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Modern society is reviving the practice of aromatherapy, and lavender is reported being the most worldwide purchased plant for essential oil (EO) extraction. Since recent studies reported cognitive enhancing effects of lavender besides the hypno‐inducing effects, a literature review is needed. Considering EO quality and diffusion devices, we conducted a systematic review on the effects of lavender EO inhalation on arousal, attention and memory in healthy subjects. Starting from this new multidisciplinary perspective, cognitive effects were reviewed to link outcomes to effective and reproducible protocols. A systematic search on MEDLINE, ERIC, PsycInfo, Google Scholar, and Scopus databases using Cognitive Atlas and plant‐related keywords was conducted. Among the 1,203 articles yielded, 11 met eligibility criteria. Subjects administered with lavender EO displayed arousal decrease and sustained attention increase. Controversial results emerged regarding memory. Lack of EO quality assessment and protocols heterogeneity did not allow assessing whether different EO composition differentially modulates cognition and whether placebo effect can be discerned from EO effect itself. However, GABAergic pathway modulation exerted by linalool, a major lavender EO constituent, might explain cognitive functions empowerment. We speculate aromatherapy could be a burgeoning cognition enhancing tool, although further investigation is required to reach robust conclusions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Hypericum (Guttiferae) is one of the most representative species in temperate zones and Turkey is one of the most important Mediterranean sites. Due to the increasing commercial value of Hyperici herba ( Hypericum perforatum ), many wild Turkish Hypericum species have received currently a considerable renewed interest as potential substitutes of the well-established H . perforatum crops for their similar content in the standardization bioactives (hypericins, hyperforins, and flavonoids). The present paper reported the volatile fingerprints of three selected wild Turkish Hypericum species recently characterized as H . perforatum bioactive-like profiles but lacking of the requested well-established usage in the EU market. In this context, the volatile constituents of the three-selected Hypericum spp. were investigated as additional discriminating markers to enhance the likelihood that this adulterating plant raw material will be detected before it is incorporated into finished H . perforatum products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Turkish Hypericum origanifolium Willd has been recently considered for its hypericin and phenolic content as a potential substitute of the well-established EU market position Hypericum perforatum . However, a complete phytochemical characterization of H. origanifolium has not carried out yet in order to assert its potential industrial value. The present paper represents the first attempt to define the aromatic fingerprint of a representative wild Turkish H. origanifolium Willd. population. In addition, its volatiles were studied as potential discriminating constituents between H. perforatum and H. origanifolium with a similar hypericin and phenolic composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: In the past few years, an increasing interest in the volatile secondary metabolites of Hypericum perforatum L. (Guttiferae) has been arising. Objective: The present study is a contribution to better understand the relationship between the morphological variations and volatile composition during the phenological cycle. Materials and methods: Leaves at the stages of vegetative, floral budding, flowering and green capsule, buds, full opened flowers and green capsules were assayed for essential oil (EO) components by gas chromatography-flame ionization detector (GC-FID) and GC-mass spectrometry (MS). Results: Significant amounts of sesquiterpenes (oxygenated 26--50% and hydrocarbons 20--40%) and oxygenated hydrocarbons (13--38%) characterized the all analyzed samples showing peculiar fluctuations during the seven phenological stages. Although monoterpenes were present in much lower amounts (monoterpene hydrocarbons 0.4--6%; oxygenated monoterpenes 0.8--6%) they were considered also important discrimination for several stages. The green capsules and the full opened flowers collected at flowering stage were clearly distinguished in terms of EO compositions from the other samples. Discussion: For the first time, the EO composition of Turkish wild Hypericum perforatum was monitored by the hydrodistillation of different plant organs collected at different seven stages in order to point out the modification of target volatiles related to each phenological step. Conclusions: Based on the EO composition monitored during these seven morphological stages by GC-MS, principal component analysis and cluster analysis, significant metabolite modifications were observed during the phenological cycle which involved the levels of specific volatile target compounds belonging to the chemical classes of hydrocarbons, monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The volatile composition of ten fibre hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) varieties was investigated during two successive growing seasons under temperate climatic conditions in Central Italy. The freshly plant inflorescences were hydrodistilled and the essential oils (EOs) were characterized by GC–MS. In addition, the composition of the aroma emitted spontaneously from the freshly plant inflorescences were analysed by SPME-GC–MS. The EO yields of eight dioecious (Carmagnola, C.S., Red Petiole, Pop 1, Pop 2, Pop 3, Pop 4, Pop 5) and two monoecious (Codimono and Felina 34) cultivars ranged from 0.11 to 0.25% (w/w) and showed a significant production of α-pinene (3–20%), β-pinene (1–8%), E-ocimene (1–10%), myrcene (8–45%) and terpinolene (0.12–22%). The monoterpene composition was useful to distinguish the monoecious cultivars from the dioecious ones. β-Caryophyllene (7–28%), α-humulene (3–12%), and caryophyllene oxide (2–6%) were the main sesquiterpenes. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) was present in traces in the EOs of only two dioecious cultivars cultivated in 2005. Cannabinol (CBN) was not detected in the essential oils, while the no-hallucinogenous cannabidiol (CBD) was found as typical volatile constituent in several analysed cultivars. These findings were also confirmed by the headspace GC–MS analysis carried out on the same samples. The analysed EOs obtained from fibre hemp varieties cultivated in Central Italy were characterized by an interesting and specific terpene composition with a legal and safe cannabinoid content. They were obtained from freshly plant inflorescences, which usually represent a waste material from C. sativa L. fibre varieties. The present study strengths the hypothesis to grow hemp as a multi-use crop through a complete utilization of the plant material using inflorescences to produce essential oils as natural flavour and fragrance additives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Laboratory bioassays on insecticidal activity of essential oils (EOs) extracted from six Mediterranean plants ( Achillea millefolium, Lavandula angustifolia, Helichrysum italicum, Foeniculum vulgare, Myrtus communis, and Rosmarinus officinalis) were carried out against the larvae of the Culicidae mosquito Aedes albopictus. The chemical composition of the six EOs was also investigated. Results from applications showed that all tested oils had insecticidal activity, with differences in mortality rates as a function of both oil and dosage. At the highest dosage (300 ppm), EOs from H. italicum, A. millefolium, and F. vulgare caused higher mortality than the other three oils, with mortality rates ranging from 98.3% to 100%. M. communis EO induced only 36.7% larval mortality at the highest dosage (300 ppm), a similar value to those recorded at the same dosage by using R. officinalis and L. angustifolia (51.7% and 55%, respectively). Identified compounds ranged from 91% to 99%. The analyzed EOs had higher content of monoterpenoids (80-99%) than sesquiterpenes (1-15%), and they can be categorized into three groups on the basis of their composition. Few EOs showed the hydrocarbon sesquiterpenes, and these volatile compounds were generally predominant in comparison with the oxygenated forms, which were detected in lower quantities only in H. italicum (1.80%) and in M. communis (1%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]