Composition of the essential oil from beta-Asarone free calamus.

The study of the essential oil extracted from american diploid calamus rhizomes proved that this variety does not contain the cancerogenic cis-isoasarone (beta-asarone) nor other phenylpropane derivatives which are believed to be toxic. Typical compounds of the examined oil are sesquiterpeneketones, e. g. shyobunones and acorones which pharmaceutically used calamus oils also contain. We believe the isoasarone-free calamus rhizome to be an alternative to the triploid calamus variety often used in todays phytotherapy.     

The essential oil from Thymus praecox ssp. arcticus growing in Iceland

The essential oil from THYMUS PRAECOX Opiz ssp. arcticus (E. Durand), Jalas, a widely distributed plant in Iceland, was proved to contain linalyl acetate as main component (70%). Within the sesquiterpene fraction, beta-caryophyllene (4%), germacrene D (3%), beta-bisabolene (2%), beta-sesquiphellandrene (1%), gamma-cadinene (0.5%), and a couple of oxygenated sesquiterpenes (13%) were found by means of GLC-MS. Additionally four such compounds were isolated and identified by means of IR and NMR spectroscopy as nerolidol (3%), T-cadinol (1%), hedycaryol (7%), and 7-hydroxygermacrene (about 2%).     

Contribution to the study of the essential oil from Thymus tosevii growing wild in Greece

The essential oil of THYMUS TOSEVII Velen. (Lamiaceae) growing wild in Greece was investigated by means of GLC, GC-MS, and the physico-chemical constants were determined. The essential oil content was 0.9%. As main constituents resulted linalool 35.5% and geraniol 27.5%. In addition twelve monoterpene hydrocarbons, nine oxygen containing compounds, one sesquiterpene, and two terpene esters were identified, making up about 98% of the oil.     

Composition of essential oil of Zataria multiflora

The composition of the essential oil of Zataria multiflora Boiss. was studied by gas liquid chromatography (GLC), column chromatography (CC), NMR, and GLC/MS. The main constituents of the dry plant were thymol, carvacrol, while the main constituents of the fresh plant were thymol, carvacrol, p-cymene, linalool and gamma-terpinene. The structures of the major components were confirmed by IR and 1H-NMR.     

Composition of essential oil of Ledum palustre

The composition of essential oil of LEDUM PALUSTRE L. was investigated. This oil was obtained by steam distillation of leaf material from plants growing in the Hortus Botanicus at Haren (Groningen). It was separated into seventeen fractions by column chromatography on silicagel and gradient elution with mixtures of petrol (bpt. < 40 degrees C) and diethylether. The investigation was made by GLC and GC-MS. In total, 80 components were identified. About 50 constituents were new, including vitispirane, perillaalcohol, perilla-aldehyde, isopinocamphone, germacrone, etc. Principal components are ledol, palustrol and myrtenal.     

Composition of the essential fruit oil of Vitex agnus-castus

Vitex agnus-castus, the chaste tree, is used against disorders of the female sexual organs and as an anaphrodisiac. Active constituents are not known. In this study the essential oil of the fruits was investigated by GC and GC-MS.     

Composition and antimicrobial activity of the essential oil of Artemisia absinthium from Croatia and France

The essential oils obtained by steam distillation from the aerial parts of two populations of Artemisia absinthium, from France and from Croatia, were analyzed by GC and GC-MS. The oils of A. absinthium of French origin contain (Z)-epoxyocimene and chrysanthenyl acetate as major components while the oils of Croatian A. absinthium contain mainly (Z)-epoxyocimene and beta-thujone. Analysis of oils before and after anthesis showed some quantitative differences. Analysis of separated leaves and flowering heads showed only few differences among these organs. As they contain no thujone, antimicrobial screening was performed on samples of French origin and showed that A. absinthium oil inhibited the growth of both tested yeasts (Candida albicans and Saccharomyces cerevisiae var. chevalieri).     

Composition and antimicrobial activity of the essential oil of Achillea multifida

The composition of the water-distilled essential oil of Achillea multifida (DC.) Boiss. (Compositae) was analysed by GC and GC/MS. Fifty-eight compounds were identified representing 93.9 % of the total oil. alpha-Thujone (60.9 %), beta-thujone (9.1 %), sabinene (4.1 %) and camphor (3.7 %) were characterised as the main constituents. The essential oil was tested for its antimicrobial activity using a micro-dilution assay resulting in the inhibition (MIC: 62.5-250 microg/ml) of human pathogenic bacteria and yeast.     

Composition and antifungal activity of the essential oil of Solidago chilensis

Volatile constituents of the essential oils from leaves and inflorescences of Solidago chilensis Meyen were analyzed by GC-FID, GC-MS and 13C-NMR and thirty-six different compounds were identified. Pumiloxide, an unusual labdane diterpene, was found to be one of the major components in both oils (15.3 % and 12.3 %, respectively). Other important constituents were limonene and several sesquiterpenes, mainly gamma-cadinene. The antifungal activity of the leaf oil was assayed against five different strains of filamentous fungi and one yeast. Paper disk agar diffusion test showed human pathogenic dermatophytes to be the most sensitive.     

Composition and antimicrobial activity of the essential oil of Baccharis notosergila

The essential oil of the aerial parts of Baccharis notosergila was examined by GC and GC-MS. Thirty-one constituents were identified representing 96.4% and alpha-pinene, limonene, beta-caryophyllene, and spathulenol were found to be the major components. Furthermore, the oil was tested against eight gram-positive and -negative bacteria and it was found that they exhibited moderate antibacterial activity.     

Composition and antimicrobial activity of the essential oil of Salvia ringens

The essential oils of Salvia ringens (samples A and B), were analyzed by means of GC and GC/MS. From the seventy-five identified constituents representing 99.82 and 99.86% of the oils, 1,8-cineole and alpha-pinene were the major components. Furthermore, sample B exhibited a very interesting antimicrobial profile after it was tested against six gram (+/-) bacteria and three pathogenic fungi.     

Composition of the essential oil of Ocimum canum grown in Rwanda

The essential oil from leaves and flowers ofOcimum canum Sims, growing wild in Rwanda, was investigated by LSC, GLC and GC-MS. All samples were characterized by a high content of linalool (60–90%). Neither camphor nor citral and methyl cinnamate, compounds reported to be characteristic for different types ofO. canum, could be detected. All monoterpene hydrocarbons were present in minor amounts (<1.5%). The oil samples with the lowest linalool content consisted of relatively large amounts of sesquiterpene hydrocarbons such as bergamotene (about 10%) and Β-caryophyllene (about 5%). Oct-1-en-3-ol and 3-octanol were the only oxygen-containing components, besides linalool, that amounted to more than 1% in most of the oil samples.     

Composition of the essential oil of the flower heads of Matricaria perforata

The essential oil of the flower heads of scentless mayweed (M. perforata Mérat) was investigated. It consists of more than 50 compounds; 26 of them, together representing about 95.2% of the total oil, were identified by GC, GC/MS, and partly by 1H-NMR and UV. They can be classified into polyacetylenes (88.8%), sesquiterpenoids (5.8%), monoterpenoids (0.1%), fatty acids (0.3%), and miscellaneous compounds (5.0%). The oil was dominated by 2Z,8Z-matricaria ester (ME; 75.2%), which was accompanied by several other characteristic polyines, occurring in much lower concentrations: e.g. 8Z-2,3-dihydro-ME, 2E- and 2Z-lachnophyllum ester, 2E-dehydro-ME, and 5E,9Z-matricaria lactone.     

Composition and antimicrobial activity of the essential oil of Scutellaria albida ssp. albida from Greece

Steam distilled essential oil from aerial parts of Scutellaria albida ssp. albida was analyzed by GC and GC/MS. Fifteen compounds were identified of which linalool (52.63%) and trans-nerolidol (9.03%) were the major constituents. Furthermore, the oil was tested against four bacteria and two yeasts and was found to be moderately active against all microorganisms tested.     

Composition and antimicrobial activity of the essential oil of Peumus boldus leaves

The composition and the antimicrobial activity of the essential oil from the leaves of Peumus boldus is investigated. Analyses of the oil obtained by hydrodistillation were carried out by GC and GC-MS using columns of two different stationary phases. Fractionation of the essential oil by column chromatography on silica gel was performed to improve identification of some constituents. More than 90% of the total oil (46 components) was identified, major constituents being monoterpenes (90.5%), among which limonene (17.0%), p-cymene (13.6%), 1.8-cineole (11.8%), and beta-phellandrene (8.4%) reached the highest percentages. Determination of the minimal bactericidal or fungicidal concentration against several microorganisms showed interesting activities towards Streptococcus pyogenes, Micrococcus sp., and Candida sp.     

Composition and antibacterial activity of the essential oil of Satureja parnassica subsp parnassica

The essential oils of Satureja parnassica subsp. parnassica (samples A and B), were analyzed by means of GC/MS. From the fifty-seven identified constituents representing 98.5 % and 99.35 % of the oils respectively, ( E)-caryophyllene, carvacrol and caryophyllene oxide were the major components of sample A (flowering stage), whereas in sample B (vegetative stage) major components were spathulenol, p-cymene and linalool. The oils were tested against Helicobacter pylori (HP), as well as against six aerobically growing bacteria. Both samples showed a moderate activity against Gram-positive bacteria; sample A oil showed greater anti-HP activity than sample B.