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Bulletin of theTransilvania University of Braşov Series II: Forestry•Wood Industry• Agricultural Food Engineering• Vol. 10 (59) No.2 - 2017

OVERVIEW OF MOST POPULAR ROMANIAN MEDICINAL AND AROMATIC AS POTENTIAL SOURCES OF BIOMATERIALS

Manuel DRUGULESCU1,2 Simona SPÎNU1,3 Ionuț MORARU4 Daniela IONESCU1,5

Abstract: Nowadays, human society search for a balance between multiple socio-economic forces including the consumption, overuse of resources, traditional resource depletion, climatic changes and the approach of renewable resources usage or environmental protection. Exploiting Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (MAPs) as raw material, by-products and waste derived there from, can take advantage of greater collaboration between research and industry, applying the processing systems necessary to treat large volumes of biomass characterized by specific economic values, requiring new processing technologies capable of reducing solvent consumption and increase overall environmental sustainability cycle. The category of biomaterials as raw materials, products and waste from the processing of MAPs is a resource for obtaining: compounds (polyphenols, flavonoids, lysine, inulin and terpenes. etc.), essential oils, substances for pharmaceutical use, dietary supplements, nutraceuticals, cosmetics and personal care products for protection/crop plants. These can be used as a resource for non-food industries such as the production of biofuels, preparation of vegetable polyesters and biopolymers, rubber and textiles. In conclusion, the use of biomaterials and MAPs subsumed them represent a direction that brings the balance to some extent sought or at least pave the way towards this balance.

Key words: Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (MAPs),biomass,biomaterials.

1 University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest, 59 Mărăști Blvd., Bucharest, 011464, Romania; 2 SC Biotech Prod SRL, 45 Prelungirea Ghencea Str., Bragadiru, Ilfov, Romania; 3 University of Bucharest, Faculty of Physics, Doctoral School of Biophysics and Medical Physics, 405 Atomiștilor Str., Măgurele, Ilfov, 077125, Romania; 4 SC Laboratoarele Medica SA, Otopeni, 075100, Romania; 5 Hofigal Export Import S.A., 2 Intrarea Serelor Str., Bucharest, 042124, Romania. Correspondence: Simona Spînu; email: [email protected]. 96 Bulletin of the TransilvaniaUniversity of Braşov • Series II • Vol. 10 (59) No. 2 - 2017

1. Introduction it is growing in all the regions, especially in southern and south-western parts of the The whole world is full of herbs and country. Apium graveolens L. (commonly plants, which are used in all areas starting known as „”) is a MAP in the with the classics ones and continuing with family and is among the most the complex and more advanced domains frequently used spices in Romanian nowadays, creating a bridge between cuisine. humans and the environment. Therefore, Mentha x piperita L. (peppermint) is plants with aromatic properties (aroma, MAP species in the family that fragrant and sweet-smells) are used in grows in entire Romanian territory and it is medicinal purposes, and their effects have used as food spice as well as for been tested since the earliest times, each therapeutic activities as antimicrobial, time confirming their benefits and giving antifungal, cytostatic [12], antispasmodic, them the term of Medicinal and Aromatic tonic, vasodilator, digestion promoter Plants (MAPs). Given the usage of MAPs (stimulates liver, gall bladder, kidney) and in various areas, recently, their waste respiratory disorders [22]. Origanum materials resulted became of really interest vulgare L. (oregano) is a MAP part of and therefore make the subject of this Lamiaceae family with predominant study. MAPs as L., presence in south of Romania. Helianthus Amaranthus caudatus L., Plantago media tuberosus L. (Jerusalem artichoke) is a L., Apium graveolens L., Ocimum MAP part of Asteraceae family, found in basilicum L., Origanum vulgare L., Romania (mainly in crop) and it is well- Mentha x piperita L., Helianthus tuberosus known for its polysaccharides, L. are popular in Romania and are present oligosaccharides, coumarins, in this work due to the reach compounds polyacetylenes, inulin and sesquiterpenes found in raw materials, by-products and contents. waste from their processing. Leonurus cardiaca L. (motherwort) is a 2. Materials and Methods medicinal and aromatic plant (MAP) derived from subfamily and This paper represents a short overview of Lamiaceae herb family. This plant was the published literature data regarding the described by Herodotus in the 5th century use of selected medicinal and aromatic B.C. spread all over Romania [5]. plants that can be found on Romanian Amaranthus caudatus L. (foxtail territory (Leonurus cardiaca L., amaranth) is one of the most important Amaranthus caudatus L., Plantago media cultivated species nowadays in Romania, L., Apium graveolens L., Ocimum part of Amaranthiodae subfamily and basilicum L., Origanum vulgare L., Amaranthaceae family. Plantago media L. Mentha x piperita L., Helianthus tuberosus (hoary plantain) is a MAP part of L.) for the obtaining of valuable bio- Plantaginaceae family that can be found materials. all over Romanian wet grasslands [5], [6], This paper is intended to help readers [8], [15], [24]. discover the potential of the selected plants Ocimum basilicum L. (commonly known for obtaining innovative biomaterials. The as „sweet basil”) is an herbaceous and literature data reviewed comprised of annual plant, from Lamiaceae family, technical studies published as scientific widely grown in different parts of Asia, journal articles, books, theses and reports; Africa, America and . In Romania, the relevant information was searched M. DRUGULESCU et al.: Overview of Most Popular Romanian Medicinal … 97 through various electronic databases or (HPLC-MS) [29], [30], thin layer publisher’s archives (Science Direct, chromatography (TLC) [3] and a series of Springer, Taylor and Francis, MEDLINE, tests carried to establish the properties of Scopus and Google Scholar) using the obtained materials, such as the Folin- keywords such as “medicinal plants”; Ciocalteu method [1], [4], [29], “aromatic plants”; “biomaterials”, determination of the antioxidant properties “extraction techniques”, scientific name of using the free radical the plants, etc. The focus of the search was diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay [1], on the last decade. As it is not possible to [4], [13], [20] etc. incorporate all the information recovered, we selected information that could be 3. Results and Discussions easily accessible to researchers, highly relevant for the selected topic and Biomaterials that can be obtained from belonging to trusted scientific sources. Due plants are: essential oils, substances for to space limitations, a number of 40 papers pharmaceutical use, dietary supplements, were selected to be presented, mainly nutraceuticals, pigments and dyes, presenting Romanian or Balkan plant cosmetics and personal care, products for varieties. Where such results were not plant protection/crop plants. Biomass available, studies on varieties from the rest residues and wastes are a renewable energy of the world are presented. Also, a survey and raw mate-rials easy to find in nature as of the bio-products available on the a good option for fossil resources as Romanian market based on the selected chemical and fuel production. medicinal plants was performed. Helianthus tuberosus L. is a viable The vegetal materials used for the biorefinery crop [16] due to its high extractions can cover all parts of the plants, content in valuable components (especially while the extraction techniques mostly inulin and sugars), for the development of encountered are ultrasound-assisted high value products with medical extraction [2], microwave-assisted ex- applications [16]. Its potential use also traction (MAE) [2], supercritical carbon covers the production of bio-ethanol, dioxide (SC-CO2) extraction [15], [35], through the fermentation of the Jerusalem liquid–liquid extraction (LLE) [12] and artichoke hydrolysates [26] or by an pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) [23]. innovative one-step fermentation, as The usual methods of analysis proposed by [9]. Jerusalem artichoke encountered are represented by the components can also be found in a series UV/VIS spectrophotometry [4], [13], [29], of pharmaceuticals available on the [27], liquid chromatography–mass Romanian market (i.e. Redigest Plus, spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) [23], high- Alphalpha Complex, Condartroz-Plus and performance liquid chromatography with Hof.Lipomin). electrospray ionization mass spectrometry The vegetal products from Apium (HPLC-ESI-MS) [30], chemiluminescence graveolens L. are the fruits, roots and analyses [16], high-performance thin-layer , with a rich chemical composition chromatography (HPTLC) [1], high- such as volatile oils, vitamins B1, B2, C, performance liquid chromatography carbohydrates, proteins, fats, carotenoids, (HPLC) [13], [17], [20], gas flavones glycosides, bitter principles, chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC- monoterpenes (myrcene, α limonene, α and MS) [3], [12], high-performance liquid β pinene etc.) in significant quantities, chromatography-mass spectrometry sesquiterpenes, (β-cariophyllene, α and β- 98 Bulletin of the TransilvaniaUniversity of Braşov • Series II • Vol. 10 (59) No. 2 - 2017 selinene etc.) representing a very valuable C, nitrogen and minerals, being an industrial crop [19], [32]. important source of biomaterials such as Spiridon et al. [31] describes the red food colorants, antioxidants and incorporation of biomass fibres recovered valuable phytochemicals [7]. In the from celery root wastes into a polylactic Romanian market, this MAP is found in acid matrix, thus obtaining innovative the composition of several pharmaceuticals green materials; the obtained material (tablets Fiamarant, Antioxidant Complex showed a high sorption capacity and an and Reglacid). increased specific surface, compared with The chemical compositions of aerial the polymer. [34] describes the potential parts of Ocimum basilicum L., such as use of celery extract as a bio-herbicide (by volatile oil (especially linalool, estragol determining the influence of the aqueous and eugenol), hydroxycinnamic acid extract on the seeds germination of several derivatives (rosmarinic acid), flavonoids species). Celery components can be found (quercetin and kaempferol glycosides, in several therapeutic recipes in hospitals xanthomicrol and salvigenin) and [10] and bio-products found on the triterpenes (ursolic and oleanolic acids) are Romanian market (i.e. Activmod Plus responsible for the antimicrobial, diuretic, Medicin®, Protein Power) [10]. and digestive-stimulative properties of the Biopolymers packed like amylose and drug [3], [4], [13], [33]. [39] presented amylopectin forms the natural plant application of volatile oils (obtained by polymer named starch, found in hydrodistillation) of two O. basilicum Amaranthus caudatus L. grains, is used for population as potential antimicrobial and obtaining the biodegradable starch based anti-fungal bio-material. [25] developed products such as wound dressings in the innovative biomaterials by coating O. regeneration of skin, vascular and cartilage basilicum on different polymeric supports regeneration, carrier or drugs or hormones and tested them for prevention of bacterial in delivery system and have in vitro adhesion (Staphylococcus aureus, biocompatibility with 3T3 fibroblast cells Staphylococcus epidermidis, Escherichia [36]. SC-CO2-based bio-refineries are coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and important pillars for producing bio-fuels biofilm formation and biofilm formation by grains from plants (A. caudatus) and [25]. In the Romanian market, O. waste streams increasing the bioeconomy basilicum is found in the composition of and decreasing the energy requirements several pharmaceuticals (i.e. Natural [9]. A. caudatus is a potentially source of Detoxifying Complex). bioactive chemicals founded in Mentha x piperita L. is used widely for pharmaceutical and food industries or flavouring a lot of bioproducts in food, some daily dietary regimes because of his cosmetic and pharmaceutical industry like rich content of lysine, as found by Vujacic chewing gum, candies, mouthwashes or et al. on a study of 10 amaranth genotypes toothpaste [10], [12] also in clinical [38], and a source of hevein-like peptides aromatherapy [22] and biocosmetic with 6 cysteine residues containing Ac – industry [10]. AMPs (antimicrobial peptides) which These widespread use is due to M. includes inhibition fungal growth piperita’s complex composition in properties, as presented by [18]. About bioactive compounds as monoterpenoids 50% of Amaranthus’s seed proteins at (p-menthone, iso-menthone, limonene, maturity are globulin and albumin and are menthol, carvone, cis-piperitoneoxid, 1, 8- different types of it that contains vitamin cineole) [12]. [28] recently proposed the M. DRUGULESCU et al.: Overview of Most Popular Romanian Medicinal … 99 use of peppermint essential oil in a bio- acid, oleanolic acid, lavandulifolioside, compound used for the preservation of stachydrine, leonurine, known for its stored minced beef meat. In the Romanian possible cardioactive principle that is market, pepper-mint compounds are found absent in the fruits of L. cardiaca, in the composition of several flavonoids, phenolic acids, volatile oils, pharmaceuticals (i.e. Natural Detoxifying sterols and tannins [1], [17], [40]. Complex and Catinofort). Furthermore, this MAP in Romania is The main compound of Origanum found in the composition of several vulgare L. used in food and pharm pharmaceuticals (i.e. cap-sulesAntistres, industries (for its well-known antioxidant Antistres D Tea or Hyper-Antistres and and antibacterial activity) is the plant’s tablets Passisclerotin) [10]. essential oil rich in phenolic and flavonoid The leaves from P. media are used in compounds [20]. There is used O. vulgare medicine to treat various disorders as compounds, with cellulose, as edible atherosclerosis, laryngitis, stomatitis, biofilms for life extenders of food hyperacidity gastritis and bleeding [5]. It is a bioproducts [37]. This plant has high rich source of aucubin and its derivatives antioxidant activity due to its high value of [14]. The review paper of [11] exhaustively total phenols [1], [29], [30], [16] presents the characteristics and potential (rosmarinic acid, luteolin-7-O-glucuronide, applications of several Plantago species, luteolin, syringic acid). Main compounds including P. media, while [21] mentions the present in O. vulgare essential oil are antifungal potential of P. media bio- phenolic monoterpenes, carvacrol and materials obtained through extraction. In thymol. O. vulgare is used as food spices Romanian market is found in the and for medicinal purpose as antimicrobial, composition of several pharmaceuticals (i.e. antiseptic, expectorant and digestive Tusimun potion). activity [20] and part of several pharmaceuticals (i.e. Evitus and Natural 4. Conclusions Salicylol). Leonurus cardiaca L. and Plantago Most of selected plants in our study, media L. plants, even though under-used, commonly found in Romania, and used have a hyper diversified biological activity medicinally, industrial or alimentary are therefore studies showed its presence in basic pillars for biomaterials world. Plants different biomaterials used as treatment that contain large amounts of oils (Mentha like tincture, infusion, alcoholic liquid x piperita L., Ocimum basilicum L. and extract or dry extract [40]. Origanum vulgare L.) are often used for and twigs from L. cardiaca are their antibacterial properties. Also, these rich in biologically active substances like three MAP plants are used in cosmetic and essential oils, flavonoids, vitamins, fragrance industries for their essential oils. polyphenolic acids, carbohydrates and are Plants as Amaranthus caudatus L. and used to treat various disorders as Helianthus tuberosus L. are dominants for hypertension, lung diseases, digestion [5], their applications in biorefineries and hypertiroidism, bronchial asthma, plants as Ocimum basilicum L., Apium amenorrhoea, hypotonic and sedative graveolens L., Plantago media L., effects, gynaecological disorders, skin Leonurus cardiaca L., Origanum vulgare abrasions or burns the plant has important L., Mentha x piperita L. for their sec-ondary compounds as iridoids, biomedical application as biomaterials. clerodane, furanolabdane, labdane, ursolic Also, wastes obtained after the extraction 100 Bulletin of the TransilvaniaUniversity of Braşov • Series II • Vol. 10 (59) No. 2 - 2017 of the active principles from all the 5. 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