Chemical composition and anticancer activity of essential oils of Mediterranean sage (Salvia officinalis L.) grown in different environmental conditions

Screening of bioactive components in Ferula assafo dried oleo-gum resin and assessment of its protective function against cadmium-induced oxidative damage, genotoxicity, and cytotoxicity in rats

Cadmium (Cd) is among the most ecologically harmful heavy metals. The purpose of this work was to identify the biologically active components in dried oleo-resin-gum of Ferula assafo extract (FAE) and assess their preventive efficacy against oxidative damage caused by Cd in rats. The biologically active components were identified using HPLC and GC-MS. Six groups of female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned and received oral treatment for two weeks. They consisted of the control group, the groups that got FAE at low or high doses (150 and 250 mg/kg b.w.), the group that received CdCl2 (2 mg/kg b.w.), and the groups that received CdCl2 + FAE at the low or high dose. Tissues and blood samples were collected for different assays and pathological examinations. The HPLC detected 11 polyphenol compounds, whereas the GC-MS identified 24 bioactive compounds. The in vivo study revealed that CdCl2 alone disrupted all biochemical indices, oxidative indicators, cytokines, antioxidant enzymes, pro and anti-apoptotic mRNA gene expression, increased DNA fragmentation percentage, and caused pathological alterations in hepatic and renal sections. FAE plus CdCl2 therapy considerably improved all indicators and the histological architecture of the kidney and liver, with the higher dose being more effective in improving all of the measured parameters. Therefore, FAE is a promising option for food and pharmaceutical applications to protect against oxidative damage caused by Cd exposure.

Response of Salvia officinalis to zinc and silicon nanoparticles and pollen extract as alternates to traditional fertilizers

Salvia officinalis is used in a variety of medicinal and aromatic products. The effects of various treatments on sage (Salvia officinalis) plants were investigated in an open-field experiment conducted between 2021 and 2022. During the experiment, ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) were used at concentrations of 1.0 and 1.5 g/L, SiO2 NPs were used at concentrations of 0.1 and 0.2 g/L, and date palm pollen extracts (DPE) were used at concentrations of 15 and 25 g/L, in combination with NPK fertilizers at 75%, 50%, and 25%, respectively, with a control group of 100% NPK fertilizer. A treatment consisting of 75% NPK, 15 g/L DPE, 1.0 g/L ZnO NPs, and 0.1 g/L SiO2 NPs significantly improved vegetative traits and essential oil yield. Compared to the control in the growing seasons of 2021 and 2022, this treatment resulted in increases in plant height, chlorophyll index, fresh and dry weights, and essential oil yield (EOY) per plant of 23.40% and 28.30%, 27.56% and 26.54%, 42.17% and 42.95%, 64.10% and 62.79%, and 93.38% and 91.08%, respectively. Combinations of 25% NPK + 25 g/L DPE + 1.5 g/L ZnO nanoparticles + 0.2 g/L SiO2 NPs and 75% NPK + 0.1 g/L SiO2 NPs produced the highest essential oil percentage (EO%). During the experimental seasons, these treatments increased EO% by 15.45% and 26.25%. In total, 58 substances were identified across the different treatments in the essential oil composition analysis. There were 11 compounds in the 25% NPK, 25 g/L DPE, 1.5 g/L ZnO NPs, and 0.2 g/L SiO2 NPs treatments, and 32 in the 50% NPK, 25 g/L DPE, and 0.2 g/L SiO2 NPs treatments. Oxygenated hydrocarbons, sesquiterpenes, and monoterpenes varied by application. Thujone, camphor, manool, and ledol were the major constituents of the EO. Leaf chemical composition, antioxidant activity, and total phenolic compounds were significantly influenced by the treatments. In combination with DPE, ZnO and SiO2 NPs reduced the need for higher amounts of mineral NPK fertilizers. These agents can therefore be useful for advancing sustainable agricultural practices in novel and advantageous ways.

Hybrid Albumin-Decorated Lipid-Nanocarrier-Mediated Delivery of Polyphenol-Rich Sambucus nigra L. in a Potential Multiple Antitumoural Therapy

The current research attempted to address the suitability of bioactive Sambucus nigra extract entrapped in albumin-decorated nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) as a promising "adjuvant" in improving tumour penetration for multiple antitumour therapy. The new hybrid albumin-decorated NLCs were characterised based on, e.g., the particle size, zeta electrokinetic potential, SambucusN entrapment efficiency, and fluorescence spectroscopy and tested for different formulation parameters. The antioxidant activity of NLC-SambucusN was significantly enhanced by a bovine serum albumin (BSA) polymer coating. According to the real-time cell analysis (RTCA) results, NLC-I-SambucusN-BSA behaved similarly to the chemotherapeutic drug, cisplatin, with cell viability for LoVo tumour cells of 21.81 ± 1.18%. The new albumin-NLC-SambucusN arrested cancer cells in G1 and G2 cycles and intensified the apoptosis process in both early and late phases. An advanced induction, over 50% apoptosis in LoVo colon cells, was registered for 50 μg/mL of NLC-II-SambucusN-BSA, a fourfold increase compared to that of untreated cells. RTCA and flow cytometry results showed that concentrations of the hybrid NLC-SambucusN up to 50 μg/mL do not affect the proliferation of normal HUVEC cells. This approach provides insightful information regarding the involvement of phytochemicals in future therapeutic strategies. Albumin-decorated NLCs can be considered a noteworthy strategy to be connected to antitumour therapeutic protocols.

Foliar application of various biostimulants produces contrasting response on yield, essential oil and chemical properties of organically grown sage (Salvia officinalis L.)

Sage (Salvia officinalis L.) is a medicinal and aromatic plant (MAP) belonging to the Lamiaceae family. Its morphological, productive and chemical characteristics are affected by abiotic and biotic factors. The use of biostimulants seems to be one of the most interesting innovative practices due to fact they can represent a promising approach for achieving sustainable and organic agriculture. Despite a large application in horticulture, the use of biostimulants on MAPs has been poorly investigated. On this basis, a field experiment in a 2-year study was done to assess the effect of foliar treatments with different types of biostimulants (containing seaweeds, fulvic acids and protein hydrolysates) and two frequencies of application on morphological, productive, and chemical characteristics of S. officinalis grown organically in Mediterranean environment. Morphological, productive, and chemical parameters were affected by the factors. The biostimulant application generated higher plant height, chlorophyll content, relative water content, biomass yield and essential oil yield compared to control plants. In addition, more frequent application of biostimulants produced higher biomass and essential oil yield. The application of fulvic acid and protein hydrolysates every week produced the highest total fresh yields (between 3.9 and 8.7 t ha-1) and total dry yields (between 1.3 and 2.5 t ha-1). The essential oil yield almost doubled (33.9 kg ha-1) with a higher frequency of protein hydrolysates application. In this study, 44 essential oil compounds were identified, and the frequency factor significantly influenced the percentage of 38 compounds. The highest percentage of some of the most representative monoterpenes, such as 1,8-cineole, α-thujone and camphor, were observed in biostimulated plants, with average increases between 6% and 35% compared to control plants. The highest values for total phenolics, rosmarinic acid, antioxidant activity were obtained in control plants and with a lower frequency of biostimulant applications. This study emphasizes how biostimulant applications may be used to improve sage production performance and essential oil parameters when produced in agricultural organic system. At the same time, biostimulants application caused a decrease in total phenolic, antioxidant activity and rosmarinic acid values.

Chemical Composition and Antimicrobial Activity of Essential Oils and Hydrosols from Oregano, Sage and Pennyroyal against Oral Pathogens

In this study, the chemical composition of essential oils (EOs) extracted from Origanum vulgare ssp. hirtum Lamiaceae, (oregano), Salvia officinalis Lamiaceae (sage), Mentha pulegium Lamiaceae (pennyroyal), and respective hydrosols (HSs) has been investigated by Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). The antimicrobial activity was assessed against two oral pathogens: Gram-positive bacterium Streptococcus mutans and the fungus Candida albicans by determination of Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Bactericidal/Fungicidal concentration (MBC/MFC). Three-fold diluted solutions were dispensed into each well of a 96-well microtiter plate and, after incubation, MIC was determined by visual monitoring. The MBC/MFC was determined by transferring a small quantity of sample contained in each replicate well of the microtiter plates to appropriate culture media using a microplate replicator. The EOs of the tested herbs showed antimicrobial properties, especially the EO oil of O. vulgare, which exerted the highest antimicrobial activity. HSs of S. officinalis and M. pulegium exerted no antimicrobial activity, in contrast to oregano HS, which displayed strong antimicrobial activity. In all cases, a higher number of compounds were detected in EOs than in the corresponding HSs. The major compounds of sage EO were detected to be α-thujone (25.1%), 1,8-cineole (15.8%) and β-pinene (10.0%), while the HS was characterized by the presence of 1,8-cineole (32.6%), borneol (22.6%) and α-thujone (22.4%). Pennyroyal EO and HS consists mainly of pulegone (62.1 and 50.6%, respectively). Carvacrol was the major component present in EO (63%) and HS (97.3%) of oregano, probably contributing to the antimicrobial activity. Further research is needed in order to elucidate the antimicrobial mechanisms of specific compounds present in essential oils and hydrosols of Lamiaceae grown in Greece against oral pathogens.

Application of ZnO NPs, SiO2 NPs and Date Pollen Extract as Partial Substitutes to Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium Fertilizers for Sweet Basil Production

The reduction in mineral fertilizer usage is crucial to the production of medicinal and aromatic products for safety and health purposes. Presently, nanotechnology and the utilization of natural extracts have been extensively studied due to their significant contribution. Ocimum basilicum is commonly employed for various medicinal and aromatic applications. Therefore, randomized complete block design field experiments containing 10 treatments were conducted during the 2021 and 2022 seasons to investigate the effect of nanoparticles (NPs) of ZnO (1.5 and 2.0 g/L) and SiO2 (100 and 150 mg/L) and date palm pollen extract (DPPE) at 10 and 20 g/L either alone or in combination with the ¾ or ½ NPK recommended dose (RD). The NPK RD was served as a control treatment on basil plant production in each season. The effectiveness of ZnO NPs, SiO2 NPs, and DPPE for the decrease in NPK utilization was evaluated. Meanwhile, the most effective treatment for vegetative traits (except for plant height), essential oil %, and yield was ½ NPK RD + 20 g/L DPPE + 2.0 g/L ZnO NPs. Such a treatment increased the branch number/plant, main stem diameter, relevant chlorophyll content, fresh weight/plant, dry weight/plant, essential oil %, and essential oil yield/plant by 21.00 and 9.94%, 58.70 and 40.00%, 20.69 and 15.83%, 68.83 and 58.28%, 48.70 and 56.16%, 45.71 and 35.53%, and 113.22 and 110.32% over the control in the two seasons, respectively. For total phenol and antioxidant activity, the most effective treatments were the ¾ NPK +1.5 g/L ZnO NPs and ½ NPK +2.0 g/L ZnO NPs, respectively. Simultaneously, essential oil composition (with their compound numbers identified (11-29 for control and ¾ NPK RD + 1.5 g/L ZnO NPs)) and the percentage of total compounds, monoterpene hydrocarbons, sesquiterpene hydrocarbons, and oxygenated hydrocarbons were varied among the used applications. The major observed compounds (>8%) estragole, methyl eugenol, linalool, cineole, and caryophyllene were found in different treatments. Thus, the findings of this study indicate the favorable utilization of ZnO NPs, SiO2 NPs, and DPPE in reducing the application of NPK, which may present a novel strategy and beneficial approach.

Activity difference of three labdane diterpenoids on human constitutive androstane receptor

The constitutive androstane receptor (CAR) regulates enzyme transcription related to drug metabolism; therefore, natural compound clarification in food that interacts with CAR is significant for drug development. We revealed that 13-epimanool, which is a compound found in the common sage, is bound to hCAR based on differential scanning fluorometry (DSF) measurements using recombinant hCAR protein. Similar labdane diterpenoids were examined, which revealed that manool and sclareol, which were both natural compounds contained in herbs, are bound to hCAR. They exhibited different effects for CAR activity in the luciferase assay despite the structural similarity. Manool was a partial agonist, 13-epimanool was a weak partial agonist, and sclareol was an antagonist. The activity of hCAR may be regulated by slight differences in the bound compound.

Enhanced Natural Strength: Lamiaceae Essential Oils and Nanotechnology in In Vitro and In Vivo Medical Research

The Lamiaceae is one of the most important families in the production of essential oils known to have a wide spectrum of biological activity. Recent research has highlighted the dermatological capabilities of various Lamiaceae essential oils, which appear to offer potential in free radical scavenging and anti-inflammatory activity. Some have also been extensively studied for their tissue remodeling and wound-healing, anti-aging, anti-melanogenic, and anti-cancer properties. Certain Lamiaceae essential oils are promising as novel therapeutic alternatives for skin disorders. This potential has seen substantial efforts dedicated to the development of modern formulations based on nanotechnology, enabling the topical application of various Lamiaceae essential oils. This review provides a comprehensive summary of the utilization of various essential oils from the Lamiaceae family over the past decade. It offers an overview of the current state of knowledge concerning the use of these oils as antioxidants, anti-inflammatory agents, wound-healers, anti-aging agents, anti-melanogenic agents, and anticancer agents, both alone and in combination with nanoparticles. Additionally, the review explores their potential applicability in patents regarding skin diseases.

Exploring the Potent Anticancer Activity of Essential Oils and Their Bioactive Compounds: Mechanisms and Prospects for Future Cancer Therapy

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, affecting millions of people each year. Fortunately, the last decades have been marked by considerable advances in the field of cancer therapy. Researchers have discovered many natural substances, some of which are isolated from plants that have promising anti-tumor activity. Among these, essential oils (EOs) and their constituents have been widely studied and shown potent anticancer activities, both in vitro and in vivo. However, despite the promising results, the precise mechanisms of action of EOs and their bioactive compounds are still poorly understood. Further research is needed to better understand these mechanisms, as well as their effectiveness and safety in use. Furthermore, the use of EOs as anticancer drugs is complex, as it requires absolute pharmacodynamic specificity and selectivity, as well as an appropriate formulation for effective administration. In this study, we present a synthesis of recent work on the mechanisms of anticancer action of EOs and their bioactive compounds, examining the results of various in vitro and in vivo studies. We also review future research prospects in this exciting field, as well as potential implications for the development of new cancer drugs.

Inclusion Complexes of β-Cyclodextrin with Salvia officinalis Bioactive Compounds and Their Antibacterial Activities

In the present study, the formation of molecular inclusion complexes of Salvia officinalis (sage) bioactive compounds with β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) was evaluated. Sage essential oil (SEO)/β-CD inclusion complexes (ICs) were prepared by co-precipitation at iso-molecular concentrations, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) was applied for the confirmation of the ICs' formation. Quantification of the SEO in the inclusion complexes was performed spectrophotometrically at 273 nm using an SEO standard curve. The SEO and its inclusion complexes were evaluated for their antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria monocytogenes. The results showed that β-CD effectively formed inclusion complexes with SEO in satisfactory yields. The antimicrobial activity of the SEO in prepared complexes with β-CD was exhibited against L. monocytogenes and S. aureus and was proportional to their concentrations but was less pronounced.

Chemical Composition and Biological Activity of Salvia officinalis L. Essential Oil

In our study, we investigated the chemical composition and cytotoxic activity of essential oils isolated from Dalmatian sage (Salvia officinalis L.) collected along the Adriatic coast of Croatia. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to examine the morphology of the stem and leaf surfaces. Essential oil excretory glands were detected on both the leaves and stem surfaces. The essential oils were isolated by hydrodistillation, and their chemical composition was determined by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Sage essential oils were mixtures of terpene compounds, among which the most common were: α- and β-thujone, camphor, and 1,8-cineol. Cytotoxic activity was tested using MTS assay on multiple cell lines: normal and immortalized fibroblasts (HF77FA and HDF-Tert), immortalized lung line (BEAS-2B), and breast adenocarcinoma (MDA-MB-231). The growth of treated cells was determined relative to control conditions without treatment. The immortalized lung line was the least resistant to the activity of the essential oils, whereas immortalized fibroblasts were the most resistant. Statistical analysis has connected the cytotoxic effect and chemical composition of the studied essential oils. To the best of our knowledge, this work is the first testing of the cytotoxic activity of S. officinalis EO's on the BEAS-2B, HF77FA, and HDF-Tert cell lines. The presented data on essential oil chemical composition and cytotoxic effect on 4 types of human cells supports pharmacotherapeutic potential this plant is known to have.

The Effect of Sage (Salvia sclarea) Essential Oil on the Physiochemical and Antioxidant Properties of Sodium Alginate and Casein-Based Composite Edible Films

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of Sage (Salvia sclarea) essential oil (SEO) on the physiochemical and antioxidant properties of sodium alginate (SA) and casein (CA) based films. Thermal, mechanical, optical, structural, chemical, crystalline, and barrier properties were examined using TGA, texture analyzer, colorimeter, SEM, FTIR, and XRD. Chemical compounds of the SEO were identified via GC–MS, the most important of which were linalyl acetate (43.32%) and linalool (28.51%). The results showed that incorporating SEO caused a significant decrease in tensile strength (1.022–0.140 Mpa), elongation at break (28.2–14.6%), moisture content (25.04–14.7%) and transparency (86.1–56.2%); however, WVP (0.427–0.667 × 10−12 g·cm/cm2·s·Pa) increased. SEM analysis showed that the incorporation of SEO increased the homogeneousness of films. TGA analysis showed that SEO-loaded films showed better thermal stability than others. FTIR analysis revealed the compatibility between the components of the films. Furthermore, increasing the concentration of SEO increased the antioxidant activity of the films. Thus, the present film shows a potential application in the food packaging industry.

Mitochondrial Genome Sequence of Salvia officinalis (Lamiales: Lamiaceae) Suggests Diverse Genome Structures in Cogeneric Species and Finds the Stop Gain of Genes through RNA Editing Events

Our previous study was the first to confirm that the predominant conformation of mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) sequence of Salvia species contains two circular chromosomes. To further understand the organization, variation, and evolution of Salvia mitogenomes, we characterized the mitogenome of Salvia officinalis. The mitogenome of S. officinalis was sequenced using Illumina short reads and Nanopore long reads and assembled using a hybrid assembly strategy. We found that the predominant conformation of the S. officinalis mitogenome also had two circular chromosomes that were 268,341 bp (MC1) and 39,827 bp (MC2) in length. The S. officinalis mitogenome encoded an angiosperm-typical set of 24 core genes, 9 variable genes, 3 rRNA genes, and 16 tRNA genes. We found many rearrangements of the Salvia mitogenome through inter- and intra-specific comparisons. A phylogenetic analysis of the coding sequences (CDs) of 26 common protein-coding genes (PCGs) of 11 Lamiales species and 2 outgroup taxa strongly indicated that the S. officinalis was a sister taxon to S. miltiorrhiza, consistent with the results obtained using concatenated CDs of common plastid genes. The mapping of RNA-seq data to the CDs of PCGs led to the identification of 451 C-to-U RNA editing sites from 31 PCGs of the S. officinalis mitogenome. Using PCR amplification and Sanger sequencing methods, we successfully validated 113 of the 126 RNA editing sites from 11 PCGs. The results of this study suggest that the predominant conformation of the S. officinalis mitogenome are two circular chromosomes, and the stop gain of rpl5 was found through RNA editing events of the Salvia mitogenome.

Apoptosis induction of essential oils from Artemisia arborescens L. in human prostate cancer cells

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Prostate cancer originates from cells inside a gland, which begin to grow out of control. In the world, prostate cancer is the most common cancer in the male population. New therapeutic strategies are needed for this tumor which still has a high mortality. A. arborescens leaves and aerial parts have various ethnopharmacological uses such as anti-spasmodic, and their decoctions were used to resolve urticaria, neuralgia and several lung diseases. Often this species has been also used to treat different inflammatory-related diseases such as cancer.

AIM OF THE STUDY

In a continuation of our research on essential oils from medicinal plants, we have selected, two essential oils from Artemisia arborescens L. (Compositae), an aromatic shrub widely used in traditional medicine. We evaluated their pro-apototic effect on androgen-sensitive (LNCaP) and androgen-insensitive (DU-145) human prostate cancer cells. In this study, we also evaluated the anti-Signal transducer and transcription factor 3 (STAT-3) activity of both essential oils in the human prostate cancer cell lines, and the treatment with Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-Related Apoptosis (TRAIL).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The cells were exposed to essential oils for 72 h and cell viability and cell membrane integrity were evaluated. Genomic DNA and the activity of caspase-3 was tested to confirm the cell death for apoptosis. Western blot analysis was employed to evaluate the expression of Bcl-2, Bax, cleaved caspase-3, cleaved caspase-9, Hsp70, STAT-3 and SOD proteins. Assays to evaluate reactive oxygen species (ROS) and GSH levels were also performed.

RESULTS

The results showed the capacity of two essential oils to activate an apoptotic process increasing the inhibition of Hsp70 and STAT-3 protein expression. In addition, our natural products sensitize LNCaP cells to Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-Related Apoptosis (TRAIL)-induced apoptosis.

CONCLUSIONS

In summary, our study provides a further contribution to the hypothesis of the use of essential oils, from traditional medicinal plants, for the treatment of tumors, and suggests that the combination of our samples with other anti-prostate cancer therapies could be used to affect prostate cancer.

Formulation with sage tea-loaded fish oil-based microcapsules to delay oxidation

Fish (Engraulis encrasicolus) oil was successfully microencapsulated using sage essential oils prepared in three different concentrations as 1% (S1), 2% (S2) and 3% (S3). The microencapsulated fish oil powders fabricated with spray drying were stored at room temperature (24 ± 1 °C) in order to determine the oxidative deterioration for 12 weeks. The highest microencapsulation efficiency was observed in the S3 (60.17%) as compared with other groups. Although the changes in free fatty acid (FFA) values were defined between 6.04 and 9.29% at the end of the storage period, the lowest FFA value was found in S2 samples (p < 0.05). Among the microencapsulated samples, the highest peroxide value (PV) was measured as 20.24 meq O2/kg for S1 at the 11th week of the experimental period. Moreover, statistical differences between the control (25.93 meq O2/kg) and S1 samples were observed (p < 0.05). The rapid increase in the thiobarbituric acid (TBA) value of fish powders was delayed by microencapsulation technique fabricated with spray drying. The use of sage essential oils within this combination effectively retarded the oxidation in fish oil powders at ambient storage, indicating cost-effective for the food industry. Therefore, encapsulation of fish oils with sage oil using the spray drying technique has improved oxidation stability of fish oil and can be used for food applications.

Anti-Heliobacter pylori and Anti-Inflammatory Potential of Salvia officinalis Metabolites: In Vitro and In Silico Studies

Due to its rising antibiotic resistance and associated inflammations, Helicobacter pylori poses a challenge in modern medicine. Salvia officinalis, a member of the Lamiaceae family, is a promising medicinal herb. In this regard, a phytochemical screening followed by GC-MS and LC-MS was done to evaluate the chemical profile of the total ethanolic extract (TES) and the essential oil, respectively. The anti-H. pylori and the anti-inflammatory activities were evaluated by a micro-well dilution technique and COX-2 inhibition assay. Potential anti-H. pylori inhibitors were determined by an in silico study. The results revealed that the main metabolites were flavonoids, sterols, volatile oil, saponins, and carbohydrates. The LC-MS negative ionization mode demonstrated 12 compounds, while GC-MS showed 21 compounds. Carnosic acid (37.66%), epirosmanol (20.65%), carnosol1 (3.3%), and 12-O-methyl carnosol (6.15%) were predominated, while eucalyptol (50.04%) and camphor (17.75%) were dominant in LC-MS and GC-MS, respectively. TES exhibited the strongest anti-H. pylori activity (3.9 µg/mL) asymptotic to clarithromycin (0.43 µg/mL), followed by the oil (15.63 µg/mL). Carnosic acid has the best-fitting energy to inhibit H. pylori (-46.6769 Kcal/mol). TES showed the highest reduction in Cox-2 expression approaching celecoxib with IC50 = 1.7 ± 0.27 µg/mL, followed by the oil with IC50 = 5.3 ± 0.62 µg/mL. Our findings suggest that S. officinalis metabolites with anti-inflammatory capabilities could be useful in H. pylori management. Further in vivo studies are required to evaluate and assess its promising activity.

Bacterial Communities of Lamiacea L. Medicinal Plants: Structural Features and Rhizosphere Effect

Bacterial communities associated with medicinal plants are an essential part of ecosystems. The rhizosphere effect is rather important in the cultivation process. The purpose of the study was to analyze the rhizosphere effect of oregano (Origanum vulgare L.), peppermint (Mentha piperita L.), thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.), creeping thyme (Thymus serpillum L.) and sage (Salvia officinalis L.). To estimate the quantity of 16S bacteria ribosomal genes, qPCR assays were used. To compare bacterial communities' structure of medicinal plants rhizosphere with bulk soil high-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA targeting variable regions V3-V4 of bacteria was carried out. The highest bacterial abundance was associated with T. vulgaris L., M. piperita L. and S. officinalis L., and the lowest was associated with the O. vulgare L. rhizosphere. Phylum Actinobacteriota was predominant in all rhizosphere samples. The maximum bacterial α-diversity was found in S. officinalis L. rhizosphere. According to bacterial β-diversity calculated by the Bray-Curtis metric, T. vulgaris L. root zone significantly differed from bulk soil. The rhizosphere effect was positive to the Myxococcota, Bacteroidota, Verrucomicrobiota, Proteobacteria and Gemmatimonadota.

Natural essential oils as a new therapeutic tool in colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most revalent type of cancer in the world and the second most common cause of cancer death (about 1 million per year). Historically, natural compounds and their structural analogues have contributed to the development of new drugs useful in the treatment of various diseases, including cancer. Essential oils are natural odorous products made up of a complex mixture of low molecular weight compounds with recognized biological and pharmacological properties investigated also for the prevention and treatment of cancer. The aim of this paper is to highlight the possible role of essential oils in CRC, their composition and the preclinical studies involving them. It has been reviewed the preclinical pharmacological studies to determine the experimental models used and the anticancer potential mechanisms of action of natural essential oils in CRC. Searches were performed in the following databases PubMed/Medline, Web of science, TRIP database, Scopus, Google Scholar using appropriate MeSH terms. The results of analyzed studies showed that EOs exhibited a wide range of bioactive effects like cytotoxicity, antiproliferative, and antimetastatic effects on cancer cells through various mechanisms of action. This updated review provides a better quality of scientific evidence for the efficacy of EOs as chemotherapeutic/chemopreventive agents in CRC. Future translational clinical studies are needed to establish the effective dose in humans as well as the most suitable route of administration for maximum bioavailability and efficacy. Given the positive anticancer results obtained from preclinical pharmacological studies, EOs can be considered efficient complementary therapies in chemotherapy in CRC.

Physicochemical Characterization and Prospecting Biological Activity of Some Authentic Transylvanian Essential Oils: Lavender, Sage and Basil

Essential oils are a category of agro-based industrial products experiencing increasing demand. In this research, three essential oils obtained by steam distillation from lavender, sage and basil plants cultivated in temperate continental conditions of Transylvania were investigated for chemical composition, physical characteristics and biological activity (antimicrobial and cytotoxic effect on cancer cell lines). The number of identified compounds varied: 38 for lavender, 29 for sage essential oil and 41 for basil. The volatile profile was dominated by terpenes and terpenoids (>80%). Major components were beta-linalool and linalool acetate in lavender essential oil; thujones and camphor in sage essential oil; beta-linalool, thujone, camphor and eucalyptol in basil essential oil. Refractive index of the essential oils was lowest for lavender and highest for sage. Antibacterial activity was strongest for basil, moderate for lavender and weakest for sage essential oil. The most active on both colon adenocarcinoma (Caco-2) and ovary carcinoma (A2780) was sage essential oil.

Comparison of Origanum Essential Oil Chemical Compounds and Their Antibacterial Activity against Cronobacter sakazakii

Origanum vulgare L. (oregano) is an aromatic plant with wide applications in the food and pharmaceutical industries. Cronobacter sakazakii, which has a high detection rate in powdered infant formula, adversely impacts susceptible individuals. Oregano essential oil (OEO) is a natural antibacterial agent that can be used to fight bacterial contamination. Here, OEO chemical compounds from eight oregano varieties were analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry and their antibacterial properties were assessed. The eight OEOs were clustered into two groups and were more diverse in group 2 than in group 1. Six compounds, including p-cymene, 3-thujene, γ-terpinene, thymol, carvacrol, and caryophyllene, were shared by eight OEOs. Among the eight oregano varieties, OEOs from O. vulgare sc2 had the strongest antibacterial activity against C. sakazaki, with the inhibition zone of 18.22mm. OEOs from O. vulgare jx, O. ‘Nvying’, O. vulgare ‘Ehuang’, and O. vulgare ssp. virens were also potent. Moreover, the antibacterial activity of OEOs was positively correlated with the relative content of thymol. As the main OEO antibacterial compound, thymol affected the normal growth and metabolism of C. sakazakii cells by destroying the bacterial membrane and decreasing the intracellular ATP concentration. Thus, in light of the antibacterial activity detected in the OEOs from the eight oregano varieties, this study provides a theoretical foundation for oregano cultivar management and development.

Variation of Salvia officinalis L. Essential Oil and Hydrolate Composition and Their Antimicrobial Activity

This study aimed to investigate the chemical composition of steam distillate essential oil and corresponding hydrolate obtained from S. officinalis grown in Serbia, as well as the influence of weather conditions (temperature and precipitations) on their chemical profiles. Furthermore, their antimicrobial activity was investigated in vitro. The main compounds in essential oil were cis-thujone, followed by camphor, trans-thujone, and 1,8-cineole, while hydrolate was slightly different from the essential oil, with camphor, cis-thujone, and 1,8-cineole as the main compounds. Among the eight respiratory-associated microorganisms, Klebsiella oxytoca was the most sensitive to the tested EOs (minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC)/minimal bactericidal/fungicidal concentration (MBC/MFC) were 14.20 and 28.4 μL mL−1, respectively). MIC and MBC values of other tested bacteria ranged between 28.40 and 227.25 μL mL−1 while for Candida albicans MIC/MFC ranged from 28.40/56.81 to 56.81–113.63 μL mL−1. Antibiotic susceptibility patterns for the analyzed eight respiratory-associated microorganisms showed an intermediate level of resistance to commonly used antibiotics such as ampicillin, levofloxacin, and ciprofloxacin. As a preliminary approach to the antimicrobial profiling of the tested EO, the obtained results revealed that the tested samples possess remarkable antibacterial activities and could be used to develop pharmaceutical formulations as an alternative to conventional antibiotic therapy.

Chemical Analysis and Investigation of Biological Effects of Salvia officinalis Essential Oils at Three Phenological Stages

Salvia officinalis is a medicinal plant used to treat some diseases, including microbial infections and diabetes. Different studies showed the biological and pharmacological properties of this species. The aim of this study was the determination of the chemical compounds of S. officinalis essential oils and the investigation of their antimicrobial, antioxidant, antidiabetic, and anti-inflammatory properties. The chemical compounds of S. officinalis were determined by GC-MS analysis. The antioxidant activity was assessed by DPPH, ABTS, H₂O₂, and FRAP assays. The in vitro antidiabetic effect was evaluated by the inhibition of α-amylase, α-glucosidase, and lipase activities, and the anti-inflammatory effect was evaluated using the 5-lipoxygenase assay. Moreover, antibacterial activity was assessed against six bacterial strains using agar well diffusion assay and microdilution method. The main compounds in essential oils of S. officinalis at three phenological stages were naphthalenone, camphor, 1.8-cineole, and α-thujone. The full flowering stage essential oil showed the best antioxidant activity with different IC₅₀ values according to the used tests. This oil also exhibited important inhibitory effects at the full flowering stage against α-amylase (IC₅₀ = 69.23 ± 0.1 μg/mL), α-glucosidase (IC₅₀ = 22.24 ± 0.07 μg/mL), and lipase (IC₅₀ = 37.3 ± 0.03 μg/mL). The 5-lipoxygenase inhibitory effect was the best at the full flowering stage (IC₅₀ = 9.24 ± 0.03 μg/mL). The results of the antibacterial evaluation revealed that, at three seasonal periods, S. officinalis essential oil demonstrated strong antibacterial activity. Although the full flowering stage had the best antibacterial activity, there were no significant differences between the three stages. Additionally, the essential oils showed bactericidal effects on Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Proteus mirabilis, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella typhimurium, respectively. The findings of this work showed remarkably that S. officinalis synthesizes essential oils according to different developmental stages. Moreover, it has exhibited interesting biological and pharmacological properties justifying its medicinal effects and suggesting it as a very important source of natural drugs.

Seasonal Variation of Aromatic Plants under Cultivation Conditions

In this study, five plant species, members of the Lamiaceae family, namely Salvia officinalis L., Salvia rosmarinus Spenn, Mentha × piperita L., Mentha spicata L. and Origanum vulgare subsp. hirtum (Link) Ietswaart, were studied for the influence of harvesting time on the herb crop yield, the volatile compounds (EOs) content/yield and their chemical composition. EOs were isolated by means of hydro-distillation from different plant parts at different growth stages. Their components were analyzed by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The highest yields of EOs were obtained at the full flowering stage and important changes were observed in their composition. The fluctuations in the percentage composition of the major compounds in the EOs, throughout harvesting time, were observed at camphor/α-thujone for S. officinalis, camphor/1,8-cineole for S. rosmarinus, linalool/linalyl acetate and carvone/limonene for M. × piperita and M. spicata, respectively. The chemotype of O. vulgare subsp. hirtum was identified as carvacrol. The optimization of harvesting time could lead to increased crop production and better EOs quality control, with numerous industrial benefits upon the commercial production of such products.

Chemical investigation on Salvia officinalis L. Affected by multiple drying techniques - The comprehensive analytical approach (HS-SPME, GC-MS, LC-MS/MS, GC-O and NMR)

In light of large scale production of Salvia officinalis L. and its complex storage and delivery chain, the efficient preservation process is required. At this moment, the most popular preservation method is drying, therefore a comprehensive experiment to evaluate the influence of multiple drying techniques on sage was conducted. Convective drying at 40, 50 and 60 °C, vacuum-microwave drying with powers 240, 360 and 480 W and combined drying consisting of convective pre-drying at 50 °C followed by vacuum-microwave finish-drying with power 360 W were applied. To evaluate the effect of particular procedures chemical analyses were performed, namely evaluation of changes in bioactive volatile constituents, odour-active compounds and various groups of non-volatile bioactive constituents of sage. The obtained results shown, that to receive the product with expected quality, it is necessary to identify the designation of the product before treatment, since particular groups of phytochemicals react differently during drying.

Salvia officinalis L. Essential Oil: Characterization, Antioxidant Properties, and the Effects of Aromatherapy in Adult Patients

The purpose of this study is to reveal the chemical and biochemical characteristics and the potential aromatherapy applications of the essential oil (EO) of Salvia officinalis (common sage) within a hospital environment. The chemical composition was determined by gas chromatography with mass spectrometry and ATR-FTIR spectroscopy. Three types of sage EOs were included in this study: two commercial oils and one oil obtained by in-house hydrodistillation. Based on the findings, these EOs were included in different chemotypes. The first two samples were similar to the most common chemotype (α-thujone > camphor > 1,8-cineole > β-thujone), while the in-house sage EO revealed a high content of 1,8-cineole, borneol, α-thujone, similar to the Dalmatian type. The latter sample was selected to be evaluated for its antioxidant and medical effects, as borneol, a bicyclic monoterpene, is known as a substance with anesthetic and analgesic effects in traditional Asian medicine. The study suggests that the antioxidant capacity of the sage EO is modest (33.61% and 84.50% inhibition was determined by DPPH and ABTS assays, respectively), but also that the inhalation of sage EO with high borneol content by hospitalized patients could improve these patients’ satisfaction.

Recent Advances in the Antiproliferative and Proapoptotic Activity of Various Plant Extracts and Constituents against Murine Malignant Melanoma

Although conventional medicine, chemical drug synthesis and pharmaceutical research are advancing at a rapid pace, nature remains a major supplier of biological molecules. Natural bioactive compounds are studied closely especially as an alternative to the limitations of conventional therapy in many diseases, melanoma being one of them. Malignant melanoma is a highly aggressive type of cancer, and the current methods of treatment used are cryotherapy, external surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, photodynamic therapy, biological therapy, and targeted drug therapy. Unfortunately, these treatment methods are often inefficient, extremely expensive and cause many side effects, which is why focusing on melanoma chemoprevention and adjuvant therapy with natural herbal phytoconstituents is an emerging strategy to prevent, cure or treat melanoma. This review aims to examine the latest discoveries in terms of potential natural bioactive compounds that possess important activity against the development and spread of murine melanoma cancer. In particular, the use of different phytochemicals such as phenolic acids, flavonoids, anthocyanins, terpenoids, essential oils and carotenoids in vitro and in vivo models will be discussed. These data are helpful in guiding researchers in the direction of studying phytonutrients with important effects in the prevention and treatment of melanoma.

In vitro biological potential of the essential oil of some aromatic species used in Iranian traditional medicine

The goal of this study is to evaluate the chemical compounds, the anti-bacterial/fungal activity, and the cytotoxicity of the essential oil of three species of lamiaceae in Iran. After the extraction of the essential oil implementing the hydrodistillation method, the analysis and identification of the compounds were carried out with a chromatograph coupled with a mass spectrometer. For the evaluation of the anti-bacterial/fungal activity of the essential oils, the measurement of the diameter of inhibition halo, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), bactericidal and fungicidal concentrations (MBC/MFC) were utilized; and for the evaluation of the cytotoxic activity of the essential oils, the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) method was used. The results show that the dominant compounds in the Perovskia abrotanoides Kar essential oil were camphor (21.68%), 1,8-cineole (14.26%), and α-pinene (7.23%); moreover, the dominant compounds in the Salvia reuteriana Boiss. Essential oil were benzyl benzoate (27.10%), linalool (13.27%), and sclareol (7.75%); in addition, the dominant compounds in the Ziziphora clinopodioides subsp. rigida (Boiss.) Rech.f. were cyclofenchene (25.29%), pulegone (14.14%), and menthol (7.70%). The largest halo diameter of inhibition halo (~ 22 mm) was against Streptococcus pyogenes and the strongest inhibiting and killing activity was against Candida albicans (MIC and MFC = 125 μg/mL) shown by the S. reuteriana essential oil which, respectively, matched the control antibiotics rifampin and nystatin. The analysis of the MTT test results showed that the Z. clinopodioides subsp. rigida essential oil (with IC50 value of ~ 144.2500) had the strongest cytotoxic activity against human ovarian cancer cells (OVCAR-3). On the whole, the results show that the essential oil of the Lamiaceae family plants is a source for various compounds with potential biological activities which can serve as a possible alternative to produce herbal medicine which are effective on some microorganisms and cancer cell lines.

The Changes in Bioactive Compounds and Antioxidant Activity of Chia (Salvia hispanica L.) Herb under Storage and Different Drying Conditions: A Comparison with Other Species of Sage

Studies on herb chia (Salvia hispanica L.) are very limited. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess how different drying methods and periods of storage affect the bioactive properties of the herb Salvia hispanica and to compare it with other species of sage (Salvia officinalis L. and Salvia sclarea L.). In fresh herbs, directly after drying (freeze-drying, natural drying, and drying at 30, 40, and 50 °C), and after storage (3, 6, and 12 months), the following analyses were performed: content of total carotenoids and total polyphenols, polyphenol profile (including 25 compounds), and antioxidant activity. Additionally, the basic chemical compositions of the herbs were analyzed. To the best of our knowledge, the content of total carotenoids and the quantitative polyphenol profile in Salvia hispanica and Salvia sclarea were evaluated for the first time. The obtained results showed that the barely investigated herb Salvia hispanica is rich in polyphenolic compounds and shows high antioxidant activity. In all the tested species, rosmarinic acid was the most abundant polyphenolic compound. The use of different drying methods allowed us to determine that freeze-drying was the most effective for preserving polyphenols and carotenoids. Long-term storage up to 12 months resulted in a gradual reduction in antioxidant activity and in the content of polyphenols and carotenoids.

Effect of Harvesting Time Variations on Essential Oil Yield and Composition of Sage (Salvia officinalis)

The objective of this study was to evaluate the production, contents, and essential oil (EO) components of sage as a function of the diurnal variation. The EOs from the aerial parts of the plant harvested at different day/night times were extracted by hydro-distillation. Plants were harvested in 2 h intervals (twelve harvesting times during each 24-h day). Harvesting between 4:00 and 6:00 p.m. revealed the highest EO percentage (1.14%), whereas harvesting between 04:00 and 06:00 a.m. indicated the minimum EO percentage (0.599%). The analysis of the EO identified 32 components. The major identified EO compounds were cis-thujone (34.38–46.18%), 1,8-cineol (8.70–11.07%), camphor (9.65–14.38%), and trans-thujone (9.43–14.19%). The highest value of cis-thujone (46.18%) was related to the harvest time of 04:00–06:00 a.m., and the lowest value (34.38%) was recorded at the harvest time of 00:00–02:00 a.m. The highest value of trans-thujone (14.19%) was obtained between 10:00–00:00 p.m., and the lowest value (9.43%) was obtained between 10:00–12:00 a.m. Camphor was another dominant compound where the highest (14.38%) was observed at 00:00–2:00 a.m. Our findings in sage, for the first time, may pave the route towards the optimization of sage EO quality and quantity by selecting the best harvesting time of the plants.

COVID-19: A Review on the Role of Trace Elements Present in Saudi Arabian Traditional Dietary Supplements

The novel coronavirus infection is also called COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019). The infection has affected millions of people worldwide and caused morbidity as well mortality in patients with pre-existing chronic conditions such as metabolic, respiratory and cardiovascular disorders. The severity of the disease is mostly seen in people with low immunity and chronic sufferers of respiratory, cardiovascular and metabolic disorders. To date, there is no specific treatment available for COVID-19. Precaution and prevention are the most recommended options followed for controlling the spread of infection. Trace elements such as zinc, calcium, iron and magnesium play an important role in boosting the immunity of the host system. These components assist in the development and functioning of lymphocytes, cytokines, free radicals, inflammatory mediators and endothelial functioning. This review summarizes the common dietary supplements that are regularly consumed in Saudi Arabia and are known to contain these vital trace elements. Data available in Google Scholar, NCBI, PUBMED, EMBASE and Web of Science about COVID-19, micronutrients, trace elements and nutritional supplements of Saudi Arabia was collected. By highlighting the traditionally used dietary components containing the essential elements, this review could provide useful knowledge crucial for building immunity in the population.

Essential oils as anticancer agents: Potential role in malignancies, drug delivery mechanisms, and immune system enhancement

Cancer retains a central place in fatality rates among the wide variety of diseases known world over, and the conventional synthetic medicaments, albeit used until now, produce numerous side effects. As a result, newer, better, and safer alternatives such as natural plant products, are gravely required. Essential oils (EOs) offer a plethora of bioactivities including antibacterial, antiviral, antioxidant, and anticancer properties, therefore, the use of EOs in combination with synthetic drugs or aromatherapy continues to be popular in many settings. In view of the paramount importance of EOs and their potential bioactivities, this review summarizes the current knowledge on the interconnection between EOs and cancer treatment. In particular, the current review presents an updated summary of the chemical composition of EOs, their current applications in cancer treatments based on clinical studies, and the mechanism of action against the cancer cell lines. Similarly, an overview of using EOs in aromatherapy and enhancing immunity during cancer treatment is provided. Further, this review focuses on the recent technological advancements such as the loading of EOs using protein microspheres, ligands, or nanoemulsions/nanoencapsulation, which offer multiple benefits in cancer treatment via site-specific and target-oriented delivery of drugs. The continuing clinical studies of EOs implicate that their pharmacological applications are a rewarding research area.

Bioactive phytochemicals from Salvia officinalis attenuate cadmium-induced oxidative damage and genotoxicity in rats

This study was conducted to identify the bioactive phytochemicals in Salvia officinalis essential oil, to determine the polyphenols in the aqueous extract (SOE), and to evaluate their protective role against cadmium (Cd)-induced oxidative damage and genotoxicity in rats. Six groups of female rats were treated orally for 2 weeks including the control group, CdCl₂-treated group, SOE-treated groups at low or high dose (100 and 200 mg/kg b.w), and CdCl₂ plus SOE-treated groups at the two doses. The GC-MS analysis identified 39 compounds; the main compounds were 9-octadecenamide, eucalyptol, palmitic acid, and oleic acid. However, the HPLC analysis showed 12 polyphenolic compounds and the majority were coumaric acid, chlorogenic acid, coffeic acid, catechin, vanillin, gallic acid, ellagic acid, and rutin. In the biological study, rats received CdCl₂ displayed severe disturbances in liver and kidney indices alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), albumin (Alb), total protein (TP), total bilirubin (T. Bil), direct bilirubin (D. Bil), creatinine, uric acid, and urea, lipid profile, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and CEA), glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO), gene expressions, DNA fragmentation, and histological alterations in the liver and kidney tissue. SOE showed a potent antioxidant and mitigated these alterations in serum and tissue. Moreover, the high dose succeeded to normalize most of the tested parameters and histological features. It could be concluded that S. officinalis is a promising source for bioactive compounds with therapeutic benefits against environmental toxicants.

The Impact of Selected Essential Oils Applied to Non-Woven Viscose on Bacteria That Cause Lower Urinary Tract Infections-Preliminary Studies

Inflammation of the lower urinary tract is a very common problem, which occurs particularly in women. A concept of a biotextronics system for preventive and support treatment of lower urinary tract inflammations was presented. The system includes a non-woven viscose insert for essential oils application. The oils were deposited on the non-woven viscose and incubated in the temperature of 37 °C and served a model for their action in the vapor phase as the element of the biotextronics system. The essential oils used in the research were the following: chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.), sage (Salvia officinalis L. and Salvia lavandulaefolia), juniper (Juniperus communis L.), thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.), and mixtures of chamomile oil with oils of each sage species in a 1:1 ratio. The oils were tested against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus saprophyticus, and Enterococcus faecalis. The best inhibitory effect in vapor phase was noted for chamomile essential oil at the lowest concentration (0.054 µL/cm3). Both mixtures of chamomile and sage acted antagonistically, lowering the antibacterial activity of the individual oils applied solely. Juniper and Salvia officinalis essential oils at the concentrations tested increased the growth of at least one of the bacteria tested. Salvia lavandulaefolia Vahl. essential oil inhibited all bacteria, only at the concentration 0.214 µL/cm3. The thyme oil, at the concentration 0.054 µL/cm3, reduced the growth of all bacterial species tested. Chamomile and thyme essential oils were chosen for further research in the biotextronics pantiliner system.

The Beneficial Effects of Essential Oils in Anti-Obesity Treatment

Obesity is a complex disease caused by an excessive amount of body fat. Obesity is a medical problem and represents an important risk factor for the development of serious diseases such as insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and some types of cancer. Not to be overlooked are the psychological issues that, in obese subjects, turn into very serious pathologies, such as depression, phobias, anxiety, and lack of self-esteem. In addition to modifying one’s lifestyle, the reduction of body mass can be promoted by different natural compounds such as essential oils (EOs). EOs are mixtures of aromatic substances produced by many plants, particularly in medicinal and aromatic ones. They are odorous and volatile and contain a mixture of terpenes, alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, and esters. Thanks to the characteristics of the various chemical components present in them, EOs are used in the food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical fields. Indeed, it has been shown that EOs possess great antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, and antitumor powers. Emerging results also demonstrate the anti-obesity effects of EOs. We have examined the main data obtained in experimental studies and, in this review, we summarize the effect of EOs in obesity and obesity-related metabolic diseases.

Combination of Analytical and Statistical Methods in Order to Optimize Antibacterial Activity of Clary Sage Supercritical Fluid Extracts

The extraction of clary sage (Salvia sclarea L.) using supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2) was systematically studied by using thin layer chromatography-direct bioautography (TLC-DB) and response surface methodology (RSM). The three parameters temperature, pressure, and cosolvent ratio were optimized for the maximum antibacterial activity of clary sage extracts against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The highest inhibition zone was 7.51 mm for P. aeruginosa and 7.57 mm for MRSA. According to RSM analysis, the predicted optimum extraction parameters are 18.6 MPa pressure, 40 °C temperature, and 2% ethanol (EtOH) ratio. The combination of this analytical and statistical method allows saving time, money, and instrument runtime in the optimization of essential oil composition, which is tailored to a specific task and could be useful on any kind of herbs in a wide range of use from perfume manufacturing to the food industry.

Sage, Salvia officinalis L., Constituents, Hepatoprotective Activity, and Cytotoxicity Evaluations of the Essential Oils Obtained from Fresh and Differently Timed Dried Herbs: A Comparative Analysis

Sage, Salvia officinalis L., is used worldwide as an aromatic herb for culinary purposes as well as a traditional medicinal agent for various ailments. Current investigations exhibited the effects of extended dryings of the herb on the yields, composition, oil quality, and hepatoprotective as well as anti-cancer biological activities of the hydrodistillation-obtained essential oils from the aerial parts of the plant. The essential oils’ yields, compositions, and biological activities levels of the fresh and differently timed and room-temperature dried herbs differed significantly. The lowest yields of the essential oil were obtained from the fresh herbs (FH, 631 mg, 0.16%), while the highest yield was obtained from the two-week dried herbs (2WDH, 1102 mg, 0.28%). A notable decrease in monoterpenes, with increment in the sesquiterpene constituents, was observed for the FH-based essential oil as compared to all the other batches of the essential oils obtained from the different-timed dried herbs. Additionally, characteristic chemotypic constituents of sage, i.e., α-pinene, camphene, β-pinene, myrcene, 1, 8-cineole, α-thujone, and camphor, were present in significantly higher proportions in all the dried herbs’ essential oils as compared to the FH-based essential oil. The in vivo hepatoprotective activity demonstrated significant reductions in the levels of AST, ALT, and ALP, as well as a significant increase in the total protein (p < 0.05) contents level, as compared to the acetaminophen (AAP) administered experimental group of rats. A significant reduction (p < 0.05) in the ALT level was demonstrated by the 4WDH-based essential oil in comparison to the FH-based essential oil. The levels of creatinine, cholesterol, and triglycerides were reduced (p < 0.05) in the pre-treated rats by the essential oil batches, with non-significant differences found among them as a result of the herbs dryings based oils. A notable increase in the viability of the cells, and total antioxidant capacity (TAOxC) levels, together with the reduction in malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were observed by the essential oils obtained from all the batches as compared with the AAP-treated cell-lines, HepG-2, HeLa, and MCF-7, that indicated the in vitro hepatoprotective effects of the sage essential oils. However, significant improvements in the in vivo and in vitro hepatoprotective activities with the 4WDH-based oil, as compared to all other essential oil-batches and silymarin standard demonstrated the beneficial effects of the drying protocol for the herb for its medicinal purposes.

Supercritical Antisolvent Fractionation of Antioxidant Compounds from Salvia officinalis

The increasing interest towards greener antioxidants obtained via natural sources and more sustainable processes encourages the development of new theoretical and experimental methods in the field of those compounds. Two advanced separation methods using supercritical CO2 are applied to obtain valuable antioxidants from Salvia officinalis, and a first approximation to a QSAR model relating molecular structure with antioxidant activity is explored in order to be used, in the future, as a guide for the preselection of compounds of interest in these processes. Separation experiments through antisolvent fractionation with supercritical CO2 were designed using a Response Surface Methodology to study the effect of pressure and CO2 flow rate on both mass yields and capability to obtain fractions enriched in three antioxidant compounds: chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid and rosmarinic acid which were tracked using HPLC PDA. Rosmarinic acid was completely retained in the precipitation vessel while chlorogenic and caffeic acids, though distributed between the two separated fractions, had a major presence in the precipitation vessel too. The conditions predicted for an optimal overall yield and enrichment were 148 bar and 10 g/min. Although a training dataset including much more compounds than those now considered can be recommended, descriptors calculated from the σ-profiles provided by COSMO-RS model seem to be adequate for estimating the antioxidant activity of pure compounds through QSAR.

Essential Oils of Sage, Rosemary, and Bay Laurel Inhibit the Life Stages of Oomycete Pathogens Important in Aquaculture

Saprolegnia parasitica, the causative agent of saprolegniosis in fish, and Aphanomyces astaci, the causative agent of crayfish plague, are oomycete pathogens that cause economic losses in aquaculture. Since toxic chemicals are currently used to control them, we aimed to investigate their inhibition by essential oils of sage, rosemary, and bay laurel as environmentally acceptable alternatives. Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis showed that the essential oils tested were rich in bioactive volatiles, mainly monoterpenes. Mycelium and zoospores of A. astaci were more sensitive compared to those of S. parasitica, where only sage essential oil completely inhibited mycelial growth. EC₅₀ values (i.e., concentrations of samples at which the growth was inhibited by 50%) for mycelial growth determined by the radial growth inhibition assay were 0.031-0.098 µL/mL for A. astaci and 0.040 µL/mL for S. parasitica. EC₅₀ values determined by the zoospore germination inhibition assay were 0.007-0.049 µL/mL for A. astaci and 0.012-0.063 µL/mL for S. parasitica. The observed inhibition, most pronounced for sage essential oil, could be partly due to dominant constituents of the essential oils, such as camphor, but more likely resulted from a synergistic effect of multiple compounds. Our results may serve as a basis for in vivo experiments and the development of environmentally friendly methods to control oomycete pathogens in aquaculture.

Study of the genetic and phenotypic variation among wild and cultivated clary sages provides interesting avenues for breeding programs of a perfume, medicinal and aromatic plant

A road-map of the genetic and phenotypic diversities in both crops and their wild related species can help identifying valuable genetic resources for further crop breeding. The clary sage (Salvia sclarea L.), a perfume, medicinal and aromatic plant, is used for sclareol production and ornamental purposes. Despite its wide use in the field of cosmetics, the phenotypic and genetic diversity of wild and cultivated clary sages remains to be explored. We characterized the genetic and phenotypic variation of a collection of six wild S. sclarea populations from Croatia, sampled along an altitudinal gradient, and, of populations of three S. sclarea cultivars. We showed low level of genetic diversity for the two S. sclarea traditional cultivars used for essential oil production and for ornamental purposes, respectively. In contrast, a recent cultivar resulting from new breeding methods, which involve hybridizations among several genotypes rather than traditional recurrent selection and self-crosses over time, showed high genetic diversity. We also observed a marked phenotypic differentiation for the ornamental clary sage compared with other cultivated and wild clary sages. Instead, the two cultivars used for essential oil production, a traditional and a recent one, respectively, were not phenotypically differentiated from the wild Croatian populations. Our results also featured some wild populations with high sclareol content and early-flowering phenotypes as good candidates for future breeding programs. This study opens up perspectives for basic research aiming at understanding the impact of breeding methods on clary sage evolution, and highlights interesting avenues for clary breeding programs.

Involvement of Pca1 in ROS-mediated apoptotic cell death induced by alpha-thujone in the fission yeast (Schizosaccharomyces pombe)

Alpha-thujone, widely used in beverages (1-5 mg/kg), is known to have cytotoxic effects, but the mode of action and the role of potential apoptotic proteins in yeast cell death should be unraveled. In this study, we used Schizosaccharomyces pombe, which is a promising unicellular model organism in mechanistic toxicology and cell biology, to investigate the involvement of pro-apoptotic factors in alpha-thujone-induced cell death. We showed alpha-thujone-induced ROS accumulation-dependent cytotoxicity and apoptosis. In addition, we used superoxide dismutase-deficient cells (sod1 and sod2 mutants) to understand the effect of oxidative stress. Alpha-thujone caused significant cytotoxicity and apoptotic cell death, particularly in sod mutants. Moreover, two potential apoptotic factors, pca1 and pnu1 (pombe caspase-1 and pombe nuc1) were investigated to understand which factor mediates alpha-thujone-induced cell death. Pca1-deficient cells showed increased survival rates and reduced apoptosis in comparison to parental cells after chemical treatment while pnu1 mutation did not cause any significant change and the response was found identical as of parental cells. Yeast responded to alpha-thujone in caspase-dependent manner which was very similar to that for acetic acid. In conclusion, alfa-thujone-induced apoptosis and accounting mechanisms, which were mediated by ROS and driven by Pca1, were clarified in the unicellular model, S. pombe.

Antitumor effect of Melaleuca alternifolia essential oil and its main component terpinen-4-ol in combination with target therapy in melanoma models

Essential oils (EOs) have been recently emerging for their promising biological activities in preventing tumorigenesis or progression of different tumor histotypes, including melanoma. In this study, we investigated the antitumor activity of a panel of EOs in different tumor models. The ability of Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree oil) and its main component, terpinen-4-ol, to sensitize the target therapy currently used for melanoma treatment was also assessed. Our results demonstrated that EOs differently affect the viability of human cancer cells and led us to select six EOs effective in melanoma and lung cancer cells, without toxic effects in human fibroblasts. When combined with dabrafenib and/or trametinib, Melaleuca alternifolia synergistically reduced the viability of melanoma cells by activating apoptosis. Through machine learning classification modeling, α-terpineol, tepinolene, and terpinen-4-ol, three components of Melaleuca alternifolia, were identified as the most likely relevant components responsible for the EO's antitumor effect. Among them, terpinen-4-ol was recognized as the Melaleuca alternifolia component responsible for its antitumor and proapoptotic activity. Overall, our study holds promise for further analysis of EOs as new anticancer agents and supports the rationale for their use to improve target therapy response in melanoma.

Mexican Sage (Salvia officinalis) Extraction Using Factorial Design and Its Effect on Chemical and Antibacterial Properties

The essential oils (EOs) extracted by hydrodistillation (HYDRO) and steam distillation (SD) from Mexican Salvia officinalis L were analyzed for yield, chemical composition (GC-MS), particle morphology (SEM), antioxidant activity (ABTS), and antibacterial activity against Enterobacter agglomerans, Citrobacter freundii, Salmonella sp, E. coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The influence of the factors (method, quantity, and sample) was evaluated using a 23 full factorial design, Pareto chart, normal probability plot, main effects, and interaction plots in variance analysis on yield and antioxidant activity. The quantity, methods, sample, and the methods × sample and methods × quantity interactions were the most significant factors on yield (%). The sample, methods, and quantity × sample interaction were significant for antioxidant activity. EO yields were between 0.35 and 1.27 (% w/w), and the highest value was obtained by the HYDRO method using 50 g of whole sage leaves. The antioxidant activity values were in the range of 2.35 to 3.44 mg Trolox equivalent/g. Camphor, limonene, camphene, and caryophyllene were the main compounds identified. Micrographs of sage leaves showed relevant changes in the structure after extraction. The antibacterial activity was confirmed with the inhibition diameter and inhibition percentage of all bacteria, and P. aeruginosa was the most resistant bacteria. Finally, S. officinalis EO potentials can be considered an alternative natural preservative for the food and pharmaceutical industries.

Phytochemical Analysis and Study of Antioxidant, Anticandidal, and Antibacterial Activities of Teucrium polium subsp. polium and Micromeria graeca (Lamiaceae) Essential Oils from Northern Morocco

The protection of agricultural crops and the preservation of the organoleptic and health qualities of food products represent a major challenge for the agricultural and agro-food industries. Essential oils have received greater attention as alternatives to replace the control strategies based on pesticides against phytopathogenic bacteria and synthetic compounds in food preservation. The aims of this work were to study the chemical composition of Teucrium polium subsp. polium and Micromeria graeca essential oils and to examine their antioxidant and antimicrobial effects. To carry out this work, the chemical composition of the essential oil was determined using gas chromatography (GC) with the detection feature of mass spectrometry (MS). Subsequently, the antioxidant activity was investigated by DPPH and FRAPS assays. The antimicrobial effect was studied against phytopathogenic and foodborne pathogenic bacteria using the disc and the microdilution methods. Our results showed that GC-MS analysis of EOs allowed the identification of 30 compounds in T. polium EO (TPpEO), while 5 compounds were identified in M. graeca EO (MGEO). TPpEO had as major compounds β-pinene (19.82%) and germacrene D (18.33%), while geranial (36.93%) and z-citral (18.25%) were the main components of MGEO. The most potent activity was obtained from MGEO (IC₅₀ = 189.7 ± 2.62 µg/mL) compared to TPpEO (IC₅₀ = 208.33 ± 3.51 µg/mL. For the FRAP test, the highest reducing power was obtained from 1.32 ± 0.1 mg AAE/g of TPpEO compared to MGEO 0.51 ± 0.13 mg AAE/g of EO. Both EOs exhibited varying degrees of antibacterial activities against all the tested strains with inhibition zones in the range of 9.33 ± 0.57 mm to >65 mm and MIC values from 0.19 to 12.5 mg/mL. However, MGEO exhibits an interesting anticandidal effect with inhibition zone 44.33 ± 0.57 mm. The findings of this research establish the riches of EOs on volatile compounds, their important antioxidant activity, and their antimicrobial effect against the bacteria tested.

Anti-oxidant and hepatoprotective effects of Salvia officinalis essential oil against vanadium-induced oxidative stress and histological changes in the rat liver

The present study was designed to evaluate the protective effects of Salvia officinalis essential oil (SOEO) against vanadium-induced hepatotoxicity in Wistar rats. Animals were divided into three groups: the first group served as the control (C), where rats received daily 0.5 mL of saline solution (0.9%) given by intraperitoneal (i.p.) way. Rats in the second group (V) received daily by i.p. way 5 mg/kg BW of NH₄VO₃ (V). Rats in the third group (SV) received daily V (5 mg/kg BW) by i.p. way and SOEO (15 mg/kg BW) by gavage. Animals were sacrificed after 4 or 10 days of treatment. Administration of V increased plasma ALT, AST, ALP, and LDH activities, and cholesterol, bilirubin, triglyceride, and NO levels in rats and reduced anti-oxidant enzyme activities in the liver. Treatment with SOEO significantly attenuated these changes. Moreover, the histopathological changes and the overexpression of Hsp72/73 proteins induced by V were significantly improved by SOEO. Therefore, our results suggested that SOEO could protect against V-induced oxidative damage in rat livers. The hepatoprotective effect of SOEO might be attributed to its modulation of detoxification enzymes and/or to its anti-oxidant and free radical scavenging effects.

Anticancer medicinal plants used by Moroccan people: Ethnobotanical, preclinical, phytochemical and clinical evidence

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Cancer is a major health problem worldwide. Drugs' side effects and high cost of treatment remain the main limitations of conventional therapy. Nowadays, developing new therapeutic strategies is necessary. Therefore, medicinal plants can be used to promote novel, safe, and potent anticancer drugs through their natural compounds.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This review aims to provide scientific evidence related to the anticancer activities of medicinal plants used by Moroccan people as well as approving their efficiency as an alternative cancer therapy.

METHODS

An ethnopharmacological review approach was conducted by analyzing Moroccan published ethnobotanical surveys from 1991 to 2019 and consulting peer-reviewed articles worldwide to investigate the pharmacological, phytochemical, and clinical effects related to the anticancer activities. Plants with anticancer proprieties were classified into four groups: (a) plants only cited as anticancer, (b) plants pharmacologically investigated, (c) plants with bioactive compounds tested as anticancer, and (d) plants clinically investigated.

RESULTS

A total of 103 plant species belonging to 47 botanical families used by Moroccans to treat cancer have been recorded. Aristolochia fontanesii Boiss. & Reut, Marrubium vulgare L., and Allium sativum L. are the most referred species in Morocco. Medicinal plants used for cancer treatment were classified into four groups: 48 species were used traditionally as anticancer (group a), 41 species pharmacologically investigated for their anticancer activities (group b), 32 plants with bioactive compounds tested against cancer (group c), and eight plants were clinically investigated for their anticancer effects (group d). Out of 82 plants' extracts pharmacologically tested (from plants of group b), only 24 ones show a significant cytotoxic effect. A total of seventy-seven compounds are isolated from plants of group (c). However, only six ones were clinically evaluated, and most of them exhibit a beneficial effect on cancerous patients with few side effects.

CONCLUSION

Medicinal plants can be a promising candidate for alternative cancer therapy. Nevertheless, it is critical to increasing the clinical trials to confirm their beneficial effect on patients with cancer. Overall, this review can serve as a database for further studies.

Salvia officinalis L. from Italy: A Comparative Chemical and Biological Study of Its Essential Oil in the Mediterranean Context

Salvia officinalis L. (sage) is one of the most appreciated plants for its plethora of biologically active compounds. The objective of our research was a comparative study, in the Mediterranean context, of chemical composition, anticholinesterases, and antioxidant properties of essential oils (EOs) from sage collected in three areas (S1–S3) of Southern Italy. EOs were extracted by hydrodistillation and analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) inhibitory properties were investigated by employing Ellman’s method. Four in vitro assays, namely, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), ferric-reducing ability power (FRAP), and β-carotene bleaching tests, were used to study the antioxidant effects. Camphor (16.16–18.92%), 1,8-cineole (8.80–9.86%), β-pinene (3.08–9.14%), camphene (6.27–8.08%), and α-thujone (1.17–9.26%) are identified as the most abundant constituents. However, the content of these constituents varied depending on environmental factors and pedoclimatic conditions. Principal component analysis (PCA) was performed. Based on Relative Antioxidant Capacity Index (RACI), S2 essential oil exhibited the highest radical potential with an IC₅₀ value of 20.64 μg/mL in ABTS test and presented the highest protection of lipid peroxidation with IC₅₀ values of 38.06 and 46.32 μg/mL after 30 and 60 min of incubation, respectively. The most promising inhibitory activity against BChE was found for S3 sample (IC₅₀ of 33.13 μg/mL).