title: Volatile constituents, inorganic elements and primary screening of bioactivity of black coral cigarette holders.
abstract: Black corals (BC) have been used for a long time in Chinese medicine, and may have some pharmaceutical functions when used as material for cigarette holders in southeast China. This study is aimed to investigate the bioactivities of volatile constituents in BC and to explore the folklore behind the use of BC cigarette holders (BCCHs). We extracted the volatile constituents of BC by supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) with carbon dioxide (CO₂-SFE), then identified and analyzed the constituents by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). In total, 15 components were reliably identified in BC and found to be biologically active. These included triethyl phosphate, butylated hydroxytoluene, cedrol, n-hexadecanoic acid, squalene, and cholesterol. Meanwhile 13 inorganic elements (P, Ca, Mg, S, B, Si, Fe, Cu, Zn, Ba, etc.) were determined by inductively coupled plasma spectrometer (ICPS). In the bioactivity tests, the BC extract (BCE) showed a scavenging activity of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl free radicals and hydroxyl radicals by phenanthroline-Fe (II) oxidation and moderate inhibition of Gram-positive microorganisms. The antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of BC, which are related to the active chemical composition, may explain the perceived benefit for cigarette smokers who use BCCHs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China.
authors.forename: Xueting
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China.
authors.forename: Yicun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Marine Biology Institute, Shantou University, Shantou 515063, China.
authors.forename: Weizhou
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China.
authors.forename: Huaping
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lei
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China.
authors.forename: Ganggang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Shi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D037421:Anthozoa / Q000737:chemistry*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology; D025924:Chromatography, Supercritical Fluid; D004602:Elements; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D012907:Smoking; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D004602:Elements; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds