Search

Ethanolic extract from the fruits of Pimpinella anisoides, an aromatic plant and a spice, exhibited activity against AChE and BChE, with IC(50) values of 227.5 and 362.1 microg/ml, respectively. The most abundant constituents of the extract were trans-anethole, (+)-limonene and (+)-sabinene. trans-Anethole exhibited the highest activity against AChE and BChE with IC(50) values of 134.7 and 209.6 microg/ml, respectively. The bicyclic monoterpene (+)-sabinene exhibited a promising activity against AChE (IC(50) of 176.5 microg/ml) and BChE (IC(50) of 218.6 microg/ml). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The inhibitory activity of alpha-amylase and the phytochemical composition of Cedrus libani essential oils obtained from wood, leaves and cones were investigated. The C. libani woods oil exhibit an IC(50) value of 0.14 mg/ml, whereas the leaves and cones oils were devoid of any significant activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study describes for the first time the in vitro properties of Iris pseudopumila flowers and rhizomes extracts and their constituents. The methanolic extract of rhizomes showed significant anti-inflammatory activity through inhibition of NO production in the murine monocytic macrophage cell line RAW 264.7. Among the isolated compounds, those which most effectively inhibited LPS-induced NO production were irisolidone and 7-methyl-tectorigenin-4'-O-[beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranoside], with IC(50) values of 23.6 microM and 29.4 microM respectively. Isoorientin and isovitexin exhibited the most promising activity against AChE with IC(50) of 26.8 microM and 36.4 microM, respectively. The same compounds exhibited also the higher activity against BChE.

The methanol and ethyl acetate extracts of the aerial parts of Cirsium tenoreanum, have been evaluated for their phytochemical constituents and antibacterial and cytotoxic properties. Three flavonoids, apigenin, quercetin-3-O-galactoside and kaempferol-3-O-ramnoside, were isolated. The ethyl acetate extract showed a good antiproliferative activity.

Nine samples of Glycyrrhiza glabra were collected in various sites of Calabria, Italy, with the aim to determine the variability in the confront of active constituents and in antibacterial and antifungal activities of the extracts. The samples showed remarkable differences in chemical composition and biological activity., (Copyright 2004 Elsevier B.V.)

Oil of bergamot is receiving renewed popularity in aromatherapy. The biovariability of Citrus bergamia grown wild in Calabria (Italy) was investigated as far as chemical markers (linalool, linalyl acetate and bergapten) content and antioxidant and antifungal activities of the methanolic extracts. The average content in the markers presents slight variations with the altitude and more evident changes with the latitude of the areas of plant collection.

The antioxidant activity of the methanol extract of Hypericum triquetrifolium Turra (Hypericaceae) aerial part and of flavonoids isolated therein, I3,II8-biapigenin, quercetin-3-O-galactoside, kaempferol-3-O-glycoside, (-)-epicatechin and hypericin, was evaluated. The IC(50) resulted between 0.062 and 1 mg/ml., (Copyright 2002 Elsevier Science B.V.)