Characterizing the essential oil composition and assessing the antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of two compositae taxa: Gerbera delavayi Franch. and Gerbera piloselloides (L.) Cass

IntroductionGerbera piloselloides (L.) Cass. and Gerbera delavayi Franch. are increasingly recognized for their medicinal properties, particularly among ethnic minority communities in southern China, where they are used for heat-clearing, detoxification, cough relief, lung expulsion, and asthma alle...

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Main Authors: Junkai Wu, Wanjun Hu, Jing Chen, Jianping Hu, Cuimin Ke, Zunlai Sheng
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-05-01
Series:Frontiers in Plant Science
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1527525/full
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author Junkai Wu
Wanjun Hu
Wanjun Hu
Jing Chen
Jianping Hu
Cuimin Ke
Zunlai Sheng
Zunlai Sheng
author_facet Junkai Wu
Wanjun Hu
Wanjun Hu
Jing Chen
Jianping Hu
Cuimin Ke
Zunlai Sheng
Zunlai Sheng
author_sort Junkai Wu
collection DOAJ
description IntroductionGerbera piloselloides (L.) Cass. and Gerbera delavayi Franch. are increasingly recognized for their medicinal properties, particularly among ethnic minority communities in southern China, where they are used for heat-clearing, detoxification, cough relief, lung expulsion, and asthma alleviation. Despite their traditional use, these species have been subjected to limited research regarding their biological activities, leaving a gap in scientific understanding. MethodsThis study was designed to investigate the essential oil (EO) compositions, as well as the antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of G. piloselloides and G. delavayi. The EOs were extracted via hydrodistillation and analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The antioxidant potential was assessed through ABTS and DPPH free radical scavenging assays, along with the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) method. The antimicrobial activity was evaluated against five bacterial strains, including two Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria) and three Gram-negative (Salmonella, Escherichia coli, Pasteurella multocida) species, using the broth microdilution technique.ResultsThe essential oil from G. piloselloides (EOgp) yielded 0.14% and was found to contain 24 compounds. It demonstrated high antioxidant activity in the ABTS assay and exhibited the strongest antibacterial effect against Listeria in vitro. In contrast, the essential oil from G. delavayi (EOgd) had a higher yield of 0.26% and contained a more complex composition with 100 compounds. It showed superior antioxidant activity in both the DPPH and FRAP assays and also demonstrated the highest antibacterial activity against Listeria.DiscussionThe findings of this study confirm that both G. piloselloides and G. delavayi possess significant potential as natural sources of antioxidants and antibacterial agents, warranting further exploration for their development into therapeutic products.
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spelling doaj-art-25b64d7875df4271b26331ce5cfe88822025-08-20T02:27:10ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Plant Science1664-462X2025-05-011610.3389/fpls.2025.15275251527525Characterizing the essential oil composition and assessing the antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of two compositae taxa: Gerbera delavayi Franch. and Gerbera piloselloides (L.) CassJunkai Wu0Wanjun Hu1Wanjun Hu2Jing Chen3Jianping Hu4Cuimin Ke5Zunlai Sheng6Zunlai Sheng7School of Pharmacy, Quanzhou Medical College, Quanzhou, ChinaCollege of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, ChinaHeilongjiang Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Pharmaceutical Development, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, ChinaSchool of Pharmacy, Quanzhou Medical College, Quanzhou, ChinaSchool of Pharmacy, Quanzhou Medical College, Quanzhou, ChinaSchool of Pharmacy, Quanzhou Medical College, Quanzhou, ChinaCollege of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, ChinaHeilongjiang Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Pharmaceutical Development, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, ChinaIntroductionGerbera piloselloides (L.) Cass. and Gerbera delavayi Franch. are increasingly recognized for their medicinal properties, particularly among ethnic minority communities in southern China, where they are used for heat-clearing, detoxification, cough relief, lung expulsion, and asthma alleviation. Despite their traditional use, these species have been subjected to limited research regarding their biological activities, leaving a gap in scientific understanding. MethodsThis study was designed to investigate the essential oil (EO) compositions, as well as the antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of G. piloselloides and G. delavayi. The EOs were extracted via hydrodistillation and analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The antioxidant potential was assessed through ABTS and DPPH free radical scavenging assays, along with the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) method. The antimicrobial activity was evaluated against five bacterial strains, including two Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria) and three Gram-negative (Salmonella, Escherichia coli, Pasteurella multocida) species, using the broth microdilution technique.ResultsThe essential oil from G. piloselloides (EOgp) yielded 0.14% and was found to contain 24 compounds. It demonstrated high antioxidant activity in the ABTS assay and exhibited the strongest antibacterial effect against Listeria in vitro. In contrast, the essential oil from G. delavayi (EOgd) had a higher yield of 0.26% and contained a more complex composition with 100 compounds. It showed superior antioxidant activity in both the DPPH and FRAP assays and also demonstrated the highest antibacterial activity against Listeria.DiscussionThe findings of this study confirm that both G. piloselloides and G. delavayi possess significant potential as natural sources of antioxidants and antibacterial agents, warranting further exploration for their development into therapeutic products.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1527525/fullessential oilGerbera delavayi Franch.Gerbera piloselloideschemical compositionantioxidant activityantibacterial activity
spellingShingle Junkai Wu
Wanjun Hu
Wanjun Hu
Jing Chen
Jianping Hu
Cuimin Ke
Zunlai Sheng
Zunlai Sheng
Characterizing the essential oil composition and assessing the antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of two compositae taxa: Gerbera delavayi Franch. and Gerbera piloselloides (L.) Cass
Frontiers in Plant Science
essential oil
Gerbera delavayi Franch.
Gerbera piloselloides
chemical composition
antioxidant activity
antibacterial activity
title Characterizing the essential oil composition and assessing the antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of two compositae taxa: Gerbera delavayi Franch. and Gerbera piloselloides (L.) Cass
title_full Characterizing the essential oil composition and assessing the antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of two compositae taxa: Gerbera delavayi Franch. and Gerbera piloselloides (L.) Cass
title_fullStr Characterizing the essential oil composition and assessing the antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of two compositae taxa: Gerbera delavayi Franch. and Gerbera piloselloides (L.) Cass
title_full_unstemmed Characterizing the essential oil composition and assessing the antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of two compositae taxa: Gerbera delavayi Franch. and Gerbera piloselloides (L.) Cass
title_short Characterizing the essential oil composition and assessing the antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of two compositae taxa: Gerbera delavayi Franch. and Gerbera piloselloides (L.) Cass
title_sort characterizing the essential oil composition and assessing the antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of two compositae taxa gerbera delavayi franch and gerbera piloselloides l cass
topic essential oil
Gerbera delavayi Franch.
Gerbera piloselloides
chemical composition
antioxidant activity
antibacterial activity
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1527525/full
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