Volatile constituents from Cinnamomum zeylanicum fruit stalks and their antioxidant activities

Critical assessment of the delivery methods of chemical and natural postharvest preservatives for fruits and vegetables: a review

Through a comprehensive review on preservative delivery methods in fruits and vegetables preservation, it becomes evident that majority of existing studies concentrate on the development and mechanisms of preservatives. However, a notable gap lies in comparative analysis of different delivery methods, despite the direct impact of delivery methods on preservation outcomes. Additionally, emerging delivery techniques have displayed promising potential in enhancing delivery efficiency and likewise preservation effectiveness.

Alleviation of negative effect of heat stress through supplementations of cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) and turmeric (Curcuma longa L) powders in diets of broiler chickens

This study was designed to assess the effect of cinnamon powder (CNP) and turmeric powder (TP) on growth performance, antioxidant status, liver function, meat quality and lactate dehydrogenase activity of broiler chickens under heat stress conditions. A total of 200, one day old as-hatched broiler chickens (ROSS 308) were randomly allotted into five treatments with four replicates (n = 10). Treatment groups were control (C): fed basal diet; T1: 0.5% CNP; T2: 1.0% CNP; T3: 0.5% TP and T4: 1.0% TP. Results indicated that body weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio were improved significantly (p < 0.05) in treatments fed CNP and TP. Serum malondialdehyde and lactate dehydrogenase activity were decreased (p < 0.05) while blood superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase activity were increased (p < 0.05) in treatments fed CNP and TP. Addition of CNP and TP decreased (p < 0.05) serum aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase activity. Treatments fed CNP and TP resulted increased (p < 0.05) breast and thigh meat monounsaturated fatty acid, polyunsaturated fatty acid, linoleic acid, oleic acid and water holding capacity while decreased (p < 0.05) saturated fatty acid and cook loss. In conclusion CNP and TP possess advantageous effect on growth performance, antioxidant status, liver function, meat quality and lactate dehydrogenase activity.

Drug Discovery – A New Bioactive Compounds Isolated from Natural Sources

"A rise in mortality due to fungal infections in an immunocompromised population has been observed lately. Nowadays, due to increased fungal infections, the limitations encountered in their treatment like resistance, side-effects, and high toxicity, the rising prescription and overuse of conventional antifungals all stimulate a search for alternative natural drugs therefore we are in dire need of natural newer strategies that involve reliable agents for the treatment of fungal diseases such as essential oils are known for their anti-microbial properties and are multi-component. Materials & Methods: Soil samples (66 samples) were collected from different agricultural fields and animals habitat of Saharanpur (U.P.) Isolation of keratinophilic fungi was carried out by the hair-baiting technique. Extraction of Mentha piperita & Cinnamonum vernum essential oil was carried out by hydrodistillation method and the chemical composition of both extracted essential oils was determined by Gas ChromatographyMass Spectrophotometry. Antimycotic studies of essential oils were done by the standard disc diffusion method. Results & Discussion: In the present study, the antifungal potential of Mentha piperita & Cinnamonum vernum essential oils were evaluated against three human pathogenic fungi isolated from the soil of agricultural field and animals habitat of Saharanpur (U.P.) i.e Trichophyton mentagrophytes, T.tonsurans, and T.equinum. The chemical composition of Mentha piperita & Cinnamonum vernum EO was analyzed by GC-MS. Menthol (53.28%) was the major compound of the Mentha piperita EO followed by Menthyl acetate (15.1%) and Menthofuran (11.18%). Major constituents of Cinnamonum vernum EO were linalool (8%), (E)- cinnamaldehyde (7.2%), β-caryophyllene (7.4%), eucalyptol (6.4%), and eugenol (5.6%). Conclusion: Essential oils of Mentha piperita & Cinnamonum vernum have been found to have remarkable & excellent antifungal activity against these pathogenic fungi. Present findings conclude that natural products like plant-derived EOs instead of chemotherapy and the emergence of resistance to antifungal drugs can be regarded as an environmental safety mode of disease control against pathogens. "

Indian spices: past, present and future challenges as the engine for bio-enhancement of drugs: impact of COVID-19

Spices are natural plant products enriched with the history of being used as herbal medicine for prevention of diseases. India is also known as the 'Land of Spices'. Out of 109 spices recognized by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) more than 52-60 spice crops are grown in India. The major spices exported by India are turmeric, cumin, coriander, fenugreek, peppers, etc. The Indian spices are divided into three era viz. early period, middle age and early modern period. Spices are used in beverages, liquors, and pharmaceutical, cosmetic and perfumery products. The major issue with spices is their handling and storage. This review article mainly focuses on two aspects: at the outset the handling and storage of the spices is an essential factor as spices are available in different forms like raw, processed, fresh, whole dried, or pre-ground dried. Therefore, the need of processing, packaging, storage and handling of the spices is important as the deterioration of spices can lead to the loss of therapeutic activity. Furthermore, many herbal constituents have the capability to enhance the bioavailability of drugs. Therefore, an attempt has been made to throw a light on the bioenhancer activity and therapeutic activity along with their mechanism of action of some Indian spices which are regularly used for cooking purpose on a daily basis to enhance the taste of food. The spices suggested by ministry of AYUSH which is relevant to its medicinal and biological property in treatment and prevention from COVID-19 are discussed. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Antinociceptive and chondroprotective effects of prolonged β-caryophyllene treatment in the animal model of osteoarthritis: Focus on tolerance development

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic joint disease in which cartilage degeneration leads to chronic pain. The endocannabinoid system has attracted attention as an emerging drug target for OA. However, the therapeutic potential of cannabinoids is limited by psychoactive side-effects related to CB1 activation and tolerance development for analgesic effects. β-Caryophyllene (BCP) is a low-efficacy natural agonist of CB2 and a common constituent of human diet with well-established anti-inflammatory properties. The results presented herein show the anti-nociceptive and chondroprotective potential of BCP in an animal model of OA induced by intra-articular injection of monoiodoacetate (MIA). Behavioural assessment included pressure application measurement and kinetic weight bearing tests. Histological assessment of cartilage degeneration was quantified using OARSI scoring. Experiments established the dose-response effects of BCP and pharmacological mechanisms of the antinociceptive action dependent on CB2 and opioid receptors. Chronic BCP treatment was able to hamper cartilage degeneration without producing tolerance for the analgesic effects. The data presented herein show that BCP is able to produce both acute and prolonged antinociceptive and chondroprotective effects. Together with the safety profile and legal status of BCP, these results indicate a novel and promising disease-modifying strategy for treating OA.

Association Between Cinnamon Consumption and Risk of Cardiovascular Health: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

Cinnamon has been used as a traditional herbal medication for decades. Several studies have investigated cinnamon consumption and cardiovascular risk. So far, the evidence remains inconclusive. Thus, we aim to systematically review the currently available literature and quantify the evidence, if possible.

METHODS

We systematically searched Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid Embase, Ovid Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Scopus, and Web of Science from database inception in 1966 through December 2020. The exposure of interest was cinnamon consumption, the outcome was cardiovascular risk defined as hemoglobin A1C, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c). Two investigators independently reviewed the data. Conflicts were resolved through consensus. Random-effects meta-analyses were used.

RESULTS

Of 23 studies (1070 subjects), the included studies were heterogeneous, generally of very poor quality. We found no difference in LDL-c levels in patients who consumed cinnamon vs those who did not, with a weighted mean difference (WMD) of 0.38 (confidence interval [CI], -6.07-6.83). We also found no difference in HDL-c between the 2 groups with WMD 0.40 (CI, -1.14-1.94). In addition, we found no statistical differences in hemoglobin A1C between the 2 groups with WMD of 0.0 (CI, -0.44-0.45).

CONCLUSIONS

Our meta-analysis suggests that there is no association between cinnamon consumption and differences in LDL-c, HDL-c, and hemoglobin A1C levels. Further randomized control trials studies using a robust design with long-term cinnamon consumption are needed to further investigate any potential effect.

Unravelling the Immune Modulatory Effect of Indian Spices to Impede the Transmission of COVID-19: A Promising Approach

Months after WHO declared COVID-19 as a Global Public Health Emergency of International Concern, it does not seem to be flattening the curve as we are still devoid of an effective treatment modality and vaccination is in the first phase in many countries. Amid such uncertainty, being immune is the best strategy to defend against corona attacks. As the whole world is referring back to immune-boosting traditional remedies, interest is rekindled in the Indian system of Medicine, which is gifted with an abundance of herbal medicines as well as remedies. Among them, spices (root, rhizome, seed, fruit, leaf, bud, and flower of various plants used to add taste and flavors to food) are bestowed with immense medicinal potential. A plethora of clinical as well as preclinical studies reported the effectiveness of various spices for various ailments. The potential immune-boosting properties together with their excellent safety profiles are making spices the current choice of phytoresearch as well as the immune-boosting home remedies during these sceptical times. The present review critically evaluates the immune impact of various Indian spices and their potential to tackle the novel coronavirus, with comments on the safety and toxicity aspects of spices.

Beneficial effects of cinnamon and its extracts in the management of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and diabetes are the leading causes of death worldwide, which underlines the urgent necessity to develop new pharmacotherapies. Cinnamon has been an eminent component of spice and traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years. Numerous lines of findings have elucidated that cinnamon has beneficial effects against CVDs in various ways, including endothelium protection, regulation of immune response, lowering blood lipids, antioxidative properties, anti-inflammatory properties, suppression of vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) growth and mobilization, repression of platelet activity and thrombosis and inhibition of angiogenesis. Furthermore, emerging evidence has established that cinnamon improves diabetes, a crucial risk factor for CVDs, by enhancing insulin sensitivity and insulin secretion; regulating the enzyme activity involved in glucose; regulating glucose metabolism in the liver, adipose tissue and muscle; ameliorating oxidative stress and inflammation to protect islet cells; and improving diabetes complications. In this review, we summarized the mechanisms by which cinnamon regulates CVDs and diabetes in order to provide a theoretical basis for the further clinical application of cinnamon.

Preparation of nanoemulsion of Cinnamomum zeylanicum oil and evaluation of its larvicidal activity against a main malaria vector Anopheles stephensi

PURPOSE

There is a growing need to use green and efficient larvicidal as alternatives for conventional chemicals in vector control programs. Nanotechnology has provided a promising approach for research and development of new larvicides. Larvicidal potential of a nanoemulsion of Cinnamomum zeylanicum essential oil reports against Anopheles stephensi.

METHODS

The nanoemulsion of was formulated in various ratios comprising of C. zeylanicum oil, tween 80, span 20 and water by stirrer. It was characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS). All components of C. zeylanicum essential oil were identified by GC-MS analysis. The larvicidal potential of the oil and its nanoformulation were evaluated against larvae of An. stephensi. The stability and durability of nanoemulsion was observed over a period of time.

RESULTS

Sixty one components in the oil were identified, cinnamaldehyde (56.803%) was the main component. The LC90 and LC50 values of C. zeylanicum essential oil were calculated as 49 ppm and 37 ppm, respectively. The nanoemulsion droplets were found spherical in shape. It was able to kill 100% of larvae in up to 3 days. It was stable after dilution and increased its larvicidal activity up to 32% compared with the essential oil.

CONCLUSIONS

A novel larvicide based on nanotechnology introduced. This experiment clearly showed increasing larvicidal activity and residual effect of the nanoformulation in comparison with the bulk essential oil. It could be concluded that this nanoemulsion may be considered as safe larvicide and should be subject of more research in this field.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

Cinnamomum Species: Bridging Phytochemistry Knowledge, Pharmacological Properties and Toxicological Safety for Health Benefits

The genus Cinnamomum includes a number of plant species largely used as food, food additives and spices for a long time. Different traditional healing systems have used these plants as herbal remedies to cure diverse ailments. The aim of this comprehensive and updated review is to summarize the biodiversity of the genus Cinnamomum, its bioactive compounds, the mechanisms that underlie the pharmacological activities and molecular targets and toxicological safety. All the data in this review have been collected from databases and recent scientific literature including Web of Science, PubMed, ScienceDirect etc. The results showed that the bioactive compounds of Cinnamomum species possess antimicrobial, antidiabetic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer and neuroprotective effects. The preclinical (in vitro/in vivo) studies provided the possible molecular mechanisms of these action. As a novelty, recent clinical studies and toxicological data described in this paper support and confirm the pharmacological importance of the genus Cinnamomum. In conclusion, the obtained results from preclinical studies and clinical trials, as well as reduced side effects provide insights into future research of new drugs based on extracts and bioactive compounds from Cinnamomum plants.

Why wild giant pandas frequently roll in horse manure

Attraction to feces in wild mammalian species is extremely rare. Here we introduce the horse manure rolling (HMR) behavior of wild giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca). Pandas not only frequently sniffed and wallowed in fresh horse manure, but also actively rubbed the fecal matter all over their bodies. The frequency of HMR events was highly correlated with an ambient temperature lower than 15 °C. BCP/BCPO (beta-caryophyllene/caryophyllene oxide) in fresh horse manure was found to drive HMR behavior and attenuated the cold sensitivity of mice by directly targeting and inhibiting transient receptor potential melastatin 8 (TRPM8), an archetypical cold-activated ion channel of mammals. Therefore, horse manure containing BCP/BCPO likely bestows the wild giant pandas with cold tolerance at low ambient temperatures. Together, our study described an unusual behavior, identified BCP/BCPO as chemical inhibitors of TRPM8 ion channel, and provided a plausible chemistry-auxiliary mechanism, in which animals might actively seek and utilize potential chemical resources from their habitat for temperature acclimatization.

HS-SPME and SDE combined with GC-MS and GC-O for characterization of flavor compounds in Zhizhonghe Wujiapi medicinal liquor

Volatile compounds in Chinese medicinal liquor, Zhizhonghe Wujiapi (WJP liquor), were extracted by headspace-solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) and simultaneous distillation and extraction (SDE), respectively, and identified and quantified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and gas chromatography-olfactometry (GC-O). Results showed that a total of 133 volatile compounds (i.e., 99 by HS-SPME, 67 by SDE, and 33 by both) including esters, alcohols, acids, aldehydes, ketones, furans, terpenes, and other miscellaneous compounds were identified by GC-MS. A total of 66 aroma active compounds were further recognized by GC-O, and 43 of them were confirmed as key aroma compounds owing to their high OAV values. After making a simulated reconstitute by mixing 31 characterized aroma compounds (OAVs ≥ 1) based on their measured concentrations, the aroma profile of the reconstitute showed a good similarity to the aroma of the original WJP liquor. Omission test further corroborated 25 key aroma-active compounds in the WJP liquor. The analysis of the volatile components of this special Chinese medicinal liquor is expected to provide some insights in terms of its quality improvement and aroma profile optimization.

Chemical composition and biological activities of two chemotype-oils from Cinnamomum verum J. Presl growing in North Brazil

Chemical composition and antioxidant and antifungal action of the oils from leaves and wood bark of two chemotypes of Cinnamomum verum J. Presl were evaluated. Plants were sampled in the cities of São Luís and Santa Inês, state of Maranhão, Brazil. GC-MS and GC-FID, DPPH radical scavenging, and in vitro test against the phytopathogenic fungus Colletotrichum musae were used to perform these analyses. Cinnamomum verum is worldwide known as Cinnamon, highlighted for its extensive use in the cooking of diverse cultures of the world, and as a medicinal plant to treat environmental viral diseases. In the leaf oil of São Luís chemotype, eugenol (93.6%) was the main constituent, while in Santa Inês chemotype, it was benzyl benzoate (95.3%). In the bark wood oil of São Luís chemotype, (E)-cinnamaldehyde (89.3%) was the main constituent, while in Santa Inês chemotype, they were benzyl benzoate (23.3%), linalool (14.0%), (E)-caryophyllene (9.1%), caryolan-8-ol (7.2%) and borneol (4.7%). Leaf oils from both chemotypes showed strong to moderate antifungal activity, reaching 100% efficacy in eugenol-containing oils and above 70% in benzyl benzoate oils. In the antioxidant evaluation, the chemotype with a high eugenol content presented an inhibitory concentration higher than 80%, compared to Trolox. The leaf oils of the two C. verum chemotypes showed significant antifungal and antioxidant potential, considering their economic use as a functional and nutraceutical food supplement.

Lignans and Neolignans with Antioxidant and Human Cancer Cell Proliferation Inhibitory Activities from Cinnamomum bejolghota Confirm Its Functional Food Property

In the aim to evaluate the functional food property of Cinnamomum bejolghota, seven new lignans and neolignans, bejolghotins A-G (1-4 and 9-11), along with 14 known ones (5-8 and 12-21), were isolated and their structures including absolute configurations were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic data and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) analyses. All of the isolates were tested for antioxidant and human cancer cell proliferation inhibitory activities. Twenty compounds showed comparable antioxidant activity to the positive controls, and three significantly inhibited the growth of three cancer cell lines HCT-116, A549, and MDA-MB-231 with IC₅₀ values of 0.78-2.93 μM, which confirmed its health benefits.

The CB2 Agonist β-Caryophyllene in Male and Female Rats Exposed to a Model of Persistent Inflammatory Pain

Cannabinoids help in pain treatment through their action on CB1 and CB2 receptors. β-caryophyllene (BCP), an ancient remedy to treat pain, is a sesquiterpene found in large amounts in the essential oils of various spice and food plants such as oregano, cinnamon, and black pepper. It binds to the CB2 receptor, acting as a full agonist. Sex differences in the BCP-induced analgesic effect were studied by exposing male and female rats to a persistent/repeated painful stimulation. To simulate treatment of a repeated inflammatory condition, after the first formalin injection (FT1; 50 μl, 2.5%), rats received BCP per os for 7 days at two dosages: 5 and 10 mg/kg dissolved in olive oil (OIL). The control group was treated with OIL for 7 days. On day 8, the formalin test was repeated (FT2) with a lower formalin concentration (50 μl, 1%). During the first and second formalin tests, pain-induced responses (licking, flexing, and paw jerk) and spontaneous behaviors were recorded and analyzed. In the FT1 (before the beginning of treatment with BCP), females displayed higher pain responses than did males in terms of flexing duration during the first part of the test (I phase and interphase), while during the second part (II phase early and late) males showed higher levels than did females in licking duration. In the FT2, the pain responses generally decreased in the BCP groups in a dose-dependent manner (i.e., greater effect of BCP10), with a more pronounced reduction in males than in females; moreover, the pain responses remained high in the OIL groups and in the female BCP5 group. In conclusion, long-term intake of BCP appears to be able to decrease pain behaviors in a model of repeated inflammatory pain in both sexes, but to a greater degree in males.

De novo Sequencing and Analysis of Salvia hispanica Tissue-Specific Transcriptome and Identification of Genes Involved in Terpenoid Biosynthesis

Salvia hispanica (commonly known as chia) is gaining popularity worldwide as a healthy food supplement due to its low saturated fatty acid and high polyunsaturated fatty acid content, in addition to being rich in protein, fiber, and antioxidants. Chia leaves contain plethora of secondary metabolites with medicinal properties. In this study, we sequenced chia leaf and root transcriptomes using the Illumina platform. The short reads were assembled into contigs using the Trinity software and annotated against the Uniprot database. The reads were de novo assembled into 103,367 contigs, which represented 92.8% transcriptome completeness and a diverse set of Gene Ontology terms. Differential expression analysis identified 6151 and 8116 contigs significantly upregulated in the leaf and root tissues, respectively. In addition, we identified 30 contigs belonging to the Terpene synthase (TPS) family and demonstrated their evolutionary relationships to tomato TPS family members. Finally, we characterized the expression of S. hispanica TPS members in leaves subjected to abiotic stresses and hormone treatments. Abscisic acid had the most pronounced effect on the expression of the TPS genes tested in this study. Our work provides valuable community resources for future studies aimed at improving and utilizing the beneficial constituents of this emerging healthy food source.

Calcio-herbal formulation, Divya-Swasari-Ras, alleviates chronic inflammation and suppresses airway remodelling in mouse model of allergic asthma by modulating pro-inflammatory cytokine response

Asthma is a chronic allergic respiratory disease with limited therapeutic options. Here we validated the potential anti-inflammatory, anti-asthmatic and immunomodulatory therapeutic properties of calcio-herbal ayurvedic formulation, Divya-Swasari-Ras (DSR) in-vivo, using mouse model of ovalbumin (OVA) induced allergic asthma. HPLC analysis identified the presence of various bioactive indicating molecules and ICP-OES recognized the presence of Ca mineral in the DSR formulation. Here we show that DSR treatment significantly reduced cardinal features of allergic asthma including inflammatory cell accumulation, specifically lymphocytes and eosinophils in the Broncho-Alveolar Lavage (BAL) fluids, airway inflammation, airway remodelling, and pro-inflammatory molecules expression. Conversely, number of macrophages recoverable by BAL were increased upon DSR treatment. Histology analysis of mice lungs revealed that DSR attenuates inflammatory cell infiltration in lungs and thickening of bronchial epithelium. PAS staining confirmed the decrease in OVA-induced mucus secretion at the mucosal epithelium; and trichrome staining confirmed the decrease in peribronchial collagen deposition upon DSR treatment. DSR reduced the OVA-induced pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α) levels in BALF and whole lung steady state mRNA levels (IL-4, -5, -33, IFN-γ, IL-6 and IL-1β). Biochemical assays for markers of oxidative stress and antioxidant defence mechanism confirmed that DSR increases the activity of SOD, Catalase, GPx, GSH, GSH/GSSG ratio and decreases the levels of MDA activity, GSSG, EPO and Nitrite levels in whole lungs. Collectively, present study suggests that, DSR effectively protects against allergic airway inflammation and possess potential therapeutic option for allergic asthma management.

Optimization of Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume) Essential Oil Extraction: Evaluation of Antioxidant and Antiproliferative Effects

Having high cytotoxicity cell line effect, Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume essential oil offers a novel approach to the chemotherapy treatment. In order to enhance its quantity/purity, the experimental conditions to produce essential oil should be more exploited. Steam distillation was used to isolate essential oil, and its conditions' optimization was carried out with the surface-response methodology. The maximum amount (2.6 g/100 g d.b.) was obtained under minimum condensation water flow (0.8 mL/min), a sample size of 6.5 cm, a saline solution concentration of 262.5 g/L, and five washings. The produced essential oil contains >77% of polyphenols. In vitro cytotoxicity was examined using an MTT assay against HeLa and Raji cell lines. The essential oil's capability to inhibit the proliferation of HeLa and Raji cell lines was studied under some conditions presenting IC₅₀ values of 0.13 and 0.57 μg/mL, respectively. The essential oil was evaluated for its potential as an antioxidant by using in vitro models, such as phosphomolybdenum, DPPH, and H₂O₂ methods, in comparison with the synthetic antioxidant BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene) and ascorbic acid (vitamin C) as positive controls. The ammonium phosphomolybdate potency in the present study is of the order of 108.75 ± 32.63 mg of essential oil/equivalent to 1 mg of vitamin C in terms of antioxidant power, and the antioxidant activity of DPPH-H₂O₂ was 21.3% and 55.2%, respectively. The Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume essential oil (CEO) covers important antioxidant and antiproliferative effects. This can be attributed to the presence of few minor and major phenolic compounds.

Negative allosteric modulators of cannabinoid receptor 2: protein modeling, binding site identification and molecular dynamics simulations in the presence of an orthosteric agonist

Selective activation of the cannabinoid receptor subtype 2 (CB2) shows promise for treating pain, inflammation, multiple sclerosis, cancer, ischemic/reperfusion injury and osteoporosis. Target selectivity and off-target side effects are two major limiting factors for orthosteric ligands, and therefore, the search for allosteric modulators (AMs) is a widely used drug discovery approach. To date, only a limited number of negative CB2 AMs have been identified, possessing only micromolar activity at best, and the CB2 receptor's allosteric site(s) are not well characterized. Herein, we used computational approaches including receptor modeling, site mapping, docking, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and binding free energy calculations to predict, characterize and validate allosteric sites within the complex of the CB2 receptor with bound orthosteric agonist CP55,940. After docking of known negative CB2 allosteric modulators (NAMs), dihydro-gambogic acid (DHGA) and trans-β-caryophyllene (TBC) (note that TBC also shows agonist activity), at the predicted allosteric sites, the best total complex with CB2, CP55,940 and NAM was embedded into a hydrated lipid bilayer and subjected to a 200 ns MD simulation. The presence of an AM affected the CB2-CP55,940 complex, altering the relative positioning of the toggle switch residues and promoting a strong π-π interaction between Phe117^3.36 and Trp258^6.48. Binding of either TBC or DHGA to a putative allosteric pocket directly adjacent to the orthosteric ligand reduced the binding free energy of CP55,940, which is consistent with the expected effect of a negative AM. The identified allosteric sites present immense scope for the discovery of novel classes of CB2 AMs.

Evaluation of the anti-arthritic activity of Cinnamomum cassia bark extract in experimental models

BACKGROUND

Cinnamomum cassia iswidely used as a traditional medicinal plant for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE

The present study aimed to assess the anti-arthritic activity of C. cassia bark hydroalcoholic extract (CCHE) in different arthritic animal models.

METHODS

In formaldehyde model, sub-plantar administration of 0.1 ml of formaldehyde (2% v/v) into the right hind paws of Wistar albino rats on days 0 and 3. The rats were divided into six groups as follows: normal control, disease control, indomethacin group (3 mg/kg, p.o.) and three groups, treated with 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg CCHE (p.o.). Joint diameter was measured, and ankle joints were collected for MDA and GSH measurements. In complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)-induced arthritis model, CFA was injected into the sub-plantar surface of the right hind paw in rats. Joint diameter was measured, and serum TNF-α and IL-1β were measured. Histopathological and immunohistochemical analyses were also performed.

RESULTS

CCHE treatment significantly (p < 0.01) reduced MDA levels and joint swelling in a concentration-dependent manner in rats with formaldehyde-induced arthritis, in which GSH levels were elevated (p < 0.01). In rats with CFA-induced arthritis, CCHE treatment significantly reduced joint swelling as well as IL-1β and TNF-α levels (p < 0.01). TNF-α receptor expression was decreased in rats treated with indomethacin or CCHE.

CONCLUSION

Based on these findings, it can be concluded that C. cassia possesses anti-arthritic properties.

Spices and Atherosclerosis

Cardiovascular disease is one of the leading causes of death and disability in the world. Atherosclerosis, characterized by lipid accumulation and chronic inflammation in the vessel wall, is the main feature of cardiovascular disease. Although the amounts of fruits and vegetables present in the diets vary by country, diets, worldwide, contain large amounts of spices; this may have positive or negative effects on the initiation and development of atherosclerosis. In this review, we focused on the potential protective effects of specific nutrients from spices, such as pepper, ginger, garlic, onion, cinnamon and chili, in atherosclerosis and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. The mechanisms, epidemiological analysis, and clinical studies focusing on a variety of spices are covered in this review. Based on the integrated information, we aimed to raise specific recommendations for people with different dietary styles for the prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease through dietary habit adjustments.

Antioxidant capacity of cinnamon extract for palm oil stability

Background

Spices and their bioactive components are more promising attractions for their inclusion in diet-based regimes to improve human health. These are sources of natural antioxidants and play an important role in the chemoprevention of diseases and aging. The aim of the current study was to explore the antioxidant potential of cinnamon; a widely used spice throughout the world.

Methods

The current research was aimed to investigate the antioxidant potential of cinnamon extract. For the purpose, cinnamon sticks were procured from local super market, while palm oil was obtained from local oil industry. The resultant extract was analyzed for its antioxidant activity through total phenolic content (TPC), free radical scavenging activity (DPPH assay), and total antioxidant activity was measured by ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) test. The shelf life of palm oil was checked by adding cinnamon extract in oil at different levels _i.e., 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20 and 0.25%, to compare the antioxidant potential of the extract whereas, T_o acted as control and T_BHA @ 0.1% was used as synthetic antioxidant in the oil samples. The oil samples were analyzed for rancidity check during storage (after every seven days for a storage period of four weeks).

Results

The results indicated that total phenolic contents (TPC); 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) values of cinnamon extract were as 355.01 ± 8.34 gallic acid equivalent per gram (mg GAE/g), 90.18 ± 2.12 (%) and 132.82 ± 3.12 (μmol/g), respectively. The oxidative parameters for treatments i.e., T_o, T_BHA, T₁, T₂, T₃, T₄, T₅ were recorded as peroxide value (2.61 ± 0.07, 2.42 ± 0.08, 2.57 ± 0.05, 2.56 ± 0.03, 2.54 ± 0.02, 2.54 ± 0.01, 2.46 ± 0.06 meq/kg, respectively), free fatty acids (0.601 ± 0.05, 0.522 ± 0.02, 0.580 ± 0.07, 0.572 ± 0.03, 0.56 ± 00.07, 0.552 ± 0.03, 0.536 ± 0.05%, respectively), TBA value (22.4 ± 1.45, 20.1 ± 0.73, 21.8 ± 0.42, 21.2 ± 1.56, 20.7 ± 0.48, 20.5 ± 0.59, 20.2 ± 0.91 μg/kg, respectively) and iodine value (52.82 ± 2.12, 52.71 ± 2.38, 52.68 ± 2.96, 52.97 ± 2.14, 52.93 ± 2.12, 53.15 ± 2.38, 52.71 ± 2.96, respectively). Overall, the statistical analysis indicated that all parameters regarding oil stability i.e., peroxide value (PV), free fatty acid content, (FFA) thiobarbituric acid (TBA) value and iodine value (IV) were significant with respect to treatments and storage.

Conclusion

From the present study, it can be concluded that the cinnamon extract proved effective in reducing the lipid oxidation of palm oil and it can be successfully used in place of synthetic antioxidants in food preparations.

Hypocholesterolemic effect of β-caryophyllene in rats fed cholesterol and fat enriched diet

Hypercholesterolemia is a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. This study investigated the cholesterol-lowering potential of β-caryophyllene in a rat model. Hypercholesterolemia was induced by feeding male Wistar rats a high cholesterol and fat diet for 2 weeks. This was followed by oral administration of β-caryophyllene to hypercholesterolemic rats at 30, 100 and 300 mg/kg b.w. for 4 weeks. A dose of 30 mg/kg of β-caryophyllene significantly lowered serum total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein and the atherogenic index and significantly increased high density lipoprotein level. Moreover, it ameliorated liver injury as evidenced by decreasing hepatomegaly, macrovesicular steatosis and the activity of hepatic marker enzymes alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase. Furthermore, it increased the activity of the antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase. This dose of β-caryophyllene significantly inhibited the activity of hepatic hydroxy-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase. Higher doses (100 and 300 mg/kg) of β-caryophyllene, however, did not induce significant beneficial effects on the studied parameters. These observations demonstrate that β-caryophyllene has a cholesterol-lowering effect on hypercholesterolemic rats, thus offering protection against hypercholesterolemia-induced diseases such as atherosclerosis and fatty liver.

Chronic diseases, inflammation, and spices: how are they linked?

Extensive research within the last several decades has revealed that the major risk factors for most chronic diseases are infections, obesity, alcohol, tobacco, radiation, environmental pollutants, and diet. It is now well established that these factors induce chronic diseases through induction of inflammation. However, inflammation could be either acute or chronic. Acute inflammation persists for a short duration and is the host defense against infections and allergens, whereas the chronic inflammation persists for a long time and leads to many chronic diseases including cancer, cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, respiratory diseases, etc. Numerous lines of evidence suggest that the aforementioned risk factors induced cancer through chronic inflammation. First, transcription factors NF-κB and STAT3 that regulate expression of inflammatory gene products, have been found to be constitutively active in most cancers; second, chronic inflammation such as pancreatitis, prostatitis, hepatitis etc. leads to cancers; third, activation of NF-κB and STAT3 leads to cancer cell proliferation, survival, invasion, angiogenesis and metastasis; fourth, activation of NF-κB and STAT3 leads to resistance to chemotherapy and radiation, and hypoxia and acidic conditions activate these transcription factors. Therefore, targeting these pathways may provide opportunities for both prevention and treatment of cancer and other chronic diseases. We will discuss in this review the potential of various dietary agents such as spices and its components in the suppression of inflammatory pathways and their roles in the prevention and therapy of cancer and other chronic diseases. In fact, epidemiological studies do indicate that cancer incidence in countries such as India where spices are consumed daily is much lower (94/100,000) than those where spices are not consumed such as United States (318/100,000), suggesting the potential role of spices in cancer prevention.

Essential Oils as Immunomodulators: Some Examples

Essential oils (EOs) exhibit a wide range of pharmacological properties, which have been reported over the years in various studies. The aim of this literature review is to present the latest findings of the immunomodulatory effects of EOs. From 2008 to 2016in vivo- and/orin vitro-studies, most of which were published in the last couple of years, have been selected based on their topic relevance, namely immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, antileishmanial, antiallergic, and anticancer effects of various EOs. These findings show modulation of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, antiproliferative, chemotactic properties and also exert antiparasitic effects by inhibiting the pro, axenic and intramacrophagic amastigote forms of Leishmania parasites or by modulating the TH1 and TH2 immune responses. Furthermore, the EOs of some plants show the ability to reduce the mast cell degranulation and improve the airway inflammation and mucus obstruction in the cases of immediate hypersensitivity in murine models. Additionally, the cytotoxicity of some EOs against human melanoma, hepatoma, lung, prostate and breast cancer cell lines proposed their potential antitumor effect by an increased immunosuppressive (cytostatic) activity.

Analgesic-Like Activity of Essential Oil Constituents: An Update

The constituents of essential oils are widely found in foods and aromatic plants giving characteristic odor and flavor. However, pharmacological studies evidence its therapeutic potential for the treatment of several diseases and promising use as compounds with analgesic-like action. Considering that pain affects a significant part of the world population and the need for the development of new analgesics, this review reports on the current studies of essential oils’ chemical constituents with analgesic-like activity, including a description of their mechanisms of action and chemical aspects.

Betacaryophyllene - A phytocannabinoid as potential therapeutic modality for human sepsis?

Sepsis is a clinical condition resulting from a dysregulated immune response to an infection that leads to organ dysfunction. Despite numerous efforts to optimize treatment, sepsis remains to be the main cause of death in most intensive care units. The endogenous cannabinoid system (ECS) plays an important role in inflammation. Cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2R) activation is immunosuppressive, which might be beneficial during the hyper-inflammatory phase of sepsis. Beta-caryophyllene (BCP) is a non-psychoactive natural cannabinoid (phytocannabinoid) found in Cannabis sativa and in essential oils of spices and food plants, that acts as a selective agonist of CB2R. We propose BCP administration as novel treatment to reduce hyper-inflammation in human sepsis.

Insecticidal activities of their components derived from the essential oils of Cinnamomum sp. barks and against Ricania sp. (Homoptera: Ricaniidae), a newly recorded pest

BACKGROUND

Insecticidal activities of Cinnamomum cassia and Cinnamomum zeylanicum oils and their components are not known against Ricania sp. Insecticidal activities of major components derived from C. cassia and C. zeylanicum oils were examined in spray and leaf-dipping bioassays against Ricania sp. nymphs and adults.

RESULTS

The LC₅₀ value of C. cassia and C. zeylanicum oils was 37.66 and 72.62 mg L^-1 , respectively, in leaf-dipping bioassays against Ricania sp. nymphs, and 77.38 and 134.86 mg L^-1 in spray bioassays against Ricania sp. adults. The insecticidal activity of C. cassia oil was 1.74-1.93 times greater than that of C. zeylanicum oil. When examined by gas chromatography mass spectrometry, the cinnamaldehyde content of C. cassia and C. zeylanicum oils was 80.20% and 46.32%, respectively. Based on the LC₅₀ values of cinnamaldehyde, hydrocinnamaldehyde and 4-hydroxy-3-methoxycinnamaldehyde against Ricania sp. nymphs and adults, cinnamaldehyde (LC₅₀ , 31.25 and 62.43 mg L^-1 ) demonstrated the most potent insecticidal activity, followed by 4-hydroxy-3-methoxycinnamaldehyde (172.19 and 212.77 mg L^-1 ) and hydrocinnamaldehyde (275.05 and 318.63 mg L^-1 ).

CONCLUSION

The findings revealed that C. cassia oil, C. zeylanicum oil and cinnamaldehyde have potential value in the management of Ricania sp. and could be valuable as effective insecticides. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.

Postharvest Processing and Benefits of Black Pepper, Coriander, Cinnamon, Fenugreek, and Turmeric Spices

Spices are prime source for flavor, aroma, and taste in cuisines and play an active role as medicines due to their high antioxidant properties. As medicine or food, the importance of spices cannot be overemphasized. The medicinal values of spices are very well established in treating various ailments like cancer, fever, malaria, stomach offset, nausea, and many more. A spice may be available in several forms: fresh, whole dried, or pre-ground dried which requires further processing to be utilized in the form of value-added product. This review paper deals with the cultivation, postharvesting, chemical composition, uses, health, and medicinal benefits of the selected spice viz., black pepper, coriander, cinnamon, fenugreek, turmeric, and technological advances in processing of spices viz., super critical fluid extraction, cryogenic grinding, and microencapsulation etc. This paper also focuses on issues related to utilization of spices toward its high end-product development and characterization in pharmaceuticals and other medicinal purposes. The availability of different spices and their varietal differences and location have their pertinent characters, which are much demanding to refine postharvest and processing to assure its quality in the international market.

Dietary Phytochemicals: Natural Swords Combating Inflammation and Oxidation-Mediated Degenerative Diseases

Cumulatively, degenerative disease is one of the most fatal groups of diseases, and it contributes to the mortality and poor quality of life in the world while increasing the economic burden of the sufferers. Oxidative stress and inflammation are the major pathogenic causes of degenerative diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), diabetes mellitus (DM), and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Although a number of synthetic medications are used to treat these diseases, none of the current regimens are completely safe. Phytochemicals (polyphenols, carotenoids, anthocyanins, alkaloids, glycosides, saponins, and terpenes) from natural products such as dietary fruits, vegetables, and spices are potential sources of alternative medications to attenuate the oxidative stress and inflammation associated with degenerative diseases. Based on in vitro, in vivo, and clinical trials, some of these active compounds have shown good promise for development into novel agents for treating RA, DM, and CVD by targeting oxidative stress and inflammation. In this review, phytochemicals from natural products with the potential of ameliorating degenerative disease involving the bone, metabolism, and the heart are described.

Cervicare™ induces apoptosis in HeLa and CaSki cells through ROS production and loss of mitochondrial membrane potential

The effect of the ethanol and aqueous extracts of Cervicare™, a poly-herbal preparation comprised of the combination of 6 plants, on cell proliferation and apoptosis using cervical cancer HeLa and CaSki cells was investigated for the first time in the present study.

Cinnamon: Mystic powers of a minute ingredient

Cinnamon, due to its exotic flavor and aroma, is a key ingredient in the kitchen of every household. From the beginning of its use in 2800 BC by our ancestors for various purposes such as anointment, embalming and various ailments, it has instigated the interest of many researchers. Recently many trials have explored the beneficial effects of cinnamon in Parkinsons, diabetes, blood, and brain. After extensive research on PubMed and Google scholar, data were collected regarding its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antilipemic, antidiabetic, antimicrobial, and anticancer effect. This systematic review underlines the surplus health benefits of this clandestine ingredient and the scope of further research in these clinical scenarios.

Cinnamomum osmophloeum extracts inhibit growth of Helicobacter pylori and postinfectious interleukin-8 expression in human gastric epithelial cells

Extracts from dry leaves ofCinnamomum osmophloeumconcentration-dependently inhibitHelicobacter pylorigrowth and postinfectious interleukin-8 expression in human gastric epithelium.

In vitro biological evaluation of eight different essential oils against Trypanosoma cruzi, with emphasis on Cinnamomum verum essential oil

BACKGROUND

Essential oils (EOs) are complex mixtures of secondary metabolites from various plants. It has been shown that several EOs, or their constituents, have inhibitory activity against trypanosomatid protozoa. Thus, we analyzed the biological activity of different EOs on Trypanosoma cruzi, as well as their cytotoxicity on Vero cells.

METHODS

The following EOs were evaluated on T. cruzi epimastigote forms: Cinnamomum verum, Citrus limon, Cymbopogon nardus, Corymbia citriodora, Eucalyptus globulus, Eugenia uniflora, Myrocarpus frondosus, and Rosmarinus officinalis. Inhibitory activity against T. cruzi (IC50/24 h) and cytotoxicity against Vero cells (CC50/24 h) were evaluated by the MTT assay. The EO of C. verum was selected for further evaluation against trypomastigotes and intracellular amastigotes, as well as on parasite metacyclogenesis. Constituents of C. verum EO were identified by GC-MS. One-way ANOVA statistical analysis was performed with GraphPad version 5.01.

RESULTS

Cinnamomum verum EO was the most effective against T. cruzi epimastigotes (IC50/24 h = 24.13 μg/ml), followed by Myrocarpus frondosus (IC50/24 h = 60.87 μg/ml) and Eugenia uniflora (IC50/24 h = 70 μg/ml). The EOs of C. citriodora, E. globulus, and R. officinalis showed no activity at concentrations up to 300 μg/ml. Incubation of T. cruzi metacyclic trypomastigotes and intracellular amastigotes with C. verum EO resulted in IC50/24 h values of 5.05 μg/ml and 20 μg/ml, respectively. Therefore, trypomastigotes are more susceptible than epimastigotes, with selectivity index (SI) about 4.7-fold higher (9.78 and 2.05, respectively). Analysis of C. verum EO by GC-MS showed mainly (E)-cinnamaldehyde (81.52%) and eugenol (16.68%).

CONCLUSIONS

C. verum essential oil is effective against T. cruzi (epimastigotes, trypomastigotes and amastigotes) and interferes with the parasite differentiation process in vitro. Thus, it represents a strong candidate for further studies to improve its activity on pathogenic trypanosomatids.

Endocannabinoid signaling and its regulation by nutrients

Diet plays a central role in maintaining health throughout life and a controlled food intake is associated to a reduced risk of certain diseases. A proper diet should include vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, proteins, and fats that have to be optimally balanced in order to exert their physiological functions. The endogenous ligands of type-1 and type-2 cannabinoid receptors, N-arachidonoyl-ethanolamine and 2-arachidonoylglycerol, are arachidonic acid (AA) derivatives whose levels are regulated by the activity of metabolic enzymes, as well as by AA availability. Since the only sources of AA in mammals are diet and the enzymatic production in the liver from shorter-chain essential fatty acids like linoleic acid, it is realistic to hypothesize that endocannabinoid levels might be modulated by fatty acid composition of food. Therefore, in this review we summarize literature data indicating that endocannabinoid levels, and hence their activity at cannabinoid receptors, might be modulated by food composition. We focused our attention on dietary fatty acid content, and on type and esterified form of fatty acids in the different diets.