Phytochemical and Biological Profile of Essential Oils of Elionurus muticus (Spreng.) Growing in Northeastern Argentina.

The purpose of this study was to investigate essential oils (EOs) from leaves of Elionurus muticus growing in Northeastern Argentina regarding their physicochemical profiles as well as their biological potential. Roots of a selected E. muticus population were investigated too. For this purpose, EOs of fresh materials were obtained by steam distillation and the chemical composition was characterized by gas chromatography GC/MS-FID. Antibacterial, antioxidant and eco-toxicity activities of the essential oils (EOs) were tested by in vitro assays. The EOs showed three E. muticus chemotypes: citral (neral+geranial), acorenone+bisabolone, acorenone+geranial. EO of roots of citral population contains mainly acorenone derivatives. EOs have high antibacterial effect against Staphylococcus aureus, being found minor antibacterial effect against Gram-negative bacteria. The half-maximal inhibitory concentration of EOs against DPPH⋅ were 7.1-30.0 mg/mL and the eco-toxicity was high with LD50 <39 µg/mL. Based on the findings, given the high variability in their chemical composition and biological activity of E. muticus EO and the promising yields, it could be potentially chosen for industrial applications.

Insecticidal properties of Heliotropium stenophyllum essentialoil on the House fly, Musca domestica L / Propiedades insecticidas del aceite esencial de Heliotropium stenophyllum en la mosca doméstica, Musca domestica L

The composition of the essential oil (EO) obtained by hydro distillation from dry leaves of Heliotropium stenophyllum (Heliotropiaceae) was analyzed using gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The insecticidal activity of the oil against the house fly Musca domestica was evaluated and the dose necessary to kill 50 percent of flies (LC50) in 2 h was determined at 25 +/- 1 °C. The essential oil from Heliotropium stenophyllum showed potent insecticidal properties (LC50 = 1.09 mg/dm3) in comparison with other essential oils, in which at shorter times, the same bio-assay was used. According to GC and GC/MS analysis, junenol (19.08 percent); longiborneol (9.34 percent); (E, Z)-geranyl linalool (6.81 percent); selina-3,11-dien-6-alpha-ol (6.70 percent); alpha-cedrene epoxide (6.60 percent); heliofolen-12-al D (6.23 percent) and beta-epi-bisabolol (4.83 percent were the principal components of the EO. The Heliotropium stenophyllum essential oil, made up exclusively of sesquiterpenes, showed a composition very different from the EOs of the other species of Heliotropium, studied, and present a great potential as a natural insecticide against houseflies.

La composición del aceite esencial (AE) obtenido por hidrodestilación de hojas secas de Heliotropium stenophyllum (Heliotropiaceae) se analizó mediante cromatografía de gases (CG) y cromatografía de gases/espectrometría de masas (CG/EM). La actividad insecticida del aceite contra la mosca doméstica Musca domestica se evaluó y la dosis necesaria para matar el 50 por ciento de las moscas (LC50) en 2 h se determinó a 25 +/- 1 ºC. El aceite esencial de Heliotropium stenophyllum mostró potentes propiedades insecticidas (LC50 = 1,09 mg/dm3) en comparación con otros aceites esenciales, en el que en tiempos más cortos, se utilizó el mismo bio-ensayo. De acuerdo con los análisis de CG y CG/EM, junenol (19,08 por ciento); longiborneol (9,34 por ciento), (E, Z)-geranil linalool (6,81 por ciento); selina-3,11-dien-6-alfa-ol (6,70 por ciento); epoxido de alfa-cedreno (6,60 por ciento); heliofolen-12-al D (6,23 por ciento) y beta-epi-bisabolol (4,83 por ciento) fueron los componentes principales identificados en el AE. El aceite esencial de Heliotropium stenophyllum, formado exclusivamente por sesquiterpenos, mostró una composición muy diferente al de los AEs de otras especies de Heliotropium, estudiadas, y muestra un gran potencial como insecticida contra la moscas doméstica.

Northwestern Argentina: a center of genetic diversity of lemon verbena (Aloysia citriodora PALÁU, Verbenaceae).

The aerial parts of lemon verbena (Aloysia citriodora PALÁU) are worldwide used due to their medicinal and aromatic properties. The essential-oil and acteoside contents have been proposed as the main quality markers for their pharmacological and organoleptic features. The northwestern region of Argentina has been repeatedly proposed as the place of origin for this species. For this reason, the essential-oil yields and chemical compositions of leaves of 25 populations of lemon verbena from both wild collections and experimental crops from this region were studied. Plants from six different collections were subsequently grown on the same experimental parcel located at Cerrillos, Salta province, during more than seven years. In addition, the acteoside contents determined in all the samples collected in 2010 showed significant variations (from 0.5 to 4.0%). Large differences were observed in the essential-oil composition and yields, which ranged from 0.4 to 2.1% (v/w). Nevertheless, most of the samples complied with the European Pharmacopoeia specifications. A remarkable chemical diversity with at least four clearly defined chemotypes was detected in this region. Therefore, it would be urgent to encourage actions to protect these genotypes of lemon verbena in the northwestern Argentina.

Alkaloids from single skins of the Argentinian toad Melanophryniscus rubriventris (ANURA, BUFONIDAE): An unexpected variability in alkaloid profiles and a profusion of new structures.

GC-MS analysis of single-skins of ten Melanophryniscus rubriventris toads (five collections of two toads each) captured during their breeding season in NW Argentina has revealed a total of 127 alkaloids of which 56 had not been previously detected in any frog or toad. Included among these new alkaloids are 23 new diastereomers of previously reported alkaloids. What is particularly distinguishing about the alkaloid profiles of these ten collections is the occurrence of many of the alkaloids, whether known or new to us, in only one of the ten skins sampled, despite two skins being obtained from each breeding site of the five populations. Many of the alkaloids are of classes known to have structures with branched-chains (e.g. pumiliotoxins and tricyclic structures) that are considered to derive from dietary mites. A large number of previously reported and new alkaloids are also of unclassified structures. Only a very few 3,5-disubstituted-indolizidine or -pyrrolizidine alkaloids are observed that have a straight-chain carbon skeleton and are likely derived from ant prey. The possible relationship of these collections made during the toad's brief breeding episodes to sequestration of dietary arthropods and individual alkaloid profiles is discussed.