Chemical Composition and Biological Activities of Artemisia pedemontana subsp. assoana Essential Oils and Hydrolate

Abstract

Given the importance of the genus Artemisia as a source of valuable natural products, the rare plant Artemisia pedemontana subspecies assoana, endemic to the Iberian Peninsula, has been experimentally cultivated in the greenhouse and aeroponically, to produce biomass for essential oil (EO) extraction. The chemical composition of the EOs was analyzed, and their plant protection (insects: Spodoptera littoralis, Rhopalosiphum padi, and Myzus persicae; plants: Lactuca sativa and Lolium perenne; fungi: Aspergillus niger; and nematode: Meloidogyne javanica) and antiparasitic (Trypanosoma cruzi, Phytomonas davidi, and antiplasmodial by the ferriprotoporphyrin biocrystallization inhibition test) properties were studied, in addition to the hydrolate by-product. The EOs showed a 1,8-cineole and camphor profile, with quantitative and qualitative chemical differences between the cultivation methods. These oils had moderate insect antifeedant, antifungal, and phytotoxic effects; were trypanocidel; and exhibited moderate phytomonacidal effects, while the hydrolate showed a strong nematicidal activity. Both EOs were similarly antifeedant; the EO from the greenhouse plants (flowering stage) was more biocidal (antifungal, nematicidal, and phytotoxic) than the EO from the aeroponic plants (growing stage), which was more antiparasitic. The major components of the oils (1,8-cineole and camphor), or their 1:1 combination, did not explain any of these effects. We can conclude that these EOs have potential applications as insect antifeedants, and as antifungal or antiparasitic agents, depending on the cultivation method, and that the hydrolate byproduct is a potent nematicidal.

Is the Antimicrobial Activity of Hydrolates Lower than That of Essential Oils?

“…However, only few studies have been carried out on EOs and Hys obtained from the same distillation process in order to compare their chemical composition [ 9 , 10 , 11 ], or study some of their activities such as psychopharmacological and anti-cancer activities [ 12 , 13 ], or larvicidal and nematodicidal ones [ 14 , 15 ]. Our group participated in these early investigations, assessing the chemical composition and the antimicrobial activity of the EO and Hy obtained from Monarda citriodora in a recent research.…”

Biological Evaluation of Essential Oils from Selected Medicinal Plants and Their Main Components against Phytomonas davidi (Kinetoplastea: Trypanosomatidae)

“…Anyway, the EOs from O. virens, S. lavandulifolia, O. vulgare, O. majorana, S. officinalis and S. sclarea indicated above have shown much greater efficacy, since they maintain their activity at much lower concentrations (even 125 μg/ml). In the study by Sainz et al [24] the main components from A. pedemontana tested (1.8 cineole and camphor) showed no activity, alone or in combination. The main components (% abundance � 1) of the EOs analyzed in the present study are shown in Table 3.…”

“…There are hardly any studies on the activity of natural products on P. davidi. In a recent study, [24] Sainz et al tested the activity of two essential oils from Artemisia pedemontana subsp. assoana experimentally cultivated in the greenhouse and aeroponically, as well as their main components, on this parasite.…”

“…There are hardly any studies on the activity of natural products on P. davidi . In a recent study, [24] Sainz et al. tested the activity of two essential oils from Artemisia pedemontana subsp.…”

Evaluation of antimicrobial activity of the hydrolate of Coridothymus capitatus (L.) Reichenb. fil. (Lamiaceae) alone and in combination with antimicrobial agents

“…Essential oils (EOs) and aromatic oily compounds extracted from plant material, have been suggested as potential sources of new antimicrobial and therapeutic products [1][2][3][4][5]. In nature, EOs play a role in plant defence against microorganisms and insects [6]. In addition, they are valuable natural compounds used in many fields, i.e.…”