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

Chemical Characterization and Enantioselective Analysis of Tagetes filifolia Lag. Essential Oil and Crude Extract

The essential oil (EO) of Tagetes filifolia Lag. was obtained from dried plant material through Clevenger-type steam distillation and analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS), a gas chromatography-flame ionization detector (GC/FID) and enantioselective gas chromatography. The results showed 50 compounds (93.33%) with a predominance of oxygenated monoterpenes. The main components were trans-anethole (55.57 ± 9.83%), tridecene <1-> (8.66 ± 0.01), methyl chavicol (5.81 ± 0.85%) and Neophytadiene (3.45 ± 0.88) Enantioselective analysis revealed linalool and ionone as enantiomers. The identification of secondary metabolites from the ethyl acetate extract obtained by maceration was performed by GC-MS, NMR and by a literature comparison, determining the presence of mostly trans-anethole and a mixture of two triterpenes, fernenol and lupeol.

Phytochemical Analysis and Evaluation of Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Properties of Essential Oils and Seed Extracts of Anethum graveolens from Southern Morocco: In Vitro and In Silico Approach for a Natural Alternative to Synthetic Preservatives

Anethum graveolens is an aromatic plant traditionally used as an antispasmodic and carminative. The objective of this study is to analyze the chemical composition of the essential oils and extracts obtained from seeds gathered in Errachidia, southern Morocco. Additionally, the antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of these oils and extracts will be evaluated. GC-MS analysis of the EO isolated by hydrodistillation revealed that its main compounds were E-anethole (38.13%), estragole (29.32%), fenchone (17.21%), and α-pinene (7.37%). The phenolic components were extracted using the methods of decoction and Soxhlet. The assay of the phenolic compounds showed that A. graveolens seeds contained considerable amounts of polyphenols, flavonoids, and condensed tannins, with variable levels depending on the extract analyzed. HPLC/UV-ESI-MS analyses performed on the decoction revealed a structural diversity of the molecules present in this extract, the most important of which were umbelliferone (12.35%), 3-hydroxyflavone (11.23%), rosmanol (8.95%), biotin (8.36%), emmotin H (4.91%), and coumarin (4.21%). The antioxidant activity, as determined by three techniques (DPPH•, FRAP, and CAT), demonstrated that the essential oils (EOs) and extracts had a potent capacity to counteract detrimental free radicals, control the generation of reactive oxygen species, and mitigate oxidative damages. The antimicrobial activity of the Eos and extracts was carried out in a liquid medium against five strains (E. cloacae, K. pneumoniae, E. coli, S. aureus, and S. epidermidis) and four candidiasis (C. albicans, C. dubliniensis, C. tropicalis, and C. parapsilosis) and Aspergillus niger. The results showed the effectiveness of the EOs compared to the aqueous, ethanolic, and decoction extracts against most of the microorganisms tested. In addition, the ethanolic extract showed antifungal activity that was distinguished from that of the other extracts. The antimicrobial efficacy of the essential oils under study can primarily be attributed to the synergistic interactions among its three principal constituents (E-anethole, estragole, and fenchone). Furthermore, molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation results reveal significant interactions and stability between the selected bioactive compounds and different target proteins involved in antimicrobial and antioxidant activities. Compounds like 3-hydroxyflavone, emmotin H, trans-caftaric acid, methyl rosmarinate, 1-caffeoyl-beta-D-glucose, and kaempferol exhibited better binding energies with the explored proteins, indicating their potential as antimicrobial and antioxidant agents. Finally, our findings emphasize the significance of A. graveolens seeds as a promising reservoir of advantageous health compounds that can serve as organic substitutes for the presently employed synthetic preservatives.

Green Extraction Approach for Isolation of Bioactive Compounds in Wild Thyme (Thymus serpyllum L.) Herbal Dust-Chemical Profile, Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activity and Comparison with Conventional Techniques

The aim of this study was to provide a chemical profile and determine the antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of the essential oil (EO) and lipid extracts of Thymus serpyllum L. herbal dust obtained via conventional (hydrodistillation (HD) and Soxhlet extraction (SOX)) and novel extraction techniques (supercritical fluid extraction (SFE)). In addition, a comparative analysis of the chemical profiles of the obtained EO and extracts was carried out, as well as the determination of antioxidant, antibacterial and antifungal activity of the lipid extracts. According to the aforementioned antioxidant and antimicrobial activities and the monoterpene yield and selectivity, SFE provided significant advantages compared to the traditional techniques. In addition, SFE extracts could be considered to have great potential in terms of their utilization in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries, as well as appropriate replacements for synthetic additives in the food industry.

Petroselinum crispum (Mill.) Fuss (Parsley): An Updated Review of the Traditional Uses, Phytochemistry, and Pharmacology

Petroselinum crispum (Mill.) Fuss (parsley) is a popular medicinal plant widely used in different traditional medicines all over the world. This paper provides an updated review on the traditional use, phytochemistry, and pharmacological activities of parsley. Parsley contains volatile compounds such as terpenes and terpenoids in the essential oil, as well as phenolic compounds in the plant extract. Parsley is traditionally used as a diuretic, liver and stomach tonic, and for urolithiasis and indigestion. Pharmacological investigations also confirm several biological activities of parsley including hepatoprotective, nephroprotective, antiurolithiatic, neuroprotective, cardioprotective, and antineoplastic effects in animal and cell-based studies. Parsley has currently demonstrated several pharmacological activities in preclinical studies; however, there is a big lack in clinical evidence. Considering parsley as a possible valuable medicinal food, future clinical trials are recommended to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of the plant in different health conditions.

Unveiling the Chemical Profiling Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Algerian Myrtus communis L. Essential Oils, and Exploring Molecular Docking to Predict the Inhibitory Compounds against Cyclooxygenase-2

Considering the large spectrum of side effects caused by synthetic drugs and the development of natural alternatives utilizing Algerian flora, this study aimed to place a spotlight on the chemical profile and antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of Myrtus communis L. essential oils (MCEOs). In this study, essential oils (EOs) were collected via hydro-distillation of the plant's leaves, and a chemical constituent analysis was performed using gas chromatography-mass spectrophotometry (GC-MS). The in vitro antioxidant activity was evaluated using DPPH, ABTS, and hydroxyl radical scavenging tests. The in vitro anti-inflammatory capacity was estimated by studying the antidenaturation effect using bovine serum albumin (BSA) as a protein model. The in vivo anti-inflammatory activity was carried out by utilizing the classical model of carrageenan-induced paw edema in rats, using diclofenac (DCF) as the reference drug. Moreover, the molecular interaction of the compounds obtained from the GC-MS analysis was studied within the binding site of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) using an in silico approach as the confirmatory tool of the in vitro and in vivo experiments. The GC-MS analysis revealed that MCEOs were mainly composed of oxygenated monoterpenes (70.56%), oxygenated sesquiterpenes (3.1%), sesquiterpenes (4.17%), and monoterpenes (8.75%). Furthermore, 1,8-cineole was the major compound (19.05%), followed by cis-geranyl acetate (11.74%), methyl eugenol (5.58%), α-terpineol (4.62%), and β-myrcene (4.40%). MCEOs exhibited remarkable concentration-dependent free radical scavenging activity, with an IC50 of 15.317 ± 0.340 µg/mL, 18.890 ± 2.190 µg/mL, and 31.877 ± 0.742 µg/mL for DPPH, ABTS, and hydroxyl radical, respectively. The significant in vitro anti-inflammatory activity due to the inhibition of BSA denaturation was proportional to the EO concentration, where the highest value was recorded at 100 μg/mL with an approximately 63.35% percentage inhibition and an IC50 of 60.351 ± 5.832 μg/mL. MCEOs showed a good in vivo anti-inflammatory effect by limiting the development of carrageenan-induced paw thickness. The in silico study indicated that, among the 60 compounds identified by the GC-MS analysis, 9 compounds were observed to have a high binding energy to cyclooxygenase-2 as compared to diclofenac. Our study revealed that EOs from Algerian Myrtus communis L. can be considered to be a promising candidate for alleviating many debilitating health problems and may provide new insights in the fields of drug design, agriculture, and the food industry.

Mediterranean Plants as Potential Source of Biopesticides: An Overview of Current Research and Future Trends

The development and implementation of safe natural alternatives to synthetic pesticides are urgent needs that will provide ecological solutions for the control of plant diseases, bacteria, viruses, nematodes, pests, and weeds to ensure the economic stability of farmers and food security, as well as protection of the environment and human health. Unambiguously, production of botanical pesticides will allow for the sustainable and efficient use of natural resources and finally decrease the use of chemical inputs and burden. This is further underlined by the strict regulations on pesticide residues in agricultural products and is in harmony with the Farm to Fork strategy, which aims to reduce pesticide use by 50% by 2030. Thus, the present work aims to compile the scientific knowledge of the last 5 years (2017-February 2023) regarding the Mediterranean plants that present biopesticidal effects. The literature review revealed 40 families of Mediterranean plants with at least one species that have been investigated as potential biopesticides. However, only six families had the highest number of species, and they were reviewed comprehensively in this study. Following a systematic approach, the extraction methods, chemical composition, biopesticidal activity, and commonly used assays for evaluating the antimicrobial, pesticidal, repellant, and herbicidal activity of plant extracts, as well as the toxicological and safety aspects of biopesticide formulation, are discussed in detail. Finally, the aspects that have not yet been investigated or are under-investigated and future perspectives are highlighted.