Extraction of phenolics and essential oil from dried sage (Salvia officinalis) using ethanol–water mixtures

Effects of particle size, temperature, contact time, solvent-to-sage ratio and the ethanol–water ratio on the extraction of the active compounds rosmarinic acid, carnosic compounds and essential oil from dried sage (Salvia officinalis) were studied. Optimal extraction conditions giving highest yield of all three active compounds were particle diameter 1 mm, extraction temperature 40 °C, solvent-to-sage ratio of 6:1 and 55–75 wt% ethanol for up to 3 h. This gave an extract equivalent to 14.9% of dry sage, containing 6.9% rosmarinic acid (55% recovery), 10.6% carnosic compounds (75% recovery) and 7.3% essential oil (42% recovery). Scale up of the process by a factor of 100 demonstrated that the optimised laboratory scale process can be carried out without any loss of efficiency at an industrial scale.     

Flavonoid pattern of sage (Salvia officinalis L.) unifloral honey

The aim of the present paper was to determine the flavonoids in monofloral sage (Salvia officinalis L.) honey which is characteristic and specific for the area of Croatian coast and islands. For that purpose 38 sage honey samples from two production seasons were analysed. After specific pollen content determination, and analyses of selected physicochemical parameters which confirmed that samples are in compliance with national and international regulations and can be regarded as unifloral sage honeys, flavonoid fraction was isolated and analysed using RP-HPLC/DAD method. The HPLC analysis showed that all examined sage honey samples contain quercetin (3,3′,4′,5,7-pentahydroxyflavone), luteolin (3′,4′,5,7-tetrahydroxyflavone), kaempferol (3,4′,5,7-tetrahydroxyflavone), apigenin (4′,5,7-trihydroxyflavone), chrysin (5,7-dihydroxyflavone) and galangin (3,5,7-trihydroxyflavone), as well as p-coumaric (trans-4-hydroxycinnamic acid) and caffeic acid (3,4-dihydroxycinnamic acid). Total amount of identified flavonoids varied from 109.4 μg/100 g of honey to 589.9 μg/100 g of honey, with the average of 288.5 μg/100 g of honey. All analysed honey samples showed common and specific flavonoid profile which could be the basis for differentiating sage from other monofloral honeys.     

Antibacterial activity of the essential oils of Salvia officinalis L. and Salvia triloba L. cultivated in South Brazil

The essential oils of Salvia officinalis and Salvia triloba cultivated in South Brazil were analyzed by GC–MS. The major constituents of the oil of S. officinalis were α-thujone, 1,8-cineole, camphor, borneol and β-pinene, whereas those of S. triloba were α-thujone, 1,8-cineole, camphor, and β-caryophyllene. The essential oils of both species exhibited remarkable bacteriostatic and bactericidal activities against Bacillus cereus, Bacillus megatherium, Bacillus subtilis, Aeromonas hydrophila, Aeromonas sobria, and Klebsiella oxytoca. Moreover, the essential oil of S. triloba efficiently inhibited the growth of Staphylococcus aureus. S. aureus and A. hydrophila growth were drastically reduced even in the presence of 0.05 mg/ml of the essential oil of S. triloba.     

Study on chemical composition and biological activities of essential oil and extract from Salvia pisidica

In this study, total contents of phenolic, flavanol and flavonol, antioxidant activities and antimicrobial activities of the Turkish endemic Salvia pisidica Boiss. & Heldr. ex Bentham (Lamiaceae) extract and essential oil were assessed in vitro. Total phenolic, flavanol and flavonol contents in the extract were 54.57 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/g, 16.70 mg catechine equivalents (CE)/g and 18.19 mg rutin equivalents (RE)/g, respectively. Antioxidant activities (IC₅₀ value) of the extract and essential oil were determined as 4.88 and 6.41 mg/mL by DPPH assay, respectively. 31 compounds were determined in the essential oil using GC-MS and the major compounds (%) were camphor (23.76), sabinol (19.2), α-thujone (14.2) and eucalyptol (1.8-cineole) (5.8).The antimicrobial activity of the methanolic extract and the essential oil against 13 bacterial and two yeast strains was determined. The extract (concentration 5 g/100 ml or 10 g/100 ml) was effective against most of the strains tested, yet not against Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Aeromonas hydrophila and the two yeast strains tested. The essential oil (2 g/100 ml) showed an antimicrobial effect against all the gram (+) bacteria tested, against Saccharomyces cerevisiae, but was not effective against all gram (−) bacteria and Candida albicans. These results show that S.piscidica essential oil and extract could be considered as a natural alternative to traditional food preservatives and be used to enhance food safety and shelf life.     

Variations in essential oil and fatty acid composition during Myrtus communis var. italica fruit maturation

The essential oil and fatty acid composition of Myrtus communis var. italica fruit during its ripening was determined. The effect of the harvesting time on some physical properties of Myrtus fruits, fruit weight and moisture content, were significant. The increase of fruit weight (from 2.54 to 8.79 g% fruits) during ripeness was correlated positively with that of moisture content (from 28% to 72%). Fruit essential oil yields varied from 0.003% to 0.01% and showed a remarkable increase at 60 days after flowering to reach a maximum of 0.11%. Forty-seven volatile compounds were identified in fruit essential oils; 1,8-cineole (7.31–40.99%), geranyl acetate (1.83–20.54%), linalool (0.74–18.92%) and α-pinene (1.24–12.64%) were the main monoterpene compounds. Total fatty acid contents varied from 0.81% to 3.10% during fruit maturation and the predominant fatty acids were linoleic (12.21–71.34%), palmitic (13.58–37.07%) and oleic (6.49–21.89%) acids. The linoleic acid proportions correlated inversely with palmitic and oleic acids during all the stages of ripening.     

Effect of ionising radiation on polyphenolic content and antioxidant potential of parathion-treated sage (Salvia officinalis) leaves

The γ-irradiation effects on polyphenolic content and antioxidant capacity of parathion-pretreated leaves of Salvia officinalis plant were investigated. The analysis of phenolic extracts of sage without parathion showed that irradiation decreased polyphenolic content significantly (p < 0.05) by 30% and 45% at 2 and 4 kGy, respectively, compared to non-irradiated samples. The same trend was observed for the Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC), as assessed by the anionic DPPH and cationic ABTS radical-scavenging assays. The antioxidant potential decreased significantly (p < 0.01) at 2 and 4 kGy, by 11–20% and 40–44%, respectively. The results obtained with a pure chlorogenic acid solution confirmed the degradation of phenols; however, its TEAC was significantly (p < 0.01) increased following irradiation. Degradation products of parathion formed by irradiation seem to protect against a decline of antioxidant capacity and reduce polyphenolic loss. Ionising radiation was found to be useful in breaking down pesticide residues without inducing significant losses in polyphenols.     

Seasonal changes of fatty acids of cuttlefish Sepia officinalis L. (Mollusca: Cephalopoda) in the north eastern Mediterranean sea

The total lipids and seasonal variations in the fatty acids of the mantle of cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis) captured in the north eastern Mediterranean were investigated and the mantle was found to be a good source of polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω3 PUFAs, in particular). In all seasons, the major fatty acids in the cuttlefish mantle were observed to be palmitic acid (16:0), stearic acid (18:0), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5ω3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6ω3). A comparison of the saturated fatty acid (29.5–36.8%), monounsaturated fatty acids (7.81–9.84%) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (43.7–49.6%) of the cuttlefish mantle revealed that polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) constituted the highest proportion. The levels of DHA in the cuttlefish mantle in autumn, winter, spring and summer were 27.6%, 28.5%, 29.5% and 23.9%, while those of EPA were 16.8%, 15.4%, 14.7% and 13.9%, respectively.     

Composition of rosemary essential oil (Rosmarinus officinalis) as affected by drying method

The influence of the drying method on volatile compounds of Rosmarinus officinalis was evaluated. The drying methods tested were convective (CD) and vacuum-microwave (VMD), as well as a combination of convective pre-drying and VM finish-drying (CPD–VMFD). Rosemary drying kinetics was described by a simple exponential model for CD and VMD, while VMFD kinetics consisted of two periods: linear until a critical point and exponential beyond that point. Volatile compounds of rosemary samples were extracted by steam-hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC–MS. Thirty-four compounds were tentatively identified, with α-pinene, bornyl acetate, camphene and 1,8-cineole being the major components. The total volatiles concentration of fresh rosemary (135 g kg⁻¹) decreased considerably during both CD (87.2 g kg⁻¹) and VMD (61.9 g kg⁻¹). CPD–VMFD was the best option for drying rosemary because the time required was relatively short (30 min), and the aroma quality was good according to both instrumental (100 g kg⁻¹) and sensory analyses.     

Changes on essential oil composition of coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) fruits during three stages of maturity

The essential oils composition of coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) fruits obtained by hydrodistillation was studied at three stages of maturity by GC–FID and GC–MS. Essential oil yields showed marked increase during maturation process and forty one compounds were identified. Geranyl acetate (46.27%), linalool (10.96%), nerol (1.53%) and neral (1.42%) were the main compounds at the first stage of maturity (immature fruits). At the middle stage, linalool (76.33%), cis-dihydrocarvone (3.21%) and geranyl acetate (2.85%) were reported as the main constituents. Essential oils at the final stage of maturity (mature fruits) consist mainly on linalool (87.54%) and cis-dihydrocarvone (2.36%). Additionally, accumulation of monoterpene alcohols and ketones was observed during maturation process of coriander fruit.     

Essential oil composition of Salvia miltiorrhiza flower

Hydrodistillation of the flower of seven populations of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge. collected in different locations in China afforded a pale yellowish oil in a yield of approximately 0.2%. A total of 82 compounds were identified across all the samples, accounting for 98–100% of the total compositions of each sample. Components were mainly monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, fatty acids and alkanes. GC and GC–MS analysis indicated that the predominant components of the essential oils are β-caryophyllene (12.2–31.7%), β-caryophyllene oxide (1.4–11.6%), α-caryophyllene (4.8–10.6%), cadinadiene (7.4–29.3%), and hexadecanoic acid (3.9–18.8%).     

Insecticidal activities of constituents identified in the essential oil from leaves of Chamaecyparis obtusa against Callosobruchus chinensis (L.) and Sitophilus oryzae (L.)

Analysis by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry led to the identification of 20 volatiles from the steam distilled oil of the leaves from Chamaecyparis obtusa Siebold et Zuccarni. Seven constituents of the oil were tested for contact and fumigant activity against adults of Callosobruchus chinensis (L.) and Sitophilus oryzae (L.). Responses varied with compound and dose rather than increasing exposure time beyond 1 or 2 days. In the impregnated-paper test with the constituents [bornyl acetate, (+)-limonene, myrcene, α-phellandrene, α-pinene, sabinene and terpinolene], at 0.1 mg/cm², bornyl acetate, α-phellandrene and terpinolene caused 97%, 97% and 87% mortality, respectively, against C. chinensis adults 1 day after treatment. At 0.05 mg/cm², moderate activity was achieved with bornyl acetate (56% mortality), α-phellandrene (75%) and terpinolene (55%). Against S. oryzae adults, at 0.26 mg/cm², terpinolene caused 93% mortality 2 days after treatment, whereas 80% mortality 4 days after treatment was observed with bornyl acetate and α-phellandrene. The toxicity of these compounds was significantly decreased at 0.18 mg/cm². In a fumigation test with S. oryzae adults, bornyl acetate and terpinolene were much more effective in sealed containers than in open ones, indicating that the insecticidal activity of these compounds was largely attributable to fumigant action. These naturally occurring materials derived from leaves of Chamaecyparis could be useful for managing populations of C. chinensis and S. oryzae.     

Chemical composition, mineral content and antioxidant activity of Verbena officinalis L.

Aqueous and hydroalcoholic extracts from Verbena officinalis L. were obtained and characterised. The analysis by HPLC-DAD and LC-MS allowed the detection and identification of three iridoids, fifteen flavonoids and four phenolic acid derivatives. Four flavonoids, scutellarein 7-diglucuronide (9), scutellarein 7-glucuronide (13), pedalitin 6-galactoside (15) and scutellarein 7-glucoside (19) are reported for the first time from this plant. In addition, three new flavonoids have been isolated: scutellarein 7-O-(2-O-feruloyl)-diglucuronide (5), pedalitin 6-O-diglucuronide (6) and pedalitin 6-O-(2-O-feruloyl)-diglucuronide (13). To our knowledge, these flavonoids have not been reported as natural products. Both extracts showed significant antioxidant activity using three in vitro model systems and the results have been correlated with total phenolic and total flavonoid contents. The results have allowed establishing an important relation structure-activity and significant correlations have also been found between the mineral content and the flavonoids present in both extracts.     

Changes in valerenic acids content of valerian root (Valeriana officinalis L. s.l.) during long-term storage

Dried valerian (Valeriana officinalis) root powder was stored at 5, 14 and 30 °C under low, moderate and high humidity conditions for 6 months, and the level of the valerenic acids monitored on a monthly basis. From an initial moisture content of 5 g/kg, the moisture level during storage decreased in root powder stored at low humidity and increased during storage at high humidity, with the effect greatest at 30 °C.     

Salinity impact on fruit yield,essential oil composition and antioxidant activities of Coriandrum sativum fruit extracts

This study is designed to examine the fruit essential oil composition, the total phenolic amounts and the antioxidant activities in methanolic extracts of Coriandrum sativum under saline conditions. Increasing NaCl levels to 75 mM reduced significantly the fruit yield by 36%. The essential oil yield was 0.30%, based on the dry weight; it increased by 77% and 84% at 50 and 75 mM NaCl, respectively, in comparison to the control. The major constituents were linalool and camphor, whose amounts increased with increasing NaCl concentrations. Antioxidant activities of the methanol extracts were determined by three different test systems, namely DPPH, β-carotene/linoleic acid and reducing power assays. In these three test systems, the highest activity was exhibited in control plants and was reduced significantly with increasing NaCl levels. In control plants, the total phenolic amount was 1.04 mg GAE/g DW which decreased by 43% and 66% at 50 and 75 mM NaCl, respectively.     

Comparison of essential oil compositions of Salvia mirzayanii obtained by supercritical carbon dioxide extraction and hydrodistillation methods

Essential oil of Salvia mirzayanii cultivated in Iran was obtained by hydrodistillation and supercritical (carbon dioxide) extraction methods. The oil was analysed by capillary gas chromatography using flame ionization and mass spectrometric detections. The compounds were identified according to their retention indices and mass spectra (EI, 70 eV). The effects of different parameters such as pressure, temperature, modifier volume and extraction times (dynamic and static) on the supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) of S. mirzayanii oil were investigated. The results showed that, under a pressure of 35.5 MPa, temperature of 35 °C, 6% methanol, dynamic extraction time of 50 min and static extraction time of 30 min, extraction was more selective for the linalyl acetate. Thirty four compounds were identified in the hydrodistilled oil. The major components of S. mirzayanii were linalyl acetate (7.6%), 1,8-cineole (8.0%), linalool (9.0%) and 8-acetoxy linalool (11.0%). However, by using supercritical carbon dioxide in optimum conditions, only three components contain more than 63% of the oil. The yield of the obtained oil based on hydrodistillation was 2.20% (v/w). Extraction yield based on the SFE varied in the range of 1.50–9.67% (w/w) under different conditions. The results revealed that, in Iranian S. mirzayanii oil, linalyl acetate is a major component.     

Antioxidant potentials and rosmarinic acid levels of the methanolic extracts of Salvia verticillata (L.) subsp. verticillata and S. verticillata (L.) subsp. amasiaca (Freyn & Bornm.) Bornm

This study was designed to examine the in vitro antioxidant activities and rosmarinic acid levels of the methanol extracts of Salvia verticillata subsp. verticillata and S. verticillata subsp. amasiaca. The extracts were screened for their possible antioxidant activity by two complementary test systems, namely DPPH free radical-scavenging and β-carotene/linoleic acid systems. In the first case, S. verticillata subsp. verticillata was superior to the subsp. amasiaca with an IC₅₀ value of 14.5 ± 1.21 μg mg⁻¹. In the β-carotene/linoleic acid test system, inhibition capacity of S. verticillata subsp. verticillata was 74.4 ± 1.29%. Antioxidant activities of BHT, ascorbic acid, curcumin and α-tocopherol were determined in parallel experiments. Activity of rosmarinic acid was also screened for better establishing the relationship between rosmarinic acid level and antioxidant activity for the plant extracts. S. verticillata subsp. verticillata had the highest rosmarinic acid level with a value of 28.7 ± 0.89 μg mg⁻¹. There is a strong correlation between the rosmarinic acid level and antioxidant activity potential. Our results showed that rosmarinic acid and its derivatives are more likely to be responsible for most of the observed antioxidant activities of Salvia species.     

Chemical and biological characteristics of Cuminum cyminum and Rosmarinus officinalis essential oils

Essential oils extracted by hydrodistillation from Cuminum cyminum and Rosmarinus officinalis were characterized by means of GC and GC–MS. C. cyminum and R. officinalis contained α-pinene (29.1%, 14.9%), 1,8-cineole (17.9%, 7.43%) and linalool (10.4%, 14.9%), respectively, as the major compounds. C. cyminum oil exhibited stronger antimicrobial activity than did R. officinalis oil against E. coli, S. aureus and L. monocytogenes. Complete death time on exposure to Cuminum cyminum L. and Rosmarinus officinalis L. oils were 20 and 25 min 180 and 240 min and 90 and 120 min for E. coli, S. aureus and L. monocytogenes, respectively. Radical-scavenging and antioxidant properties were tested by means of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay and the β-carotene bleaching test. These properties were compared to those of Thymus x-porlock essential oil, used as a reference ingredient. The radical scavenging performance of the rosemary oil was better than that of C. cyminum. Results from the antioxidant test were better than those provided by the radical-scavenging activity. C. cyminum and R. officinalis essential oils may be considered as potent agents in food preservation.     

Variations in the essential oil composition in buds of six blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum L.) cultivars at various development phases

The variations in the content and the composition of dormant bud essential oil in six blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum L.) cultivars collected at various vegetation phases (from December 15, 2004 until April 19, 2005) were studied. Essential oil yield varied from 0.6% to 1.8%, except for the buds harvested in April, when the yield was considerably lower, 0.19–0.27%. Fifty volatile compounds were identified in the bud oils, hydrocarbon (38–55%) and oxygenated (on average 30%) terpenes being the major chemical constituents. Sabinene, δ-3-carene, terpinolene were dominant components, while cis- and trans-β-ocimene, α-thujene, α- and β-pinene, myrcene, α- and β-phellandrene, α- and γ-terpinene, p-cymene, cis- and trans-sabinene hydrate, terpinen-4-ol, α-terpineol, trans-piperitol, bornyl acetate, terpinyl acetate, citronellyl acetate, germacrenes D, β-caryophyllene, α-humulene, α-selinene, δ-cadinene and α-cadinol were found in reasonable amounts. Almiai may be considered as a superior cultivar, as possessing the most even content of oils ant the main constituents at all harvesting periods, except for April; however some other cultivars (Gagatai, Joniniai) accumulated higher amounts of oil at particular vegetation phases. January may be considered as a preferable harvesting time of buds; the amount of major terpenes at this phase was the highest in the all cultivars except for Joniniai. The concentration of the main oil compounds in buds harvested in April was 2–50 times lower than at other periods in the all six cultivars.     

Chemical composition and in vitro antioxidative activity of a lemon balm (Melissa officinalis L.) extract

The leaf material of lemon balm (Melissa officinalis L.) was extracted with 450 ml/l aqueous ethanol by medium pressure liquid-solid extraction. The total phenolic content of the extract was estimated as gallic acid equivalents by Folin-Ciocalteu reagent method and a qualitative-quantitative compositional analysis was carried out using high performance liquid chromatography coupled with photodiode array detection. The lemon balm extract contained hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives and flavonoids with caffeic acid, m-coumaric acid, eriodictyol-7-O-glucoside, naringin, hesperidin, rosmarinic acid, naringenin, hesperetin being identified based on their chromatographic behaviour and spectral characteristics. The extract was also investigated for potential in vitro antioxidant properties in iron(III) reduction, iron(II) chelation, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl, 2,2′-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonate), superoxide anion and nitric oxide free-radical scavenging, and inhibition of β-carotene-linoleic acid bleaching assays. The extract demonstrated antioxidant activity in all the assays. However, it was not as potent as the positive controls except in the β-carotene-linoleic acid bleaching assay, where its activity was superior to that of gallic and caffeic acids and statistically indistinguishable from quercetin and BHA. The exceptionally high antioxidant activity and the fact that this assay is of biological relevance warrants further investigation of lemon balm extract in ex vivo and in vivo models of oxidative stress.