Hydrosols from Rosmarinus officinalis, Salvia officinalis, and Cupressus sempervirens: Phytochemical Analysis and Bioactivity Evaluation

A Comprehensive Review of Moroccan Medicinal Plants for Diabetes Management

Moroccan flora, renowned for its diverse medicinal plant species, has long been used in traditional medicine to manage diabetes. This review synthesizes ethnobotanical surveys conducted during the last two decades. Among these plants, 10 prominent Moroccan medicinal plants are evaluated for their phytochemical composition and antidiabetic properties through both in vitro and in vivo studies. The review encompasses a comprehensive analysis of the bioactive compounds identified in these plants, including flavonoids, phenolic acids, terpenoids, and alkaloids. Phytochemical investigations revealed a broad spectrum of secondary metabolites contributing to their therapeutic efficacy. In vitro assays demonstrated the significant inhibition of key enzymes α-amylase and α-glucosidase, while in vivo studies highlighted their potential in reducing blood glucose levels and enhancing insulin secretion. Among the ten plants, notable examples include Trigonella foenum-graecum, Nigella Sativa, and Artemisia herba-alba, each showcasing distinct mechanisms of action, such as enzymatic inhibition and the modulation of glucose metabolism pathways. This review underscores the necessity for further chemical, pharmacological, and clinical research to validate the antidiabetic efficacy of these plants and their active compounds, with a view toward their potential integration into therapeutic practices.

Unlocking the Potential of Hydrosols: Transforming Essential Oil Byproducts into Valuable Resources

The global demand for sustainable and non-toxic alternatives across various industries is driving the exploration of naturally derived solutions. Hydrosols, also known as hydrolates, represent a promising yet underutilised byproduct of the extraction process of essential oils (EOs). These aqueous solutions contain a complex mixture of EO traces and water-soluble compounds and exhibit significant biological activity. To fully use these new solutions, it is necessary to understand how factors, such as distillation time and plant-to-water ratio, affect their chemical composition and biological activity. Such insights are crucial for the standardisation and quality control of hydrosols. Hydrosols have demonstrated noteworthy properties as natural antimicrobials, capable of preventing biofilm formation, and as antioxidants, mitigating oxidative stress. These characteristics position hydrosols as versatile ingredients for various applications, including biopesticides, preservatives, food additives, anti-browning agents, pharmaceutical antibiotics, cosmetic bioactives, and even anti-tumour agents in medical treatments. Understanding the underlying mechanisms of these activities is also essential for advancing their use. In this context, this review compiles and analyses the current literature on hydrosols' chemical and biological properties, highlighting their potential applications and envisioning future research directions. These developments are consistent with a circular bio-based economy, where an industrial byproduct derived from biological sources is repurposed for new applications.

Genotoxic and Anti-Genotoxic Potential of Hydrosols from Water-Steam Distillation of Oil-Bearing Roses Rosa centifolia L. and Rosa gallica L. from Bulgaria

Rosa centifolia L. and Rosa gallica L. (Rosaceae) are grown as raw materials for valuable essential oils and hydrosols. There are scarce data about the biological activities and the genoprotective potential of the hydrosols of these roses. The aim of the study was to provide information on their cytotoxic/genotoxic activity and anti-cytotoxic/anti-genotoxic capacity against mutagenic N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG). The evaluation was performed using classical tests for chromosomal aberrations and micronuclei in the higher plant Hordeum vulgare and human lymphocyte test systems. The experimental schemes included combined hydrosol and mutagen treatment. Both hydrosols (6, 14, 20%) had no cytotoxic effect on barley and showed low genotoxicity in both test systems as the injuries were enhanced to a lesser extent compared to the controls. Lymphocytes were more susceptible than H. vulgare. Under the conditions of combined treatment, it was found that the two hydrosols possessed good anti-cytotoxic and anti-genotoxic potential against MNNG. Both rose products exerted genoprotective potential to a similar extent, decreasing the frequencies of aberrations in chromosomes and micronuclei to a significant degree in both types of cells when non-toxic concentrations of hydrosols were applied before MNNG. This was performed both with and without any inter-treatment time. The observed cytoprotective/genoprotective potential suggests that these hydrosols are promising for further application in phytotherapy and medicine.

Effects of Tripleurospermum caucasicum, Salvia rosmarinus and Tanacetum fruticulosum essential oils on aflatoxin B1 production and aflR gene expression in Aspergillus flavus

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is one of the most hazardous mycotoxins for humans and livestock that mainly produced by members of the genus Aspergillus in a variety of food commodities. In this study, the effect of S. rosmarinus, T. fruticulosum, and T. caucasicum essential oils (EOs) was studied on fungal growth, AFB1 production and aflR gene expression in toxigenic A. flavus IPI 247. The AFB1 producer A. flavus strain was cultured in YES medium in presence of various two-fold concentrations of the plant EOs (62.5-500 μg/mL) for 4 days at 28 °C. EO composition of plants was analyzed by Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS). The amount of fungal growth, ergosterol content of fungal mycelia and AFB1 content of EO-treated and non-treated controls were measured. The expression of aflR gene was evaluated using Real-time PCR in the fungus exposed to minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC50) of EOs. The main constituents of the oils analyzed by GC/MS analysis were elemicin (33.80 %) and 2,3-dihydro farnesol (33.19 %) in T. caucasicum, 1,8-cineole (17.87 %), trans-caryophyllene (11.14 %), α and ẞ-pinene (10.92 and 8.83 %) in S. rosmarinus, and camphor (17.65 %), bornyl acetate (15.08 %), borneol (12.48 %) and camphene (11.72 %) in T. fruticulosum. The results showed that plant EOs at the concentration of 500 μg/mL suppressed significantly the fungal growth by 35.24-71.70 %, while mycelial ergosterol content and AFB1 production were inhibited meaningfully by 36.20-65.51 % and 20.61-89.16 %. T. caucasicum was the most effective plant, while T. fruticulosum showed the lowest effectiveness on fungal growth and AFB1 production. The expression of aflR in T. caucasicum and S. rosmarinus -treated fungus was significantly down-regulated by 2.85 and 2.12 folds, respectively, while it did not change in T. fruticulosum-treated A. flavus compared to non-treated controls. Our findings on the inhibitory activity of T. caucasicum and S. rosmarinus EOs toward A. flavus growth and AFB1 production could promise these plants as good candidates to control fungal contamination of agricultural crops and food commodities and subsequent contamination by AFB1. Down-regulation of aflR as the key regulatory gene in AF biosynthesis pathway warrants the use of these plants in AF control programs. Further studies to evaluate the inhibitory activity of studied plants EOs in food model systems are recommended.

Disclosing the potential of Cupressus leylandii A.B. Jacks & Dallim, Eucalyptus globulus Labill., Aloysia citrodora Paláu, and Melissa officinalis L. hydrosols as eco-friendly antimicrobial agents

Antimicrobial resistance is a major global health concern, threatening the effective prevention and treatment of infections caused by microorganisms. These factors boosted the study of safe and green alternatives, with hydrosols, the by-products of essential oils extraction, emerging as promising natural antimicrobial agents. In this context, four hydrosols obtained from Cupressus leylandii A.B. Jacks & Dallim, Eucalyptus globulus Labill., Aloysia citrodora Paláu and Melissa officinalis L. were studied. Their chemical composition comprises neral, geranial, 1,8-cineole, terpinen-4-ol, and oplopanonyl acetate, compounds with recognised antimicrobial activity. Concerning antimicrobial activity, significant differences were found using different hydrosol concentrations (10-20% v/v) in comparison to a control (without hydrosol), showing the potential of the tested hydrosols to inhibit the microbial growth of Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans. A. citrodora hydrosol was the most effective one, inhibiting 90% of E. coli growth and 80% of C. albicans growth, for both hydrosol concentrations (p < 0.0001). With hydrosol concentration increase, it was possible to observe an improved antimicrobial activity with significant reductions (p < 0.0001). The findings of this work indicate the viability of reusing and valuing the hydrosols, encouraging the development of green applications for different fields (e.g., food, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics).

Chemical composition and antioxidant activity of petroleum ether fraction of Rosmarinus officinalis

The presented study examines the chemical composition and antioxidant activity of the petroleum ether fraction of Rosmarinus officinalis (PEF-RO), which was obtained via 75 % ethanol extraction followed by petroleum ether extraction. The obtained fractions were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The in vitro antioxidant activity of PEF-RO was investigated using various assays, including 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2'-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonate (ABTS) free radical scavenging, and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) method. A total of 82 chemical components were successfully identified, totaling 10.06 % of PEF-RO content. The identified components consisted of 24 hydrocarbons, 14 ketones, 16 alcohols, 4 phenols, 14 esters, and 10 other compounds. Notably, verbenone (2.4377 %), vitamin A (0.6854 %), trans-geraniol (0.5998 %), linolenic acid (0.5713 %), and 1,8-eucalyptol (0.5323 %) were the most abundant compounds, and there are many trace components in PEF-RO. PEF-RO's IC50 values of DPPH and ABTS free radical scavenging were determined as 0.36 mg/mL and 0.19 mg/mL, respectively. FRAP-method was employed to measure the total antioxidant energy of PEF-RO, which displayed good antioxidant activity. The obtained data provides the foundation for the comprehensive development and utilization of Rosmarinus officinalis.

New Insights on Primary and Secondary Metabolite Contents of Seven Italian Wild Food Plants with Medicinal Applications: A Comparative Study

Wild food plants are widely consumed all over the world and many have both nutritional and therapeutic value due to the presence of biologically active compounds. The present research, for the first time, aims to compare primary and secondary metabolite levels among different plant organs (flower, leaf, stem, root, bark) of seven species (Borago officinalis L., Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers., Foeniculum vulgare Mill., Hypericum perforatum L., Malva sylvestris L., Sambucus nigra L., Urtica dioica L.) collected in three different Italian regions (Liguria, Tuscany, Apulia). Plant organ samples were extracted with water or 95% (v/v) methanol and liquid fractions were analyzed using spectrophotometric assays. The best results were obtained for Hypericum perforatum L. samples, followed by Sambucus nigra L. and Borago officinalis L. As also confirmed via PCA analysis on normalized data, flower and leaf extracts of all species exhibited higher levels of polyphenols (up to 105.7 mg GA eq/gDW), reducing sugars (up to 389.2 mg GLUC eq/gDW), proteins (up to 675.7 mg BSA eq/gDW) and of antioxidant capacity (up to 263.5 mg AA eq/gDW). No differences among the regions of gathering were detected after spectrophotometric assays, which was confirmed via PCA analysis. These data contribute to further validate the traditionally reported healing effects of these species on human health.

Fomitopsis officinalis: Spatial (Pileus and Hymenophore) Metabolomic Variations Affect Functional Components and Biological Activities

Fomitopsis officinalis is a holartic polyporous mushroom that forms large fruiting bodies on old standing trees, fallen logs, or stumps. F. officinalis is a medicinal mushroom species that is most commonly used in traditional European medicine. In this study, we explore the spatial metabolic differences in F. officinalis' mushroom parts, i.e., the cap (median and apical parts) and the hymenium. Additionally, chromatographic analysis was conducted in order to unravel the composition of specialized metabolites in the hydroalcoholic mushroom extracts. The potential antifungal and bacterial effects of extracts were tested against pathogen strains of Gram+ and Gram- bacteria, and yeast, dermatophytic, and fungal-pool species. Extracts from the apical part were the richest in terms of phenolic compounds; consistent with this finding, the extracts were also the most effective antiradical and antimicrobial agents with MIC values < 100 µg/mL for most of the tested bacterial and dermatophytic species. According to these findings, F. officinalis extracts are valuable sources of primary and secondary metabolites, thus suggesting potential applications in the formulation of food supplements with biological properties in terms of antioxidant and antimicrobial activities.

Cypress terpenes in sawfly larva of Susana cupressi (Hymenoptera: Symphyta: Tenthredinoidea)

Several sawfly species (Hymenoptera: Symphyta) possess larval stages with oesophageal diverticula in which plant compounds are sequestered and used for defence against predators. These organs are present in the larvae of Susana (Tenthredinidae) but remain poorly studied. Here, the aim was to analyse the diverticula extract of Susana cupressi by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to better understand the ecology of this species. The foliage of the hostplant (Cupressus sempervirens), as well as the larval foregut, midgut, and haemolymph were also analysed. Complementary data were gathered by morphological observations, bioassays using ants, and genetic analyses to identify the studied Susana species. Altogether, 48 terpenes were identified, 30 being sesquiterpenes. The terpenes were generally detected in the foliage, but also in the diverticula, foregut, and midgut, whereas none of them in the haemolymph. The main compounds were alpha-cedrene, alpha-fenchene, alpha-pinene, alpha-terpinyl acetate, beta-myrcene, beta-pinene, cedrol, delta 3-carene, epi-bicyclosesquiphellandrene, germacrene D, limonene, sabinene, and terpinolene. The chemical profiles of these 13 compounds were significantly correlated between foliage-diverticula, diverticula-foregut and foregut-midgut, but not correlated for the three remaining possible comparisons. Alpha-pinene decreased and germacrene D increased from the foliage to the diverticula, which may reflect a specific sequestration of the latter terpene and its known deleterious effects on insects. We conclude that larvae of S. cupressi, similarly to those of diprionids, are well defended against predatory attacks by sequestering and regurgitating hostplant terpenes, including germacrene D.

Antibacterial Potential of Microwave-Assisted Extraction Prepared Hydrolates from Different Salvia Species

Salvia is a widely used herb that also contains essential oils and other valuable compounds. In this work, the hydrolates of five Salvia sp. were evaluated for their potential antimicrobial and antioxidant activity against four bacterial strains. The hydrolates were obtained from fresh leaves by microwave-assisted extraction. Chemical composition analysis by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry revealed that their major constituents were isopulegol (38.2-57.1%), 1,8-cineole (4.7-19.6%), and thujone (5.6-14.1%). The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the plant hydrolates was tested by the microdilution method at concentrations ranging from 1.0 to 512 μg/mL. The hydrolates prepared from Salvia officinalis and S. sclarea showed inhibitory activity on the tested Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, taxon Salvia nemorosa showed inhibitory activity only partially. The hydrolate of S. divinorum had practically no antibacterial effect. Enterobacter asburiae was the only bacterium for which we found sensitivity to the hydrolate of S. aethiopis, with a MIC50 value of 216.59 µL/mL. The antioxidant activity of the hydrolates was low, ranging from 6.4 to 23.3%. Therefore, salvia hydrolates could be used as antimicrobial agents in medicine, cosmetics, and food preservation.

Harvest time explains substantially more variance in yield, essential oil and quality performances of Salvia officinalis than irrigation and putrescine application

Elicitors, irrigation regimes and harvest times influence the content, yield and compound of the essential oil (EO) in Salvia officinalis (sage), through changes in biomass dynamics and biosynthetic pathways. A two-year field experiment was conducted to determine if foliar application of putrescine under optimum and deficit stress conditions would favorably affect EO yield, content and profile of sage harvested in spring and summer. The response of dry weight, EO yield and content, myrcene and borneol concentrations to irrigation regime and putrescine concentration can be expressed by a quadratic model. The maximum dry weight (182.63 g m-2) and EO yield (1.68 g m-2) were predicted under irrigation regimes of 9.06% and 27.75% available soil water depletion (ASWD), respectively. The highest EO content (1.05%) was predicted under 3.04 mM of putrescine. Based on results obtained from GC/MS analyses, 25 compounds (mostly monoterpenes) were identified in the EO of sage. Among EO compounds, α-thujone (54.08%), 1, 8-cineole (17.87%), pinocarvone (14.30%), β-thujone (7.97%) and camphor (8.76%) in turn were the most abundant. The concentration of myrcene was higher in spring than summer under the irrigation regimes of 60% and 80% ASWD. The myrcene concentration reached its maximum (4.53%) under the irrigation regime of 86.5% ASWD. The irrigation regimes of 48.03% and 45.6% ASWD caused the highest borneol concentrations of 1.47% and 1.41% by application of 1.5 mM and 2.25 mM putrescine, respectively. All treatments tested on sage, particularly harvest time, can play an important role in the improvement of EO quality and quantity. Averaged over both years, the irrigation regime of nearly 30% ASWD resulted in the highest EO yield harvested with greater quantity and better quality in summer. The EO content and quality changed slightly with the application of putrescine, without significant effect on yield.

Therapeutic potential of TRPM8 channels in cancer treatment

Cancer is a multifactorial process associated with changes in signaling pathways leading to cell cycle variations and gene expression. The transient receptor potential melastatin 8 (TRPM8) channel is a non-selective cation channel expressed in neuronal and non-neuronal tissues, where it is involved in several processes, including thermosensation, differentiation, and migration. Cancer is a multifactorial process associated with changes in signaling pathways leading to variations in cell cycle and gene expression. Interestingly, it has been shown that TRPM8 channels also participate in physiological processes related to cancer, such as proliferation, survival, and invasion. For instance, TRPM8 channels have an important role in the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of prostate cancer. In addition, it has been reported that TRPM8 channels are involved in the progress of pancreatic, breast, bladder, colon, gastric, and skin cancers, glioblastoma, and neuroblastoma. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on the role of TRPM8 channels in cancer progression. We also discuss the therapeutic potential of TRPM8 in carcinogenesis, which has been proposed as a molecular target for cancer therapy.

Biological Investigation and Chemical Study of Brassica villosa subsp. drepanensis (Brassicaeae) Leaves

Brassica villosa subsp. drepanensis (Caruel) Raimondo & Mazzola, belonging to the Brassica oleracea complex, is a wild edible plant endemic to western Sicily and a relative of modern cultivated Brassica crops. In this study, the antioxidant properties, anti-inflammatory activities, enzymatic inhibition, and cytotoxicity in cancer cells of B. villosa subsp. drepanensis leaf ethanolic extract were analysed for the first time. In addition, its chemical profile was investigated partitioning the total 70% ethanol extract among ethyl acetate, n-butanol, and water to obtain three residues that were subjected to chromatographic separation. Two flavonol glycosides, a phenol glucoside, two amino acids, and purine/pyrimidine bases were obtained. The presence of the glucosinolate glucoiberin was detected in the water extract by UHPLC-MS analysis. The total polyphenol and flavonoid content of the 70% ethanol extract showed good antioxidant capacities and anti-inflammatory properties by reducing nitric oxide release and reactive oxygen species levels and increasing glutathione in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. The extract inhibited the enzymatic activity of α-amylase, α-glucosidase, and, significantly, of lipase. The MTT assay showed that the extract did not affect the viability of normal HFF-1 and RAW 264.7 cells. Among the cancer cell lines tested, an antiproliferative action was only observed in CaCo-2. The cytotoxicity of the extract was further confirmed by LDH release assay and by the destabilization of the oxidative balance. Results confirmed the antioxidant properties of the crude extract responsible for the anti-inflammatory effect on healthy cells and cytotoxicity in cancer cells.

Non-Volatile and Volatile Bioactives of Salvia officinalis L., Thymus serpyllum L. and Laurus nobilis L. Extracts with Potential Use in the Development of Functional Beverages

Functional beverages based on herbal extracts are highly demanded products due to the presence of bioactives with promising health benefits and interesting and characteristic sensory properties. Mediterranean medicinal and aromatic herbs contain a wide range of bioactives (non-volatile polyphenols, volatile terpenes) that are important constituents of herbal extracts and essential oils. The antioxidant capacity and potential health benefits of these bioactives could be associated with their synergistic effects. Therefore, this study aimed to characterize the non-volatile and volatile bioactives of sage (Salvia officinalis L.), wild thyme (Thymus serpyllum L.) and laurel (Laurus nobilis L.) aqueous extracts and their two- and three-component mixtures as well as their antioxidant capacity. The content of total phenols, flavonoids, hydroxycinnamic acids and flavonols was determined spectrophotometrically. Individual polyphenols were analyzed by LC-MS/MS, the volatiles were analyzed by HS-SPME/GC-MS, and the antioxidant capacity was analyzed by ORAC and DPPH assays. The results showed that aqueous extracts of all examined herbs and their mixtures contained a high content of phenolic compounds ranging from 0.97 to 2.79 g L^-1 of the sample, among which the most common were flavonols. At the same time, mono- and sesquiterpenes were the main volatiles. All extracts showed high antioxidant capacity, especially L. nobilis (781.62 ± 5.19 μmol TE mL^-1 of the sample in the DPPH assay; 1896.10 ± 8.77 μmol TE mL^-1 of the sample in the ORAC assay) and the two-component mixture of L. nobilis and T. serpyllum (679.12 ± 5.19 μmol TE mL^-1 in the DPPH assay; 1913.38 ± 8.77 μmol TE mL^-1 in the ORAC assay). Mixtures of herbal extracts have been shown to possess additive or synergistic effects, consequently contributing to higher antioxidant capacity. Therefore, two-component mixtures of herbal extracts showed promising potential for the production of functional beverages.