Helichrysum italicum: from traditional use to scientific data

Unveiling the phyto-restorative potential of ethereal distillates for atopic dermatitis: an advanced therapeutic approach

Atopic dermatitis is acknowledged as a vital inflammatory disorder associated with the integumentary system of the body and is characterized by the formation of thick reddish-grey scars and erythema formation on skin, prevalent amidst the populace. Numerous synthetic drugs are available for treatment like antihistamines, immunosuppressants, glucocorticoids etc., but contrarily, essential oil therapy is exclusively lime lighted to favour the purpose. The utilization of available engineered drugs, possess the marked adverse effects owing to prolonged duration of therapy and therefore, essential oils are explored well and proved to exhibit the anti-eczematic, anti-inflammatory and antipruritic properties. Ethereal distillates own the assorted and selective therapeutic properties attributable to presence of bioactive compounds liable to treat this torturous and integumentary disorder, likely lavender oil, patchouli oil, frankincense oil etc., have been found to exert their pharmacological actions by impeding the liberation and action of inflammatory mediators and immunological hyperactivities that are engaged in exacerbating this idiopathic illness. The current attempt provided the update with the aim to bring forth the naturally originated treatment that is pertinent to provide the invulnerable therapy by circumventing the noxious symptoms i.e. erythema formation and inflamed lesions.

An integrated in vitro approach on the enzymatic and antioxidant mechanisms of four commercially available essential oils (Copaifera officinalis, Gaultheria fragrantissima, Helichrysum italicum, and Syzygium aromaticum) traditionally used topically for their anti-inflammatory effects

Introduction: Despite the increasing number of essential oils being reported on their potential therapeutic effects, some remain relatively unknown on their biological properties. That is the case of the essential oils obtained from copaiba (Copaifera officinalis L.), wintergreen (Gaultheria fragrantissima Wall.), everlasting (Helichrysum italicum (Roth) G.Don) and clove (Syzygium aromaticum (L.) Merr. & L.M.Perry), commonly labelled as being useful on the amelioration of conditions with an inflammatory background. Methods: To further broaden the current knowledge on the four essential oils, commercially available samples were approached on their effects upon a series of mediators that are involved on the inflammatory and oxidative response, both through in vitro cell-free and cell-based assays (5-lipoxygenase activity, lipid peroxidation, free radical and nitric oxide radical scavenging properties or tyrosinase inhibition). Results: The four oils proved to be active at some of the concentrations tested in most of the performed assays. Significant differences were found between the essential oils, S. aromaticum proving to tbe the most active, followed by G. fragrantissima against 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) and linoleic acid peroxidation, proving their potential use as antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents. In fact, the IC50 value of S. aromaticum in the 5-LOX assay was 62.30 μg mL-1. Besides S. aromaticum efficiently scavenged superoxide radicals generated by xanthine/xanthine oxidase, displaying an IC50 value of 135.26 μg mL-1. The essential oil obtained from H. italicum exhibited a significant decrease in the nitric oxide levels on BV-2 cells, showing its potential as a cytoprotective agent against toxic damage. Copaiba oil ranked first as the most potent tyrosinase inhibitor, exhibiting an IC50 98.22 μg mL-1. Conclusion: More studies are needed to describe the essential oils properties, but these results confirm the potential of these essential oils as anti-inflammatory and antioxidant agents.

Fish Scale Gelatin Nanofibers with Helichrysum italicum and Lavandula latifolia Essential Oils for Bioactive Wound-Healing Dressings

Essential oils are valuable alternatives to synthetic antibiotics that have the potential to avoid the pathogen resistance side effects generated by leather. Helichrysum italicum and Lavandula latifolia essential oils combined with fish scale gelatin were electrospun using a coaxial technique to design new bioactive materials for skin wound dressings fabrication. Fish scale gelatins were extracted from carp fish scales using two variants of the same method, with and without ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA). Both variants showed very good electrospinning properties when dissolved in acetic acid solvent. Fish scale gelatin nanofibers with Helichrysum italicum and Lavandula latifolia essential oil emulsions ensured low microbial load (under 100 CFU/g of total number of aerobic microorganisms and total number of yeasts and filamentous fungi) and the absence of Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538, Escherichia coli ATCC 10536, and Candida albicans ATCC 1023 as compared to fish scale gelatin without essential oils, which recommends them for pharmaceutical or topical applications. A scratch-test performed on human dermal fibroblasts proved that the biomaterials contributing to the wound healing process included fish scale gelatin nanofibers without EDTA (0.5% and 1%), fish scale gelatin nanofibers without EDTA and Lavandula latifolia essential oil emulsion (1%), fish scale gelatin nanofibers with EDTA (0.6%), and fish scale gelatin nanofibers with EDTA with Helichrysum italicum essential oil emulsion (1% and 2%).

HPLC Analysis and In Vitro and In Silico Evaluation of the Biological Activity of Polyphenolic Components Separated with Solvents of Various Polarities from Helichrysum italicum

Helichrysum italicum has piqued the interest of many researchers in recent years, mostly for its essential oil, but increasingly for its polyphenolic content as well. In the current study, we examine the polyphenolic composition of H. italicum grown in Bulgaria. The polyphenolic complex was fractionated with solvents of various polarities, including hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, and butanol, in order to assess the biological impact of the components. HPLC-PDA and UHPLC-MS/MS were used to examine all fractions. The green coffee fingerprint profile was employed as a "surrogate standard" in the polyphenolic components detection approach. From the UHPLC-MS/MS analysis, we identified 60 components of the polyphenolic complex such as quercetin 3-O-glucuronide, quercetin acetyl-glycoside, isorhamnetin acetyl-glycoside, isorhamnetin caffeoyl-glycoside, quercetin caffeoyl-malonyl-glycoside, isorhamnetin coumaroyl-glycoside, coumaroyl-caffeoylquinic acid, and diCQA-acetyl-derivative were first reported in the composition of H. italicum. The biological activity of the fractions was evaluated in vitro and in silico, which included the fight against oxidative stress (hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity (HPSA), hydroxyl radical scavenging activity (HRSA), metal-chelating activity (MChA)) and nitrosative (nitric oxide scavenging activity) (NOSA)), in vitro anti-inflammatory, and anti-arthritic activity. Results are presented as IC50 ± SD μg/mL. The analysis showed that the EtOAc fraction was characterized by highest HPSA (57.12 ± 1.14 μg/mL), HRSA (92.23 ± 1.10 μg/mL), MChA (5.60 ± 0.17 μg/mL), and NOSA (89.81 ± 2.09 μg/mL), while the hexane and chloroform fractions showed significantly higher in vitro anti-inflammatory activity (30.48 ± 2.33 μg/mL, 62.50 ± 1.69 μg/mL) compared to the standard ibuprofen. All three fractions showed potential anti-arthritic activity (102.93 ± 8.62 μg/mL, 108.92 ± 4.42 μg/mL, 84.19 ± 3.89 μg/mL).

Helichrysum stoechas (L.) Moench Inflorescence Extract for Tomato Disease Management

Helichrysum stoechas is a singular halophyte that has been shown to have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and allelopathic properties. In the work presented herein, we have characterized its inflorescences hydromethanolic extract and assessed its antifungal activity for the pre- and postharvest management of tomato crop diseases. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry characterization of the extract showed that 4-ethenyl-1,3-benzenediol, 2,3-dihydro-benzofuran, quinic acid, 3,5-dihydroxy-6,7,8-trimethoxy-2-phenyl-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one, 1,6-anhydro-β-D-glucopyranose, catechol, scopoletin, and maltol were the main constituents. The co-occurrence of pyranones, benzenediols, and quinic acids as phytoconstituents of H. stoechas extract resulted in promising in vitro minimum inhibitory concentrations of 500, 375, 500, 187.5, 187.5, and 375 μg·mL-1 against mycelia of Alternaria alternata, Colletotrichum coccodes, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici, Rhizoctonia solani, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, and Verticillium dahliae, respectively. Further, to assess the potential of H. stoechas inflorescence extract for postharvest tomato crop protection, ex situ tests were conducted against C. coccodes, obtaining high protection at a dose of 750 μg·mL-1. Taking into consideration that the demonstrated activity is among the highest reported to date for plant extracts and comparable to that of the synthetic fungicides tested as positive controls, H. stoechas inflorescence extract may be put forward as a promising biorational and may deserve further testing in field-scale studies.

P2X7-Receptor Pathway Involvement in the Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Medicinal Plants

Medicinal plants used in European folk medicine attached to Lamiales, Gentianales or Asterales orders are used to treat inflammatory disorders. Many targets have been identified but to date, implication of purinergic receptor P2X7 activation has not yet been investigated. We managed to evaluate the protective effect on P2X7 activation by plant extracts used as anti-inflammatory in European folk medicine by the YO-PRO-1 uptake dye in vitro bioassay. Results revealed that among our selected plants, species from Scrophularia and Plantago genus were able to decrease significantly P2X7 activation (>50 % at 0.1 and 1 μg/mL). UPLC/MS, dereplication and metabolomic analysis of Scrophularia extracts, allowed us to identify the cinnamoyl-iridoid harpagoside as putative inhibitor of P2X7 activation. These results open a new research field regarding the anti-inflammatory mechanism of cinnamoyl-iridoids bearing plants, which may involve the P2X7 receptor.

Phytochemical Profiling, Antioxidant and Cognitive-Enhancing Effect of Helichrysum italicum ssp. italicum (Roth) G. Don (Asteraceae)

This study aimed at the evaluation of the antioxidant and cognitive-enhancing effect of methanol-aqueous extract from Helichrysum italicum ssp. italicum aerial parts. Significant radical scavenging activity (110.33 ± 3.47 and 234.70 ± 5.21 mg TE/g for DPPH and ABTS) and reducing power (354.23 ± 17.51 and 210.24 ± 8.68 mg TE/g for CUPRAC and FRAP) were observed. The extract showed average acetylcholinesterase and low butyrylcholinesterase inhibitory potential. H. italicum extract (200 mg/kg/po) administered in combination with galantamine (3 mg/kg/po) for 12 days significantly improved the memory and learning process compared with galantamine alone in the passive avoidance test. The effect was comparable to that of Ginkgo biloba extract (100 mg/kg/po). In deep secondary metabolite annotation of the extract by UHPLC-HRMS, more than 90 hydroxybenzoic and hydroxicinnamic acid-glycosides, phenylethanoid glycosides, a series of acylquinic and caffeoylhexaric acids, methoxylated derivatives of scutellarein, quercetagetin and 6-hydroxyluteolin, and prenylated phloroglucinol-α-pyrones were reported for the first time in H. italicum. Fragmentation patterns of four subclasses of heterodimer-pyrones were proposed. In-depth profiling of the pyrones revealed 23 compounds undescribed in the literature. Pyrones and acylphloroglucinols together with acylquinic acids could account for memory improvement. The presented research advanced our knowledge of H. italicum, highlighting the species as a rich source of secondary metabolites with cognitive-enhancing potential.

Chemical Profiling and Bioactivity Assessment of Helichrysum italicum (Roth) G. Don. Essential Oil: Exploring Pure Compounds and Synergistic Combinations

Helichrysum italicum (Roth) G. Don., immortelle, is a plant species used in ethnomedicine and the food industry as a spice added to food, beverages, and bakery products. It has been shown to possess various biological activities, such as antioxidant and antibacterial activity, making it useful as a natural preservative. We investigated the phytochemical profile and biological activity of H. italicum essential oils from wild-grown plant material collected from natural habitats in the Republic of Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Using high-resolution scanning electron microscopy (SEM), a visual investigation of plant organs (stem, leaf, and flower) was performed, confirming the presence of essential oil reservoirs on the surface of all examined plant organs. Essential oils were isolated by hydrodistillation in the Clevenger apparatus. The chemical composition of the essential oils was determined using the GC-MS analytical technique. Cytotoxic activity tests were performed in vitro on three cell lines: skin (fibroblast), lung, and breast cancer. Using statistical tools, the synergistic and selective effects of H. italicum essential oil on healthy and tumor cells were correlated to chemical composition and cytotoxic activity. The synergistic and antagonistic effects of H. italicum essential oil's individual components were simulated by testing pure compounds and their mixture of cytotoxic activity on fibroblasts and breast cancer cells. The results confirm that essential oil's biological activity is much greater than the sum of the effects of its components. The present data are novel contributions to the body of knowledge on the biological activity of this species used in the food industry.

Case study of clinical improvement of atopic dermatitis in a patient treated with herbal-based parapharmaceuticals

OBJECTIVES

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder that has the immunoallergological characteristics of atopy and is characterised by itchy dermatitis with a recurrent-relapsing course and skin hyperreactivity. Official therapy involves topical anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial drugs for the skin but, as it is a recurrent and relapsing disease, the use of systemic anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive drugs is eventually necessary to control the disease and prevent clinical exacerbation. However, systemic treatment may have a major impact on the patient, induce adverse reactions and not resolve the disease. The aim of the study is to establish whether the use of plant extracts may play a role in improving the quality of life of AD patients.

CASE PRESENTATION

We describe the clinical case of a 27-year old Caucasian woman with dry, lichenified, slightly reddened and scaly skin lesions (EASI score 1.6), with anamnesis of atopy and multiple allergies, who was treated with an alternative therapeutic strategy to her previous ones, with three herbal-based parapharmaceuticals (Ribes nigrum L. buds, Piper longum L. fruits, Perilla frutescens L. Britton leaves and seeds in LUXFITOAL; Arctium lappa L. radix, Helychrisum italicum (Roth.) G. Don. flos, Viola tricolor L. herba cum floribus in LUXDERM; Trigonella foenum grecum seed extract, Hypericum perforatum extract in LUXTRIGONELLA cream). Two weeks after taking the drops and applying the cream the dry, lichenified skin lesions were no longer present and an eudermic state of the skin is restored (EASI score 0). Furthermore, six months after the beginning of the therapy, the good condition of the skin was maintained. The patient has never had such a long lapse of time without dermatitis reappearing on the anatomical sites observed at the first follow-up. After nine months, the patient was treated again for a dermatitis that had developed at another anatomical site, spreading frontally at the border between the lower margin of the neck and the upper margin of the thorax and at the chin (EASI value 3.2), achieving a marked improvement and a return of the eudermic state after two days (EASI value 0).

CONCLUSIONS

The patient was satisfied with the "clean hands" with no inflammation, with the resolution of the dermatitis in the other body sites and stated that the therapy has improved her perceived quality of life. These botanicals may be effective and play a role in improving the quality of life of a person with AD.

Foetidumins A-D, and other chemical constituents from Helichrysum foetidum (L.) Moench (Asteraceae) with antiparasite activity

The phytochemical investigation of the MeOH and CH₂Cl₂-MeOH (1:1) extracts from the flowers and twigs of Helichrysumfoetidum (L.) Moench (Asteraceae), which showed antileishmanial and antiplasmodial activities during the preliminary screening, led to the isolation of four undescribed compounds, including two ent-beyer-15-ene-type diterpenoids, foetidumins A (1) and B (2), one flavonoid, foetidumin C (3) and one chalcopyrone, foetidumin D (4). Additionally, fourteen known compounds comprising, two ent-beyer-15-ene-type diterpenoids (5-6), six flavonoids (7-12), two steroids (13-14), three triterpenoids (15-17), and one glyceryl monostearate (18) were also isolated. The chemical structures of foetidumins A-D were fully elucidated by analyses of their spectroscopic data. The structure and the stereochemistry of foetidumin A (1) were confirmed by SC-XRD analyses. Among the tested compounds, foetidumin C (3), erythroxylol A (6), and kaempferol (7) displayed the highest antileishmanial potency with IC₅₀ values of 13.0, 11.8, and 11.1 μM, respectively. Foetidumin C (3) had no cytotoxicity toward Vero cells with the selectivity index > 3.59. Meanwhile, extracts of flowers and twigs had higher activity against Plasmodium falciparum chloroquine-sensitive (Pf3D7) strain with IC₅₀ values of 3.66 and 10.52 μg/mL, respectively.

Hydroxypropyl-β-Cyclodextrin-Based Helichrysum italicum Extracts: Antioxidant and Cosmeceutical Activity and Biocompatibility

Two Helichrysum italicum extracts, OPT-1 (rich in phenolic acids) and OPT-2 (rich in total phenols and flavonoids), were prepared using hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD)-assisted extraction. The prepared extracts were rich in phenolic compounds, including flavonoids and phenolic acids. GC-MS analysis of the extracts identified neryl acetate, neo-intermedeol, β-selinene, γ-curcumene, italidione I, and nerol as the main volatile components of the extracts, as well as plant sterols, γ-sitosterol, campesterol, and stigmasterol. The antioxidant (DPPH radical scavenging, reducing power, and a carotene linoleic acid assay) and cosmeceutical (anti-hyaluronidase, anti-tyrosinase, anti-lipoxygenase, ovalbumin anti-coagulation, and a UV-absorption assay) activity of the extracts in most of the assays was better than the activity of the applied positive controls. Especially low were the IC50 values of the extracts in the anti-hyaluronidase (14.31 ± 0.29 μL extract/mL and 19.82 ± 1.53 μL extract/mL for OPT-1 and OPT-2, respectively) and the anti-lipoxygenase (0.96 ± 0.11 μL extract/mL and 1.07 ± 0.01 μL extract/mL for OPT-1 and OPT-2, respectively) assays. The extracts were non-toxic to HaCaT cells in concentrations of up to 62.5 µL extract/mL assuring their status as excellent candidates for cosmeceutical product development appropriate for direct use in cosmetic products without solvent evaporation.

Sequence Characterization of ITS Regions of Immortelle Helichrysum italicum (Roth) G. Don from the East Adriatic Coast

The immortelle (Helichrysum italicum (Roth) G. Don) is a typical perennial plant of natural vegetation in the Mediterranean region, and due to secondary metabolites with several biological properties (anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-proliferative), it has become an important species for essential oil production, especially in the cosmetic industry. To increase the production of highly priced essential oils, it has been moved to cultivated fields. However, due to the lack of highly characterized planting material, there is a great need for genotype identification, and to provide a link with chemical profiles and geographic origin as a basis for the identification of local superior genotypes. The aims of the study were to characterize the ITS (ribosomal internal transcribed spacer) regions, ITS1 and ITS2, in samples from the East Adriatic region to determine the possibility of using these regions for plant genetic resources identification. Genetic variation was observed when comparing the ITS sequence variants of samples from the North-East Adriatic and the South-East Adriatic. Some rare and unique ITS sequence variants can be helpful for identifying specific populations from different geographical regions.

Helichrysum italicum: From Extraction, Distillation, and Encapsulation Techniques to Beneficial Health Effects

Helichrysum italicum (family Asteraceae), due to its various beneficial health effects, represents an important plant in the traditional medicine of Mediterranean countries. Currently, there is a renewed interest in this medicinal plant, especially in investigations involving the isolation and identification of its bioactive compounds from extracts and essential oils, as well as in experimental validation of their pharmacological activities. In this paper, we review the current knowledge on the beneficial health effects of Helichrysum italicum extracts, essential oils, and their major bioactive polyphenolic compounds, ranging from antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anticarcinogenic activities to their antiviral, antimicrobial, insecticidal, and antiparasitic effects. This review also provides an overview of the most promising extraction and distillation techniques for obtaining high-quality extracts and essential oils from Helichrysum italicum, as well as methods for determining their antioxidative, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and anticarcinogenic activities. Finally, new ideas for in silico studies of molecular mechanisms of bioactive polyphenols from Helichrysum italicum, together with novel suggestions for their improved bioavailability through diverse encapsulation techniques, are introduced.

Optimization of Cyclodextrin-Assisted Extraction of Phenolics from Helichrysum italicum for Preparation of Extracts with Anti-Elastase and Anti-Collagenase Properties

Helichrysum italicum is a plant traditionally used for skin-related disorders that is becoming an increasingly popular ingredient in cosmetic products. In this work, a "green" ultrasound-assisted extraction method for H. italicum phenolics was developed using skin-friendly cyclodextrins (CDs). Extraction conditions needed for the greatest yield of target compounds (total phenolics, phenolic acids, and flavonoids) were calculated. The composition of the extracts was determined using LC-MS and spectrophotometric methods. Among the tested CDs, 2-hydroxylpropyl-beta-CD (HP-β-CD) was the best suited for extraction of target phenolics and used to prepare two optimized extracts, OPT 1 (the extract with the highest phenolic acid content) and OPT 2 (the extract with the highest total phenol and flavonoid content). The extracts were prepared at 80 °C, using 0.089 g of plant material/g solvent (0.6 mmol of HP-β-CD), with or without addition of 1.95% (w/w) lactic acid. The main metabolite in both extracts was 3,5-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid. It was found that the addition of lactic acid greatly contributes to the extraction of arzanol, a well-known anti-inflammatory agent. IC₅₀ values of the anti-elastase (22.360 ± 0.125 μL extract/mL and 20.067 ± 0.975 for OPT-1 and OPT-2, respectively) and anti-collagenase (12.035 ± 1.029 μL extract/mL and 14.392 ± 0.705 μL extract/mL for OPT-1 and OPT-2, respectively) activities of the extracts surpassed those of the applied positive controls, namely ursolic and gallic acids. This activity deems the prepared extracts promising ingredients for natural cosmetics, appropriate for direct use in cosmetic products, removing the need for the evaporation of conventional solvents.

Towards a modern approach to traditional use of Helichrysum italicum in dermatological conditions: In vivo testing supercritical extract on artificially irritated skin

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Helichrysum italicum has been widely used in traditional medicine to treat allergies, colds, cough, skin, liver and gallbladder disorders, inflammation, infections, and sleeplessness. Furthermore, it possesses considerable wound healing and skin protective properties, documented by several in vivo studies performed on animals. However, there is a lack of experimental evidence supporting its potential as a topical agent tested by human clinical trials.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The study aimed to investigate the skin protective activity of cotton gauze and polypropylene non-woven fabric, impregnated with H. italicum extract by the integrated supercritical CO₂ extraction-supercritical solvent impregnation process.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The integrated process of supercritical CO₂ extraction of H. italicum and the impregnation of cotton gauze and polypropylene non-woven fabric was performed under 350 bar and 40 °C with and without the addition of ethanol as a cosolvent. Impregnated textile materials were tested in vivo for their bioactivity on irritated human skin. Randomized in vivo studies performed involved assays of both safety and efficacy of the impregnated textiles. The effects were evaluated using the in vivo non-invasive biophysical measurements of the following skin parameters: electrical capacitance, transepidermal water loss, melanin index, erythema index, and skin pH.

RESULTS

Both cotton gauze and polypropylene non-woven fabric were impregnated with H. italicum extracts under supercritical conditions with considerable values of the impregnation yield (1.97%-4.25%). The addition of ethanol as a cosolvent during the process caused significant changes in the incorporated extracts' impregnation yield and chemical profile. Both impregnated textile materials were safe, evaluated by their testing on the human skin with no cause of any irritation and redness. However, efficacy studies revealed that polypropylene non-woven fabric impregnated with H. italicum extract with ethanol as a cosolvent, possessed significantly greater potential for skin protection than the other investigated samples.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study demonstrated the feasibility of the combined supercritical extraction and impregnation process in developing materials for topical application based on H. italicum extract. The results of in vivo studies performed on human volunteers confirmed the suitability of H. italicum active components to be a part of human skin protective preparations because of their ability to maintain the skin unimpaired. Traditionally claimed applications as a medicinal plant capable of regenerating skin have been scientifically proven, in addition to employing green technology in obtaining the impregnated materials with a broad spectrum of utilization.

Salt-Tolerant Plants as Sources of Antiparasitic Agents for Human Use: A Comprehensive Review

Parasitic diseases, especially those caused by protozoans and helminths, such as malaria, trypanosomiasis, leishmaniasis, Chagas disease, schistosomiasis, onchocerciasis, and lymphatic filariasis, are the cause of millions of morbidities and deaths every year, mainly in tropical regions. Nature has always provided valuable antiparasitic agents, and efforts targeting the identification of antiparasitic drugs from plants have mainly focused on glycophytes. However, salt-tolerant plants (halophytes) have lately attracted the interest of the scientific community due to their medicinal assets, which include antiparasitic properties. This review paper gathers the most relevant information on antiparasitic properties of halophyte plants, targeting human uses. It includes an introduction section containing a summary of some of the most pertinent characteristics of halophytes, followed by information regarding the ethnomedicinal uses of several species towards human parasitic diseases. Then, information is provided related to the antiprotozoal and anthelmintic properties of halophytes, determined by in vitro and in vivo methods, and with the bioactive metabolites that may be related to such properties. Finally, a conclusion section is presented, addressing perspectives for the sustainable exploitation of selected species.

Development and Characterization of Thermal Water Gel Comprising Helichrysum italicum Essential Oil-Loaded Chitosan Nanoparticles for Skin Care

Helichrysum italicum essential oil (H. italicum EO) is recognized for its anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and wound-healing properties. The main goal of the present work was the development and characterization of a gel formulation comprising H. italicum EO loaded in chitosan nanoparticles (NPs) for dermatological applications. H. italicum EO-loaded chitosan NPs presented hydrodynamic diameter and PdI of about 300 nm and 0.28, respectively, and a surface charge of +19 mV. The H. italicum EO-loaded chitosan NPs were prepared by means of ionic gelation and then incorporated into a thermal water gel formulation. The organoleptic and physicochemical properties of the developed gel were studied. The gel remained stable under accelerated test conditions, maintaining pH, viscosity and organoleptic properties. In addition, the formulation presented pH, viscosity and spreadability properties suitable for topical application. Finally, the performance of the gel in topical application was evaluated on the skin of volunteers using non-invasive methods, particularly, by means of biometric evaluation. These assays showed that the properties of the developed thermal water-based gel formulation with H. italicum EO-loaded chitosan NPs can improve skin hydration and maintain healthy skin conditions, demonstrating its putative role for distinct dermatological applications.

Evaluating Potentials of Species Rich Taxonomic Groups in Cosmetics and Dermatology: Clustering and Dispersion of Skin Efficacy of Asteraceae and Ranunculales Plants on the Species Phylogenetic Tree

BACKGROUND

The medicinal properties of plants can be predicted by virtue of phylogenetic methods, which nevertheless have not been utilized to explore the regularity of skin-related bioactivities of ethnomedicinal plants. We aim to investigate the distribution of skin efficacy of Asteraceae and Ranunculales plants on the species-level Tree of Life.

METHODS

The clinical efficacy data of 551 ethnomedicinal species belonging to Ranunculales, as well as 579 ethnomedicinal species of Asteraceae, were systematically collected and collated; these therapeutic data fell into 15 categories, including skin disease/cosmeceutical. The large phylogenetic tree of all China angiosperm species was used to detect the phylogenetic signals of ethnomedicinal plants by calculating the D statistic, phylogenetic diversity (PD), net relatedness index (NRI), and nearest taxon index (NTI). Of all Chinese ethnomedicinal plants of Ranunculales and Asteraceae, 339 (61.5% of all ethnomedicinal species) and 382 (66.0% of all) are used for skin problems. In Ranunculales, a clustered structure was suggested by the NRI value for skin uses. In Asteraceae, the skin utility was not clustered; Artemisia, Aster, Cremanthodium, Ligularia, and Saussurea are the most used Asteraceae genera for skin issues.

RESULTS

The clustering structure was identified in Artemisia, and the skin efficacy in other genera was of overdispersion (NRI < 0). NTI values and D statistics largely agree with NRI. When compared with PD values of different therapeutic categories, the PD value of the skin category was relatively high in Cremanthodium, Ranunculales, Asteraceae, and Artemisia, suggesting the enormous efficacy space in the new taxa of these taxonomic groups.

CONCLUSION

By resolving the distribution of therapeutic effects of Ranunculales/Asteraceae taxa, the importance of phylogenetic methods in mining botanical resources with skin utilities is validated.

Neryl acetate, the major component of Corsican Helichrysum italicum essential oil, mediates its biological activities on skin barrier

Corsican Helichrysum italicum essential oil (HIEO) is characterized by high concentrations of neryl acetate, and we previously demonstrated that Corsican HIEO increases the expression of genes that are part of the differentiation complex (involucrin, small proline rich proteins, late cornified envelope, S100 protein family). The biological activities of HIEO and neryl acetate (NA) were compared to identify how NA contributes to HIEO activity on human skin. NA, as a part component of HIEO, was tested on skin explant models for 24 hours and 5 days in comparison with HIEO. We analyzed the biological regulations in the skin explant by transcriptomic analysis, skin barrier protein immunofluorescence, lipid staining and ceramide analysis by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that 41.5% of HIEO-modulated genes were also regulated by NA and a selected panel of genes were confirmed by qquantitative reverse transcription PCR analysis. Those genes are involved in epidermal differentiation, skin barrier formation and ceramide synthesis. Involucrin (IVL), involved in formation of the cornified envelope (CE), was upregulated at both gene and protein levels after 24 hours and 5 days respectively. After 5 days of treatment, total lipids and ceramides were also increased. Our results demonstrate that NA mediates a large part of Corsican HIEO activity on skin barrier formation.

Wound Healing and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of a Newly Developed Ointment Containing Jujube Leaves Extract

Ziziphus jujuba Mill. (jujube) is a well-known medicinal plant with pronounced wound healing properties. The present study aimed to establish the chemical composition of the lyophilized ethanolic extract from Romanian Ziziphus jujuba leaves and to evaluate the healing and anti-inflammatory properties of a newly developed lipophilic ointment containing 10% dried jujube leaves extract. The ultra-High-Performance Liquid Chromatography Electrospray Ionization Tandem Mass Spectrometry method was used, and 47 compounds were detected, among them the novel epicatechin and caffeic acid. The extract contains significant amounts of rutin (29.836 mg/g), quercetin (15.180 mg/g) and chlorogenic acid (350.96 µg/g). The lipophilic ointment has a slightly tolerable pH, between 5.41-5.42, and proved to be non-toxic in acute dermal irritation tests on New Zealand albino rabbits and after repeated administration on Wistar rats. The ointment also has a healing activity comparable to Cicatrizin (a pharmaceutical marketed product) on Wistar rats and a moderate anti-inflammatory action compared to the control group, but statistically insignificant compared to indomethacin in the rat-induced inflammation test by intraplantar administration of kaolin. The healing and anti-inflammatory properties of the tested ointment are due to phenolic acids and flavonoids content, less because of minor components as apocynin, scopoletin, and isofraxidin.

Helichrysum italicum (Roth) G. Don and Helichrysum arenarium (L.) Moench Infusion Consumption Affects the Inflammatory Status and the Composition of Human Gut Microbiota in Patients with Traits of Metabolic Syndrome: A Randomized Comparative Study

Helichrysum italicum (Roth) G. Don (HI) and Helichrysum arenarium (L.) Moench (HA) are rich in polyphenols and their infusions have beneficial effects for patients with metabolic syndrome. To investigate whether these effects are mediated by the gut microbiota, we analysed the effects of daily consumption of HI or HA infusion on the composition of gut microbiota, inflammatory status, and zonulin, a marker of gut barrier permeability. The study was a randomized, double-blind comparative trial. Thirty participants were randomly assigned to two groups and received either HA or HI tea filter bags, each containing 1 g of dried plant material, for daily consumption lasting 4 weeks. The results show that consumption of both infusions resulted in a reduction of some genera belonging to Firmicutes and in a slight but significant reduction in Shannon diversity index. Consumption of HI infusion significantly reduced serum levels of proinflammatory markers and zonulin alongside with the observed trend of Proteobacteria reduction. It can therefore be concluded that the HI and HA infusions could act as prebiotics and thus improve the intestinal environment. In addition, HI infusion has a positive impact on microbial dysbiosis and gut barrier dysfunction that occur in obesity and metabolic syndrome.

Whole transcriptome expression array analysis of human colon fibroblasts culture treated with Helichrysum italicum supports its use in traditional medicine

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Helichrysum italicum (HI) is a Mediterranean plant with well-reported use in traditional medicine for a wide range of applications, including digestive and liver disorders, intestinal parasitic infections, wound healing, stomach ache and asthma. However, little is known about the global mechanism behind its pleiotropic activity.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The aim of this study was to explain the mechanism behind the previously demonstrated effects of HI and to justify its use in traditional medicine.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A microarray-based transcriptome analysis was used to discover the global transcriptional alterations in primary colon fibroblasts after exposure to HI infusion for 6 h and 24 h. In addition, quantitative real-time PCR was used to verify the microarray results.

RESULTS

Altogether we identified 217 differentially expressed genes compared to non-treated cells, and only 8 were common to both treatments. Gene ontology analysis revealed that 24 h treatment with HI infusion altered the expression of genes involved in cytoskeletal rearrangement and cell growth, whereas pathway analysis further showed the importance of interleukin signaling and transcriptional regulation by TP53. For the 6 h treatment only the process of hemostasis appeared in the results of both enrichment analyses. In functional assays, HI infusion increased cell migration and decreased blood clotting and prothrombin time.

CONCLUSIONS

With the careful evaluation of the role of individual genes, especially SERPING1, ARHGAP1, IL33 and CDKN1A, represented in the enriched pathways and processes, we propose the main mode of HI action, which is wound healing. In addition to its indirect prevention of diseases resulting from the impaired barrier integrity, HI also effects inflammation and metabolic processes directly, as it regulates genes such as LRPPRC, LIPA, ABCA12, PRKAR1A and ANXA6.

The Essential Oil Composition of Helichrysum italicum (Roth) G. Don: Influence of Steam, Hydro and Microwave-Assisted Distillation

Helichrysum italicum (Roth) G. Don (Asteraceae), also known as immortelle, usually grows in the Mediterranean area. The composition of the essential oil (EO) of immortelle is a mixture of various aromatic substances, mainly monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes. Distillation is the most widely used method for extraction of EO immortelle, although the yield is very low (<1%). In this work, we aim to investigate how the use of different distillation methods affects the yield and chemical composition of immortelle EO. For this purpose, we applied two conventional methods: steam distillation (SD) and hydrodistillation (HD), and a modern (environmentally friendly) technique—microwave-assisted distillation (MAD). Wild immortelles from four different locations in Croatia were collected and carefully prepared for extraction. Each sample was then analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). GraphPad Prisma statistical software was used to study the statistics between different groups of connections and analyze the data on the number of connections. The results show that HD gives a significantly higher yield (0.31 ± 0.09%) compared to MAD (0.15 ± 0.03%) and SD (0.12 ± 0.04%). On the other hand, the highest number of chemical compounds was identified with MAD (95.75 ± 15.31%), and most of them are subordinate compounds with complex structures. SD isolated EOs are rich in derived acyclic compounds with the highest percentage of ketones. The results show that the application of different distillation methods significantly affects the composition of the obtained immortelle EO, considering the yield of EO, the number of isolated, derived and non-derived compounds, chemotypes and compounds with simple (acyclic) and complex structures.

Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Properties of Helichrysum italicum (Roth) G. Don Hydrosol

(1) Background: According to the emergence and spread of antibiotic resistance, there is an urge for new promising substances. The purpose of the study was to test the antioxidant, cytotoxic and antimicrobial properties of the Helichrysum italicum (Roth) G. Don essential oil (EO) and hydrosol. (2) Methods: The antioxidant potential was determined using the DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) method. The cytotoxicity for human skin and intestinal cells was tested using primary and immortalized cell line models. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of hydrosol was then determined for six bacterial strains covering four commonly reported food pathogens. Further on, the hydrosol at a concentration of 1/8 MIC was used to test the antiadhesive effect by the crystal violet (CV) staining method. (3) Results: the EO showed a 100-times higher antioxidant and 180- to 25.000-times higher cytotoxic activity, when compared to hydrosol. Nevertheless, all bacterial strains, with the exception of Staphylococcus aureus, were sensitive to hydrosol in the range of 12.5% (V/V) for Campylobacter jejuni, to MIC values of 100% (V/V) for Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The antiadhesive potential of hydrosol was also shown. (4) Conclusions: Even though hydrosols are a by-product of the EO distillation process, they possess valuable biological activities.

Identification of Anti-HIV Biomarkers of Helichrysum Species by NMR-Based Metabolomic Analysis

Several species of the Helichrysum genus have been used ethnobotanically to treat conditions that we today know have been caused by viral infections. Since HIV is a modern disease with no ethnobotanical history, we commenced with a study on the anti-HIV activity of several Helichrysum species. Drug discovery of small molecules from natural resources that is based on the integration of chemical and biological activity by means of metabolomical analyses, enables faster and a more cost-effective path to identify active compounds without the need for a long process of bioassay-guided fractionation. This study used metabolomics to identify anti-HIV compounds as biomarkers from 57 Helichrysum species in a combined study of the chemical and biological data of two previous studies. In the OPLS-DA and hierarchical cluster analyses, anti-HIV activity data was included as a secondary observation, which assisted in the correlation of the phytochemical composition and biological activity of the samples. Clear grouping revealed similarity in chemical composition and bioactivity of the samples. Based on the biological activity of polar extracts, there was a distinct phytochemical difference between active and non-active groups of extracts. This NMR-based metabolomic investigation showed that the chlorogenic acids, compounds with cinnamoyl functional groups, and quinic acid were the most prominent compounds in the Helichrysum species with anti-HIV activity. This study further revealed that the chlorogenic acid type compounds and quinic acid are biomarkers for anti-HIV activity.

Helichrysum italicum (Roth) G. Don and Helichrysum arenarium (L.) Moench infusions in reversing the traits of metabolic syndrome: a double-blind randomized comparative trial

Health impairments characteristic for metabolic syndrome such as increased body mass, a dysregulated lipid or glucose profile and elevated blood pressure can be reversed by appropriate lifestyle modifications. Supplementing the normal diet with herbal infusions is a promising strategy. We conducted a randomised double-blind comparative study in which participants with at least two traits of metabolic syndrome consumed an infusion of either Helichrysum italicum subsp. italicum (HI, n = 14) or Helichrysum arenarium (HA, n = 13) daily for 28 days. Anthropometric and biochemical parameters were measured at baseline, at the end of the intervention and after a 2-week washout period. HI infusion consumption had a beneficial effect on anthropometric traits; significant reductions in body weight, body mass index, and visceral and total body fat were observed. In the HA group, there was a greater reduction in serum glucose levels and an improvement in the lipid profile. In both groups, high LDL levels were measured at baseline, but two weeks after the intervention, in 84% of participants in the HA group and 71% in the HI group, the levels were within the reference range. Both interventions caused a decrease in HDL but also improved serum antioxidant properties. Consuming either infusion could thus be recommended as a simple, profitable habit for individuals with traits of metabolic syndrome.

In vitro and in silico studies of SARS-CoV-2 main protease Mpro inhibitors isolated from Helichrysum bracteatum

Discovering SARS-CoV-2 inhibitors from natural sources is still a target that has captured the interest of many researchers. In this study, the compounds (1-18) present in the methanolic extract of Helichrysum bracteatum were isolated, identified, and their in vitro inhibitory activities against SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro) was evaluated using fluorescence resonance energy transfer assay (FRET-based assay). Based on 1D and 2D spectroscopic techniques, compounds (1-18) were identified as 24-β-ethyl-cholesta-5(6),22(23),25(26)-triene-3-ol (1), α-amyrin (2), linoleic acid (3), 24-β-ethyl-cholesta-5(6),22(23),25(26)-triene-3-O-β-d-glucoside (4), 1,3-propanediol-2-amino-1-(3',4'-methylenedioxyphenyl) (5), (-)-(7R,8R,8'R)-acuminatolide (6), (+)-piperitol (7), 5,7,4'-trihydroxy-8,3'-dimethoxy flavanone (8), 5,7,4'-trihydroxy-6-methoxy flavanone (9), 4',5-dihydroxy-3',7,8-trimethoxyflavone (10), 5,7-dihydroxy-3',4',5',8-tetramethoxy flavone (11), 1,3-propanediol-2-amino-1-(4'-hydroxy-3'-methoxyphenyl) (12), 3',5',5,7-tetrahydroxy-6-methoxyflavanone (13), simplexoside (piperitol-O-β-d-glucoside) (14), pinoresinol monomethyl ether-β-d-glucoside (15), orientin (16), luteolin-3'-O-β-d-glucoside (17), and 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid (18). Compounds 6, 12, and 14 showed comparable inhibitory activities against SARS-CoV-2 Mpro with IC50 values of 0.917 ± 0.05, 0.476 ± 0.02, and 0.610 ± 0.03 μM, respectively, compared with the control lopinavir with an IC50 value of 0.225 ± 0.01 μM. The other tested compounds showed considerable inhibitory activities. The molecular docking study for the tested compounds was carried out to correlate their binding modes and affinities for the SARS-CoV-2 Mpro enzyme with the in vitro results. Analyzing the results of the in vitro assay together with the obtained in silico results led to the conclusion that phenylpropanoids, lignans, and flavonoids could be considered suitable drug leads for developing anti-COVID-19 therapeutics. Moreover, the phenylpropanoid skeleton oxygenated at C3, C4 of the phenyl moiety and at C1, C3 of the propane parts constitute an essential core of the SARS-CoV-2 Mpro inhibitors, and thus could be proposed as a scaffold for the design of new anti-COVID-19 drugs.

Antioxidant and Antibacterial Activity of Helichrysum italicum (Roth) G. Don. from Central Europe

Helichrysum italicum (Roth) G. Don. is one of the most important cosmetic and medicinal plants originating from the Mediterranean region of Europe. The aim of this study was to assess the chemical profile as well as antioxidant and antibacterial potential of the species cultivated in the temperate climate of Central Europe. The analyses were carried out using herbs and inflorescences. The content of essential oil ranged from 0.25 g × 100 g⁻¹ in the herb to 0.31 g × 100 g⁻¹ in the inflorescences. Neryl acetate, accompanied by α-pinene in the herb (10.42%), and nerol in inflorescences (15.73%) were the dominants here. Rutoside, as well as rosmarinic, chlorogenic, neochlorogenic, isochlorogenic b and cichoric acids, were detected in both raw materials using HPLC-DAD. Within this group, cichoric acid was the dominant (2647.90 mg × 100 g⁻¹ in the herb, 1381.06 mg × 100 g⁻¹ in the inflorescences). The herb appeared to be more abundant in phenolics in comparison with the inflorescences. When given antioxidant activity (determined using DPPH and ABTS assays), both methanolic extract and essential oil obtained from the herb indicated higher potential than those originating from the inflorescences (74.72, 61.38 and 63.81, 58.59% in the case of DPPH, respectively). In turn, regarding antimicrobial activity, the essential oil from inflorescences was distinguished by stronger bacteriostatic power than the herb essential oil. Gram-positive bacteria were more sensitive to both essential oils in comparison with Gram-negative ones, with S. aureus ATCC 25923 as the most susceptible (MIC 1; MBC 16 mg × mL⁻¹) among tested strains.

Helichrysum Genus and Compound Activities in the Management of Diabetes Mellitus

The global management of diabetes mellitus (DM) involves the administration of recommended anti-diabetic drugs in addition to a non-sedentary lifestyle upon diagnosis. Despite the success recorded from these synthetic drugs, the traditional method of treatment using medicinal plants is increasingly accepted by the locals due to its low cost and the perceived no side effects. Helichrysum species are used in folk medicine and are documented for the treatment of DM in different regions of the world. This study reviews Helichrysum species and its compounds’ activities in the management of DM. An extensive literature search was carried out, utilizing several scientific databases, ethnobotanical books, theses, and dissertations. About twenty-two Helichrysum species were reported for the treatment of diabetes in different regions of the world. Among these Helichrysum species, only fifteen have been scientifically investigated for their antidiabetic activities, and twelve compounds were identified as bioactive constituents for diabetes. This present review study will be a useful tool for scientists and health professionals working in the field of pharmacology and therapeutics to develop potent antidiabetic drugs that are devoid of side effects.

Chemical Profile and Antimicrobial Activity of the Essential Oils of Helichrysum arenarium (L.) Moench. and Helichrysum italicum (Roth.) G. Don

This study compared the essential oils (EO) composition of Helichrysum arenarium (Bulgarian populations) with that of the cultivated species H. italicum. The EO composition of H. arenarium and H. italicum were analyzed via gas chromatography. In general, 75 components were identified in H. arenarium EO and 79 in H. italicum EO. The predominant constituents in H. arenarium EO were α-pinene (34.64–44.35%) and sabinene (10.63–11.1%), which affirmed the examined population as a new chemical type. Overall, the main EO constituents of H. italicum originating in France, Bosnia and Corsica were neryl acetate (4.04–14.87%) and β-himachalene (9.9–10.99%). However, the EOs profile of H. italicum introduced from the above three countries differed to some extent. D-limonene (5.23%), italicene, α-guaiene and neryl acetate (14.87%) predominated in the H. italicum introduced from France, while α-pinene (13.74%), δ-cadinene (5.51%), α-cadinene (3.3%), β-caryophyllene (3.65%) and α-calacorene (1.63%) predominated in plants introduced from Bosnia. The EOs of the plants introduced from France and Corsica had similar chemical composition and antimicrobiological activity.

Screening for anti-adipogenic, pro-lipolytic and thermogenic plant extracts by models associating intestinal epithelial cells with human adipose cells

Purpose

Excessive fat mass accumulation in obesity leads to diverse metabolic disorders, increased risks of cardiovascular diseases and in some cases, mortality. The aim of this study was to screen the actions of botanical extracts intended for oral use on human adipose tissue, using an in vitro screening model combining human intestinal cells with human adipose cells. This was to find the most effective extracts on lipid accumulation, UCP1 expression and ATP production in pre-adipocytes and on adipocyte lipolysis.

Methods

In this study, 25 individual plant extracts were screened for their effects on human adipose cells. Consequently, an original in vitro model was set up using the Caco-2 cell line, to mimic the intestinal passage of the extracts and then exposing human adipose cells to them. The biological actions of extracts were thus characterized, and compared with a coffee extract standard. The most effective extracts, and their combinations, were retained for their actions on lipid accumulation, the expression of the thermogenic effector UCP1 and ATP production in pre-adipocytes as well as on lipolysis activity of mature adipocytes.

Results

The biphasic culture system combining human Caco-2 cells with human adipose cells was verified as functional using the green coffee extract standard. Out of the 25 plant extracts studied, only 7 and their combinations were retained due to their potent effects on adipose cells biology. The data showed that compared to the coffee extract standard, Immortelle, Catechu, Carrot and Rose hip extracts were the most effective in reducing lipid accumulation and increased UCP1 expression in human pre-adipocytes.

Conclusion

This study reveals the potential inhibitory effects on lipid accumulation and thermogenic activity of Immortelle, Catechu, Carrot and Rose hip extracts, and for the first time synergies in their combinations, using an in vitro model mimicking as closely as possible, human intestinal passage linked to adipose cells. These findings need to be confirmed by in vivo trials.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00394-021-02794-8.

Photoprotection by clothing: A review

Clothing is recognized by leading health agencies as a primary method to protect against the harmful effects of photodamage caused by ultraviolet (UV) radiation and visible light. The photoprotective capacity of clothing is commonly measured as the ultraviolet protective factor (UPF). While the technology driving photoprotective clothing has been well-established, there continues to be efforts to discover new materials to improve the UPF of clothing. Here, we show increased Google searches for photoprotective clothing over the last decade, suggesting a high level of public interest in photoprotective clothing. In addition, we investigate the frequency of UPF-graded photoprotective clothing sold by large retail stores featured in Fortune 1000. We review factors that alter the UPF of clothing and describe emerging textile technologies used to increase clothing's photoprotective capacity. Finally, we compare how photoprotective clothing is regulated among different countries, the importance of photoprotective clothing in occupational health, and research in visible light and clothing photoprotection.

Volatiloma analyses of four South African Helichrysum spp. grown in Italy

The volatiloma of four Helichrysum species (H. anomalum, H reflexum, H. retortum and H. rugulosum) was analysed here for the first time by GC-MS for a chemotaxonomic contribution to this genus. Sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (SHs) prevailed in the aroma profile (VOCs) of H. reflexum, H. rugulosum and H. anomalum (74.7%, 93.6% and 41.6%, respectively), even though the main compounds were different (β-caryophyllene, α-humulene and α-copaene, respectively). The VOCs of H. retortum showed a high percentage of aliphatic hydrocarbons (NTs, 77.7%) mainly represented by octyl ether. The essential oil composition of each of H. rugulosum and H. retortum followed the same trend as VOCs related to the main class (SHs and NTs, respectively). In H. reflexum EO, the SHs were replaced by oxygenated sesquiterpenes (OS, 49.0%) with caryophyllene oxide as the main compound, while in H. anomalum the SHs were swapped in NTs (37.3%).

Ethnopharmacological studies of medicinal plants in central Zagros, Lorestan Province, Iran

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Lorestan Province (Iran) has a great diversity of habitats and plant diversity and the people living in this province have a good knowledge of herbal therapies.

AIM OF THE STUDY

In this study, the authors aimed to identify and report the medicinal plants used in the folk medicine of Lorestan.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The indigenous medicinal information was collected with a semi-structured open-ended questionnaire, interviews, and personal observations. The relative importance of the species were estimated through frequency of citations (FC).

RESULTS

and discussion: A total of 555 plants belonging to 91 families were identified. The plants belong to Asteraceae with 62 species followed by Lamiaceae (56), Apiaceae (44), Fabaceae (41), and Brassicaceae (31). The plants were mostly used as a decoction or eaten raw (32%). Leaves (22%) were the most utilized plant parts followed by shoots (16%), and seeds (13%). Thymus daenensis, Thymus eriocalyx, Mentha longifolia, Mentha spicata, Mentha piperitha, Alium sativum, Quercus infectoria, Quercus persica, Ziziphora clinopodioides, and Malus domestica had the highest FC values. Most of the plants were used for gastrointestinal, respiratory, and skin problems.

CONCLUSION

Lorestan is a region rich in medicinal plants. The local knowledge of herbal therapies can be used as complementary medicine, particularly by people in remote areas and as a guide for the future pharmacological and phytochemical studies. While the known medicinal plants can be harvested or cultivated for medical and pharmaceutical purposes, the less known plants with high FC scores can be investigated phytochemically and pharmacologically in the future studies.

Enhanced Skin Performance of Emulgel vs. Cream as Systems for Topical Delivery of Herbal Actives (Immortelle Extract and Hemp Oil)

Immortelle, as rich source of chlorogenic acid and the phloroglucinol alpha-pyrone compound arzanol, possesses anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, affects cell regeneration, and has positive effect on many skin conditions. Hemp oil, characterized by a favorable omega-6 to omega-3 ratio, as well as an abundance of essential fatty acids and vitamin E, participates in immunoregulation and also act as an anti-inflammatory. In the present study, we examined the effect on the skin of creams and emulgels with immortelle extract and hemp oil, by comparing them to placebo samples and a non-treated control. A long-term in vivo study of biophysical skin characteristics, which lasted for 30 days, was conducted on 25 healthy human volunteers. Measured parameters were electrical capacitance of the stratum corneum, trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL), and skin pH and erythema index. Further, a sensory study was carried out in which the panelists had to choose descriptive terms for sensory attributes in questionnaire. The results showed that application of all preparations led to increase of skin hydration and TEWL reduction, while the skin was not irritated, and its normal pH was not disrupted. This study also showed importance of the carrier. Not only were emulgels described by panelists as preparations with better sensory properties, there was a significant difference between the skin hydration effect of emulgel with immortelle extract and hemp oil compared to the placebo emulgel, which was not the case with creams. Such findings indicated enhanced delivery of herbal active substances from emulgel compared to the cream.

Linking the antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects of immortelle essential oil with its chemical composition - The interplay between the major and minor constituents

Immortelle (Helichrysum italicum, Asteraceae) essential oil has been widely used in alternative medicine to accelerate wound healing, as well as in cosmetic products to stimulate skin regeneration and to reduce the appearance of wrinkles. It is also considered a natural and safe culinary spice that could also be applied in the food industry as a preservative in the future. The therapeutic efficacy of this oil changes with the natural variability of the composition. Herein we tested and mutually compared the antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities of four commercial immortelle oils differing in the relative amounts of marker compounds, i.e. neryl esters, α-pinene, γ- and ar-curcumenes, and β-diketones. The anti-inflammatory effect of selected chromatographic fractions, enriched in the aforementioned constituents, was evaluated by studying toxicity toward rat peritoneal macrophages, their nitric oxide production, myeloperoxidase, and arginase activities. Subsequently, the compositional and activity data were subjected to a multivariate statistical treatment to reveal the possible correlation(s) between the percentage of essential-oil constituents and the observed activities. The obtained results imply that immortelle oil efficiency as an antimicrobial and/or anti-inflammatory agent is most plausibly a result of a synergistic action between its constituents, and/or, rather unexpectedly, the presence of some minor constituents.

Metabolite Profiling of Helichrysum italicum Derived Food Supplements by 1H-NMR-Based Metabolomics

Helichrysum italicum is a medicinal plant from the Mediterranean area, widely used in traditional medicine for its anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antioxidant properties and for its preventive effects on microcirculation diseases. Due to these properties, it finds large applications in cosmetic, food and pharmaceutical fields. Additionally, hydroalcoholic extracts and mother tinctures based on H. italicum represent products with a high commercial value, widely distributed not only in drug stores but also on on-line markets. The different extraction procedures used can greatly affect the fingerprints of the extracts, resulting in a different qualitative or quantitative profile of the chemical constituents responsible for biological activity. The aim of the present study was to characterize the composition of bioactive compounds present in water-ethanol and glycerol extracts of H. italicum derived food supplements. Metabolite profiles of the extracts were obtained by ¹H NMR experiments and data were processed by multivariate statistical analysis to highlight differences in the extracts and to evidence the extracts with the highest concentrations of bioactive metabolites. In detail, this work highlights how derived food supplements of H. italicum obtained using ethanol-water mixtures ranging from 45% to 20% of ethanol represent the products with the highest amount of both primary (amino acids) and secondary metabolites including 3,4-dicaffeoylquinic acid (9), chlorogenic acid (10), 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid (11), and kaempferol 3-O-glucopyranoside (12). Moreover, it is evident that the use of an ethanol-water mixture 20:80 is the most suitable method to afford the highest number of phenolic compounds, while food-derived supplements obtained by glycerol extraction are characterized by a high amount of β-glucose and α-glucose and a low content of phenolic compounds.

In Vitro Anti-Trypanosoma cruzi Activity of Halophytes from Southern Portugal Reloaded: A Special Focus on Sea Fennel (Crithmum maritimum L.)

Marine halophytes are an outstanding reservoir of natural products and several species have anti-infectious traditional uses. However, reports about their potential use against neglected tropical ailments, such as Chagas disease, are scarce. This work evaluated for the first time the in vitro anti-Trypanosoma cruzi activity of extracts from the aromatic and medicinal species Helichrysum italicum subsp. picardii (Boiss. & Reut.) Franco (Asteraceae, everlasting) and Crithmum maritimum L. (Apiaceae, sea fennel). For that purpose, decoctions, tinctures, and essential oils from everlasting's flowers and sea fennel's stems, leaves, and flowers were tested against intracellular amastigotes of two T. cruzi strains. The extract from the sea fennel flower decoction displayed significant anti-trypanosomal activity and no toxicity towards the host cell (EC50 = 17.7 µg/mL, selectivity index > 5.65). Subsequent fractionation of this extract afforded 5 fractions that were re-tested in the same model of anti-parasitic activity. Fraction 1 was the most active and selective (EC50 = 0.47 μg/mL, selectivity index = 59.6) and was submitted to preparative thin-layer chromatography. One major compound was identified, falcarindiol, which was likely the one responsible for the observed anti-trypanosomal activity. This was confirmed using a commercially sourced molecule. Target-fishing studies showed falcarindiol as a ligand of T. cruzi spermidine synthase, pointing to a potential enzyme-inhibiting anti-trypanosomal mechanism of action. Overall, this work shows that sea fennel can provide effective anti-parasitic molecule(s) with potential pharmacological applications in the treatment of CD.

Influence of Harvest Time, Method of Preparation and Method of Distillation on the Qualitative Properties of Organically Grown and Wild Helichrysum italicum Immortelle Essential Oil

The most important process in immortelle is the extraction of the essential oil by distillation. The chemical properties of the plant depend largely on the cultivation type, climatic conditions and agrotechnical measures. In this work, studies were carried out on organically grown and wild immortelle harvested during the summer (July) and autumn (October) seasons of 2020. Immortelle samples were prepared by drying naturally in two ways: in direct sunlight and in shade. To extract the essential oil, immortelle was distilled in two ways: on an industrial and a laboratory scale. The essential oil was analyzed by gas chromatography to determine the composition and quality of the essential oil. The results of this work showed that the qualitative properties of the essential oil were influenced by the cultivation type, harvesting time, preparation method and distillation method. A higher yield (0.21% ± 0.03) of essential oil was obtained from wild immortelle whereas a better utilization rate (0.38% ± 0.09) of essential oil was obtained from the organically grown immortelle. It was also found that a higher yield of essential oil was obtained from the summer harvest (0.19% ± 0.01) and a higher utilization rate from the autumn harvest (0.33% ± 0.13) with the industrial scale distillation and shade drying. In general, better qualitative properties of immortelle essential oil were obtained from wild immortelle, which was confirmed by a chromatographic analysis and better content of γ-curcumene (16.64% ± 0.30) and neryl acetate (8.15% ± 0.19) and other constituents except α-pinene where organically grown had a higher share (24.27% ± 0.97).

A Review and Evaluation of the Data Supporting Internal Use of Helichrysum italicum

Helichrysum italicum is a Mediterranean plant with various pharmacological activities. Despite extensive reports on the bioactivity of the plant, its clinically studied applications have not yet been reviewed. The aim of our study was to gather information on the internal use of H. italicum and its bioactive constituents to determine its efficacy and safety for human use. We reviewed research articles that have not been previously presented in this context and analyzed relevant clinical studies with H. italicum. Cochranelibrary.com revealed six eligible clinical trials with H. italicum that examined indications for pain management, cough, and mental exhaustion. Although the efficacy of H. italicum has been demonstrated both in in vitro tests and in humans, it is difficult to attribute results from clinical trials to H. italicum alone, as it has usually not been tested as the sole component. On the other hand, clinical trials provide positive information on the safety profile since no adverse effects have been reported. We conclude that H. italicum is safe to use internally, while new clinical studies with H. italicum as a single component are needed to prove its efficacy. Based on the recent trend in H. italicum research, further studies are to be expected.

Non-pharmacological remedies for post-viral acute cough

The post-viral acute cough (PAC) is a widespread symptom, mainly in childhood and adolescence, and is usually associated with an acute upper respiratory infection, namely the common cold. The use of cough relievers is, therefore, impressive, as documented by the market data. There are many medical devices and dietary supplements for treating PAC, which contain non-pharmacological components. Ancient people used traditional herbs to treat PAC. Thus, a well-established tradition considers natural remedies as an effective and safe way to relieve PAC. The herbal agents include polyphenols, flavonoids, saponins, glucosides, and alkaloids. Also, the European Medicine Agency has recognized the value of plant extracts and other natural substances to treat PAC. Nevertheless, a few studies investigated the role of non-pharmacologic remedies for PAC. There is some evidence for honey, glycerol, Althea officinalis, Drosera rotundifolia, Grindelia, Hedera helix, Pelargonium sidoides, Sambucus nigra, Thymus vulgaris, hyaluronic acid, and saline solutions. However, further rigorous studies should confirm natural products' efficacy and safety to relieve PAC.

Medicinal Properties and In Vitro Biological Activities of Selected Helichrysum Species from South Africa: A Review

The genus Helichrysum Mill comprises hundreds of species that are mostly flowering perennial shrubs. Some of these plants that belong to the Helichrysum species are used in traditional medicine to treat cough, back pain, diabetes, asthma, digestive problems, menstrual pain, chest pain, kidney disorders, skin disorders, wounds, open sores, among other conditions, but, only a few scientific studies are reported in the literature with sufficient information that validates the acclaimed folkloric benefits of these plants. This review, therefore, provides a comprehensive update of the available information on the cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, anti-proliferative, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-viral, anti-HIV, anti-malarial, anti-ulcerogenic, anti-tyrosinase, anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidant activities of selected Helichrysum species of interest: H. petiolare, H. cymocum, H. foetidum, and H. pandurifolium Schrank, using scientific databases as well as electronic and print sources. The ethnobotanical and morphological characteristics as well as the phytochemical composition and biological activities of these plants are elucidated. The scientific rationale for their current use is discussed based on the evidence in the literature. This review highlights the putative use of the Helichrysum species as a reliable source of bioactive compounds for the production of standard commercial drugs to treat many ailments, including those reported in folkloric uses. Further research on the many plants in the genus Helichrysum is recommended to explore their economic importance both as edible crops and medicinal botanicals.

Helichrysum italicum ssp. italicum Infusion Promotes Fat Oxidation in Hepatocytes and Stimulates Energy Expenditure and Fat Oxidation after Acute Ingestion in Humans: A Pilot Study

Helichrysum italicum is an aromatic plant with promising pharmacological activities. Bioactive compounds found in plants represent an important alternative treatment for weight loss and an infusion of H. italicum contains compounds which could have such effect. Our aim was, therefore, to investigate its acute effects on resting energy expenditure (REE) and possible differences in substrate oxidation in a pilot study. A dried, ground plant material of H. italicum ssp. italicum was infused with hot water and chemically characterized with HPLC-MS analysis. Sensory evaluation of herbal tea was performed. A randomized, crossover, controlled pilot study was then conducted on eleven healthy male subjects. The REE and substrate oxidation were measured by indirect calorimetry at baseline and 30 and 120 min after ingestion of infusion or hot water. The expression of genes involved in lipid metabolism was examined in H. italicum infusion-treated hepatocytes. Several phenolic classes were identified in the infusion, caffeoylquinic acids were the most abundant, followed by pyrones and flavonols. A single ingestion of H. italicum infusion significantly increased REE by 4% and fat oxidation by 12% compared to hot water ingestion. A significant 2-fold up-regulation of β-oxidation-related genes in HepG2 cells, exposed to H. italicum infusion, was detected. This pilot study suggests that H. italicum infusion possesses bioactive substances with potential application in obesity prevention, which could, with additional studies, become an economically interesting novel application of the plant. Clinical trial registration number: NCT04818905

Evaluation of the in vitro antibacterial activity of some essential oils and their blends against Staphylococcus spp. isolated from episodes of sheep mastitis

Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococci are among the major causes of mastitis in sheep. The main goal of this research was to determine the in vitro antibacterial activity of several essential oils (EOs, n 30), then five of them were chosen and tested alone and in blends against staphylococci isolates. Five bacteria were isolated from episodes of ovine mastitis (two S. aureus and three S. xylosus). Biochemical and molecular methods were employed to identify the isolates and disk diffusion method was performed to determine their antimicrobial-resistance profile. The relative percentage of the main constituents in the tested essential oils and their blends was detected by GC-EIMS analysis. Antibacterial and bactericidal effectiveness of essential oils and blends were evaluated through minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC). All of them showed sensitivity to the used antimicrobials. The EOs with the highest antibacterial activity were those belonging to the Lamiaceae family characterized by high concentrations of thymol, carvacrol and its precursor p-cymene, together with cinnamon EO, rich in cinnamaldehyde. In terms of both MIC and MBC values, the blend composed by Thymus capitatus EO 40%, Cinnamomum zeylanicum EO 20%, Thymus serpyllum EO 20% and Satureja montana EO 20% was found to be the most effective against all the isolates. Some essential oils appear to represent, at least in vitro, a valid tool against ovine mastitis pathogens. Some blends showed a remarkable effectiveness than the single oils, highlighting a synergistic effect in relation to the phytocomplex.

Synthesis and Spectrophotometric Analysis of Microcapsules Containing Immortelle Essential Oil

In this study, microcapsules were prepared by solvent evaporation technique using ethyl cellulose component as wall and essential oil as core material. The synthesis of microcapsules was carried out using different oil masses. The analysis of the microcapsules was carried out using field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) and UV spectrophotometric analysis using absorption spectrophotometer. The obtained results confirm the regular spherical shape and size of the synthesized microcapsules. The qualitative and quantitative spectrophotometric analysis of the microencapsulated immortelle oil was measured at the wavelength of 265 nm. The calibration diagram was used to calculate the unknown concentrations of the microencapsulated oil. The obtained results confirm the application of the presented method as relevant for the possible determination of microencapsulated oil on textile materials.

A Comparative Study of the Antioxidative Effects of Helichrysum italicum and Helichrysum arenarium Infusions

Helichrysum arenarium (L.) Moench (abbrev. as HA) has a long tradition in European ethnomedicine and its inflorescences are approved as a herbal medicinal product. In the Mediterranean part of Europe, Helichrysum italicum (Roth) G. Don (abbrev. as HI) is more common. Since infusions from both plants are traditionally used, we aimed to compare their antioxidative potential using in vitro assays. Two morphologically distinct HI plants, HIa and HIb, were compared to a commercially available HA product. Genetic analysis using microsatellites confirmed a clear differentiation between HI and HA and suggested that HIb was a hybrid resulting from spontaneous hybridization from unknown HI subspecies. High-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis showed the highest amounts of hydroxycinnamic acids and total arzanol derivatives in HIa, whereas HIb was richest in monohydroxybenzoic acids, caffeic acids, and coumarins, and HA contained the highest amounts of flavonoids, especially flavanones. HIa exhibited the highest radical scavenging activity; it was more efficient in protecting different cell lines from induced oxidative stress and in inducing oxidative stress-related genes superoxide dismutase 1, catalase, and glutathione reductase 1. The antioxidative potential of HI was not only dependent on the morphological type of the plant but also on the harvest date, revealing important information for obtaining the best possible product. Considering the superior properties of HI compared to HA, the evaluation of HI as a medicinal plant could be recommended.

Biofilm Degradation of Nontuberculous Mycobacteria Formed on Stainless Steel Following Treatment with Immortelle (Helichrysum italicum) and Common Juniper (Juniperus communis) Essential Oils

Nontuberculous mycobacteria, like other opportunistic premise plumbing pathogens, produce resistant biofilms on various surfaces in the plumbing system including pipes, tanks, and fittings. Since standard methods of water disinfection are ineffective in eradicating biofilms, research into new agents is necessary. Essential oils (EOs) have great potential as anti-biofilm agents. Therefore, the purpose of this research was to investigate the potential anti-biofilm effect of common juniper (Juniperus communis) and immortelle (Helichrysum italicum) EOs. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBC), and minimum effective concentrations of EOs on Mycobacterium avium, M. intracellulare, and M. gordonae were tested. Additionally, biofilms on the surface of a stainless steel disc were treated with single or mixed concentration of EOs, in order to investigate their degeneration via the bacterial count and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). H. italicum EO showed the strongest biofilm degradation ability against all Mycobacteria strains that were tested. The strongest effect in the biofilm degradation after the single or mixed applications of EOs was observed against M. gordonae, followed by M. avium. The most resistant was the M. intracellulare biofilm. Synergistic combinations of J. communis and H. italicum EOs therefore seem to be an effective substance in biofilm degradation for use in small water systems such as baths or hot tubs.