Flower and root oils of the tunisian Daucus carota L. ssp. maritimus (Apiaceae): integrated analyses by GC, GC/MS, and 13C-NMR spectroscopy, and in vitro antibacterial activity

Chem Biodivers. 2009 Jun;6(6):881-9. doi: 10.1002/cbdv.200800144.

Abstract

The essential oils from flowers and roots of Daucus carota L. ssp. maritimus were obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by combination of GC, GC/MS, and (13)C-NMR. The chemical composition of the flower and root oils of this subspecies is reported here for the first time. Thirty-two and six compounds were identified in flower and root oils, respectively. A remarkable difference was found between the constituent percentages of the two organs. The chemical composition of the essential oil from flowers was characterized by a high proportion of monoterpene hydrocarbons (68.4%) and belonged to the sabinene (4; 51.6%) chemotype. The oxygenated monoterpenes represented the second major fraction of the same oil among which terpinen-4-ol (11.0%) was the predominant compound. Root oil exhibited a surprisingly different composition. Phenolic derivatives (76.3%), myristicin (31; 29.7%), and dillapiole (32; 46.6%) constituted the main fraction. The antibacterial effect resulted in the inhibition of a series of common human pathogenic bacteria, and of some clinically and environmentally isolated strains with significant MIC and MBC values.

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / chemistry*
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
  • Carbon Isotopes / chemistry
  • Chromatography, Gas
  • Daucus carota / chemistry*
  • Flowers / chemistry*
  • Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Oils, Volatile / chemistry*
  • Oils, Volatile / pharmacology
  • Plant Roots / chemistry*

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Carbon Isotopes
  • Oils, Volatile