Phytochemical Profile and Anticholinesterase and Antimicrobial Activities of Supercritical versus Conventional Extracts of Satureja montana

Abstract

Winter savory Satureja montana is a medicinal herb used in traditional gastronomy for seasoning meats and salads. This study reports a comparison between conventional (hydrodistillation, HD, and Soxhlet extraction, SE) and alternative (supercritical fluid extraction, SFE) extraction methods to assess the best option to obtain bioactive compounds. Two different types of extracts were tested, the volatile (SFE-90 bar, second separator vs HD) and the nonvolatile fractions (SFE-250 bar, first and second separator vs SE). The inhibitory activity over acetyl- and butyrylcholinesterase by S. montana extracts was assessed as a potential indicator for the control of Alzheimer's disease. The supercritical nonvolatile fractions, which showed the highest content of (+)-catechin, chlorogenic, vanillic, and protocatechuic acids, also inhibited selectively and significantly butyrylcholinesterase, whereas the nonvolatile conventional extract did not affect this enzyme. Microbial susceptibility tests revealed the great potential of S. montana volatile supercritical fluid extract for the growth control and inactivation of Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus cereus, showing some activity against Botrytis spp. and Pyricularia oryzae. Although some studies were carried out on S. montana, the phytochemical analysis together with the biological properties, namely, the anticholinesterase and antimicrobial activities of the plant nonvolatile and volatile supercritical fluid extracts, are described herein for the first time.

A pharmacological and phytochemical overview onSatureja

“…According to this report, it is concluded that the oil interferes with malathioninduced stimulation of hepatic cells glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis through its antioxidant potential and increasing AChE activity. AChE inhibitory activity of the essential oil of S. montana was investigated by Silva et al (2009). According to this study, inhibitory activity over AChE by S. montana was assessed as a potential indicator for the control of Alzheimer's disease.…”

“…Flavan-3-ols (catechin and epicatechin) (Cetkovic et al, 2007b;Cetojevic-Simin et al, 2012;Palavra et al, 2011;Silva et al, 2009) and flavanonols (aromadendrin, taxifolin) (Malmir et al, 2012; are other flavonoid aglycones found in Satureja species (Table 5).…”

Supercritical Fluid Extraction of Plant Flavors and Fragrances

“…The strongest antibacterial activity was found against B. cereus and B. subtilis. Carvacrol (91, Figure 21), p-cymene (63, Figure 14), thymol (73, Figure 16), and γ-terpinene (53, Figure 11) were the major compounds detected in SFE volatile extracts [139].…”

Caracterização e atividade antibacteriana de óleos essenciais de plantas condimentares e medicinais contra Staphylococcus aureus e Escherichia coli

“…Satureja montana é comumente conhecida como segurelha de inverno ou segurelha montanhesa é forte erva aromática e tem sido usada a centenas de anos como condimento de alimentos e chás, utilizada na comida mediterrânea, principalmente como tempero de carnes e peixes (Prieto et al, 2007;Silva et al, 2009). Na medicina tradicional e homeopática a segurelha de inverno é utilizada em várias enfermidades, principalmente digestiva, como cólica e diarréia; estimulantes, espectorantes, carminativos, anticatarraise afrodisíaco (Ćetkovićet al, 2007;Oliveira et al, 2011).…”