Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of Polish herbhoneys.

The present study focuses on samples of Polish herbhoneys (HHs), their chemical composition and antimicrobial activity. A gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) method was used to analyse eight samples of herbal honeys and three samples of nectar honeys. Their antimicrobial activities were tested on selected Gram-positive (Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus schleiferi) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli) bacteria, as well as on pathogenic fungi Candida albicans. Ether extracts of HHs showed significant differences in composition but the principal groups found in the extracts were phenolics and aliphatic hydroxy acids typical of royal jelly and unsaturated dicarboxylic acids. In spite of the differences in chemical composition, antimicrobial activity of the extracts of HHs against all the tested microorganisms except E. coli was observed.

The effect of Cirsium arvense extract on antioxidant status in quail.

1. The herb Creeping Thistle, Cirsium arvense (C. arvense), has been used in folk medicine due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. 2. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary C. arvense extract supplementation on performance, egg quality, nutrient digestibility and antioxidant status in quail. 3. Quails (n = 150) were allocated randomly to one of the three dietary treatments: basal diet and basal diet enriched with 100 and 200 mg C. arvense extract per kg diet. 4. Dietary enrichment with C. arvense extract altered neither performance and egg quality parameters nor nutrient digestibility. Although there were no changes in concentrations of vitamin A and E in serum, liver and egg yolk, supplemental C. arvense extract decreased MDA concentrations in serum, liver and egg yolk by 39.3, 40.5 and 51.5%, respectively, in a dose-response manner. As supplemental C. arvense extract increased to 200 mg/kg, the activity of hepatic SOD, CAT and GSH-Px increased by 14.5, 17.4 and 35.5%, respectively. 5. Addition of C. arvense extract up to 200 mg to per kg diet enhanced antioxidant status in laying quail and their eggs, without affecting performance and other egg quality parameters. 6. Future studies are needed to elucidate the mechanism behind the antioxidant effects of C. arvense extract.

Gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric investigation of volatile and extractable compounds of crude royal jelly.

Using headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) followed by diethyl ether and methanol extraction, it was possible to isolate as many as 185 organic compounds out of 17 samples of crude royal jelly (RJ). Of the above compound number, 169 compounds were positively identified by means of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The volatile fraction of RJ consists of 25 different compounds where approximately 47% of the total ion current (TIC) of volatile compound chromatograms were composed of substances characterized by bactericidal (phenols) and repelling (octanoic acid and 2-heptanone) activities. Preliminary investigations have shown that RJ stored for 10 months at -18°C and 4°C keeps its composition of volatile compounds unchanged, however, at the same time at room temperature RJ phenol contents is decreased twice, whereas the fraction of aliphatic acids is increased 2.8 times due to the presence of both acetic and butyric acids. The chromatogram of RJ ether extracts showed 85 different compounds, however about 88% of TIC consisted exclusively of 8 compounds, i.e. 10-hydroxy-2-decenoic, 10-hydroxydecanoic, 3,10-dihydroxydecanoic, 8-hydroxyoctanoic, 2-decene-1,10-dioc and (Z)-9-hydroxy-2-decenoic acids. Nine aliphatic acids, which were detected for the first time, are the homologues of hydroxy- and oxo-acids identified earlier in RJ. In the RJ methanol extracts 82 compounds were identified, mainly carbohydrates and their derivatives. Approximately 87% of TIC consisted of fructose, glucose and sucrose. Special attention was paid to discrepancies between obtained and literature data concerning the presence of free amino acids in RJ. It was suggested that these inconsistencies can be explained by the differences in the methods of RJ collection and/or sample preparation.

Gas chromatographic and mass spectrometric characterization of the organic acids extracted from some preparations containing lyophilized royal jelly.

Thirty-five aliphatic acids were identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry from the ether extract of commercial preparations containing lyophilized royal jelly. The article presents linear-programmed retention indices on capillary columns with non-polar and low-polar stationary phases and mass spectra for identified compounds which were not characterized earlier by these parameters. Nine compounds are reported for the first time as royal jelly constituents.

Gas chromatographic investigation of phenylpropenoid glycerides from aspen (Populus tremula L.) buds.

20 phenylpropenoid glycerides were synthesized by esterification of glycerol by p-coumaric, ferulic and caffeic acids. Main diagnostic ions in mass spectra and linear temperature programmed retention indices (LTPRI) of trimethylsilyl derivatives of these compounds were determined by GC/MS analysis. On the basis of these analytical parameters 39 in various degree substituted phenylpropenoid glycerides were for the first time identified in diethyl ether and ethyl acetate extracts from aspen buds.

Gas chromatographic retention indices of trimethylsilyl derivatives of mono- and diglycerides on capillary columns with non-polar stationary phases.

Mono- and diglycerides play an important role in the metabolism of plants and animals. They are usually constitutive elements of complex mixtures and are not always as main components, which considerably hinder the identification of these analytes. This work communicates about a synthesis of a wide range of esters of glycerol and aliphatic C(6)-C(20) acids and presents gas chromatographic characteristics of 32 compounds in the form of the most reproducible parameters-linear-programmed retention indices on high-performance capillary columns with non-polar stationary phases. The article also presents mass spectra for a series of those glycerides which were not characterized earlier by these parameters.

Gas chromatographic analysis of essential oils with preliminary partition of components.

The efficiency of using combinations of retention indices and partition coefficients (Kp) with a hexane: acetonitrile system has been demonstrated by taking as an example the essential oil from Artemisia pallens Wall. Preliminary partition of the components between the two partly mixing liquids provides information by which components can be attributed to the appropriate homologous series. The use of group constants (j), which are functions of both partition coefficients and GC retention indices, in the practice of identifying the components of essential oils is reported for the first time.

Partition coefficients of alkyl aromatic hydrocarbons and esters in a hexane-acetonitrile system.

Partition coefficients (Kp) in a heterogeneous system consisting of two immiscible organic solvents can be successfully used for a supplementary identification parameter in qualitative GC and GC-MS analysis of organic compounds. For rapid addition to database of Kp values, calculation methods based on the well-known 'retention-structure relationships' approach can be used. This paper reports the experimentally determined and calculated Kp values for 252 compounds including alkyl aromatic hydrocarbons and esters. It is shown that for group identification of components it is desirable to use not the Kp values themselves but the parameter j which is a combination of K, and gas chromatographic retention indices: j = kI - log Kp.

Gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric determination of volatile organic compounds in an urban atmosphere.

Polysorbimide and carbochrome, new sorbents with high temperature stability, have been used to concentrate trace amounts of atmospheric pollutants, and 136 C1-C13 organic compounds, including 126 hydrocarbons, 6 oxygen derivatives and 3 chlorides, were identified in air samples collected in the streets of Leningrad. One of the major features of the composition of the organic constituents of the urban air sampled is the presence of a number of CnH2n hydrocarbons (mainly olefins), and also CnH2n-2 and CnH2n-4 unsaturated hydrocarbons (including alpha-pinene and camphene). A comparison of the results with those of similar studies carried out on air samples from Zürich, Houston and Paris is of considerable interest in connection with the possible effect of geographical factors on the composition and lifetime of organic pollutants in the atmosphere.