Rosemary ( Rosmarinus officinalis ) as a functional ingredient: recent scientific evidence

High-quality chromosome-level genome assembly and multi-omics analysis of rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus) reveals new insights into the environmental and genome adaptation

High-quality genome of rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus) represents a valuable resource and tool for understanding genome evolution and environmental adaptation as well as its genetic improvement. However, the existing rosemary genome did not provide insights into the relationship between antioxidant components and environmental adaptability. In this study, by employing Nanopore sequencing and Hi-C technologies, a total of 1.17 Gb (97.96%) genome sequences were mapped to 12 chromosomes with 46 121 protein-coding genes and 1265 non-coding RNA genes. Comparative genome analysis reveals that rosemary had a closely genetic relationship with Salvia splendens and Salvia miltiorrhiza, and it diverged from them approximately 33.7 million years ago (MYA), and one whole-genome duplication occurred around 28.3 MYA in rosemary genome. Among all identified rosemary genes, 1918 gene families were expanded, 35 of which are involved in the biosynthesis of antioxidant components. These expanded gene families enhance the ability of rosemary adaptation to adverse environments. Multi-omics (integrated transcriptome and metabolome) analysis showed the tissue-specific distribution of antioxidant components related to environmental adaptation. During the drought, heat and salt stress treatments, 36 genes in the biosynthesis pathways of carnosic acid, rosmarinic acid and flavonoids were up-regulated, illustrating the important role of these antioxidant components in responding to abiotic stresses by adjusting ROS homeostasis. Moreover, cooperating with the photosynthesis, substance and energy metabolism, protein and ion balance, the collaborative system maintained cell stability and improved the ability of rosemary against harsh environment. This study provides a genomic data platform for gene discovery and precision breeding in rosemary. Our results also provide new insights into the adaptive evolution of rosemary and the contribution of antioxidant components in resistance to harsh environments.

The effect of rosemary hydroalcoholic extract on cognitive function and activities of daily living of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): A clinical trial

BACKGROUND

In patients living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cognitive impairment and reduced activities of daily living (ADLs) are associated with poor clinical outcomes.

AIM

The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of rosemary hydroalcoholic extract on cognitive function and ADLs in patients with COPD.

METHODS

A total of 77 COPD patients aged 40-80 years were assigned to two intervention and control groups by random stratified block method in the current tripleblind clinical trial. The intervention group received 500 mg rosemary capsules and the control group received oral capsules containing corn powder twice a day, one to two hours before breakfast and dinner, for two months. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment-Basic (MoCA-B), London Chest Activity of Daily Living scale (LCADL) and Lawton Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) were used to measure cognitive function and the measure of basic and instrumental daily life activities, before and after the intervention, respectively.

RESULTS

The mean total score of cognitive function (P = 0.022) and the two subscales of abstraction (P = 0.003) and naming (P = 0.034) significantly increased after the intervention in the intervention group. There was no significant difference between the intervention and control groups in terms of changes in the mean scores of IADL and LCADL (P < 0.05). The final statistical model showed that the changes in the total mean score of cognitive function (P = 0.014) and IADL (P = 0.047) in intervention group patients are significantly higher than in the control group after adjusting the effect of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

CONCLUSION

The rosemary hydroalcoholic extract can be effective in improving cognitive function and IADL in patients with COPD, but not LCADL.

CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION NUMBER

IRCT20150919024080N16.

Role of Terpenophenolics in Modulating Inflammation and Apoptosis in Cardiovascular Diseases: A Review

One in every three deaths worldwide is caused by cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), estimating a total of 17.9 million deaths annually. By 2030, it is expected that more than 24 million people will die from CVDs related complications. The most common CVDs are coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction, stroke, and hypertension. A plethora of studies has shown inflammation causing both short-term and long-term damage to the tissues in many organ systems, including the cardiovascular system. In parallel to inflammation processes, it has been discovered that apoptosis, a mode of programmed cell death, may also contribute to CVD development due to the loss of cardiomyocytes. Terpenophenolic compounds are comprised of terpenes and natural phenols as secondary metabolites by plants and are commonly found in the genus Humulus and Cannabis. A growing body of evidence has shown that terpenophenolic compounds exhibit protective properties against inflammation and apoptosis within the cardiovascular system. This review highlights the current evidence elucidating the molecular actions of terpenophenolic compounds in protecting the cardiovascular system, i.e., bakuchiol, ferruginol, carnosic acid, carnosol, carvacrol, thymol and hinokitiol. The potential of these compounds is discussed as the new nutraceutical drugs that may help to decrease the burden of cardiovascular disorders.

Influence of enzymatic pretreatment on yield and chemical composition of Rosmarinus officinalis essential oil

Effect of enzymatic pretreatment before hydrodistillation process on yield and composition of Rosmarinus officinalis essential oil was studied. Results obtained by using two selected commercial enzymes applied in food and beverage industry were compared. Control process with non-enzymatic pretreatment in analogous conditions was also performed for proper interpretation of results. Application of gas chromatography with mass selective detector (GC-MS) enabled analysis and comparison of essential oils composition. Moreover, total phenolic content (TPC) was determined spectrophotometrically in post-processing hydrolates, which are also valuable products e.g. for cosmetic applications. Modifications of isolation process by pretreatment with selected enzymes resulted in significant increase in essential oil yields in comparison to conventional hydrodistillation and control process with non-enzymatic pretreatment in analogous conditions. No substantial changes in the composition of obtained essential oils were observed. In post-processing hydrolates higher values of total phenolic content (TPC) were found both after enzymatic and non-enzymatic pretreatment.

A Validated Method for the Determination of Carnosic Acid and Carnosol in the Fresh Foliage of Salvia rosmarinus and Salvia officinalis from Greece

In the framework of a project aiming at identifying genotypes of Greek rosemary and sage producing high amounts of carnosic acid, an HPLC-PDA method was developed for the determination of the main antioxidant in the fresh leaves. To this end, an effective and repeatable extraction process of the labile diterpene was developed to ensure a good extraction yield. A fast RP-HPLC protocol was developed and optimized to allow for a short and reliable analysis of the unstable target constituent. The HPLC-PDA method was validated for precision and accuracy according to ICH guidelines. Finally, the overall method was validated for precision and accuracy at three concentration levels. The precision was acceptable with % RSD values ranging between 1.42 and 4.35. The recovery ranged between 85.1% and 104.6% with RSD values < 5%, within the acceptable limits. The developed assay was fast and simple and allowed for the fast and accurate determination of carnosic acid and carnosol in the fresh herbs. The methodology was applied to the quantitative analysis of several cultivated samples of S. rosmarinus and S. officinalis, and some of them were revealed to be promising starting materials for the development of Greek genotypes rich in carnosic acid.

Utilizing of the Common Dehydrating Techniques to obtain maximum benefit from the Protein and mineral Composition of rosemary leaves for Spice and Herbal Tea Production

In the study, we examined in detail the effect of dehydrating using natural drying in the shade, convection drying, and microwave drying, which are the most widely used techniques, especially for tea and spices, both in practice and in theory, on the protein, and mineral composition of rosemary leaves. Also, we determined the color parameters, which are the reason for the selection because it creates the allure for spices. In microwave drying at 600 W, we obtained results close to fresh rosemary in all color parameters, especially brightness and greenness. Although natural drying, which does not have any energy and investment costs, is the second-best method in terms of color, 50 °C, which is the most common drying technique in the market, caused significant color losses affecting the commercial value of the product. We reached the closest protein and P, Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn, Mn, and contents to fresh products in dried ones at 600 W. In contrast, in K only, the highest measurement was at 200 W. Strikingly, we observed dramatic losses reducing the benefit obtained from the product regarding protein and almost all nutrients in both convective and natural drying techniques, the most common methods in practice.

Chemoprevention effect of the Mediterranean diet on colorectal cancer: Current studies and future prospects

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer and the second most deadly cancer worldwide. Nevertheless, more than 70% of CRC cases are resulted from sporadic tumorigenesis and are not inherited. Since adenoma-carcinoma development is a slow process and may take up to 20 years, diet-based chemoprevention could be an effective approach in sporadic CRC. The Mediterranean diet is an example of a healthy diet pattern that consists of a combination of nutraceuticals that prevent several chronic diseases and cancer. Many epidemiological studies have shown the correlation between adherence to the Mediterranean diet and low incidence of CRC. The goal of this review is to shed the light on the anti-inflammatory and anti-colorectal cancer potentials of the natural bioactive compounds derived from the main foods in the Mediterranean diet.

Alteration of gut microbiota in high‐fat diet‐induced obese mice using carnosic acid from rosemary

Rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) is widely used as a food ingredient. Rosemary extract (containing 40% carnosic acid) exhibited potent antiobesity activity. However, the relationship between carnosic acid (CA) and changes in the gut microbiota of high‐fat diet (HFD)‐induced obese mice has not been fully investigated. C57BL/6 mice were fed a normal diet, an HFD, or an HFD containing 0.1% or 0.2% CA for 10 weeks. CA exhibited promising antiobesity effects and caused marked alterations in the gut microbiota of HFD‐induced obese mice. CA caused the prevalence of probiotics and functional bacteria, including Akkermansia muciniphila, Muribaculaceae unclassified, and Clostridium innocuum group, and inhibited diabetes‐sensitive bacteria, including Proteobacteria and Firmicutes. The ratio of Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes was regulated by CA in a dose‐dependent manner, decreasing it from 13.22% to 2.42%. Additionally, CA reduced bile acid‐metabolizing bacteria, such as Bilophila, Clostridium, Lactobacillus, and Leuconostoc. The results of the linear discriminant analysis and effect size analysis indicated that CA attenuated the microbial changes caused by HFD. The high CA (HCA) group (HFD containing 0.2% CA) exhibited a greater abundance of Verrucomicrobiae (including Akkermansia muciniphila, genus Akkermansia, family Akkermansiaceae, and order Verrucomicrobiales), Eubacterium, and Erysipelatoclostridium, and the low CA (LCA) group (HFD containing 0.1% CA) exhibited a greater abundance of Eisenbergiella, Intestinimonas, and Ruminococcaceae. Our results demonstrate that the antiobesity effects of CA might be strongly related to its prebiotic effects.

Effect of rosemary leaf powder with weight loss diet on lipid profile, glycemic status, and liver enzymes in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: A randomized, double-blind clinical trial

Experimental and some clinical studies have shown beneficial effects of rosemary leaf on liver function and biochemical parameters. The present study aimed to examine the impact of rosemary leaf powder with a weight loss diet in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. In a randomized double-blinded clinical trial, 110 patients were randomly assigned to receive either 4 g rosemary leaf or placebo (starch) powders for 8 weeks. In addition, all participants in the study were given weight loss diet and physical activity recommendations. Compared with baseline, alanine aminotransferase (p < .001), aspartate aminotransferase (p < .001), alkaline phosphatase (p < .001), gamma glutamyltransferase (p < .001), fasting blood glucose (p < .001), fasting insulin (p < .001), insulin resistance (p < .001), total cholesterol (p = .003), triglyceride (p < .001), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (p < .001), and anthropometric indices (weight, body mass index, and waist circumferences) decreased significantly in the rosemary and placebo group with weight loss. However, after 8 weeks, no significant difference between the rosemary and placebo groups was detected in the variables as mentioned above except homeostasis model assessment of β-cell dysfunction (p = .014). The findings of the current clinical trial study revealed that rosemary group did produce changes, but they were not statistically different from those produced by the diet/activity intervention alone.

A New Phenolic Diterpene From the Leaves of Rosmarinus officinalis

As part of our continuous studies on dietary supplements for diabetes, 1 new phenolic diterpene, 7-butoxyrosmanol (1), and 3 known ones (2-4) were isolated from Rosmarinus officinalis. The new structure was elucidated based on comprehensive spectroscopic methods, including multiple nuclear magnetic resonance techniques, mass spectrometry, and x-ray diffraction analysis. In addition, compound 1 showed moderate activity against pancreatic lipase with an IC50 value of 46.2 μM.

Deodorizing effects of rosemary extract on silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) and determination of its deodorizing components

Fishy odor in fish products severely influences both eating quality and commercial acceptability, and natural plant extracts, particularly spices, have recently become popular for the removal of fishy odor. This study aimed to explore the potential of rosemary extract for the deodorization of silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix), as well as to identify the deodorizing components in rosemary extract. Results showed that all of the spice extracts used in this study (ginger, garlic, angelica dahurica, fennel, rosemary, nutmeg, white cardamom, cinnamon, star anise, and bay leaf) significantly reduced the fishy odor value of silver carp, among which rosemary extract was most effective, decreasing the fishy odor value by about 58%. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis and sensory evaluation showed that the fishy odor value and concentrations of the fishy odor-active compounds were significantly reduced by the application of rosemary extract. However, the lower the total phenolic content of rosemary extract, the poorer the deodorizing effects against silver carp, suggesting that the deodorizing effect was primarily driven by polyphenols. Fourteen phenolic compounds were measured in rosemary extract, and three individual phenolic compounds (rosmarinic acid [RA], carnosic acid [CA], and carnosol [CS]) were chosen for deodorizing experiment. Sensory detection results and changes of contents of volatile showed that these three phenolic compounds are effective at removing the fishy odor. These results suggest that polyphenols are the main deodorizing components, and RA, CA, and CS are the main deodorizing active compounds in rosemary extract. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: The results of this study may provide a new way to determine the deodorizing components of spice extracts. Moreover, it can provide guidance for further research in investigating the deodorizing mechanism of sipce extracts.

Effect of chemical modification of hydrodistillation on yield, composition and biological activity of Rosmarinus officinalis essential oil

Studies on the chemical modifications of Rosmarinus officinalis essential oil hydrodistillation process (HD) by using 5% citric acid (CA-HD) and 5% trisodium citrate (TSC-HD) as a water phase were performed. Composition of essential oils obtained in conventional and modified conditions was analyzed by gas chromatography with mass selective detector method (GC-MS) and compared. Antioxidant activity of all essential oils was determined spectrophotometrically by using DPPH radical scavenging method. It was found that applied modifications of hydrodistillation process enhanced yields and antioxidant activity and the best results were obtained using 5% citric acid as a modifier. Effect of this modification on fungicidal activity of essential oils against 8 various fungi strains (Alternaria alternata, Botrytis cinerea, Fusarium culmorum, Phythophtora cactorum, Rhizoctonia solani, Phythophtora infestans, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and Ascosphaera apis) was also determined and in most cases enhanced activity was observed.

Metabolite Profiling of Rosemary Cell Lines with Antiproliferative Potential against Human HT-29 Colon Cancer Cells

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) is a culinary and medicinal plant used in food and pharmaceutical industry. The wide range of biological activities is mainly related to phenolic and terpenic compounds; like carnosic acid (CA), carnosol (CS) and rosmarinic acid (RA), mainly reported in rosemary leaf extracts, and recently described in rosemary callus extracts. The aim of this work was to investigate the chemical profile of rosemary cell lines and evaluate their antiproliferative potential against human HT-29 colorectal cancer cell lines. For this purpose, rosemary leaf explants were dedifferentiated on MS medium and added with 2, 4-D (2, 4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid; 2 mg/L) and BAP (6-benzylaminopurine; 2 mg/L). Cell aggregates were separated according to colour and three rosemary cell lines cultures were established: green (RoG), yellow (RoY) and white (RoW). The chemical profile of rosemary cell lines extracts was characterized by combining HPLC and GC platforms coupled to HR-MS/MS. The antiproliferative activity against HT-29 cell line was analyzed with MTT assay. A total of 71 compounds, including hydroxycinnamic acid and hydroxybenzoic acid derivatives, flavonoids, phenolic di- and triterpenes, as well as relevant unsaturated fatty acids and their esters, phytosterols, and carotenoids were tentatively identified in the extract of the target cell lines. The antiproliferative activity test against HT-29 cell using the MTT assay revealed that the viability of HT-29 colon cancer cells was affected after treatment with the RoW extract (IC50 of 49.63 μg/mL) at 48 h. These results showed that rosemary cell lines can also accumulate other bioactive phytochemicals with demonstrated antiproliferative potential.

Within-Plant Variation in Rosmarinus officinalis L. Terpenes and Phenols and Their Antimicrobial Activity against the Rosemary Phytopathogens Alternaria alternata and Pseudomonas viridiflava

This study investigated within-plant variability of the main bioactive compounds in rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.). Volatile terpenes, including the enantiomeric distribution of monoterpenes, and phenols were analyzed in young and mature foliar, cortical and xylem tissues. In addition, antimicrobial activity of rosmarinic acid and selected terpenes was evaluated against two rosemary pathogens, Alternaria alternata and Pseudomonas viridiflava. Data showed that total concentration and relative contents of terpenes changed in relation to tissue source and age. Their highest total concentration was observed in the young leaves, followed by mature leaves, cortical and xylem tissues. Rosmarinic acid and carnosic acid contents did not show significant differences between leaf tissues of different ages, while young and mature samples showed variations in the content of four flavonoids. These results are useful for a more targeted harvesting of rosemary plants, in order to produce high-quality essential oils and phenolic extracts. Microbial tests showed that several terpenes and rosmarinic acid significantly inhibited the growth of typical rosemary pathogens. Overall, results on antimicrobial activity suggest the potential application of these natural compounds as biochemical markers in breeding programs aimed to select new chemotypes less susceptible to pathogen attacks, and as eco-friendly chemical alternatives to synthetic pesticides.

Comprehensive Phenolic and Free Amino Acid Analysis of Rosemary Infusions: Influence on the Antioxidant Potential

The phenolics profile, free amino acids composition, and antioxidant potential of rosemary infusions were studied. Forty-four compounds belonging to nine different groups (hydroxybenzoic acids, hydroxycinnamic acids, flavan-3-ols, flavanones, flavones, phenolic diterpenes, hydroxybenzaldehydes, coumarins, and pyranochromanones) were identified by UHPLC-ESI-Q-TOF-MS. Of these, seven were firstly described in rosemary infusions: a rosmanol derivative, two dihydroxycoumarin hexosides, a hydroxybenzaldehyde, a dihydroxybenzoic acid hexoside, coumaric acid hexoside, and isocalolongic acid. The free amino acid profile of the beverages was also reported by the first time with seven amino acids found (asparagine, threonine, alanine, tyrosine, phenylalanine, isoleucine, and proline). Furthermore, DPPH^• scavenging ability, Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power and Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity, as well as total phenolics and flavonoids contents, were assessed. Overall, rosemary infusions showed to be a very good source of antioxidants. A 200 mL cup of this infusion contributes to the ingestion of ~30 mg of phenolic compounds and about 0.5–1.1 μg of free amino acids. This type of beverages may present a positive impact on the maintenance of the body antioxidant status and contribute to the prevention of oxidative stress related diseases.

JB. Enriched Fresh Pasta with a Sea Bass By-Product, a Novel Food: Fatty Acid Stability and Sensory Properties throughout Shelf Life

A by-product from the filleting of sea bass (Dicentrachus labrax) was used to manufacture enriched pasta. The research aimed at achieving an increase of protein and unsaturated fatty acid contents, making innovative and healthy pasta products that are able to step up fish consumption. Two different kind of cereals were used to make fresh pasta, which were subjected to frozen storage with the addition or not of a rosemary antioxidant. The developed pastas were analyzed by physicochemical methods. Proximal analysis demonstrated an improvement of nutritional values on those of a common pasta. Fatty acid profiles, acidity indices, and TBARS (Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances) index confirmed the stability of fat and effective protection against oxidation, especially in pasta with added antioxidant. The cooking time for pasta was set at 90 s, and color parameters were modified due to the incorporation of fish in the pasta-making process. An enrichment in fatty acids ω-3 and ω-6 was also confirmed. The conversion of α-linolenic acid (ALA) in eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in frozen storage was detected, which remained stable during 90 days. Finally, sensory profiles of enriched pasta were found to be adequate and improved following the addition of an antioxidant due to a decrease of negative attributes associated with oxidation.

Identification of bioactive compounds that contribute to the α-glucosidase inhibitory activity of rosemary

To investigate the bioactive compounds that contribute to the α-glucosidase inhibitory activity of rosemary, phenolics and triterpene acids were characterized and quantified using quadrupole-Orbitrap mass spectrometry and enzyme assay. Two phenolic diterpenes (carnosol and hydroxy p-quinone carnosic acid) and two triterpene acids (betulinic acid and ursolic acid) were identified as potent α-glucosidase inhibitors. Carnosol, a major diterpene in rosemary, showed significant α-glucosidase inhibitory activity with IC50 value of 12 μg mL-1, and its inhibition mode was competitive. The inhibition mechanism of carnosol on α-glucosidase was further investigated by a combination of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) spectroscopy, fluorescence quenching studies and molecular-modeling techniques. The SPR assay suggested that carnosol had a high affinity to α-glucosidase with equilibrium dissociation constant (KD) value of 72.6 M. Fluorescence quenching studies indicated that the binding between carnosol and α-glucosidase was spontaneous and mainly driven by hydrophobic forces. Molecular docking studies revealed that carnosol bound to the active site of α-glucosidase. Furthermore, the oral administration of carnosol at 30 mg kg-1 significantly reduced the postprandial blood glucose levels of normal mice. This is the first report on the α-glucosidase inhibition and hypoglycemic activity of phenolic diterpenes, and these results could facilitate the utilization of rosemary as a dietary supplement for the treatment of diabetes.

The Potential of High Voltage Discharges for Green Solvent Extraction of Bioactive Compounds and Aromas from Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.)-Computational Simulation and Experimental Methods

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) is a Mediterranean medicinal and aromatic plant widely used due to valuable bioactive compounds (BACs) and aromas. The aim of the study was to evaluate the extraction of intracellular compounds from rosemary combining experimental procedure by means of high voltage electrical discharge (HVED), with a theoretical approach using two computational simulation methods: conductor-like screening model for real solvents and Hansen solubility parameters. The optimal HVED parameters were as follows: frequency 100 Hz, pulse width 400 ns, gap between electrodes 15 mm, liquid to solid ratio 50 mL/g, voltage 15 and 20 kV for argon, and 20 and 25 kV for nitrogen gas. Green solvents were used, water and ethanol (25% and 50%). The comparison was done with modified conventional extraction (CE) extracted by magnetic stirring and physicochemical analyses of obtained extracts were done. Results showed that HVED extracts in average 2.13-times higher total phenol content compared to CE. Furthermore, nitrogen, longer treatment time and higher voltage enhanced higher yields in HVED extraction. HVED was confirmed to have a high potential for extraction of BACs from rosemary. The computational stimulation methods were confirmed by experimental study, ethanol had higher potential of solubility of BACs and aromas from rosemary compared to water.

Antioxidant activity screening and chemical constituents of the essential oil from rosemary by ultra-fast GC electronic nose coupled with chemical methodology

BACKGROUND

Traditional chemical methods were mainly used to evaluate the total antioxidant activity of essential oils. How to determine the bioactivity of each compound in mixtures is an interesting research topic. Nowadays, an ultra-fast gas chromatography electronic nose (E-nose) has been gradually used in the detection of volatile compounds, but the screening of the active components of essential oils has not been reported. E-nose coupled with chemical methodology was established using the essential oil from rosemary (EOR) as a specific application example. The proposed method can both identify the chemical constituents of EOR and quickly screen the antioxidant by comparing the change of chromatographic peak area of every component in EOR before and after reaction with free radicals.

RESULTS

Among all chemical constituents in EOR, verbenone, eucalyptol and o-cymene showed the strongest scavenging abilities in 1,1'-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazine (DPPH·), 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethyl-benzothiazoline-6-sulphonate) (ABTS·⁺ ) and hydroxyl (·OH) radicals, respectively, with scavenging rates of 67.9%, 39.5%, and 69.9%. The reliability and feasibility of using E-nose to identify chemical constituents of EOR were verified by gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS). The GC-MS/MS results showed that the main components of EOR were α-pinene (422.2 μg g^-1 ), p-cymene (208.4 μg g^-1 ), camphor (203.5 μg g^-1 ), verbenone (160.2 μg g^-1 ), and eucalyptol (129.1 μg g^-1 ).

CONCLUSIONS

The E-nose methods can be used as a complementary method to traditional spectrophotometric techniques. Furthermore, this study will be of great significance for the rapid screening of antioxidant active components in essential oils from natural products. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

Spray-Dried Proliposomes: an Innovative Method for Encapsulation of Rosmarinus officinalis L. Polyphenols

This work aims to improve the functionality of Rosmarinus officinalis L. (rosemary) polyphenols by encapsulation in an optimized proliposome formulation. A 2³ Box-Wilson central composite design (CCD) was employed to determine lone and interaction effects of composition variables on moisture content (X_p); water activity (A_w); concentration and retention of rosemary polyphenols-rosmarinic acid (ROA), carnosol (CAR), and carnosic acid (CNA); and recovery of spray-dried proliposomes (SDP). Processing conditions which generate proliposomes with optimum physicochemical properties were determined by multi-response analysis (desirability approach). Antioxidant and antifungal activities were evaluated by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH^•) sequestering and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC)/minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) assays, respectively. SDP exhibited high polyphenol retention, ranging from 62.0 to 100.0% w/w, showing dependence on composition variables and polyphenol lipophilicity. SDP recovery ranged from 20.1 to 45.8%, with X_p and A_w of 1.7 ± 0.14-2.5 ± 0.23% w/w and 0.30 ± 0.004-0.47 ± 0.003, respectively, evidencing product with good chemical and microbiological stability. Optimum liposomal composition was determined, namely, lipid concentration (4.26% w/w), lyophilized extract (LE) concentration (4.48% w/w), and drying aid:(lipid+extract) ratio (7.55% w/w) on wet basis. Relative errors between experimental and predicted values for SDP properties showed concurrence for all responses except CAR retention, being 22% lower. SDP showed high antioxidant activity with IC₅₀ of 9.2 ± 0.2 μg/mL, superior to results obtained for LE (10.8 μg/mL) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), a synthetic antioxidant (12.5 μg/mL). MIC and MFC against Candida albicans (ATCC1023) were 312.5 μg/mL and 1250 μg/mL, respectively, a moderate antimicrobial activity for phytochemical-based products. SDP is shown as a veritable tool to encapsulate hydrophilic and lipophilic rosemary polyphenols generating a product with optimal physicochemical and biological properties.

Rosmarinus plants: Key farm concepts towards food applications

Rosmarinus species are aromatic plants that mainly grow in the Mediterranean region. They are widely used in folk medicine, food, and flavor industries and represent a valuable source of biologically active compounds (e.g., terpenoids, flavonoids, and phenolic acids). The extraction of rosemary essential oil is being done using three main methods: carbon dioxide supercritical extraction, steam distillation, and hydrodistillation. Furthermore, interesting antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, antileishmanial, anthelmintic, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antidepressant, and antiamnesic effects have also been broadly recognized for rosemary plant extracts. Thus the present review summarized data on economically important Rosmarinus officinalis species, including isolation, extraction techniques, chemical composition, pharmaceutical, and food applications.

Characterization of Sicilian rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) germplasm through a multidisciplinary approach

In Sicily, small differences exist between wild and cultivated rosemary biotypes; VOCs and genetic profiles may be a useful tool to distinguish them. A germplasm collection of Rosmarinus officinalis L. was harvested from 15 locations in Sicily. Eleven wild and four cultivated populations were collected and, due to the surveyed area covered, they can be considered as a representative panel of Sicilian genetic background of the species. Ex situ plant collection was transferred to the field cultivation in homogeneous conditions for characterizing through a multidisciplinary approach. The study included morphological traits observations (growth habitus, flower color, number and size of leaves, length and number of internodes), VOC profiles using HS-SPME, genome size by flow cytometry analysis, and genetic characterization by means of DNA and nuclear microsatellite (nSSR) investigation. To detect any pattern within- and among-populations variability, all morphological and chemical data were submitted to ANOVA, while clustering and structure population analysis were carried out using genetic profiles. The present work allowed us to distinguish rather well between wild and cultivated genotypes and to underline the biodiversity richness among rosemary Sicilian germplasm, never highlighted, useful for future breeding programs addressed to exploit this important resource.

Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activity of Rosemary, Pomegranate and Olive Extracts in Fish Patties

Natural extracts (rich in bioactive compounds) that can be obtained from the leaves, peels and seeds, such as the studied extracts of Pomegranate (P), Rosemary (RA, Nutrox OS (NOS) and Nutrox OVS (NOVS)), and olive (Olea europaea) extracts rich in hydroxytyrosol (HYT-F from olive fruit and HYT-L from olive leaf) can act as antioxidant and antimicrobial agents in food products to replace synthetic additives. The total phenolic compounds, antioxidant capacity (measured by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2-Azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazolin) -6-sulphonic acid (ABTS), Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP), and Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC_H)) and their antimicrobial power (using the diffusion disk method with the Escherichia Coli, Lysteria monocytogenes, and Staphilococcus Aureus strains) were measured. The results showed that all the extracts were good antioxidant and antimicrobial compounds in vitro. On the other hand, their antioxidant and antimicrobial capacity was also measured in fish products acting as preservative agents. For that, volatile fatty acid compounds were analysed by GS-MS at day 0 and 11 from elaboration, together with total vial count (TVC), total coliform count (TCC), E. Coli, and L. monocytogenes content at day 0, 4, 7 and 11 under refrigerated storage. The fish patties suffered rapid lipid oxidation and odour and flavour spoilage associated with slight rancidity. Natural extracts from pomegranate, rosemary, and hydroxytyrosol delayed the lipid oxidation, measured as volatile compounds, and the microbiological spoilage in fish patties. Addition of natural extracts to fish products contributed to extend the shelf life of fish under retail display conditions.

Effects of in vitro gastrointestinal digestion and colonic fermentation on a rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L) extract rich in rosmarinic acid

The potential phytochemical losses occurring throughout the sequential steps of in-vitro gastrointestinal digestion and colonic fermentation of a rosemary aqueous extract were investigated. Crude (CE), digested (DE) and fermented (FE) extracts were characterized in terms of their phenolic profile and biological activities. Rosmarinic acid was the phytochemical that underwent the most significate transformation during digestion and fermentation, which amounted to 60% compared to the 26% degradation of the total phenolics. Overall, the simulated digestion step decreased the antioxidant activity estimated by DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, ORAC and TBARS assays. Both CE and DE did not present antiproliferative potential, however, FE exhibited a pronounced cytotoxic activity (GI50 = 116 µg/mL) against HeLa cells. CE and DE showed to be moderate inhibitors of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA), S. aureus, Listeria monocytogenes, whilst the FE acted as a moderate inhibitor of MRSA and MSSA.

Acute ingestion of rosemary water: Evidence of cognitive and cerebrovascular effects in healthy adults

BACKGROUND

The use of herbal extracts and supplements to enhance health and wellbeing is increasing in western society.

AIMS

This study investigated the impact of the acute ingestion of a commercially available water containing an extract and hydrolat of rosemary ( Rosmarinus officinalis L. syn. Salvia rosmarinus Schleid.). Aspects of cognitive functioning, mood and cerebrovascular response measured by near-infrared spectroscopy provided the dependent variables.

METHODS

Eighty healthy adults were randomly allocated to consume either 250 mL of rosemary water or plain mineral water. They then completed a series of computerised cognitive tasks, followed by subjective measures of alertness and fatigue. Near-infrared spectroscopy monitored levels of total, oxygenated and deoxygenated haemoglobin at baseline and throughout the cognitive testing procedure.

RESULTS

Analysis of the data revealed a number of statistically significant, small, beneficial effects of rosemary water on cognition, consistent with those found previously for the inhalation of the aroma of rosemary essential oil. Of particular interest here are the cerebrovascular effects noted for deoxygenated haemoglobin levels during cognitive task performance that were significantly higher in the rosemary water condition. This represents a novel finding in this area, and may indicate a facilitation of oxygen extraction at times of cognitive demand.

CONCLUSION

Taken together the data suggest potential beneficial properties of acute consumption of rosemary water. The findings are discussed in terms of putative metabolic and cholinergic mechanisms.