Composition and biological activity of essential oil of Achillea ligustica All. (Asteraceae) naturalized in central Italy: ideal candidate for anti-cariogenic formulations

Fitoterapia. 2009 Sep;80(6):313-9. doi: 10.1016/j.fitote.2009.04.004. Epub 2009 Apr 17.

Abstract

Essential oil from flowers (FL) and vegetative parts (VP) of Achillea ligustica (Asteraceae), naturalized after cultivation in central Italy, was investigated by GC-FID and GC-MS. The most abundant components were linalool, viridiflorol, beta-pinene, 1,8-cineole and terpinen-4-ol. The antioxidant assays (DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging assays, and beta-carotene bleaching test) demonstrated a moderate activity of essential oils. The antimicrobial activity was evaluated by the broth micro-dilution method on 6 microbial strains and showed to be quite strong against the cariogenic Gram-positive Streptococcus mutans, suggesting that this essential oil could be a valid candidate for anti-cariogenic formulations. Moderate cytotoxic activity was observed in assays on four tumour cell lines by MTT assay.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Achillea / chemistry*
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / isolation & purification
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / isolation & purification
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / pharmacology*
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / therapeutic use
  • Antioxidants / isolation & purification
  • Antioxidants / pharmacology*
  • Antioxidants / therapeutic use
  • Benzothiazoles
  • Biphenyl Compounds
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Dental Caries / drug therapy
  • Flowers
  • Humans
  • Italy
  • Oils, Volatile / chemistry
  • Oils, Volatile / pharmacology*
  • Oils, Volatile / therapeutic use
  • Phytotherapy*
  • Picrates
  • Plant Oils / chemistry
  • Plant Oils / pharmacology*
  • Plant Oils / therapeutic use
  • Plant Structures
  • Streptococcus mutans / drug effects
  • Sulfonic Acids
  • Thiazoles

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
  • Antioxidants
  • Benzothiazoles
  • Biphenyl Compounds
  • Oils, Volatile
  • Picrates
  • Plant Oils
  • Sulfonic Acids
  • Thiazoles
  • 2,2'-azino-di-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline)-6-sulfonic acid
  • 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl