Simultaneous Hydrodistillation-Steam Distillation of Rosmarinus officinalis, Lavandula angustifolia and Citrus aurantium from Morocco, Major Terpenes: Impact on Biological Activities

Rosemary: Unrevealing an old aromatic crop as a new source of promising functional food additive-A review

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) is one of the most famous spice plants belonging to the Lamiaceae family as a remarkably beautiful horticultural plant and economically agricultural crop. The essential oil of rosemary has been enthusiastically welcome in the whole world for hundreds of years. Now, it is wildly prevailing as a promising functional food additive for human health. More importantly, due to its significant aroma, food, and nutritional value, rosemary also plays an essential role in the food/feed additive and food packaging industries. Modern industrial development and fundamental scientific research have extensively revealed its unique phytochemical constituents with biologically meaningful activities, which closely related to diverse human health functions. In this review, we provide a comprehensively systematic perspective on rosemary by summarizing the structures of various pharmacological and nutritional components, biologically functional activities and their molecular regulatory networks required in food developments, and the recent advances in their applications in the food industry. Finally, the temporary limitations and future research trends regarding the development of rosemary components are also discussed and prospected. Hence, the review covering the fundamental research advances and developing prospects of rosemary is a desirable demand to facilitate their better understanding, and it will also serve as a reference to provide many insights for the future promotion of the research and development of functional foods related to rosemary.

Sulfur nanocomposites with insecticidal effect for the control of Bactericera cockerelli

The purpose of this research was to synthesize nanocomposites consisting of sulfur nanoparticles coated with eucalyptus and rosemary essential oils to determine the insecticidal effect in the control of nymphs of paratrioza (Bactericera cockerelli (Sulc) (Hemiptera: Triozidae)) in potato crops. A solution of thiosulfate was reduced to elemental sulfur, and the sulfur nanoparticles were coated with eucalyptus and rosemary essential oils with the three concentrations of 0.25%, 0.5%, and 0.75%. The samples were characterized by UV-visible spectroscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. The insecticidal efficacy of the nanocomposites was evaluated in the entomology laboratory 24, 48, and 72 h after application. Furthermore, efficacy was compared to the commercial insecticide thiamethoxam (0.25%) and a control. The results show that eucalyptus nanocomposites with oil concentrations of 0.25%, 0.5%, and 0.75% and rosemary nanocomposites with an oil concentration of 0.5% have an insecticidal efficacy of 100% for the control of insect nymphs 24 h after application. The insecticidal efficacy of rosemary nanocomposites with oil concentrations of 0.25% and 0.75% increases over time and reaches 100% at 24 and 72 h, respectively. The synthesized nanocomposites are more effective in controlling nymphs of paratrioza than the commercial insecticide thiamethoxam; thus, they could be used for the development of new insecticides.

Optimization and antifungal efficacy against brown rot fungi of combined Salvia rosmarinus and Cedrus atlantica essential oils encapsulated in Gum Arabic

The stability, sensitivity, and volatility of essential oils are some of their most serious limitations, and nanoencapsulation has been considered one of the most effective techniques for solving these problems. This research aimed to investigate the incorporation of Salvia rosmarinus Speen and Cedrus atlantica Manetti (MEO) essential oil mixture in Gum Arabic (GA) and to evaluate nanoencapsulation's ability to promote antifungal activity against two brown rot fungi responsible for wood decay Gloeophyllum trabeum and Poria placenta. The optimization of encapsulation efficiency was performed using response surface methodology (RSM) with two parameters: solid-to-solid (MEO/GA ratio) and solid-to-liquid (MEO/ethanol). The recovered powder characterization was followed by various techniques using a scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffractometry (XRD), dynamic light scattering (DLS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA). The optimal nanoencapsulating conditions obtained from RSM were ratios of MEO/GA of 1:10 (w/w) and MEO/ethanol of 10% (v/v), which provided the greatest encapsulation efficiency (87%). The results of SEM, XRD, DLS, FTIR, and TGA showed that the encapsulation of MEO using GA modified particle form and molecular structure and increased thermal stability. An antifungal activity assay indicated that an effective concentration of MEO had an inhibitory effect on brown rot fungi. It had 50% of the maximal effect (EC50) value of 5.15 ± 0.88 µg/mL and 12.63 ± 0.65 µg/mL for G. trabeum and P. placenta, respectively. Therefore, this product has a great potential as a natural wood preservative for sustainable construction and green building.

Biological Activities of Citrus aurantium Leaf Extract by Optimized Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction

Several studies have explored the biological activities of Citrus aurantium flowers, fruits, and seeds, but the bioactivity of C. aurantium leaves, which are treated as waste, remains unclear. Thus, this study developed a pilot-scale ultrasonic-assisted extraction process using the Box-Behnken design (BBD) for the optimized extraction of active compounds from C. aurantium leaves, and their antityrosinase, antioxidant, antiaging, and antimicrobial activities were evaluated. Under optimal conditions in a 150× scaleup configuration (a 30 L ultrasonic machine) of a pilot plant, the total phenolic content was 69.09 mg gallic acid equivalent/g dry weight, which was slightly lower (3.17%) than the theoretical value. The half maximal inhibitory concentration of C. aurantium leaf extract (CALE) for 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl-scavenging, 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)-scavenging, antityrosinase, anticollagenase, antielastase and anti-matrix metalloprotein-1 activities were 123.5, 58.5, 181.3, 196.4, 216.3, and 326.4 mg/L, respectively. Moreover, the minimal inhibitory concentrations for bacteria and fungi were 150-350 and 500 mg/L, respectively. In total, 17 active compounds were detected in CALE-with linalool, linalyl acetate, limonene, and α-terpineol having the highest concentrations. Finally, the overall transdermal absorption and permeation efficiency of CALE was 95.9%. In conclusion, our CALE demonstrated potential whitening, antioxidant, antiaging, and antimicrobial activities; it was also nontoxic and easily absorbed into the skin as well as inexpensive to produce. Therefore, it has potential applications in various industries.

Simultaneous Hydrodistillation of Healthy Cedrus atlantica Manetti and Infected by Trametes pini and Ungulina officinalis: Effect on Antibacterial Activity Utilizing a Mixture-Design Method

The Atlas cedar belongs to the Pinaceae family of trees and can be found in a crucial resinous mountain forest in Morocco that spans 133,000 hectares. This endemic species is valued for its wood quality and essential oil (EO), which has various biological activities. However, pathogenic fungi, particularly Trametes pini and Ungulina officinalis, frequently attack Atlas cedarwood, causing significant damage and loss of value. This study aims to extract EO from both healthy and infected Atlas cedarwood to promote its valorization and to assess the antibacterial properties of the resulting EOs. The EOs from healthy and sick cedarwood, as well as a combination of these woods, were extracted using hydrodistillation and simultaneous hydrodistillation. Gas chromatography and mass spectrometry were used to examine the chemical compositions of the EOs. In addition, the disk diffusion method and a measurement of the minimum inhibitory concentration were used to assess the EOs' antibacterial activity against two bacterial strains, namely, Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). The results show that the extraction yields of healthy cedarwood, cedarwood infected by Trametes pini, and cedarwood infected by U. officinalis were 1.43 ± 0.03, 0.56 ± 0.03, and 0.26 ± 0.06%, respectively, Moreover, the antibacterial results showed that neither the healthy nor the diseased cedar oil had any impact on either strain. However, the EOs from some binary mixtures (75:25, 50:50, and 25:75%) of cedarwood infected by Trametes pini and cedarwood infected by U.ngulina officinalis and the mixture of healthy cedarwood and cedarwood infected by the two fungi inhibited the growth of S. aureus with different MIC values. The findings of this research could lead to the development of new products with antibacterial properties, such as natural disinfectants, and reduce the amount of waste generated by the cedar industry.

Simultaneous Hydrodistillation of Cedrus atlantica Manetti and Salvia rosmarinus Spenn: Optimization of Anti-Wood-Decay Fungal Activity Using Mixture Design Methodology

Chemical fungicides are often harmful to people and the environment because of their toxicity. The wood protection industry places a high priority on replacing them with natural products. Therefore, this investigation focused on developing a formulation of a binary combination of Salvia rosmarinus Spenn and Cedrus atlantica Manetti obtained by Simultaneous hydrodistillation to protect the wood from decay using a mixture design methodology. The chemical composition of essential oil was identified by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC/MS), and their anti-wood-decay fungal activity was assessed using the macrodilution method against four fungi responsible for wood decay: Coniophora puteana, Coriolus versicolor, Gloeophyllum trabeum, and Poria placenta. The results of GC/MS identified myrtenal as a new component appearing in all binary combinations. The optimum anti-wood-decay fungal activity was observed in a combination of 60% S. rosmarinus and 40% C. atlantica essential oils, providing an effective concentration for 50% of maximal effect (EC50) value of 9.91 ± 1.91 and 9.28 ± 1.55 μg/mL for C. puteana and C. versicolor, respectively. The highest anti-wood-decay fungal activity for G. trabeum and P. placenta was found in the combination of 55% of S. rosmarinus and 45% of C. atlantica essential oils, with EC50 values of 11.48 ± 3.73 and 22.619 ± 3.79 μg/mL, respectively. Combined simultaneous hydrodistillation improved the antifungal effect of these essential oils. These results could be used to improve antifungal activity and protect wood against wood-decay fungi.

A Multi-Approach Study of Phytochemicals and Their Effects on Oxidative Stress and Enzymatic Activity of Essential Oil and Crude Extracts of Rosmarinus officinalis

Rosmarinus officinalis or Rosemary is a highly valued medicinal vegetal, owing to its notable antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties. In the current work, we aimed to identify the chemical components of the essential oil (EO) of R. officinalis and evaluate its biological properties using an in vitro approach. High performance liquid chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry (HPLC-TOF-MS) was utilized to analyze of the hydro-methanolic extract (HME), while gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC/MS) was considered during the analysis of the EO’s chemical composition. The antioxidant abilities of HME and the EO were assessed using diverse tests (DPPH, ABTS, GOR, CUPRAC, and FRAP). The anti-enzymatic properties were tested by the inhibition of cholinesterases, α-glucosidase, and tyrosinase enzyme. The HPLC-TOF-MS displayed the existence of flavonoids like luteolin glucuronide I and II, and a few known hydroxycinnamic acids. The EO contained three major components, namely, eucalyptol (28.7%), camphor (16.7%), and borneol (13.5%). The HME had a high total polyphenol content, as determined by the Folin–Ciocalteau method (335.37 ± 9.33 µg of gallic acid eq·mg−1). Notably, the analysis of the bioactivities of the HME and EO revealed comparatively that they possessed higher radical scavenging capacity in the DPPH, ABTS, and galvinoxyl assays, while EO exhibited a higher capacity for enzyme inhibition. Overall, our findings suggest that both the EO and HME extract of Algerian’s R. officinalis holds great usefulness in the pharmaceutical and nutraceutical fields due to its elevated polyphenol content and potent bioactivities.

Unassisted and Carbon Dioxide-Assisted Hydro- and Steam-Distillation: Modelling Kinetics, Energy Consumption and Chemical and Biological Activities of Volatile Oils

The demand for more suitable eco-friendly extraction processes has grown over the last few decades and driven research to develop efficient extraction processes with low energy consumption and low costs, but always assuring the quality of the volatile oils (VOs). The present study estimated the kinetic extraction and energy consumption of simultaneous hydro- and steam-distillation (SHSD), and SHSD assisted by carbon dioxide (SHSDACD), using an adopted modelling approach. The two isolation methods influenced the VOs yield, chemical composition and biological activities, namely, antioxidant, anti-glucosidase, anti-acetylcholinesterase and anti-inflammatory properties. SHSDACD provided higher VOs yields than the SHSD at a shorter extraction time: 2.8% at 30 min vs. 2.0% at 120 min, respectively, for Rosmarinus officinalis, 1.5% at 28 min vs. 1.2% at 100 min, respectively, for Lavandula angustifolia, and 1.7% at 20 min vs. 1.6% at 60 min, respectively, for Origanum compactum. The first order and sigmoid model fitted to SHSD and SHSDACD, respectively, with R2 value at 96% and with mean square error (MSE) < 5%, where the k distillation rate constant of SHSDACD was fivefold higher and the energy consumption 10 times lower than the SHSD. The rosemary SHSD and SHSDACD VOs chemical composition were similar and dominated by 1,8-cineole (50% and 48%, respectively), and camphor (15% and 12%, respectively). However, the lavender and oregano SHSDACD VOs were richer in linalyl acetate and carvacrol, respectively, than the SHSD VOs. The SHSDACD VOs generally showed better capacity for scavenging the nitric oxide and superoxide anions free radicals as well as for inhibiting α-glucosidase, acetylcholinesterase, and lipoxygenase.