Concentrations of four monoterpenes were determined in needles of Pinus radiata (D.Don) (Pinales: Pinaceae) trees that were attacked or nonattacked by Tomicus piniperda (L.) (Coleoptera: Scolytinae). Compounds were identified and quantified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The mean ambient temperature was obtained using climate-recording data loggers. The effect of limonene on field agg...

Dastarcus helophoroides Fairmaire (Coleoptera: Bothrideridae) is an effective predatory beetle of larvae and pupae of several cerambycid beetles including Monochamus alternatus and Anoplophora glabripennis. Electroantennography (EAG) and a dynamic two-choice olfactometer were respectively used to measure the antennal and behavioral responses of both sexes to selected volatile compounds. Female ...

The ability of a complex mixture of organic compounds found in secondary organic aerosol (SOA) to act as a photosensitizer in the oxidation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) was investigated. Different types of SOAs were produced in a smog chamber by oxidation of various biogenic and anthropogenic VOCs. The SOA particles were collected from the chamber onto an inert substrate, and the result...

Background: Limonene is an important monoterpene used as a chemical commodity and precursor for producing biofuels, flavor and medicinal compounds. Results: In this paper, we engineered Escherichia coli by embedding two exogenous genes encoding a limonene synthase (LS) and a geranyl diphosphate synthase (GPPS) for production of limonene. Out of 12 E. coli strains transformed with various plasmi...

Terpenoid volatiles are isoprene compounds that are emitted by plants to communicate with the environment. In addition to their function in repelling herbivores and attracting carnivorous predators in green tissues, the presumed primary function of terpenoid volatiles released from mature fruits is the attraction of seed-dispersing animals. Mature oranges (Citrus sinensis) primarily accumulate ...

Background: Liver cancer is the second outstanding reason for cancer-related death global and thus a main public health challenge. Plant-based drugs are regarded as promising therapies. Basil and Dracocephalum kotschyi extracts have shown therapeutic impacts on various cancers. Therefore, we assessed the effects of the extract of Basil and Dracocephalum kotschyi on cell proliferation and BCL2 e...

Peel and leaf oils of 58 mandarin cultivars, belonging to 15 different species were obtained from fruits and leaves collected on mandarin-trees submitted to the same pedoclimatic and cultural conditions. Their chemical composition was investigated by capillary GC, GC/MS and 13C NMR and the results were submitted to a cluster analysis and a discriminant analysis. Three major chemotypes, limonene...

A series of seven limonene beta-amino alcohol derivatives has been regioselectively synthesised in moderate to good yields. Two of these compounds were found to be significantly effective against in vitro cultures of the Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis promastigote form in the micromolar range. The activities found for 3b and 3f were about 100-fold more potent than the standard drug, Pentamid...

BACKGROUND Clinical trials have shown that docetaxel combined with other novel agents can improve the survival of androgen-independent prostate cancer patients. d -Limonene, a non-nutrient dietary component, has been found to inhibit various cancer cell growths without toxicity. We sought to characterize whether a non-toxic dose of d -limonene may enhance tumor response to docetaxel in an in vi...

Selective transformations of limonene by asco- and basidiomycetes were investigated. On the shake flask scale, Penicillium citrinum hydrated R-(+)-limonene to a-terpineol [83% regioselectivity (rs), more than 80 mg l(-1) product yield], and Gongronella butleri catalysed the terminal oxidation to yield perillyl alcohol (60% rs, 16 mg l(-1)). On the laboratory bioreactor scale, Penicillium digita...