Lamiaceae Essential Oils, Phytochemical Profile, Antioxidant, and Biological Activities

Assessment of antibacterial activity, modes of action, and synergistic effects of Origanum vulgare hydroethanolic extract with antibiotics against avian pathogenic Escherichia coli

This study evaluates the antibacterial effectiveness of Origanum vulgare hydroethanolic extract, both independently and in combination with antibiotics, against Escherichia coli strains associated with avian colibacillosis-a significant concern for the poultry industry due to the rise of antibiotic-resistant E. coli. The urgent demand for new treatments is addressed by analyzing the extract's phytochemical makeup via High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), which identified sixteen phenolic compounds. Antibacterial activity was determined through agar diffusion and the measurement of minimum inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations (MIC and MBC), showing moderate efficacy (MIC: 3.9 to 7.8 mg/mL, MBC: 31.2 to 62.4 mg/mL). Combining the extract with antibiotics like ampicillin and tetracycline amplified antibacterial activity, indicating a synergistic effect and highlighting the importance of combinatory treatments against resistant strains. Further analysis revealed the extract's mechanisms of action include disrupting bacterial cell membrane integrity and inhibiting ATPase/H+ proton pumps, essential for bacterial survival. Moreover, the extract effectively inhibited and eradicated biofilms, crucial for preventing bacterial colonization. Regarding cytotoxicity, the extract showed no hemolytic effect at 1 to 9 mg/mL concentrations. These results suggest Origanum vulgare extract, particularly when used with antibiotics, offers a promising strategy for managing avian colibacillosis, providing both direct antibacterial benefits and moderating antibiotic resistance, thus potentially reducing the economic impact of the disease on the poultry industry.

Ali S, Efferth T, Hegazy MEF. Salvimulticanol from Salvia multicaulis suppresses LPS-induced inflammation in RAW264.7 macrophages: in vitro and in silico studies

Sustained inflammatory responses can badly affect several vital organs and lead to chronic inflammation-related disorders, such as atherosclerosis, pneumonia, rheumatoid arthritis, obesity, diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, and cancers. Salvia multicaulis is one of the widely distributed plants that contains several biologically active phytochemicals and diterpenoids with anti-inflammatory effects. Therefore, finding alternative and safer natural plant-extracted compounds with good curative anti-inflammatory efficiencies is an urgent need for the clinical treatment of inflammation-related diseases. In the current study, S. multicaulis Vahl was used to extract and isolate two compounds identified as salvimulticanol and candesalvone B methyl ester to examine their effects against inflammation in murine macrophage RAW264.7 cells that were induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Accordingly, after culturing RAW264.7 cells and induction of inflammation by LPS (100 ng/ml), cells were exposed to different concentrations (9, 18, 37.5, 75, and 150 µM) of each compound. Then, Griess assay for detection of nitric oxide (NO) levels and western blotting for the determination of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression were performed. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation studies were employed to investigate the anti-inflammatory mechanism. Our obtained results validated that the level of NO was significantly decreased in the macrophage cell suspensions as a response to salvimulticanol treatment in a dose-dependent manner (IC50: 25.1 ± 1.2 µM) as compared to the methyl ester of candesalvone B which exerted a weaker inhibition (IC50: 69.2 ± 3.0 µM). This decline in NO percentage was comparable with a down-regulation of iNOS expression by western blotting. Salvimulticanol strongly interacted with both the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/myeloid differentiation factor 2 (MD-2) complex and the inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) kinase subunit beta (IKKβ) to disrupt their inflammatory activation due to the significant hydrogen bonds and effective interactions with amino acid residues present in the target proteins' active sites. S.multicaulis is a rich natural source of the aromatic abietane diterpenoid, salvimulticanol, which exerted a strong anti-inflammatory effect through targeting iNOS and diminishing NO production in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells in a mechanism that is dependent on the inhibition of TLR4-MD-2 and IKKβ as activators of the classical NF-κB-mediated inflammatory pathway.

Influence of socio-demographic factors on medicinal plant knowledge among three selected ethnic groups in south-central Ethiopia

BACKGROUND

The influence of socio-demographic variables was widely explored to evaluate their impact on indigenous and local ethnobotanical knowledge. However, the studies conducted in Ethiopia mainly focused on rural areas. They were limited to exploring and documenting ethnobotanical knowledge and the associated impacts of socio-demographic variables in rural-urban interface areas among ethnic groups. Hence, this study aimed to document plant-based indigenous and local ethnomedicinal knowledge and the associated impacts of socio-demographic variables among selected three ethnic groups in south-central Ethiopia.

METHODS

Ethnobotanical data were collected using semi-structured interviews with 189 key informants, floristic species inventories, and field observations. Quantitative approaches were used to evaluate the use values (UV) of the most important medicinal plants, the informant consensus factor (ICF), fidelity level (FL), relative popularity level (RPL), and rank-order priority (ROP). Statistical tests were applied to evaluate the influences of socio-demographic factors and associations between variables on local ethnobotanical knowledge across ethnic groups in different informant categories.

RESULTS

Statistical analysis revealed significant differences (p < 0.05) in the mean number of medicinal plants reported among age categories. There was also a positive association between the respondent's age and plant knowledge acquisition. Croton macrostachyus Hochst. ex Delile, Albizia gummifera C.A.Sm., Zingiber officinale Roscoe, Aloe macrocarpa Tod., Gymnanthemum amygdalinum (Delile) Sch.Bip., Calpurnia aurea (Aiton) Benth, and Allium sativum L. had the highest use values among ethnic groups. The highest informant consensus factor values were recorded for circulatory system disorders (0.68) followed by febrile illness and reproductive organ complications (0.66 each) across the three studied ethnic groups. The highest FL, RPL, and ROP values were noted for Lactuca inermis Forssk., Moringa stenopetala (Baker f.) Cufod., Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal, Allium sativum L., Citrus limon (L.) Osbeck, Ricinus communis L., Schinus molle L., Antiaris toxicaria (J.F.Gmel.) Lesch., Brucea antidysenterica J.F.Mill., Echinops kebericho Mesfin, Ocimum jamesii Sebald, Afrocarpus falcatus (Thunb.) C.N.Page, Searsia natalensis (Bernh. ex Krauss) F.A.Barkley, and Ricinus communis L. across ethnic groups in the study areas, which showed the conformity of knowledge on species curing potential and their prevalent uses.

CONCLUSION

The study revealed that the ethnic groups of Gedeo, Oromo, and Sidama have considerable indigenous and local ethnobotanical knowledge practices. Statistical analysis shown high variation in the acquisition of local ethnobotanical knowledge among age groups, which boosted our understanding of the effects of socio-demographic factors on the local ethnobotanical knowledge dynamics. Thus, this finding advocates for efforts to repair the observed generation gap via continued professional support and educating local communities to preserve traditional knowledge and practices through systematic documentation.

Immunity, rumen metagenomics, ruminal variables, and growth performance of calves fed milk with sage (Salvia officinalis) essential oil

The study aimed to determine the effect of sage (Salvia officinalis) essential oil (EO) to the drinking milk until the weaning stage of Holstein calves on the growth performance, body measurements, ruminal fermentation, rumen metagenomic profile, proinflammatory cytokines [interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), and IL-1β], immune globulins (IgG, IgM, and IgE), and acute phase proteins (serum amyloid-A, SAA). In the study, 24 Holstein calves were divided into three groups as 0 μL (SAG0; control group), 100 μL (SAG100), or 200 μL (SAG200) of sage EO to the milk per calf per day. The addition of sage EO to the milk linearly increased the live weight, feed intake, and daily body weight gain (P < 0.05). The addition of sage EO to the milk in calves linearly increased serum IgG titter dose dependently (P < 0.05), but serum IgM and IgE titters did not change (P > 0.05). The concentrations of serum TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 in the weaned calves linearly decreased by the sage aromatic oil addition to the milk (P < 0.05). The serum SAA concentrations of calves did not differ among the control and treatment groups (P > 0.05). Probiotic Bifidobacterium and Acidaminococcus genus in calf rumen fluid can increase by sage EO addition to milk. The relative abundance of genus Prevotella, Prevotellaceae_NK3B31_group, and Prevotella_9 increase with sage EO. The ruminal ammonia-nitrogen (NH3-N) concentration and total short chain fatty acid (T-SCFA) molarity decreased by sage EO addition to the drinking milk (P < 0.05). The molarities of iso butyric (IBA) and iso valeric acids (IVA) in rumen fluid of the weaned calves linearly reduced by the increasing sage EO dose to the milk (P < 0.05). The butyric acid (BA) and iso caproic acid (ICA) molarities in rumen fluid did not change by the sage EO addition (P > 0.05). Consequently, it has been observed that sage EO addition to the milk of calves positively affected the immune system variables and performance parameters. Sage EO addition of calves before weaning may support the immune system in the eventual immunosuppression at the weaning stage.

Ethnobotanical study on medicinal plant knowledge among three ethnic groups in peri-urban areas of south-central Ethiopia

BACKGROUND

Documenting traditional knowledge on plant use among ethnic groups has enabled researchers to obtain a better understanding of how indigenous flora is seen and used in daily life. Their therapeutic applications will also encourage future conservation and phytochemical research, potentially leading to the development of novel drugs. However, past ethnobotanical studies conducted in Ethiopia mainly focused on rural areas, and limited coverage to document the ethnobotanical knowledge at the rural‒urban interface. Therefore, this study was conducted to document and analyze traditional ethnobotanical knowledge on medicinal plants among three selected ethnic groups in peri-urban areas of south-central Ethiopia. In addition, we attempted to investigate the range of cultural similarity and disparity between the studied ethnic groups in relation to traditional medicinal plants and diseases treated.

METHODS

Data were collected using semistructured questionnaires and in-depth interviews of 189 key informants, floristic species inventories, and field observations. Several cultural importance indices and Rahman's similarity indices were applied to analyze the relevance of medicinal plants and cultural similarity among the ethnic groups.

RESULTS

A total of 189 therapeutic plants representing 159 genera and 69 families were identified and documented across the three studied ethnic groups. Of these, the Sidama, Gedeo, and Oromo ethnic groups reported 28, 34, and 38%, respectively. Most medicinal plants were represented by herbs (36%), followed by shrubs (31%), trees (27%), and herbaceous climbers (7%). Rahman's similarity index (RSI) revealed considerable ethnobotanical knowledge variation among ethnic groups. Oromo and Sidama showed the highest disparity (63.8%), followed by Gedeo and Oromo (63.2%). Of the total collected therapeutic plants, 78 most important medicinal plants were selected for the cultural importance analysis, which revealed that Croton macrostachyus Hochst. ex Delile scored the highest point in the Gedeo and Oromo ethnic groups and Zingiber officinale Roscoe in the Sidama ethnic group. Whereas Cinnamomum verum J.Presl, Psidium guajava L., and Melia azedarach L. are the least.

CONCLUSION

The present study revealed the presence of cultural differences in medicinal plant knowledge practices and therapeutic plant use among the studied ethnic groups in rural-urban interface areas of south-central Ethiopia. The diverse healing potential of plants would support future pharmacological investigations, emphasizing the need for adequate documentation of indigenous knowledge and versatile flora to prevent their further loss.

Morphological, phytochemical, and transcriptome analyses provide insights into the biosynthesis of monoterpenes in Monarda citriodora

MAIN CONCLUSION

Morphological, phytochemical, and transcriptome analyses revealed candidate genes involved in the biosynthesis of volatile monoterpenes and development of glandular trichomes in Monarda citriodora. Monarda citriodora Cerv. ex Lag. is a valuable aromatic plant due to the presence of monoterpenes as major constituents in its essential oil (EO). Thus, it is of sheer importance to gain knowledge about the site of the biosynthesis of these terpenoid compounds in M. citriodora, as well as the genes involved in their biosynthesis. In this study, we studied different types of trichomes and their relative densities in three different developmental stages of leaves, early stage of leaf development (L1), mid-stage of leaf development (L2), and later stage of leaf development (L3) and the histochemistry of trichomes for the presence of lipid and terpenoid compounds. Further, the phytochemical analysis of this plant through GC-MS indicated a higher content of monoterpenes (thymol, thymoquinone, γ-terpinene, p-cymene, and carvacrol) in the L1 stage with a substantial decrease in the L3 stage of leaf development. This considerable decrease in the content of monoterpenes was attributed to the decrease in the trichome density from L1 to L3. Further, we developed a de novo transcriptome assembly by carrying out RNA sequencing of different plant parts of M. citriodora. The transcriptome data revealed several putative unigenes involved in the biosynthesis of specialized terpenoid compounds, as well as regulatory genes involved in glandular trichome development. The data generated in the present study build a strong foundation for further improvement of M. citriodora, in terms of quantity and quality of its essential oil, through genetic engineering.

Assessing the Larvicidal Properties of Endemic Campeche, Mexico Plant Piper cordoncillo var. apazoteanum (Piperaceae) against Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) Mosquitoes

The research aims to investigate the mortality effect of essential oil from Piper cordoncillo var. apazoteanum, an endemic plant from Campeche, Mexico, on early second-instar Aedes aegypti larvae; it also aims to identify the volatile compounds present in the fresh leaves of the plant. To test the effectiveness of the essential oil, we followed World Health Organization Standard Procedures. Larvae were observed for 17 consecutive days after treatment to determine the mortality and growth-inhibitory effect exerted by the essential oil. The results showed that the essential oil was effective in controlling mosquito populations. At a concentration of 800 ppm, the oil achieved an effectiveness rate of 70.00 ± 8.16% after 24 h, increasing to 100.00 ± 0.01% mortality after 72 h. With a concentration of 400 ppm, the effectiveness was 98.33 ± 0.17% by the end of the experiment. Furthermore, the obtained results demonstrated that the LC₅₀ value was 61.84 ± 6.79 ppm, while the LC₉₀ value was 167.20 ± 11.49 ppm. Essential oil concentrations inhibited the growth of immature insect stages, with concentrations between 800-100 ppm demonstrating very high inhibitory activity, and the lowest concentration of 50 ppm showing high inhibitory activity. The study also identified 24 chemical compounds representing 86.71% of the volatile compound composition of the fresh leaves of P. cordoncillo; the most abundant compounds were Safrole, Caryophyllene oxide, E-Nerolidol, and Calarene epoxide. The method used to extract the volatile compounds, solvent-free microwave extraction (SFME), is a promising alternative to traditional methods that avoids the use of potentially harmful solvents, making it more ecologically friendly and potentially safer for professionals handling the extracted compounds. Overall, the study demonstrates the potential of P. cordoncillo essential oil as an effective means of controlling mosquito populations, and provides valuable information on the chemical composition of the plant.Moreover, our study is the first to report on the biological activity and chemical composition of P. cordoncillo worldwide.

Volatile metabolites from new cultivars of catnip and oregano as potential antibacterial and insect repellent agents

Plant based natural products have been widely used as antibacterial and insect repellent agents globally. Because of growing resistance in bacterial plant pathogens and urban pests to current methods of control, combined with the long- and short-term negative impact of certain chemical controls in humans, non-target organisms, and the environment, finding alternative methods is necessary to prevent and/or mitigate losses caused by these pathogens and pests. The antibacterial and insect repellent activities of essential oils of novel cultivars of catnip (Nepeta cataria L. cv. CR9) and oregano (Origanum vulgare L. cv. Pierre) rich in the terpenes nepetalactone and carvacrol, respectively, were evaluated using the agar well diffusion assay and petri dish repellency assay. The essential oils exhibit moderate to high antibacterial activity against three plant pathogens, Pseudomonas cichorii, Pseudomonas syringae and Xanthomonas perforans of economic interest and the individual essential oils, their mixtures and carvacrol possess strong insect repellent activity against the common bed bug (Cimex lectularius L.), an urban pest of major significance to public health. In this study, the essential oils of catnip and oregano were determined to be promising candidates for further evaluation and development as antibacterial agents and plant-based insect repellents with applications in agriculture and urban pest management.

Essential Oils from Apiaceae, Asteraceae, Cupressaceae and Lamiaceae Families Grown in Serbia: Comparative Chemical Profiling with In Vitro Antioxidant Activity

The aim of the present study was to investigate the chemical profile and antioxidant activity of essential oils obtained from the most commonly grown plant species in Serbia. Aromatic and medicinal plants from Lamiaceae (Mentha x Piperita, Ocimum basilicum, Origanum majorana, Origanum vulgare, Salvia officinalis, Satureja hortensis, Satureja montana and Thymus vulgaris), Asteraceae (Ehinacea purpurea and Matricaria chamomilla), Apiaceae (Anethum graveolens, Carum carvi, Foeniculum vulgare, Petroselinum crispum and Pimpinella anisum) and Cupressaceae (Juniperus comunis) were selected as raw material for essential oils (EOs)' isolation. Hydrodistillation (HD) was used for the isolation of EOs while they were evaluated in terms of yield and terpenoid profiles by GC-MS. In vitro radical scavenging DPPH and ABTS⁺ radical activities were carried out for all EOs. Finally, a principal component analysis (PCA) was performed with the experimental results of the composition and antioxidant activity of the EOs, which showed a clear distinction between the selected plant species for the aforementioned responses. This work represents a screening tool for the selection of other EO candidates for further processing by emerging extraction techniques and the use of EOs as natural additives for meat products.

Chemical Composition and Bioinsecticidal Effects of Thymus zygis L., Salvia officinalis L. and Mentha suaveolens Ehrh. Essential Oils on Medfly Ceratitis capitata and Tomato Leaf Miner Tuta absoluta

The present work was aimed to study the toxicity of the essential oils of three aromatic and medicinal plants on the tomato leaf miner Tuta absoluta and the Medfly Ceratitis capitata as an alternative to conventional pesticides. We carried out a phytochemical and insecticide study of T. zygis L., S. officinalis L. and M. suaveolens Ehrh. essential oils (EOs) through the study of their chemical composition and their toxicity on C. capitata adults and T. absoluta larvae. The extraction of the EOs by hydrodistillation showed yields of 3.87 ± 0.03, 4.09 ± 0.23 and 4.35 ± 0.11 for T. zygis, S. officinalis L. and M. suaveolens Ehrh., respectively. The identification of the chemical composition of the EOs by GC/MS showed that oxygenated monoterpenes constituted the most abundant group for all the extracted EOs. The major compounds were rather diversified depending on plant species. In fact, the S. officinalis L. EO mainly contained trans-thujone (21.80 %), the M. suaveolens Ehrh. EO mainly contained piperitenone oxide (71.19%), and carvacrol (61.60%) was the main component of the T. zygis L. EO. An insecticidal effect was observed for the three studied EOs on C. capitata adults and T. absoluta larvae. The observed LD₅₀ values were 0.80 µL/mL and 11.04 µL/mL for M. suaveolens and S. officinalis, respectively, on T. absoluta larvae. For C. capitata adults, the obtained LD₅₀ values were 0.9 µL/mL and 11.78 µL/mL for M. suaveolens and T. zygis, respectively. The presented findings could contribute to the development of biopesticides for plants as a component of integrated pest management strategies in citrus and tomato crops.

GC-MS Profiling of Naturally Extracted Essential Oils: Antimicrobial and Beverage Preservative Actions

The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the antimicrobial effects of natural essential oils (EO) and determine their preservative action. Eight natural essential oils were tested against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans representing gram positive, gram negative, and fungi, respectively. The plant materials were used in this study viz. Thymus vulgaris—thyme (TV), Mentha virdis (MV), Mentha longifolia (ML), Rosmarinus officinalis—rosemary (RO), Lavandula dentata—lavender (LD), Origanum majorana—oregano (OM), which belong to the Lamiaceae family. The other two plants were Cymbopogon citratus—lemon grass (family Poaceae) (CC), and Eucalyptus globulus (family Myrtaceae) (EG). Employing the disc diffusion susceptibility test, minimum inhibitory and minimum bactericidal concentrations were estimated for each oil, followed by the addition of oils to pasteurized apple juice after microbial induction. The results revealed that thyme oil showed the maximum zone of inhibition against all tested microbes enriched with monoterpenes class viz. eucalyptol (24.3%), thymol (17.4%), and γ-terpinene (15.2%). All other tested oils exhibited a concentration-dependent inhibition of growth and their MIC ranged from 0.1 to 100 µL/mL. The recorded minimum bactericidal concentration values were apparently double the minimum inhibitory concentration. The EO of Mentha virdis followed by Mentha longifolia showed maximum antimicrobial activity against the tested organisms in pasteurized apple juice. A gas chromatography–mass spectroscopy (GC–MS) analysis of lemon grass, thyme, and Mentha virdis essential oils showed their enrichment with monoterpenes class recording 97.10, 97.04, and 97.61%, respectively.

Studies on the Phytochemical Profile of Ocimum basilicum var. minimum (L.) Alef. Essential Oil, Its Larvicidal Activity and In Silico Interaction with Acetylcholinesterase against Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae)

Aedes aegypti L. (Diptera: Culicidae) is an important transmitter of diseases in tropical countries and controlling the larvae of this mosquito helps to reduce cases of diseases such as dengue, zika and chikungunya. Thus, the present study aimed to evaluate the larvicidal potential of the essential oil (EO) of Ocimum basilicum var. minimum (L.) Alef. The EO was extracted by stem distillation and the chemical composition was characterized by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC/MS and GC-FID). The larvicidal activity of EO was evaluated against third instar Ae. aegypti following World Health Organization (WHO) standard protocol and the interaction of the major compounds with the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) was evaluated by molecular docking. The predominant class was oxygenated monoterpenes with a concentration of 81.69% and the major compounds were limonene (9.5%), 1,8-cineole (14.23%), linalool (24.51%) and methyl chavicol (37.41%). The O. basilicum var. minimum EO showed unprecedented activity against third instar Ae. aegypti larvae at a dose-dependent relationship with LC50 of 69.91 (µg/mL) and LC90 of 200.62 (µg/mL), and the major compounds were able to interact with AChE in the Molecular Docking assay, indicating an ecological alternative for mosquito larvae control.

Ethnopharmacological study of medicinal plants in Kastamonu province (Türkiye)

This study is aimed at determining some of the plants traditionally used in the treatment of diseases by the local people living in Kastamonu province center and surrounding villages. A face-to-face questionnaire was applied and semi-structured interviews were conducted with 52 informants, 34 women and 18 men. Identification of 92 plants belonging to 41 families has been confirmed and their medicinal uses have been recorded. The most used families were Rosaceae (13 taxa), Asteraceae (11), and Lamiaceae (11). The most preferred folk recipes of medicinal plants was decoction (55 taxa) and in preparations and applications, the most used were the leaves (45 taxa). According to the International Classification of Primary Care categories, plants were the most used for digestive disorders (37 taxa), respiratory disorders (27 taxa), and urological disorders (24 taxa). The highest use-value was recorded for Urtica dioica (0.519), and highest relative frequency citation was recorded for Tilia rubra subsp. caucasica (0.231). Male genital diseases had the highest informant consensus factor value (0.83). New areas of use were also determined for Pilosella leucopsilon subsp. pilisquama, Galium palustre, and Astragalus nitens. With this study, new information for folkloric medicines is presented and the usage of herbal drugs in the study area are enhanced.

Phytochemical Profile, Antioxidant Potential and Toxicity Evaluation of the Essential Oils from Duguetia and Xylopia Species (Annonaceae) from the Brazilian Amazon

The essential oils (EOs) of Duguetia echinophora, D. riparia, Xylopia emarginata and X. frutescens (Annonaceae) were obtained by hydrodistillation and the chemical composition was analyzed by GC-MS. An antioxidant assay using the ABTS and DPPH radicals scavenging method and cytotoxic assays against Artemia salina were also performed. We evaluated the interaction of the major compounds of the most toxic EO (X. emarginata) with the binding pocket of the enzyme Acetylcholinesterase, a molecular target related to toxicity in models of Artemia salina. The chemical composition of the EO of D. echinophora was characterized by β-phellandrene (39.12%), sabinene (17.08%) and terpinolene (11.17%). Spathulenol (22.22%), caryophyllene oxide (12.21%), humulene epoxide II (11.86%) and allo-aromadendrene epoxide (10.20%) were the major constituents of the EO from D. riparia. Spathulenol (5.65%) and caryophyllene oxide (5.63%) were the major compounds of the EO from X. emarginata. The EO of X. frutescens was characterized by α-pinene (20.84%) and byciclogermacrene (7.85%). The results of the radical scavenger DPPH assays ranged from 15.87 to 69.38% and the highest percentage of inhibition was observed for the EO of X. emarginata, while for ABTS radical scavenging, the antioxidant capacity of EOs varied from 14.61 to 63.67%, and the highest percentage of inhibition was observed for the EO of X. frutescens. The EOs obtained from D. echinophora, X. emarginata and X. frutescens showed high toxicity, while the EO of D. riparia was non-toxic. Because the EO of X. emarginata is the most toxic, we evaluated how its major constituents were able to interact with the Acetylcholinesterase enzyme. The docking results show that the compounds are able to bind to the binding pocket through non-covalent interactions with the residues of the binding pocket. The species X. emarginata and X. frutescens are the most promising sources of antioxidant compounds; in addition, the results obtained for preliminary cytotoxicity of the EOs of these species may also indicate a potential biological activity.

Preparation, Characterization, and Application of Modified Starch/Chitosan/Sweet Orange Oil Microcapsules

Aquatic products have an important role in global agriculture, but the challenges associated with preservation have limited their marketability. Essential oil (EO), such as sweet orange oil (SOEO), has been widely used for preservation due to its excellent antibacterial ability. However, the volatilization of EO limits its application in food preservation. In this study, SOEO was extracted from sweet orange peel by steam distillation and then stored in microcapsules. The components of the microcapsules were as follows: the porous starch was chosen as an adsorbed substrate to store SOEO (PS/SOEO), and sodium alginate (SA) and chitosan (CMCS) were used as shell material to delay the volatilization of SOEO using the sharp pore coagulation method. Our results showed that the main antibacterial ingredients in SOEO were aldehydes (33.93%) and d-limonene (15.38%). The microcapsules were of an irregular shape (oval), and the size of the microcapsules was 1.2 ± 0.1 cm as measured by a digital micrometer. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) results showed that there were a lot of pores on the surface of the starch after modification, but sodium alginate and chitosan could well encapsulate these pores. The results of Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis also showed that SOEO was successful encapsulated into the porous starch. The results of compression test and releasing kinetics studies suggested that CMCS and SA improved the mechanical and slow-releasing ability of SOEO microcapsules. The best antibacterial performance was obtained when 0.8 g of SOEO microcapsules was added. Finally, the shelf life of crawfish could be extended to 6 days by SOEO microcapsule (1/10 g, SOEO microcapsule/crawfish) under room temperature. These results provide a systematic understanding of the antibacterial capabilities of sweet orange essential oil microcapsules, which can contribute to the development of preservation methods for aquatic products.

Larvicidal and adulticidal activity of essential oils from plants of the Lamiaceae family against the West Nile virus vector, Culex pipiens (Diptera: Culicidae)

Culex pipiens mosquitoes are the most widely distributed primary vector of the West Nile virus worldwide. Many attempts for investigation of botanical pesticides to avoid the development of pesticide resistance to conventional synthetic pesticides that are recognized as a threat to the diversity of ecosystems. The study aimed to determine the components of three essential oils of Lamiaceae family, lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), peppermint (Mentha piperita L.), and rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS) analysis. Furthermore, aimed to validate the insecticidal activities of these oils as larvicidal agents against the third instar larvae of Culex pipiens using five different concentrations (62.5, 125, 250, 500, and 1000 ppm) for each oil in five replicates and as an adulticidal agent against approximately three-day-old female adults of Cx. Pipiens using 0.5, 1, 2, 4, and 5% concentrations in three replicates. The results generally showed a dose-related response. At 1000 ppm, rosemary oil showed the highest larvicidal (100%) (LC₅₀, 214.97 ppm), followed by peppermint oil (92.00% mortality and LC₅₀ (269.35 ppm). Lavender oil showed the lowest efficacy with 87.20% mortality and LC₅₀ (301.11 ppm). At 5% oil concentration, the highest knockdown rate at 1 h was recorded for lavender oil (95.55%), followed by peppermint oil (88.89%) and lastly rosemary oil (84.44%). After 24 h, rosemary oil showed the lowest adult mortality rate (88.89%; LC₅₀, 1.44%), while lavender and peppermint oils both showed a 100% mortality rate, with (LC₅₀, 0.81% and 0.91%, respectively). The chemical constituents of the oils consisted of monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes that determined their insecticidal activities against the target insect stage. The study proposed that rosemary essential oil may be useful for the control of Cx. pipiens larvae as part of an integrated water treatment strategy, and lavender and peppermint oils may be used in an integrated plan for adult’s control.

Phytochemical Profile and Herbicidal (Phytotoxic), Antioxidants Potential of Essential Oils from Calycolpus goetheanus (Myrtaceae) Specimens, and in Silico Study

The essential oil (EO) of Calycolpus goetheanus (Myrtaceae) specimens (A, B, and C) were obtained through hydrodistillation. The analysis of the chemical composition of the EOs was by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry CG-MS, and gas chromatography coupled with a flame ionization detector CG-FID. The phytotoxic activity of those EOs was evaluated against two weed species from common pasture areas in the Amazon region: Mimosa pudica L. and Senna obtusifolia (L.) The antioxidant capacity of the EOs was determined by (DPPH•) and (ABTS•+). Using molecular docking, we evaluated the interaction mode of the major EO compounds with the molecular binding protein 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD). The EO of specimen A was characterized by β-eudesmol (22.83%), (E)-caryophyllene (14.61%), and γ-eudesmol (13.87%), while compounds 1,8-cineole (8.64%), (E)-caryophyllene (5.86%), δ-cadinene (5.78%), and palustrol (4.97%) characterize the chemical profile of specimen B’s EOs, and specimen C had α-cadinol (9.03%), δ-cadinene (8.01%), and (E)-caryophyllene (6.74%) as the majority. The phytotoxic potential of the EOs was observed in the receptor species M. pudica with percentages of inhibition of 30%, and 33.33% for specimens B and C, respectively. The EOs’ antioxidant in DPPH• was 0.79 ± 0.08 and 0.83 ± 0.02 mM for specimens A and B, respectively. In the TEAC, was 0.07 ± 0.02 mM for specimen A and 0.12 ± 0.06 mM for specimen B. In the results of the in silico study, we observed that the van der Waals and hydrophobic interactions of the alkyl and pi-alkyl types were the main interactions responsible for the formation of the receptor–ligand complex.

Molecular Modeling Approaches Can Reveal the Molecular Interactions Established between a Biofilm and the Bioactive Compounds of the Essential Oil of Piper divaricatum

Molecular modeling approaches are used in a versatile way to investigate the properties of diverse organic and inorganic structures such as proteins, biomolecules, nanomaterials, functionalized nanoparticles, and membranes. However, more detailed studies are needed to understand the molecular nature of interactions established in gelatin biofilms impregnated with bioactive compounds. Because of this, we used computational methods to evaluate how the major compounds of Piper divaricatum essential oil can interact with the gelatin biofilm structure. For this, we used as inspiration the paper published, where various properties of the essential oil impregnated gelatin biofilm P. divaricatum are reported. After our computer simulations, we related our molecular observations to biofilm’s structural and mechanical properties. Our results suggest that the major compounds of the essential oil were able to interrupt intermolecular interactions between the chains of the biofilm matrix. However, the compounds also established interactions with the amino acid residues of these chains. Our molecular analyses also explain changes in the structural and mechanical properties of the essential oil-impregnated biofilm. These results can support the planning of functional packaging impregnated with bioactive compounds that can protect food against microorganisms harmful to human health.

Exploration of Lamiaceae in Cardio Vascular Diseases and Functional Foods: Medicine as Food and Food as Medicine

In the current scenario, cardiovascular disease (CVD) is one of the most life-threatening diseases that has caused high mortality worldwide. Several scientists, researchers, and doctors are now resorting to medicinal plants and their metabolites for the treatment of different diseases, including CVD. The present review focuses on one such family of medicinal plants, called Lamiaceae, which has relieving and preventive action on CVD. Lamiaceae has a cosmopolitan distribution and has great importance in the traditional system of medicine. Lamiaceae members exhibit a wide range of activities like antioxidant, antihyperlipidemic, vasorelaxant, and thrombolytic effect, both in vitro and in vivo–these are mechanisms that contribute to different aspects of CVD including stroke, heart attack, and others. These plants harbour an array of bioactive compounds like phenolic acids, flavonoids, alkaloids, and other phytochemicals responsible for these actions. The review also highlights that these plants are a rich source of essential nutrients and minerals like omega-3 and hence, can serve as essential sources of functional foods—this can have an additional role in the prevention of CVDs. However, limitations still exist, and extensive research needs to be conducted on the Lamiaceae family in the quest to develop new and effective plant-based drugs and functional foods that can be used to treat and prevent cardiovascular diseases worldwide.