Composition of Essential Oils from Roots and Aerial Parts of Carpesium cernuum and Their Antibacterial and Cytotoxic Activities

Abstract

Carpesium cernuum L., one of the two Carpesium species occurring in Europe, in the Far East and India, found use as a vegetable and a traditional medicinal remedy for several ailments. In the present study, compositions of essential oils distilled from roots and shoots of C. cernuum plants, cultivated in the open field, have been studied by GC-MS-FID supported by NMR spectroscopy. The analyses led to the identification of 120 compounds in total, of which 115 were found in aerial parts and 37 in roots of the plants. The major constituents found in the oil from shoots were: α-pinene (35%) and 2,5-dimethoxy-p-cymene (thymohydroquinone dimethyl ether, 12%), whereas 2,5-dimethoxy-p-cymene (55%), thymyl isobutyrate (9%) and thymol methyl ether (8%) predominated in the essential oil obtained from the roots. Antibacterial and cytotoxic activities of the essential oils distilled from C. cernuum were also tested. The essential oil from aerial parts of the plant demonstrated good inhibitory activity against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213 and Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 (MIC: 15.6 μL/mL).

Comparison of Nutritional Compositions and Essential Oil Profiles of Different Parts of a Dill and Two Fennel Cultivars

“…Notably, 115 compounds were found in the aerial parts of Carpesium cernuum EOs, whereas only 37 compounds were found in the roots, which is consistent with previous studies. The proportions of the main compounds also vary greatly; for example, α-pinene (35%) and 2,5-dimethoxy-p-cymene (12%) were the predominant compounds in the EOs of shoots, whereas 2,5-dimethoxy-p-cymene (55%) and thymol isobutyrate (9%) were predominant in the EOs of roots [44].…”

Antibacterial Activity and Mechanism of Polygonum orientale L. Essential Oil against Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum

“…Because EOs have multiple action targets, they can effectively avoid pathogen proliferation [ 10 ]. Several studies have shown that some EOs have significant antimicrobial activities against pathogens, such as Staphylococcus aureus , Listeria monocytogenes and Escherichia coli [ 11 , 12 , 13 ]. Therefore, EOs serve as a promising natural antibacterial ingredient in developing antibacterial agents for foods.…”