Fatty-Acid Composition and Antifungal Activity of Extracts ofThymus capitatus

Chemical Variability and Chemotype Concept of Essential Oils from Algerian Wild Plants

The chemical compositions of eleven wild species of aromatic and medicinal plants indigenous to Algeria, including Thymus, Mentha, Rosmarinus, Lavandula, and Eucalyptus, were analyzed. The identification of the chemical composition of each oil was conducted using GC-FID and GC-MS capillary gas chromatography. The study investigated the chemical variability of the essential oils based on several parameters. These included the impact of the vegetative cycle on oil composition, variations among subspecies of the same species, variations among species within the same genus, the influence of environmental factors on composition variations within a species, chemo typing, and the genetic factors (such as hybridization) contributing to chemical variability. The concepts of chemotaxonomy, chemotype, and chemical markers were examined to understand their limitations and emphasize the importance of regulating the use of essential oils derived from wild plants. The study advocates for an approach that involves the domestication of wild plants and screening their chemical compositions according to more specific standards for each commercially available oil. Lastly, the nutritional implications and the variability of nutritional impact based on the chemical composition of the essential oils will be discussed.

Chemical and Biological Profile and Allergenicity of Thymus baicalensis Plant of Mongolian Origin

Thymus baicalensis is a medicinal plant recognized as a traditional Mongolian therapeutic and health-promoting food supplement. The aim of the study was to check the suitability of the tested plant for supporting the treatment of certain diseases. The following study is the first one to showcase the versatile scope of characteristics of T. baicalensis, including its volatile oil composition, polyphenolic composition, lipid composition, phenolic and flavonoid contents, antioxidant activity, antimicrobial properties and ingestive allergenicity. Myrcene, at 26.15%, was shown to be the most abundant component of the volatile oil. Compounds known as inherent components of the Thymus genus: thymol and carvacrol made up only about 0.24% of the extracted oil. As much as 10.11 g kg⁻¹ of polyphenol compounds were identified as derivatives of luteolin-7-O-glucuronide. The lipid extract was found to be rich in palmitic acid (31.05%), while unsaturated fatty acids were not reported. Spectrophotometric determination of the phenols and flavonoids indicated 7.541 mg of gallic acid g⁻¹ and 4.345 mg of quercitin g⁻¹, respectively. The free radical scavenging activity was determined by the 2,2-difenylo-1-pikrylohydrazyl method at IC₅₀ = 206.97 µg mL⁻¹. The extracts also had a strong inhibitory effect on M. flavus and P. fluorescenes bacteria, as well as S. cerevisiae yeasts. The Bet v 1 and profilin allergens in T. baicalensis were reported at 175.17 ng g⁻¹ and 1.66 ng g⁻¹, respectively.

Ethnomedicinal use, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and food benefits of Thymus capitatus

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Thymus capitatusHoffm. et Link. is an endemic medicinal plant to the Mediterranean region. It is used in folk medicine to treat various diseases including diabetes, flu, cough, flatulence, dermatitis, indigestion, respiratory disorders, asthma, rheumatic, diarrhea, and influenza. It is also used as antiseptic, analgesic, stimulant, and sedative.

AIM OF THE REVIEW

In this review, previous reports on T. capitatusconcerningits taxonomy, botanical description, geographical distribution, ethnomedicinal use, phytochemistry, pharmacological properties, and food benefits were critically summarized.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Scientificsearch engines including PubMed, ScienceDirect, SpringerLink, Web of Science, Scopus, Wiley Online, Scifnder, and Google Scholar were consulted to gather data on T. capitatus. The data presented in this work summarize T. capitatus phytochemical compounds, ethnomedicinaluses, pharmacological properties, and food value.

RESULTS

In traditional medicine, T. capitatusis used to treat various illnesses including diabetes, dermatitis, and diarrhea. The essential oils and extracts of T. capitatus exhibited several biological properties such as antibacterial, antioxidant, antifungal, antiparasitic, hypoglycemic, anticancer, antiviral, and hepatoprotective effects. T. capitatus possesses high nutritional value and its essential oil showed promising activity in food preservation. Phytochemical characterization of T. capitatus revealed the presence of several classes of secondary metabolites such as terpenoids, flavonoids, and phenolic acids.

CONCLUSIONS

Ethnomedicinal surveys indicated the use of T. capitatus for the treatment of various disorders. Pharmacological reports showed that T. capitatus especially its essential oils, exhibited potent antimicrobial, antioxidant, antidiabetic and hepatoprotective effects. These findings confirmed the link between traditional medicinal use and scientific biological results. Moreover, T. capitatus exhibited a potent food preservative effect which justifies its use in traditional medicine as a food additive. In light of these findings, further studies to validate the industrial applications of T. capitatus essential oils as a food additive are required. Further investigations on the in vivo pharmacological properties of T. capitatus are strongly recommended to validate the results of its clinical uses as an antimicrobial, hepatoprotective, and antiviral agent. Toxicological tests and pharmacokinetic investigations are also needed to validate the safety and efficacy ofT. capitatus and its bioactive compounds.

Activity of Vitis vinifera Tendrils Extract Against Phytopathogenic Fungi

The in vitro antifungal activity was determined of an ethanolic extract of Vitis vinifera L. tendrils (TVV) against ten plant pathogenic fungi, using the agar dilution method; activity was shown against all tested fungi. Fusarium species were the most sensitive with MIC values ranging from 250 to 300 ppm, while the basidiomycete fungus Rhizoctonia solani was the most resistant, with a MIC value of 500 ppm. Electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MSn) was used to obtain qualitative information on the main components of TVV. The high amount of polyphenolic compounds contained in TVV is likely to contribute significantly to its antifungal activity.