No abstract

The essential oil of Bupleurum fruticosum was investigated qualitatively and quantitatively together with the anti-inflammatory activity of the whole essential oil and its major components. In addition, antispasmodic activity was determined in rat uterus preparations using acetylcholine and oxytocin as agonists. The anti-inflammatory activity shown by the essential oil can be attributed in part to the two major components, alpha-pinene and beta-pinene, although the presence of thymol and carvacrol, minor components capable of potentiating the action of these hydrocarbons, was also confirmed.

Methanol and aqueous extracts from fi ve plant species, used in traditional medicine in Guatemala for the treatment of microbial infections, were tested in vitro for their ability to scavenge DPPH, OH(.) and O(2) (-) radicals and to inhibit lipoperoxidation (LPO) in order to establish a relationship between their antioxidant activities and their effects against infectious agents. Acalypha guatemalensis, Ocimum micranthum and Smilax spinosa possessed a significant activity against both the three free radicals assayed and LPO; Guazuma ulmifolia showed effects against DPPH and OH(.). Piper auritum showed no activity. These extracts were also evaluated for antibacterial and antiprotozoal activities. A. guatemalensis showed activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa; S. spinosa was active against Salmonella typhi, and A. guatemalensis, and S. spinosa against Trypanosoma cruzi or Leishmania spp.

Gas chromatography was used to determine the chemical composition of the essential oil of female and hermaphrodite Thymus heticus Boiss. collected in Ugijar (province of Granada, Spain). The results were compared with the chemical composition of other samples of the same species, collected in Lanjar6n. These comparisons showed some qualitative Merences, and more obvious quantitative diflerences, in the compositions of the essential oils. We also investigated the antimicrobial activity of all samples. This activity, although marked in all samples, was greater in essential oils containing larger amounts of geraniol.

Gas chromatography and GC/MS studies of Thymus buericus Boiss essential oil showed its major component to be l,&cineole. The essential oil was found to present a marked spasmolytic activity in rat duodennm against acetylcholine via a non-competitive type of inbibition. This action was not related to its major component, l,&cineole.