plant pathogenic micro-organisms (Fusarium oxysporum, Alternaria alternate, Penicilium italicum Penicilium digitatum and Botyritus cinerea). Essential oils of fennel, peppermint, caraway were selected as an active ingredient for the formulation of biocides due to their efficiency in controlling the tested micro-organisms. Successful emulsifiable concentrates (biocides) were prepared from these oils using different emulsifiers (Emulgator B.L.M. Tween20 and Tween80) and different fixed oils (sesame, olive, cotton and soybean oils). Physico-chemical properties of the formulated biocide (spontaneous emulsification, emulsion stability test, cold stability and heat stability tests as well as viscosity, surface tension and pH) were measured. The prepared biocides were ready to be tested for application in a future work as a safe pesticide against different pathogens.     

Fumigant toxicity of Lavandula spica essential oil and linalool on different life stages of Tribolium confusum (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)

The confused flour beetle, Tribolium confusum, is a common and severe pest of stored products. Here, using fumigation tests during four different exposure times, we evaluated the toxicity of different doses of essential oil of spike lavender, Lavandula spica and one of its major constituents, linalool, on different life stages of T. confusum under laboratory conditions. The toxicity of the L. spica oil and linalool varied as a function of the developmental stage and treatment duration. Young larvae (L1) were the most susceptible to toxic effects, with LC₅₀ = 19.535 μl/L of air for L. spica oil and LC₅₀ = 14.198 μl/L of air for linalool after 24 h of exposure, whereas older larvae (L8) were affected only very little by fumigation. Linalool caused higher egg mortality than L. spica oil at equivalent doses, but lower mortality in pupae and adults. Emergence of intact adult insects from surviving eggs, larvae and pupae was further reduced as a function of dose and exposure time to both L. spica oil and linalool compared to control-treated insects. Our results show that L. spica oil and linalool might be suitable for biological control of T. confusum, but tests at a larger scale are necessary to confirm our results.     

Study of the major essential oil compounds of Coriandrum sativum against Acinetobacter baumannii and the effect of linalool on adhesion,biofilms and quorum sensing

Acinetobacter baumannii is a pathogen that has the ability to adhere to surfaces in the hospital environment and to form biofilms which are increasingly resistant to antimicrobial agents. The aim of this work was to study the antimicrobial activity of the major oil compounds of Coriandrum sativum against A. baumannii. The effect of linalool on planktonic cells and biofilms of A. baumannii on different surfaces, as well as its effect on adhesion and quorum sensing was evaluated. From all the compounds evaluated, linalool was the compound with the best antibacterial activity, with minimum inhibitory concentration values between 2 and 8 μl ml^?1. Linalool also inhibited biofilm formation and dispersed established biofilms of A. baumannii, changed the adhesion of A. baumannii to surfaces and interfered with the quorum- sensing system. Thus, linalool could be a promising antimicrobial agent for controlling planktonic cells and biofilms of A. baumannii.     

九种植物精油对腌肉及咸鱼害虫大头金蝇的杀卵作用

为开发腌肉和咸鱼害蝇的安全性杀卵剂,采用改进的浸卵法,进行了9种植物精油对大头金蝇的杀卵活性测定.结果表明:肉桂、丁香、八角茴香3种植物精油较为有效,它们的杀卵毒力(LC50)依次为0.428、1.605和2.489mg.ml-1,以肉桂油的毒力最强.通过GC/MC成分分析,从肉桂油检出22个成分,主成分桂皮醛占92.33%.合成桂皮醛(含量97.33%)的毒力为0.281mg.ml-1,略高于肉桂油,表明桂皮醛是肉桂油的主要杀卵活性成分,可替代肉桂油作为害蝇杀卵剂利用.     

岩黄连乙酸乙酯部位化学成分及其抗炎活性研究

为研究岩黄连的化学成分及其抗炎活性,该研究采用硅胶、MCI、Sephadex LH-20、制备型高效液相色谱等方法对岩黄连95%乙醇提取物的乙酸乙酯萃取部位进行分离和纯化,通过核磁共振波谱(NMR)、高分辨质谱(HR-MS)等谱学手段鉴定其结构,同时采用脂多糖(LPS)诱导的小鼠巨噬细胞RAW264.7建立体外炎症筛选模型,并评价其抗炎活性。结果表明：从岩黄连乙醇提取物的乙酸乙酯部位中分离并鉴定了13个化合物,分别为黄连碱(1)、盐酸小檗碱(2)、文殊兰新碱(3)、甲基小檗碱(4)、脱氢卡维丁(5)、左旋四氢巴马汀(6)、药根碱(7)、紫堇定(8)、反式阿魏酸酰对羟基苯乙胺(9)、对苯二甲酸二丁酯(10)、山奈酚(11)、异地芰普内酯(12)、地芰普内酯(13)。其中,化合物3、4、8-13为首次从该植物中分离获得;化合物4、9、11对LPS诱导巨噬细胞RAW264.7产生炎症因子NO均具有良好的抑制作用,半抑制浓度(IC₅₀)值分别为(18.8±0.2)、(29.1±0.3)、(18.0±0.1)μmol·L^-1,优于阳性对照吲哚美辛,在抗...     

Anti-biofilm activities of essential oils rich in carvacrol and thymol against Salmonella Enteritidis

The aim of the present study was to determine the bioactive compounds in four essential oils (EO’s) from Origanum heracleoticum, Origanum vulgare, Thymus vulgaris and Thymus serpyllum and to assess their antimicrobial and anti-biofilm activity against Salmonella Enteritidis. Strains were previously characterized depending on the expression of the extracellular matrix components cellulose and curli fimbriae as rdar (red, dry and rough) and bdar morphotype (brown, dry and rough). This study revealed that the EO’s and EOC’s (carvacrol and thymol) investigated showed inhibition of biofilm formation at sub-minimum inhibitory concentration. Comparing the efficacy of EO’s and EOC’s in the inhibition of biofilm formation between the strains with different morphotype (rdar and bdar) did not show a statistically significant difference. Results related to the effectiveness of EO’s and EOC’s (the essential oil components, carvacrol and thymol) on eradication of preformed 48?h old biofilms indicated that biofilm reduction occurred in a dose-dependent manner over time.     

Chemical composition and larvicidal activity of essential oils of three Artemisia species

Aedes aegypti L. (Diptera: Culicidae) is a vector for serious diseases in tropical regions. This pest is mainly controlled by commercial larvicides but the application of such products has led to environmental problems. Essential oils (EO) have been consistently reported as molecules with insecticidal activity and can be used to produce more environmentally friendly larvicides in the control of A. aegypti. In this study, the larvicidal effect of essential oils (EO) from the leaves of three Artemisia species was evaluated against A. aegypti. The oils were obtained from steam distillation and their chemical composition was determined by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The EO of Artemisia camphorata was the most active in the screening bioassay and presented LC₅₀ and LC₉₅ of 64.95 and 74.18 μg ml⁻¹, respectively. In addition, we found that germacrene D-4-ol was the constituent responsible for the toxicity of this EO. Artemisia camphorata EO and its major constituent, germacrene D-4-ol, are promising for the development of natural larvicides against A. aegypti.     

几种典型植物精油的化学成分与其抗菌活性

【目的】植物精油萃取自天然植物, 因具有抗菌活性, 近年来受到广泛关注。论文的目的是分析植物精油的化学成分, 测试其抗菌活性, 并研究其化学成分与抗菌活性之间的联系。【方法】实验选取了肉桂、山苍子、丁香、香茅、迷迭香和大蒜精油等6种典型植物精油, 通过气质联用分析方法研究了其化学组分, 并通过污染食物技术研究了其对黑曲霉和绳状青霉的抗真菌活性, 以及对大肠杆菌和金黄色葡萄球菌的抗细菌活性。【结果】气质联用分析结果表明, 肉桂、山苍子、香茅和迷迭香等4种植物精油的化学成分主要是醛类和醇类, 丁香精油的主要化学成分是丁香油酚, 大蒜精油化学成分基本上都是含硫的醚类, 其中二烯丙基三硫醚(大蒜素)含量最高。抗菌活性结果显示, 不同植物精油的抗菌活性不同, 6种植物精油的抗真菌活性由强到弱依次为: 肉桂>大蒜>丁香>山苍子=香茅>迷迭香, 抗细菌活性由强到弱依次为: 肉桂>山苍子>丁香>香茅=迷迭香>大蒜。【结论】植物精油的抗真菌、细菌活性与其化学组分密切相关, 肉桂、山苍子、香茅和迷迭香等4种精油的抗菌活性可能主要与其化学成分中的醛类和醇类有关, 丁香精油较高的抗菌活性可能主要源于丁香油酚; 大蒜精油具有高效的抗真菌活性主要源于其化学成分中的含硫醚。不同植物精油化学成分不同, 抗真菌、细菌活性也不同, 表明其可能有不同的抗真菌与抗细菌机制。     

植物精油对锈赤扁谷盗成虫熏蒸毒杀作用研究

为明确适用于防治锈赤扁谷盗的植物精油种类及其用量,本试验采用拌粮密闭熏蒸法,比较23种植物精油对锈赤扁谷盗成虫熏蒸毒杀活性差异,从中筛选出作用效果较好的精油种类进行熏蒸毒力测定。通过二次筛选结果表明,大蒜与芥末精油对锈赤扁谷盗成虫具有明显的熏蒸毒杀作用。进一步的毒力测试结果表明,在24 h、48 h、72 h处理时间下,大蒜精油对锈赤扁谷盗成虫的LC_(50)值分别为0.7827、0.7222、0.6478μL/L,而芥末精油在相同处理时间条件下的LC_(50)值分别为2.7581、2.6117及2.4619μL/L,大蒜精油对锈赤扁谷盗具有更强的熏蒸毒杀活性。     

Comparison of bacteriostatic and bactericidal activity of 13 essential oils against strains with varying sensitivity to antibiotics

Aims:  To compare the bacteriostatic and bactericidal activity of 13 chemotyped essential oils (EO) on 65 bacteria with varying sensitivity to antibiotics.
Methods and Results:  Fifty-five bacterial strains were tested with two methods used for evaluation of antimicrobial activity (CLSI recommendations): the agar dilution method and the time-killing curve method. EO containing aldehydes ( Cinnamomum verum bark and Cymbopogon citratus ), phenols ( Origanum compactum , Trachyspermum ammi , Thymus satureioides , Eugenia caryophyllus and Cinnamomum verum leaf) showed the highest antimicrobial activity with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) <2% (v/v) against all strains except Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Alcohol-based EO ( Melaleuca alternifolia , Cymbopogon martinii and Lavandula angustifolia ) exhibited varying degrees of activity depending on Gram status. EO containing 1·8-cineole and hydrocarbons ( Eucalyptus globulus , Melaleuca cajeputii and Citrus sinensis ) had MIC_90% ≥ 10% (v/v). Against P. aeruginosa , only C. verum bark and O. compactum presented MIC ≤2% (v/v). Cinnamomum verum bark, O. compactum , T. satureioides , C. verum leaf and M. alternifolia were bactericidal against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli at concentrations ranging from to 0·31% to 10% (v/v) after 1 h of contact. Cinnamomum verum bark and O. compactum were bactericidal against P. aeruginosa within 5 min at concentrations <2% (v/v).
Conclusions:  Cinnamomum verum bark had the highest antimicrobial activity, particularly against resistant strains.
Significance and Impact of the Study:  Bacteriostatic and bactericidal activity of EO on nosocomial antibiotic-resistant strains.     

41种植物精油对淡色库蚊的熏蒸活性

为发现具有较高杀蚊活性的精油, 推动植物精油类卫生杀虫剂的创制, 本研究采用三角瓶熏蒸法测定了17科41种植物精油对淡色库蚊Culex pipiens pallens雌成蚊的熏蒸活性, 并进一步采用密闭圆筒法验证其杀虫毒力大小。三角瓶熏蒸法测定表明, 在12 μL/L浓度下, 留兰香油（spearmint oil）、 薰衣草油（lavender oil）、 山苍子油（Litsea cubeba oil）等26种精油均有较强的熏蒸作用, KT₅₀小于15 min。该26种精油用密闭圆筒熏蒸法进一步测定表明, 在浓度为10 μL/L时, 冬青油（wintergreen oil）、 艾叶油（blumea oil）、 薄荷油（peppermint oil）、 桉叶油（Eucalyptus robusta oil）和蓝桉油（E. globulus oil）等植物精油熏蒸活性较强, 其KT₅₀分别为16.91, 21.20, 22.57, 18.43和19.48 min。结果证明冬青油、 艾叶油、 薄荷油、 桉叶油和蓝桉油等5种精油对淡色库蚊具有较强的熏蒸活性, 具备作为淡色库蚊防控剂开发的潜力, 值得进一步研究。     

贮存年份对北艾和蕲艾精油成分与抑菌活性的影响研究

本文采用水蒸汽蒸馏法提取了贮存0、1、2年的北艾和蕲艾精油,采用GC-MS检测精油化学成分,选取10种常见细菌,检测了其抗菌谱和最小杀菌浓度。结果发现:0、1年份北艾精油中小分子挥发性物质较多,随着贮存年份的增加,大分子挥发性物质随之增加;侧柏酮为蕲艾的特有成分。0年份艾叶精油的抑菌活性较高,对沙门菌、枯草芽孢杆菌、沙门菌耐药菌、绿脓杆菌均具有抑制作用。综上,不同贮存年份和品种的艾叶精油在化学成分、抗菌谱和抑菌活性方面均存在差异,综合考虑精油含量和抑菌活性,以0年份的北艾为原料提取精油最佳。