ABSTRACT
Fennel plant (Foeniculum vulgare, Mill.) is one of most widely used plants in food and medicine. Our study aimed to show the response of fennel plants from Egypt and China planted in Egypt to foliar application of benzyladenine (BA) at various concentrations; control, 50, 100 and 150 ppm. The obtained results indicated that treated fennel plants with BA resulted in a significant increase in the vegetative growth, number of umbels/plant, fruit, yield and oil yield per plant and feddan as well as main components, total phenolic contents and antioxidant activity of essential oils compared to untreated plants. In general, the application of benzyladenine was more effective on Egyptian fennel plants than that of Chinese plants. Egyptian fennel plants gave higher values of growth, fruit yield, oil percentage and oil yield than Chinese plants. However, the major components, TPC and antioxidant activity (DPPH %) had higher values in Chinese essential oil than Egyptian essential oil. The highest values of all studied parameters were obtained by using BA at 100 ppm. GC–MS analysis of the volatile oils showed that the major components were trans-anethole followed by fenshone, ?- pinene and D-limonene, respectively for both essential oils. 100 ppm of BA gave the highest values of trans-anethole content and radical scavenging activities of oils. Therefore, we concluded that spraying fennel plants with 100 ppm BA can be used for obtaining higher vegetative growth, fruit and quantity and quality of oil.
ABSTRACT
Aim: To investigate the protective effect of trans-anethole on the PC12 cell injury induced by sodium azide. Methods: PC12 cells were exposed to sodium azide with concentration ranged from 9 ∼ 54 mmol · L-1. The survival rate of the cells was determined by CCK-8 assay. The cell morphology was detected with the inverted microscope; the apoptosis of cells was detected by Hoechst 33258 staining; the content of LDH, MDA levels and antioxidant enzyme activities of SOD were determined using the assay kits according to the manufacturer's protocol. Results PC12 cell injury induced by sodium azide presented a dose-effect relationship. The PC12 cell viability was not changed when treated by irans-anethole for 48 h. Pretreatment of PC12 cells with 10 μmol · L-1 and 60 μmol · L∼ trans-anethole for 8 h could obviously reduce cell injury, reduce LDH leakage and MDA level, as well as increase the antioxidant enzyme activities of SOD induced by sodium azide. Conclusions: Trans-anethole exerts significant protective effect on PC12 cell injury induced by sodium azide. The protective mechanism might be executed by increasing the activities of antioxidant enzymes.
ABSTRACT
A simple and rapid method based on proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy was developed for determination of trans-anethole content in fennel essential oil. Spectra of pure trans-anethole, of the pure essential oil of fennel, and of the pure oil of fennel with thymol internal standard were recorded. The signal of H-1/ was used for quantification of trans-anethole. This proton signal is well separated in the proton magnetic resonance spectrum of the compound. No reference compound is needed and cheap internal standard was used. The results obtained from spectroscopic analysis were compared with those obtained by gas chromatography. Additionally, the developed method was used for determination of the type of vegetable oil used as a carrier in commercial products, which cannot be quantified as such by gas chromatography. This study demonstrates the application of proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy as a quality control method for estimation of essential oil components.
Subject(s)
Chromatography, Gas , Foeniculum , Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy , Protons , Quality Control , Spectrum Analysis , Thymol , VegetablesABSTRACT
AIM@#To study the chemical constituents and their anti-amnesic effect from the hooks of Uncaria rhynchophylla.@*METHODS@#The isolation of compounds was performed by chromatographic techniques and their structures were identified on the basis of spectral analysis. Their ameliorating effects on scopolamine-induced memory impairment in vivo using a Morris water-maze task and passive avoidance task system were evaluated.@*RESULTS@#Activity-guided fractionation of the total extracts resulted in the isolation of four constituents, trans-anethole (1), p-anisaldehyde (2), estragole (3), and 3-oxo-olean-12-en-28-oic acid (4), which were found for the first time from this plant.@*CONCLUSION@#Compound 1 exhibited a better memory enhancing effect than tacrine, a positive agent, at the same dose in the passive avoidance test and a similar property in the water-maze test, and its action may be mediated, in part, by the acetylcholine enhancing cholinergic nervous system.