scholarly journals Phytotoxicity of Essential Oils on Selected Weeds: Potential Hazard on Food Crops

Plants ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 79 ◽  
Author(s):  
María Ibáñez ◽  
María Blázquez

The chemical composition of winter savory, peppermint, and anise essential oils, and in vitro and in vivo phytotoxic activity against weeds (Portulaca oleracea, Lolium multiflorum, and Echinochloa crus-galli) and food crops (maize, rice, and tomato), have been studied. Sixty-four compounds accounting for between 97.67–99.66% of the total essential oils were identified by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry analysis. Winter savory with carvacrol (43.34%) and thymol (23.20%) as the main compounds produced a total inhibitory effect against the seed germination of tested weed. Menthol (48.23%), menthone (23.33%), and iso-menthone (16.33%) from peppermint only showed total seed germination inhibition on L. multiflorum, whereas no significant effects were observed with trans-anethole (99.46%) from anise at all concentrations (0.125–1 µL/mL). Low doses of peppermint essential oil could be used as a sustainable alternative to synthetic agrochemicals to control L. multiflorum. The results corroborate that in vivo assays with a commercial emulsifiable concentrate need higher doses of the essential oils to reproduce previous in vitro trials. The higher in vivo phytotoxicity of winter savory essential oil constitutes an eco-friendly and less pernicious alternative to weed control. It is possible to achieve a greater in vivo phytotoxicity if less active essential oil like peppermint is included with other active excipients.

Plants ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 59 ◽  
Author(s):  
María Ibáñez ◽  
María Blázquez

Ginger and turmeric are two food ingredients that are in high demand due to their flavor and positive effects on health. The biological properties of these spices are closely related to the aromatic compounds they contain. The chemical compositions of their essential oils and their in vitro phytotoxic activity against weeds (Portulaca oleracea, Lolium multiflorum, Echinochloa crus-galli, Cortaderia selloana, and Nicotiana glauca) and food crops (tomato, cucumber, and rice) were studied. Forty-one compounds, accounting for a relative peak area of 87.7% and 94.6% of turmeric and ginger essential oils, respectively, were identified by Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry analysis. Ginger essential oil with α-zingiberene (24.9 ± 0.8%), β-sesquiphelladrene (11.7 ± 0.3%), ar-curcumene (10.7 ± 0.2%), and β-bisabolene (10.5 ± 0.3%) as the main compounds significantly inhibited the seed germination of P. oleracea, L. multiflorum, and C. selloana at the highest dose (1 µL/mL) assayed, as well as the hypocotyl and radicle growth of the weeds. Turmeric essential oil with ar-turmerone (38.7 ± 0.8%), β-turmerone (18.6 ± 0.6%), and α-turmerone (14.2 ± 0.9%) as principal components significantly inhibited the seed germination of C. selloana and hypocotyl and radicle growth of weeds (the latter in particular) at the highest dose, whereas it did not affect either the seed germination or seedling growth of the food crops. Turmeric essential oil can be an effective post-emergent bioherbicide against the tested weeds without phytotoxicity to crops.


Author(s):  
Thongchai Khammee ◽  
Amornmart Jaratrungtawee ◽  
Mayoso Kuno

Objective: The essential oil and scented extracts of Michelia alba DC. were analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) and investigated for antidiabetic activities in vitro and in silico.Methods: The identification of steam distilled essential oil and scented extracts of M. alba was performed by GC–MS on the Agilent 7890A chromatograph couple with GC-7000 Mass Triple Quadrupole. The extractions have been evaluated the antidiabetic activities by alpha-amylase (α-amylase) assay using starch as substrates. In addition, computational molecular docking analysis of significant components was studied to understanding how selected compounds interacted with α-amylase using AutoDock 4.2.Results: The yields of M. alba of steam distilled essential oil and solvent extractions including hexane, diethyl ether, and dichloromethane were 0.16%, 0.02%, 0.47%, and 0.92%, respectively. GC–MS analysis of essential oil revealed that the main component was monoterpenoids β-linalool (65.03%). Meanwhile, 2-methylbutanoic acid was a primary in hexane extract (36.54%) and dichloromethane extract (33.07%). In the case of ether extract, the primary compound was β-linalool (37.32%) same as in essential oil. The antidiabetic activities evaluation demonstrates that essential oil and scented extracts have shown promising α-amylase inhibition activity. Essential oil from steam distillation revealed the best inhibition potential with a half maximal inhibitory concentration value of 0.67±4.7 mg/ml and their significant components demonstrated negative binding energies, indicating a high affinity to the α-amylase-binding site using molecular docking simulation.Conclusion: Data from this study suggest that essential oil and scented extracts of M. alba DC possess in vitro α-amylase activities and can be used for therapy of diabetes.


Plants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 1829
Author(s):  
Alexandru Ciocarlan ◽  
Lucian Lupascu ◽  
Aculina Aricu ◽  
Ion Dragalin ◽  
Violeta Popescu ◽  
...  

The producers of essential oils from the Republic of Moldova care about the quality of their products and at the same time, try to capitalize on the waste from processing. The purpose of the present study was to analyze the chemical composition of lavender (Lavanda angustifolia L.) essential oil and some by-products derived from its production (residual water, residual herbs), as well as to assess their “in vitro” antimicrobial activity. The gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of essential oils produced by seven industrial manufacturers led to the identification of 41 constituents that meant 96.80–99.79% of the total. The main constituents are monoterpenes (84.08–92.55%), followed by sesquiterpenes (3.30–13.45%), and some aliphatic compounds (1.42–3.90%). The high-performance liquid chromatography analysis allowed the quantification of known triterpenes, ursolic, and oleanolic acids, in freshly dried lavender plants and in the residual by-products after hydrodistillation of the essential oil. The lavender essential oil showed good antibacterial activity against Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Xanthomonas campestris, Erwinia carotovora at 300 μg/mL concentration, and Erwinia amylovora, Candida utilis at 150 μg/mL concentration, respectively. Lavender plant material but also the residual water and ethanolic extracts from the solid waste residue showed high antimicrobial activity against Aspergillus niger, Alternaria alternata, Penicillium chrysogenum, Bacillus sp., and Pseudomonas aeroginosa strains, at 0.75–6.0 μg/mL, 0.08–0.125 μg/mL, and 0.05–4.0 μg/mL, respectively.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 45-48
Author(s):  
Sonia Mol Joseph ◽  
Amala Dev A R

The volatile chemical composition of leaf essential oils of three Annona species (Annona cherimola, Annona muricata and Annona squamosa) from the different regions of Kerala, South Indian was determined using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis. A total of 41 constituents belonging to monoterpenoids, sesquiterpenoids and diterpenoids were identified. Monoterpenes and sesquiterpenoids were the major class of volatile compounds in most of the Annona species examined. The study led to the identification of major compounds as germacrene D (23.5%), bicyclogermacrene (14.6%) and β-caryophyllene (11.7%) in A. cherimola, α-pinene (13.3%), β-caryophyllene (11.2%) and β-pinene (10.1%) in A. muricata, and β-caryophyllene (11.9%) and α-pinene (8.2%) in A. squamosa respectively. The examined essential oils showed that β-caryophyllene is the common constituent identified in all the three species and other constituents are more specific for each species under study. Present investigation reports, a comparison of essential oil compositions of three Annona species from Kerala. Results of this study prove that essential oils examined have considerable dissimilarity in chemical composition with previously reported leaf essential oil compositions from other regions. A chemotaxonomic analysis of these essential oils based on the distribution of compounds has revealed an efficient method to differentiate Annona species unambiguously.


2021 ◽  
Vol 74 ◽  
Author(s):  
Milena Nikolova ◽  
Boryanka Traykova ◽  
Elina Yankova-Tsvetkova ◽  
Tatyana Stefanova ◽  
Anatoli Dzhurmanski ◽  
...  

Abstract Essential oils from Monarda fistulosa L., Satureja pilosa Vel., Origanum vulgare subsp. hirtum Ietswaart. (Greek oregano), Micromeria dalmatica Benth., Thymus longedentatus (Degen & Urum.) Ronniger, and Artemisa campestris L. were evaluated as inhibitors of seed germination in target plants Lolium perenne L. and Trifolium pratense L. using in vitro assays. The essential oils were applied on the seeds as aqueous solutions at concentrations ranging from 0.5–3.0 µL/mL. Complete inhibition was established at a concentration of 1.5 µL/mL with the most effective essential oils. Oregano oil was evaluated for its inhibitory activity on seed germination under field conditions; the essential oil was applied as an aqueous solution at concentrations of 3, 5, and 10 µL/mL on superabsorbent Terawet. The mass obtained was mixed with the seeds of the target plants and planted in a field. After 1 month, the results were evaluated based on the weight of the aerial parts of the plants from control and experimental areas. At the highest concentration studied, the weight of the plants was 77% lower in the experimental areas than in the controls. The chemical composition of the essential oils was analyzed using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The results showed that carvacrol-rich essential oils had a strong inhibitory effect on seed germination. The inclusion of the essential oil on a superabsorbent was a good way to preserve its herbicidal activity under field conditions as this prevented its rapid evaporation.


2013 ◽  
Vol 76 (4) ◽  
pp. 631-639 ◽  
Author(s):  
JORGE GIOVANNY LOPEZ-REYES ◽  
DAVIDE SPADARO ◽  
AMBRA PRELLE ◽  
ANGELO GARIBALDI ◽  
MARIA LODOVICA GULLINO

The antifungal activity of plant essential oils was evaluated as postharvest treatment on stone fruit against brown rot and grey mold rot of stone fruit caused by Monilinia laxa and Botrytis cinerea, respectively. The essential oils from basil (Ocimum basilicum), fennel (Foeniculum sativum), lavender (Lavandula officinalis), marjoram (Origanum majorana), oregano (Origanum vulgare), peppermint (Mentha piperita), rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), sage (Salvia officinalis), savory (Satureja montana), thyme (Thymus vulgaris), and wild mint (Mentha arvensis) were tested at two different concentrations on apricots (cv. Kyoto and cv. Tonda di Costigliole), nectarines (cv. Big Top and cv. Nectaross) and plums (cv. Italia and cv. TC Sun). The volatile composition of the essential oils tested was determined by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis. The treatments containing essential oils from oregano, savory, and thyme at 1% (vol/vol) controlled both B. cinerea and M. laxa growing on apricots cv. Tonda di Costigliole and plums cv. Italia and cv. TC Sun; however, the same treatments were phytotoxic for the carposphere of nectarines cv. Big Top and cv. Nectaross. Treatments with 10% (vol/vol) essential oils were highly phytotoxic, notwithstanding their efficacy against the pathogens tested. The essential oils containing as major components α-pinene, p-cymene, carvacrol, and thymol showed similar results on stone fruit, so their antimicrobial activity and the phytotoxicity produced could be based on the concentration of their principal compounds and their synergistic activity. The efficacy of the essential oil treatments on control of fungal pathogens in postharvest depended on the fruit cultivar, the composition and concentration of the essential oil applied, and the length of storage.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Navya Poulose ◽  
Arya Sajayan ◽  
Amrudha Ravindran ◽  
Ambili Chandran ◽  
G. Balasubramanian Priyadharshini ◽  
...  

The seaweed Gelidium spinosum was selected for the extraction of phytosterol by the Soxhlet method. The extracted phytosterol was chemically characterized as stigmasterol using Fourier-transform infrared spectrometry and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis. The antioxidant and α-amylase inhibitory activity of stigmasterol has been confirmed by in vitro assays. The in vivo studies demonstrated an anti-diabetic effect in streptozotocin (STZ)—induced hyperglycemic rats. Biochemical analysis showed administration of stigmasterol reduced the blood sugar, urea, and creatinine level. The stigmasterol was then nano-emulsified and incorporated into dough for biscuit formulation. The stigmasterol incorporated biscuit showed higher proximate values, low moisture content, lighter color and the textural property revealed lower hardness. Sensorial results showed acceptability when compared to the control. This study demonstrated the stigmasterol reduced hyperglycemic effects and therefore could be used as a supplement in diets for diabetic patients.


2020 ◽  
Vol 83 (9) ◽  
pp. 1632-1640
Author(s):  
EMMANOUIL KONTAXAKIS ◽  
EMMANOUELA FILIPPIDI ◽  
ANDRIANA STAVROPOULOU ◽  
DIMITRA DAFERERA ◽  
PETROS A. TARANTILIS ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT A range of fungal species are associated with postharvest spoilage of grapes. However, Aspergillus carbonarius is the primary fungus responsible for the contamination of grapes with ochratoxin A, a mycotoxin causing several confirmed negative health effects in humans and animals. Aiming to find a method, safe for consumers, to prevent postharvest decay and ochratoxin A contamination of grapes, the potential use of essential oils as preservatives was investigated. Essential oils of Origanum dictamnus (dittany), Origanum onites (oregano), Origanum microphyllum (marjoram), Thymbra capitata (thyme), Satureja thymbra (savory), Rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary), Laurus nobilis (laurel), and Salvia officinalis (sage) were tested. The essential oil components were identified by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis. A first evaluation of the effectiveness of essential oils was performed in vitro at a range of concentrations up to 300 μL L−1. Based on the results of the in vitro tests, the four most effective essential oils (O. dictamnus, O. onites, T. capitata, and S. thymbra) were tested on Sultana grapes during postharvest storage. The four essential oils tested, which had carvacrol and/or thymol as a common component, at a high concentration significantly reduced or even inhibited growth of the fungus in all treatments. As revealed from the results, the essential oils of O. dictamnus, O. onites, and S. thymbra were the most effective, causing total inhibition of the growth of the fungus with a minimum concentration of 100 μL L−1, followed by the essential oil of T. capitata, which showed total effectiveness with a minimum concentration of 200 μL L−1. Although essential oils of O. microphyllum, L. nobilis, S. officinalis, and R. officinalis had a significant effect on the growth of A. carbonarius, they failed to inhibit its growth at any of the concentrations tested. HIGHLIGHTS


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