The essential oil constituents and antimicrobial activity of Anthemis aciphylla BOISS. var. discoidea BOISS.
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The essential oil of aerial parts, leaves and flowers of the endemic Anthemis aciphylla BOISS. var. discoidea BOISS. (Asteraceae) were obtained by hydrodistillation. The oils were analyzed both by GC and GC-MS on a polar column. The monoterpenes alpha-pinene (9-49%) and terpinen-4-ol (22-32%) were characterized as the main constituents. An unknown component isolated from the essential oil was characterized by means of MS, HR-MS, FT-IR, 1D- and 2D-NMR techniques as isofaurinone (1). Furthermore, the biological activity of the essential oils was evaluated in various human pathogenic microorganisms using the broth microdilution method. Weak to moderate inhibitions (0.06-1.0 mg/ml) was observed. (+info)
Effect of essential oil of Anthemis mauritiana Maire & Sennen flowers on intestinal smooth muscle contractility.
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The aim of the present study is to determine the chemical composition of the essential oil extracted from the flowers of Anthemis mauritiana Maire & Sennen (EOAM) and to investigate its antispasmodic effects on intestinal smooth muscle. The phytochemical composition was revealed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometer. Eighteen compounds were identified representing 90.56% of the oil. The major constituents were described as alpha-pinene (27.02%), sabinene (15.25%), cedrenol (14.53%) germacrene (9.61%) geraniol formate (6.82%), and caryophylene (5.38%). EOAM (10-100 microg/ml) elicited reversible relaxation of spontaneous contractions of isolated rabbit jejunal smooth muscle preparations, and similarly inhibited contractions induced by high-potassium solution ([K(+)](o) = 76 mM) and carbachol (10(-6) M) with IC(50) values of 14.98 and 27.29 microg/ml, respectively. Furthermore, EOAM exhibited an inhibitory effect on the dose-response curves induced by carbachol and CaCl(2) on rat jejunum preparations. These results clearly demonstrated the antispasmodic effect of EOAM which was strongly suggested to be mainly due to an inhibitory effect on Ca(2+) influx through the membrane of jejunal smooth muscle cells. (+info)