Chemical Composition and Biological Activity of Echinophora Species

Echinophora species, belonging to the Apiaceae family, are characterised by a complex array of volatile and non-volatile secondary metabolites. Essential oils extracted from aerial parts typically comprise high levels of monoterpenes (such as α-phellandrene and δ-3-carene) and phenylpropanoids (notably methyl eugenol), with marked chemotypic variation between wild and cultivated materials. Beyond volatiles, flavonoids, coumarins, phenolic acids, phytosterols and rare polyacetylenes contribute to the genus’s chemical diversity. These compounds underpin a spectrum of biological activities. Antimicrobial and antifungal potencies have been demonstrated against both human pathogens and phytopathogenic fungi. Antioxidant and radical-scavenging properties derive from phenolic and flavonoid constituents, while cytotoxic and pro-apoptotic effects have been observed in cancer cell lines. In addition, selective modulation of transient receptor potential channels by polyacetylenes suggests novel analgesic applications. Traditional uses as flavouring agents, preservatives and herbal remedies are now supported by pharmacological evidence, highlighting global relevance in drug discovery, agricultural protection and food safety.

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Chemical Composition and Biological Activity of Echinophora Species publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in chemical composition and biological activity of echinophora species across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Monoterpenes: Volatile hydrocarbons composed of two isoprene units, often responsible for characteristic plant aromas and bioactivity.

Phenylpropanoids: Aromatic compounds derived from phenylalanine, involved in defence mechanisms and possessing antioxidant properties.

Polyacetylenes: Linear or cyclic compounds featuring multiple carbon–carbon triple bonds, notable for diverse pharmacological activities.

Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS): An analytical technique that separates and identifies volatile compounds based on their mass spectra.

Transient receptor potential (TRP) channels: A family of ion channels implicated in sensing temperature, pain and chemical stimuli.

Apoptosis: Programmed cell death involving nuclear fragmentation and caspase activation, distinct from necrosis.

References

1. Chemical Composition and Antimicrobial Activity against Phytopathogenic Fungi of Essential Oils Obtained from Echinophora tenuifolia subsp. sibthorpiana Grown in Wild and Cultivated Conditions in Turkey. Molecules (2023).
2. Genus Echinophora—Biological Activity, Chemical Composition, and Future Perspectives. Plants (2024).
3. Inhibition of Growth and Induction of Apoptosis in Fibrosarcoma Cell Lines by Echinophora platyloba DC: In Vitro Analysis. Advances in Pharmacological and Pharmaceutical Sciences (2013).
4. TRPA1 Modulating C14 Polyacetylenes from the Iranian Endemic Plant Echinophora platyloba. Molecules (2018).