Biological, chemical, and aroma profiles of essential oil from waste celery seeds (Apium graveolens L.)

Gram-scale approach for β-costic acid via allylic oxidation of β-selinene

β-Costic acid is a sesquiterpene phytoalexin with acaricidal activity against Varroa destructor and antitrypanosomal activity. A concise and efficient method was developed for the synthesis of β-costic acid via the allylic oxidation of β-selinene, a component of celery seed oil.

Encapsulation of Apium graveolens essential oil into chitosan nanobiopolymer for protection of stored rice against Fusarium verticillioides and fumonisins contamination

The present investigation entails the encapsulation of Apium graveolens essential oil into chitosan nanobiopolymer (AGEO-Ne) and assessment of its efficacy against Fusarium verticillioides contamination and fumonisins biosynthesis in stored rice (Oryza sativa L.) samples. The AGEO was encapsulated through ionic gelation process and characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Dynamic light scattering (DLS), X-ray diffractometry (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analyses. The AGEO exhibited bi-phasic delivery pattern from chitosan matrix. The AGEO caused complete inhibition of F. verticillioides growth at 1.2 μL/mL, while fumonisin B1 (FB1) and B2 (FB2) biosynthesis at 1.2 and 1.0 μL/mL, respectively. On the other hand, nanoencapsulated AGEO (AGEO-Ne) exhibited improved efficacy, caused complete inhibition of fungal growth at 0.8 μL/mL, and FB1 and FB2 production at 0.8 and 0.6 μL/mL, respectively. AGEO-Ne caused 100 % inhibition of ergosterol synthesis at 0.8 μL/mL and exhibited greater efflux of Ca2+, Mg2+, K+ ions (18.99, 21.63, and 25.38 mg/L) as well as 260 and 280 nm absorbing materials from exposed fungal cells. The in silico interaction of granyl acetate and linalyl acetate with FUM 21 protein validated the molecular mechanism for inhibition of FB1 and FB2 biosynthesis. Further, improvement in antioxidant activity of AGEO-Ne was observed after encapsulation with IC50 values of 12.08 and 6.40 μL/mL against DPPH and ABTS radicals, respectively. During in situ investigation, AGEO caused 82.09 and 86.32 % protection of rice against F. verticillioides contamination in inoculated and uninoculated rice samples, respectively, while AGEO-Ne exhibited 100 % protection of fumigated rice samples against F. verticillioides proliferation as well as FB1 and FB2 contamination. The AGEO-Ne also caused better retardation of lipid peroxidation (41.35 and 37.52 μM/g FW malondialdehyde in inoculated and uninoculated treatment) and acceptable organoleptic properties in rice samples, which strengthen its application as plant based novel preservative in food and agricultural industries.

Defense Mechanisms Induced by Celery Seed Essential Oil against Powdery Mildew Incited by Podosphaera fusca in Cucumber

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of essential oil extracted from celery (Apium graveolens) seeds (CSEO) for the control of powdery mildew of cucumber (Cucumis sativus) incited by Podosphaera fusca and to investigate the metabolic and genetic defense mechanisms triggered by the treatment with this essential oil in cucumber seedlings. The main compounds in the CSEO as determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis were d-limonene, 3-butyl phthalide, β-selinene, and mandelic acid. The treatment with CSEO led to an increase in the content of both chlorophyll and phenolic/flavonoid compounds in cucumber leaves. In greenhouse tests, the application of CSEO reduced by 60% the disease severity on leaves of cucumber plants and stimulated the activity of defense-related enzymes such as β-1,3-glucanase, chitinase, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, peroxidase, and polyphenol oxidase. Moreover, treatment with CSEO induced overexpression of β-1,3-glucanase, chitinase, and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase genes. A highly significant correlation was found between the β-1,3-glucanase, chitinase, and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase enzymatic activities and the relative expression of the corresponding encoding genes in both inoculated and non-inoculated cucumber seedlings treated with the essential oil. Overall, this study showed that CSEO is a promising eco-friendly candidate fungicide that can be exploited to control cucumber powdery mildew.

Mode of action, chemistry and defensive efficacy of the osmeterium in the caterpillar Battus polydamas archidamas

Chemical secretions are one of the main defensive mechanisms in insects. The osmeterium is a unique organ in larvae of Papilionidae (Lepidoptera), which is everted upon disturbance, secreting odoriferous volatiles. Here, using larvae of the specialized butterfly Battus polydamas archidamas (Papilionidae: Troidini), we aimed to understand the mode of action of the osmeterium, the chemical composition and origin of the secretion, as well as its defensive efficiency against a natural predator. We described osmeterium's morphology, ultramorphology, structure, ultrastructure, and chemistry. Additionally, behavioral assays of the osmeterial secretion against a predator were developed. We showed that the osmeterium is composed of tubular arms (made up by epidermal cells) and of two ellipsoid glands, which possess a secretory function. The eversion and retraction of the osmeterium are dependent on the internal pressure generated by the hemolymph, and by longitudinal muscles that connect the abdomen with the apex of the osmeterium. Germacrene A was the main compound present in the secretion. Minor monoterpenes (sabinene and ß-pinene) and sesquiterpenes ((E)-β-caryophyllene, selina-3,7(11)-diene, and other some unidentified compounds) were also detected. Only sesquiterpenes (with the exception of (E)-β-caryophyllene) are likely to be synthesized in the osmeterium-associated glands. Furthermore, the osmeterial secretion proved to deter predatory ants. Our results suggest that the osmeterium, besides serving as an aposematic warning for enemies, is an efficient chemical defense, with its own synthesis of irritant volatiles.

Extraction of hops pelletized (Humulus lupulus) with subcritical CO2 and hydrodistillation: Chemical composition identification, kinetic model, and evaluation of antioxidant and antimicrobial activity

Hop essential oil and hop extract using carbon dioxide (CO₂) are products with high added value because they have bioactive and sensory properties. In this context, the objective of this study was to obtain and characterize essential oil and extracts from pelleted hops of El Dorado, Polaris, Hallertau Blanc and Callista varieties using hydrodistillation and subcritical CO₂ extraction methods. Extraction yield ranged from 0.38 % to 1.97 % (m/m) for essential oils and from 8.76 % to 15.35 % (m/m) for extracts using subcritical CO₂. The chemical compositions of the essential oils were mainly monoterpene (18.14 % to 29.91 %) and sesquiterpene (46.01 % to 59.03 %) hydrocarbons and for the extracts were sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (33.05 % to 71.90 %) and oxygenated sesquiterpenes (14.80 % to 34.89 %). The extracts showed better antioxidant activity than essential oils due to the presence of phenolic compounds and flavonoids. Hop extracts showed some antimicrobial activity, but essential oils did not demonstrate antimicrobial potential. Hop extracts obtained with subCO₂ have the potential to be used in the brewing industry as a flavoring and as natural antioxidants.

Could Mesna and Celery Seed Cotherapy Modulate Oxidative Stress and Inflammation of the Urinary Bladder Induced by Ifosfamide in Rabbits?

Background

Ifosfamide (IFS) has potential complications such as nephropathy and hemorrhagic cystitis (HC). Although mesna can prevent IFS-induced cystitis by direct binding and neutralization of acrolein, HC symptoms have still been observed clinically in most of these cases. Celery is a powerful healing vegetable that has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer effects. The current study evaluated the synergistic effects of mesna and celery seed on IFS-induced HC in rabbits.

Methods

Twenty male rabbits (four groups) were administered distilled water, IFS, mesna, and mesna+celery seed cotherapy (MCC) for three weeks. The serum and urinary bladder of experimental rabbits underwent biochemical (TNF-α, MDA, iNOS, SOD, GPx, and CAT), histopathological and ultrastructural investigations to evaluate the structural changes of the urinary bladder (UB).

Results

IFS injection resulted in severe cystitis with a remarkable increase in the scale of hematuria, elevations of TNF-α, MDA, and iNOS activity, and reduced activity of SOD, GPx, and CAT antioxidants. Additionally, the structure of UB exhibited evident mucosal edema and ulceration. In contrast, the MCC regimen group revealed partial synergistic improvement of all mentioned parameters.

Conclusion

IFS induced cystitis by releasing acrolein, which exerted a significant role in the pathogenesis of HC. In contrast, the MCC intake partially ameliorated the UB damage through its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.

Biological Control of Celery Powdery Mildew Disease Caused by Erysiphe heraclei DC In Vitro and In Vivo Conditions

The present study aimed to investigate the potentiality of certain biocontrol agents, namely Bacillus subtilis, B. pumilus, B. megaterium, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Serratia marcescens, Trichoderma album, T. harzianum and T. viride, as well as the synthetic fungicide difenoconazole to control celery powdery mildew caused by Erysiphe heraclei DC, in vitro (against conidia germination and germ tube length of E. heraclei) and in vivo (against disease severity and AUDPC). In vitro, it was found that the antifungal activity of the tested biocontrol agents significantly reduced the germination percentage of the conidia and germ tube length of the pathogen. The reduction in conidia germination ranged between 88.2% and 59.6% as a result of the treatment with B. subtilis and T. album, respectively compared with 97.1% by the synthetic fungicide difenoconazole. Moreover, the fungicide achieved the highest reduction in germ tube length (92.5%) followed by B. megaterium (82.0%), while T. album was the least effective (62.8%). Spraying celery plants with the tested biocontrol agents in the greenhouse significantly reduced powdery mildew severity, as well as the area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC), after 7, 14, 21 and 28 days of application. In this regard, B. subtilis was the most efficient followed by B. pumilus, S. marcescens and B. megaterium, with 80.1, 74.4, 73.2 and 70.5% reductions in disease severity, respectively. In AUDPC, reductions of those microorganisms were 285.3, 380.9, 396.7 and 431.8, respectively, compared to 1539.1 in the control treatment. On the other hand, the fungicide difenoconazole achieved maximum efficacy in reducing disease severity (84.7%) and lowest AUDPC (219.3) compared to the other treatments. In the field, all the applied biocontrol agents showed high efficiency in suppressing powdery mildew on celery plants, with a significant improvement in growth and yield characteristics. In addition, they caused an increase in the concentration of leaf pigments, and the activities of defense-related enzymes such as peroxidase (PO) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and total phenol content (TPC). In conclusion, the results showed the possibility of using tested biocontrol agents as eco-friendly alternatives to protect celery plants against powdery mildew.

Combining Celery Oleoresin, Limonene and Rhamnolipid as New Strategy to Control Endospore-Forming Bacillus cereus

Foodborne diseases (FBD) are a great problem worldwide, leading millions of people to seek medical help and to significant economic losses for industry. Among the agents implicated in FDB is Bacillus cereus, a Gram-positive, toxigenic and endospore-forming bacterium. In this study, rhamnolipid (RL) biosurfactant, celery oleoresin (OR) and limonene (LN) were evaluated as bio-based alternatives for controlling the growth of vegetative cells and endospores of B. cereus. To address their antimicrobial activity, the compounds were tested separately and in combination. Results demonstrate that, when combined with RL, both OR and LN have lower minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values and increased endospore inhibition potential. A percentage of endospore inhibition from 73% to 98%, corresponding to a 2.8-3.6 log reduction in spore outgrowth, was observed. RL inhibited B. cereus growth and endospore germination and potentially enhanced the antimicrobial efficacy of the natural hydrophobic compounds tested.

Ultrasound-Assisted Hydrodistillation of Essential Oil from Celery Seeds (Apium graveolens L.) and Its Biological and Aroma Profiles

The aim of the research was to increase the efficiency of the hydrodistillation process and determine the volatile composition, biological activity, and aroma profile of essential oil from celery seeds (Apium graveolens L.). The essential oil was extracted from the plant material by ultrasonic hydrodistillation with higher efficiency when compared with classical hydrodistillation. The antimicrobial activity was evaluated using the impedimetric method for the bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, and yeast Candida vini as well as moulds Aspergillus niger and Penicillium expansum with minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) (μL/mL) values: 30, 10, 20, 3, 30, 40, and 40, respectively. The oil possessed very weak 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) antioxidant activity with the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) value of 81.6 g/L. Initial studies of the aroma profile indicated that the perception of the fragrance of the oil could be related to the sex of the panellists. According to women, the fragrance of celery seeds oil was intense herb-like. From the men's point of view, it had a fresh, mossy, and mushroom scent.