Chemical Composition of Essential Oil from Flower Heads of Arnica Chamissonis Less. under a Nitrogen Impact

Abstract

Chamisso arnica (Arnica chamissonis Less.) is a valuable plant species used in the pharmaceutical industry due to the content of many pharmacologically active substances and the similarity of its chemical composition to that of Arnica montana—a medicinal plant commonly used in pharmacy and cosmetics. The similarity of the two plant species implies that chamisso arnica can be a pharmaceutical substitute for the mountain arnica, i.e., an endangered and endemic plant species in Europe. Chamisso arnica extracts exhibit anti-inflammatory and antiradical activity and possesses high antioxidant properties that might be helpful in preventing or delaying the progress of free radical dependent diseases. The attributes of A. chamissonis are mainly related to the content and chemical composition of essential oil. Therefore, the objective of this study was to characterize the chemical composition of essential oil derived from A. chamissonis flower heads under a nitrogen impact. The experiment was performed on experimental fields in mid-eastern Poland on two soil types (sandy and loamy soils). The nitrogen fertilizer was applied as ammonium sulfate (control, 30, 60, 90, and 120 kg N ha−1). Collection of flower heads was carried out in the full flowering phase, which was characterized by the highest content of essential oil. The chemical composition of essential oil was examined using GC-MS. Among the 75 ingredients of the volatile oil of chamisso arnica flower heads, alpha-pinene, cumene, p-cymene, germacrene D, spathulenol, decanal, caryophyllene oxide, beta-pinene, and benzene acetaldehyde were present at relatively high levels. Both the nitrogen application and the soil type had an effect on the oil concentration and the yield of the main constituents (alpha-pinene and germacrene D) with pharmacological value. Different levels of nitrogen application could be considered as a relevant way to modify the chemical composition and to increase the essential oil production.

Yield and Chemical Composition of Raw Material from Meadow Arnica (Arnica chamissonis Less.) Depending on Soil Conditions and Nitrogen Fertilization

“…The content of essential oils in the meadow arnica flower heads analyzed in the present study ranged from 0.14 to 0.19% (Figure 5), which agrees with other literature results [10,37]. In flavonoids and sesquiterpene lactones, significantly higher content of essential oils was determined in the flower heads of plants grown in the loamy soil variants, which is consistent with literature data [10].…”

“…To date, attempts have been made to cultivate meadow arnica in Europe, e.g., Poland, Serbia, and Lithuania [6][7][8]. Flower heads that can be used for pharmaceutical and cosmetic purposes are the main raw material of this species [7,9,10]. Additionally, scientific reports indicate the potential of practical applications of rhizomes (Arnicae rhizoma), leaves (Arnicae folium), flowering shoots (Arnicae herba), and seeds [11,12].…”

“…Additionally, they exert anti-inflammatory, analgesic, spasmolytic, biocidal, and antiviral effects [39][40][41][42]. Furthermore, the raw material contains flavonoids, phenolic acids, and essential oil, which complement the action of lactones, and are, thus, involved in the pharmacological effects [9,10,27,37,[43][44][45][46][47][48][49][50]. Given the global tendency towards using valuable secondary metabolites of plant origin, there is a need to optimize the cultivation of such herbal plants as A. chamissonis.…”

“…Optimal doses of nitrogen application can be considered as a relevant method for modification of not only morphological traits but also the chemical composition in plants. They can also contribute to the increased production of secondary metabolites in controlled field conditions [10].…”

Transcriptomic Analysis of Fertilization Effects on the Biosynthesis of Sesquiterpenes in Essential Oils from Phoebe Bournei Twigs and Leaves

“…Fertilization can not only promote the growth of plants, but also modulate the composition of essential oil, thus changing the EO biological activity, to some extent [31]. A variety of methods and types of fertilization are implemented such as adding a single elements (nitrogen, sulfur, zinc) [32][33][34], or adding mixed fertilizer such as compost [35]. It is unknown how fertilization impacts the composition and the yield of P. bournei essential oil.…”