Essential Oil and Bioactive Compounds Variation in Myrtle (Myrtus communis L.) as Affected by Seasonal Variation and Salt Stress

Abstract

The effect of different NaCl concentrations (control, 2, 4 and 6 dS/m) and three harvesting times in different seasons including spring (9 April), summer (5 July), and fall (23 September) was evaluated on essential oil (EO) yield, composition, phenolic, flavonoid content, and antioxidant activity of myrtle. Essential oil yield ranged from 0.2% in control and fall to 1.6% in moderate salinity (4 dS/m) and spring season. The main constituents obtained from gas chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis were α-pinene, 1,8-cineole, limonene, linalool, α-terpineol, and linalyl acetate in which α-pinene ranged from 11.70% in moderate and fall to 30.99% in low salinity (2 dS/m) and spring, while 1,8-cineole varied from 7.42% in high salinity (6 dS/m) and summer to 15.45% in low salinity and spring, respectively. Salt stress also resulted in an increase in total phenolic, flavonoid content, and antioxidant activity. The highest antioxidant activity based on DPPH radical scavenging activity, reducing power (FTC) and β-carotene/linoleic acid model systems was found in plants harvested in spring and summer in high stress condition. The lowest IC values obtained in 6 dS/m in spring (375.23 μg/ml) followed by summer (249.41 μg/ml) and fall (618.38 μg/ml). Eight major phenolic and flavonoid compounds were determined in three harvesting times using high performance liquid chromatography analysis. In overall, late harvesting time of myrtle in fall can lead to reduce the most of major EO components, while it can improve the amount of phenolic acids.

Habitat Affects the Chemical Profile, Allelopathy, and Antioxidant Properties of Essential Oils and Phenolic Enriched Extracts of the Invasive Plant Heliotropium Curassavicum

“…In general, the coastal sample of the H. curassavicum EO showed a greater allelopathic effect than the inland samples, and the MeOH extract was stronger in allelopathic activity than the EO. This may be attributed to the effect of habitats, particularly that the coastal habitat is more stressful than the inland habitat due to the effect of salinity, where the plants produce more bioactive compounds in order to tolerate the harsh conditions [62,63].…”

Antioxidant Activity of Myrtus communis L. and Myrtus nivellei Batt. & Trab. Extracts: A Brief Review

“…The chemical profile and biological properties of plants can be affected by climatic conditions, harvesting time, abiotic stress, genotype among other factors [ 123 ]. For this reason, the authors [ 123 ] studied the effect of different NaCl concentrations (control, 2, 4, and 6 dS/m) and three harvesting times in different seasons including spring, summer, and fall on the phenolic, flavonoid content, and antioxidant activity (DPPH radical scavenging activity, reducing power, and β-carotene/linoleic acid bleaching test) of myrtle extracts. The highest antioxidant activity was found in plants harvested in summer and spring and in high stress condition.…”

Effects of Dietary Savory and Myrtle Essential Oils on Growth, Survival, Nutritional Indices, Serum Biochemistry, and Hematology of Farmed Rainbow Trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, Fry

“…Myrtle ( Myrtus communis ) is an important plant in the pharmaceutical industry that contains many biologically active phytochemicals; this species is well known for its antioxidant, antifungal, antiviral, and anticancer properties and is commonly known as “Mord or Mort” in Iran (Ghasemi Pirbalouti ; Mahmoodi Sourestani and Akbarzadeh ; Vafadar Shoshtari and Rahimmalek ). The presence of phenolics (phenolic acids, polyphenols, and flavonoids) in this plant along with the essential oils is gaining increasing attention because of their various functions such as antioxidant activity and flavoring properties (Issa et al ).…”