In vitro inhibition activity of essential oils from some Lamiaceae species against phytopathogenic fungi.

Natural products have been in focus as alternative, effective and safe materials against the phytopathogens. Investigations show Nepeta oils as effective in controlling the food crops decay. The inhibitory effects of essential oils derived from Nepeta leucophylla, Nepeta ciliaris, Nepeta clarkei and Calamintha umbrosa against five phytopthogenic fungi have been determined. In vitro antifungal activity varied with their constituents and target species. More active being the oils containing oxygenated terpenoids. Helminthosporium maydis was sensitive to the all oils, IC50 values have 43.6-109.3 µg mL(-1). The N. leucophylla oil possessing oxygenated iridoids was more effective against H. maydis (IC50 value of 43.6 µg mL(-1)) while N. ciliaris was more active against Fusarium oxysporum (IC50 value of 219.2 µg mL(-1)). The oils were effective against the spore germination of all the tested plant pathogens.

Isolation and anti-inflammatory activity of colchicinoids from Gloriosa superba seeds.

Gloriosa superba L. (Liliaceae) seeds, known as "kalihari" (Hindi), were phytochemically investigated for colchicine (well known for gout treatment) and other related alkaloid content. Colchicine, 2- demethylcolchicine, 3-demethylcolchicine, and N-formyl-N-deacetylcolchicine were alkaloids isolated from the seeds. The isolated samples have been standardized for their purity with respect to the reference standard using HPLC. The structures were confirmed by NMR spectroscopy and were analyzed by spiking them along with colchicine reference by HPLC. The purity of colchicine, 2- demethylcolchicine, 3- demethylcolchicine and N-formyl-N-deacetylcolchicine were 99.82, 96.78, 98.71, and 98.13% respectively. The compounds were subjected to an anti-inflammatory study by using the formaldehyde inflammagen-induced inflammation model. Oral administration of colchicine at 2, 4, and 6 mg/kg body weight resulted in 48.9, 68.7, and 79.1% inhibition respectively, while 30.9% inhibition was seen in the phenylbutazone 100 mg/kg treated group once daily for a period of 4 days. The results clearly indicated that the colchicine is more effective as an anti-inflammatory agent compared with phenylbutazone, the standard drug used in the study, whereas the oral administration of 6 mg/kg body weight of 2- demethylcolchicine, 3-demethylcolchicine and N-formyl-N-deacetylcolchicine showed very poor activity (41.6, 40.4, and 41.1% activity respectively).

Phytochemical composition of essential oil from seeds of Zingiber roseum Rosc. and its antispasmodic activity in rat duodenum.

A combination of GC and GC-MS revealed the presence of 60 compounds out of which 47 compounds (96.2% of the oil) were identified in the essential oil of seeds of Zingiber roseum Rosc., the major compounds being alpha-pinene, beta-pinene, limonene, p-cymene, alpha-terpineol and verticiole. The unique feature is the dominant presence of mono- and sesquiterpene hydrocarbons which make about 82% of the oil. The oil showed myorelaxant activity on isolated rat duodenal smooth muscle. The Zingiber roseum seed essential oil (ZRSEO) relaxed both cabachol- and KCl-induced contractile responses with IC(50) of non-significant difference. The results confirm a common mechanism in both the types of action of ZRSEO and suggests a probable inhibitory effect of ZRSEO on influx of Ca(2+) through cell membrane of rat duodenal smooth muscle.

The volatile constituents of Elsholtzia flava.

The volatile constituents of the essential oil from Elsholtzia flava Benth. growing in higher elevations of Kumaon region (India) were characterized by combination of GC, GC-MS, GC-FT-IR and NMR. Twenty-two components were identified comprising 93% of the oil. Rose furan (45.0%) and estragol (40.5%) were the major constituents.

Antifungal activity of new compounds from Nepeta leucophylla and Nepeta clarkei.

Iridodial beta-monoenol acetate, isolated from the essential oil of Nepeta leucophylla Benth, and actinidine from N. clarkei Benth were screened for antifungal activities against Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus ochraceus, Penicillium citrinum, and Penicillium viridicatum, all known mycotoxin-producing taxa, and Sclerotium rolfsii and Macrophomina phaseolina, potential soybean pathogens. Iridodial beta-monoenol acetate was most effective against S. rolfsii, while actinidine was highly active against M. phaseolina.

Chemical Varieties of Essential Oils from Elsholtzia polystachya from Two Different Locations in India1.

Capillary GC, GC-MS, IR, GC-IR, (1)H- and (13)C-NMR studies of the essential oil from the leaves and cones of ELSHOLTZIA POLYSTACHYA collected from two different locations in India revealed that one oil contained 1,8-cineol (37.3%), the other one perillene (61.2%) as the main constituent.

Terpenoids from Elsholtzia Species; II1. Constituents of Essential Oil from a New Chemotype of Elsholtzia cristata.

Capillary GC, GC-MS, (1)H-, and (13)C-NMR spectroscopy revealed that the essential oil of ELSHOLTZIA CRISTATA Willd. growing in the Kumaun region contains 88% dehydroelsholtzia ketone along with some minor acylfuran derivatives. This species with respect to its oil composition is unlike that which grows in Japan and Kashmir, and contains elsholtzia ketone as the main constituent.

Constituents of Essential Oil of Elsholtzia strobilifera1.

The composition of the essential oil of ELSHOLTZIA STROBILIFERA, growing around Naini Tal (India) has been investigated by capillary gas-chromatography, gas-chromatography-mass spectrometry and (13)C-NMR spectroscopy. Out of about 50 identified mono- and sesquiterpenoids, pinocarvone is the most abundant component, which has not been identified in any species of ELSHOLTZIA before. The acylfuran derivatives reported from other species of ELSHOLTZIA could not be detected.