benzofurans and beta-selinene

The chemical composition of the essential oil of Petasites albus (known as 'Baba Adam' in Iran) was investigated by capillary gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for the first time. Twenty components were identified, accounting for 99.7% of the oil composition. The major compounds were euparin (73%), α-eudesmol (13.2%) and β-selinene (4.5%). Euparin, the main component of the essential oil, was isolated and characterised by spectroscopic techniques. The antioxidant activities of the essential oil and euparin were evaluated by using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging assay and are shown to exhibit a moderate antioxidant activity.

Topics: Antioxidants; Benzofurans; Biphenyl Compounds; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Iran; Molecular Structure; Oils, Volatile; Petasites; Picrates; Plant Components, Aerial; Plant Oils; Plants, Medicinal; Sesquiterpenes, Eudesmane; Tetrahydronaphthalenes

Celery-based products were investigated for chemical composition, skin irritation, and mosquito repellency in comparison to commercial repellents and the standard chemical, N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide (DEET), with a goal to develop a natural alternative to synthetic repellents for protection against mosquitoes. Chemical identification by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry discovered that the major constituents of Apium graveolens hexane extract (AHE) were 3-n-butyl-tetrahydrophthalide (92.48%), followed by 5.10% beta-selinene and 0.68% gamma-selinene. Evaluation of skin irritation in 27 human volunteers revealed no irritant potential from 25% ethanolic AHE solution. Laboratory investigated repellent against female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes demonstrated that G10 formula, the best AHE-developed product, provided remarkable repellency with a median protection time of 4.5 h (4.5-5 h), which was greater than that of ethanolic DEET solution (25% DEET, 3.5 h) and comparable to that of the best commercial repellent, Insect Block 28 (28.5% DEET, 4.5 h). According to significantly promising results, including highly effective repellency and no potential skin irritation or other side effects, the G10 formula is a worthwhile product that has the promise of being developed for commercialized registration. This developed AHE product could be an acceptable and affordable alternative to conventional synthetic chemicals in preventing mosquito bites, and in turn, helping to interrupt mosquito-borne disease transmission.

Topics: Administration, Topical; Adult; Aedes; Animals; Apium; Benzofurans; DEET; Female; Humans; Insect Bites and Stings; Insect Repellents; Male; Middle Aged; Plant Extracts; Sesquiterpenes; Sesquiterpenes, Eudesmane; Skin; Tetrahydronaphthalenes; Young Adult

Qualitative and quantitative analyses of the essential oil steamdistilled from the aerial parts of Ligusticum chuanxiong were made by means of GC-MS and GC. Forty-six components which make up 85.82% of the total oil were identified.

Topics: 4-Butyrolactone; Benzofurans; Drugs, Chinese Herbal; Oils, Volatile; Sesquiterpenes, Eudesmane; Tetrahydronaphthalenes