Nanoemulsions of Jasminum humile L. and Jasminum grandiflorum L. Essential Oils: An Approach to Enhance Their Cytotoxic and Antiviral Effects

Investigating the promising SARS-CoV-2 main protease inhibitory activity of secoiridoids isolated from Jasminum humile; in silico and in Vitro assessments with structure-activity relationship

The proteolytic enzyme 3 C-like protease (3Clpro or Mpro) is considered the most important target for SARS-CoV-2 which could be attributed to its crucial role in viral maturation and/or replication. Besides, natural phytoconstituents from plant origin are always promising lead compounds in the drug discovery area. Herein, the previously isolated and identified seven compounds from Jasminum humile (J. humile) were examined in vitro and in silico against the SARS-CoV-2 Mpro. First, the Vero E6 cells were utilized to pursue the potential of the investigated compounds (both in fractions and individual isolates) using the MTT assay. The total extract (T1) displayed the most significant activity against SARS-CoV-2 with IC50 = 29.36 µg/mL. Besides, the fractions (Fr1 and Fr3) showed good activity against the SARS-CoV-2 with IC50 values of 70.42, and 73.09 µg/mL, respectively. Then, the SARS-CoV-2 Mpro inhibitory assay was utilized to emphasize the inhibitory potential of the investigated isolates. MJN, JMD, and IJM candidates displayed prominent Mpro inhibitory potentials with IC50 = 30.44, 30.24, and 56.25 µM, respectively. Moreover, molecular docking of the identified seven compounds against the Mpro of SARS-CoV-2 showed that the five secoiridoids achieved superior results. MJN, JSM, IJM, and JMD showed higher affinities towards the Mpro target compared to the co-crystallized antagonist. Furthermore, the most active complexes (MJN, JSM, IJM, and JMD-Mpro) were subjected to MD simulations run for 150 ns and MM-GBSA calculations, compared to the co-crystallized inhibitor (O6K-Mpro). Finally, the SAR study clarified that JMD achieved the best anti-SARS-CoV-2 Mpro activity followed by MJN.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Evaluation of oral supplementation of free and nanoencapsulated Minthostachys verticillata essential oil on immunological, biochemical and antioxidants parameters and gut microbiota in weaned piglets

Early weaning is an important stressor that impairs the piglet´s health, and essential oils appear as promising candidates to improve it instead of antibiotics. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of oral supplementation of free and nanoencapsulated Minthostachys verticillata essential oil (EO and NEO, respectively) on immunological, biochemical and antioxidants parameters as well as on gut microbiota in weaned piglets. EO was extracted by hydrodistillation and nanoencapsulation was performed by high-energy method using Tween 80 and Span 60 as surfactants. EO and NEO were chemically analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The cytotoxic effects of both EO and NEO was evaluated on Caco-2 cell line. For in vivo assay, male weaned piglets (age: 28 days, mean initial body weight: 11.63 ± 0.37 kg) were randomly distributed in six groups of six animals each (n = 6) and received orally EO (10.0 mg/kg/day) or NEO (2.5, 5.0 and 10.0 mg/kg/day), named hereinafter as EO-10, NEO-2.5, NEO-5 and NEO-10, for 30 consecutive days. Animals not treated or treated with surfactants mixture were evaluated as control and vehicle control. Subsequently, histological, hematological and biochemical parameters, cytokines production, oxidative markers, CD4+/CD8+ T cells and gut microbiota were evaluated. GC-MS analysis was similar in both EO and NEO. The NEO was more toxic on Caco-2 cells than EO. Oral supplementation of EO-10 or NEO-10 improved growth performance compared to control group NEO-2.5 or NEO-5 (p < 0.05) groups. NEO-2.5, NEO-5 and NEO-10 did not alter the morpho-physiology of digestive organs and decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in liver compared to control (p < 0.05) or EO-10 groups (p < 0.05, p < 0.01). In addition, NEO-10 showed an increase in CD4+/CD8+ T cells ratio (p < 0.001), and induced the highest serum levels of IL-10 (p < 0.01). Serum triglycerides levels were significantly lower in animals treated with EO-10 or NEO-2.5, NEO-5 and NEO-10 compared to control group (p < 0.001). Gut microbiota analysis showed that NEO-10 favor the development of beneficial intestinal microorganisms to improve parameters related to early weaning of piglets. In conclusion, EO and NEO improved parameters altered by early weaning in piglets however, NEO was safer and powerful. Therefore, NEO should be further studied to be applied in swine health.

Flower Power: An Overview on Chemistry and Biological Impact of Selected Essential Oils from Blossoms

Natural raw materials such as essential oils have received more and more attention in recent decades, whether in the food industry, as flavorings and preservatives, or as insecticides and insect repellents. They are, furthermore, very popular as fragrances in perfumes, cosmetics, and household products. In addition, aromatherapy is widely used to complement conventional medicine. This review summarizes investigations on the chemical composition and the most important biological impacts of essential oils and volatile compounds extracted from selected aromatic blossoms, including Lavandula angustifolia, Matricaria recutita, Rosa x damascena, Jasminum grandiflorum, Citrus x aurantium, Cananga odorata, and Michelia alba. The literature was collected from PubMed, Google Scholar, and Science Direct. Blossom essential oils discussed in this work are used in a wide variety of clinical issues. The application is consistently described as safe in studies and meta-analyses, although there are notes that using essential oils can also have side effects, especially dermatologically. However, it can be considered as confirmed that essential oils have positive influences on humans and can improve quality of life in patients with psychiatric disorders, critically ill patients, and patients in other exceptional situations. Although the positive effect of essential oils from blossoms has repeatedly been reported, evidence-based clinical investigations are still underrepresented, and the need for research is demanded.

Essential oils and their nanoformulations for breast cancer therapy

Breast Cancer (BC) is the most prevalent type of cancer in the world. Current treatments include surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy but often are associated with high toxicity to normal tissues, chemoresistance, and relapse. Thus, developing novel therapies which could combat these limitations is essential for effective treatment. In this context, phytochemicals are increasingly getting popular due to their safety profile, ability to efficiently target tumors, and circumvent limitations of existing treatments. Essential Oils (EOs) are mixtures of various phytochemicals which have shown potential anticancer activity in preclinical BC models. However, their clinical translation is limited by factors such as high volatility, low stability, and poor solubility. Nanotechnology has facilitated their encapsulation in a variety of nanostructures and proven to overcome these limitations. In this review, we have efficiently summarized the current knowledge on the anticancer effect of EOs and constituents in both in in vitro and in in vivo BC models. Further, we also provide a descriptive account on the potential of nanotechnology in enhancing the anti-BC activity of EOs and their constituents. The papers discussed in this review were selected using the keywords "antiproliferative Essential Oils in breast cancer," "anticancer activity of Essential Oil in breast cancer," and "cytotoxicity of Essential Oils in breast cancer" performed in PubMed and ScienceDirect databases.

Antimicrobial and antiviral evaluation of compounds from Holoptelea integrifolia: in silico supported in vitro study

Holoptelea integrifolia, also known as the Indian Elm Tree, has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for its medicinal properties. In this study, two biologically active metabolites, 5(6) dihydrostigmast 22en 3-O-β-glucoside (DHS) and 1-O-eicosanoyl glycerol-2'-O-β-galactouronic (EGG), were isolated for the first time from the n-butanol fraction of H. integrifolia using a chromatographic technique and identified by NMR, and HRESI-MS. The antiviral and multidrug-resistant activities of these metabolites were evaluated as well as the n-butanol fraction. The n-butanol fraction of H. integrifolia exhibited weak antiviral effects, but DHS and EGG demonstrated significant antiviral activity against herpes simplex type-1 (HSV-1) and Coxsackie (CoxB4) viruses. Both metabolites showed lower IC50 values than the standard antiviral drug acyclovir, indicating their potency in inhibiting viral replication. EGG showed potent antiviral activity with minimal cytotoxicity at the highest concentration tested, presenting a selectivity index (SI) of 18.18 and 15.58 against HSV-1 and CoxB4 viruses, respectively. A preliminary assessment of the antibacterial activity of the n-butanol fraction and metabolites revealed that DHS had the highest inhibitory potency against drug-resistant strains, including MRSA and Carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumonia. It also exhibited significant inhibitions against Fluconazole-resistant Candida albicans and ESBL - Escherichia coli. DHS displayed the lowest minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values, indicating its superiority as an antibacterial agent compared to EGG and the n-butanol fraction. Molecular docking analysis confirmed the antiviral and antibacterial actions of DHS and EGG by demonstrating their strong binding.

Inhibitory effects of Jasminum grandiflorum L. essential oil on lipopolysaccharide-induced microglia activation-integrated characteristic analysis of volatile compounds, network pharmacology, and BV-2 cell

Neuroinflammation is considered to have a prominent role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Microglia are the resident macrophages of the central nervous system, and modulating microglia activation is a promising strategy to prevent AD. Essential oil of Jasminum grandiflorum L. flowers is commonly used in folk medicine for the relief of mental pressure and disorders, and analyzing the volatile compound profiles and evaluating the inhibitory effects of J. grandiflorum L. essential oil (JGEO) on the excessive activation of microglia are valuable for its application. This study aims to explore the potential active compounds in JGEO for treating AD by inhibiting microglia activation-integrated network pharmacology, molecular docking, and the microglia model. A headspace solid-phase microextraction combined with the gas chromatography-mass spectrometry procedure was used to analyze the volatile characteristics of the compounds in J. grandiflorum L. flowers at 50°C, 70°C, 90°C, and 100°C for 50 min, respectively. A network pharmacological analysis and molecular docking were used to predict the key compounds, key targets, and binding energies based on the detected compounds in JGEO. In the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced BV-2 cell model, the cells were treated with 100 ng/mL of LPS and JGEO at 7.5, 15.0, and 30 μg/mL, and then, the morphological changes, the production of nitric oxide (NO) and reactive oxygen species, and the expressions of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, and ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1 of BV-2 cells were analyzed. A total of 34 compounds with significantly different volatilities were identified. α-Hexylcinnamaldehyde, nerolidol, hexahydrofarnesyl acetone, dodecanal, and decanal were predicted as the top five key compounds, and SRC, EGFR, VEGFA, HSP90AA1, and ESR1 were the top five key targets. In addition, the binding energies between them were less than -3.9 kcal/mol. BV-2 cells were activated by LPS with morphological changes, and JGEO not only could clearly reverse the changes but also significantly inhibited the production of NO and reactive oxygen species and suppressed the expressions of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, and ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1. The findings indicate that JGEO could inhibit the overactivation of microglia characterized by decreasing the neuroinflammatory and oxidative stress responses through the multi-compound and multi-target action modes, which support the traditional use of JGEO in treating neuroinflammation-related disorders.

In Vitro Biological Activity and Lymphoma Cell Growth Inhibition by Selected Mexican Medicinal Plants

Cancer is a major health problem with significant morbidity and mortality. In addition, plants are a source of metabolites with diverse biological properties, including antitumor potential. In this study, we investigated the in vitro murine lymphoma L5178Y-R cell growth inhibition, human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) toxicity and proliferation, and antioxidant, hemolytic, and anti-hemolytic activities of methanol extracts from 15 plants of traditional use in Mexico. Justicia spicigera caused the highest tumor cell growth inhibition with a half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 29.10 µg/mL and a selectivity index >34.36 compared with those of PBMC, whereas Mimosa tenuiflora showed the highest lymphoproliferative activity from 200 µg/mL compared with that induced by concanavalin A. In addition, M. tenuiflora showed an antioxidant effect (IC50 = 2.86 µg/mL) higher than that of ascorbic acid. Regarding the hemolytic and anti-hemolytic activity, all extracts presented significant anti-hemolytic activity. The extract of J. spicigera is emerging as a possible source of effective antineoplastic compounds.

Anticancer Applications of Essential Oils Formulated into Lipid-Based Delivery Nanosystems

The use of natural compounds is becoming increasingly popular among patients, and there is a renewed interest among scientists in nature-based bioactive agents. Traditionally, herbal drugs can be taken directly in the form of teas/decoctions/infusions or as standardized extracts. However, the disadvantages of natural compounds, especially essential oils, are their instability, limited bioavailability, volatility, and often irritant/allergenic potential. However, these active substances can be stabilized by encapsulation and administered in the form of nanoparticles. This brief overview summarizes the latest results of the application of nanoemulsions, liposomes, solid lipid nanoparticles, and nanostructured lipid carriers used as drug delivery systems of herbal essential oils or used directly for their individual secondary metabolites applicable in cancer therapy. Although the discussed bioactive agents are not typical compounds used as anticancer agents, after inclusion into the aforesaid formulations improving their stability and bioavailability and/or therapeutic profile, they indicated anti-tumor activity and became interesting agents with cancer treatment potential. In addition, co-encapsulation of essential oils with synthetic anticancer drugs into nanoformulations with the aim to achieve synergistic effect in chemotherapy is discussed.

In Vitro Cytotoxic Activity of Methanol Extracts of Selected Medicinal Plants Traditionally Used in Mexico against Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Medicinal plants are traditionally used in Mexico to treat diseases such as cancer. The present study aimed to evaluate the cytotoxic, antioxidant, and anti-hemolytic activity of 15 plants of ethnopharmacological use in Mexico. For this, plant methanol extracts were prepared by the Soxhlet method, after which their cytotoxic activity was evaluated against human hepatocellular carcinoma (HEP-G2) and monkey kidney epithelial (Vero) cells by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) reduction colorimetric assay. The selectivity index (SI) of each extract was then determined by the IC₅₀ ratio of normal to tumor cells. We showed that Ruta chalepensis extract possessed an IC₅₀ of 1.79 µg/mL and 522.08 µg/mL against HEP-G2 and Vero cells, respectively, resulting in an SI of 291.50. Furthermore, antioxidant activity was evaluated by the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging technique, where the best antioxidant potential was shown by the Heterotheca inuloides extract (IC₅₀ = 19.24 µg/mL). Furthermore, the hemolytic potential was determined against human erythrocytes, which showed that the extracts with the highest anti-hemolytic activity were Smilax aspera (IC₅₀ = 4.41 µg/mL) and Amphipterygium adstringens (IC₅₀ = 5.35 µg/mL). In conclusion, we observed that R. chalepensis methanol extract possesses cytotoxic activity against HEP-G2 cells, without affecting non-tumorigenic Vero cells. Our results indicated the antitumor potential of medicinal plants used in Mexico.