title: Extraction, separation and isolation of volatiles from Vitex agnus-castus L. (Verbenaceae) wild species of Sardinia, Italy, by supercritical CO2.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, Universita degli Studi di Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria di Monserrato, 09042 Monserrato, Italy.
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Marongiu
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Piras
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Porcedda
authors.forename: Danilo
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Falconieri
authors.forename: Maria J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Goncalves
authors.forename: Ligia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Salgueiro
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maxia
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lai
mesh_terms: D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000032:analysis* / Q000494:pharmacology; D003883:Arthrodermataceae / Q000187:drug effects*; D035264:Flowers / Q000737:chemistry; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry; D007558:Italy; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D020950:Vitex / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D009822:Oils, Volatile