Anethum graveolens: An Indian traditional medicinal herb and spice

Antidiarrheal, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of Anethum graveolens L. fruit extract on castor oil-induced diarrhea in rats

BACKGROUND

Between food and medicine, nutraceuticals are widely used in human health for the prevention and treatment of various diseases. This study aims to determine the cytoprotective effects of Anethum gravelons fruit extract (AGFAE) on castor oil-induced diarrhea in rats due to its phytochemical and antioxidant properties.

METHODS

Male rats were divided into six groups of six animals each: Control (C), Castor oil (CO), CO + different doses of AGFAE (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg, b.w., p.o.), and the CO + loperamide group (LOP, 10 mg/kg, b.w., p.o.).

KEY RESULTS

In vitro, the chemical composition of aqueous Dill fruit extract showed strong antioxidant activity, with a high content of total polyphenols, flavonoids, and tannins. In our in vivo studies, pre-treatment with AGFAE reduced malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide levels and maintained normal activity of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants in the gastric and intestinal mucosa. In addition, we found that AGFAE prophylaxis improved the stability of many plasma biochemical parameters altered by castor oil intoxication, such as C-reactive protein concentrations and alkaline phosphatase activities.

CONCLUSIONS & INFERENCES

We suggest that AGFAE phenolic compounds had significant protection against diarrhea involving several mechanisms such as reducing hypersecretion, peristaltic, inflammation, and preserving the endogenous antioxidant levels.

Evaluation of Comparative Efficacy of Levothyroxine Versus Kshar Basti and Kanchanar Guggul in the Treatment of Hypothyroidism: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND

The thyroid gland is an endocrine gland that has an impact on the body's general metabolism. Thus, the secretions of the thyroid gland can modify the overall metabolism of the entire body. The prevalence of hypothyroidism is increasing quickly, with rates of 2%-5% in affluent countries and 11% in India. Individuals diagnosed with hypothyroidism need to take medication for the rest of their lives, resulting in significant stress. Therefore, conducting a study in this area is imperative.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to assess the effectiveness of the therapeutic enema (Kshar Basti) and oral Kanchanar Guggul in the treatment of hypothyroidism.

METHODS

The trial group (n=45) will receive a therapeutic enema (Kshar Basti) followed by oral Ayurvedic drugs for 180 days. The control group (n=45) will be given levothyroxine tablets at a dosage of 1.6 µg/kg/day for the same duration. The objective is to examine the alterations in thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels before and after the treatment.

RESULTS

Any deviation of the serum TSH by more than 20% from the initial values, while keeping triiodothyronine (T3), and thyroxine (T4) levels within the normal range, will be deemed statistically significant. Consequently, we anticipate a statistically significant variation in serum TSH levels between the therapeutic enema and Kanchanar Guggul treatments. Presently, the drug preparation operations are in progress. We expect to start enrolling patients in June 2024, do data analysis in December 2025, and acquire results by early 2026, marking the end of this trial.

CONCLUSIONS

This study will evaluate the efficacy of the therapeutic enema, specifically Kshar Basti, in treating hypothyroidism. Furthermore, more research can determine the efficacy of a therapeutic enema (Kshar Basti) in treating overt hypothyroidism and hypothyroidism during pregnancy.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Clinical Trials Registry India CTRI/2023/05/052389; https://ctri.nic.in/Clinicaltrials/pmaindet2.php?EncHid=Nzk1NjY=&Enc=&userName=052389.

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID)

PRR1-10.2196/57287.

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.

Neuroprotection by Anethum graveolens (Dill) Seeds and Its Phytocompounds in SH-SY5Y Neuroblastoma Cell Lines and Acellular Assays

Neurodegeneration diseases (NDs) are a group of complex diseases primarily characterized by progressive loss of neurons affecting mental function and movement. Oxidative stress is one of the factors contributing to the pathogenesis of NDs, including Alzheimer's disease (AD). These reactive species disturb mitochondrial function and accelerate other undesirable conditions including tau phosphorylation, inflammation, and cell death. Therefore, preventing oxidative stress is one of the imperative methods in the treatment of NDs. To accomplish this, we prepared hexane and ethyl acetate extracts of Anethum graveolens (dill) and identified the major phyto-components (apiol, carvone, and dihydrocarvone) by GC-MS. The extracts and major bioactives were assessed for neuroprotective potential and mechanism in hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative stress in the SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cell model and other biochemical assays. The dill (extracts and bioactives) provided statistically significant neuroprotection from 0.1 to 30 µg/mL by mitigating ROS levels, restoring mitochondrial membrane potential, reducing lipid peroxidation, and reviving the glutathione ratio. They moderately inhibited acetylcholine esterase (IC50 dill extracts 400-500 µg/mL; carvone 275.7 µg/mL; apiole 388.3 µg/mL), displayed mild anti-Aβ1-42 fibrilization (DHC 26.6%) and good anti-oligomerization activity (>40% by dill-EA, carvone, and apiole). Such multifactorial neuroprotective displayed by dill and bioactives would help develop a safe, low-cost, and small-molecule drug for NDs.

Mechanistic evaluation of myristicin on apoptosis and cell cycle regulation in breast cancer cells

The current study was focused on the anticancer activity of myristicin against MCF-7 human breast cancer (BC) cells. BC is the most common and leading malignant disease in women worldwide. Now-a-days, various conventional therapies are used against BC and still represent a chief challenge because those treatments fail to differentiate normal cells from malignant cells, and they have severe side effects also. So, there is a need develop new therapies to decrease BC-related morbidity and mortality. Myristicin, a 1‑allyl‑5‑methoxy‑3, 4‑methylenedioxybenzene, is a main active aromatic compound present in various spices, such as nutmeg, mace, carrot, cinnamon, parsely and some essential oils. Myristicin has a wide range of effects, including antitumor, antioxidative and antimicrobial activity. Nevertheless, the effects of myristicin on human BC cells remain largely unrevealed. The cytotoxicity effect of myristicin on MCF‑7 cells was increased dose dependently detected by (4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide and Lactate Dehydrogenase assays. Myristicin was found to be significantly inducing the cell apoptosis, as compared to control, using acridine orange/ethidium bromide, Hoechst stain and annexin V. Moreover, it activates cell antimigration, intracellular reactive oxygen species generation and cell cycle arrest in the G1/S phase. In addition, myristicin induces the expression of apoptosis and cell cycle genes (Caspases8, Bax, Bid, Bcl2, PARP, p53, and Cdk1) was demonstrated by quantitative polymerase chain reaction and apoptosis proteins (c-PARP, Caspase 9, Cytochrome C, PDI) expression was also analyzed with western blot. Overall, we illustrated that myristicin could regulate apoptosis signaling pathways in MCF-7 BC cells.

In vitro combination effects of plant-derived quercetin with synthetic bicalutamide on prostate cancer and normal cell lines: in silico comparison

Prostate cancer is the second most frequent and the fifth greatest cause of death in men. Although diet has been connected to the prevalence of cancer in addition to other factors, the relation between cancer and prevention is weak. Treatment options are at risk due to cell resistance. To identify new combinations, we tried plant-derived quercetin with bicalutamide on cell lines. To determine the cytotoxicity and apoptotic potential of plant-derived quercetin and its combination, MTT [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide] and dual stain assays were performed. In silico protein-ligand interaction was performed to support the in vitro findings. A thin layer, column, and high-performance chromatography were used to purify quercetin along with an authentic sample. In the cytotoxic study, quercetin was minimized by 80% similar to bicalutamide and a combination of quercetin and bicalutamide by 50% when compared to controls by 2%. Quercetin and bicalutamide showed a similar binding affinity for androgen receptors (9.7 and 9.8), hub genes (10.8 and 10.0), and a few other PCa-related genes (9.4 and 9.1). We propose to conclude that the combination of quercetin plus bicalutamide can be used for chemotherapy if additional in vivo studies are conducted. The intake of foods high in polyphenolic compounds can help to prevent prostate cancer. Examination of quercetin on several cell lines will provide a definite conclusion to combat cancers.

Phytotherapy of Vulvovaginal Candidiasis: A Narrative Review

Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is a real gynecological problem among women of reproductive age from 15 to 49. A recent analysis showed that 75% of women will have an occurrence at least once per year, while 5% are observed to have recurrent vaginal mycosis-these patients may become unwell four or more times a year. This pathology is caused in 85-90% of cases by fungi of the Candida albicans species. It represents an intractable medical problem for female patients due to pain and pruritus. Due to the observation of an increasing number of strains resistant to standard preparations and an increase in the recurrence of this pathology when using local or oral preferential therapy, such as fluconazole, an analysis was launched to develop alternative methods of treating VVC using herbs such as dill, turmeric, and berberine. An in-depth analysis of databases that include scientific articles from recent years made it possible to draw satisfactory conclusions supporting the validity of herbal therapy for the pathology in question. Although phytotherapy has not yet been approved by the Food and Drug Administration, it appears to be a promising therapeutic solution for strains that are resistant to existing treatments. There is research currently undergoing aimed at comparing classical pharmacotherapy and herbal therapy in the treatment of vaginal candidiasis for the purpose of increasing medical competence and knowledge for the care of the health and long-term comfort of gynecological patients.

Crithmum maritimum L.-Study on the Histochemical Localization of Essential Oil

Crithmum maritimum L. is a perennial halophyte plant that is a medicinal herb known by people from different cultures since ancient times. However, the therapeutic potential of this halophyte has not been completely investigated, and the scientific data on it are limited. The purpose of the present study was to estimate the chemical composition of the essential oil (EO) obtained from the aerial parts of Crithmum maritimum L. growing wild in Bulgaria, as well as the histolocalization of secretory structures for the synthesis and accumulation of volatile oils. The results obtained on the EO composition of Bulgarian Crithmum maritimum L. provide an opportunity to reveal potential future applications in various fields, such as medicine, pharmacy, agriculture, food, and the cosmetic industry. Gas chromatography with mass spectrometry was performed to assess the chemical profile of the isolated EO. The phenylpropanoid dillapiole was identified as the major compound in the EO, accounting for 34.09% of the total EO. Monoterpene hydrocarbons represented 62.07% of the total oil composition. γ-Terpinene, D-limonene, and β-pinene were the most abundant monoterpene hydrocarbons in the composition of the EO. In addition, histochemical localization of EO in the stem and leaves of Crithmum maritimum L. was carried out. The secretory structures were located in the cortical region of the stem and in the mesophyll tissues of the leaves in the form of secretory ducts. The performed histochemical analysis confirmed the lipophilic nature of the secretion from the duct cells. This is the first report related to the histolocalization and chemical composition of the EO from Bulgarian Crithmum maritimum L. Furthermore, our data indicate some potential possibilities for the evaluation of the therapeutic activity of the EO obtained from this plant species and outline its future applications as a therapeutic agent. Also, the EO from the studied halophyte plant has prominent potential to be used as a biopesticide, which is an environmentally friendly option compared to standard pesticides.

Screening of the Leaf Extracts of Culinary Herbs (Apium graveolens, Petroselinum crispum, Cichorium endivia, and Anethum graveolens) for Their Antibacterial Activity Against Escherichia coli

INTRODUCTION

In the current era, infectious diseases pose a significant global challenge, primarily attributed to the widespread and prolonged use of antibiotics, which develop antimicrobial resistance. A significant proportion of pharmaceutical agents utilized globally can be traced back to plant origins, constituting approximately 25%. Medicinal applications harness a wide spectrum of plant-derived components, including flowers, leaves, stems, fruits, roots, waxes, oils, bioactive compounds, phytochemicals, and various other constituents.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Our experiment evaluated the antibacterial activity of four different culinary plant leaf extracts. These extracts were prepared using four different solvents and were investigated against the gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli DH5α using agar well diffusion and agar disc diffusion methods by measuring the zone of inhibition.

RESULTS

The aqueous extract of all leaves did not show any antibacterial activity, likely due to poor diffusion due to the formation of a precipitate. Conversely, Cichorium endivia has shown the highest antibacterial activity in isopropanol as compared to other herbs. Among the herbs examined, organic extracts from endives and soybeans have demonstrated notably strong antibacterial activity compared to the other herbs.

CONCLUSION

Conducting a systematic screening of leaf extracts from various culinary herbs to assess their antibacterial effectiveness against E. coli has produced encouraging and noteworthy results. In the investigation of various herbs, organic extracts derived from endives and soybeans have exhibited particularly robust antibacterial efficacy when compared to other herbal extracts.

The effect of saffron and corrective exercises on depression and quality of life in women with multiple sclerosis: A randomized controlled clinical trial

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the central nervous system which causes various complications such as reduced ability to do daily activities, depression and early death of patients. The present study aimed to compare the effect of saffron and corrective exercises on depression and quality of life in women with MS. This randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted on 80 MS women for 12 weeks. Participants were selected through convenience sampling and allocated into four study groups (three intervention groups and one control group) using the stratified block randomization. The Expanded Disability Status Scale, Beck Depression Inventory and The Multiple Sclerosis Impact Scale were used to collect data at the start of the study and also at the end of the sixth and the twelfth weeks. At the end of the twelfth week, the depression mean scores in all experimental groups (saffron group, corrective exercises group, corrective exercises + saffron group) were significantly different compared to the control group (P < 0.05), and this difference in corrective exercises + saffron group was more than the others. Also, at the end of the twelfth week, the mean scores of the quality of life (both physical and mental dimensions) in all experimental groups were significantly different from the control group (P < 0.05). The saffron group in physical dimension and the corrective exercises + saffron group in psychological dimension showed a significant difference with other groups. Although each of the corrective exercises program and saffron consumption alone were effective in reducing depression and enhancing the quality of life in MS patients, the consequences will be more beneficial in case these two interventions are used together. Therefore, it is necessary to encourage MS patients to consume saffron supplement along with doing physical activities in caring and rehabilitation programs.

The Accumulation of Volatile Compounds and the Change in the Morphology of the Leaf Wax Cover Accompanied the "Anti-Aging" Effect in Anethum graveolens L. Plants Sprayed with 6-Benzylaminopurine

Essential oils (EOs) are of commercial importance for medicine, food, cosmetics, the perfume industry, and agriculture. In plants, EOs, like the wax cover, serve as protection against abiotic stresses, such as high temperatures and water deficiency. The use of spraying with exogenous hormones of aromatic plants affects the accumulation and composition of volatile compounds, as well as tolerance to abiotic stress. As a result of cytokinin treatment with 6-BAP (6-benzylaminopurine) (200 mg L-l) of Anetum graveolens L. "Uzory" and "Rusich" varieties, several responses to its action were revealed: a change in the division of leaf blades, inhibition of flowering, an increase in the content of EO and its main components α-phellandrene and p-cymene in leaves, and limonene in umbels and fruits. It was revealed that the increased accumulation of EO in dill leaves was longer with sufficient moisture. In contrast, under conditions of heat and water deficiency, the effect of 6-BAP treatment on accumulations of the EO in leaves was short-lived and did not appear on umbels and fruits. The study of the cytokinin effect on a fine structure of a wax cover on the adaxial side of leaves by scanning electron microscopy revealed a change in its elements (from amorphous layers with scales to thin tubules), which probably increased the sensitivity of leaves to water deficiency and, consequently, led to a decrease in the biosynthetic activity of leaf tissue. Thus, 6-BAP had an impact on the adaptive properties of dill plants, prolonging the "youth" of vegetative organs and the ability to EO biosynthesis under conditions of sufficient moisture.

Spices as Sustainable Food Preservatives: A Comprehensive Review of Their Antimicrobial Potential

Throughout history, spices have been employed for their pharmaceutical attributes and as a culinary enhancement. The food industry widely employs artificial preservatives to retard the deterioration induced by microbial proliferation, enzymatic processes, and oxidative reactions. Nevertheless, the utilization of these synthetic preservatives in food products has given rise to significant apprehension among consumers, primarily stemming from the potential health risks that they pose. These risks encompass a spectrum of adverse effects, including but not limited to gastrointestinal disorders, the disruption of gut microbiota, allergic reactions, respiratory complications, and concerns regarding their carcinogenic properties. Consequently, consumers are displaying an increasing reluctance to purchase preserved food items that contain such additives. Spices, known for their antimicrobial value, are investigated for their potential as food preservatives. The review assesses 25 spice types for their inherent antimicrobial properties and their applicability in inhibiting various foodborne microorganisms and suggests further future investigations regarding their use as possible natural food preservatives that could offer safer, more sustainable methods for extending shelf life. Future research should delve deeper into the use of natural antimicrobials, such as spices, to not only replace synthetic preservatives but also optimize their application in food safety and shelf-life extension. Moreover, there is a need for continuous innovation in encapsulation technologies for antimicrobial agents. Developing cost-effective and efficient methods, along with scaling up production processes, will be crucial to competing with traditional antimicrobial options in terms of both efficacy and affordability.

Anti-Osteoporotic Potential of Water Extract of Anethum graveolens L. Seeds

Anethum graveolens L., known as European dill, is a versatile herb widely used in both traditional medicine and culinary practices. Despite its long-standing history, the potential impact of the water extract of A. graveolens seeds (WEAG) on bone health remains unexplored. In this study, we investigated the influence of WEAG on osteoclast differentiation and assessed its potential as an anti-osteoporotic agent. WEAG hindered osteoclast differentiation through the suppression of receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL) expression in osteoclast-supporting cells and by directly targeting osteoclast precursor cells. WEAG significantly reduced the expression of key osteoclastogenic transcription factors, namely c-Fos and NFATc1, typically induced by RANKL in osteoclast precursors. This reduction was attributed to the suppression of both MAPKs and NF-κB pathways in response to RANKL. In vivo experiments further revealed that WEAG administration effectively reduces trabecular bone loss and weight gain triggered by ovariectomy, mimicking postmenopausal osteoporosis. Furthermore, our comprehensive phytochemical analysis of WEAG identified a range of phytochemical constituents, associated with bone health and weight regulation. Notably, we discovered a specific compound, isorhamnetin-3-O-glucuronide, within WEAG that exhibits anti-osteoclastogenic potential. Overall, this research elucidated the beneficial effects and mechanistic basis of WEAG on osteoclast differentiation and bone loss, indicating its potential as a viable alternative to address bone loss in conditions like postmenopause.

Induction role of chitosan nanoparticles to Anethum graveolens extract against food-borne bacteria, oxidant, and diabetic activities in vitro

Foodborne diseases as well as Foodborne pathogens are a global issue with significant effects on human health and economy. Therefore, several investigators have tried to find new alternative approaches to prevent and control this problem. In this context, the present study aimed to find some possible and effective approaches for controlling food-borne bacteria via Dill (Anethum graveolens L.) extract (DE) loaded with chitosan nanoparticles (ChNPs) besides its anti-oxidant and anti-diabetic activities. Flavonoid and phenolic contents of DE were detected by HPLC, indicating the presence of 18 constituents, high content (22526.51 μg/mL) of chlorogenic acid, followed by 2236.21 μg/mL of coumaric acid and 2113.81 μg/mL of pyrocatechol. In contrast, low contents of cinnamic acid, methyl gallate, apigenin, daidzein, quercetin, syringic acid, and kaempferol were detected. B. cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, E. coli, S. typhi, E. faecalis, and C. albicans were highly inhibited by DE loaded ChNPs (DELChNPs) with inhibition zones (IZs) of 28.50 ± 0.87, 30.33 ± 0.58, 29.33 ± 0.58, 23.17 ± 0.76, 25.76 ± 0.58, and 24.17 ± 0.29 mm with MIC 15.41 ± 0.36, 7.70 ± 0.17, 15.58 ± 0.07, 31.08 ± 0.07, 31.04 ± 0.07 and 62.33 ± 0.29 μg/mL compared with inhibitory activity caused by DE, where the IZs were 25.83 ± 1.44, 29.67 ± 0.85, 24.83 ± 0.76, 20.33 ± 1.53, 21.17 ± 0.29, and 19.67 ± 1.15 mm with MIC 62.33 ± 0.29, 31.08 ± 0.07, 62.50 ± 0.29, 31.08 ± 0.07, 31.04 ± 0.07, and 249.0 ± 1.73 μg/mL, respectively. Also, the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of DELChNPs was less than DE against all tested microorganisms. The MBC/MIC index documented that DELChNPs were more effective than DE. The biofilm of tested bacteria was inhibited by DE and DELChNPs but with different levels of anti-biofilm activity. For example, the anti-biofilm activity was 79.26 and 86.15% against B. cereus using DE and DELChNPs, respectively. DELChNPs and DE, compared with the ascorbic acid, exhibited DPPH scavenging % with IC⁵⁰ values of 7.8 μg/mL, 13.96 μg/mL, and 4.83 μg/mL, respectively. Anti-diabetic activity in vitro via inhibition of amylase indicated that IC⁵⁰ was 164.2 μg/mL and 164.3 μg/mL using DE and DELChNPs, respectively. This investigation highlights the vital DE phytoconstituents, particularly DELChNPs which possess important therapeutic effects against food-borne microorganisms and could be utilized as a safe alternative to synthetic drugs.

Insights on antioxidant therapeutic strategies in type 2 diabetes mellitus: A narrative review of randomized control trials

BACKGROUND

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a metabolic disease of impaired glucose utilization. Imbalance in generation and elimination of free radicals generate oxidative stress which modulates glucose metabolism and insulin regulation, resulting in the occurrence and progression of diabetes and associated complications. Antioxidant supplements in T2DM can be seen as a potential preventive and effective therapeutic strategy.

AIM

To compare randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in which antioxidants have been shown to have a therapeutic effect in T2DM patients.

METHODS

We systematically searched the electronic database PubMed by keywords. RCTs evaluating the effect of antioxidant therapy on glycaemic control as well as oxidant and antioxidant status as primary outcomes were included. The outcomes considered were: A reduction in blood glucose; changes in oxidative stress and antioxidant markers. Full-length papers of the shortlisted articles were assessed for the eligibility criteria and 17 RCTs were included.

RESULTS

The administration of fixed-dose antioxidants significantly reduces fasting blood sugar and glycated hemoglobin and is associated with decreased malondialdehyde, advanced oxidation protein products, and increased total antioxidant capacity.

CONCLUSION

Antioxidant supplements can be a beneficial approach for the treatment of T2DM.

Harnessing the efficacy of multifunctional rhizobacterial consortia for promoting the growth of Anethum graveolens L

Co-cultures of bacteria are more metabolically flexible and more tolerant to changes in the environment than single cultures. In order to test for plant growth promotion in a medicinal herb Anethum graveolens L, potent phosphate-solubilizing rhizobacteria were selected, characterized and assessed for their compatibility with each other. Molecular identification of isolates was made by 16s rRNA sequence, and they were identified as Pseudomonas aeruginosaNJC4 (OP289324), Serratia marcescens NJC21 (OP289323) and Bacillus spp. Dual species consortia, namely, Bacillus spp. + Serratia marcescens NJC21 (T1), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa NJC4 + Serratia marcescens NJC21 (T2), were tested for their ability to produce multiple plant beneficial activities such as phosphate solubilization, and ammonia and indole acetic acid production. The best isolate and consortium were evaluated for plant growth promotion activity. A plant treated with consortia T-2 seemed most effective in seed emergence at 84.66%, which was four times superior to the control. Growth and yield characters, along with all different rhizobacterial treatments, were examined by principal component analysis (PCA), where PC1 can explain 51.37% of the total variance and PC2 can explain 26.75%. PC1 was associated with wet biomass, chlorophyll b, and total chlorophyll content, which reflect the strong influence of consortia T-1. At the same time, PC2 was found to be related to dry biomass and chlorophyll a content. This study lends credence to the theory that microbial consortiums consisting of more than one efficient strains may be more effective than single cultures in boosting the increase of agricultural output in a sustainable way.

Critical Review on Nutritional, Bioactive, and Medicinal Potential of Spices and Herbs and Their Application in Food Fortification and Nanotechnology

Medicinal or herbal spices are grown in tropical moist evergreen forestland, surrounding most of the tropical and subtropical regions of Eastern Himalayas in India (Sikkim, Darjeeling regions), Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan, a few Central Asian countries, Middle East, USA, Europe, South East Asia, Japan, Malaysia, and Indonesia. According to the cultivation region surrounded, economic value, and vogue, these spices can be classified into major, minor, and colored tropical spices. In total, 24 tropical spices and herbs (cardamom, black jeera, fennel, poppy, coriander, fenugreek, bay leaves, clove, chili, cassia bark, black pepper, nutmeg, black mustard, turmeric, saffron, star anise, onion, dill, asafoetida, celery, allspice, kokum, greater galangal, and sweet flag) are described in this review. These spices show many pharmacological activities like anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anti-diabetic, anti-obesity, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, central nervous system, and antioxidant activities. Numerous bioactive compounds are present in these selected spices, such as 1,8-cineole, monoterpene hydrocarbons, γ-terpinene, cuminaldehyde, trans-anethole, fenchone, estragole, benzylisoquinoline alkaloids, eugenol, cinnamaldehyde, piperine, linalool, malabaricone C, safrole, myristicin, elemicin, sinigrin, curcumin, bidemethoxycurcumin, dimethoxycurcumin, crocin, picrocrocin, quercetin, quercetin 4'-O-β-glucoside, apiol, carvone, limonene, α-phellandrene, galactomannan, rosmarinic acid, limonene, capsaicinoids, eugenol, garcinol, and α-asarone. Other than that, various spices are used to synthesize different types of metal-based and polymer-based nanoparticles like zinc oxide, gold, silver, selenium, silica, and chitosan nanoparticles which provide beneficial health effects such as antioxidant, anti-carcinogenic, anti-diabetic, enzyme retardation effect, and antimicrobial activity. The nanoparticles can also be used in environmental pollution management like dye decolorization and in chemical industries to enhance the rate of reaction by the use of catalytic activity of the nanoparticles. The nutritional value, phytochemical properties, health advantages, and both traditional and modern applications of these spices, along with their functions in food fortification, have been thoroughly discussed in this review.

Ultrasonic-Assisted Extraction of Phenolic Compounds, Flavonoids, and Antioxidants from Dill (Anethum graveolens L.)

This study evaluated the effect of ultrasonic-assisted extraction (UAE) on the isolation of phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and antioxidants from dill. UAE improved the extraction yields of total phenolic compounds and total flavonoid content as well as increased the antioxidant activities of all dill extracts. The optimum UAE condition to obtain highest total phenolic compounds, total flavonoid content, and antioxidant activities was 50% ethanol for 30 min giving 135.88 ± 3.23 mg gallic acid equivalent/g extract and 229.53 ± 4.97 mg rutin equivalent/g extract, respectively. Lowest IC₅₀ values against 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals were 0.034 ± 0.00 mg/mL and 0.12 ± 0.00 mg/mL, respectively. Results indicated the capability of UAE in extracting biologically active compounds from dill as a prospective functional material.

Anti-Toxoplasma Activities of Some Egyptian Plant Extracts: An In Vitro Study

Purpose

Toxoplasmosis is a globally widespread parasitic disease which causes major health problems in human and animals. This research was conducted to assess the effect of some Egyptian herbal extracts against Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) tachyzoites in vitro.

Methods

The methanol extracts of Withania somnifera, Cyper rotundus, Acacia nilotica,Chrysanthemum cinerariae folium, Anethum graveolens, Raphanus sativus, Ceratonia siliqua, Elettaria cardamomum and Cuminum cyminum were tested against T. gondii tachyzoites.

Results

Among the tested plants, the extracts from Raphanus sativus, Cuminum cyminum, and Ceratonia siliqua exhibited high anti-Toxoplasma activities at 50 µg/ml, relative to sulfadiazine. They showed low IC50 values on T. gondii (7.92, 9.47 and 13.52 µg/ml, respectively) and high selectivity index values (100.79, 59.19, and 29.05, respectively). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) findings indicated evident morphological changes in tachyzoites treated with these three herbal extracts.

Conclusion

Raphanus sativus, Ceratonia siliqua, and Cuminum cyminum methanol extracts could be promising sources of new medicament for toxoplasmosis.

Inhibitory Effect and Mechanism of Dill Seed Essential Oil on Neofusicoccum parvum in Chinese Chestnut

The chestnut postharvest pathogen Neofusicoccum parvum (N. parvum) is an important postharvest pathogen that causes chestnut rot. Chestnut rot in postharvest reduces food quality and causes huge economic losses. This study aimed to evaluate the inhibitory effect of dill seed essential oil (DSEO) on N. parvum and its mechanism of action. The chemical characterization of DSEO by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) showed that the main components of DSEO were apiole, carvone, dihydrocarvone, and limonene. DSEO inhibited the growth of mycelium in a dose-dependent manner. The antifungal effects are associated with destroying the fungal cell wall (cytoskeleton) and cell membrane. In addition, DSEO can induce oxidative damage and intracellular redox imbalance to damage cell function. Transcriptomics analysis showed DSEO treatment induced differently expressed genes most related to replication, transcription, translation, and lipid, DNA metabolic process. Furthermore, in vivo experiments showed that DSEO and DSEO emulsion can inhibit the growth of fungi and prolong the storage period of chestnuts. These results suggest that DSEO can be used as a potential antifungal preservative in food storage.

Herbal Arsenal against Skin Ailments: A Review Supported by In Silico Molecular Docking Studies

Maintaining healthy skin is important for a healthy body. At present, skin diseases are numerous, representing a major health problem affecting all ages from neonates to the elderly worldwide. Many people may develop diseases that affect the skin, including cancer, herpes, and cellulitis. Long-term conventional treatment creates complicated disorders in vital organs of the body. It also imposes socioeconomic burdens on patients. Natural treatment is cheap and claimed to be safe. The use of plants is as old as mankind. Many medicinal plants and their parts are frequently used to treat these diseases, and they are also suitable raw materials for the production of new synthetic agents. A review of some plant families, viz., Fabaceae, Asteraceae, Lamiaceae, etc., used in the treatment of skin diseases is provided with their most common compounds and in silico studies that summarize the recent data that have been collected in this area.

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.

Application of growth promoting hormones alters the composition and antioxidant potential of dill essential oil under salt stress

The performance of dill plant may be affected by adverse environments such as salinity. Thus, this research was designed to evaluate changes in chemical composition and antioxidant activity of seed essential oil of dill (Anethum graveolens L.) in response to salinity (0, 5, 10 and 15 dS/m) and 1 mM of each hormonal treatments (gibberellic acid, salicylic acid, and cytokinin). Salicylic acid (SA) reduced Na⁺ content of roots and leaves by 15.4%, 30.9% and 12.4%, 24.3%, but enhanced K⁺ content by 29.8%, 51.6% and 76.6%, 73.4% under moderate and severe salinities, respectively. Essential oil yield was enhanced with progressing seed filling, despite decreasing essential oil percentage. Percentage of essential oil was increased under low and moderate salinities. Hormonal treatments, particularly SA enhanced seed mass and essential oil percentage, leading to enhanced essential oil yield. The amounts of most constituents were enhanced under moderate salinity. Foliar spray of SA and CK (cytokinin) increased almost all essential oil components, except dill ether and dill apiole, while the GA₃ (gibberellic acid) treatment reduced most of the constituents. The α-fenchol was only induced by salt stress. The β-pinene, 1-terpineol, cryptone, oxypeucedanin hydrate, α-thujene and P-α-dimethylstyrene were also specifically synthesized in SA treated plants under salinity. The highest TPC (total phenolic content) and antioxidant activity were recorded for essential oil of SA treated plants at mass maturity under moderate salinity. In general, the SA spray was the most effective treatment for improving essential oil quantity and quality of dill plants.

Managed pollination is a much better way of increasing productivity and essential oil content of dill seeds crop

Dill seeds (Anethumgraveolens L.) is the most valuable medicinal seed spice crop of Apiaceae. It bears small yellow flowers in the form of umbels. Being a cross-pollinated crop, floral visitors play vital role in pollination and seed sets. Hence, the present study was conducted at the ICAR-National Research Centre on Seed Spices, Ajmer (Rajasthan), India to discover the pollinator’s community, foraging behaviour and abundance of most frequent pollinators and different modes of pollination on seed yield and quality of this seed spice crop. The insect visitors community of dill seeds was composed of 28 insect species belonging to 14 families of 6 orders. Most of floral visitors started their foraging activity at 8.00 h, reached peak activity between 12.00 and 14.00 h and their activity ceased at 18.00 h. Apisflorea,A.dorsata,A.mellifera, solitary bee, Halictus sp. and two unidentified species of Hymenoptera; Episyrphusbalteatus (DeGeer), Episyrphus sp., Eristalis sp and two other Musca species of Diptera were identified as potential and regular floral visitors of dill seeds. The highest seed yield of 1505.63 kg/ha was recorded in the treated plots provided with only 10% jaggery solution and was at par with the open pollination. A lower seed yield of 1432.5 kg/ha was recorded in plots pollinated only with A.mellifera inside insect cages. Open pollination with 10% jaggery solution spray increased the seed yield of dill seed crop by 57%, one-thousand seed test weight by 96% and the essential oil content by 27% over control plots. These results show that managed pollination is a much better way to enhance yields and quality of dill seed crop than other treatments including only honeybee-based pollination.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and production of secondary metabolites in medicinal plants

Medicinal plants are an important source of therapeutic compounds used in the treatment of many diseases since ancient times. Interestingly, they form associations with numerous microorganisms developing as endophytes or symbionts in different parts of the plants. Within the soil, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are the most prevalent symbiotic microorganisms forming associations with more than 70% of vascular plants. In the last decade, a number of studies have reported the positive effects of AMF on improving the production and accumulation of important active compounds in medicinal plants.In this work, we reviewed the literature on the effects of AMF on the production of secondary metabolites in medicinal plants. The major findings are as follows: AMF impact the production of secondary metabolites either directly by increasing plant biomass or indirectly by stimulating secondary metabolite biosynthetic pathways. The magnitude of the impact differs depending on the plant genotype, the AMF strain, and the environmental context (e.g., light, time of harvesting). Different methods of cultivation are used for the production of secondary metabolites by medicinal plants (e.g., greenhouse, aeroponics, hydroponics, in vitro and hairy root cultures) which also are compatible with AMF. In conclusion, the inoculation of medicinal plants with AMF is a real avenue for increasing the quantity and quality of secondary metabolites of pharmacological, medical, and cosmetic interest.

Comparative Study of Natural Antioxidants from Glycine max, Anethum graveolensand Pimpinella anisum Seed and Sprout Extracts Obtained by Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction

The study aimed to evaluate the antioxidant potential of sprout and seed extracts from three species of plants, namely Glycine max (GMsp-sprouts, GMsd-seeds), Anethum graveolens (AGsp-sprouts, AGsd-seeds) and Pimpinella anisum (PAsp-sprouts, PAsd-seeds), which are widely accepted by consumers and have various applications in food flavoring, and also in natural medical treatments in the pharmaceutical industries. These plants are rich in valuable compounds that show a remarkable antioxidant power and are associated with many health benefits. Ethanol extracts were obtained by ultrasound-assisted extraction and they were comparatively evaluated for their in vitro antioxidant properties. The extracts were characterized by HPTLC, HPLC-DAD, total phenol content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC) analysis and antioxidant activities with different assays, such as total antioxidant capacity (TAC), 2,2′-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radical cation decolorization assay (ABTS), 1,1-diphenyl 1-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) and iron binding ability of chelators. Our results showed that the sprout and seed extracts of the studied plants exhibited a high content of phytochemicals and promising antioxidant properties. The highest polyphenols content was detected for AGsd (53.02 ± 0.57 mg/g DW), PAsd (48.75 ± 0.34 mg/g DW) and the highest flavonoids content for PAsp (26.84 ± 0.57 mg/g DW). Moreover, the presence of valuable compounds was demonstrated by using HPTLC, FT-IR and HPLC-DAD techniques. In order to have a better understanding of the relationship between the biological properties and the electronic structure, a molecular modelling study of genistein was also conducted. Our approach to the comparative assessment of these three plant species was based on a priori knowledge from literature data; however, this study demonstrated that these plant extracts of seeds and also sprouts are excellent sources of natural antioxidants. Significant additional differences that were found in the phytochemical composition could be exploited in future research for pharmaceutical purposes.

Spicy and Aromatic Plants for Meat and Meat Analogues Applications

Aromatic and spicy plants are an important factor that contributes not only to improving the taste of meat, meat products, and meat analogues, but also to increasing the nutritional value of the products to which they are added. The aim of this paper is to present the latest information on the bioactive antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of the most commonly used herbs and spices (parsley, dill, basil, oregano, sage, coriander, rosemary, marjoram, tarragon, bay, thyme, and mint) used in the meat and meat analogues industry, or proposed to be used for meat analogues.

Protective effects of functional foods against Parkinson's disease: A narrative review on pharmacology, phytochemistry, and molecular mechanisms

In Persian Medicine (PM), PD (brain-based tremor) is a known CNS disorder with several therapeutic and preventive options. In their medical textbooks and pharmacopeias, Persian great scientists such as Rhazes (854-925 AD), Avicenna (980-1037 AD), and Jorjani (1042-1136 AD), have discussed pharmacological and nutritional strategies for the prevention, slowing progression, and treatment of PD. In the present study, we surveyed plant- and animal-based foods recommended by PM for the prevention and treatment of CNS-related tremors. In vivo and in-vitro pharmacological evidence supporting the beneficial effects of PM-recommended foods in prevention and alleviating PD, major active phytochemicals along with the relevant mechanisms of action were studied. Several PM plants possess potent antioxidant, antiinflammatory, and PD preventing properties. Garlic and allicin, cabbage and isothiocyanates, chickpea seed and its O-methylated isoflavones biochanin A and formononetin, cinnamon, and cinnamaldehyde, saffron and its crocin, crocetin, and safranal, black cumin and its thymoquinone, black pepper and piperine, pistachio and genistein and daidzein, and resveratrol are among the most effective dietary itemsagainst PD. They act through attenuating neurotoxin-induced memory loss and behavioral impairment, oxidative stress, and dopaminergic cell death. PM-recommended foods can help alleviate PD progression and also discovering and developing new neuroprotective anti-PD pharmaceuticals.

Headspace solid-phase microextraction method for extracting volatile constituents from the different parts of Saudi Anethum graveolens L. and their antimicrobial activity

Anethum graveolens L. is a famous aromatic herb that is widely used as a spice and has been applied in folk medicine to cure many diseases. The current work was carried out to compare the chemical composition and antimicrobial potency of essential oils obtained from the different parts of Saudi Arabia. graveolens. The oil constituents were extracted by headspace solid-phase microextraction and were quantified and qualitatively identified using GC/MS. As a result, essential oil isolated from A. graveolens seeds exhibited the highest antimicrobial activity compared to oils isolated from other parts, followed by flowers, leaves and stems. All tested A. graveolens essential oil samples exhibited stronger antifungal activities against Aspergillus parasiticus when compared to itraconazole. To the best of our knowledge, the current work is the first report comparing different parts of Saudi A. graveolens plant with respect to their essential oil chemical composition and antimicrobial potentials. The essential oil of A. graveolens seeds have the highest contents of carvone and limonene and show superior antimicrobial activities compared to other parts of the plant.

•

Headspace Solid-phase Microextraction (HS-SPME) is highly effective for analyzing volatile constituents.

•

The essential oil of Dill plays a critical role in its antimicrobial activity.

•

HS-SPME method can be successfully applied for extracting and separating volatile constituents in different parts of A. graveolens plants and more effective for identifying and collecting more constituents.

Bioactive Constituents and Toxicological Evaluation of Selected Antidiabetic Medicinal Plants of Saudi Arabia

The purpose of this review is to summarize the available antidiabetic medicinal plants in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with its phytoconstituents and toxicological findings supporting by the latest literature. Required data about medicinal plants having antidiabetic activities and growing in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia were searched/collected from the online databases including Wiley, Google, PubMed, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, and Scopus. Keywords used in search are in vivo antidiabetic activities, flora of Saudi Arabia, active ingredients, toxicological evaluations, and medicinal plants. A total of 50 plant species belonging to 27 families were found in the flora of Saudi Arabia. Dominant family was found Lamiaceae with 5 species (highest) followed by Moraceae with 4 species. β-Amyrin, β-sitosterol, stigmasterol, oleanolic acid, ursolic acid, rutin, chlorogenic acid, quercetin, and kaempferol are the very common bioactive constituents of these selected plant species. This paper has presented a list of antidiabetic plants used in the treatment of diabetes mellitus. Bioactive antidiabetic phytoconstituents which showed that these plants have hypoglycemic effects and highly recommended for further pharmacological purposes and to isolate/identify antidiabetes mellitus (anti-DM) active agents also need to investigate the side effects of active ingredients.

The Effects of Commercially Available Syzygium aromaticum, Anethum graveolens, Lactobacillus acidophilus LB, and Zinc as Alternatives Therapy in Experimental Mice Challenged with Cryptosporidium parvum

BACKGROUND

Waterborne cryptosporidiosis is the second cause of diarrhea in young children and immunocompromised hosts after rotavirus. Except for nitazoxanide (NTZ), there is no accredited cryptosporidiosis treatment to date. Therefore, there is an urgent need to find an effective and safe treatment for cryptosporidiosis. This study aimed to investigate the possible anti-protozoal effects of Syzygium aromaticum (clove) oil, Anethum graveolens (dill) seeds oil, Lactobacillus acidophilus LB, and zinc against Cryptosporidium parvum in comparison to NTZ.

METHODS

Besides the negative control, mice from six experimental groups (T1-T6) were infected with Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts. On the seventh day post-infection (PID), mice from five groups were treated for 8 consecutive days with NTZ, clove oil, dill seed oil, Lactobacillus acidophilus LB, and zinc commercial forms (T2-T5). Oocysts shedding rate, differences of mice body weight, serum IL10, and TNF-α, cryptosporidial antigen, and cd3 at the intestinal mucosa were evaluated at the end of the experiment.

RESULTS

The mean of the C. parvum oocysts' shedding rate was significantly lower in all treated groups than in the non-treated group. The oocysts reduction rate was the highest in zinc-treated mice (98.3%), Lactobacillus acidophilus LB and dill-treated groups (95.77%), and the NTZ-treated group (91.55%). Clove oil was the least effective, with a 74.65% reduction rate. Excluding the clove oil-treated group, immunohistochemical analysis revealed the clearance of the Cryptosporidium antigen in the intestinal tissue in all treated groups.

CONCLUSION

The study has provided a rational basis for using these safe, cheap, and commercially available alternatives in treating cryptosporidiosis combined with NTZ.

Anticancer effect of myristicin on hepatic carcinoma and related molecular mechanism

CONTEXT

Myristicin is a natural active compound that has inflammatory, antimicrobial and anti-proliferative properties. Yet, its effect on hepatic carcinoma has not been investigated.

OBJECTIVE

To explore the role and related molecular mechanism of myristicin in hepatic carcinoma in vitro.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Human hepatic carcinoma cell lines (Huh-7 and HCCLM3 cells) were treated with different concentrations of myristicin (0.5, 1 and 5 mM) for 24, 48 and 72 h. Then, (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) tetrazolium assay (MTT), flow cytometer (FCM) analysis and transwell assay were performed to determine cell proliferation, apoptosis and migration/invasion, respectively. Protein levels of B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), Bcl-2 associated X (Bax), E-cadherin, N-cadherin and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signalling pathway-related proteins were detected using Western blot assay. Gene expression was determined using quantitative real time-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR).

RESULTS

Myristicin inhibited cell proliferation and induced apoptosis in Huh-7 and HCCLM3 cells; suppressed cell migration and invasion ability, and increased E-cadherin expression and decreased N-cadherin expression, thereby inhibiting epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Finally, the findings indicated that myristicin decreased phosphorylated (p)-mTOR and p-AKT expression at the protein level.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

Myristicin exerts an efficient therapeutic effect on hepatic carcinoma by suppressing PI3K/Akt/mTOR signalling pathway; thus, it may be used as a new potential drug for hepatic carcinoma treatment.

Anethum graveolens L. (Dill) effect on human lipid profile: An updated systematic Review

Dill is an aromatic edible herb, belongs to the genus Anethum in the celery family (Apiaceae or Umbelliferae) with a long history of cultivation from ancient times and two closely related cultivated species, European dill (Anethum graveolens) and Indian dill (Anethum Sowa). We wanted to do this systematic review on the effect of Anethum graveolens intake on lipid profile because the outcomes of multiple research and meta-analyses in this regard were inconsistent. A systematic search for English published randomized controlled trials (RCTs) covering PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, and Coherence library. The pooled weighted mean difference (MD) and its 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated and pooled using a random-effects model. Pooled data of six RCTs involving 171 intervention cases indicated that dill supplementation was associated with a significant reduction in mean serum total cholesterol (MD 95% CI= -3.71(-5.71,-1.70); p < 0.001), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (MD 95% CI= -1.51(-2.65,-0.47); p = 0.005), triglycerides (MD 95% CI= -2.48(-3.98,-0.98); p = 0.001) and interestingly high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level (HDL-C) (MD 95% CI= -2.19(-3.58,-0.81); p = 0.002). Subgroup analysis showed that dill use was more effective in lowering triglyceride in both hyperlipidemic patients, MD 95% CI= -3.54(-6.49,-0.60); p = 0.02) and type 2 diabetes (MD 95% CI= -3.64(-5.69,-1.58); p = 0.001). Dill use reduced the LDL levels more effectively in patients with type 2 diabetes (MD 95% CI= -3.54(-6.49,-0.60); p = 0.03). Dill supplementation significantly improved LDL-C, TG, and TC levels but not HDL-C. Further high quality controlled clinical trials on human is needed for more accurate and confirm conclusion.

Anethum sowa Roxb. ex fleming: A review on traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacological and toxicological activities

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Anethum sowa Roxb. ex Fleming (Syn. Peucedanum sowa Roxb. ex Fleming, Family: Apiaceae) is a pharmacologically important as aromatic and medicinal plant. Various parts of this plant are used in traditional medicine systems for carminative, uterine and colic pain, digestion disorder, flatulence in babies, appetite-stimulating agent and used to treat mild flue and cough. The essential oil is used for aromatherapy. It is also used as a spice for food flavouring and culinary preparations in many Asian and European countries.

AIM OF THE REVIEW

This review aims to provide a comprehensive and critical assessment from the reported traditional and pharmaceutical uses and pharmacological activities of the extracts, essential oil and phytoconstituents with emphasis on its therapeutic potential as well as toxicological evaluation of A. sowa.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Online search engines such as SciFinder®, GoogleScholar®, ResearchGate®, Web of Science®, Scopus®, PubMed and additional data from books, proceedings and local prints were searched using relevant keywords and terminologies related to A. sowa for critical analyses.

RESULTS

The literature studies demonstrated that A. sowa possesses several ethnopharmacological activities, including pharmaceutical prescriptions, traditional applications, and spice in food preparations. The phytochemical investigation conducted on crude extracts has been characterized and identified various classes of compounds, including coumarins, anthraquinone, terpenoids, alkaloid, benzodioxoles, phenolics, polyphenols, phenolic and polyphenols, fatty acids, phthalides and carotenoids. The extracts and compounds from the different parts of A. sowa showed diverse in vitro and in vivo biological activities including antioxidant, antiviral, antibacterial, analgesic and anti-inflammatory, Alzheimer associating neuromodulatory, cytotoxic, anticancer, antidiabetes, insecticidal and larvicidal.

CONCLUSION

A. sowa is a valuable medicinal plant which is especially used in food flavouring and culinary preparations. This review summarized the pertinent information on A. sowa and its traditional and culinary uses, as well as potential pharmacological properties of essential oils, extracts and isolated compounds. The traditional uses of A. sowa are supported by in vitro/vivo pharmacological studies; however, further investigation on A. sowa should be focused on isolation and identification of more active compounds and establish the links between the traditional uses and reported pharmacological activities with active compounds, as well as structure-activity relationship and in vivo mechanistic studies before integrated into the medicine. The toxicological report confirmed its safety. Nonetheless, pharmacokinetic evaluation tests to validate its bioavailability should be encouraged.

Favorable effects of Anethum graveolens on liver oxidative stress and cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase levels in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) rat models

Background

High-fat high-cholesterol diet induces a phenotype similar to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) in humans. In NAFLD and NASH, cholesterol and bile acid metabolisms are impaired to accumulate lipids and toxic bile acids along with cholestatic hepatic damage. Recently, the use of herbal-derived cholesterol lowering products has attracted much attention as possible therapeutic strategies for NAFLD. Hence, the aim of this study was to determine the effects of an Anethum graveolens (dill) on liver cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase and liver fat accumulation in rats.

Method

Thirty-six rats were randomly divided into 6 groups (n = 6) and received normal diet (ND) or a mixture of chow diet+2% cholesterol+0.5% cholic acid + 20% corn oil as high cholesterol/fat (HC–HF) diet (NAFLD model). Animals were also treated daily with dill tablet or dill extract (300 mg/kg). At the end of the 30 days experiments, serum and liver lipid profile and liver total antioxidant capacity were determined. Cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase mRNA and protein expression levels were determined in the liver and histopathological changes in liver tissues were analyzed by microscope.

Results

Lipid profiles significantly decreased in dill treated groups (p < 0.05). Liver total antioxidant capacity significantly (p < 0.05) increased and MDA levels markedly (p < 0.05) reduced both in dill tablet and dill extract treated groups (p < 0.05). Both types of treatments caused significant increases in liver cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase gene expression (p < 0.05). Histopathological examinations showed that treatment with dill normalized the hypercholesterolemia-induced changes in liver histology.

Conclusion

Administration of dill significantly reduced liver fat, oxidative stress and increased cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase enzyme at the both mRNA and protein levels. Dill extract was found more effective than its commercially available tablet.

Traditional ancient Egyptian medicine: A review

The ancient Egyptians practiced medicine with highly professional methods. They had advanced knowledge of anatomy and surgery. Also, they treated a lot of diseases including dental, gynecological, gastrointestinal, and urinary disorders. They could diagnose diabetes and cancer. The used therapeutics extended from different plants to include several animal products and minerals. Some of these plants are still used in the present day. Fortunately, they documented their life details by carving on stone, clay, or papyri. Although a lot of these records have been lost or destroyed, the surviving documents represent a huge source of knowledge in different scientific aspects including medicine. This review article is an attempt to understand some information about traditional medicine in ancient Egypt, we will look closely at some basics, sources of information of Egyptian medicine in addition to common treated diseases and therapeutics in this great civilization.

Anethum Graveolens Essential Oil Nanoemulsions (AGEO-NE) as an Exclusive Apoptotic Inducer in Human Lung Adenocarcinoma (A549) Cells

Anethum graveolens essential oil (AGEO) is used as an anticancer compound that can be made more efficacious by improving its biosolubility and biocompatibility. In the current study, we aimed to improve AGEO bioactivity using the nanoemulsion-based encapsulation technique. To formulate stable AGEO-NE, an ultrasonication method was utilized. The size, stability, and morphology of the AGEO-NE was measured, and then its cytotoxic impacts were evaluated on adenocarcinomic human alveolar basal epithelial cells (A549). The ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) test was done to measure the antioxidant activity of AGEO-NE. Its cytotoxic property was analyzed by measuring the viability percentage of cancer (A549) and normal human foreskin fibroblast (HFF) cell lines after increasing AGEO-NE treatment doses. AGEO-NE apoptotic activity was evaluated by studying the flow cytometry of the cells and measuring the apoptotic gene expression profile (Cas-3 and Cas-8) in the A549 cell line. The results showed a significant correlation between the increase of AGEO-NE concentrations and decrease of cancer (A549) cell viability (p < 0.05) when AGEO-NE was compared with normal HFF cells. Thus, AGEO-NE can be an efficient novel apoptosis and antioxidant inducer for human lung cancer cells without any undesirable side effects. However, further In Vitro and In Vivo studies are needed to confirm the results.

Dissipation kinetics and processing behavior of boscalid and pyraclostrobin in greenhouse dill plant (Anethum graveolens L.) and soil

BACKGROUND

Determining the environmental behavior and fate of chemical compounds during technological processing of plants is a task of great significance nowadays. However, the current knowledge is still incomplete for unique herbal matrices belonging to minor crops. The research in this article presents, for the first time, the dissipation kinetics and processing behavior of carboxamide boscalid (BOS) and stobilurin pyraclostrobin (PYR) fungicides during glasshouse dill (Anethum graveolens L.) cultivation.

RESULTS

The half-lives (t_1/2 ) of BOS and PYR after application at the recommended and double dosage were in the range: 1.62-2.01 days in plant and 2.08-4.85 days in soil, respectively. The processing behavior in dill was estimated after washing, hot air drying and drying in sunlight without/with pretreatment. Processing factors (PFs) were above 1 after drying (PF = 1.24-1.39 hot air; PF = 1.15-1.28 sunlight) and below this value when the washing step was applied (PF = 0.31-0.42 hot air; PF = 0.21-0.34 sunlight), indicating the highest effectiveness of reduction, up to 73% BOS and 79% PYR.

CONCLUSION

BOS/PYR residues at pre-harvest intervals after both doses were below European Union (EU) maximum residue limits (MRLs). The highest effectiveness was noted for drying carried out with the washing step, which has a great influence on the concentration of residues in the final product. The findings can supplement PF databases not set for minor crops and can be used to establish MRLs and determine human exposures more accurately in risk assessment studies. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

Sown Wildflowers Enhance Habitats of Pollinators and Beneficial Arthropods in a Tomato Field Margin

We evaluated the capacity of selected plants, sown along a processing tomato field margin in central Greece and natural vegetation, to attract beneficial and Hymenoptera pollinating insects and questioned whether they can distract pollinators from crop flowers. Measurements of flower cover and attracted pollinators and beneficial arthropods were recorded from early-May to mid-July, during the cultivation period of the crop. Flower cover was higher in the sown mixtures compared to natural vegetation and was positively correlated with the number of attracted pollinators. The sown Glebionis coronaria, Coriandrum sativum, Anethum graveolens, and Fagopyrum esculentum attracted mainly wild bees, which were the most abundant pollinating insects. In the natural vegetation, Rapistrum rugosum attracted mainly honeybees, while Asteraceae, Convolvulaceae, and Apiaceae species attracted wild bees. Beneficial arthropod abundance and diversity were higher in the sown mixture. Tomato flowers were visited by a small number of wild bees. Their number was not affected by the distance from the field margin, indicating no distraction effect from the sown or natural vegetation flowering plants. Our results suggest that selected flowering plants can improve the field margin habitats for pollinating insects and beneficial arthropods, but more work is needed to elucidate the effect on crop pollination.

Antioxidant and Anticancer Efficacies of Anethum graveolens against Human Breast Carcinoma Cells through Oxidative Stress and Caspase Dependency

Anethum graveolens, belonging to the family Apiaceae, has been extensively used for medicinal and therapeutic purposes since long. Plants encompass rich number of effective constituents with less toxicity. Thus, nowadays, the attempts are being made to search plant constituents that can prevent and reverse the chronic diseases, such as cancer. In this study, an in vitro antioxidant and anticancer efficacies of Anethum graveolens (AG-ME) were studied on human breast (MCF-7), lung (A-549), and cervical (HeLa) carcinoma cell lines. The antioxidant efficacies of AG-ME were evaluated by total antioxidant, DPPH radical scavenging, H2O2 scavenging, and ferrous reducing antioxidant assays. Further, the anticancer potential of AG-ME was also determined against different cancer cell lines. The AG-ME exhibited strong antioxidant activities as observed by antioxidant assays. AG-ME also showed a dose-dependent anticancer/cytotoxic potential against MCF-7, A-549, and HeLa cell lines. The AG-ME-induced reduction in GSH and increase in SOD activities indicates the role of oxidative stress in AG-ME-induced MCF-7 cell death. The results also exhibited that AG-ME triggered ROS production and significantly reduced MMP level. Moreover, a dose-dependent increase in caspase-3 and caspase-9 activities suggests that the AG-ME-induced MCF-7 cell death is caspase-dependent. Together, the present study provides reasoning and reassurance for the uses of A. graveleons for medical purposes as an antioxidant and anticancer agent. Additional investigations are required to examine biological and anticancer activities under an in vivo system to discover a possible beneficial use of AG-ME against diseases.

Integrated Approach for Species Identification and Quality Analysis for Labisia pumila Using DNA Barcoding and HPLC

Labisia pumila is a precious herb in Southeast Asia that is traditionally used as a health supplement and has been extensively commercialized due to its claimed therapeutic properties in boosting a healthy female reproductive system. Indigenous people used these plants by boiling the leaves; however, in recent years it has been marketed as powdered or capsuled products. Accordingly, accuracy in determination of the authenticity of these modern herbal products has faced great challenges. Lack of authenticity is a public health risk because incorrectly used herbal species can cause adverse effects. Hence, any measures that may aid product authentication would be beneficial. Given the widespread use of Labisia herbal products, the current study focuses on authenticity testing via an integral approach of DNA barcoding and qualitative analysis using HPLC. This study successfully generated DNA reference barcodes (ITS2 and rbcL) for L. pumila var. alata and pumila. The DNA barcode that was generated was then used to identify species of Labisia pumila in herbal medicinal products, while HPLC was utilized to determine their quality. The findings through the synergistic approach (DNA barcode and HPLC) implemented in this study indicate the importance of both methods in providing the strong evidence required for the identification of true species and to examine the authenticity of such herbal medicinal products.

The effects of Anethum graveolens (dill) supplementation on lipid profile and glycemic control: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

There is an increased interest in the potential health benefits of nutraceutical therapies, such as Anethum graveolens (dill). Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effects of Anethum graveolens supplementation on lipid profiles and glycemic indices in adults. A systematic search was performed for literature published through November 2020 via PubMed/Medline, Scopus, ISI Web of Science, and Embase to find randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the effects of oral supplementation with A. graveolens on lipid profile and measures of glycemic control in adults. The random-effects model was applied to establish the weighted mean difference (WMD) and associated 95% confidence intervals (CI). Seven RCTs with a total number of 330 subjects were included in the final analysis. Pooled results indicated that A. graveolens supplementation significantly decreased low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) concentration (WMD: -15.64 mg/dL; 95% CI: -24.55 to -6.73; P = 0.001), serum insulin (WMD: -2.28 μU/ml; 95% CI: -3.62 to -0.93; P = 0.001), and HOMA-IR (WMD: -1.06; 95% CI: -1.91 to -0.20; P = 0.01). However, there was no significant effect on serum total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), and fasting blood glucose (FBS). Subgroup analysis suggested that using A. graveolens in higher doses and long-term duration had beneficial effects on lipid profiles. Dose-response analysis also showed a significant reduction in FBS at doses of 1500 mg/d. The present meta-analysis indicated that Anethum graveolens could exert favorable effects on insulin resistance and serum LDL. Further research is necessary to confirm our findings.

Lead (Pb)-resistant bacteria inhibit Pb accumulation in dill (Anethum graveolens L.) by improving biochemical, physiological, and antioxidant enzyme response of plants

The accumulation of heavy metal in the soil is a serious concern for sustainable food production due to their toxic effects on plants and other living things. The strategies are required on urgent bases for the management of metal-contaminated soils. Thus, the microbes from the genus Pseudomonas were characterized for different traits and lead (Pb)-resistant ability and their effects were assessed on growth, photosynthesis, antioxidant capacity, and Pb uptake by dill (Anethum graveolens L.). Furthermore, soil basal respiration and induced respiration in soil were also assessed under microbes and Pb stress. Among the tested three strains, Pseudomonas P159 and P150 were more tolerant to Pb stress than Pseudomonas P10, whereas P159 showed the highest values for phosphorus (P), siderophore, auxin, and hydrogen cyanide production. The bacterial inoculation increased the plant shoot dry weights, carbohydrates, proline, and chlorophyll contents under Pb stress. The catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POD) activities of the plants were higher in bacterial-treated plants than control. The bacterial inoculation decreased Pb concentration in plants, and the response varied with the type of microbes. The bacterial strains enhanced the soil basal and induced respiration than respective Pb treatments alone. Overall, Pseudomonas P159 is potentially suitable for the remediation of Pb-contaminated soils. Graphical abstract.

Antioxidant Properties of Saffron Stigma and Petals: A Potential Therapeutic Approach for Insulin Resistance through an Insulin-Sensitizing Adipocytokine in High-Calorie Diet Rats

Background:

Oxidative stress and alteration of lipid profile due to obesity and overweight is a major risk factor for atherosclerotic plaque or coronary artery disease. Because of antioxidant and lipid lowering potential of saffron, this study investigated weight alteration, lipid profiles, and insulin resistance index in high-calorie diet rats treated with aqueous extract of saffron stigma and petal.

Methods:

Forty Sprague-Dawley male rats were randomly divided into 8 groups including healthy control, high-fat diet control, nicotinic acid treated, Anethum graveolens treated, and saffron stigma and petal treated groups. Rats received a high-calorie diet for 16 weeks. For treatment, aqueous extract of saffron stigma (40 and 80 mg/kg) and petal (50 and 100 mg/kg) was used once daily for 4 weeks. Afterward, lipid profile, oxidative stress status, and insulin and adiponectin levels were measured using desired kits.

Results:

There was a significant decrease in the mean weight of the groups receiving saffron stigma and petal compared to control group (P < 0.05). The increased level of insulin hormone in obese group was improved in treated groups especially in the case of saffron stigma. Also, the decreased level of adiponectin was recovered in treated groups. An improvement was seen in oxidative stress markers and lipid profiles in treated groups compared to obesity pair.

Conclusions:

In this study, a remarkable antioxidant and lipid lowering potential was detected for saffron stigma, which could improve insulin resistance in obese rats. Therapeutic and protective effect of saffron is mainly related to its richness in phenolic compounds. Saffron stigma compared with petal had more notable effect, which could and should be mentioned in pharmaceutical studies.

A water-soluble polysaccharide from Anethum graveolens seeds: Structural characterization, antioxidant activity and potential use as meat preservative

A novel water-soluble polysaccharide named AGP1 was successfully isolated from seeds of Anethum graveolens by hot water extraction and further purified by DEAE-Sepharose chromatography. AGP1 has a relative molecular weight of 2.1 10⁴ Da determined by Ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC). The AGP1 characterization was investigated by chemical and instrumental analysis including gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. Results showed that AGP1 was mainly composed of glucose, galactose, mannose and arabinose in a molar percent of 54.3, 23.8, 14.7 and 7.2, respectively. The thermogravimetry analysis (TGA) and the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were used and showed that AGP1 has good thermal stability until 275 °C. Moreover, the purified polysaccharide demonstrated an appreciable in vitro antioxidant potential. The addition of the AGP1, particularly at 0.3% (w/w), in turkey sausages instead of ascorbic acid, as preservative, reduced the lipid peroxidation, preserved the pH and color and improved the bacterial stability during cold storage at 4 °C for 12 days. Overall, the results showed that the AGP1 deserves to be developed as functional and bioactive components for the food and nutraceutical industries.