Essential Oil Yield, Composition, and Bioactivity of Sagebrush Species in the Bighorn Mountains

Abstract

Sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) are dominant wild plants in large areas of the U.S., Canada and Mexico, and they include several species and subspecies. The aim was to determine if there are significant differences in essential oil (EO) yield, composition, and biological activity of sagebrush within the Bighorn Mountains, U.S. The EO yield in fresh herbage varied from 0.15 to 1.69% for all species, including 0.25–1.69% in A. tridentata var. vaseyana, 0.64–1.44% in A. tridentata var. tridentata, 1% in A. tridentata var. wyomingensis, 0.8–1.2% in A. longifolia, 0.8–1% in A. cana, and 0.16% in A. ludoviciana. There was significant variability in the EO profile between species, and subspecies. Some EO constituents, such as α-pinene (0–35.5%), camphene (0–21.5%), eucalyptol (0–30.8%), and camphor (0–45.5%), were found in most species and varied with species and subspecies. The antioxidant capacity of the EOs varied between the species and subspecies. None of the sagebrush EOs had significant antimicrobial, antimalarial, antileishmanial activity, or contained podophyllotoxin. Some accessions yielded EO with significant concentrations of compounds including camphor, eucalyptol, cis-thujone, α-pinene, α-necrodol-acetate, fragranol, grandisol, para-cymene, and arthole. Therefore, chemotypes can be selected and possibly introduced into culture and be grown for commercial production of these compounds to meet specific industry needs.

Chemical Composition and Terpenoid Enantiomeric Distribution of the Essential oil of Artemisia tridentata Subsp. tridentata From Southwestern Idaho

“…tridentata . 29 There are some notable differences between the Wyoming essential oil compositions and the Idaho compositions. While yomogi alcohol, santolina epoxide, ( Z )-tagetone, and α-santolina alcohol were relatively abundant in the Idaho essential oils, they were not detected in the Wyoming essential oils.…”

“…There is much variability in essential oil compositions between subspecies and within subspecies of A tridentata. 29 The differences in composition between the Wyoming and Idaho collections may be attributed to genetic/ chemotypic variation, latitudinal (44°34 ′ in Wyoming and 43°1 5 ′ in Idaho) and altitudinal differences (2100 and 2300 m in Wyoming and 700 m in Idaho), or seasonality (30 September for the Wyoming collection and 28 July for the Idaho collection).…”

“…28 The phytochemical makeup of A tridentata is likely a fundamental factor in palatability and food selection by herbivores. 6,28,29 It has been found that high levels of monoterpenoids reduce rumen microbial activity and affect palatability of A tridentata to browsing animals. 30 However, monoterpene and sesquiterpene hydrocarbons have been shown to enhance fermentation by rumen microorganisms, whereas oxygenated monoterpenoids inhibit microbial fermentation.…”

Chemical Characterization of Three Artemisia tridentata Essential Oils and Multivariate Analyses: A Preliminary Investigation

“…21 The chemical constituents of the three subspecies most likely play a role in the observed herbivory. [21][22][23] To complement our previous examination of A. tridentata subsp. tridentata, 6 the purpose of this study was to characterize the essential oils of A. tridentata subsp.…”

New Insights into the Research of Bioactive Compounds from Plant Origins with Nutraceutical and Pharmaceutical Potential

“…One article presents the essential oil yield, composition, and bioactivity of Sagebrush spp. from the Bighorn Mountains [ 4 ]. There was significant variability in the chemical profile and antioxidant capacity between species and subspecies.…”