CH-Table 2

 

Effects of volatile oils on the chemotaxis of Tetrahymena pyriformis

 

(Kġhidai, L., Lemberkovics, É., Csaba, G.  Acta Protozool 34:181-185)

 

Volatile oils

Attractant domain(s)

[vol%]

Peak

[vol%]

Significance

p<

Repellent domain(s)

[vol%]
Peak

[vol%]

 
Significance

p<

Mentha piperita

 

 

 

10-5-10-4

10-2-100

 

100

0.001

Ocimum basilicum

10-6-10-5

 

10-5

0.01

10-2-100

100

0.001

Eucalyptus citriodora

 

 

 

10-5;

10-3-100

10-5

0.001

Salvia officinalis

 

 

 

10-5-10-4

10-2-100

100

0.001

Cinnamonum aromaticum

 

 

 

10-6;

10-4-100

100

0.001

Oleum helianthi

 

 

 

10-6-100

10-5

0.001

 

 

 

Conclusions:

 

  1. The  linalool-acyclic monoterpene alcohol containing volatile oil of  Ocimum basilicum was the only chemoattractant subtance.
  2. Volatiles rich in monocyclic and bicyclic monoterpenes from Mentha piperita and Salvia officinalis  elicited dose-dependent, repellent effects.
  3. The strongest repellent effect was elicited by the acyclic monoterpene aldehyde (citronellal) and acyclic or monocyclic monoterpene alcohol (citronellol or isopulegol) containig volatile oil of Eucalyptus citriodora.
  4. The phenyl propane derivative from Cinnamonem aromaticum was also repellent.
  5. Oleum helianthi has a moderate and concentration-independent repellent effet.

 

 

The results indicate that signal molecules derived from plants have specific, recognition-dependent effects on the chemotaxis of  unicellular model cells.