Chemical Composition, Acetylcholinesterase-Inhibitory Potential and Antioxidant Activity of Essential Oils from Three Populations of <i>Parthenium hysterophorus</i> L. in Ecuador

In this study, we analyzed the essential oils (EOs) extracted by steam distillation from the leaves and flowers of <i>Parthenium hysterophorus</i> L., grown in three different locations in southern Ecuador: Espíndola (ESP), Loja (LOJ) and Quilanga (QUI). Approximately 97.45%, 98.27% and...

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Main Authors: James Calva, María Belén Cuenca, Andrea León, Ángel Benítez
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Molecules
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/13/2712
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author James Calva
María Belén Cuenca
Andrea León
Ángel Benítez
author_facet James Calva
María Belén Cuenca
Andrea León
Ángel Benítez
author_sort James Calva
collection DOAJ
description In this study, we analyzed the essential oils (EOs) extracted by steam distillation from the leaves and flowers of <i>Parthenium hysterophorus</i> L., grown in three different locations in southern Ecuador: Espíndola (ESP), Loja (LOJ) and Quilanga (QUI). Approximately 97.45%, 98.27% and 95.99% of the oil constituents were identified using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and gas chromatography–flame ionization detection (GC-FID). Sesquiterpene hydrocarbons were predominant in the EOs. The most representative constituents of the sample from ESP were germacrene D (35.08%), myrcene (11.32%), (<i>E</i>)-β-ocimene (10.21%), (<i>E</i>)-caryophyllene (7.90%), germacra-4(15),5,10(14)-trien-1-α-ol (5.18%) and (<i>E</i>, <i>E</i>)-α-farnesene (4.99%), with an AChE IC<sub>50</sub> of 14.78 and with 16.38 and 93.16 µg/mL from ABTS and DPPH, respectively. The EOs from LOJ were characterized by the abundant presence of germacrene D (28.30%), myrcene (13.95%), (E)-β-ocimene (10.51%) and isolongifolan-7-α-ol (8.26%), with an AChE IC<sub>50</sub> of 16.65 and with 36.18 and 158.43 µg/mL from ABTS and DPPH, respectively. Finally, the EOs from QUI contained germacrene D (32.20%), myrcene (13.36%), (E)-β-ocimene (8.54%), (<i>E</i>, <i>E</i>)-α-farnesene (6.77%), germacra-4(15),5,10(14)-trien-1-α-ol (5.69%) and (E)-caryophyllene (5.37%), with an AChE IC<sub>50</sub> of 10.69 and with 14.50 and 92.98 µg/mL from ABTS and DPPH, respectively. This study identifies chemotypic variation in <i>P. hysterophorus</i> collected from different locations and, for the first time, the AChE inhibitor was evaluated. These findings provide a scientific basis for the clinical application of <i>P. hysterophorus</i> EOs in the future treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.
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spelling doaj-art-8aaa277acedc4a4d81867c33ddffb0b42025-08-20T02:36:27ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492025-06-013013271210.3390/molecules30132712Chemical Composition, Acetylcholinesterase-Inhibitory Potential and Antioxidant Activity of Essential Oils from Three Populations of <i>Parthenium hysterophorus</i> L. in EcuadorJames Calva0María Belén Cuenca1Andrea León2Ángel Benítez3Departamento de Química, Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja, Loja 1101608, EcuadorCarrera de Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja, Loja 1101608, EcuadorCarrera de Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja, Loja 1101608, EcuadorBiodiversidad de Ecosistemas Tropicales-BIETROP, Herbario HUTPL, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias, Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja (UTPL), Loja 1101608, EcuadorIn this study, we analyzed the essential oils (EOs) extracted by steam distillation from the leaves and flowers of <i>Parthenium hysterophorus</i> L., grown in three different locations in southern Ecuador: Espíndola (ESP), Loja (LOJ) and Quilanga (QUI). Approximately 97.45%, 98.27% and 95.99% of the oil constituents were identified using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and gas chromatography–flame ionization detection (GC-FID). Sesquiterpene hydrocarbons were predominant in the EOs. The most representative constituents of the sample from ESP were germacrene D (35.08%), myrcene (11.32%), (<i>E</i>)-β-ocimene (10.21%), (<i>E</i>)-caryophyllene (7.90%), germacra-4(15),5,10(14)-trien-1-α-ol (5.18%) and (<i>E</i>, <i>E</i>)-α-farnesene (4.99%), with an AChE IC<sub>50</sub> of 14.78 and with 16.38 and 93.16 µg/mL from ABTS and DPPH, respectively. The EOs from LOJ were characterized by the abundant presence of germacrene D (28.30%), myrcene (13.95%), (E)-β-ocimene (10.51%) and isolongifolan-7-α-ol (8.26%), with an AChE IC<sub>50</sub> of 16.65 and with 36.18 and 158.43 µg/mL from ABTS and DPPH, respectively. Finally, the EOs from QUI contained germacrene D (32.20%), myrcene (13.36%), (E)-β-ocimene (8.54%), (<i>E</i>, <i>E</i>)-α-farnesene (6.77%), germacra-4(15),5,10(14)-trien-1-α-ol (5.69%) and (E)-caryophyllene (5.37%), with an AChE IC<sub>50</sub> of 10.69 and with 14.50 and 92.98 µg/mL from ABTS and DPPH, respectively. This study identifies chemotypic variation in <i>P. hysterophorus</i> collected from different locations and, for the first time, the AChE inhibitor was evaluated. These findings provide a scientific basis for the clinical application of <i>P. hysterophorus</i> EOs in the future treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/13/2712<i>Parthenium hysteroporus</i>chemical compositionAChEgas chromatography
spellingShingle James Calva
María Belén Cuenca
Andrea León
Ángel Benítez
Chemical Composition, Acetylcholinesterase-Inhibitory Potential and Antioxidant Activity of Essential Oils from Three Populations of <i>Parthenium hysterophorus</i> L. in Ecuador
Molecules
<i>Parthenium hysteroporus</i>
chemical composition
AChE
gas chromatography
title Chemical Composition, Acetylcholinesterase-Inhibitory Potential and Antioxidant Activity of Essential Oils from Three Populations of <i>Parthenium hysterophorus</i> L. in Ecuador
title_full Chemical Composition, Acetylcholinesterase-Inhibitory Potential and Antioxidant Activity of Essential Oils from Three Populations of <i>Parthenium hysterophorus</i> L. in Ecuador
title_fullStr Chemical Composition, Acetylcholinesterase-Inhibitory Potential and Antioxidant Activity of Essential Oils from Three Populations of <i>Parthenium hysterophorus</i> L. in Ecuador
title_full_unstemmed Chemical Composition, Acetylcholinesterase-Inhibitory Potential and Antioxidant Activity of Essential Oils from Three Populations of <i>Parthenium hysterophorus</i> L. in Ecuador
title_short Chemical Composition, Acetylcholinesterase-Inhibitory Potential and Antioxidant Activity of Essential Oils from Three Populations of <i>Parthenium hysterophorus</i> L. in Ecuador
title_sort chemical composition acetylcholinesterase inhibitory potential and antioxidant activity of essential oils from three populations of i parthenium hysterophorus i l in ecuador
topic <i>Parthenium hysteroporus</i>
chemical composition
AChE
gas chromatography
url https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/13/2712
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