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The Nemo's Garden® project is an alternative production system for areas with scarce cultivable land but significant presence of water; thus, it is an interesting intervention to address the climate crisis. This work aimed to evaluate the micromorphological, biochemical, and phytochemical characteristics of Stevia rebaudiana (Bertoni) Bertoni grown underwater compared to the terrestrial specimens. The micromorphological analyses, performed on the leaves using light microscopy, fluorescence microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy, evidenced a general uniformity of the trichome morphotype and distribution pattern. The histochemical investigation indicated the simultaneous presence of terpenes and polyphenols in the trichome secreted material from the underwater samples and a prevailing polyphenolic content in the terrestrial specimens; this was also confirmed by biochemical analyses (26.6 mg GAE/g DW). The characterization of non-volatile components, performed using HPLC–MS, showed similar chemical profiles in all the samples, which were characterized by phenolic compounds and steviol glycosides. The volatile compounds, evaluated using HS-SPME coupled with GC–MS, showed sesquiterpene hydrocarbons as the main class in all the analyzed samples (80.1–93.9%). However, the control plants were characterized by a higher content of monoterpene hydrocarbons (12.1%). The underwater biosphere environment did not alter S. rebaudiana micro-morphological characters, although slight qualitative changes were evidenced for the compounds produced as a response to the growth conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Halophyte plants are potential resources to deal with the increasing soil salinity determined by climatic change. In this context, the present study aimed to investigate the germplasm conservation of Artemisia caerulescens collected in the San Rossore Estate (Pisa, Italy) through in vitro culture, biochemical properties, and the phytochemical composition of the volatile fraction of both in vitro shoots and different organs of wild plants (leaves, young and ripe inflorescences). The best medium tested for the shoot proliferation was MS, with the addition of 1 μM BA. Total polyphenol content and antioxidant activity were noticeable in both the inflorescences, while leaves and in vitro shoots showed lower amounts. Concerning the phytochemical investigation, the headspaces (HSs) and the essential oils (EOs) were characterized by oxygenated monoterpenes as the main chemical class of compounds in all samples, and with α- and β-thujone as the major constituents. However, the EOs were characterized by noticeable percentages of phenylpropanoids (23.6–28.8%), with brevifolin as the unique compound, which was not detected in the spontaneous volatile emissions of the same parts of the wild plant. Good amounts of EOs were obtained from different organs of the wild plant, comprising between 0.17% and 0.41% of the young and ripe inflorescences, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work is an evaluation of the chemical composition of the aroma and the sensorial characters of a beer flavored with Hibiscus rosa-sinensis flowers. Moreover, the total polyphenol, flavonoid and anthocyanin contents and the antioxidant activity of the plant materials and beers were assessed. A comparison with a liqueur flavored with the same hibiscus flowers was also performed. Non-terpene derivatives constituted the main class of components of the aroma of both samples, representing 96.4% of the whole volatilome in the control beer and 99.0% in the hibiscus one. Among this class, esters were the most abundant compounds, being significantly higher in the treated sample (77.6%) than in the control (68.4%), followed by the alcohols (20.9% in control beer and 18.8% in hibiscus beer). From a sensorial point of view, the control beer was characterized by malty and hoppy notes, attributable to the noticeable content in myrcene and α-humulene in its headspace, while in the hibiscus beer, floral and fruity notes, typical of esters and alcohols, prevailed. The polyphenol content was significantly higher in the treated beer (143.96 mg/g) than in the control, as well as the total flavonoids and the total anthocyanins, and, consequently, the antioxidant activity (DPPH-assay). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The volatiles emitted in vivo by different organs (leaf, bud flower, flower, green and red fruits) of Ziziphus jujuba were analysed using HS-SPME-GC/MS. A total of 144 compounds were identified corresponding to 94.6-99.4% of the whole aroma profile of jujube samples. The main constituents detected were (E, E)-α-farnesene, (E)-β-ocimene, perillene, γ-terpinene, cis-sabinene-hydrate, trans-sabinene-hydrate and 4-terpineol. The SPME analyses of the collected samples showed different patterns of emission and can contribute to understand their ecological interactions and fruit production management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This investigation was carried out during two successive seasons to evaluate the growth productivity and oil quality of Mentha piperita var. multimentha grown in four different locations in Egypt (El-Sharkia, El-Fayoum, Ismailia and North Sinai). The obtained results refer to presence of high significant differences between locations under study and a positive correlation could be observed between the yield of Mentha plants and temperate climate conditions. The samples from El-Fayoum location showed the highest record for all growth parameters than other locations. On the other hand, there is a great variability in the yield of essential oils where the EO ranged from 0.285 to 1.240% according to the agro-ecological region of cultivation. The chemical composition of EOs obtained from different locations are characterized by high menthone/menthol contents and high antioxidant activity especially in the plants grown in El-Fayoum and Ismailia which could be attributed to their high amount of phenolic compounds and flavonoids comparing to other locations. The amount of oxygenated compounds in the EOs is high in the warmer locations (El-Fayoum 89.62%), while the amount of sesquiterpene hydrocarbons was found to be high in El-Sharkia locations (6.68%).Cultivation of Mentha piperita var. multimentha in different Egyptian locations characterized by different geographical and weather conditions, affected the quantities of the major components in a statistically significant way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polish cultivars of hop ( Humulus lupulus L.) are well known as aroma and bitter raw material in the brewing industry. To characterise four popular Polish hop cultivars, Lubelski (Lublin), Marynka, Sybilla and Iunga (also known as Junga), the essential oil profiles were determined by gas chromatography/flame ionisation detector ( GC- FID) and gas chromatography/chemical ionisation mass spectrometry ( GC- CIMS) and the alpha/beta acids amounts by high-performance liquid chromatography/diode array detector ( HPLC- DAD) analysis. In addition, the multivariate statistical analysis of the volatile profiles was performed. The results obtained evidenced qualitative and quantitative differences between the four cultivars studied and the foreign hops described in the literature. Lubelski and Iunga showed the typical chemical profile of the fine-aroma and high-alpha cultivars, respectively. In Marynka and Sybilla, the average amounts of alpha acids were similar to the bitter hops, but with a volatile profile characteristics of the fine-aroma and aroma cultivars respectively. [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]

Context: Hypericum perforatum L. (Guttiferae) contains many bioactive secondary metabolites including hypericins, hyperforins, and essential oil. Objective: The present study was conducted to determine the variation in composition of essential oil in H. perforatum accessions from Turkey. Material and methods: At full flowering, aerial parts of 30 plants were collected from 10 sites of northern Turkey and assayed for essential oil components by GC-FID and GC-MS. Results: The chemical analysis revealed that the main constituents of the all analyzed samples were hydrocarbon and oxygenated sesquiterpenes such as β-caryophyllene (4.08–5.93%), γ-muurolene (5.00–9.56%), β-selinene (5.08–19.63%), α-selinene (4.12–10.42%), -cadinene (3.02–4.94%), spathulenol (2.34–5.14%), and caryophyllene oxide (6.01–12.18%). Monoterpenes, both hydrocarbon and oxygenated, were represented by scarce amounts of α- and β-pinene, myrcene, linalool, cis- and trans-linalool oxide, and α-terpineol. Principal component analysis was also carried out and, according to the results, the first nine principal components were found to represent 100% of the observed variation. Discussion: The chemical variation among the populations is discussed as the possible result of different genetic and environmental factors. Conclusions: The wild populations examined here are potentially important sources for breeding and improvement of the cultivated varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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: β-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 β-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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The essential oil and solid phase micro extraction (SPME) samples of Bupleurum fruticosum micropropagated plants were analysed by GC and GC–MS and compared with those obtained from the leaves and the stems of field-grown parent plants. The main constituents of the essential oil of the micropropagated plants were β-phellandrene (61%), sabinene (13%), terpinen-4-ol, tricyclene and bicyclogermacrene (3%). Regarding to the field-grown B. fruticosum plants, the leaf essential oil showed the same major components detected in the micropropagated plants, while the stem oil showed γ-terpinene (50%) and α-phellandrene (18%) as the most important constituents. Furthermore, SPME analyses were carried out in order to show for the first time a complete investigation on the volatile organic constituents of the micropopagated and field-grown B. fruticosum parent plants. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Essential oils represent novel alternatives to application of synthetic fungicides to control against seedborne pathogens. This study investigated seven essential oils for in vitro growth inhibition of the main seedborne pathogens of cucurbits. Cymbopogon citratus essential oil completely inhibited mycelial growth of Stagonosporopsis cucurbitacearum and Alternaria alternata at 0.6 and 0.9 mg/mL, respectively. At 1 mg/mL, Lavandula dentata, Lavandula hybrida, Melaleuca alternifolia, Laurus nobilis, and two Origanum majorana essential oils inhibited mycelia growth of A. alternata by 54%, 71%, 68%, 36%, 90%, and 74%, respectively. S. cucurbitacearum mycelia growth was more sensitive to Lavandula essential oils, with inhibition of ~74% at 1 mg/mL. To determine the main compounds in these essential oils that might be responsible for this antifungal activity, they were analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). C. citratus essential oil showed cirtal as its main constituent, while L. dentata and L. nobilis essential oils showed eucalyptol. The M. alternifolia and two O. majorana essential oils had terpinen-4-ol as the major constituent, while for L. hybrida essential oil, this was linalool. Thus, in vitro, these essential oils can inhibit the main seedborne fungi of cucurbits, with future in vivo studies now needed to confirm these activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Helichrysum genus was used in folk South African medicine to treat various human disorders. As a part of our on-going research addressing the exploitation of South African plants belonging to this genus, five species were investigated for their volatile and antimicrobial activities. The volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and the essential oils (EOs) were analysed by gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Microdilution was the method used for assessing both antimycotic and antibacterial activities, which was also tested by Kirby-Bauer agar disc diffusion. Total monoterpenes (TMs) dominated the VOCs of four species (H. trilineatum (70.6%), H. edwardsii (79.3%), H. cooperi (84.5%), and H. pandurifolium (57.0%)). H. cooperi and H. edwardsii EOs showed the predominance of TMs (68.2% and 84.5%, respectively), while H. pandurifolium and H. trilineatum EOs were characterized by the prevalence of TSs (86.5% and 43.6%, respectively). H. odoratissimum EO evidenced a similar amount of both TMs (49.5%) and TSs (46.4%). Microsporum canis was more sensitive to these EOs. The lowest minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was observed with H. pandurifolium and H. edwardsii EOs (0.25%). H. pandurifolium and H. trilineatum had a good effect on Staphylococcus aureus (MIC 5%). These findings open new perspectives for the exploitation of these natural compounds for application in cosmetics and pharmaceutics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Volatilomes emitted from edible flowers of two species of Agastache (A. aurantiaca (A.Gray) Lint & Epling, and A. mexicana (Kunth) Lint & Epling) and from two hybrids (Agastache 'Arcado Pink' and Agastache 'Blue Boa') were investigated using a solid-phase microextraction technique as well as the extraction of its essential oils. Oxygenated monoterpenes were almost always the predominant class (>85%) of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in each sample of A. aurantiaca, A. 'Blue Boa' and A. mexicana, with the exception of A. 'Arcado Pink' (38.6%). Pulegone was the main compound in A. aurantiaca (76.7%) and A. 'Blue Boa' (82.4%), while geranyl acetate (37.5%) followed by geraniol (16%) and geranial (17%) were the principal ones in A. mexicana. The essential oil composition showed the same behavior as the VOCs both for the main class as well as the major constituent (pulegone) with the same exception for A. mexicana. Total soluble sugars, secondary metabolites (polyphenols, flavonoids and anthocyanins) and antioxidant activity were also investigated to emphasize the nutraceutical properties of these edible flowers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The volatiles of different pomegranate plant parts were extracted using headspace solid phase micro-extraction (HS-SPME) and analyzed for the first time by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS) and flame ionization detector (GC-FID). All the data were submitted to multivariate statistical analysis evidencing many differences amongst the selected plant parts. Sesquiterpene hydrocarbons were the most abundant class in the aroma of leaves and in all the flower organs where the main constituents were β-caryophyllene, ( E , E )-α-farnesene and trans -α-bergamotene. Stem aroma showed similar content of sesquiterpene hydrocarbons and non-terpenes with α-humulene as main compound. The aroma of all aril parts showed high amount of non-terpenes with the prevalence of aldehydes and esters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The chemical composition of volatiles emitted in vivo from different plant parts of P. cerasifera and P. cerasifera ‘Pissardii’ were collected during the entire biological cycle of the plant growth and analyzed by gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) after solid phase micro-extraction (SPME). All the data were submitted to multivariate statistical analysis evidencing many differences amongst the selected plant parts and growth stages. A total of 136 compounds were identified corresponding to 90.1–99.6% of the whole aroma profile of cherry plum samples. Non-terpenes were the most abundant class of constituents present in the volatile emission of all analyzed samples. In particular, the aroma of both fruit stages was mainly characterized by alcohols and esters in different amounts. [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]

The aroma fingerprints of seven endemic Sardinian populations of Genista species ( Genista bocchierii , Genista arbusensis , Genista cadasonensis , Genista corsica , Genista morisii , Genista pichisermolliana , Genista sulcitana ) were defined for the first time in order to investigate the relationship between their chemotaxonomic classification and discriminating volatiles. It is the first time that the inter-species compositional variations of non-terpenoidic constituents and target volatiles such as linalool, limonene, 2,6-nonadienal, 2-pentylfuran, ( E )-2-(2-pentenyl)-furan, ß -caryophyllene and caryophyllene oxide were related by Principal Components Analysis to the actual chemotaxonomic classification of the selected Sardinian Genista species. Although they are not considered marketable aromatic plants, these original results have shown the potential role of volatiles not only as new further important chemotaxonomic markers of Genista species, but also as potential ecological factors in the chemodiversity of some endemic Mediterranean Genista or, more in general, in vegetation changes and reforestation processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]