Terpenoids and phenolics of Micromeria persica.

Phytochemical investigation of the aerial parts of Micromeria persica led to the isolation of a new oleane type triterpenoid ester (1), together with six known compounds 2-7), comprising one phenyl ethanoid ester, one glycosylated flavonoid, two triterpenoids, and two steroids. Their structures were elucidated by interpretation of their one-dimensional and two-dimensional NMR spectra and completed by the analysis of the HRESIMS data. Compounds 1 and 3 were evaluated for their cytotoxic feature against human breast adenocarcinoma cell line (MDA-MB231) and human prostate cancer cell line (DU145). However, they did not show positive effect (IC50 > 75µM).[Figure: see text].

Chemotaxonomic significance of the essential oils of 18 Ferula species (Apiaceae) from Iran.

To evaluate the chemotaxonomic significance of the essential oils of 23 populations of 18 Iranian Ferula species, the chemical composition of the oils was investigated by GC/FID and GC/MS. Altogether, 84 constituents, representing 81.3-99.7% of the total composition of the oils, have been identified. The composition of six species of the genus, i.e., F. oopoda, F. foetida, F. behboudiana, F. diversivittata, F. galbaniflua, and F. hezarlalehzarica, has been reported for the first time. The main constituents identified were α-terpinyl acetate (73.3%), 2,3,4-trimethylthiophene (2; 49.0%), sabinene (75.3%), verbenone (5; 69.4%), ß-pinene (59.0-66.3%), and (Z)-ß-ocimene (41.7%). Cluster analysis (CA) of the percentage content of the essential oil components of the Ferula species resulted in the characterization of four groups, i.e., taxa containing either i) monoterpene hydrocarbons, ii) oxygenated monoterpenes, iii) organosulfur compounds, or iv) monoterpene, sesquiterpene, and aliphatic hydrocarbons as the principal classes of compounds. Based on the results obtained, the chemical independence of F. hirtella from F. szowitsiana and of F. galbaniflua from F. gummosa at the specific level was concluded and their positions as distinct species were confirmed. The chemotaxonomic relationships among the representatives of the genus Ferula have been discussed in detail.

Composition, cytotoxicity and antioxidant activity of the essential oil of Dracocephalum surmandinum from Iran.

The composition of the hydrodistilled essential oil from the aerial parts of Dracocephalum surmandinum was analyzed by GC and GC-MS. Monoterpenoids, including oxygenated compounds and hydrocarbons, comprising 63.4 and 33.9%, respectively, were the principal compound groups of the essential oil. In total, 25 constituents accounting for 97.8% of the oil were identified. Perilla aldehyde (54.3%) and limonene (30.1%) were characterized as the main components. The essential oil of D. surmandinum and its two main constituents showed a marked antioxidant and radical scavenging activity using different model systems, including 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH) and beta-carotene-linoleic acid blenching assays. The results of cytotoxicity activity using the MTT assay exhibited that the oil of D. surmandinum has a good effect against human breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7) and erythromyeloblastoid leukemia cell lines (K562) with IC50 values of 14 and 16 microg/mL, respectively. The cytotoxic potential of D. surmandinum oil against rat adrenal pheochromocytoma cell line (PC 12) was weak (IC50 of >100 microg/mL). Perilla aldehyde and limonene, the main constituents of D. surmandinum essential oil, inhibited all investigated cell growth in a dose- and time-dependent manner with IC50 values ranged from 0.25-5.0 mmol/L.

Antibacterial and antioxidant activity and essential oil composition of Grammosciadium scabridum Boiss. from Iran.

The in vitro antibacterial and antioxidant activity of the essential oil and its two main components of Grammosciadium scabridum Boiss. (Apiaceae) growing wild in Iran, as well as the composition of its essential oil were studied. A total of 19 compounds representing 99.9% of the oil has been identified. Gamma-Terpinene (73.5%), p-cymene (14.2%) and (E)-beta-farnesene (5.3%) were characterized as the main components. The oil showed remarkable activity against three Gram-negative and four Gram-positive test bacteria, with minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values ranging from 0.31 to 10.00 mg/ml. The oil and its two main components were also subjected to screening for their possible antioxidant activity by using the 2,2-diphenyl-l-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay. The free radical scavenging capacity of the oil was determined with an IC50 value of 6.6 mg/ml.

Antibacterial activity and chemical composition of the essential oil of Grammosciadium platycarpum Boiss. from Iran.

The chemical composition of the essential oils obtained from two samples (GP1 and GP2) of Grammosciadium platycarpum Boiss. was analyzed by GC and GC-MS. The analysis of the oils resulted in the identification of twenty-two constituents. Linalool (79.0%-GP1, 81.8%-GP2) and limonene (10.0%, 5.8%) were found to be the major components, respectively. The in vitro antibacterial activities of these oils and their main compounds against seven Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria were investigated. The results exhibited that the total oils and their major components possess strong to moderate activities against all the tested bacteria except for Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Antimicrobial activity, essential oil composition and micromorphology of trichomes of Satureja laxiflora C. Koch from Iran.

The antimicrobial activity, essential oil composition and micromorphology of trichomes of Satureja laxiflora C. Koch, a native plant from Iran, were studied. The essential oil was obtained from the aerial parts at the flowering stage by hydrodistillation, and analyzed by GC and GC/MS. Thirty-three compounds representing 99.1% of the total oil were characterized. The major compounds were thymol (63.9%) and gamma-terpinene (11.9%) followed by carvacrol (4.8%), p-cymene (3.9%), geraniol (3.2%) and geranyl acetate (3.1%). Furthermore, the essential oil and its three main components were tested against two bacteria and three fungi. The result of the bioassays has been shown that the oil possesses potent antimicrobial property. Chemical studies confirmed that a major portion of this antimicrobial activity is due to thymol present in the oil. Micromorphological analysis by SEM of both vegetative and reproductive organs revealed the presence of abundant sessile capitate and sparse short-stalked glandular trichomes along with retrorse eglandular hairs, giving useful diagnostic characters for identification of this medicinal plant.