Valorization of the Hydrolate Byproduct from the Industrial Extraction of Purple Alium sativum Essential Oil as a Source of Nematicidal Products

Effect of Encapsulated Purple Garlic Oil on Microvascular Function and the Components of Metabolic Syndrome: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Study-The ENDOTALLIUM Study

Endothelial dysfunction (ED) is associated with progressive changes contributing to clinical complications related to macro- and microvascular diseases. Garlic (Allium sativum L.) and its organosulfur components have been related to beneficial cardiovascular effects and could improve endothelial function. The ENDOTALLIUM Study aimed to evaluate the effect of the regular consumption of encapsulated purple garlic oil on microvascular function, endothelial-related biomarkers, and the components of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in untreated subjects with cardiometabolic alterations. Fifty-two individuals with at least one MetS component were randomized (1:1) in a single-center, single-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study. The participants received encapsulated purple garlic oil (n = 27) or placebo (n = 25) for five weeks. Skin microvascular peak flow during post-occlusive reactive hyperemia significantly increased in the purple garlic oil group compared to the placebo group (between-group difference [95%CI]: 15.4 [1.5 to 29.4] PU; p = 0.031). Likewise, hs-CRP levels decreased in the purple garlic group compared to the control group (-1.3 [-2.5 to -0.0] mg/L; p = 0.049). Furthermore, we observed a significant reduction in the mean number of MetS components in the purple garlic group after five weeks (1.7 ± 0.9 vs. 1.3 ± 1.1, p = 0.021). In summary, regular consumption of encapsulated purple garlic oil significantly improved microvascular function, subclinical inflammatory status, and the overall MetS profile in a population with cardiometabolic alterations.

Essential Oils as Nematicides in Plant Protection-A Review

By 2030, the European Commission intends to halve chemical pesticide use and its consequent risks. Among pesticides, nematicides are chemical agents used to control parasitic roundworms in agriculture. In recent decades, researchers have been looking for more sustainable alternatives with the same effectiveness but a limited impact on the environment and ecosystems. Essential oils (EOs) are similar bioactive compounds and potential substitutes. Different studies on the use of EOs as nematicides are available in the Scopus database in the scientific literature. These works show a wider exploration of EO effects in vitro than in vivo on different nematode populations. Nevertheless, a review of which EOs have been used on different target nematodes, and how, is still not available. The aim of this paper is to explore the extent of EO testing on nematodes and which of them have nematicidal effects (e.g., mortality, effects on motility, inhibition of egg production). Particularly, the review aims to identify which EOs have been used the most, on which nematodes, and which formulations have been applied. This study provides an overview of the available reports and data to date, downloaded from Scopus, through (a) network maps created by VOSviewer software (version 1.6.8, Nees Jan van Eck and Ludo Waltman, Leiden, The Netherlands) and (b) a systematic analysis of all scientific papers. VOSviewer created maps with keywords derived from co-occurrence analysis to understand the main keywords used and the countries and journals which have published most on the topic, while the systematic analysis investigated all the documents downloaded. The main goal is to offer a comprehensive understanding of the potential use of EOs in agriculture as well as which directions future research should move toward.

Nematicidal Screening of Aqueous Extracts from Plants of the Yucatan Peninsula and Ecotoxicity

Active metabolites from plants are considered safer than synthetic chemicals for the control of plant-parasitic nematodes of the genus Meloidogyne. In the present work, 75 aqueous extracts (AEs) from different vegetative parts of 34 native plant species of the Yucatan Peninsula were evaluated against second-stage juveniles (J2s) of Meloidogyne incognita and M. javanica in microdilution assays. The highest mortality (M) against both Meloidogyne species was produced by the foliar AE from Alseis yucatanensis (M ≥ 94%) and Helicteres baruensis (M ≥ 77%) at 3% w/v after 72 h. Other active AEs at 3% were from the leaves of Croton itzaeus and stems of H. baruensis (M: 87–90%) on M. javanica and the stems of Annona primigenia and the leaves of Morella cerifera on M. incognita (M: 92–97%). The AEs from A. yucatanensis had the lowest LD₅₀ against M. incognita (0.36% w/v), and against M. javanica (3.80% w/v). In an acute ecotoxicity assay of the most promising AEs using non-target earthworms (Eisenia fetida), the AE of A. yucatanensis had slight acute toxicity (LD₅₀: 2.80% w/v), and the rest of the most active AEs were not ecotoxic. These tropical plants are potential candidates for further studies as biorational agents for controlling Meloidogyne species.