Search

This study was designed to evaluate the antioxidant activity of phenolic compounds of for Lamiaceae: Salvia officinalis, Satureja calamintha, Mentha pulegium and Marubium vulgare using ferric reducing power (FRAP) and radical scavenging method (DPPH). Preliminary phytochemical analysis shows that the major constituents of crude extracts (Hydromethanolic, hydroacetonic) are tannins, saponins, quinones, flavonoids, terpenoids and reducing compounds in the four plants. In quantitative analysis, variable polyphenols, flavonoids and condensed tannins content are recorded. The highest polyphenols content is that of the aqueous/methanol crude extract of Salvia officinalis (188.92 ± 1.19 mg GAE/ gE), followed by aqueous/acetone crude extract of Mentha pulegium (176.55 ± 2.49 mg GAE/gE). Flavonoids and condensed tannins content of crude extract showing a high content in aqueous/methanol extract of Mentha pulegium and Satureja calamintha (93.64 ± 0.26mg EQC/gE and 25.44 ± 0.71 mg EQC/gE), respectively. Scavenging activity of the free radical DPPH, revealed that the aqueous/methanol extract of Salvia officinalis shown a relatively high antioxidant activity (IC50 = 1.07 μg/ml) compared with ascorbic acid (IC50 = 0.91 μg/ml). FRAP method revealed that the extracts of Mentha pulegium showed the highest power to reduce iron (EC50 = 0.147 mg/ml), but lower than that of ascorbic acid (EC50 = 0.057 mg/mL).

Among natural remedies, aromatic and medicinal plants constitute an essential source that deserves scientific attention. Thus, our study aims to promote the virtues of two aromatic and medicinal plants found in the wild in the region of Ouazzane (Morocco). The phytochemical tests of these species have shown the presence of flavonoids, gallic and catechic tannins, cyanidin, sterols and triterpenes. However, alkaloids, carotenoids, saponosides and reducing compounds were not detected. Then, extraction of total polyphenols from Origanum compactum and Satureja calamintha nepeta was conducted for 48 hours by maceration with a mixture of methanol/water (80/20) used as a solvent. Extractions yielded 35.2% crude extracts for Origanum compactum and 34.4% for Satureja calamintha nepeta. The fractionation of these crude methanol extracts was performed with three organic solvents of increasing polarity (chloroform, ethyl acetate then, n-butanol). Total phenol content of the extracts and fractions was assessed by the method of Folin-Ciocalteu. This revealed that the phenol-rich fractions were the crude extract for Origanum compactum and the butanol fraction for Satureja calamintha nepeta. Finally, the evaluation of the antioxidant power which was carried out using the method of trapping the free radical DPPH• and the reduction of iron by the method of FRAP. The DPPH• test showed a high antioxidant activity of the samples: 53.1 µg/ml of crude extract of Origanum compactum was needed to reduce 50% of DPPH•. The same IC50 was obtained for ascorbic acid (standard antioxidant). For Satureja calamintha nepeta, the IC50 was 67.5 µg/ml. On the other hand, the FRAP test revealed that the methanolic extract of origanum compactum has higher reducing power than that of n-buthanolic extract of satureja calamintha nepeta. Still, it remains relatively low compared to ascorbic acid. The high antioxidant activity of these two species could justify their use in traditional medicine for the treatment of many diseases.

In this work phytochemical characterization of two medicinal plants from Lamiaceae family, Mentha rotundifolia and Satureja calamintha, has been carried out. Extracts obtained with different solvents were screened for different plant secondary metabolites and were biologically characterized by defining their antiradical and antibacterial activities. Phytochemical screening of M. rotundifolia and S. calamintha confirmed their richness in different secondary metabolites. The determination of phenolic compounds revealed high polyphenols contents in water: methanol (30:70) extracts with concentrations of 20.64?1.74 mg EAG/g DW and 13.45?0.91 mg EAG/g DW for M. rotundifolia and S. calamintha, respectively. These extracts were also characterized by high concentrations of flavonoids (Mentha rotundifolia 12.33?1.58 mg EQ/g DW, Satureja calamintha 7.11?0.02 mg EQ/g DW). Furthermore, the water: methanol (30:70) extract of M. rotundifolia was the most effective in inhibiting free radicals. Recorded inhibition diameters for both plant samples and tested microbial strains ranged from 6.66 mm to 13.66 mm. Presented results confirmed that tested indigenous Algerian plants are favorable sources of polyphenols with antioxidant and antimicrobial properties.

The article briefly discusses the history of the study of species from the relationship Clinopodium calamintha (L.) Kuntze s. l. in the Caucasus, now included in the sections Calamintha (Mill.) Melnikov and Ellementha Melnikov. A number of new morphological traits to distinguish the species of these sections are presented, and a classification of the trichome types found in this group is given. 17 new species and 4 new varieties are described. For the flora of the Caucasus, 16 species are recorded, and 3 more species are possible to find growing in the regions adjacent to the Caucasus (in Turkey and Iran). A key has been compiled to identify the species and varieties of these two sections in the Caucasus.

Monoterpenes are small molecules, composed of two isoprene units, able to pass through the blood brain barrier, allowing to target both peripheral and central pain pathways. They are the main components of essential oils, responsible for their diverse well-known biological activities. Menthol, the main monoterpene found in Mentha piperita (L.) is known to modulate nociceptive threshold and is present in different curative preparations that reduces sensory hypersensitivities in pain conditions. While pulegone is a menthol-like monoterpene, only a limited number of studies focuses on its putative analgesic effects. Pulegone is the most abundant monoterpene presents in Calamintha nepeta (L.), a Laminaceae plant used in traditional medicine to alleviate rheumatic disorders, a chronic inflammatory disease. Here, we compared the impacts of menthol and pulegone on pain and inflammation. First, we described that both monoterpenes are anti-inflammatory compounds. Secondly, we found that while menthol is highly cytotoxic at anti-inflammatory concentrations, the cytotoxic effects of pulegone are limited, if not absent. Finally, in a model of peripheral inflammatory-induced pain a pulegone treatment exerts a significantly higher anti-hyperalgesic effect than menthol in response to mechanical stimuli, heat and cold thermal stimulations than a menthol treatment. In conclusion we demonstrated that pulegone is an anti-inflammatory compound and it is acting a potent pain-killer in acute inflammatory pain condition.

In infectiology, some essential oils (EOs) are able to competewith antibiotic therapy and even surpass it; it is in this context that a study of the chemical composition and the antibacterial power of the EOs of three aromatic and widely used medicinal plants in traditional medicine was conducted which are Satureja calamintha subsp. nepeta (L.) Briq, Lavandula multifida L., and Mentha pulegium L. The extracted EO yields were of the order of 2.6%, 0.12%, and 5.29% for Satureja calamintha, Lavandula multifida, and Mentha pulegium, respectively. The obtained EOs were analyzed by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The results of these analyses showed that Lavandula multifida contains carvacrol as a majority compound (70.65%); by contrast, the pulegone is the majority compound of Satureja calamintha and Mentha pulegium that contain about 87.04% and 71.97%, respectively. The EOs with the pulegone as predominant compound (Mentha pulegium and Satureja calamintha) showed higher antibacterial activity when tested against some multiresistant strains, compared to those with the carvacrol as major compound. In conclusion, this study may open up prospects for the formulation of phytomedicines against resistant and nonresistant bacteria incriminated in nosocomial infections.

Flora of Lakes region has not been fully worked out. Especially Burdur and Denizli have not been fully reflected in the literature since they have been studied less than our other vilayets. According to the results of the study; 406 (27%) in Isparta; 370 (22 %) in Burdur; 400 (18 %) in Denizli; 429 (29%) in Konya and 468 (32%) in Antalya were understood to be natural distribution of endemic plant taxa. The number of endemic plant taxa belonging to 53 families is 950. 530 taxa of them spread show in the region more than one. It is estimated that for each province will be added at least 15% more endemic taxa to this number. Vertical distributions of the endemic taxa: 78 taxa (8%) between 0-500 m; 31 taxa (3%) between 500-1000 m; 91 taxa (10%) between 1000-1500 m; 59 taxa (6%) between 1500-2000 m; 29 taxa (3%) between 2000 and 2500 m; 10 taxa (1%) with 2500 m upper and 645 taxa (69%) with variable altitudes. Flowering months of taxa : 1-3: 5 taxa (1%); 3-6: 333 taxa (36%); 6-9: 516 taxa (55%); 9-12: 12 taxa (2%) and unknown 44 taxa (5%). Gymnosperms (open seeded) and ferns were identified as 4 taxa (1 %). The IUCN threat categories of the relevant taxa are: LR (cd) 127 taxa (13%); LR (nt) 78 taxa (8%); LR (lc) 288 taxa (30%); VU 176 taxa (19%); CR 41 taxa (4%); DD 16 taxa (2%); EN 168 taxa (18%) and 56 non-endangered taxa (6%). Local endemics that have economic importance in the region are Origanum minutiflorum, Sideritis erythrantha, Ballota cristata, Dorystoechas hastata, Rosa dumalis subsp. boissieri var. antalyensis, Muscari bourgaei, Orchis anatolica, Liquidambar orientalis, Abies cilicica subsp. isaurica. Attention should be paid to the protection-using balance of these taxa. Sectoral stakeholders should be made more conscious. It should be sought the way to receive culture the taxa. Approximately 120 vascular plants of the Lakes Region are candidate to be the industrial purposing. These important plants in the region are as follows; Poppy ( Papaver somniferum ), Caper ( Capparis spp.), Centaury ( Hypericum spp.), Rose/ rosehip ( Rosa damascena, R. canina, R. dumalis, R. alba, R. semperflorens, R. versicolor, R. borboniana, R. centifolia, R. gallica ), Lavander ( Lavandula stoechas, L. angustifolia and L. intermedia ), Sutculer oregano ( Origanum minutiflorum ), Dedegul tea/ Kafaotu ( Cyclotrichum origanifolium ), Special-mint ( Calamintha nepeta ), Melissa / Lemon balm ( Melissa officinalis ), B aby's-breath ( Gypsophila arrostii var. nebulosa ), Sahleb ( Orchis, Ophyris and Dactylorrhiza spp.) Blackberry ( Rubus spp.), Terebinth ( Pistacia terebinthus ), Carnation ( Dianthus spp.), Coriander ( Coriandrum sativum ), Hibiscus ( Alcea and Althaea spp.), Fennel ( Foeniculum vulgare ), Love-in-a-mist ( Nigella sativa, N. damascena ), Dill ( Anethum graveolens ), Mint ( Mentha spp.), Rosemary ( Rosmarinus officinalis ), Thyme ( Thymus, Origanum, Corydothymus etc.) Linden ( Tilia spp.), Poplar ( Populus spp.), Willow ( Salix spp.), Fistikcami/ Pine ( Pinus pinea ), Pumpkin/ Gourd ( Cucurbita, Laganeria and Luffa spp.) etc.

Many phytochemicals have medicinal properties including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and cytotoxic activities. The current study aims to estimate and identify the chemical composition of Calamintha fenzlii Vis. leaves volatile oil and to evaluate its cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. The volatile oil (VO) of C. fenzlii leaves was separated using microwave ultrasonic method and the chemical composition was characterized using Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectroscopy method. The anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and cytotoxic activities were determined using a COX inhibitor screening, the DPPH-free radical scavenging and MTS (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-cyrboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium, inner salt) cell viability colorimetric assays, respectively. The chemical constituents of C. fenzlii VO were dominated by oxygenated monoterpenoid (96.91%). The major chemical components of C. fenzlii VO were represented by menthone 68.93% and pulegone 23.1%. The cytotoxicity test results revealed that the 23.22, 11.6, 5.8 and 2.9 mg/ml of C. fenzlii VO treatments induced cell death significantly (p ≤ 0.0001) by 70%, while 1.4 and 0.7 mg/ml induced cell cytotoxicity significantly (p ≤ 0.0001) by approximately 50% and 40%, respectively. The VO showed moderate antioxidant activity with an IC50 value of 15.38 ± 0.81 µg/ml. The COX-1 IC50 value was 0.215 µg/ml, while COX-2 IC50 was 0.241 µg/ml. Our data demonstrate for the first time that the VO of the Palestinian C. fenzlii plant possesses cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory and antioxidants effects. It is a good source of therapeutic active compounds that could have potential applications in the nutraceutical and pharmaceutical industries.

The ecophysiological behaviours (translocation and accumulation) of Fe and Mn in three aromatic species spontaneously growing in soils from the abandoned mine in Rosalgar (Setubal District, SW Portugal) were analysed in order to assess their potential impact on human health. Three different Lamiaceae species (Origanum vulgare subsp. virens, Calamintha nepeta subsp. glandulosa and Lavandula stoechas subsp. luisieri) were selected to determine their chemical compositions. The rhizosphere soil characteristics were also studied. Soils had a slightly acid pH, ranging from 5.6 to 6.4, and a low-medium fertility. The mean total contents of Mn and Fe in these soils were 13,605 mg/kg and 81,870 mg/kg, respectively. These values are higher than the average concentrations in non-contaminated soils in the region (737 mg Mn/kg and 36833 mg Fe/kg). The Mn concentration in the available fraction of these soils was also very high (467–1000 mg/kg). The Fe concentration in the soil available fraction was 69–124 mg/kg. Each species had a different accumulation pattern, as lavender is the only one that translocates Mn to the aerial part, where the concentration reaches a mean value of 890 mg/kg. This concentration is much higher than that observed in the other two species and is higher than the normal range for plants (10–500 mg Mn/kg). Two parameters were used to evaluate the risk posed to human health due to the consumption of O. vulgare and C. nepeta: the estimated daily intake (EDI) and the target hazard quotient (THQ). The EDIs of the studied elements in these two species, which are used for culinary purposes by the inhabitants of the region, were lower than the provisional tolerable daily intake value. Thus, their consumption for alimentary purposes is safe. On the other hand, the THQ values show that inhabitants who consume oregano and calamint may be exposed to health risks as the individual THQ for Mn was higher than unity.

The aim of the present study was the evaluation of the phytotoxic effect of essential oils (EOs) from two Labiatae species, namely Thymus fontanesii Boiss. et Reut. and Satureja calamintha subsp. n...

The knowledge of the plants that are used may provide insight on their properties for further exploration. This study aimed to identify and collect data about medicinal plants used in traditional medicine by the population of the provincial region of Taza, Morocco. An ethnobotanical survey was carried out among 200 informants, competent villagers, herbalists, and traditional healers from the provincial region of Taza city through direct interviews using a structured questionnaire. The survey reported 55 plant species belonging to 28 families used in the folk medicine. Informants’ results showed that the most frequently used plants were Origanum compactum, Mentha pulegium, Rosmarinus officinalis L., Aloysia citrodora, Calamintha officinalis Moench, and Artemisia herba-alba Asso., with a relative frequency of citation of 76%, 72%, 60%, 42%, 40%, and 30%, respectively. Moreover, in this study, the Lamiaceae family was the most commonly reported plant family, and the leaves were the most frequently used parts of the plants; otherwise, decoction and infusion were the most used modes in the preparation of remedies from medicinal plants in the traditional medicine. The sociodemographic characteristics showed that women use medicinal plants slightly more than men, the illiterate people use the medicinal plant the most, and old people have more information about the medicinal plants than the new generations. The region of Taza of Morocco has an important floristic biodiversity of medicinal plants which are used in traditional medicine practice. This result provides a good database for pharmacological screening in the search for new plants that can contain new bioactive molecules that can be used as a bioactive ingredient of medicament or as a biological alternative in pharmacology.

BackgroundThis paper presents the uses of Calamintha nepeta, Teucrium flavum and Thymus numidicus in food and in traditional herbal medicines in six districts from Bejaia state, Northern Algeria.MaterialsA semi-structured interview was conducted to 52 informants, including questions on the demographic data of the informants and uses of the three medicinal plants to determine the alimentary and the medicinal uses of these plants in Bejaia state.ResultsThe demographic data of the informants indicate that rural participants are the principal consumers of medicinal plants. Data regarding experience of medicinal plants preparation show that 36.5% was confined to the experienced informants, while 63.5% of the informants were inexperienced. Women used medicinal plants more frequently than men; it is recorded that there were 42.3% male informants and 57.7% female informants. Studied plants were used for curing a total of 10 diseases. Also, C. nepeta and T. numidicus were applied as condiment in food, but T. flavum was found to have no food uses in all districts.ConclusionBejaia district is rich in biodiversity of food and medicinal plants and there is need for further studies to validate their use as potential drugs.

Chemists and industrialists are continuously attempting to develop greener and more environmentally benign chemical processes to extract essential oils and bioactive metabolites of high purity, finding various applications in cosmetics, detergents, nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals. An increase preferenced for natural products over synthetic ones has made supercritical fluid technology a primary alternative for the generation of high-value bioactive ingredients. This effective technique requires only moderate temperatures, eliminates clean-up steps and avoids the use of harmful organic solvents. In this context, our study was focused on the chemical analysis of Calamintha nepeta subsp. nepeta aromatic extracts obtained with supercritical carbon dioxide. The effect of different operating conditions on the capacity of the lipophilic solvent to extract the targeted volatile components was also studied. The process was carried out at a fairly low constant temperature of 40°C, and with varying the pressure from 90 to 300 bar. The chemical composition of the extracts was analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy. The results showed that the composition pattern, the concentrations of individual components and the quality of the extractable analytes were affected by pressure increase. The extraction yields varied from 0.73 to 1.21 wt% at 90 and 300 bar, respectively.

Objective In our study, we aim to explore the ability of four essential oils (EO) of Lebanese plants to inhibit the tyrosinase activity and to correlate their efficiency level to their phytochemical compositions. Methods The EO have been extracted by hydrodistillation using a Clevenger apparatus and have been studied by GC-MS analysis. Active compounds of Origanum species were identified and antityrosinase activities of EO and active molecules (carvacrol and thymoquinone) have been tested in tubo. Results Antityrosinase activities were obtained as follows: EO of Origanum syriacum (80.41% ± 2.00%), EO of Origanum ehrenbergii (45.33% ± 2.20%), EO of Salvia fruticosa (14.62% ± 2.30%), EO of Calamintha origanifolia (16.51% ± 5.80%), Carvacrol (56.55% ± 3.10%), and Thymoquinone (19.49% ± 1.50%). Conclusion Origanum essential oils resulted in the highest antityrosinase activity due to their high content in carvacrol. However, when present together with carvacrol, thymoquinone decreases the efficiency of carvacrol, which is the case of O. ehrenbergii essential oil. Thus, for improved antityrosinase activity, O. syriacum and O. ehrenbergii should be harvested during flowering stage where carvacrol is present at its highest dosage and thymoquinone at its lowest.

The aim of this work was to evaluate the antioxidant capacity of some increasing polarity soluble fractions of hydroalcoholic extract of the leaves of Algerian Lamiaceae Calamintha baborensis Batt., including hexanoic (Hex), chloroformic (Chlor), ethyl acetate (EtOAc) and n-butanolic (n-BuOH) and four subfractions (A, B, C, D) resulting from fractionation on a polyamide column. The EtOAc and n-BuOH extracts of the plant gave the highest values of antioxidant power by different methods: ABTS, percentage inhibition of 68.9/81.7%; DPPH, 27.6/80.99%; ORAC/FRAP, 37.28/28.47 and 21.73/19.52 μM/mL, respectively; IC50 values, 23 and 53.5 ppm. In addition, they were evaluated for their total phenolic content. The antibacterial activity of extracts showed good results with hexanoic and chloroformic fractions against E. coli (19 mm and 19.2 mm diameter of inhibition zone and MIC values about 43 and 43.4 μg/mL, respectively.) Apolar fractions from the leaves of C. Baborensis Batt. were analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). The main components of the essential oil of C baborensis Batt. are eugenol (27.04%) and 3-methoxy acetophenone (26.4%).

Wild medicinal and aromatic plants are in the market as herbal raw or processed and packaged materials, playing, even today, a strategic role in the production of plant-based products. Indeed, their content in active ingredients, mainly specialized secondary metabolites, is not constant; it undergoes significant seasonal variations, as abiotic stress heavily affects secondary metabolism network. The present review deals with the seasonality influence on the polyphenolic composition on antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of medicinal and aromatic plants. To this aim, firstly the factors influencing the content of active ingredients in a plant drug will be discussed, and, in particular, the increased occurrence of phenols as a response to abiotic stress. In the last part of the review a brief reference will be made to four meaningful case studies, which involve wild medicinal aromatic herbs, native to the Mediterranean area: Calamintha nepeta L. Savi, Foeniculum vulgare Mill., Ruta graveolens L. and Thymus longicaulis C. Presl. These species, grown in the same geographical area and collected at the same harvesting time, showed a great variability in phenol constituents throughout the year. The comparison among data acquired clearly evidences that the seasonal variation in polyphenols’ occurrence and amount leads to a more/less pronounced antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity of the hydroalcoholic extract therefrom. It is worth of note that the presence of the same metabolite, but in different phytochemical complexes, could result in different biological activities.

Introduction: Calamintha officinalis Moench (COM) is an aromatic herb from Lamiaceae family with high similarities to the common mints not only in its appearance but also in terms of aroma. The aim of this research was to evaluate antioxidant activity of plant extract and to identify constituents of its essential oil. Material and Methods: The plant samples were collected from North of Iran (Guilan, Lahijan) and its identity was certified by a systematic botanist in University of Guilan. The dried leaves of COM were subjected to hydro-distillation using a Clevenger-type apparatus and the composition of the essential oil was analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Results: It was found that major constituents of oil were trans-caryophyllene (8.55%), isomenthol (2.98%), tetrahydrolinalyl acetate (2.96%), and pinene (2. 24%). In other part of the research, the biological activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) were assayed by in extracts of the leaves spectrophotometric method. It was found the extract contained a considerable superoxide anion radical scavenging power. On the other hand, the biological activity of CAT in extract of COM leaves showed gradual increase during time with a gentle slope indicating an increase in oxidative stress. Conclusions: The result of our study on Calamintha revealed the existence of a specific component of the essential oil (trans-caryophyllene) that has not been reported by other researchers. In addition to the antioxidant property that was confirmed in this study, the major component of its essential oil was found to be an antimicrobial agent.

This work, as a part of a research programme on the integrated management of vegetation at archaeological sites of Greece, aims at study the micropropagation protocols for small shrubby species belonging to the Greek macchia vegetation. The following species were selected: Anthyllis barba-jovis (A. splendens), A. hermanniae, Atriplex halimus, Ballota acetabulosa, Calamintha cretica, C. nepeta, Lomelosia cretica, L. hymettia, Limoniastrum monopetalum, Teucrium capitatum, Thymelaea hirsute and T. tartonraira. A satisfactory in vitro initiation (80-100%) was obtained using node explants excised from young seedlings grown in vitro. Higher percentage of species (80%) was successfully established on hormone-free (HF) MS medium, but most species showed higher multiplication rate on media supplemented with benzyladenine (BA), kinetin (KIN) and zeatin (ZEA). Shoots grown on multiplication medium supplemented with BA, show the best performance at low BA concentrations (0.25-0.5 mg L-1); this was not the case for shoots grown on ZEA-media which had satisfactory multiplication at ZEA concentration 1.0-4.0 mg L-1. When KIN was added to the medium, the best performance was scored for the concentration 2 mg L-1. The rooting process was genotype-dependent: almost half of the species rooted successfully at 80-100%, while A. halimus showed poor rooting, and T. hirsuta and T. tartonraira failed to root. Although 50% of the species rooted efficiently on HF-half strength MS medium, 3-indolebutyric acid (IBA) increased the rate of rooted species. The highest rate of rooted species (80%) was observed with 1.0 mg L-1 IBA. Ex vitro acclimatization on a peat:perlite (1:1, v/v) mixture was highly successful (90-100%) for all rooted species.

Diabetes mellitus is a major public health problem in Morocco. The value of ethnobotanical information is now increasingly acknowledged. To inventory and to provide ethnobotanical information on some of the medicinal plants used in traditional medicine to treat diabetes in Rabat (Morocco), a survey was undertaken from March 1st to April 30th 2018. This survey was conducted using a semi-structured questionnaire targeting diabetic patients from the SOS Diabetes Center. 334 diabetic patients were interviewed. Of this group, 53.6% (34 men and 145 women) use medicinal plants to control their diabetes. 47.2% have type 2 diabetes and 52.5% have type 1diabetes. Thirty plant species belonging to 18 botanical families were recorded for the treatment of diabetes. The most represented families were Lamiaceae with 8 species followed by Fabaceae with 3 species. Based on the highest number of users, the most important species were Trigonella foenum-graecum L. (15.4%), Salvia officinalis L. (13.3%) and Olea europaea L. (10.8%). Leaves (47.5%), seeds (20.2%) and stem (17.6%) were the parts predominantly used to prepare the formulations, which were mainly infusions (50.9%), administrated by the oral route (98.9%). Some plants were used only by type 1 diabetics while others were used by type 2 diabetics. The observed adverse events related to the use of medicinal plants were represented by occasional heartburn in 2.2% of diabetic patients. This study is the first to collect and document information on medicinal plants and how they are used by diabetic patients. Calamintha alpina L. is reported for the first time at the international level as used in traditional treatment of diabetes and seven others were reported as new medicinal plants used to treat diabetes in Morocco. This will extend the list of plants already mentioned as used for diabetes. Further research should be carried out to validate the antidiabetic uses of most of these plant species.

Three autochthonous flavouring herbs from Alentejo (Portugal), Calamintha nepeta (syn. Clinopodium nepeta), Origanun virens and Thymus mastichina, were selected to evaluate toxicological, antioxidant, antiproliferative and antimicrobial potential of their essential oils (EOs). C. nepeta and T. mastichina EOs showed a high content of oxygenated monoterpenes (86–91%) while O. virens had similar content of oxygenated and hydrocarbon monoterpenes (45%). Toxicological assessment suggests high activity against A. salina (31.8

Meiotic studies and chromosome data are imperative in order to have an overall germplasm evaluation of a taxon. In the present effort, the meiotic study is carried out in 48 populations belonging to 26 species of Lamiaceae collected from their natural habitats in Kashmir Himalaya, which forms an important part of Northwest Himalaya. Chromosome counts in the five species viz. Dracocephalum nutans (2n = 10), Lycopus europaeus (2n = 22), Marrubium vulgare (2n = 54), Nepeta nervosa (2n = 18) and Salvia sclarea (2n = 22) are first time reported from India. Besides, 17 species are cytologically evaluated for the first time from the study area-Kashmir Himalaya. In Marrubium vulgare, hexaploid cytotype (2n = 6 × =54) is reported for the first time. Also, diploid and tetraploid cytomorphovariants are observed in Calamintha vulgaris (2n = 20, 40), Elsholtzia ciliata (2n = 16, 32) and Mentha longifolia (2n = 20, 40). Various meiotic abnormalities like chromatin stickiness, cytomixis, nonsynchronous disjunction, laggards, chromatin bridges, etc. leading to pollen abnormalities have been documented for the first time in some species. The worldwide status of chromosome number data in each genus is presented.

We have performed a field experiment to investigate the survival and vitality of perennial plants in a living wall installed in an industrial area in Malmo, southern Sweden. The main aim of the study was to investigate the possibility of growing edible and evergreen perennial plants in living wall systems in the Scandinavian climate. We conclude that the edible perennial plants Allium schoenoprasum, Calamintha nepeta, and Fragaria vesca are feasible in living wall systems in the Scandinavian climate. Thymus vulgaris is sensitive to the Scandinavian climate, and performed equally poorly in Rockwool panels and in soil-filled containers (controls). We also conclude that the evergreen perennial plant species Chamaecyparis pisifera, Euonymus fortuneii, Euphorbia polychroma, Vinca minor, and Waldsteinia ternata can be grown in green walls, and that the edible evergreen plant Vaccinium vitis-idea is highly suitable for living walls in this climatic region. A. schoenoprasum, C. pisifera, E. fortuneii, I. crenata, L. sylvatica, V. minor, and V. vitis-idea showed 100% survival rates, however, the visual quality of e.g. I. crenata and L. sylvatica was not acceptable for ornamental purposes.

In order to obtain safe and effective herbal mosquito repellent formulations by combining selected plant materials, the present study was conducted to establish the mosquito repellent efficacy of some selected plant materials. Essential oils of Origanum majorana (Marua/Marwa), Tanacetum cinerarifolium (Pyrethrum), Juniperus communis (Aiteal), Scented geranium (Pelargonium), Thuja occidentalis L. (Arbor Vitae, White Cedor/Yellow Cedor), Tecoma stans (L.) Juss. Ex Kunth (Piliya/ Pila Kaner/ Yellow Bells, Artenmisia arborescent (Worm Wood/Mugworts, and Calamintha acinos (Thyme Basil) were Purchased from a reliable source. Essential oil containing ethanol solutions was prepared by 10 percent (V/V percent) of each essential oil plant and testing of mosquito repellent behavior was performed using arm-in-cage process. Volunteer's forearm, rubbed with 1ml of the test solution, was exposed to the cage where 25 blood-seeking mosquitoes were put and the amount of mosquitoes aligning or biting the arm in each minute was registered for five minutes each. Three replicates were performed for each essential oil that contained ethanol solutions. A 16 percent (V/V percent) mosquito repellent formulation after analyzing the mosquito repellent activity of individual essential oils. Outdoor and indoor field trials were performed around 5p.m. And 10:00p.m. After two days the mosquito repellent formulation is applied to the volunteer legs. This formulation demonstrated 100 percent repellence of mosquitoes in outdoor and indoor field studies that were performed for 5 hours each day for two days. The gel showed 97 percent mosquito repellence in outdoor and indoor field trials that were conducted for two days for six hours each day.

A number of potentially useful compounds with various biological activities can be obtained from plant metabolites by microorganisms. In present research, essential oil of Calamintha glandulosa was subjected to the biotransformation process by mycromicete Aspergillus niger. GC/MS analyses of the original and biotransformed essential oil have revealed six(1-6) biotransformed compounds from one of the main component-limonene and one biotransformed product (7) originating from the less abundant component-thymol. Piperitone epoxide and piperitenone epoxide, the most abundant components of the original oil, were not biotransformed but gave three artefacts (A1, A2, B1) due to the acidic conditions formed in A. niger medium. Compounds 5, 6 as well as 7 have not been previously found as a biotransformation products of limonene (5 and 6) and thymol (7), respectively. New products (5, 6, and 7) together with the artefacts, were isolated by silica gel column chromatography followed by preparative silica gel thin layer chromatography, and their structures were established by a combination of 1D and 2D NMR spectra and GC/MS data. Biotransformation has one more confirmed as useful method, complementary to synthesis, for obtaining different type of molecules. Supplementary data: [https://cer.ihtm.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/4448]

Mastitis in ewes is responsible for massive economic losses. Antibiotics are routinely used for mastitis control but its excessive use leads to development of antibiotic resistance with deleterious outcomes both for animal and public health. Essential oils (EOs) show antibacterial proprieties and no resistance has been reported after prolonged exposure; however their efficacy depends on their chemical composition. In this study EOs chemical composition from four autochthonous aromatic herbs, from Alentejo region, southern Portugal, Calamintha nepeta subsp. nepeta, Lavandula stoechas subsp. luisieri, Rosmarinus officinalis and Thymus mastichina was accessed. EOs of R. officinalis showed predominance in monoterpene hydrocarbons (63 %) whereas EOs of T. mastichina, L. luisieri and C. nepeta were rich in oxygenated monoterpenes (71-95%). The antimicrobial activity of selected EOs was investigated towards Staphylococcus aureus (n= 24) and Staphylococcus epidermidis isolates (n= 24) from ovine mastitic ...

Calamintha nepeta (L.) Savi (Lamiaceae) is a small culinary and medicinal aromatic herb, native to the Mediterranean region, traditionally used for its diaphoretic, expectorant, febrifuge and stomachic properties. In order to carry out a thorough chemical and biological screening of the plant and to explore phenophase influence on its polyphenol content, samples of the plant were collected at different phases during its life cycle (July/October 2012 and January/April 2013). Each sample, previously extracted using a hydroalcoholic solution, was analyzed for its phenol contents through LC–DAD–ESI-MS/MS techniques. Acacetin and caffeic acid derivatives were the main constituents and the relative abundance of each identified metabolite seemed to be strongly collection time dependent. The evaluation of the antioxidant capacity of the investigated hydroalcoholic extracts was carried out performing different tests. Relative Antioxidant Capacity Index (RACI) was also calculated. Although extract from the summer collection exerted the highest antioxidant capability in cell-free systems, when cytoprotective and anti-inflammatory activities were assessed, extract from the winter collection was the most active sample. In particular, it was capable to inhibit COX-2 synthesis by 40.10%; dexamethasone, used as positive control, exerted a similar activity. Comparing phenol profiling data to bioactivity ones, it was highlighted that the winter extract contained an amount of acacetin and its derivatives nearly four times than those of caffeic acid derivatives.

Essential oils (EOs) and aqueous extracts of aerial parts of four aromatic species, Calamintha nepeta, Foeniculum vulgare, Mentha spicata and Thymus mastichina, from southwest of Portugal were characterised chemically and analysed in order to evaluate their antioxidant potential and cholinesterase inhibitory activities. The main components of EOs were oxygenated monoterpenes, and aqueous extracts were rich in phenol and flavonoid compounds. EOs and aqueous extracts presented a high antioxidant potential, with ability to protect the lipid substrate, free radical scavenging and iron reducing power. Furthermore, EOs and extracts showed AChE and BChE inhibitory activities higher than rivastigmine, the standard drug. Results suggested the potential use of EOs and aqueous extracts of these flavouring herbs as nutraceutical or pharmaceutical preparations to minimise the oxidative stress and the progression of degenerative diseases.

A comprehensive study on essential oils extracted from different Calamintha nepeta (L.) Savi subsp. glandulosa (Req.) Ball samples from Tarquinia (Italy) is reported. In this study, the 24-h steam distillation procedure for essential oil preparation, in terms of different harvesting and extraction times, was applied. The Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis showed that C. nepeta (L.) Savi subsp. glandulosa (Req.) Ball essential oils from Tarquinia belong to the pulegone-rich chemotype. The analysis of 44 samples revealed that along with pulegone, some other chemicals may participate in exerting the related antifungal activity. The results indicated that for higher activity, the essential oils should be produced with at least a 6-h steam distillation process. Even though it is not so dependent on the period of harvesting, it could be recommended not to harvest the plant in the fruiting stage, since no significant antifungal effect was shown. The maximum essential oil yield was obtained in August, with the highest pulegone percentage. To obtain the oil with a higher content of menthone, September and October should be considered as the optimal periods. Regarding the extraction duration, vegetative stage material gives the oil in the first 3 h, while material from the reproductive phase should be extracted at least at 6 or even 12 h.

The antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory properties of methanolic extracts from four aromatic plants used in traditional medicine and food [Calamintha nepeta (L.) Savi subsp. nepeta, Helichrysum italicum subsp. picardii Franco, Mentha spicata L. and Origanum vulgare subsp. virens (Hoffmanns. & Link) Bonnier & Layens] were evaluated. The extract from O. vulgare exhibited the strongest DPPH (IC50 of 4.65 +/- 0.12 mu g/ml) and ABTS (1479.56 +/- 12.29 mu mol(TE)/g(extract)) scavenging capacities, as well as the largest ferric reducing ability (1746.76 +/- 45.11 mu mol(AAE)/g(extract)). This extract also showed the highest total phenolic content (1597.20 +/- 24.10 mu mol(GAE)/g(extract)) and although HPLC-DAD analysis revealed rosmarinic acid as the main compound of the extract, other compounds seem to be involved in the antioxidant activity. Furthermore, the extract from H. italicum, which was found to be rich in caffeoylquinic and dicaffeoylquinic acids and in pinocembrin, showed the highest inhibitory potential against acetylcholinesterase, tyrosinase and alpha-glucosidase. Overall, the results obtained validate the usefulness of the studied plants as valuable sources of natural agents beneficial for human health. European Union; National Funds (FCT/MEC, Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia/Ministerio da Educacao e Ciencia) [UID/QUI/50006/2013]; Norte Portugal Regional Operational Programme; European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) [NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000024]; FCT [SFRH/BPD/84112/2012, IF/01332/2014] info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

Natural products have been in focus as alternative, effective and safe materials against the phytopathogens. Investigations show Nepeta oils as effective in controlling the food crops decay. The inhibitory effects of essential oils derived from Nepeta leucophylla, Nepeta ciliaris, Nepeta clarkei and Calamintha umbrosa against five phytopthogenic fungi have been determined. In vitro antifungal activity varied with their constituents and target species. More active being the oils containing oxygenated terpenoids. Helminthosporium maydis was sensitive to the all oils, IC50 values have 43.6-109.3 μg mL(-1). The N. leucophylla oil possessing oxygenated iridoids was more effective against H. maydis (IC50 value of 43.6 μg mL(-1)) while N. ciliaris was more active against Fusarium oxysporum (IC50 value of 219.2 μg mL(-1)). The oils were effective against the spore germination of all the tested plant pathogens.

The present work investigates the chemical composition and antioxidant properties of three essential oils (EOs) (Mentha pulegium L., Lavandula stoechas L. and Satureja calamintha Scheele L.) from Morocco, and examines their antimicrobial activity as well as possible synergistic lethal effects against Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Listeria monocytogenes EGD-e in combination with mild heat or emerging methods (High hydrostatic pressure (HPP) and pulsed electric fields (PEF)). Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis allowed for the identification of 46 compounds as main constituents. M. pulegium EO was considerably active as an antioxidant while L. stoechas EO exhibited moderate antioxidant activity and S. calamintha L. EO showed weak activity in three complementary antioxidant tests. The evaluation of the antimicrobial effect demonstrates M. pulegium EO to be the most effective, followed by L. stoechas and S. calamintha EOs. However, the antimicrobial EO pattern changed when EOs were applied in combination with physical treatments. Low concentrations of the three EOs (0.2 μL/mL) combined with mild heat (54 °C/10 min) or HHP treatments (175–400 MPa/20 min) showed effective synergistic lethal effects, inactivating up to 5 log10 cycles of E. coli O157:H7 and L. monocytogenes EGD-e, whereas combination with PEF treatments (30 kV/cm/25 pulses) were much less effective. As far as we know, this is the first report on the antioxidant properties of the S. calamintha EO and on the synergistic effects of L. stoechas and S. calamintha EOs in combination with physical treatments. Industrial relevance The bactericidal effect of EOs improves when combined with mild heat, HHP or PEF treatments. Thus, very low doses of EOs are proposed. The valuable synergistic effects observed offer great potential to improve traditional heat treatments by reducing treatment intensity and consequently adverse effects on food quality, and to enhance novel HHP and PEF treatments by achieving a higher degree of microbial inactivation.

The present study was carried out to evaluate the antioxidant capacity of the aerial parts of ethanol crude extracts and their four solvent fractions (hexane (HF), ethyl acetate (EAF), butanol (BuOHF), and aqueous (WF)) of three selected Algerian Lamiaceae: Calamintha clinopodium, Teucrium flavum and Thymus algeriensis. The extracts of the three Lamiaceae were evaluated for their total phenols, flavonoids, flavonols content and antioxidant activity (reducing power, total antioxidant capacity, DPPH radical and hydrogen peroxide scavenging effect). WF of T. algeriensis was the most effective fraction with 75.13 mg ascorbic acid equivalent (AscA E)/g of powder for reducing power, and 218.37 mg (AscA E)/g of powder for total antioxidant activity. It also showed the highest DPPH and hydrogen peroxide scavenging capacities with IC50 values of 0.01 and 0.08 mg/mL, respectively. Moreover, WF of T. algeriensis exhibited higher total phenolic content (99.21 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g of powder). Aqueous fraction of T. algeriensis has a strong ability to act as antioxidant, and may be considered as a natural source of active compounds.

Four terpenoids, camphor, pulegone, trans-caryophyllene and farnesene, previously found in Calamintha nepeta (L.) Savi methanolic extract and essential oils were assayed on germination and root growth of Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. None of the terpenes, singularly or in combination, was able to inhibit the germination process. Farnesene and trans-caryophyllene caused a strong inhibitory effect on root growth, and pulegone, at the highest concentrations, reduced lateral root formation. Although the mixture of camphor-trans-caryophyllene with or without farnesene did not cause any effect on root growth, the addition of pulegone induced a marked synergistic activity. Moreover, the addition, at low concentration, of farnesene to pulegone-camphor-trans-caryophyllene mixture further increased the inhibitory effect on root elongation. These results suggested that the inhibitory effects caused by C. nepeta methanolic extract may depend on the combined action of different molecules.

The ethnopharmacological study was conducted during 2009 and dealt with the traditional use of the native species Calamintha hispidula known as "Touret" in the traditional folk medicine throughout the region of Jijel. The essential oil of the whole plant collected in El-Milia and dried in the shade, was analyzed by GC-MS. The results show that the oil consists mainly of menthone (33.59 %), piperitone oxide (24.72 %), pulegone (12.75 %) and cyclohexanone, 2-(1-methylethylidene) (9.77 %).

The essential oil of Algerian Satureja calamintha subsp. nepeta (L.) Briq. obtained by hydrodistillation, was investigated using both capillary GC and GC-MS techniques and assayed for its antimicrobial and antioxidant activities. Twenty six components representing 98.2 % of the oil were characterized. Oxygenated monoterpenes (97.4 %) was the predominant class with pulegone (39.5 %), neo-menthol (33 %) and isomenthone (19.6 %) as major constituents. The antimicrobial activity of the oil was assessed by the disc diffusion method against six bacteria and two fungi. Minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) were determined by using the agar dilution against the sensitive microbial species, the results of the antimicrobial assays showed that Staphylococcus aureus was the most sensitive bacteria to this oil (MIC=0.25 %). The antioxidant activities of the essential oils were evaluated by DPPH free radical-scavenging and reducing power. For both tests, S. calamintha oil showed a low activity, which was less...

Calamintha nepeta L. (Savi), known as Lesser Catmint, is a Mediterranean species belonging to the Labiatae family, considered an important source of natural compounds. Since little is known about phytotoxic potential of Lesser Catmint, the bio-guided fractionation method was employed to isolate and identify some compounds, prerequisite for their possible future use in weed management. Leaves and stems of catmint were extracted with methanol and fractionated using n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate and n-butanol, solvents with different polarity. The potential phytotoxicity of the methanolic extract and its fractions, evaluated by ED50 values comparison, was assayed in vitro on seed germination and root growth of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.). Germination and root growth of lettuce were strongly inhibited by catmint methanolic extract and its fractions, showing the following hierarchy of phytotoxicity for both physiological processes: ethyl acetate ≥ n-hexane > chloroform ≥ n-butanol. In the most active fraction, analyzed by HPLC, 5 poliphenols, gallic, vanillic, syringic, p-coumaric and ferulic acids, were identified and quantified. Whereas, the n-hexane fraction was a mixture of 32 chemicals, mainly composed of terpenoids and fatty acids, as analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Further, GC analysis allowed to quantify 5 compounds: camphor, trans-caryophyllene, menthol, farnesene and pulegone. Furthermore, both fractions inhibited seed germination and root growth of two of the most common weeds, Amaranthus retroflexus and Echinochloa crus-galli. The results confirmed the phytotoxic activity of C. nepeta L. (Savi) due to the presence of different molecule classes with biological activity and their potential future application as bio-herbicides.

Greuter W. & Raus Th. (ed.): Med-Checklist Notulae, 31. — Willdenowia 42: 287–295. December 2012. — Online ISSN 1868-6397; © 2012 BGBM Berlin-Dahlem. Stable URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.3372/wi.42.42215 Continuing a series of miscellaneous contributions, by various authors, where hitherto unpublished data relevant to the Med-Checklist project are presented, this instalment deals with the families Cupressaceae; Amaranthaceae, Chenopodiaceae, Compositae, Crassulaceae, Labiatae, Leguminosae, Linaceae, Portulacaceae, Primulaceae, Rosaceae, Scrophulariaceae, Umbelliferae; Cyperaceae, Gramineae, Hydrocharitaceae, Iridaceae and Liliaceae. It includes new country and area records, taxonomic and distributional considerations. A new species is described in Poa; new combinations are proposed in Calamintha, Noaea, Oenanthe, Ornithogalum, Pilosella and Trifolium.

WOS: 000391884900003, A group of Lamiaceae that has caused confusion over its generic boundaries are those species belonging to the complex surrounding the genera Satureja, Calamintha, Micromeria, Clinopodium and Acinos. In the current study, cross sections of root and stem of six Clinopodium taxa, previously treated as Acinos in Flora of Turkey, is studied for the first time and detailed descriptions and illustrations of root and stem are described and illustrated here. It is taxonomically interesting that the root and stems of these 6 taxa show similar histological characters except for a few differences, such as primary tissue structure in middle part of roots of C. troodi subsp. grandiflorum, cell numbers, types and density of trichome and prominent projecting at the corners in stem cross-section. The root center of studied Clinopodium taxa has a narrow pith consisting of primery xylem cells and the pith rays are 1-2-layered. Vascular bundles in all taxa are well-developed in the corners of the stems.