Volatolomics of Three South African Helichrysum Species Grown in Pot under Protected Environment.

Helichrysum decorum DC, Helichrysum lepidissimum S. Moore, and Helichrysum umbraculigerum are three species traditionally used in the South African medicine. The present work deals with the investigation of the spontaneous emission and the essential oils obtained from these plants cultivated in open field under uniform conditions. Fractions of the volatile organic compounds of the three species were rich in monoterpene hydrocarbons, representing more than 70% of the total composition. Pinene isomers were the most representative compounds: ß-pinene in H. decorum (53.0%), and α-pinene in H. lepidissimum (67.9%) and H. umbraculigerum (54.8%). These latter two species evidenced an important amount of sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (SH) especially represented by γ-curcumene (H. lepidissimum) and α- and ß-selinene (H. umbraculigerum). On the contrary, in the EOs, sesquiterpenes compounds prevailed, representing more than 64% of the identified fraction to reach more than 82 and 87% in H. umbraculigerum and H. lepidissimum, respectively. Although the chemical classes and their relative abundances were comparable among the three species, the individual compounds of EOs showed large differences. In fact, caryophyllene oxide (26.7%) and γ-curcumene (17.4%) were the main constituents in H. decorum, and H. lepidissimum respectively, while neo-intermedeol (11.2%) and viridiflorol (10.6%) characterized H. umbraculigerum.

Helichrysum araxinum Takht. ex Kirp. grown in Italy: volatiloma composition and in vitro antimicrobial activity.

In the present work the composition of biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) and the essential oil (EO) of Helichrysum araxinum Takht. ex Kirp. aerial parts, together with the antimicrobial activity, were investigated. The results showed the prevalence of sesquiterpene hydrocarbons in both spontaneous emissions as well as in the EO. The main compounds of BVOCs were γ-curcumene (10.7%), γ-muurolene (9.2%), and ß-selinene (8.5%). This latter constituent also showed a similar amount in the EO and represented the most abundant compounds together with α-selinene (8.0%). It is Interesting to note the same percentage of monoterpene hydrocarbons (MHs) in both the aroma profile and the EO (18.0%) with the same most abundant compounds: ß-pinene (6.3% in BVOCs vs. 5.1% in EO, respectively) and limonene (4.5% in VOCs vs. 4.9% in EO, respectively). With regard to the antimycotic activity, the EO showed to be inactive against the tested strains, while a moderate antibacterial activity was shown against Staphylococcus isolates.

Essential Oil Composition and Volatile Profile of Seven Helichrysum Species Grown in Italy.

Helichrysum genus consists of about 600 species widespread throughout the world, especially in South Africa and in the Mediterranean area. In this study the aroma profile (HS-SPME) and the EO compositions of seven Helichrysum species (H. cymosum, H. odoratissimum, H. petiolare, H. fontanesii, H. saxatile, H. sanguineum, and H. tenax) were evaluated. All the plants were grown in Italy under the same growth conditions. The volatile constituents, particularly monoterpenes, depended by the plant's genotype and ecological adaptation. This study represents the first headspace evaluation on the selected plants and the results evidenced that monoterpenes represented the main class of constituents in five of the seven species analysed (from 59.2% to 95.0%). The higher content in sesquiterpene hydrocarbons was observed in the Mediterranean species of H. sanguineum (68.0%). Only H. saxatile showed relative similar abundance of monoterpenes and sesquiterpene hydrocarbons. The essential oil composition of the majority of examined species are characterised by high percentage of sesquiterpenes (especially ß-caryophyllene and δ-cadinene) ranging from 51.3% to 92.0%, except for H. cymosum, H. tenax, and H. sanguineum leaves where monoterpenes predominated (from 51.7% to 74.7%).

Exploration of the wound healing potential of Helichrysum graveolens (Bieb.) Sweet: isolation of apigenin as an active component.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: In Turkish traditional medicine, the flowers of Helichrysum graveolens (Bieb.) Sweet (Asteraceae) have been used for the treatment of jaundice, for wound-healing and as a diuretic. AIM OF THE STUDY: In order to find scientific evidence for the traditional utilization of this plant in wound-healing, the effect of the plant extract was investigated by using in vivo and in vitro experimental models. Then through bioassay-guided fractionation procedures active wound-healing component(s) was isolated and its possible role in the wound-healing process was also determined. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The linear incision and the circular excision wound models were applied in order to evaluate in vivo wound-healing potential of Helichrysum graveolens. Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities, which are known to involve in wound-healing process, were also assessed by the Whittle method and the DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) radical-scavenging assay, respectively. The total phenolic content of the crude extract and solvent fractions was estimated to find correlation between the phenolic content and the antioxidant activity. Combined application of the chromatographic separation techniques on sephadex and silica gel columns, and bioassay techniques have yielded the active wound-healing principle of Helichrysum graveolens. Moreover, in vitro inhibitory effect of active principle on hyaluronidase, collagenase and elastase enzymes were investigated to explore the activity pathways. RESULTS: The 85% methanol (MeOH) extract of Helichrysum graveolens flowers displayed significant wound-healing, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. Then the crude extract was partitioned by successive solvent extractions, in increasing polarity, to give five solvent fractions. Among the solvent fractions, the ethyl acetate (EtOAc) fraction exerted the highest activity. The EtOAc fraction was further subjected to chromatographic separations to yield active constituent and its structure was elucidated to be apigenin by spectrometric methods. Further in vivo and in vitro assays revealed that apigenin was one of the components responsible for the wound-healing effect of the plant remedy and also found to possess significant anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-hyaluronidase and anti-collagenase activities. CONCLUSION: Present study supported the traditional use of Helichrysum graveolens flowers for wound-healing and through bioassay-guided fractionation procedures from the crude extract apigenin was isolated as one of the active components.

Formulaciones con aceites esenciales: el desarrollo de un lápiz de Helichrysum italicum / Formulations with Essentials oils: development o fan Helichrysum italicum medication stick

Se está investigando la utilización de aceites esenciales como alternativa terapéutica en determinadas enfermedades de difícil tratamiento. En dermatosis vulgares, como el liquen escleroso, cuya etiología es aún desconocida, las opciones terapéuticas disponibles son a menudo ineficaces en la regeneración de los tejidos y, a veces, incluso para controlar los síntomas, principalmente el prurito. Se ha descrito la actividad antialérgica, antiinflamatoria y regeneradora de la piel del aceite esencial de Helichrysum italicum y, aunque son necesarias nuevas investigaciones, estas propiedades hacen de este aceite esencial un candidato para el tratamiento de la dermatosis vulgares. Con el objetivo de desarrollar una forma farmacéutica conteniendo aceite esencial de H. Italicum con buenas características para su aplicación vulvar, se compararon diferentes formulaciones de lápiz medicamentoso compuestas por ceras y aceites naturales, caracterizados por su biocompatibilidad. El desarrollo de una formulación estable y de fácil aplicación en forma de lápiz medicamentoso se revela como una forma de abordaje terapéutico de las dermatosis vulgares innovador y práctico (AU)

The use of Essentials oils as therapeutic alternatives in diseases for which convencional therapies are ineffective is being investigated. In vulvar dermatosis such as lichen sclerosus, whose etiology is not yet understood, the available therapeutic options are often ineffective in regenerating the tissue and sometimes even in controlling symptoms, mainly pruritus. Helichrysum italicum essential oil has been described as having anti-allergic, anti-inflammatory and skin regenerating activity not yet fully scientifically confirmed. These properties turn this essential oil into a candidate for the treatment of vulvar dermatosis. Trying to find an easy to use and stable dosage form of H. italicum essential oil, we studied different formulations of medication strics based on natural waxes and oils choses for their biocompatibility profile. The development of an H. italicum medication stick with good technical qualities and stability stands as an innovative therapeutic approach to vulvar dermatosis (AU)

Selection of plants for zinc and lead phytoremediation.

This article describes a laboratory scale experiment of phytoremediation that has the aim to identify a vegetable species that is able to survive to the high metal concentration of soil taken from Montevecchio, Sardinia, and verify how metal content in soil can influence phytoextraction performances. The experiments allowed finding a plant (Festuca arundinacea) that is able to tolerate Montevecchio soil and to accumulate high quantities of Zinc in the shoots and to evaluate Helichrysum italicum and Mirabilis jalapa performances in zinc and lead phytoextraction.

Chemical composition, plant genetic differences, and antifungal activity of the essential oil of Helichrysum italicum G. Don ssp. microphyllum (Willd) Nym.

The chemical composition of the essential oil of the Sardinian dwarf curry plant [Helichrysum italicum G. Don ssp. microphyllum (Willd) Nym] was studied. Genetic analysis suggested the presence of two chemotypes; morphological and chemical differences confirmed the presence of two chemotypes (A and B). The maximum yields were 0.18 and 0.04% (v/w) for flowering tops and stems, respectively. The concentrations of nerol and its esters (acetate and propionate), limonene, and linalool reach their highest values during the flowering stage both in flowers and in stems. Besides the essential oil, type B showed an interesting antifungal activity.