Bioactive Compounds and Aroma Profile of Some Lamiaceae Edible Flowers

Abstract

Edible flowers are consumed for their appearance, colours, nutritional and healthy properties, but the use is limited by the actual number of the species. Seven edible flowers of the Lamiaceae family (Ocimeae and Mentheae tribes) were investigated: Monarda didyma ‘Fireball’, Nepeta × faassenii ‘Six Hills Giant’, Ocimum basilicum ‘Blue Spice’, O. basilicum ‘Cinnamon’, Ocimum × citriodorum, Salvia discolor, and Salvia microphylla ‘Hot Lips’. Total soluble sugars, proteins, polyphenols, carotenoids, ascorbic acid and antioxidant activity were detected. The species of the Mentheae tribe contained higher sugar content than Ocimeae flowers, the opposite with regard to protein content. Ocimeae tribe flowers showed high polyphenols and carotenoids content. The Ocimeae tribe together with two specie of the Mentheae tribe showed an aroma profile dominated by sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (58.0% in S. discolor to 77.9% in Ocimum × citriodorum). Oxygenated monoterpenes prevailed in Nepeta and Monarda, also present in the essential oil of this latter species (84.5%). By contrast, Nepeta and S. discolor evidenced non-terpenes as the principal class (41.2% and 77.5%, respectively), while the oxygenated sesquiterpene was the main one in S. microphylla. The two varieties of Ocimum spp. showed oxygenated monoterpenes as the main class of volatiles.

Essential Oils from Monarda fistulosa: Chemical Composition and Activation of Transient Receptor Potential A1 (TRPA1) Channels

“…Previously studied species of Monarda had essential oils almost exclusively comprised of oxygenated monoterpenes, with thymol and carvacrol as the main constituents (Table 1) [8,11]. M. didyma grown in Canada had thymol, γ-terpinene, carvacrol, and β-myrcene as the main constituents, while Canadian M. fistulosa essential oil contained geraniol, geranial, geranyl formate, and p-cymene [13].…”

“…A number of phytochemical studies on Monarda species resulted in the identification of a wide spectrum of phytoconstituents, including phenolics [4,5], triterpenoids [6], monoterpene glycosides [7], carbohydrate, carotenoids, and vitamin C [8], with the phenolic complex containing flavonoids [5], anthocyanins, and phenolic acids. One compound specific to the Monarda genus is monardaein [9].…”

Successful experiments with Salvia officinalis and Salvia microphylla and COVID19

“…Camphor is also found in Rosmarinus officinalis, which was also found to have action against the novel coronavirus [9] . Thymol is also found in S. microphylla [8] and in [2] Thymus vulgaris was found to be one of the most efficient. Carvacrol is also found in S. microphylla [8]; carvacrol was also shown to possess antiviral properties (see for instance [10] ).…”

“…Thymol is also found in S. microphylla [8] and in [2] Thymus vulgaris was found to be one of the most efficient. Carvacrol is also found in S. microphylla [8]; carvacrol was also shown to possess antiviral properties (see for instance [10] ). An infusion of S. microphylla leaves (by boiling in clear water a large amount of fresh leaves and drinking the resulting liquid) was also successful against the novel coronavirus (the infusion could be kept for several weeks and was still working).…”

“…Sometimes, for small contaminations (the amount of viral load incorporated can be felt quite easily, with experience) a pinch of half a leaf was enough (letting the rest on the tree). In [8] camphor, a traditional anti-coughing medication and respiratory stimulant is found to be a significant component of S. microphylla. Camphor is also found in Rosmarinus officinalis, which was also found to have action against the novel coronavirus [9] .…”