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Investigations into the pharmaceutical quality of a balm collection
Project
Project code: JKI-ÖPV-08-0086
Contract period: 01.01.2010
- 31.03.2013
Purpose of research: Experimental development
Secondary compounds are often ingredients of cosmetics but also of medicinal and aromatic plants. 26 of these substances were classified as potential allergen by the European Flavour and Fragrance Association. Constituents of balm such as neral and geranial (citral) are also classified as particularly allergenic. On the other hand, the same substances possess considerable antimicrobial and cytotoxic activity. In addition the requirements of the European Pharmacopeia have changed. Not the total content of hydoxy cinnamic acid derivates are crucial but only the content of rosmarinic acid. The quality of balm was defined up to now by high essential oil content and high content of hydoxy cinnamic acid derivates. In the future the essential oil content must be connected with both allergenicity and pharmaceutical activity, and simultaneously with high content of rosmarinic acid. A big balm collection (approx. 110 accessions) was cultivated in the JKI. The whole range of these properties is represented and therefore the complete material should be analyzed. Oils and extracts will be tested in regard to antimicrobial and cytotoxic activity and recommendations will be provided for farmers, breeders, producers and consumers.
Section overview
Subjects
- Plant Breeding
- Specialised crops
Framework programme
Funding programme
Excutive institution
Institute for Ecological Chemistry, Plant Analysis and Stored Products Protection (JKI-ÖPV)
