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Vinca sardoa (Stearn) Pignatti, known as Sardinian periwinkle, is widely diffused in Sardinia (Italy). This species contains indole alkaloids, which are known to have a great variety of biological activities. This study investigated the antileukemic activity against a B lymphoblast cell line (SUP-B15) of V. sardoa alkaloid-rich extracts obtained from plants grown in Italy, in Iglesias (Sardinia) and Rome (Latium). All the extracts showed a good capacity to induce reductions in cell proliferation of up to 50% at the tested concentrations (1–15 µg/mL). Moreover, none of the extracts showed cytotoxicity on normal cells at all the studied concentrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to demonstrate the antifungal, anti-inflammatory and anti-migratory potential of the essential oil of Teucrium scordium subsp. scordioides (Schreb.) Arcang, a plant widely used in traditional medicine in Sardinia. The oil was rich in germacrene D (25.1%), δ-cadinene (12.9%) and alloaromadendrene (11.3%). The yeast Cryptococcus neoformans and the dermatophytes Trichophyton rubrum, T. mentagrophytes var. interdigitale and Epidermophyton floccosum were the most susceptible fungi to the action of the oil. In lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophages, the oil was able to decrease nitric oxide production by ca. 30% at 1.25 μL/mL, without affecting cell viability. In the scratch wound assay, it allowed for ca. 36% of wound closure after 18 h, thus showing anti-migratory properties. Overall, this study highlights the potential of this species to mitigate fungal infections associated with an inflammatory response. Furthermore, we also reported for the first time its anti-migratory capacity, thus suggesting anticancer properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We studied the chemical composition and the nutritional properties of fixed oils extracted from seeds and pericarps of the medicinal plant Whitania somnifera. W. somnifera wild germplasm was collected in Sardinia (Italy) and cultivated in Campidano subregion (Southern Sardinia). The main fatty acids of seed oil were 18:2 n-6 (53%, 73.6 mg/g of dry weight), 18:1 n-9 (21%, 29.3 mg/g of dry weight), 16:0 (19%), and 18:0 (4%). Trilinolein and dilinolein derivatives represented the main seed oil triacylglycerols. Linoleic (40%, 67.7 mg/g of dry weight), oleic (29%, 48.7 mg/g of dry weight), palmitic (22%), stearic (4%) and α-linolenic (3%), were the main fatty acids in pericarp oil, with higher total level of monounsaturated fatty acids than seed oil, while monolinolein and dilinolein derivatives represented the main triacylglycerols. The results of this study qualify Sardinian W. somnifera berries as an interesting source of oils with nutritional properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The chemical composition of two populations of Teucrium capitatum L. one from the coastline and the other one from the mountainous area of Sardinia (Italy) was assessed. Two chemotypes were identified: limonene/α-pinene/(E)-nerolidol chemotype predominant in the coastline, and limonene/α-pinene/α-trans-bergamotene/humulene epoxide II chemotype common in plants growing in the mountainous area. In addition, our results showed that the sample growing in the coastline had a more promising antifungal activity. Furthermore, this sample was highly effective in inhibiting C. albicans germ tube formation, at doses well below its MIC. Overall, this study shows that the edaphoclimatic characteristics play an important role on the essential oil composition and biological activity of Teucrium capitatum L. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Plants belonging to the Amaryllidaceae contain an exclusive group of alkaloids, known as sources of important biological activities. In the present work, Pancratium illyricum L., a species belonging to this family and endemic of Sardinia (Italy), was investigated for its alkaloid content. Fresh bulbs and leaves were processed separately. Standard extraction and purification procedures were applied to obtain fractions and compounds for GC–MS and NMR analysis. In addition to eight already known alkaloids (1–8), 11α-hydroxy-O-methylleucotamine (9) was isolated for the first time and its structure completely determined by one and two-dimensional 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy. This new galanthamine-type compound exhibited a pronounced in vitro acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activity (IC50 =3.5±1.1μM) in comparison to the reference standard galanthamine hydrobromide (IC50 =1.5±0.2μM). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Ptilostemon casabonae (L.) Greuter is a Mediterranean endemism traditionally used for its health-giving properties. Little is known about this species, therefore this study provides additional information about the phytochemical and biomolecular patterns of this plant, to have a combined fingerprint as a taxonomic tool. Several P. casabonae specimens were therefore collected from three different sites, two from Sardinia (Italy) and one from Corsica and the hydroalcoholic extracts of their aerial parts were investigated through HPLC-PDA-MS/MS analysis to study the phenolic composition. Quercetin, luteolin, kaempferol, apigenin and diosmetin O-glycosides, and caffeoylquinic acid derivatives were found as main components. Samples from the three sites showed similar phenolic profiles, although statistical analyses highlighted some quantitative differences for several compounds. The biomolecular analysis included amplification and sequencing of ITS, 5S-rRNA-NTS and psbA regions. No difference was found in the nucleotides among the P. casabonae samples from different geographical origins; however, a comparison with other Ptilostemon species sequences from Genbank, revealed an interspecific variability of ITS and psbA regions. The combination of the results of the phytochemical and biomolecular studies provide information on P. casabonae useful to depict this little-known plant, which can also be applied for future investigations and to obtain a fingerprint of it. Moreover, the stability of the phenolic profile within the species affords to identify a set of specialised metabolites useful for its chemotaxonomic characterization. At the same time, the stability of the biomolecular profile of P. casabonae, and the identification of sequences specific for this species, enables to identify useful biomolecular markers to distinguish it unequivocally., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

This work reports the results and the comparison concerning the chemical and biomolecular analyses and the antifungal activity of three wild Pistacia species (Anacardiaceae) from Sardinia. Volatile oils from leaves and twigs of Pistacia x saportae, Pistacia lentiscus and Pistacia terebinthus were characterised using GC-FID and GC-MS techniques and tested against some fungal strains. Two DNA nuclear regions (ITS and 5S-rRNA-NTS) were amplified through PCR technique and sequenced. The three **Pistacia have similar chemical profile, although there are some important quantitative differences. The analysis of ITS and 5S-rRNA-NTS regions, reveals a species-specific nucleotide variation among the three **taxa. This method could emerge as a powerful tool for the species identification, especially because the discrimination of these three **taxa appears difficult for non-expert botanists. Concerning the antifungal activity, P. lentiscus and P. x saportae show the highest activity against Cryptococcus neoformans, with a MIC value of 0.32 μL/mL.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Thistles species (Family: Compositae) are traditionally used in the Mediterranean area, particularly in Sardinia. They are usually gathered from the wild and used for both food and therapeutic purposes, including gastrointestinal disorders., Aim of the Study: This work aims to evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity of eight wild thistles from Sardinia, in an in vitro model of gastric inflammation, and to identify the major active compounds in the extracts., Materials and Methods: The hydro-alcoholic extract of the aerial part of each species was prepared. After the induction of inflammation by the addition of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) (10ng/mL), AGS cells were treated with extracts/pure compounds under study. The inhibition of interleukin-8 (IL-8) release, IL-8 and NF-κB promoter activities and NF-κB nuclear translocation were evaluated. Extracts main components were identified by HPLC-PDA-MS/MS., Results: Only Onopordum horridum Viv. and Onopordum illyricum L. hydro-alcoholic extracts reduced, in a concentration-dependent fashion, the IL-8 release and promoter activity in human gastric epithelial cells AGS. The effect was partially due to the NF-κB pathway impairment. Onopordum hydro-alcoholic extracts were also chemically profiled, and caffeoylquinic acid derivatives were the main compounds identified in the extract. Further investigations showed that 3,5 dicaffeoylquinic acid highly inhibited IL-8 secretion in AGS cells (IC 50 0.65μM), thus suggesting that this compound contributed, at least in part, to the anti-inflammatory activity elicited by O. illyricum extracts., Conclusions: Our results suggest that Onopordum species may exert beneficial effects against gastric inflammatory diseases. Thus, these wild plants deserve further investigations as preventive or co-adjuvant agents in gastric diseases., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

In the present work the chemical compositions, measured by GC and GC-MS, of the essential oils obtained by hydrodistillation from leaves of Pistacia terebinthus collected in Bizerte (Tunisia) and Baunei (Italy) are reported. Both essential oils possessed high content of monoterpene hydrocarbons (86.3% and 90.9%, respectively), being α-pinene (62.4 vs. 35.0)%, camphene (3.0 vs. 2.4)%, β-pinene (12.1 vs. 4.5)%, terpinolene (1.7 vs. 35.2)% and β-phellandrene (3.8 vs. 4.5)% the main components. The Tunisian essential oil exhibited higher antifungal activity than the Italian one. Cryptococcus neoformans and the majority of dermatophyte strains showed more sensitivity to the Tunisian oil, when compared to Candida strains, in particular Trichophyton rubrum, Microsporum canis and Epidermophyton floccosum, with MIC and MLC values in the range (0.16-0.32) μL/mL. The results obtained support the use of the oil from Tunisia for the treatment of dermatophytosis.

Aerial parts of Apium nodiflorum collected in Portugal and Italy were submitted to hydrodistillation; also a supercritical fluid extract was obtained from Italian plants. The extracts were analyzed by GC and GC/MS. Both essential oils, obtained from Portuguese and Italian plants, posses high content of phenylpropanoids (51.6 vs. 70.8%); in the former, the percentage split in myristicin (29.1%) and dillapiol (22.5%), whereas in the latter, the total percentage is only of dillapiol (70.8%). The co-occurrence of myristicin and dillapiol is frequent because dillapiol results from enzymatic methoxylation of myristicin. Antimicrobial activity of phenylpropanoids has been patented, what suggest the potential of plants with high amounts of these compounds. Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimal lethal concentration, determined according to NCCLS, were used to evaluate the antifungal activity of the essential oils against yeasts, Aspergillus species and dermatophytes. Essential oils exhibited higher antifungal activity than other Apiaceae against dermatophytes, with MIC ranging from 0.04 to 0.32 μl/ml. These results support the potential of A. nodiflorum oil in the treatment of dermatophytosis and candidosis.

Isolation of volatile concentrates from leaves, flowers and fruits of Vitex agnus-castus L. have been obtained by supercritical extraction with carbon dioxide. The composition of the volatile concentrates has been analysed by GC/MS. In all plant organs, the extracts are composed chiefly of alpha-pinene, sabinene, 1,8-cineole, alpha-terpinyl acetate, (E)-caryophyllene, (E)-beta-farnesene, bicyclogermacrene, spathulenol and manool. The main difference observed was in the content of sclarene, which was not present in the samples from flowers or fruits. To complete the investigation, a comparison with the hydrodistilled oil has been carried out. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the minimal lethal concentration were used to evaluate the antifungal activity of the oils against dermatophyte strains (Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Microsporum canis, T. rubrum, M. gypseum and Epidermophyton floccosum). Antifungal activity of the leaf essential oil was the highest, with MIC values of 0.64 microL mL(-1) for most of the strains.

In this manuscript, the authors compare the chemical composition and the biological effects of extracts of some Sardinian plant species: Glebionis coronaria (L.) Spach [=Chrysanthemum coronarium L.], locally known as 'caragantzu', Glebionis segetum (L.) Fourr. [=Chrysanthemum segetum L.], known as 'caragantzu masedu', and Sardinian endemic species Plagius flosculosus (L.) Alavi and Heywood [=Chrysanthemum flosculosus L.], known as 'caragantzu burdu'. In addition, the authors compare the pyrethrins contained in these species with an extract of Tanacetum cinerariifolium (Trevir.) Sch. Bip. [=Chrysanthemum cinerariifolium (Trevir.) Vis.], a commercial species rich in pyrethrins. The volatile fractions from chrysanthemum flowers were obtained by supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) with CO(2) at 90 bar and 50 degrees C and by hydrodistillation. Pyrethrins were extracted, together with other high molecular mass compounds, by SFE at high pressure, 300 bar and 40 degrees C. The composition of the volatile oils is determined by GC-MS analysis and the amount of pyrethrins by HPLC analysis. Moreover, the antibacterial and antimycotic activities of volatile fractions were investigated in order to compare to their traditional uses.

The essential oils and supercritical CO(2) extracts of wild Daucus carota L. subsp. carota growing spontaneously in Sardinia and in Portugal were investigated. The main components in the Sardinian essential oil of flowering and mature umbels with seeds are beta-bisabolene (17.6-51.0%) and 11-alpha-(H)-himachal-4-en-1-beta-ol (9.0-21.6%); instead, the oils from Portuguese samples are predominantly composed of geranyl acetate (5.2-65.0%) and alpha-pinene (3.5-37.9%). Supercritical extracts contain lower amounts of monoterpenes and higher amounts of sesquiterpene hydrocarbons. Antifungal activities of the Sardinian oils were the highest, particularly for dermatophytes and Cryptococcus neoformans, with MIC values of 0.16-0.64 microL mL(-1).

The structure of a new prenylated coumarin (E-omega-benzoyloxyferulenol, 1b) from the Sardinian giant fennel (Ferula communis) has been confirmed by synthesis. The parent compound ferulenol (1a) showed sub-micromolar antimycobacterial activity, which was partly retained in 1b and in the simplified synthetic analogue 3, but diminished in its omega-hydroxy and omega-acetoxy derivatives (1c and 1d, respectively). The outstanding activity of 1a, its low toxicity, and the evidence for definite structure-activity relationships make this prenylated 4-hydroxycoumarin an interesting antibacterial chemotype worth further investigation.