title: Phytochemical, Ecological and Antioxidant Evaluation of Wild Sicilian Thyme: Thymbra capitata (L.) Cav.
abstract: In a broad survey conducted throughout the Sicily region, 45 different sites were identified where thyme grows wild. All the biotypes collected were classified as Thymbra capitata (L.) Cav. (syn. Thymus capitatus (L.) Hoffmanns. & Link). Cluster analysis based on the main morphological characteristics of the plant led to the division of the biotypes into 3 major groups. All samples were analyzed for their secondary phytochemical metabolites identified in the extracts and the essential oils. LC-UV-DAD/ESI-MS and GC-FID/GC-MS have been applied to characterize the extracts and the essential oils, respectively. In the extracts, 15 flavonoid derivatives with taxifolin-di-O-glucoside and thymusin as main components, and 2 organic acids, with a large predominance of rosmarinic acid, were identified. On the whole 37 compounds were fully characterized in the essential oils, carvacrol was identified as the main component with an average value of 73.93%. The total phenol content and the antioxidant activity of all phytochemical complexes were determined with the Folin-Ciocalteu (FC) assay, the UV radiation-induced peroxidation in liposomal membranes (UV-IP test), and the scavenging activity of superoxide radical (O2∙-).
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, Biologiche, Farmaceutiche ed Ambientali, Università di Messina, Contrada Annunziata, IT-98168, Messina.
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saija
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, Biologiche, Farmaceutiche ed Ambientali, Università di Messina, Contrada Annunziata, IT-98168, Messina.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Speciale
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, Biologiche, Farmaceutiche ed Ambientali, Università di Messina, Contrada Annunziata, IT-98168, Messina.
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Trombetta
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie e Forestali (SAF), Università di Palermo, Viale delle Scienze 13, IT-90128, Palermo.
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Leto
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie e Forestali (SAF), Università di Palermo, Viale delle Scienze 13, IT-90128, Palermo.
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tuttolomondo
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie e Forestali (SAF), Università di Palermo, Viale delle Scienze 13, IT-90128, Palermo.
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: La Bella
authors.affiliation: Co.Ri.S.S.I.A. Consorzio di Ricerca per lo Sviluppo di Sistemi Innovativi Agroambientali, Via Libertà 203, IT-90100, Palermo.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Licata
authors.affiliation: Co.Ri.S.S.I.A. Consorzio di Ricerca per lo Sviluppo di Sistemi Innovativi Agroambientali, Via Libertà 203, IT-90100, Palermo.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Virga
authors.affiliation: Co.Ri.S.S.I.A. Consorzio di Ricerca per lo Sviluppo di Sistemi Innovativi Agroambientali, Via Libertà 203, IT-90100, Palermo.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bonsangue
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie e Forestali (SAF), Università di Palermo, Viale delle Scienze 13, IT-90128, Palermo.
authors.forename: Maria Cristina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Gennaro
authors.affiliation: Istituto del CNR di Chimica Biomolecolare, Via Paolo Gaifami 18, IT-95126, Catania.
authors.forename: Edoardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Napoli
authors.affiliation: Istituto del CNR di Chimica Biomolecolare, Via Paolo Gaifami 18, IT-95126, Catania.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Siracusa
authors.affiliation: Istituto del CNR di Chimica Biomolecolare, Via Paolo Gaifami 18, IT-95126, Catania.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ruberto
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis*; D000081007:Cymenes; D019686:Lamiaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D015394:Molecular Structure; D039821:Monoterpenes / Q000032:analysis*; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000032:analysis*; D064209:Phytochemicals / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D000081007:Cymenes; D039821:Monoterpenes; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D064209:Phytochemicals; C073316:carvacrol
keywords: Antioxidant activities; Bioagronomic characterization; Essential oil; Lamiaceae; Polyphenols; Thyme (Thymbra capitata (L.) Cav.)