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Diversity of Aromatic Plants: Chemical Profiles and Antioxidant Activities
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Diversity of Aromatic Plants: Chemical Profiles and Antioxidant Activities

A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Phytochemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 January 2025) | Viewed by 7483

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Zoran S. Ilic

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Agriculture, University in Priština—Kosovska Mitrovica, 38219 Lešak, Serbia
Interests: medicinal and aromatic plants; vegetable production and quality; postharvest
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Ljiljana P. Stanojević

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Technology, University of Niš, Bulevar Oslobođenja 124, 16000 Leskovac, Serbia
Interests: phytochemical analysis; plant biochemistry; essential oils; phenolic compounds; natural product chemistry and technology: phytochemicals; antioxidant activity; extraction; biological activities; medicinal and aromatic plants
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Lidija Milenković

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Agriculture, University of Priština in Kosovska Mitrovica, Kopaonička bb, 38219 Lešak, Serbia
Interests: vegetable production; organic production; vegetable grafting; medical–aromatic herbs; quality; essential oil; antioxidant activity

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Aromatic and medicinal plants (AMPs) are a diverse group of plants characterized by their ability to synthesize a specific type of aroma; the concentration, type, and biological activity of this aroma tend to be unusual and variable. These plants are characterized by their great diversity both morphologically and chemically, as well as in terms of their biological activity. Their properties are modified by various factors of variation: genetic, ontogenetic, environmental, and post-harvest. The biodiversity of aromatic and medical plants and their chemical composition can be a potential source of natural bioactive compounds (phenolic content with antioxidant and antimicrobial potential) for applications on human health and food preservation. The variation in the chemical composition of aromatic plants (applying to both wild and cultivated species) determines their culinary and medical value. The essential oils (EOs) synthesized by numerous plant species from different botanical families vary considerably in their chemical composition and biological activity.

Future research studies should be based on the importance of the rational use and collection of wild plants from spontaneous flora and optimized production techniques for cultivated aromatic and medical plants (using adequate agricultural techniques with crop shading and adequate plant density) with the goal of obtaining an increased content of a high-quality essential oil. These investigations on topics such as the extraction and purification of medicinal compounds can be an effective means of obtaining safe pharmaceutical products.

Dr. Zoran S. Ilic
Dr. Ljiljana P. Stanojević
Prof. Dr. Lidija Milenković
Guest Editors

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • aromatic plants
  • medicinal plants
  • wild plants
  • essential oil
  • content
  • constitution
  • polyphenols
  • antioxidant

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 1389 KiB  
Article
Diversity of Phytochemical Content, Antioxidant Activity, and Fruit Morphometry of Three Mallow, Malva Species (Malvaceae)
by Faten Rhimi, Mokhtar Rejili, Mohamed Ali Benabderrahim and Hédia Hannachi
Plants 2025, 14(6), 930; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14060930 - 16 Mar 2025
Viewed by 697
Abstract
The Malvaceae family contains a variety of medicinal plants, including those of the mallow (Malva) genus. This study investigated the phytochemical composition, antioxidant activity, and morphometry of fruit from three Malva species (common mallow M. sylvestris, cheeseweed mallow M. parviflora, [...] Read more.
The Malvaceae family contains a variety of medicinal plants, including those of the mallow (Malva) genus. This study investigated the phytochemical composition, antioxidant activity, and morphometry of fruit from three Malva species (common mallow M. sylvestris, cheeseweed mallow M. parviflora, and Cornish mallow M. multiflora. The phytochemical analysis and antioxidant potentials were conducted on dry and powdered fruits. The morphometry and texture were performed using the software imagery tools. Results showed that the principal component analysis based on phytochemical content, antioxidant activity, and morphometric and texture traits showed a group structure according to species. The M. multiflora fruits were distinguished by high values of morphometric and texture traits, oil content (17.96%), total flavonoid content (1.70 mg RE/g DM), total antioxidant activity, and high FRAP value. The M. parviflora fruits were smaller than the M. multiflora and were rich in proteins (17.70%), starch (94.41 mg/g DW), and soluble sugar contents (57.74 mg/g DW). However, the M. sylvestris fruits have an intermediate position within the two other species and are rich in total polyphenols (2.34 mg GAE/g DM) and flavonoid contents (0.75 mg RE/g DM). The combined data, including phytochemical characterization, antioxidant activity, and morphometry, could be used as an alternative tool to molecular analysis to distinguish between Malva species and to select future application of Malva fruits based on their metabolite’s composition. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity of Aromatic Plants: Chemical Profiles and Antioxidant Activities)
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13 pages, 299 KiB  
Article
Influence of the Extraction Method on the Biological Potential of Solidago virgaurea L. Essential Oil and Hydrolates
by Marko Malićanin, Ivana Karabegović, Natalija Đorđević, Stojan Mančić, Sandra Stamenković Stojanović, Duško Brković and Bojana Danilović
Plants 2024, 13(16), 2187; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13162187 - 7 Aug 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1318
Abstract
Solidago virgaurea L., or European goldenrod, has a long tradition in folk medicine due to the wide range of its biological activity. This paper aimed to investigate the antimicrobial and antioxidative potential of S. virgaurea essential oil and hydrolates obtained by traditional and [...] Read more.
Solidago virgaurea L., or European goldenrod, has a long tradition in folk medicine due to the wide range of its biological activity. This paper aimed to investigate the antimicrobial and antioxidative potential of S. virgaurea essential oil and hydrolates obtained by traditional and novel extraction techniques. For that purpose, hydrodistillation, microwave-assisted hydrodistillation and solvent-free extraction were performed. Analysis of the composition of essential oils indicated the presence of 59 different compounds with cyclocolorenone, germacrene D and spathulenol being the dominant in all essential oil samples. Antimicrobial activity was detected in all the analyzed samples, with higher effect on Gram-positive microorganisms compared to Gram-negative. Regarding the type of performed extraction process, the introduction of microwaves induced higher antimicrobial and antioxidative potential in both essential oils and hydrolates. Hydrolates obtained in microwave-assisted processes had pronounced antioxidative activity, which creates a good basis for further investigation of this side product’s potential use in the food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity of Aromatic Plants: Chemical Profiles and Antioxidant Activities)
23 pages, 2948 KiB  
Article
Analysing the Antibacterial Synergistic Interactions of Romanian Lavender Essential Oils via Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry: In Vitro and In Silico Approaches
by Roxana Aurelia C. Bălașoiu (Jigău), Diana Obistioiu, Anca Hulea, Mukhtar Adeiza Suleiman, Iuliana Popescu, Doris Floares (Oarga), Ilinca Merima Imbrea, Alina-Georgeta Neacșu, Laura Șmuleac, Raul Pașcalău, Laura Crista, Cosmin Alin Popescu, Ionel Samfira and Florin Imbrea
Plants 2024, 13(15), 2136; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13152136 - 1 Aug 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1859
Abstract
This study investigated the phytochemical characteristics, antibacterial activity, and synergistic potential of essential oils derived from Romanian lavender. Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis revealed that linalool is the main compound in all lavender essential oils, with concentrations ranging from 29.410% to 35.769%. Linalyl [...] Read more.
This study investigated the phytochemical characteristics, antibacterial activity, and synergistic potential of essential oils derived from Romanian lavender. Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis revealed that linalool is the main compound in all lavender essential oils, with concentrations ranging from 29.410% to 35.769%. Linalyl acetate was found in similar concentrations to linalool. Other significant compounds included 1,8-cineole (8.50%), lavandulyl acetate (5.38%), trans-β-ocimene (6.90%), and camphor (7.7%). A 1,1-Diphenyl-2-Picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) test was used to assess antioxidant capacity, with substantial free-radical-scavenging activity shown in the IC50 values determined. The antibacterial efficacy of the oils was higher against Gram-positive bacteria than Gram-negative bacteria, with variations in minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs), the extent of inhibition, and evolution patterns. The study also explored the oils’ ability to enhance the efficacy of ampicillin, revealing synergistic interactions expressed as fractional inhibitory concentration indices. In silico protein–ligand docking studies used twenty-one compounds identified by GC-MS with bacterial protein targets, showing notable binding interactions with SasG (−6.3 kcal/mol to −4.6 kcal/mol) and KAS III (−6.2 kcal/mol to −4.9 kcal/mol). Overall, the results indicate that Romanian lavender essential oils possess potent antioxidant and antibacterial properties, and their synergistic interaction with ampicillin has potential for enhancing antibiotic therapies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity of Aromatic Plants: Chemical Profiles and Antioxidant Activities)
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12 pages, 1267 KiB  
Article
Chemical Composition and Bioactivity of Dill Seed (Anethum graveolens L.) Essential Oil from Plants Grown under Shading
by Lidija Milenković, Zoran S. Ilić, Ljiljana Stanojević, Bojana Danilović, Ljubomir Šunić, Žarko Kevrešan, Jelena Stanojević and Dragan Cvetković
Plants 2024, 13(6), 886; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13060886 - 19 Mar 2024
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2803
Abstract
This study determined the content and composition of dill seed (Anethum graveolens L.) essential oil under varying light conditions: non-shaded plants in open fields and plants covered with pearl shade nets (40% shade index). Essential oil was extracted using Clevenger hydrodistillation. The [...] Read more.
This study determined the content and composition of dill seed (Anethum graveolens L.) essential oil under varying light conditions: non-shaded plants in open fields and plants covered with pearl shade nets (40% shade index). Essential oil was extracted using Clevenger hydrodistillation. The essential oil content was 4.63% for non-shaded plants and 4.81% for shaded plants. GC/MS analysis revealed twenty-one and twenty-two components in dill seed from non-shaded and shaded plants, respectively. The terpenic fraction of essential oil from non-shaded plants consisted mainly of oxygen-containing monoterpene derivatives (53.6%), with carvone (46.1%) as the primary component, followed by monoterpene hydrocarbons (46.4%), predominantly limonene (43.8%). Essential oil from shaded plants contained a higher content of carvone (49.8%) and a lower content of limonene (37.8%) compared to essential oil from non-shaded plants. Non-shaded plant essential oil exhibited stronger antioxidant activity (EC50 value: 26.04 mg mL−1) than shaded plant essential oil (54.23 mg mL−1). Dill seed essential oil showed the most potent antimicrobial activity (disc diffusion method) against Escherichia coli (inhibition zone: 15–18 mm). Shaded plants demonstrated a positive influence of essential oil against Klebsiella pneumoniae. Carvone and its derivatives, as the main components, hold significant potential in the food industry and alternative medicines. A practical implication of this study could be higher plant densities or intercropping of dill, as it thrives with minimal light. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity of Aromatic Plants: Chemical Profiles and Antioxidant Activities)
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