Search

The Verbascum L. genus (Scrophulariaceae) is rich in phenols, flavonoids, and iridoid glycosides, which have been used extensively in traditional medicine. This study aimed to examine the association between genetics and metabolomics of V. songaricum populations (VSPs), collected from different geographical regions of Iran for further breeding and exploitation programs. Inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) analysis showed a significant difference among the twelve studied VSPs, which were classified into five main groups based on an unweighted pair-group method with arithmetic and principal coordinate analysis. Ninety-six bands were produced by fourteen ISSR primers, among which 92.7% of them were polymorphic at the species level. The essential oils were analyzed by means GC–FID and GC–MS and five main chemotypes, including docosane (I), methyl chavicol (II), methyl eugenol (III), β-damascenone (IV), and α-bisabolol (V) were characterized. HPLC–PDA–MS was further used to detect and to measure the phenolic compounds and harpagoside content in methanolic extract of VSPs. The main compounds identified in the VSPs extracts were rutin, quercetin, rosmarinic acid, salicylic acid, ferulic acid, p-coumaric acid, 2, 5-dihydroxybenzoic acid, 3, 4-dihydroxybenzoic acid, and harpagoside. Cluster analysis based on phytochemical data divided VSPs into nine groups. Subsequently, data were analyzed by multiple regression analysis to identify the correlation between genetic and metabolic diversity. The phytochemical data as the dependent variable showed significant association with bands obtained from molecular data. The high variation observed in essential oils, phenolics, and harpagoside among the VSPs establish a good potential to select the best genotype in breeding projects.

Sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) is a widespread cultivated aromatic herb in the world. Information about both morphological and phytochemical characterization is very important prior to beginning of any breeding project. Therefore, the present study was conducted to investigate diversity of sweet basil accessions in cold tolerance, essential oil yield and essential oil compositions. The average of cardinal temperatures for seed germination were 7.9 (Tb) 21.7 (To) and 35.5 °C (Tc) and for germination rate were 7.9 (Tb) 25.7 (To) and 39.7 °C (Tc). Cumulative temperature response index (C-CTRI) was used to identify cold-tolerant accessions and based on C-CTRI, Pishva I and Zahedan II were the most cold-tolerant accessions. There was wide variation for herbage yield and contributing traits of sweet basil in two sites. The highest herbage yield was observed in Isfahan III and Birjand I at the normal and salinity conditions. Salinity decreased herbage yield, but increased essential oil content in all accessions. The highest essential oil content was recorded in Malayer and Birjand I at the normal and salinity conditions. Methyl chavicol (25.7–93.0%) was the main constituents of the essential oils among sweet basil accessions. We found four chemotypes based on the presence or absence of oil components: (1) high methyl chavicol (>80%) like Reunion basils, (2) medium methyl chavicol plus linalool like European basils, (3) high methyl chavicol (70–80%) along with neral, geranial, or linalool (all of them around 10%), and (4) medium methyl chavicol plus neral and geranial. Considering the yield and quality traits, Birjand I was significantly superior accession over studied accessions and thus, it has good potential for the cultivation and production of methyl chavicol rich essential oil.

Volatile profile, aroma-active compounds and odor activity values of the shade-dried aerial parts of basil (Ocimum basilicum) were investigated. Basil samples used under the study were provided from Iran and Turkey. Volatile compounds were isolated using a purge and trap extraction system and analyzed by gas chromatography olfactometry. A total of 50 volatile compounds of which 29 originated from Iranian and 32 were of Turkish origin were determined. Terpenes were present at the overwhelmingly highest levels, followed by alcohols and aldehydes. Of the terpenes, methyl chavicol was the main compound of both samples. The aroma-active compounds of basils were investigated by using aroma extract dilution analysis (AEDA) for the first time. The application of AEDA revealed 18 aroma-active compounds, including terpenes (10), aldehydes (3), ketone (1), phenol (1), alcohol (1), and unknown compounds (2) were detected. Linalool and methyl chavicol had the greatest flavour dilution (FD) factors in both samples, amounting to 2048 and 1024, respectively. © 2018 Elsevier B.V.

Medicinal and aromatic crops are economically important because they are sources for secondary metabolites such as essential oils (EOs) and polyphenolic compounds. High biomass yields are obtained by conventional chemical fertilizers, whereas the production of EOs is more influenced by elicitors that act on secondary metabolic pathways. The objective of the field trials was to evaluate the effects of biologic and conventional fertilizers (biosolids: 40 and 20 t ha−1, organic: 600 kg ha−1, microorganisms (arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, AMF): 60 kg ha−1, chemical NPK 20-20-20: 300 kg ha−1) on plant growth, EO chemical profile and yield, and physiology of sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.). The two sweet basil cultivars (varieties) used were the green-leafed ‘Aromat de Buzau’ and the purple-leafed ‘Violet de Buzau’. The greatest increases in fresh yields compared with unfertilized plants, 116% and 68% increases for the ‘Aromat de Buzau’ and ‘Violet de Buzau, respectively, were obtained from the conventionally (chemical) fertilized plants. The 40 t ha−1 biosolids treatment increased the EO content of the ‘Aromat de Buzau’ by 30%, while the AMF and organic treatments increased the EO content of the ‘Violet de Buzau’ by 21%. The major constituents of ‘Aromat de Buzau’, methyl chavicol and β-linalool, were increased by 4 and 17% with the AMF and organic treatments, respectively. Eucalyptol and δ-guaiene concentrations in the EO were higher in the 40 t ha−1 biosolids treatment, while τ-cadinol and γ-cadinene were higher in the 20 t ha−1 biosolids treatment. For ‘Violet de Buzau’, the AMF treatment led to an increase of β-linalool, limonene, and (+)-camphor, and decreased the concentration of methyl chavicol. The organic treatment increased the concentrations of limonene, (+)-camphor, terpinene-4-ol, and β-caryophyllene, and decreased the concentration of methyl chavicol. The highest concentration of methyl chavicol was observed in the chemical fertilizer treatment. The 20 and 40 t ha−1 biosolids treatments led to highest yields of eucalyptol, (+)-camphor, terpinene-4-ol, β-caryophyllene, germacrene D, and τ-cadinol. The results demonstrated that conventional fertilizers can increase fresh yield while biological fertilizers positively alter the EO composition, leading to increased crop quality.

Ocimum basilicum L. exhibits a great variety of cultivars grown for various purposes. The aim of this research was to analyse the chemical composition of 85 O. basilicum accessions cultivated throughout the world using gas chromatography (GC/FID and GC/MS). All accessions were previously categorized into six morphotypes based on 24 morphological traits: True basil, Small-leaf, Lettuce-leaf, Purple basil A, Purple basil B and Purple basil C morphotype. A total of 77 volatiles were observed, with seven of them being in concentrations higher than 10% in at least one accession (1,8-cineole, linalool, linalool acetate, methyl chavicol, eugenol, trans-methyl cinnamate, trans-α-bergamotene). Based on the essential oil composition of 85 O. basilicum accessions, we propose the intraspecific characterization of O. basilicum into five chemotypes: (A) High-linalool, (B) Linalool/trans-α-bergamotene, (C) Linalool/methyl chavicol, (D) Linalool/trans-methyl cinnamate and (E) High-methyl chavicol chemotype. Groups based on morphological and biochemical traits do not necessarily coincide with one another. Due to great morphological and biochemical diversity, both morphological and chemical characterizations are crucial for the effective management of germplasm collections to facilitate the use of the accessions in future breeding programs.

Agastache rugosa is an important medicinal and aromatic crop cultivated in East Asia and an ornamental in other temperate regions. The factors influencing the diversity of volatile profiles in this and many other aromatic plants remain largely undiscovered. In this study, a relationship between the age of mother plants and the volatiles profile of the progeny was investigated using Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry, both in plants cultivated conventionally for three years and in vitro shoot cultures. The essential oil contains a major phenylpropanoid methyl chavicol (estragole) as well as minor mono- and sesquiterpenoids but the composition is very variable. The variability of composition in the progeny was indeed different in plants obtained from seeds coming from one-, two- and three-year old parents but also between young (one-year-old) and older (two- and three-year-old) plants. The quantitative variation among individuals was mainly in the content of methyl chavicol (from ca. 1% up to over 90%), menthone/isomenthone pair in leaves (from traces to 59%), and additionally pulegone (traces to 51%) in inflorescences. Limonene was least variable averaging between 8% and 25%. The variability tended to decrease and the proportion of methyl chavicol increased along with the age of parent plants. Two- and three-year-old plants were also producing higher yields of essential oil with average of 2.1% and 2.6%, respectively, compared with 1.2–1.9% in one-year old plants. In conclusion, the comparative analysis of essential oil and headspace revealed that volatile organic compounds profile of A. rugosa was dependent on the age of parent plants.

The essential oil of Ocimum basilicum L. finds an extensive use in food-flavour, fragrances and cosmetics. In order to explore promising genotypes of Ocimum basilicum for quality production of essential oils, a field experiment was conducted to assess the productivity and essential oil quality of two accessions of Ocimum basilicum (OB-1G and OB-5P) in comparison of an existing prevalent variety of Ocimum basilicum (CIM-Soumya) in the subtropical agroclimatic conditions of north India. Yield and quality attributed were assessed in different harvesting stages (half bloom, full bloom, and seed setting stages) of two cropping seasons (spring-summer and rain-autumn). Significant variations in respect of the essential oil content, fresh herb yield, essential oil yield, methyl chavicol content and methyl chavicol yield were noticed among the investigated O. basilicum taxa. Methyl chavicol (56.1–89.7%) and linalool (1.0–33.7%) were the major constituents of the essential oils. The essential oils of O. basilicum accessions possessed significantly higher content of methyl chavicol (OB-1G: 80.7–89.7%; OB-5P: 81.6–88.9%) as compared with check variety (CIM-Soumya: 56.1–67.6%). Consequently, Significantly higher methyl chavicol yield (96.8 kg ha −1 ) was found in OB-1G, followed by 91.3 kg ha −1 in OB-5P; with lowest (84.9 kg ha −1 ) in check variety. All examined taxa produced significantly higher methyl chavicol at full bloom stage in rain-autumn cropping season as compared with spring-summer season. Moreover, the accessions, OB-1G and OB-5P produced 14.0% and 7.5% more methyl chavicol, respectively as compared with the check variety.

Coriander seeds have been used in traditional medicine for the treatment of various ailments. Taking into account that operational conditions may influence the chemical composition optimization of supercritical extraction was performed. Influence of three different extraction parameters (pressure, temperature and CO 2 flow) was explored while optimization of the process was performed by using Box-Behnken experimental design (BBD) in combination with response surface methodology (RSM). Experimental results were fitted to a second-order polynomial model with multiple regression, while analysis of variance (ANOVA) was employed in order to assess model fitness and determine optimal conditions for extraction yield (199.50 bar, 40.15 °C, 0.396 kg/h of CO 2 ). Investigation of chemical composition showed that linalool was the most abundant compound in all samples, followed by camphor, methyl chavicol, (+)-limonene, eucalyptol, eugenol, geraniol, γ-terpinene and α-terpineol. Results showed that 100 bar was the best pressure for isolation of monoterpenes, while temperature and CO 2 flow rate values differ with the structure of desired monoterpene class. Furthermore, antioxidant activity of obtained extracts was determined using two different assays. Obtained results showed that observed extracts exhibit higher activity against lipid peroxidation, than against DPPH radical with the lowest inhibitory concentrations of 0.101 mg/mL and 2.364 mg/mL, respectively.

The content and composition of the essential oils obtained from different Ocimum species varies widely based on the geographical location, growth stage and harvesting season. Hence, the variation in the essential oil content and chemical composition of the leaves and inflorescences of the different Ocimum species (Ocimum santum ‘Purple’, O. sanctum ‘Green’, O. basilicum, Ocimum gratissimum Land Race 1 & Land Race 2, Ocimum viride and Ocimum canum) growing in Western plains of India were determined for two harvesting seasons. The essential oil was extracted using hydro-distillation and chemical characterization was done on gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Recovery of the essential oil ranged from 0.18% to 0.774% during pre-monsoon and 0.141–0.748% during post-monsoon. Amongst the seven Ocimum species studied, leaves recorded higher essential oil content compared with inflorescence in all species except in O. basilicum and O. canum. Further, essential oil content during post monsoon was lower compared with pre-monsoon harvest in all the species irrespective of the plant parts. Highest essential oil content was recorded in O. viride leaves (0.774%) followed by O. gratissimum LR1 leaves (0.641%) and the least was recorded in Ocimum canum leaves (0.18%). Amongst the different species analyzed, Ocimum gratisimum LR-1 was found to be the richest source of eugenol (53–89%) followed by O. santum ‘Purple’ and O. sanctum ‘Green’ and O. viride Ocimum gratisimum LR-2 was rich in methyl iso eugenol (40.26–53.21%). While, O. santum ‘Purple’ type contained considerable amount of methyl eugenol, which was absent in ‘Green’ type. O. basilicum analyzed in this study is methyl chavicol rich type (33.32–79.2%), but this compound was absent in other species. Ocimum canum was the only species rich in d-camphor (13.29–29%). The identified eugenol rich species of Ocimum were identified as cheap alternative sources of eugenol as compared with clove.

Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.), as an aromatic and medicinal plant, exhibits numerous of genotypes that have various applications in food and pharmaceutical industries. Thus, chemical composition is an important parameter for assessing the quality of basil. Hence, twelve European basil genotypes were cultivated under the same conditions, and isolated essential oils and methanol extracts were subjected to detailed chemical analyses and testing their biological activities. According to the analysis of the volatiles, all genotypes belong to linalool chemotype, and they were clustered into two groups. Rosmarinic acid was found to be the major phenylpropanoid, following with luteoin, kaempherol, and rutin. Principal component analysis of phenolic compounds indicated segregation of genotypes in two distinct groups. Biological activities of the isolated extracts were correlated with the concentrations of the actives, and it was found that naringenin, luteolin, and kaempherol are the main carriers of antioxidant activity, while the levels of linalool correlated with tyrosinase inhibition activity. Adversely, methyl chavicol showed negative correlations with both assays. Finally, it was found that Czech genotypes (Litra and Chladek), as well as Dutch (Bush) and Italian (Fino Verde Compatto) possess significant amounts of terpenoid linalool, together with flavonoids luteolin, naringenin, and kaempherol, and therefore, have strong biological activities required for their use in food and cosmetic industries.

Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare L.) is one of the important culinary spice, which is mainly grown in the tropical and temperate regions of worldwide, and has pharmacological properties like anti-inflammatory, antimutagenic, cardiovascular, chemomodulatory, antitumor, memory enhancing property. Present investigation comprised of fortysix genotypes of fennel was undertaken to characterize the genotypes based on chemical variation of fruit like essential and crude oil composition, mineral content, antioxidant and phenolic effectiveness of ethanol extracts. The dendrogram analysis was also conducted to determine the genetic variability based on essential oil components of fennel genotypes. Results of this study revealed significant variations (0.99–8.65%) in essential oil content. Trans-anethole (18.43–69.69%) was found main component, while estragole (methyl chavicol) 0.27–29.55% was second most important component. Maximum trans-anethole was recorded in PI649464 genotype oil, while highest concentration of estragole were reflected by PI414189 genotype. NSL6409 genotype was found superior in case of phenolic amounts and antioxidant activity as compared with other genotypes. Petroselinic and myristic acids were determined as main fatty acids present in a range of 87.07% in genotype PI649466, 48.84% in Denizli genotype, respectively. Overall, in PI649470 and PI601795 genotypes exhibited the highest potassium and magnesium content. According to the dendrogram analysis, fennel genotypes of the same origin were found in different groups regardless of geographical origin.

Artemisia dracunculus (tarragon) has been used orally as an antiepileptic remedy in Iranian folkloric medicine. In the current study, the morphological variation and the essential oil composition from the aerial parts of the plant were evaluated. The results indicated significant differences among genotypes for morphological traits and clustering based on these traits classified the genotypes into two clusters. The essential oil content ranged from 1.42 to 2.53 v/w. Analysis of the essential oil revealed the presence of methyl chavicol (68.21–81.11%), limonene (7.18–16.73%), terpinolene (0.01–7.68%), (Z)-β-ocimene (0.89–4.99%), (E)-β-ocimene (0.81–4.52%), methyl eugenol (0.90–2.67%) and α-pinene (0.43–1.91%) as the main components. Variables related to leaf were found to be associated with all phytochemical compositions, indicating a main role of leaf on production of these compounds. These data collectively demonstrated large phenotypic and chemical diversity among the selected genotypes which can be considered as a valuable gene pool for breeding programs.

This study was designed to examine the chemical composition and the in vitro antibacterial activity of essential oil of Ocimum ciliatum Hornem. The inhibitory effects of the essential oil were tested against ten phytopathogenic strains, including Ralstonia solanacearum, Pseudomonas syringae pv. lachrymans, P. syringae pv. syringae, P. tolaasii, Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae, Xanthomonas citri, Brenneria nigrifluens, Pantoea stewartii subsp. indologenes, Agrobacterium vitis, and Rhodococcus fascians using disk diffusion assay. GC and GC–MS analysis revealed that the essential oil predominantly contains methyl chavicol (87.6%), methyl eugenol (2.6%), and 1,8-cineole (1.7%) that making this plant as a good source of methyl chavicol or estragole. The antibacterial test results indicated the oil had antibacterial activity against all of the tested bacteria. According to the width of the inhibition zone, the most susceptible bacterium was B. nigrifluens and the most resistant bacterium was Pseudomonas tolaasii. Furthermore, the lowest MIC values were obtained from the essential oil of the plant against R. solanacearum. In addition, the most bactericidal property of the essential oil from O. ciliatum with the lowest MBC was observed against X. citri strain.

The investigation was carried out to determine the stability and adaptability among 40 genetic stocks of basil belonging to six Ocimum species assembled from India and abroad for high oil yield by using AMMI analysis. Some new specific chemotypes were identified: one each high oil content (1.00%), oil yield 92.43 g/plot with high citral 76.62% (geranial = 46.59 + neral 30.03 = 76.62%) chemotype G 26; an ever green, cold tolerant with spreading habit recombinant developed between Ocimum basilicum and O. kilimandscharicum – G 34; one high linalool content in oil G 39 and two high oil (1.2%), 105.92 g/plot, 0.95% oil content and 95.20 g/plot oil yield with methyl chavicol chemotypes – G 14 (methyl chavicol = 55.00%), G 25 (methyl chavicol = 89.75%). Based on the AMMI model, these chemotypes showed the widest adaptability and stability due to its ability to tolerate wide environmental conditions over years.

Although Artemisia dracunculus is a native species widely distributed across western North America, the essential oil composition of plants from this region has not been as extensively studied as its Asian populations. Essential oil extracted from 63 cultivated individuals of this species, originating from 18 different diploid North American wild populations, one cultivated octoploid individual from seed collected in Kyrgyzstan, and five cultivated tetraploid French tarragon plants, were analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectroscopy. The diploid individuals exhibited a variety of volatile profiles with major components including (Z)-β-ocimene (22 samples), methyl eugenol (15 individuals), methyl chavicol (10 individuals) and α-terpinolene (5 individuals). Many of the samples had high concentrations of the polylacetylenes capillene, 5-phenyl-1,3-pentadiyne and 1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-2,4-pentadiyne. The isocoumarin acetylene, capillarin, was also found in the majority of (53) samples but was generally found in low amounts (less than 4%). The volatile oil from tetraploid French tarragon samples contained approximately 80% methyl chavicol. The octoploid sample from Kyrgyzstan was found to have a unique profile with its main constituents being myrcene, (Z)-artemidin and limonene. Six major clusters were formed in the UPGMA cluster analysis and showed groups rich in (1) methyl chavicol, (2) methyl eugenol, (3) α-terpinolene, (4) capillene, (5) 5-phenyl-1,3-pentadiyne and (6) (E)-β-ocimene/(Z)-β-ocimene. These results show that North American wild tarragon is a potential source for unique oils and can serve as sources of genetic materials in plant breeding.

To explore diversity in the morphological features, essential oil yield, and chemical composition of Ocimum taxa growing in foot and mid-hills of northern India; 34 populations representing five Ocimum species were collected and investigated. Essential oil yield (%v/w) was found to vary from 0.10 to 0.74% in different populations. Analyses of the essential oils by GC/FID and GC/MS and the subsequent classification by statistical analysis resulted in seven clusters with significant variations in their terpenoid compositions (cluster I: methyl chavicol/linalool; cluster II: eugenol/( Z )-β-ocimene/β-elemene/( E )-caryophyllene; cluster III: camphor/limonene; cluster IV: eugenol/( E )-caryophyllene/β-bisabolene/β-elemene/methyl chavicol/1,8-cineole; cluster V: linalool; cluster VI: methyl eugenol/( E )-caryophyllene/β-elemene; and cluster VII: citral/nerol/geraniol type). Comparison of present results with earlier reports revealed the existence of four new chemotypes in Ocimum taxa from this region.