Showing papers by "Petar D. Marin published in 2012"

Antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of essential oils of Satureja thymbra growing wild in Libya.

Abstract: The composition of essential oil isolated from Satureja thymbra, growing wild in Libya, was analyzed by GC and GC-MS. The essential oil was characterized by γ-terpinene (39.23%), thymol (25.16%), p-cymene (7.17%) and carvacrol (4.18%) as the major constituents. Antioxidant activity was analyzed using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging method. It possessed strong antioxidant activity (IC50 = 0.0967 mg/mL). The essential oil was also screened for its antimicrobial activity against eight bacterial and eight fungal species, showing excellent antimicrobial activity against the microorganisms used, in particular against the fungi. The oil of S. thymbra showed bacteriostatic activity at 0.001-0.1 mg/mL and was bactericidal at 0.002-0.2 mg/mL; fungistatic effects at 0.001-0.025 mg/mL and fungicidal effects at 0.001-0.1 mg/mL. The main constituents thymol, carvacrol and γ-terpinene also showed strong antimicrobial activity. The commercial fungicide bifonazole showed much lower antifungal activity than the tested oil.

Antioxidative, antibacterial and antifungal activity of the essential oil of wild‐growing Satureja montana L. from Dalmatia, Croatia

Abstract: The composition of the essential oil of Satureja montana was examined by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry and 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Forty-three compounds were identified, representing approximately 99% of the oil. Major components were γ-terpinene (8.7%), p-cymene (16.9%) and carvacrol (44.5%). The oil was tested for its antioxidant activity by using the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl assay and showed dose-dependent free-radical-scavenging activity with an EC50 value of 4.21 mg/ml. The antimicrobial effect of the essential oil was tested against six strains of Gram-negative bacteria, seven strains of Gram-positive bacteria and two fungi. The human pathogens Burkholderia cepacia ATCC 25416 (Gram negative) and Listeria innocua (Gram positive) were used in the investigation of S. montana for the first time. The minimum inhibitory concentration of the essential oil ranged from 0.625 to 5.0 µl/well for Gram-negative bacteria, and from 0.312 to 1.125 µl/well for Gram-positive bacteria. For the two fungi tested, Candida and Saccharomyces, the value was 0.234 µl/tube. The essential oil tested showed significant activity against fungi and Gram-positive bacteria, especially Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Listeria innocua, and among Gram-negative bacteria extreme sensitivity was detected in Escherichia coli SY252, SY252 lpcA and ATTCC 25922 strains. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Total phenolic content, flavonoid concentration, antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of methanol extracts from three Seseli L. taxa

Abstract: The present study describes the total phenolic content, concentrations of flavonoids and in vitro antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of methanol extracts from Seseli pallasii Besser, S. libanotis (L.) Koch ssp. libanotis and S. libanotis (L.) Koch ssp. intermedium (Rupr.) P. W. Ball, growing wild in Serbia. The total phenolic content in the extracts was determined using Folin-Ciocalteu reagent and their amounts ranged between 84.04 to 87.52 mg GA (gallic acid)/g. The concentrations of flavonoids in the extracts varied from 4.75 to 19.37 mg Qu (quercetin)/g. Antioxidant activity was analyzed using DPPH reagent. Antioxidant activity ranged from 0.46 to 4.63 IC50 (mg/ml) and from 1.98 to 2.19 mg VitC (vitamin C)/g when tested with the DPPH and ABTS reagents, respectively, using BHA and VitC as controls. The antimicrobial activity of the extracts was investigated using a micro-well dilution assay for the most common human gastrointestinal pathogenic bacterial strains: Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 9027, Salmonella enteritidis ATCC 13076, Bacillus cereus ATCC 10876, Listeria monocytogenes ATCC15313, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 and Candida albicans ATCC 10231. This finding suggests that Seseli species may be considered as a natural source of antioxidants and antimicrobial agents.

Identification of volatile components of liverwort (Porella cordaeana) extracts using GC/MS-SPME and their antimicrobial activity.

Abstract: Chemical constituents of liverwort (Porella cordaeana) extracts have been identified using solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography mass spectrometry (SPME-GC/MS) The methanol, ethanol and ethyl acetate extracts were rich in terpenoids such as sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (5312%, 5168%, 2316%), and monoterpene hydrocarbons (2283%, 1890%, 2336%), respectively The dominant compounds in the extracts were β-phellandrene (1554%, 1366%, 1210%) and β-caryophyllene (1072%, 829%, 779%, respectively) The antimicrobial activity of the extracts was evaluated against eleven food microorganisms using the microdilution and disc diffusion methods The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) varied from 050 to 200 mg/mL for yeast strains (Saccharomyces cerevisiae 635, Zygosacharomyces bailii 45, Aerobasidium pullulans L6F, Pichia membranaefaciens OC 71, Pichia membranaefaciens OC 70, Pichia anomala CBS 5759, Pichia anomala DBVPG 3003 and Yarrowia lipolytica RO13), and from 100 to 300 mg/mL for bacterial strains (Salmonella enteritidis 155, Escherichia coli 555 and Listeria monocytogenes 56Ly) Methanol extract showed better activity in comparison with ethanol and ethyl acetate extracts High percentages of monoterpene and sesquiterpene hydrocarbons could be responsible for the better antimicrobial activity

Composition of n-Alkanes in Natural Populations of Pinus nigra from Serbia – Chemotaxonomic Implications

Abstract: This is the first report on the composition and variability of the needle-wax n-alkanes in natural populations of Pinus nigra in Serbia. Samples of 195 trees from seven populations belonging to several infraspecific taxa (ssp. nigra, var. gocensis, ssp. pallasiana, and var. banatica) were analyzed. In general, the size of the n-alkanes ranged from C(16) to C(33) , with the exception of ssp. nigra, for which it ranged from C(18) to C(33) . The most abundant were C(23) -, C(25) -, C(27) -, and C(29) -alkanes. The needle waxes of Populations I-III and V were characterized by a higher content of C(23) -, C(25) -, and C(27) -alkanes and a lower content of C(24) -, C(26) -, C(28) -, and C(30) -alkanes, compared to the other populations, and the trees of these populations could be assigned to ssp. nigra. The samples of Population VI were characterized by higher amounts of C(22) -, C(24) -, C(30) -, and C(32) -alkanes and lower amounts of C(25) - and C(27) -alkanes, and the trees could be considered as ssp. pallasiana. The samples of Population VII, consisting of trees belonging to var. banatica, were richer in C(29) -, C(31) -, and C(33) -alkanes. The wax compositions of Populations IV and V, both composed of trees previously determined as P. nigra var. gocensis, showed a tendency of splitting. Indeed, the alkane composition of Population IV was closer to that of ssp. pallasiana pines, while that of Population V was more similar to that of ssp. nigra pines. From the results presented here, it is obvious that in the central part of the Balkan Peninsula, significant diversification and differentiation of the populations of black pine exists, and these populations could be defined as different intraspecific taxa. Our results also indicate the validity of n-alkanes as chemotaxonomic characters within this aggregate.

Chemodiversity of nonacosan-10-ol and n-alkanes in the needle wax of Pinus heldreichii.

Abstract: This is the first report of individual variability and population diversity of the contents of nonacosan-10-ol and n-alkanes in the needle cuticular waxes of Bosnian pines originated from Montenegro, regarded as Pinus heldreichii var. leucodermis, and from Serbia, regarded as P. heldreichii var. pancici. The amount of nonacosan-10-ol varied individually from 27.4 to 73.2% (55.5% in average), but differences between the four investigated populations were not statistically confirmed. The size of the n-alkanes ranged from C(18) to C(33). The most abundant n-alkanes were C(23), C(27), and C(25) (12.2, 11.2, and 10.8% in average, resp.). The carbon preference index (CPI) of the n-alkanes ranged from 0.8 to 3.1 (1.6 in average), while the average chain length (ACL) ranged from 20.9 to 26.5 (24.4 in average). Long-chain and mid-chain n-alkanes prevailed (49.6 and 37.9% in average, resp.). It was also found that the populations of P. heldreichii var. leucodermis had predominantly a narrower range of n-alkanes (C(18)-C(31)) than the trees of the variety pancici (C(18)-C(33)). Differences between the varieties were also significant for most of the other characteristics of the n-alkane pattern (e.g., most abundant n-alkanes, CPI, ACL, and relative proportion of short-, mid-, and long-chain n-alkanes). The principle component and cluster analyses of eleven n-alkanes confirmed the significant diversity of these two varieties.

Population variability of nonacosan-10-ol and n-alkanes in needle cuticular waxes of Macedonian pine (Pinus peuce GRISEB.).

Abstract: This is the first report on population variability of nonacosan-10-ol and n-alkanes in needle epicuticular waxes of Macedonian pine (Pinus peuce Griseb.) Hexane extracts of needle samples, originating from two natural populations in Montenegro (Zeletin and Sjekirica) and from one population in Serbia (Mokra Gora) were analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The amount of nonacosan-10-ol varied individually from 41.3 to 72.31% (average 55.9%), with the Sjekirica population being statistically divergent (64.4% on average). The results showed n-alkanes in epicuticular waxes ranging from C18 to C33. The most abundant alkanes were C29, C25, C27, and C23 (15.5, 11.1, 10.6, and 10.5% on average, resp.). The carbon preference index of Pinus peuce ranged from 1.0 to 4.3 (1.9 on average). Average chain length ranged from 18.4 to 27.7 (average 25.7). A high level of inidividual quantitative variation in all of these hydrocarbon parameters was also detected. These results were compared with published data on other species from the Pinus genus.

Antimicrobial activity of methanol extracts of Abietinella abietina, Neckera crispa, Platyhypnidium riparoides, Cratoneuron filicinum and Campylium protensum mosses

Abstract: The antibacterial and antifungal activity of methanol extracts of the genuine mosses Abietinella abietina, Neckera crispa, Platyhypnidium riparoides, Cratoneuron filicinum var. filicinum and Campylium protensum were evaluated. Antibacterial activity was tested against Gram (+) Staphylococcus aureus, Micrococcus flavus, Bacillus cereus and Gram (-) bacteria Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium. Antifungal activity was tested using micromycetes Trichoderma viride, Penicillium funiculosum, Penicillium ochrochloron, Aspergillus flavus, A. niger and A. fumigatus. The methanol extracts of all moss species showed an antimicrobial effect against the tested microorganisms. Significant antibacterial effect was achieved for Cratoneuron filicinum and Neckera crispa. The most sensitive bacteria were Bacillus subtilis and Micrococcus flavus. Abietinella abietina and Neckera crispa showed an antifungal effect against micromycetes Trichoderma viride, Penicillium ochrachloron, P. funiculosum and Aspergillus flavus. [Acknowledgments. This research was supported by a grant from the Ministry of Education and Science of Serbia (Project No. 173029 and 173032).]

Essential oil composition of Cachrys cristata--a rare and endangered species in the flora of Serbia.

Abstract: Cachrys cristata DC. (Apiaceace) is a rare and critically endangered species in the flora of Serbia. Essential oil isolated by hydrodistillation from the aerial parts and fruits of this species was analyzed using combined GC and GC/MS. The oil from the aerial parts was rich in sesquiterpenes (45.7%) and oxygenated sesquiterpenes (32.9%), while the fruit oil consisted of a higher percentage of sesquiterpenes (48.3%) and oxygenated sesquiterpenes (36.7%). The dominant constituents in the oil from aerial parts were phytol (13.1%) and germacrene D (12.9%), while in the fruit oil suberosin (19.7%) and germacrene D (12.3%) were the most abundant.

Microscopic investigation of trichomes of wild-growing Satureja montana L.

Abstract: Considering the importance of S montana L as a medicinal plant, due to the essential oils produced in its glan- dular trichomes, and the lack of data about the leaf ultrastructure and micromorphology, we have carried out a compre- hensive study of trichomes distributed in the vegetative and reproductive organs Micromorphological and ultrastructural investigations of the glandular trichomes of Satureja montana L and autofluorescence analyses of their secreted products were carried out using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), confocal laser scanning electron microscopy (CLSM) and light fluorescence microscope The leaves, stem and calyx bear numerous non- glandular, unbranched trichomes and two types of glandular trichomes - peltate and capitate Ultrastructural analyses showed the presence of mitochondria, plastids and proliferations of the granular endoplasmatic reticulum in secretory phases of the heads of glandular trichomes Strong red autofluorescence of the lipophilic and hydrophilic secreted mate- rial was observed with CLSM Green-yellow autofluorescence of secreted material were noticed in peltate and capitate trichomes observed with a fluorescence microscope