The Essential Oil of Monarda didyma L. (Lamiaceae) Exerts Phytotoxic Activity in Vitro against Various Weed Seed.
The chemical composition of the essential oil of the flowering aerial parts of Monarda didyma L. cultivated in central Italy was analyzed by Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS). The major compounds of the oil were thymol (59.3%), p-cymene (10.3%), terpinolene (9.2%), δ-3-carene (4.4%), myrcene (3.7%), and camphene (3.4%). The essential oil was tested in vitro for its anti-germination activity against Papaver rhoeas L., Taraxacum officinale F. H. Wigg., Avena fatua L., Raphanus sativus L. and Lepidium sativum L. seeds, demonstrating good inhibitory activity in a dose-dependent way. The exposure of the employed weed seeds to M. didyma essential oil and thymol solution (59.3%) increased the level of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and malondialdehyde (MDA), markers of oxidative stress, in emerging 5-day-old rootlets.
Dipartimento di Scienze Biomolecolari, Università degli Studi di Urbino Carlo Bo, sez. Biologia Vegetale, via Bramante 28 61029 Urbino (PU), Italy. donata.ricci@uniurb.it.
Donata
D
Ricci
Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Chieti-Pescara G. d'Annunzio, via dei Vestini 31 66100 Chieti (CH), Italy. francesco.epifano@unich.it.
Francesco
F
Epifano
Dipartimento di Scienze Biomolecolari, Università degli Studi di Urbino Carlo Bo, sez. Biologia Vegetale, via Bramante 28 61029 Urbino (PU), Italy. daniele.fraternale@uniurb.it.
Daniele
D
Fraternale
D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D018525:Germination / Q000187:drug effects; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D031338:Monarda / Q000737:chemistry*; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D057685:Plant Weeds / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D012639:Seeds / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism
D009822:Oils, Volatile; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide
Monarda didyma L.; anti-germination; essential oil; hydrogen peroxide; malondialdehyde; phytotoxic activity