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The essential oils isolated from leaves, wood, and cones of the Tunisian endemic cypress Cupressus sempervirens L. var. numidica Trab. collected from three natural populations were characterized by GC-FID and GC/MS analyses. In the wood, leaf, and cone oils, 38, 35, and 26 constituents, representing 94.4, 97.8, and 98.5% of the total oil compositio...
Citations
... However, more of them might be expected using modified conditions. Leaves and aerial parts of C. sempervirens are known to contain the compounds that we identified (Tapondjou et al. 2005;Mazari et al. 2010;Boukhris et al. 2012;Elansary et al. 2012;Giatropoulos et al. 2013;El Hamrouni-Aschi et al. 2013;Selim et al. 2014;Zouaghi et al. 2015;Badawy et al. 2017;Rguez et al. 2018;Politi et al. 2022;Alimi et al. 2022). However, discrepancies exist across studies and that may be due to plants coming from different cultivars and populations (Badawy et al. 2017), and to the use of various chemical methodologies, especially in terms of sample preparation and equipment sensitivity (Frezza et al. 2022). ...
Several sawfly species (Hymenoptera: Symphyta) possess larval stages with oesophageal diverticula in which plant compounds are sequestered and used for defence against predators. These organs are present in the larvae of Susana (Tenthredinidae) but remain poorly studied. Here, the aim was to analyse the diverticula extract of Susana cupressi by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to better understand the ecology of this species. The foliage of the hostplant (Cupressus sempervirens), as well as the larval foregut, midgut, and haemolymph were also analysed. Complementary data were gathered by morphological observations, bioassays using ants, and genetic analyses to identify the studied Susana species. Altogether, 48 terpenes were identified, 30 being sesquiterpenes. The terpenes were generally detected in the foliage, but also in the diverticula, foregut, and midgut, whereas none of them in the haemolymph. The main compounds were alpha-cedrene, alpha-fenchene, alpha-pinene, alpha-terpinyl acetate, beta-myrcene, beta-pinene, cedrol, delta 3-carene, epi-bicyclosesquiphellandrene, germacrene D, limonene, sabinene, and terpinolene. The chemical profiles of these 13 compounds were significantly correlated between foliage–diverticula, diverticula–foregut and foregut–midgut, but not correlated for the three remaining possible comparisons. Alpha-pinene decreased and germacrene D increased from the foliage to the diverticula, which may reflect a specific sequestration of the latter terpene and its known deleterious effects on insects. We conclude that larvae of S. cupressi, similarly to those of diprionids, are well defended against predatory attacks by sequestering and regurgitating hostplant terpenes, including germacrene D.
... Different authors reported the increase of monoterpene amounts as a response to drought, water stress and hot climate, that enable many aromatic plants under stressed conditions to lower their photosynthetic activities and significantly reduce the emission of their terpene compounds, which results in their accumulation within secretory glands [50,51]. The statement was also supported by findings of El Hamrouni-Aschi et al. [52] who reported the higher yields of EOs from cupressus simpervirens in semi-arid regions of Tunisia. In contrast, some authors reported different statement, regarding reduction of essential oil production due to the water stress for different plant like S. officinalis [53], Mexican oregano [12], and Achillea eriophora [54]. ...
Chemical composition and essential oil contents among essential oil-bearing plants are mostly influenced by different factors including ecological features of habitat. In this study, variation in yield and chemical composition of essential oils (EOs) from the leaves of Cupressus lusitanica Mill. (Cupressaceae) in different regions of Rwanda was investigated. Extraction of essential oils from fresh leaves of C. lusitanica collected in March 2021 and April, 2021 from three different ecological zones of Rwanda, Buberuka highland zone (Burera), Central plateau zone (Huye) and Eastern savannah zone (Kayonza) was realized through steam distillation. The chemical compositions of distilled EOs were analyzed using both Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), while their yields were determined by simple calculus. The average yields of the EOs were 0.27 ± 0.02, 0.34 ± 0.02 and 0.39 ± 0.01% (v/w) for Burera, Huye and Kayonza, respectively. Results of FT-IR analysis were confirmed by those of GC-MS analysis, and indicated the presence of different groups of compounds including aliphatic alkanes, carboxylic acids, alkenes, aldehydes, aromatics and ketones in the EOs. GC-MS results revealed that sabinene (20.84%), myrcene (19.63%), α-pinene (10.23%) and δ-3-carene (10.13%) were the dominant chemical constituents for EOs of C. lusitanica from Burera. Umbellulone (24.21%), δ-3-carene (16.76%), sabinene (10.54%) and α-pinene (8.21%) were the main constituents for EOs of C. lusitanica from Huye, while γ-terpinene (18.77%), umbellulone (18.16%), isobornyl acetate (9.972%), and myrcene (7.20%) were the major components of EOs of C. lusitanica from Kayonza. The current results demonstrated an intraspecific variation in content and chemical profile of C. lusitanica EOs from one geographical region to another. The observed variations are mostly due to the interactions of C. lusitanica species with climatic and environmental conditions of ecological habitat. However, it could also be the effects of various biotic factors, as well as maturity of plant and stage of plant growth. Further studies are needed to establish the influence of different geo-climatic and environmental factors on each single major component of C. lusitanica EOs.
... numidica Trab. (Farjon, 2005), and is represented by two populations in the Kesra region (Maktar), on the Northern slopes of the Tunisian ridge (El Hamrouni-Aschi et al., 2013), the largest one (Bou-Abdallah) currently covers as pure woodland an area of 4 ha only. ...
Only few woody species of North Africa have been the subject of biogeographical studies, despite the importance of this region, in the Mediterranean area, for the presence of hotspots of endemism and biodiversity, and of refugia. Here, we present research on the Afro-Mediterranean Cupressus spp., which have a discontinuous and fragmented distribution, resulting from population dynamics experienced during their life history. We aim to retrace their demographic history, by combining Bayesian clustering and approximate Bayesian computation (ABC) methods. The fragmentation of the cypress gene pool dates back to Pliocene, when the Mediterranean and the North African lineages separated from a common ancestor. The separation of C. atlantica and C. dupreziana dates back to the Pleistocene, when the history of C. dupreziana as relic species started. Finally, C. sempervirens var. numidica is likely endemic of Tunisia, belonging to the cypress gene pool of the central Mediterranean since the Pleistocene.
... There are several reports on the chemical composition, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of oils from C. sempervirens grown in different parts of the world [27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36] . In previous studies, the essential oil composition of C. sempervirens cv. ...
The genus Cupressus belonging to Cupressaceae family has twelve species worldwide. In Iran, Cupressus consists of only one species with two varieties C. sempervirens. var. horizentalis and C. sempervirens. var. sempervirens which has a cultivar namely C. sempervirens. cv. Cereiformis. In this study, the potential antioxidant activities of the oils of different parts of Cupressus sempervirens, C. sempervirens cv. Cereiformis and C. sempervirens var. horizentalis were examined.The qualitative and quantitative compositions of the oils were studied by GC/FID and GC/MS. Then the obtained essential oils, their main components as well as positive controls (Quercetin, DMSO, vitamin E and ascorbic acid) were subjected to different antioxidant tests including Rapid Thin-layer Chromatography method, diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay, deoxyribose degradation test, and modified deoxyribose degradation test. While all the essential oils and pure compounds showed activity in rapid TLC screening, only the leaf oil of C. sempervirens var. sempervirens (38.4 %) and C. sempervirens cv. Cereiformis (77.9 %) exhibited moderate activity in DPPH assay. In deoxyribose degradation test, the low concentrations (0.05-0.2 μL/mL) of these two plants showed moderate activity while the fruit oil of C. sempervirens var. horizentalis showed the highest activity (17.7 %). These essential oils may be considered as natural preservatives in low concentrations provided that their organoleptic, cytotoxicity and allergic effects would be examined. Thus, complementary studies are recommended to be established. Moreover, it is suggested to examine the antioxidant activity of these oils by using non-polar or less polar solvent systems before any final conclusion.
... The lignocellulosic raw material used in this study is constituted by cypress wood sawdust (CWS) collected from a carpentry manufactory located in the region of Menzel Bouzelfa (North East of Tunisia). Cypress wood is one of the most abundant biomass in Tunisia which is largely used as windbreaks and ornamentals [17]. It is commonly used for household furniture and house wares and therefore generated significant quantities of cypress sawdust wastes during transformation processes. ...
The goal of the present research is to study the effect of the inorganic species on the pyrolysis mechanism of lignocellulosic biomass. Many contradictions as the catalytic role of inorganic salts characterize the research works published up to now. These ambiguities are reasonably due to the morphological and structural modifications of the reacting biomass by the various demineralization and impregnation methods, that impact on the pyrolysis mechanism. In order to clarify the effect of inorganics on the pyrolysis mechanism, alkali and alkaline earth (AAEM) containing salts were deposited by impregnation method on cypress sawdust. Nuclear magnetic resonance analyses showed that the biomass structure was preserved and that metal deposition passes through a cationic exchange mechanism.
... Cypress wood type "Cupressus sempervirens" is one of the most abundant biomass in Tunisia which is largely used as windbreaks and ornamentals [16]. It is commonly used for household furniture and housewares. ...
... Cypress sawdust wastes generated by agricultural and industrial activities need an expensive treatment process like landfilling. Recent studies are focusing on giving an added-value to these residues and creating valuable products from this sawdust [16]. To our knowledge, there is no research to date on the use of raw or chemically modified Tunisian Cypress sawdust as a source of energy and for the production of biochars. ...
Bamboo leaves extract concentrate (BEC) was used as curing liquid, while different ratios of bamboo poles and cypress (1∶0 (A), 2∶1 (B), 1∶1 (C), 0∶1 (D)) were applied as smoking materials in bacon to investigate the oxidation and flavor effects during storage. The results indicated that the oxidation degree and residual nitrite content of the four groups remained lower during the whole storage. As for flavor compounds before and after storage, the differences of group A were mainly reflected in aldehydes, esters and alcohols, of groups B and C were mainly reflected in ketones, alcohols and acids. While the differences of group D were mainly reflected in hydrocarbons and phenolics, accompanied by heavier resin and smoky odor as well as onefold main flavor compounds after storage. According to the oxidation degree and the overall changes in flavor compounds, group A was considered as the best among the four groups.
The emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in China and its spread worldwide has become one of the biggest health problem due to the lack of knowledge about an effective chemotherapy. Based on the current reality of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, this study aimed to make a review literature about potential anti-coronavirus natural compounds guided by an in silico study. In the first step, essential oils from native species found in the Brazilian herbal medicine market and Brazilian species that have already shown antiviral potential were used as source for the literature search and compounds selection.
Among these compounds, 184 showed high antiviral potential against rhinovirus or picornavirus by quantitative structure–activity relationship analysis. (E)-α-atlantone; 14-hydroxy-α-muurolene; allo-aromadendrene epoxide; amorpha-4,9-dien-2-ol; aristochene; azulenol; germacrene A; guaia-6,9-diene; hedycaryol; humulene epoxide II; α-amorphene; α-cadinene; α-calacorene and α-muurolene showed by a molecular docking study the best result for four target proteins that are essential for SARS-CoV-2 lifecycle. In addition, other parameters obtained for the selected compounds indicated low toxicity and showed good probability to achieve cell permeability and be used as a drug. These results guided the second literature search which included other species in addition to native Brazilian plants. The majority presence of any of these compounds was reported for essential oils from 45 species. In view of the few studies relating essential oils and antiviral activity, this review is important for future assays against the new coronavirus.
