Mango ginger (Curcuma amada Roxb.) rhizome essential oils as source of environmental friendly biocides: Comparison of the chemical composition, antibacterial, insecticidal and larvicidal properties of essential oils extracted by different methods

Essential Oil Nanoemulsions-A New Strategy to Extend the Shelf Life of Smoothies

Over the years, consumer awareness of proper, healthy eating has increased significantly, but the consumption of fruits and vegetables remains too low. Smoothie drinks offer a convenient way to supplement daily diets with servings of fruits and vegetables. These ready-to-eat beverages retain the nutritional benefits of the raw ingredients from which they are made. Furthermore, they cater to the growing demand for quick and nutritious meal options. To meet consumer expectations, current trends in the food market are shifting towards natural, high-quality products with minimal processing and extended shelf life. Food manufacturers are increasingly aiming to reduce or eliminate synthetic preservatives, replacing them with plant-based alternatives. Plant-based preservatives are particularly appealing to consumers, who often view them as natural and organic substitutes for conventional preservatives. Essential oils, known for their antibacterial and antifungal properties, are effective against the microorganisms and fungi present in fruit and vegetable smoothies. However, the strong taste and aroma of essential oils can be a significant drawback, as the concentrations needed for microbiological stability are often unpalatable to consumers. Encapsulation of essential oils in nanoemulsions offers a promising and effective solution to these challenges, allowing for their use in food production without compromising sensory qualities.

Assessment of antimicrobial activity and GC-MS using culture filtrate of local marine Bacillus strains

Secondary metabolites produced by Bacillus species from marine sources encompass a variety of compounds such as lipopeptides, isocoumarins, polyketides, macrolactones, polypeptides and fatty acids. These bioactive substances exhibit various biological activities, including antibiotic, antifungal, antiviral, and antitumor properties. This study aimed to isolate and identify a particular species of Bacillus from marine water and organisms that can produce bioactive secondary metabolites. Among the 73 Bacillus isolates collected, only 5 exhibited antagonistic activity against various viral and bacterial pathogens. The active isolates were subjected to 16S rRNA sequencing to determine their taxonomical affiliation. Among them, Bacillus tequilensis CCASU-2024-66 strain no. 42, with the accession number ON 054302 in GenBank, exhibited the highest inhibitory potential. It displayed an inhibition zone of 21 mm against Bacillus cereus while showing a minimum zone of inhibition of 9 mm against Escherichia coli and gave different inhibition against pathogenic fungi, the highest inhibition zone 15 mm against Candida albicans but the lowest inhibition zone 10 mm was against Botrytis cinerea, Fusarium oxysporum. Furthermore, it demonstrated the highest percentage of virucidal effect against the Newcastle virus and influenza virus, with rates of 98.6% and 98.1%, respectively. Furthermore, GC-MS analysis was employed to examine the bioactive substance components, specifically focusing on volatile and polysaccharide compounds. Based on these results, Bacillus tequilensis strain 42 may have the potential to be employed as an antiviral agent in poultry cultures to combat Newcastle and influenza, two extremely destructive viruses, thus reducing economic losses in the poultry production sector. Bacteria can be harnessed for the purpose of preserving food and controlling pathogenic fungi in both human and plant environments. Molecular docking for the three highly active derivatives 2,3-Butanediol, 2TMS, D-Xylopyranose, 4TMS, and Glucofuranoside, methyl 2,3,5,6-tetrakis-O-(trimethylsilyl) was carried out against the active sites of Bacillus cereus, Listeria monocytogenes, Candida albicans, Newcastle virus and influenza virus. The data obtained from molecular docking is highly correlated with that obtained from biology. Moreover, these highly active compounds exhibited excellent proposed ADMET profile.

Clove Essential Oil: Chemical Profile, Biological Activities, Encapsulation Strategies, and Food Applications

Plants have proven to be important sources for discovering new compounds that are useful in the treatment of various diseases due to their phytoconstituents. Clove (Syzygium aromaticum L.), an aromatic plant widely cultivated around the world, has been traditionally used for food preservation and medicinal purposes. In particular, clove essential oil (CEO) has attracted attention for containing various bioactive compounds, such as phenolics (eugenol and eugenol acetate), terpenes (β-caryophyllene and α-humulene), and hydrocarbons. These constituents have found applications in cosmetics, food, and medicine industries due to their bioactivity. Pharmacologically, CEO has been tested against a variety of parasites and pathogenic microorganisms, demonstrating antibacterial and antifungal properties. Additionally, many studies have also demonstrated the analgesic, antioxidant, anticancer, antiseptic, and anti-inflammatory effects of this essential oil. However, CEO could degrade for different reasons, impacting its quality and bioactivity. To address this challenge, encapsulation is viewed as a promising strategy that could prolong the shelf life of CEO, improving its physicochemical stability and application in various areas. This review examines the phytochemical composition and biological activities of CEO and its constituents, as well as extraction methods to obtain it. Moreover, encapsulation strategies for CEO and numerous applications in different food fields are also highlighted.

Antimicrobial and Antiproliferative Effects of Zingiberaceae Oils: A Natural Solution for Oral Health

Essential oils have been recognised for their potential benefits in oral care. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial and antiproliferative activity of essential oils derived from four Zingiberaceae species. A combination of GC/MS and GC-FID was employed to analyse these essential oils. The results showed that β-myrcene (79.77 %) followed by ethyl-cinnamate (40.14 %), β-curcumene (34.90 %), and alloaromadendrene (25.15 %) as the primary constituents of Curcuma mangga, Curcuma xanthorrhiza, Kaempferia galanga and Curcuma aeruginosa, respectively. The Zingiberaceae oils were tested for their antibacterial activity against oral bacteria using the disc diffusion test. Curcuma xanthorrhiza oil showed the largest inhibition zones against Streptococcus mitis (19.50±2.22 mm) and Streptococcus sanguinis (15.04±3.05 mm). Similarly, Curcuma mangga oil exhibited significant antibacterial activity against Streptococcus mutans (12.55±0.45 mm) and mixed oral bacteria (15.03±3.82 mm). Furthermore, the MTT viability assay revealed moderate inhibitory activity of these essential oils against H103 and ORL-204 oral cancer cells. The study findings demonstrate that Curcuma xanthorrhiza and Curcuma mangga essential oils have potent antibacterial properties, suggesting their potential use as natural alternatives to synthetic antibacterial agents in oral care products. However, further investigations are necessary to fully explore their therapeutic applications.

Advances in efficient extraction of essential oils from spices and its application in food industry: A critical review

With the increase of people's awareness of food safety, it is crucial to find natural and green antimicrobial agents to replace traditional antimicrobial agents. Essential oils of spices (SEOs) are low toxicity or nontoxic, which exhibited antioxidants and antimicrobial activity according to many in vitro and in situ experiments. Spices are widely available and low cost as a plant raw material for the extraction of SEOs. This review summarized highly efficient extraction techniques for SEOs, such as physical field assisted extraction technology, supercritical fluid extraction, and biological-based techniques. Furthermore, purification of SEOs and components were also recapitulated. Purification techniques of SEOs improve their utilization value due to the increased content of bioactive components. Finally, the review concentrated on the applications of SEOs in food industry, including food preservation, food active packaging by means of films or coatings, antioxidant properties. In addition, addressing the problem of unstability of SEOs and its role to inhibit the pathogenic bacteria, the encapsulation of SEOs for use in the food industrial sectors reduces the safety risk to human health.

Potential roles and molecular mechanisms of bioactive ingredients in Curcumae Rhizoma against breast cancer

BACKGROUND

Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer worldwide, with high morbidity and mortality. Despite great advances in the therapeutic strategies, the survival rate in the past decades of patients with breast cancer remains unsatisfactory. Growing evidence has demonstrated that Curcumae Rhizoma, called Ezhu in Chinese, showed various pharmacological properties, including anti-bacterial, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor activities. It has been widely used in Chinese medicine to treat many types of human cancer.

PURPOSE

To comprehensively summarize and analyze the effects of active substances in Curcumae Rhizoma on breast cancer malignant phenotypes and the underlying mechanisms, as well as discuss its medicinal value and future perspectives.

METHOD

We used "Curcumae Rhizoma" or the name of crude extracts and bioactive components in Curcumae Rhizoma in combination with "breast cancer" as key words. Studies focusing on their anti-breast cancer activities and mechanisms of action were extracted from Pubmed, Web of Science and CNKI databases up to October 2022. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 guideline was followed.

RESULTS

Crude extracts and 7 main bioactive phytochemicals (curcumol, β-elemene, furanodiene, furanodienone, germacrone, curdione and curcumin) isolated from Curcumae Rhizoma have shown many anti-breast cancer pharmacological properties, including inhibiting cell proliferation, migration, invasion and stemness, reversing chemoresistance, and inducing cell apoptosis, cycle arrest and ferroptosis. The mechanisms of action were involved in regulating MAPK, PI3K/AKT and NF-κB signaling pathways. In vivo and clinical studies demonstrated that these compounds exhibited high anti-tumor efficacy and safety against breast cancer.

CONCLUSION

These findings provide strong evidence that Curcumae Rhizoma acts as a rich source of phytochemicals and has robust anti-breast cancer properties.

Botanical Oils Isolated from Simmondsia chinensis and Rosmarinus officinalis Cultivated in Northern Egypt: Chemical Composition and Insecticidal Activity against Sitophilus oryzae (L.) and Tribolium castaneum (Herbst)

The rice weevil, Sitophilus oryzae (L.), and the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum (Herbst), are key stored-product pests in Egypt and worldwide. The extensive use of synthetic insecticides has led to adverse effects on the environment, human health, and pest resistance. As a result, environmentally friendly pest management alternatives are desperately required. The botanical oils of jojoba, Simmondsia chinensis (L.), and rosemary, Rosmarinus officinalis L. plants growing in Egypt were extracted, identified by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and evaluated for their insecticidal activity against S. oryzae and T. castaneum. The main constituents identified in BOs were carvyl acetate (20.73%) and retinol (16.75%) for S. chinensis and camphor (15.57%), coumarin (15.19%), verbenone (14.82%), and 1,8-cineole (6.76%) for R. officinalis. The S. chinensis and R. officinalis BOs caused significant contact toxicities against S. oryzae and T. castaneum adults, providing LC₅₀ values of 24.37, 68.47, and 11.58, 141.8 ppm at 3 days after treatment (DAT), respectively. S. chinensis oil exhibited significant fumigation toxicity against both insects; however, it was more effective against S. oryzae (LC₅₀ = 29.52 ppm/L air) than against T. castaneum (LC₅₀ = 113.47 ppm/L air) at 3 DAT. Although the essential oil (EO) of R. officinalis significantly showed fumigation toxicity for S. oryzae (LC₅₀ = 256.1 and 0.028 ppm/L air at 1 and 3 DAT, respectively), it was not effective against T. castaneum. These BOs could be beneficial for establishing IPM programs for suppressing S. oryzae and T. castaneum.

Cyclodepsipeptides: Isolation from Endophytic Fungi of Sarcophyton ehrenbergi and Verification of Their Larvicidal Activity via In-Vitro and In-Silico Studies

Culex pipiens mosquitoes are vectors to many viruses and can transmit diseases such as filariasis and avian malaria. The present study evaluated the larvicidal activity of marine-derived endophytic fungi Aspergillus nomius and Aspergillus flavus from the soft coral Sarcophyton ehrenbergi along with two known cyclodepsipeptide compounds, scopularide A (1) and B (2), isolated from A. flavus extract, against third-instar larvae of C. pipiens, using distilled water as a negative control and toosenedanin as a positive control. The structures of the isolated compounds were confirmed by various spectroscopic analyses. The lethal concentrations (LC₅₀ and LC₉₀) were calculated by probit analysis. Scopularide A was the most potent after 96 h treatment, with LC₅₀ and LC₉₀ values of 58.96 and 994.31 ppm, respectively, and with 82.66% mortality at a concentration of 300 ppm. To unravel the biochemical mechanism of the tested extracts and compounds, their effects against protease, chitinase, phenoloxidases and lipase enzymes from the whole-body tissue of C. pipiens were evaluated after 72 h treatment at LC₅₀ dose. Superior activity was observed for A. flavus extract against all tested enzymes. A molecular docking study was conducted for scopularide A and B on the four tested enzymes, to further verify the observed activity. Results revealed good binding affinities for both compounds as compared to the docked ligands, mainly via a number of hydrogen bonds. This was the first study to report the isolation of endophytic fungi A. flavus and A. nomius from the marine soft coral S. ehrenbergi. The endophytic fungal extract of A. flavus was found to be a promising source for a natural larvicidal agent against C. pipiens populations.

New combination of drugs to combat Escherichia coli DSM1103 QCDSM by reducing antibiotic ciprofloxacin standard dose using response surface methodology

BACKGROUND

Microbial diseases are emerged as a concern for the global health and are responsible for increased mortality among different age groups. It is therefore essential to control the microbial population with novel antimicrobial agents. Antibiotic-phytochemicals mixtures are used for improving the antibacterial efficiency against bacterial pathogens to decrease their microbial resistance development. This study compared the inhibitory potentials of ciprofloxacin antibiotic and phytochemical mixtures of Syzygium aromaticum (clove), Allium sativum (garlic) and Cinnamomum verum (cinnamon) against Escherichia coli DSM1103 QCDSM using Minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and Bactericidal inhibitory concentrations (MBCs) methods.

OBJECTIVE

Inhibitory activity of ciprofloxacin and three oil plant extracts of the selected plants (clove, garlic, cinnamon) were tested against E. coli DSM1103 QCDSM using well diffusion method on Muller-Hinton agar plates by studying MIC and MBC tests. The software "Design Expert® 12" Stat-Ease was used to analyze the experimental mixture design.

RESULTS

A mixture design of twenty mixture combination runs using different concentration levels of ciprofloxacin and the three oil plants extracts were performed against E. coli DSM1103 QCDSM growth. Results revealed that the standard recommended ciprofloxacin dose 5 μg/100 ml may be replaced by the oil extracts of S. aromaticum 4.75 % (v/v), A. sativum 5.0% (v/v), C. verum 5.0%(v/v) and ciprofloxacin 0.25% (w/v) as alternative drugs.

CONCLUSION

The proposed mixture containing Syzygium aromaticum (clove), Allium sativum (garlic) and Cinnamomum verum (cinnamon) was found to be an effective antimicrobial agent and may signifies the role of traditional knowledge in drug discovery.

Chemical Composition of Cinnamomum verum Leaf and Flower Essential Oils and Analysis of Their Antibacterial, Insecticidal, and Larvicidal Properties

Cinnamomum verum is widely used in traditional medicines, and the different parts of the plant, such as bark, leaves, and flowers, are used for essential oil production. The present study compared the chemical composition of the essential oil of C. verum extracted from the leaves and flowers. In addition, efficacy of these essential oils against the two common pests Sitophilus oryzae and Callosobruchus maculatus was also evaluated. The results indicated the presence of cinnamaldehyde, eugenol, caryophyllene, and linalool in these essential oils, however, at different concentrations. The leaf essential oil was found to be 10-20% more effective as a fumigant against both the pests. Likewise, the leaf essential oil found to repel these pests even at lower concentrations than that of flower essential oil of C. verum. Besides, these essential oils were also effective in controlling the growth of various gram positive and gram negative microbial pathogens and possibly a safeguard for human health. On contrary, both the essential oils were found to be safe for the application on grains, as indicated by their germination potentials. It was also observed that these essential oils do not cause any significant toxicity to guppy fishes, thus confirming their ecological safety for use as a biopesticide.