Essential oils and their pharmacotherapeutics applications in human diseases

What Does a Community Think About Aromatherapy?

The awareness and usage of aromatherapy applications are increasing day by day in society. The current study aims to evaluate the thoughts and attitudes of individuals toward aromatherapy in Türkiye and to determine factors affecting the use of aromatherapy. This community-based descriptive study is conducted throughout Türkiye. Nine hundred eighty-five questionnaires were suitable for data quality. SPSS 23.0 statistical package program was used, and the statistical significance level was accepted as P value of less than .05. Approximately 72.4% of the participants have heard of aromatherapy. The rate of hearing about the concept of aromatherapy was found to be statistically significantly higher among women (P = .000), those residing in a province/district (P = .011), and those working in an income-generating positions (P = .003). It was determined that 58.9% of the participants used any essential oil. The 5 most commonly used essential oils are lavender, tea tree, peppermint, rose, and thyme, respectively. The rate of essential oil use in women is higher than in men (P = .000). The conditions in which essential oils are most frequently used are to provide beauty to the skin (51.7%), skin diseases (51.0%), and respiratory tract diseases (46.0%), respectively. The most common sources of information about the essential oils used by the participants are the Internet/social media (57.6%) and pharmacists (53.4%). The results of this research revealed that the awareness and use of aromatherapy practice in the community are high according to the literature. Considering the high tendency to use these products among the public, physicians, pharmacists, and nurses must provide consultancy services on the use of these products.

Comparative Study of Essential Oils from Different Organs of Syzygium cumini (Pamposia) Based on GC/MS Chemical Profiling and In Vitro Antiaging Activity

Syzygium cumini L. is an evergreen tree belonging to family Myrtaceae, employed for different traditional uses like diabetes, inflammation, and fever. The current study aimed to compare the chemical compositions of the essential oils (EOs) isolated from different organs of Syzygium cumini (leaves (Scl), fruits (Scf), seeds (Scs), and bark (Scb)) using a GC/MS analysis. Also, a chemometric analysis was applied to explore the main similarities and differences among different organs using a Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and a hierarchal cluster analysis (HCA). Furthermore, in vitro antiaging activities were investigated via anti-collagenase, anti-elastase, and anti-hyaluronidase assays. The GC-MS analysis revealed 82 compounds representing 92.13%, 99.42%, 100%, and 92.97% in Scl, Scf, Scs, and Scb, respectively. The predominant components were α-pinene, β-pinene, (E)-β-caryophyllene, α-caryophyllene, caryophyllene oxide, and α-humulene epoxide II with variable percentages. All EOs were positioned on positive PC1, except for Scs, which was positioned on the negative side in a separate quadrant. The HCA dendrogram displayed the closeness of Scl and Scb, which was not clearly recognized in the PCA score plot. Moreover, the Scs oils were totally discriminated from other parts. The Scl and Scs oils showed superior anti-collagenase, anti-elastase, and anti-hyaluronidase activities. Thus, S. cumini oils should be considered for cosmetic preparations to retard skin aging manifestations.

Antioxidant and Hypoglycemic Potential of Essential Oils in Diabetes Mellitus and Its Complications

Since the earliest times, essential oils (EOs) have been utilized for medicinal and traditional purposes. However, in recent decades, an increasing interest has developed due to the need to rediscover herbal remedies and adjuvant therapies for the management of various diseases, particularly chronic ones. The present narrative review examines the potential for EOs to exert hypoglycemic and antioxidant effects in diabetes mellitus, analyzing the main publications having evaluated plant species with potentially beneficial effects through their phytocompounds in diabetes mellitus and its complications. Numerous species have shown promising characteristics that can be used in diabetes management. The hypoglycemic effects of these EOs are attributed to their capacity to stimulate glucose uptake, suppress glucose production, and increase insulin sensitivity. Moreover, EOs can alleviate the oxidative stress by manifesting their antioxidant effects via a variety of mechanisms, including the scavenging of free radicals, the regulation of antioxidant enzymes, and the decreasing of lipid peroxidation, due to their diverse chemical composition. These findings demonstrate the possible benefits of EOs as adjuvant therapeutic agents in the management of diabetes and its complications. The use of EOs in the treatment of diabetes shows good potential for the development of natural and effective strategies to enhance the health outcomes of people with this chronic condition, but additional experimental endorsements are required.

Use of Lavandula angustifolia essential oil as a complementary therapy in adult health care: A scoping review

Background

In addition to its low toxicity risk, Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.) essential oil is recognised worldwide for its sedative, antidepressant, antiseptic, antifungal, relaxing, and antiemetic properties. Thus, the action mechanism of lavender oil has attracted significant attention from researchers interested in improving the physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being of patients.

Objective

To investigate the scope of knowledge regarding the use of L. angustifolia essential oil as a complementary therapy in adult health care.

Methods

A scoping review was carried out using a PRISMA-ScR checklist followed by a critical assessment being performed using the Joanna Briggs Institute level of evidence. The following databases were used: SCOPUS, MEDLINE/PubMed, Web of Science, Science Direct, SCIELO, Cochrane Library, LILACS, Wiley Online Library, CAPES, and FIOCRUZ Dissertations.

Results

Eighty-three articles published between 2002 and 2022 were selected for the analysis; More articles came from Iran than from any other country and most articles reported clinical trials. The applicability of lavender essential oil and its route of administration in different clinical situations were the main topics addressed in the articles.

Conclusions

Most studies demonstrate the efficacy of L. angustifolia Mill. essential oil in relieving pain and decreasing anxiety. Few studies evaluated the anti-psoriatic, anti-toxoplasmotic, and wound healing properties and the protective actions against cerebral ischemia. One study reported on its safety, specifically the allergenic potential of linalool, the main chemical component of L. angustifolia essential oil. However, most studies did not involve the extensive investigations on this topic or report the safe quantities of this oil for human treatment, meaning further research into the safety of this treatment is required.

Elucidating the role of two types of essential oils in regulating antibiotic resistance in soil

Although several approaches for reducing antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in soil have been proposed, the application of environmentally friendly approaches is now attracting much more attention. In the present study, two types of essential oils (EOs), namely lavender essential oil (LEO) and oregano essential oil (OEO), were selected to investigate their roles in regulating ARGs in soil. In a 28-day microcosm experiment, it was found that the different types and doses of EOs significantly changed the composition of microbial communities. The LEO treatments enriched more taxa belonging to Actinobacteria than the control, whereas the low dose of OEO reduced Actinobacteria enrichment. Besides, the control and the treatments with a high dose of LEO and OEO all significantly enriched the functional pathways related to Human Diseases, which were positively associated with ARGs. However, the low dose of these EOs helped to reduce the pathways. Because of inhibition of the functional pathways and ARG hosts, the low dose of OEO reduce the ARGs related to antibiotic efflux by 71.8% and the resistance genes to multidrug by 56.4%, but these roles did not occur in LEO treatments. These outcomes provide practical and theoretical support for the application of EOs in remediating ARG-contaminated soils.

Chemical Composition, Antioxidant, and Antimicrobial Activities of the Leaf and Fruit Essential Oils of the West African Plum, Vitex doniana

Vitex doniana (West African plum or black plum) is a plant with varying phytoconstituents and biological activities across different countries. In this study, essential oils extracted from the leaves and fruits of Vitex doniana cultivated in Ghana were investigated for their antimicrobial and antioxidant activities. The antioxidant actions of the essential oils were determined using hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), phosphomolybdenum, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assays. For both essential oils, the total antioxidant capacities ranged from 44 to 68 µg/g AAE, the IC50 values for H2O2 scavenging activity were between 87 and 242 µg/mL, whereas that for DPPH assay were between 322 and 599 µg/mL. The IC50 for the TBARS assay for both essential oils also ranged from 247 to 414 µg/mL. The antimicrobial activities of the essential oils were investigated using the broth dilution assay. The minimum inhibition concentration for the essential oils ranged from 12.5 to 50 mg/mL. Biofilm inhibitory activity was also evaluated for both essential oils, and the fruit essential oil showed a half-maximal inhibition of biofilm formation (BIC50) at 44.40 ± 0.6 mg/mL, whereas the BIC50 value of the leaf essential oil was 109.1 ± 0.9 mg/mL. The fruit essential oil was superior to the leaf essential oil in inhibiting the secretion of pyoverdine. Molecular docking analyses suggested that methyl cinnamate, ethyl cinnamate, p-menth-4-en-3-one, trans-α-ionone, benzyl benzoate, isobutyl cinnamate, and folic acid likely interacted with LasR and algC proteins, and hence, contributed to the inhibition of biofilm formation and pyoverdine secretion. Essential oils from Vitex doniana could, therefore, be exploited as a natural source of radical scavenging and antimicrobial agents and could be useful in the pharmaceutical, food, and cosmetic industries.

Heracleum persicum Essential Oil Nanoemulsion: A Nanocarrier System for the Delivery of Promising Anticancer and Antioxidant Bioactive Agents

Essential oils are important compounds for the prevention and/or treatment of various diseases in which solubility and bio-accessibility can be improved by nanoemulsion systems. Heracleum persicum oil nanoemulsion (HAE-NE) was prepared and biological properties were investigated against human breast cancer cells and normal human fibroblasts foreskin. Particle size, zeta potential and poly dispersity index were 153 nm, −47.9 mV and 0.35, respectively. (E)anethole (57.9%), terpinolene (13.8%), ɣ-terpinene (8.1%), myrcene (6.8%), hexyl butyrate (5.2%), octyl butanoate (4.5%) and octyl acetate (3.7%) was detected in nanoemulsion. Proliferation of cancer cells at IC50 = 2.32 μg/mL was significantly (p < 0.05) inhibited, and cell migration occurred at 1.5 μL/mL. The HAE-NE at 1.5, 2.5 and 3.5 µg/concentration up-regulated caspase 3 and enhanced sub-G1 peak of cell cycle with nil cytotoxic effects in the liver, kidney and jejunum of mice. Villus height, villus width, crypt depth and goblet cells in mice group fed with 10 and 20 mg/kg body weight of HAE-NE improved. Cellular redox state in the liver indicated 10 and 20 mg/kg body weight of nanoemulsion significantly up-regulated the expression of SOD, CAT and GPx genes. Heracleum persicum oil nanoemulsion could be an eco-friendly nanotherapeutic option for pharmaceutical, cosmetological and food applications.

Bioactive molecules from plants: a prospective approach to combat SARS-CoV-2

Abstract

The emergence of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) or 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) has put the entire globe into unrest, primarily due to unavailability of specific drug against the viral proteins. In the last two decades the world has withstood many contagious disease crashes. SARS-CoV-2 has put the world and the mankind in danger. It is spreading unstoppably all over the world. The virus is evolving and thus the pathogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 strains has been different and making it difficult to develop a broad-spectrum anti-viral molecule that would be effective against all the SARS-CoV-2 variants. This imperative situation demands development of molecules for effective treatment against SARS-CoV-2. The phytomolecules or the bioactive molecules of plants could be a great alternative to combat SARS-CoV-2. The bioactive molecules with their antiviral properties and the secondary metabolites may effectively deactivate the functioning of viral proteins. The structural configuration of 2019-nCoV proteins and genomic information are available, thus contributing immensely for fast molecular docking studies and hence, enables screening of numerous accessible phytomolecules. In the current study, we have essentially highlighted common phytomolecules against the known viral proteins and described the mode of action of few plant-derived molecules which have the potential to suppress the activity of the viral proteins.

Graphic abstract

Potential bioactive molecules from natural products to combat against coronavirus

Covid-19 is terribly spreading around the globes and there is no stoppage. It is causing mass destruction in mankind allowing them to lock inside home to contain the disease. At present, there are no remedial medicines, drugs, or vaccines available in the market. Researchers are trying their best level to produce drugs to fight againts the disease. Various efforts are being considered by using different directions of scientific knowledge and technologies on treating the disease. The existing antiviral drugs such as lopinavir/ritonavir, pitavastatin, nelfinavir, perampanel, and praziquantel are being administered as remedies of covid-19 patients. Unfortunately, none of these drugs works absolutely against the current pandemic. Therefore, bioactive molecules from plants, animals, and microorganisms could be a better option to treat against the covid-19 and its family. Plants can treat many diseases due to the presence of bioactive molecules and their antiviral properties. Presence of secondary metabolites such as flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids, polyphenols, curcumin, kaempferol, catechin, naringenin, quercetin, apigenin-7-glucoside, luteolin-7-glucoside, demethoxycurcumin, oleuropein, and epigallocatechin can fight against the coronavirus including covid-19. The listed plants such as litchi seeds, Houttuynia cordata, Chinese Rhubarb extracts, beta-sistosterol from Isatis indigotica root extract have capacity to obstruct the enzymatic activity of SARS. In this article, we have highlighted the bioactive molecules from different plants, animals, and microorganism and their potential activity against the coronavirus. It is a need of the hour to come together to explore more on such bioactive compounds of plants, animals and other microorganism to fight against the covid-19.