Development of New Microsatellite Markers for Salvia officinalis L. and Its Potential Use in Conservation-Genetic Studies of Narrow Endemic Salvia brachyodon Vandas

Nine new microsatellite markers (SSR) were isolated from Salvia officinalis L. A total of 125 alleles, with 8 to 21 alleles per locus, were detected in a natural population from the east Adriatic coast. The observed heterozygosity, expected heterozygosity, and polymorphic information content ranged from 0.46 to 0.83, 0.73 to 0.93 and 0.70 to 0.92, respectively. New microsatellite markers, as well as previously published markers, were tested for cross-amplification in Salvia brachyodon Vandas, a narrow endemic species known to be present in only two localities on the Balkan Peninsula. Out of 30 microsatellite markers tested on the natural S. brachyodon population, 15 were successfully amplified. To obtain evidence of recent bottleneck events in the populations of both species, observed genetic diversity (H_E) was compared to the expected genetic diversity at mutation-drift equilibrium (H_EQ) and calculated from the observed number of alleles using a two-phased mutation model (TPM). Recent bottleneck events were detected only in the S. brachyodon population. This result suggests the need to reconsider the current threat category of this endemic species.     

Synergies between plant antioxidant blends in preventing peroxidation reactions in model and food oil systems

A study was conducted to investigate the oxidative behavior of various mixtures of rosemary, sage, and citric acid in a linoleic acid model system by oxygen consumption measurement and in a palm olein system by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis. Response surface methodology was used to optimize the use of the mixtures. Results showed that rosemary and sage were two important factors for the protective index (PI). The two antioxidants were highly significantly (P<0.001) in influencing PI values. There was a significant (P<0.01) synergistic effect between rosemary and sage on PI values. Citric acid was also found to be significant (P<0.05) for PI. With respect to onset time (T _o ), all three antioxidants were significant (P<0.05). However, no significant interaction among antioxidants was found for T _o . Mathematical models for both PI and T _o could be developed with confidence. The R ² values for PI and T _o were 0.992 and 0.926, respectively. A combination of 0.078% rosemary, 0.067% sage and 0.037% citric acid was the optimal combination for PI, whereas a combination of 0.068% rosemary, 0.075% sage, and 0.039% citric acid was required to reach the optimal T _o value.     

Antioxidative activity and phenolic composition of pilot-plant and commercial extracts of sage and rosemary

Eight sage (Salvia officinalis) and twenty-four rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) extracts, originating from pilot-plant or commercial sources, had different antioxidative activities as measured by accelerated autoxidation of methyl linoleate. Twenty-seven compounds were characterized in the Labiatae family extracts by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with mass spectrometry, equipped with an atmospheric pressure chemical ionization interface, and by HPLC coupled with a photodiode array spectrophotometer. Twenty-two compounds were identified, including phenolic acids, carnosol derivatives, and flavonoids. The extracts showed great variation in their HPLC profiles, and no correlation was apparent between their antioxidative efficiency and their composition, in twenty specific phenols. Data indicated that the most effective compounds were carnosol, rosmarinic acid, and carnosic acid, followed by caffeic acid, rosmanol, rosmadial, genkwanin, and cirsimaritin.