Phytochemical screening and biological activity of Lamiaceae family plant extracts

Physicochemical Profile, Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activities of Honeys Produced in Minas Gerais (Brazil)

Honeys can be classified as polyfloral or monofloral and have been extensively studied due to an increased interest in their consumption. There is concern with the correct identification of their flowering, the use of analyses that guarantee their physicochemical quality and the quantification of some compounds such as phenolics, to determine their antioxidant and antimicrobial action. This study aims at botanical identification, physicochemical analyses, and the determination of total polyphenols, chromatographic profile and antiradical and antimicrobial activity of honey from different regions of Minas Gerais. Seven different samples were analyzed for the presence of pollen, and color determination. The physicochemical analyses performed were total acidity, moisture, HMF, reducing sugar, and apparent sucrose. The compound profile was determined by UHPLC/MS, the determination of total phenolics and antiradical activity (DPPH method) were performed by spectrophotometry, and minimum inhibitory and bacterial concentrations were determined for cariogenic bacteria. All honey samples met the quality standards required by international legislation, twenty compounds were detected as the main ones, the polyfloral honey was the only honey that inhibited all of the bacteria tested. Sample M6 (Coffee) was the one with the highest amount of total polyphenols, while the lowest was M4 (Cipó-uva). Regarding the antioxidant activity, M5 (Velame) had the best result and M4 (Cipó-uva) was the one that least inhibited oxidation. Of the polyfloral honeys, there was not as high a concentration of phenolic compounds as in the others. Coffee, Aroeira, Velame and Polyfloral have the best anti-radical actions. Betônica, Aroeira, Cipó-uva and Pequi inhibited only some bacteria. The best bacterial inhibition results are from Polyfloral.

Diversity of Monofloral Honey Based on the Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Potential

This study aimed to investigate the antioxidant profile and the antimicrobial activity of four different types of monofloral honey (manuka (MH), brassica rapeseed (BH), acacia (AH), and linden honey (LH)) against some bacterial/fungal ATCC strains and some multidrug-resistant strains isolated from chronic otitis in dogs. For the characterisation of the antioxidant profile of each honey, we extracted the honey samples by hydroalcoholic extraction and analysed them in terms of total polyphenols (TPC), total flavonoids (TFC), and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) using the spectrophotometric method. The antimicrobial activity was determined using the microdilution method at concentrations of 10%, 15%, and 20%, with the results expressed in OD (optical density) calculated as BIR% (bacterial inhibition rate)/MIR% (mycelial inhibition rate). The antioxidant characterisation of the analysed honey samples showed the highest antioxidant activity and concentrations of TPC and TFC in MH, followed by LH. MH was proven to be the most effective on most clinical isolates concerning the antimicrobial activity in comparison with BH, AH, and LH. Except for B. cepacia and P. vulgaris, all the clinical isolates were sensitive to the antibacterial activity of honey. Regarding the ATCC strains, MH 10% was the most effective in inhibiting all the strains tested except for P. aeruginosa. In conclusion, the efficacy classification in our study was MH > BH > AH > LH.

Study on the Sustainability Potential of Thyme, Oregano, and Coriander Essential Oils Used as Vapours for Antifungal Protection of Wheat and Wheat Products

This study aims to highlight the antifungal, antimicotoxigenic potential and phytotoxic effect of three essential oils (EOs) of Origanum vulgare (OEO), Thymus vulgaris (TEO), and Coriandrum sativum (CEO) on wheat storage, but also the impact of EOs treatment on the sensory properties of bakery products obtained from the wheat seeds. The chemical composition of EOs was determined using GC-MS analysis; the fungal load was evaluated using the direct plating technique, while mycotoxin analyses were conducted using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). A selective antifungal effect has been highlighted in terms of the action of EOs vapours. OEO and TEO are inhibited Alternaria, Fusarium and Drechslera, while Saccharomyces and Cladosporium have proven to be the most tolerant fungi. Drechslera is the most sensitive, the effect of all EOs being a fungicidal one. However, the fungicidal effect proved present in all EOs applied as vapours with values ranging between 0.2–0.4%. Regarding the phytotoxic effect of EOs vapours on the germination of the seeds, TEO and OEO had an inhibitory effect, especially at 0.4%. The effect is cumulative over time. The EOs inhibited deoxynivalenol (DON) occurrence; the maximum percentage of inhibition was obtained after 21 days of vapours exposure, being more effective in the case of 0.2%. EOs vapours treatment does not affect the quality of bread obtained from treated wheat seeds from a sensory point of view.

Poly(vinyl alcohol)/Plant Extracts Films: Preparation, Surface Characterization and Antibacterial Studies against Gram Positive and Gram Negative Bacteria

In this study, we aim to obtain biomaterials with antibacterial properties by combining poly(vinyl alcohol) with the extracts obtained from various selected plants from Romania. Natural herbal extracts of freshly picked flowers of the lavender plant (Lavandula angustifolia) and leaves of the peppermint plant (Mentha piperita), hemp plant (Cannabis sativa L.), verbena plant (Verbena officinalis) and sage plant (Salvia officinalis folium) were selected after an intensive analyzing of diverse medicinal plants often used as antibacterial and healing agents from the country flora. The plant extracts were characterized by different methods such as totals of phenols and flavonoids content and UV-is spectroscopy. The highest amounts of the total phenolic and flavonoid contents, respectively, were recorded for Salvia officinalis. Moreover, the obtained films of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) loaded with plant extracts were studied concerning the surface properties and their antibacterial or cytotoxicity activity. The Attenuated Total Reflection Fourier Transform Infrared analysis described the successfully incorporation of each plant extract in the poly(vinyl alcohol) matrix, while the profilometry demonstrated the enhanced surface properties. The results showed that the plant extracts conferred significant antibacterial effects to films toward Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli and are not toxic against fibroblastic cells from the rabbit.

Lamiaceae Essential Oils, Phytochemical Profile, Antioxidant, and Biological Activities

Medicinal and aromatic plants present important active compounds that have potential for use in food, pharmaceutical, and agriculture industries. In this sense, the present work aimed to conduct a literature review on the potential applications of essential oils from Lamiaceae species. Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial activities were evaluated. The importance of this study is demonstrated as a way to theoretically provide information on the use of different plants belonging to the Lamiaceae family, especially with regard to the physical, chemical, and biological properties of its essential oils.

Antimicrobial Potential and Phytochemical Profile of Wild and Cultivated Populations of Thyme (Thymus sp.) Growing in Western Romania

The purpose of this study was to analyze the chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of some thymus populations collected from five different locations in Western Romania. The chemical compositions of the essential oils (EOs) were studied through GC–MS, and the biological activities were evaluated using the microdilution method. The EO yield ranged between 0.44% and 0.81%. Overall, 60 chemical compounds were identified belonging to three chemotypes: thymol (three populations), geraniol (one population) and carvacrol (one population). Thymus vulgaris L. is distinguished by a high content of thymol, while species of spontaneous flora (Th. odoratissimus and Th. pulegioides) contain, in addition to thymol, appreciable amounts of carvacrol and geraniol. The antimicrobial activity of each the five oils was tested on Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923), Streptococcus pyogenes (ATCC 19615), Esherichia coli (ATCC 25922), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853), Shigella flexneri (ATCC 12022), Salmonella typhimurium (ATCC 14028), Haemophilus influenzae type B (ATCC 10211), Candida albicans (ATCC 10231) and Candida parapsilopsis (ATCC 22019). The EOs showed biological activity on Gram-positive/Gram-negative/fungal pathogens, the most sensitive strains proving to be S. pyogenes, S. flexneri, S. typhimurium and C. parapsilopsis with an MIC starting at 2 µL EO/100 µL. The species sensitive to the action of Thymus sp. from culture or spontaneous flora are generally the same, but it should be noted that T. odoratissimus has a positive inhibition rate higher than other investigated EOs, regardless of the administered oil concentration. To date, there is no research work presenting the chemical and antimicrobial profiling of T. odoratissimus and the correlations between the antimicrobial potential and chemical composition of wild and cultivated populations of thyme (Thymus sp.) growing in Western Romania.

Headspace/GC-MS Analysis and Investigation of Antibacterial, Antioxidant and Cytotoxic Activity of Essential Oils and Hydrolates from Rosmarinus officinalis L. and Lavandula angustifolia Miller

In this work, essential oils (EOs) and hydrolates (Hys) of Rosmarinus officinalis L. and Lavandula angustifolia Mill., grown in Tuscany (Italy), were studied to describe their chemical composition and biological activities. The aromatic profile of the EOs liquid phase was carried out by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS), while the volatile composition of vapor phase EOs and Hys was performed by headspace (HS)/GC–MS. The obtained results show that monoterpene hydrocarbons (71.5% and 89.5%) were the main compounds, followed by oxygenated monoterpenes (26.0% and 10.5%) in the liquid and vapor phase of R. officinalis EO, respectively. The oxygenated monoterpenes were the main components of L. angustifolia EO, reaching 86.9% in the liquid phase and 53.7% in the vapor phase. Regarding Hys, they consisted only of oxygenated monoterpenes, and 1,8-cineole (56.2%) and linalool (42.9%), were the main components of R. officinalis and L. officinalis Hys, respectively. Their cytotoxicity was investigated on an SHSY5Y neuroblastoma cell line by thiazolyl blue tetrazolium bromide (MTT) test, showing a notable effect of the EOs with a time-independent manner of activity and half maximal effective concentration (EC₅₀) values quite similar for the two plant species (from 0.05% to 0.06% v/v for the three time points evaluated). A measurable activity of Hys was also obtained although with higher EC₅₀ values. The antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli ATCC^® 25922, Pseudomonas fluorescens ATCC^® 13525, Acinetobacter bohemicus DSM 102855 as Gram-negative bacteria and Kocuria marina DSM 16420, Bacillus cereus ATCC^® 10876 as Gram-positive bacteria, was evaluated by the agar disk-diffusion method and the VPT (vapor phase test) to determinate the MIC (minimal inhibitory concentration) and the MBC (minimal bactericidal concentration) values. Both EOs possessed a high activity against all the bacterial strains with MIC values ranging from 0.19% to 3.13% v/v. Unlike EOs, Hys did not show an inhibition of the bacterial growth at the tested concentrations. Furthermore, antioxidant power was measured by 2,2′-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt-based (ABTS•+) and the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assays, showing a remarkable ability to reduce radicals by both EOs; Hys were slightly less active. The findings highlighted that R. officinalis and L. angustifolia EOs and Hys have a chemical composition rich in bioactive molecules, which can exert different biological activities.

Phytochemical Profile and Microbiological Activity of Some Plants Belonging to the Fabaceae Family

This study aimed to investigate the chemical composition and the activity against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) (ATCC 25923), Streptococcus pyogenes (S. pyogenes) (ATCC 19615), Escherichia coli (E. coli) (ATCC 25922), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) (ATCC 27853), Shigella flexneri (S. flexneri) (ATCC 12022), Salmonella typhimurium (S. typhimurium) (ATCC 14028), Haemophillus influenzae (H. influenza) type B (ATCC 10211) and two fungal strains: Candida albicans (C. albicans) (ATCC 10231) and Candida parapsilopsis (C. parapsilopsis) (ATCC 22019) of the extracts obtained from Melilotus officinalis (MO), Coronilla varia (CV); Ononis spinosa (OS) and Robinia pseudoacacia (RP) (Fabaceae), and to identify the chemical compounds responsible for the antimicrobial effect against the tested strains. The extracts were obtained by conventional hydroalcoholic extraction and analyzed in terms of total polyphenols using the spectrophotometric method and by liquid chromatography (LC). The results have shown that the highest polyphenols content was recorded in the RP sample (16.21 mg gallic acid equivalent GAE/g), followed by the CV (15.06 mg GAE/g), the OS (13.17 mg GAE/g), the lowest value being recorded for the MO sample (11.94 mg GAE/g). The antimicrobial testing of plant extracts was carried out using the microdilution method. The most sensitive strains identified were: E. coli, S. typhimurium, P. aeruginosa and S. pyogenes, while protocatechuic acid, gallic acid, caffeic acid, quercetin, rutin, and kaempferol were identified as the chemical compounds responsible for the antibacterial effect. The analysis of the correlation between the chemical composition and the antimicrobial effect proved a moderate (r > 0.5) positive correlation between rosmarinic acid and S. pyogenes (r = 0.526), rosmarinic acid and S. typhimurium (r = 0.568), quercetin and C. albicans (r = 0.553), quercetin and S. pyogenes (r = 0.605). Therefore, it suggested possible antimicrobial activity generated by these chemical components. The results recommend the Fabaceae plants as promising candidates for further research to develop novel natural antimicrobial drugs.

Melissa officinalis L. Aqueous Extract Exerts Antioxidant and Antiangiogenic Effects and Improves Physiological Skin Parameters

Melissa officinalis (MO) is a medicinal plant well-known for its multiple pharmacological effects, including anti-inflammatory, anticancer and beneficial effects on skin recovery. In this context, the present study was aimed to investigate the in vitro and in vivo safety profile of an MO aqueous extract by assessing cell viability on normal (HaCaT-human keratinocytes) and tumor (A375-human melanoma) cells and its impact on physiological skin parameters by a non-invasive method. In addition, the antioxidant activity and the antiangiogenic potential of the extract were verified. A selective cytotoxic effect was noted in A375 cells, while no toxicity was noticed in healthy cells. The MO aqueous extract safety profile after topical application was investigated on SKH-1 mice, and an enhanced skin hydration and decreased erythema and transepidermal water loss levels were observed. The in ovo CAM assay, performed to investigate the potential modulating effect on the angiogenesis process and the blood vessels impact, indicated that at concentrations of 100 and 500 µg/mL, MO aqueous extract induced a reduction of thin capillaries. No signs of vascular toxicity were recorded at concentrations as high as 1000 μg/mL. The aqueous extract of MO leaves can be considered a promising candidate for skin disorders with impaired physiological skin parameters.

Evaluation of cytotoxic activity and anticancer potential of indigenous Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) and Oregano (Origanum vulgare L.) dry extracts on MG-63 bone osteosarcoma human cell line

We aimed to investigate the cytotoxic activity of indigenous Rosemary and Oregano freeze-dried extracts upon MG-63 osteosarcoma human cell line. We have determined the influence of analyzed dry extracts on cell morphology, cell survival and cell proliferation. The evaluation of dry extracts effect upon cell proliferation and viability was assessed by means of 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) method. For cytotoxicity evaluation, Live & Dead and lactate dehydrogenase assays have been used. To further investigate the potential anticancer effect, we have studied the influence of dry extracts upon cells, by means of caspase-3/7 assay and proliferation cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expression. Cells were incubated with extracts in the following concentration range (100–700 μg/mL) for 24 hours. According to our results, both dry extracts have shown cytotoxic effects by means of all used methods. Bone osteosarcoma cells viability significantly decreased with increasing concentration of analyzed extracts (beyond 300 μg/mL for Rosemary dry extract and only at 700 μg/mL for Oregano dry extract). According to our results, apoptosis is one of the main mechanisms involved in the cytotoxic properties of analyzed extracts. Moreover, Rosemary extract has also shown decreased expression of PCNA, when compared to control (untreated cells). Both extracts were standardized in phenolic compounds (being a rich source of flavones and phenolcarboxylic acids), so we assume that these are the main constituents involved in the cytotoxic effect. Still, further preclinical studies are needed to confirm the antitumor properties and to go deeply in the molecular mechanisms involved.

Nutritional, Antioxidant, Antimicrobial, and Toxicological Profile of Two Innovative Types of Vegan, Sugar-Free Chocolate

Increased sugar consumption and unhealthy dietary patterns are key drivers of many preventable diseases that result in disability and death worldwide. However, health awareness has increased over the past decades creating a massive on-going demand for new low/non-caloric natural sweeteners that have a high potential and are safer for consumption than artificial ones. The current study aims to investigate the nutritional properties, in vitro toxicological profile, total/individual polyphenols content, and the antioxidant, anti-cariogenic, and antimicrobial activity of two newly obtained vegan and sugar-free chocolate (VHC1 and VHC2). The energy values for the two finished products were very similar, 408.04 kcal/100 g for VHC1 and 404.68 kcal/100 g for VHC2. Both products, VHC1 and VHC2 present strong antioxidant activities, whereas antimicrobial results show an increased activity for VHC1 compared to VHC2, because of a higher phenolic content. In vitro toxicological evaluation revealed that both samples present a safe toxicological profile, while VHC2 increased cellular turnover of dermal cell lines, highlighting its potential use in skin treatments. The current work underlines the potential use of these vegetal mixtures as sugar-free substitutes for conventional products, as nutraceuticals, as well as topic application in skin care due to antimicrobial and antioxidant effects.

Chemical analysis of callus extracts from toxic and non-toxic varieties of Jatropha curcas L

Jatropha curcas L. belongs to Euphorbiaceae family, and it synthesizes flavonoid and diterpene compounds that have showed antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antiviral, antimicrobial, antifungal and insecticide activity. Seeds of this plant accumulate phorbol esters, which are tigliane type diterpenes, reported as toxic and, depending on its concentration, toxic and non-toxic varieties has been identified. The aim of this work was to characterize the chemical profile of the extracts from seeds, leaves and callus of both varieties (toxic and non-toxic) of Jatropha curcas, to verify the presence of important compounds in dedifferentiated cells and consider the possibility of using these cultures for the massive production of metabolites. Callus induction was obtained using NAA (1.5 mg L⁻¹) and BAP (1.5 mg L⁻¹) after 21 d for both varieties. Thin layer chromatography analysis showed differences in compounds accumulation in callus from non-toxic variety throughout the time of culture, diterpenes showed an increase along the time, in contrast with flavonoids which decreased. Based on the results obtained through microQTOF-QII spectrometer it is suggested a higher accumulation of phorbol esters, derived from 12-deoxy-16-hydroxy-phorbol (m/z 365 [M+H]⁺), in callus of 38 d than those of 14 d culture, from both varieties. Unlike flavonoids accumulation, the MS chromatograms analysis allowed to suggest lower accumulation of flavonoids as the culture time progresses, in callus from both varieties. The presence of six glycosylated flavonoids is also suggested in leaf and callus extracts derived from both varieties (toxic and non-toxic), including: apigenin 6-C-α-L-arabinopyranosyl-8-C-β-D-xylopyranoside (m/z 535 [M+H]⁺), apigenin 4′-O-rhamnoside (m/z 417 [M+H]⁺), vitexin (m/z 433 [M+H]⁺), vitexin 4′-O-glucoside-2″-O-rhamnoside (m/z 741 [M+H]⁺), vicenin-2 (m/z 595 [M+H]⁺), and vicenin-2,6″-O-glucoside (m/z 757 [M+H]⁺).

Ethnoecological, Elemental, and Phytochemical Evaluation of Five Plant Species of Lamiaceae in Peshawar, Pakistan

The use of medicinal plants as an unconventional health treatment is gaining considerable recognition and popularity worldwide. The current study was designed to inspect five medicinally important species (such as Mentha longifolia (L.) Huds., Mentha piperita L., Mentha spicata L., Ocimum basilicum L., and Rosmarinus officinalis L.) of Lamiaceae, collected from district Peshawar, through ethnoecological, phytochemical, and elemental analyses. Biological spectra expressed that therophytes (60%) were the dominant life-form class, while nanophyll (60%) was the leading class among leaf size. The ethnobotanical profile showed that all the species were medicinal and ornamental (100%) each, while 60% were used in spices. Quantitative analysis for the macro- and microminerals confirmed the presence of 13 elements (C, N, O, Mg, K, P, S, Ca, Al, Si, Fe, Cl, and Na), which were present in varying amounts from species to species. The methanol extract of leaf samples was used for the analysis of phytochemical constituents such as saponins, flavonoids, tannins, terpenoids, phlobatannins, steroids, and anthraquinones. The medicinal potential of these plants was correlated with the presence of these phytochemicals. Due to the presence of active constituents, the plants had high potential in antifungal, antidiuretic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities.

The Inhibitory Effect of Plant Extracts on Growth of the Foodborne Pathogen, Listeria monocytogenes

Listeria monocytogenes is a foodborne pathogen responsible for about 1600 illnesses each year in the United States (US) and about 2500 confirmed invasive human cases in European Union (EU) countries. Several technologies and antimicrobials are applied to control the presence of L. monocytogenes in food. Among these, the use of natural antimicrobials is preferred by consumers. This is due to their ability to inhibit the growth of foodborne pathogens but not prompt negative safety concerns. Among natural antimicrobials, plant extracts are used to inactivate L. monocytogenes. However, there is a large amount of these types of extracts, and their active compounds remain unexplored. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial activity against L. monocytogenes of about 800 plant extracts derived from plants native to different countries worldwide. The minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to verify how the plant extracts affected L. monocytogenes at the microscopic level. Results showed that 12 of the plant extracts had inhibitory activity against L. monocytogenes. Future applications of this study could include the use of these plant extracts as new preservatives to reduce the risk of growth of pathogens and contamination in the food industry from L. monocytogenes.

Evaluation of essential oil obtained from Mentha×piperita L. against multidrug-resistant strains

Background

Bacterial multidrug resistance currently poses an increasingly serious threat, with important clinical consequences regarding treatment options. In 2017, the WHO released a global list of resistant bacteria, identifying multidrug-resistant (MDR) Gram-negative bacteria such as carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa or Acinetobacter baumannii, extended-spectrum cephalosporin-resistant Enterobacteriaceae as critical priorities for developing new strategies of treatment.

Purpose

The novelty presented in this study refers to the evaluation of the volatile oil obtained from the leaves of Mentha×piperita L., on MDR strains from hospitalized patients.

Material and methods

The essential oil was extracted by steam distillation and tested on six reference bacterial strains and also on the MDR strains collected from patients of the “Pius Brînzeu” Emergency Clinical County Hospital Timișoara. The in vitro antibacterial activity was evaluated by agar disk diffusion method and microdilution method.

Results

Testing the antibacterial activity of peppermint oil on both reference strains and isolated MDR strains from hospitalized patients demonstrated its bactericidal effect. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was lower (20 mg/mL) for Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Proteus mirabilis and higher (40 mg/mL) for Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii strains. Minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) was equal to MIC, with the exception of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains, where MBC was the double of MIC.

Conclusion

The present study highlights the bactericidal activity of Mentha×piperita L. essential oil on all tested MDR or extensively drug-resistant Gram-positive and Gram-negative strains of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiellapneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii. This oil may be a therapeutic option in the near future for many infectious diseases produced by MDR bacteria.

Current Advances on the Extraction and Identification of Bioactive Components of Sage (Salvia spp.)

Common sage (Salvia spp., with the most common species Salvia officinalis L., Lamiaceae) is an important medicinal and aromatic plant, with antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties. The polyphenolic compounds are mainly responsible for its diverse biological activity. Many different methods for extraction and identification of sage bioactive compounds, using various solvents, have been developed in recent years. The total phenolic content is usually measured and identified by various technical methodologies with different sensitivity and specificity. In this aspect, the present review is aimed to critically summarize and discuss various technical approaches for the extraction and identification of sage bioactive components in order to point out the more appropriate approaches of them.

Antioxidant capacity of plant raw material of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi

The aim of this study was to evaluate antioxidant capacity of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi from two regions of Ukraine: Kyiv city (M. M. Gryshko National Botanical Garden of NAS of Ukraine (NBG)) and Kherson region (Experimental Facility “Novokakhovska” of Rice Research Institute of Ukrainian Academy of Agrarian Sciences (EFN of RRI)). Observation of plants and biochemical analyses conducted with plants collected in the stage of flowering. In study investigated and compared above-ground part of plants and separated organs: inflorescences, stems, leaves. Measured morphometric parameters (height of plants, length, and width of leaves, length, and diameter of inflorescence, the diameter of the stem) showed that the most variable was the length of inflorescence (12.79%) for NBG sample and diameter of the stem (33.33%) for EFN of RRI sample. Ethanolic extracts were screened for the antioxidant capacity. As standards were used gallic acid for polyphenol content (GAE), quercetin for flavonoids (QE), caffeic acid for phenolic acids (CAE), Trolox for antioxidant capacity (TE). The total content of polyphenol compounds was 42.43 – 86.13 mg GAE.g-1 DW (dry weight) (NBG sample) and 28.06 – 96.76 mg GAE.g-1 DW (EFN of RRI sample). The content of flavonoids was 9.39 – 62.97 mg QE.g-1 DW (NBG sample) and 10.64 – 66.07 mg QE.g-1 DW (EFN of RRI sample). The concentration of phenolic acids was 2.60 – 16.13 mg CA.g-1 DW (NBG sample) and 12.02 – 30.12 CA.g-1 DW (EFN of RRI sample). Antioxidant activity of plant extracts was measured by DPPH assay and reducing power method. The first method indicated an antioxidant ability 8.24 – 8.56 mg TE.g-1 DW (NBG sample) and 7.63 – 8.83 mg TE.g-1 DW (EFN of RRI sample). Reducing power of extracts was 51.48 – 306.09 mg TE.g-1 DW (NBG sample) and 63.33 – 260.24 mg TE.g-1 DW (EFN of RRI sample). Very strong positive correlation identified between total polyphenol content, total flavonoid content and reducing power. Scutellaria baicalensis is a rich source of antioxidants and potential raw of further pharmacological study in Ukraine as well as in other regions for improving and enrichment of relevant production.

Lamiaceae: An Insight on Their Anti-Allergic Potential and Its Mechanisms of Action

The prevalence of allergic diseases such as asthma, allergic rhinitis, food allergy and atopic dermatitis has increased dramatically in recent decades. Conventional therapies for allergy can induce undesirable effects and hence patients tend to seek alternative therapies like natural compounds. Considering the fact above, there is an urgency to discover potential medicinal plants as future candidates in the development of novel anti-allergic therapeutic agents. The Lamiaceae family, or mint family, is a diverse plant family which encompasses more than 7,000 species and with a cosmopolitan distribution. A number of species from this family has been widely employed as ethnomedicine against allergic inflammatory skin diseases and allergic asthma in traditional practices. Phytochemical analysis of the Lamiaceae family has reported the presence of flavonoids, flavones, flavanones, flavonoid glycosides, monoterpenes, diterpenes, triterpenoids, essential oil and fatty acids. Numerous investigations have highlighted the anti-allergic activities of Lamiaceae species with their active principles and crude extracts. Henceforth, this review has the ultimate aim of compiling the up-to-date (2018) findings of published scientific information about the anti-allergic activities of Lamiaceae species. In addition, the botanical features, medicinal uses, chemical constituents and toxicological studies of Lamiaceae species were also documented. The method employed for data collection in this review was mainly the exploration of the PubMed, Ovid and Scopus databases. Additional research studies were obtained from the reference lists of retrieved articles. This comprehensive summarization serves as a useful resource for a better understanding of Lamiaceae species. The anti-allergic mechanisms related to Lamiaceae species are also reviewed extensively which aids in future exploration of the anti-allergic potential of Lamiaceae species.

A comparative study on the biological activity of essential oil and total hydro-alcoholic extract of Satureja hortensis L

Satureja hortensis L. presents an increased interest due to its chemical composition, abundant in monoterpenes, aglyconic and glycosylates flavonoids, and phenolic acids, leading to important biological activity. The present study compared the biological activity of volatile oil (VO) and total hydro-alcoholic extract (TE) of Satureja hortensis L. in terms of: i) antioxidant activity; ii) antimicrobial activity; and iii) viability, migration and proliferation on two healthy cell lines (keratinocytes-HaCaT and fibroblasts-1BR3) and two melanoma cell lines (human-A375 and murine-B164A5). Antioxidant activity of VO and TE showed maximal values around 72%. Antimicrobial screening highlighted the inhibitory capacity of VO against all seven tested bacteria strains, with the most pronounced effect against S. aureus and C. albicans, while TE exerted only a slight activity against three bacteria strains. VO showed greater efficacy than TE on both tumor cell lines (A375 and B164A5), the activity of the compounds was higher when low concentrations were used (5, 10 and 25 µM) while at high concentrations (50 and 100 µM) the percentages of viability were increased.

In Vitro Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Salvia sagittata Ethanolic Extract on Primary Cultures of Porcine Aortic Endothelial Cells

The aim of the present research was to study the effects of an ethanolic extract of Salvia sagittata Ruiz & Pav (SSEE), an endemic Ecuadorian plant traditionally used to treat inflammation and different intestinal affections, on primary cultures of porcine aortic endothelial cells (pAECs). pAECs were cultured in the presence of different concentrations (1-200 μg/mL) of SSEE for 24 h, and cytotoxicity was evaluated by the MTT assay. SSEE did not negatively affect cellular viability at any concentration tested. Cell cycle was analyzed and no significant change was observed. Then, the anti-inflammatory effects of SSEE on pAECs were analyzed using a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) as the inflammatory stimulus. Different markers involved in the inflammatory process, such as cytokines and protective molecules, were evaluated by real-time quantitative PCR and Western blot. SSEE showed the ability to restore pAEC physiological conditions reducing interleukin-6 and increasing Heme Oxygenase-1 protein levels. The phytochemical composition of SSEE was also evaluated via HPLC-DAD and spectrophotometric assays. The presence of different phenolic acids and flavonoids was revealed, with rosmarinic acid as the most abundant component. SSEE possesses an interesting antioxidant activity, as assessed through both the Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assays. In conclusion, results suggest that SSEE is endowed with an in vitro anti-inflammatory effect. This represents the initial step in finding a possible scientific support for the traditional therapeutic use of this plant.

Phytochemical Characterization and Evaluation of the Antimicrobial, Antiproliferative and Pro-Apoptotic Potential of Ephedra alata Decne. Hydroalcoholic Extract against the MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cell Line

Ephedra alata Decne. belongs to the Ephedraceae family. It is a species of Ephedra that grows mostly in the desert. Today, the main importance of Ephedra species in the medical field is due to the presence of the alkaloids derived from phenyl-alanine, which act on the sympathetic nervous system as a sympathomimetic. The aim of this study was to conduct a phytochemical characterization of the hydroalcoholic extract of the aerial part of Ephedra alata Decne., which is indigenous to Tunis, that involves the total phenolic content, individual phenolic content, and antioxidant activity as well as a biological screening for the evaluation of the antimicrobial, antifungal, antiproliferative, pro-apoptotic, and cytotoxic potential against the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line. The results show that the hydroalcoholic extract contains polyphenolic phytocompounds (156.226 ± 0.5 mgGAE/g extract) and elicits antioxidant activity (7453.18 ± 2.5 μmol Trolox/g extract). The extract acted as a bacteriostatic agent against all tested bacterial strains, but was bactericidal only against the Gram-positive cocci and Candida spp. In the set experimental parameters, the extract presents antiproliferative, pro-apoptotic, and cytotoxic potential against the MCF-7 human breast cancer cell line.