title: Phytochemical and Cytogenetic Characterization of Centaurea solstitialis L. (Asteraceae) from Croatia.
abstract: The cytogenetic characterization of Centaurea solstitialis L. (Asteraceae) showed a chromosome number of 2n = 16. Karyotype is composed by four pairs of metacentric, two pairs of submetacentric and two pairs of subtelocentric chromosomes. Physical mapping of two rDNA probes revealed two loci of 35S and one locus of 5S rRNA genes. Chromomycin fluorochrome banding revealed that all rDNA loci were GC rich. The genome size (2C-value) of 1.95 pg classes this species in the group of very small genomes. Chemical composition of C. solstitialis volatile oil (VO) from Croatia, studied with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry showed dominant components as it follows: hexadecanoic acid, α-linolenic acid, germacrene D and heptacosane. Antioxidant capacity, measured by ferric reducing power assay and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl methods, as well as inhibition of acetyl- and butyrylcholinesterase of VO was lower comparing to a standard solutions. Volatile oil tested with disc diffusion method showed good inhibitory potential against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli and all tested fungi: Candida albicans, Penicillium funiculosum and Aspergillus fumigatus. The microdilution method showed best activity against Chronobacter sakazakii and A. fumigatus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Chemistry and Technology, University of Split, Ruđera Boškovića 35, 21 000, Split, Croatia.
authors.forename: Ivana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Carev
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Split, Ruđera Boškovića 33, 21 000, Split, Croatia.
authors.forename: Mirko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ruščić
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Split, Ruđera Boškovića 33, 21 000, Split, Croatia.
authors.forename: Mirjana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Skočibušić
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Split, Ruđera Boškovića 33, 21 000, Split, Croatia.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maravić
authors.affiliation: Ecologie Systématique Evolution, University of Paris-Sud, CNRS, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, FR-91400, Orsay Cedex.
authors.forename: Sonja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Siljak-Yakovlev
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Chemistry and Technology, University of Split, Ruđera Boškovića 35, 21 000, Split, Croatia.
authors.forename: Olivera
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Politeo
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D031179:Centaurea / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D032461:Chromosomes, Plant / Q000235:genetics; D017523:Croatia; D020732:Cytogenetic Analysis / Q000379:methods*; D018744:DNA, Plant / Q000235:genetics*; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000235:genetics; D005658:Fungi / Q000187:drug effects; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D018745:Genome, Plant; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D064209:Phytochemicals / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D018744:DNA, Plant; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D064209:Phytochemicals
keywords: 
  Centaurea solstitialis
  ; Antimicrobial activities; Antioxidant capacity; Cholinesterase inhibition; Cytogenetic profile; Genome size; Volatile oil