The essential oil isolated from Turkish tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus) by hydrodistillation was analyzed by GC-MS. Thirty compounds representing 99.5% of total oil were identified. The predominant components in the oil were (Z)-anethole (81.0%), (Z)-beta-ocimene (6.5%), (E)-beta-ocimene (3.1%), limonene (3.1%), and methyleugenol (1.8%). The antibacterial and antifungal activities of the essential oils isolated from A. dracunculus, Artemisia absinthium, Artemisia santonicum, and Artemisia spicigera oils were also evaluated. In general, the oils exhibited potent antifungal activity at a wide spectrum on the growth of agricultural pathogenic fungi. Among the oils, the weakest antifungal activity was shown by the oil of A. dracunculus. In many cases, the oils of A. absinthium, A. santonicum, and A. spicigera completely inhibited the growth of some fungal species. As compared with antibacterial activities of all of tested oils, A. santonicum and A. spicigera oils showed antibacterial activities over a very wide spectrum. However, the essential oils tested showed lower inhibition zones than the inhibition zones of penicillin. In addition, antioxidant and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activities of tarragon oil were determined, and weak antioxidant and DPPH radical scavenging activities were found in comparison to butylated hydroxytoluene.

Determination of the chemical composition and antioxidant activity of the essential oil of Artemisia dracunculus and of the antifungal and antibacterial activities of Turkish Artemisia absinthium, A. dracunculus, Artemisia santonicum, and Artemisia spicigera essential oils.

Plant essential oils as food preservatives to control moulds, mycotoxin contamination and oxidative deterioration of agri-food commodities – Potentials and challenges

The compositions of essential oils isolated from the aerial parts of Artemisia absinthium, Artemisia santonicum, and Artemisia spicigera by hydrodistillation were analyzed by GC-MS, and a total of 204 components were identified. The major components of these essential oils were camphor (34.9-1.4%), 1,8-cineole (9.5-1.5%), chamazulene (17.8-nd%), nuciferol propionate (5.1-nd%), nuciferol butanoate (8.2-nd%), caryophyllene oxide (4.3-1.7%), borneol (5.1-0.6%), alpha-terpineol (4.1-1.6%), spathulenol (3.7-1.3%), cubenol (4.2-0.1%), beta-eudesmol (7.2-0.6%), and terpinen-4-ol (3.5-1.2%). The antifungal activities of these essential oils were tested against 11 plant fungi and were compared with that of a commercial antifungal reagent, benomyl. The results showed that all of the oils have potent inhibitory effects at very broad spectrum against all of the tested fungi. Pure camphor and 1,8-cineole, which are the major components of the oils, were also tested for antifungal activity against the same fungal species. Unlike essential oils, these pure compounds were able to show antifungal activity against only some of the fungal species. In addition, the antioxidant and DPPH radical scavenging activities of the essential oils, camphor, and 1,8-cineole were determined in vitro. All of the studied essential oils showed antioxidant activity, but camphor and 1,8-cineole did not.

Screening of Chemical Composition and Antifungal and Antioxidant Activities of the Essential Oils from Three Turkish Artemisia Species

Chemical constituents of various tissues of turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) have been extensively investigated. To date, at least 235 compounds, primarily phenolic compounds and terpenoids have been identified from the species, in- cluding 22 diarylheptanoids and diarylpentanoids, eight phenylpropene and other phenolic compounds, 68 monoterpenes, 109 sesquiterpenes, five diterpenes, three triterpenoids, four sterols, two alkaloids, and 14 other compounds. Curcumi- noids (diarylheptanoids) and essential oils are major bioactive ingredients showing various bioactivities in in vitro and in vivo bioassays. Curcuminoids in turmeric are primarily accumulated in rhizomes. The essential oils from leaves and flowers are usually dominated by monoterpenes while those from roots and rhizomes primarily contained sesquiterpenes. The contents of curcuminoids in turmeric rhizomes vary often with varieties, locations, sources, and cultivation condi- tions, while there are significant variations in composition of essential oils of turmeric rhizomes with varieties and geo- graphical locations. Further, both curcuminoids and essential oils vary in contents with different extraction methods and are unstable with extraction and storage processes. As a result, the quality of commercial turmeric products can be mark- edly varied. While curcumin (1), demethoxycurcumin (2), and bisdemethoxycurcumin (5) have been used as marker com- pounds for the quality control of rhizomes, powders, and extract ("curcumin") products, Ar-turmerone (99), � -turmerone (100), and � -turmerone (101) may be used to control the product quality of turmeric oil and oleoresin products. Authentication of turmeric products can be achieved by chromatographic and NMR techniques, DNA markers, with morphological and anatomic data as well as GAP and other information available.

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Chemical Composition and Product Quality Control of Turmeric (Curcuma longa L.)

Biological alternatives for termite control: A review

Chemical and biocidal investigations on essential oils of some Indian Curcuma species

Chemical investigations on the leaf essential oil of Tagetes erecta, performed by HPLC, GC and GC–MS techniques, showed the presence of 26 components, accounting for 89% of the total oil. The major constituents were (Z)-β-ocimene (42.2%), dihydrotagetone (14.3%), (Z)-tagetone (8.3%), limonene (7.3%), (E)-ocimenone (6.1%) and (Z)-ocimenone (5.3%). The biocidal investigations showed that the oil possessed a significant but limited and dose-related antifungal and insecticidal activity. The oil showed 100% mortality of white termite (Odontotermes obesus Rhamb.) at a dose of 6 µl/Petri-plate after 24 h of exposure, while at lower doses and shorter exposures it showed diminished mortality rates. The oil only partially affected the mycelial growth of any of the tested fungi. Thus, the leaf oil of this plant, which is rich in (Z)-β-ocimene, has a statistically significant antifungal and insecticidal activity. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Studies on essential oils. Part 35: chemical and biocidal investigations on Tagetes erecta leaf volatile oil

Chemical investigations of the leaf essential oil of Coleus amboinicus by GC and GC-MS tech- niques indicated the presence of six components, accounting for 97% of the total oil. The major component was thymol (94.3%), followed by carvacrol (1.2%), 1,8-cineole (0.8%), p-cymene (0.3%), spathulenol (0.2%), terpinen-4-ol (0.2%) and an unidentified component (1.4%). The oil was insecticidal to white termites (Odon- totermes obesus Rhamb.) with 100% mortality at a dose of 2.5 ð 10 � 2 mg/cm 3 for 5 h exposure. This oil was also more active than the synthetic insecticides, Thiodan and Primoban-20, against termites, although it was ineffective against Tribolium castaneum, a stored product pest. Copyright  2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Studies on essential oils, Part 33: chemical and insecticidal investigations on leaf oil of Coleus amboinicus Lour.

HPLC and GC–MS analysis of rhizome oil of Homalomena aromatica showed the presence of 39 components accounting for 96.9% of the total oil. The major component was linalool (62.1%), followed by terpinen-4-ol (17.2%), α-terpineol (2.4%), γ-terpinene (1.9%), α-cadinol (1.5%), geraniol (1.4%), nerol (1.4%), α-terpinene (1.0%), spatulenol (1.0%) and T-cadinol (1.0%). However, the higher percentage of linalool (87.5%) was obtained in HPLC studies. This oil showed good antifungal activity against Curvularia pallescens, Aspergillus niger and Fusarium graminearum as well as also showing insecticidal behaviour against white termite (Odontotermes obesus Rhamb.). Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Studies on essential oils, part 28: chemical composition, antifungal and insecticidal activities of rhizome volatile oil of Homalomena aromatica Schott.

GC and GC-MS analyses showed the presence of twenty two components accounting for 91.47% of the rhizome oil from Curcuma amada. Major constituent is myrcene (80.54%) followed by β-pinene (4.64%), (E)-β-ocimene (1.88%) andperillene (1.47%).

Om Prakash Singh

Papers

Chemical and biocidal investigations on essential oils of some Indian Curcuma species

Studies on essential oils. Part 35: chemical and biocidal investigations on Tagetes erecta leaf volatile oil

Studies on essential oils, Part 33: chemical and insecticidal investigations on leaf oil of Coleus amboinicus Lour.

Studies on essential oils, part 28: chemical composition, antifungal and insecticidal activities of rhizome volatile oil of Homalomena aromatica Schott.

Curcuma amada roxb-chemical composition of rhizome oil