In vitro and in vivo antileishmanial effects of Nectaroscordum koelzi extract against Leishmania major

Due to the increasing resistance to common medicinal compounds, the use of medicinal plants has received special attention. Therefore, the current survey was designed to study the antileishmanial effects of Nectaroscordum koelzi Trautv. methanolic extract against Leishmania major. In this study, after preparing the methanolic extract of N. koelzi, its effect on the amastigotes of L. major and triggering the nitric oxide (NO) were measured. Then, the in vivo effect of the methanol extract on cutaneous leishmaniasis in mice was evaluated. The best anti-amastigote effect was for the methanol extract of N. koelzi along with meglumine antimony with 50% inhibitory concentrations value of 17.4 μg/ml (p < 0.001). The 50% cytotoxic concentrations values of methanol extract, meglumine antimoniate, and methanol extract + meglumine antimoniate were 596.3, 784.6, and 296.4 µg/ml, respectively. Macrophages treated with the methanolic extract markedly (p < 0.001) induced the release of nitric oxide. After 28 days of treatment, lesions were completely (p < 0.001) healed in mice treated with the methanolic extract (100 mg/kg) + meglumine antimoniate (25 mg/kg). N. koelzi methanolic extract mainly in combination with meglumine antimoniate showed favorable antileishmanial effects on L. major, concluding that the methanolic extract of N. koelzi can be used for the production of new leishmanicidal agents agaist cutaneous leishmaniasis. Although we revealed that NO trigerring and inhibition of infection in host cells are the antileishmanial mechanism action of N. koelzi methanolic extract, more studies must be performed to clear the mechanisms and its safety.

Metabolomic Profile of Volatile Organic Compounds from Leaves of Cashew Clones by HS-SPME/GC-MS for the Identification of Candidates for Anthracnose Resistance Markers

Anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides affects the leaves, inflorescences, nuts, and peduncles of cashew trees (Anacardium occidentale). The use of genetically improved plants and the insertion of dwarf cashew clones that are more resistant to phytopathogens are strategies to minimize the impact of anthracnose on cashew production. However, resistance mechanisms related to the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites remain unknown. Thus, this study promoted the investigation of the profile of volatile organic compounds of resistant cashew clone leaves ('CCP 76', 'BRS 226' and 'BRS 189') and susceptible ('BRS 265') to C. gloeosporioides, in the periods of non-infection and infection of the pathogen in the field (July-December 2019 - Brazil). Seventy-eight compounds were provisionally identified. Chemometric analyses, such as Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Discriminating Partial Least Squares Analysis (PLS-DA), Discriminating Analysis of Orthogonal Partial Least Squares (OPLS-DA), and Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA), separated the samples into different groups, highlighting hexanal, (E)-hex-2-enal, (Z)-hex-2-en-1-ol, (E)-hex-3-en-1-ol, in addition to α-pinene, α-terpinene, γ-terpinene, β-pinene, and δ-3-carene, in the samples of the resistant clones in comparison to the susceptible clone. According to the literature, these metabolites have antimicrobial activity and are therefore chemical marker candidates for resistance to C. gloeosporioides in cashew trees.

Chemical Composition and Insecticidal, Antiplasmodial, and Anti-Leishmanial Activity of Capparis spinosa Essential Oil and Its Main Constituents

Background

This investigation was designed to evaluate the insecticidal, antiplasmodial, anti-leishmanial, and cytotoxic effects of Capparis spinosa essential oil (CSEO) and its main components, methyl isothiocyanate, hexadecanoic acid, and limonene.

Methods

Insecticidal activity of CSEO and its main components, methyl isothiocyanate, hexadecanoic acid, and limonene, was determined against Aedes aegypti 4th-instar larvae at 25 ± 2°C. Antiplasmodial and anti-leishmanial effects of CSEO and its main components were carried out against chloroquine-resistant Plasmodium falciparum K1 strain and Leishmania major amastigotes based on the Malstat method and the macrophage model, respectively. We also performed the cytotoxic activity of CZEO and its main components against J774A1 macrophage cells using the colorimetric MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay. In addition, the plasma membrane permeability and caspase-3-like activity CSEO and its main components were evaluated against L. major.

Results

CSEO and its main components showed considerable (p < 0.001) larvicidal activity against Ae. aegypti larva. The 50% lethal concentration values for CSEO, methyl isothiocyanate, hexadecanoic acid, and limonene were 21.6, 30.9, 41.6, and 35.3 μg/mL, respectively. By antiplasmodial effects, the 50% inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) values for CSEO, methyl isothiocyanate, hexadecanoic acid, and limonene were 7.4, 14.5, 19.6, and 21.3 μg/mL, respectively, while these values for their anti-leishmanial effects were 9.1, 20.7, 23.3, and 18.6 μg/mL, respectively. The 50% cytotoxic concentration values for CSEO, methyl isothiocyanate, hexadecanoic acid, and limonene were 93.7, 216.2, 199.4, and 221.3 μg/mL, respectively. Different concentrations of CSEO and its main components significantly (p < 0.05) increased the plasma membrane permeability and caspase-3-like activity against L. major promastigote level as dose-dependent response.

Conclusion

Based on the obtained results, C. spinosa essential oil and its main components, methyl isothiocyanate, hexadecanoic acid, and limonene, displayed insecticidal, antiplasmodial, and anti-leishmanial activity against healthy 4th-instar larvae of A. aegypti, chloroquine-resistant P. falciparum K1 strain, and L. major amastigotes, respectively. However, further surveys are required to display the mechanisms of action mode of tested drugs and their efficacy in animal model and clinical settings.

Ammoides pusilla Essential Oil: A Potent Inhibitor of the Growth of Fusarium avenaceum and Its Enniatin Production

Enniatins are mycotoxins produced by Fusarium species contaminating cereals and various agricultural commodities. The co-occurrence of these mycotoxins in large quantities with other mycotoxins such as trichothecenes and the possible synergies in toxicity could lead to serious food safety problems. Using the agar dilution method, Ammoides pusilla was selected among eight Tunisian plants for the antifungal potential of its essential oil (EO) on Fusarium avenaceum mycelial growth and its production of enniatins. Two EO batches were produced and analyzed by GC/MS-MS. Their activities were measured using both contact assays and fumigant tests (estimated IC50 were 0.1 µL·mL⁻¹ and 7.6 µL·L⁻¹, respectively). The A. pusilla EOs and their volatiles inhibited the germination of spores and the mycelial growth, showing a fungistatic but not fungicidal activity. The accumulation of enniatins was also significantly reduced (estimated IC50 were 0.05 µL·mL⁻¹ for the contact assays and 4.2 µL·L⁻¹ for the fumigation assays). The most active batch of EO was richer in thymol, the main volatile compound found. Thymol used as fumigant showed a potent fungistatic activity but not a significant antimycotoxigenic activity. Overall, our data demonstrated the bioactivity of A. pusilla EO and its high potential to control F. avenaceum and its enniatins production in agricultural commodities.

Efficacy and Safety Curcuma zadoaria L. to Inactivate the Hydatid Cyst Protoscoleces

BACKGROUND

The present work aimed to evaluate the chemical composition of Curcuma zadoaria essential oil and to investigate its efficacy and safety against hydatid cyst protoscoleces.

METHODS

Collected protoscoleces from liver fertile hydatid cysts of infected sheep were exposed to different concentrations of the essential oil (75, 150, 300 μl/mL) for 5-30 min in vitro and ex vivo. Then, by using the eosin exclusion assay, the viability of protoscoleces was studied. In the next step, 24 male NMRI mice were examined to assess the toxicity of C. zadoaria essential oil by measuring the biochemical and hematological parameters.

RESULTS

Based on the obtained results, the LD50 value of intraperitoneal injection of the C. zadoaria essential oil was 1.76 mL/kg of body weight and the maximum non-fatal dose was 0.96 mL/kg of body weight. C. zadoaria essential oil had a strong proto scolicidal activity in vitro so that at the 300 and 150 μl/ml entirely eliminates the parasite after 5 and 10 minutes; whereas, weak proto scolicidal activity was observed at lower doses. Ex vivo assay, no similar effect with in vitro was observed, therefore, more time is required to show a potent proto scolicidal activity. C. zadoaria essential oil at the concentrations of 300 and 150 μl/mL after an exposure time of 7 and 12 min, killed 100% of protoscoleces within the hydatid cyst, respectively. After intraperitoneal injection of the C. zadoaria essential oil for 2 weeks, no significant difference (p > 0.05) was observed in the clinical chemistry and hematologic parameters at the doses of 0.15, 0.3, 0.6 mL/kg.

CONCLUSION

The obtained results in vitro and ex vivo exhibited that C. zadoaria essential oil had a favorable proto scolicidal activity on hydatid cyst protoscoleces. However, more supplementary works are required to verify these findings by assessing clinical subjects.

Efficacy and safety of Curcuma longa essential oil to inactivate hydatid cyst protoscoleces

Background

One of the most important ways to cure hydatid cysts is surgery. Today, available chemical drugs have shown severe complications during hydatid cyst surgery. Here we investigated theefficacy and safety of Curcuma longa (C. longa) essential oil (CLEO) against hydatid cysts protoscoleces.

Methods

Here, the collected protoscoleces from fertile hydatid cysts were exposed to different concentrations of the CLEO (50–200 μl/mL) for 5–30 min in vitro and ex vivo. In addition, male NIH mice (48 mice) were applied to examine the safety of CLEO.

Results

All protoscoleces were completely killed in 5th min of treatment to the doses of 200 μl /mL of CLEO. On the other hand, in the 10th min of treatment, CLEO entirely killed 100% of protoscoleces at the dose of 100 μL/mL. Other doses of CLEO, but, revealed a postponed activity. Although CLEO at the doses of 50, and 100 μL/mL exhibited no similar effect in the ex vivo analysis; but, at the dose of 200 μL/mL and an exposure time of 5 min, approximately 100% of protoscoleces were destroyed into the cyst. We found that after intra-peritoneal injection of the CLEO for 14 days, although blood and biochemical parameters were changed; but there was no significant difference in comparison with the control group (p > 0.05).

Conclusion

This research demonstrated that C. longa revealed the promising scolicidal effects against protoscoleces in vitro and in vivo, of course, after additional tests; it might be considered as an herbal scolicidal drug in order to decrease the threat of discharge of protoscoleces through hydatid cyst surgery. Nevertheless, supplementary studies will be desired to prove the current findings by examination the essential oil in a clinical setting.

Chemical and biomolecular analyses to discriminate three taxa of Pistacia genus from Sardinia Island (Italy) and their antifungal activity

This work reports the results and the comparison concerning the chemical and biomolecular analyses and the antifungal activity of three wild Pistacia species (Anacardiaceae) from Sardinia. Volatile oils from leaves and twigs of Pistacia x saportae, Pistacia lentiscus and Pistacia terebinthus were characterised using GC-FID and GC-MS techniques and tested against some fungal strains. Two DNA nuclear regions (ITS and 5S-rRNA-NTS) were amplified through PCR technique and sequenced. The three **Pistacia have similar chemical profile, although there are some important quantitative differences. The analysis of ITS and 5S-rRNA-NTS regions, reveals a species-specific nucleotide variation among the three **taxa. This method could emerge as a powerful tool for the species identification, especially because the discrimination of these three **taxa appears difficult for non-expert botanists. Concerning the antifungal activity, P. lentiscus and P. x saportae show the highest activity against Cryptococcus neoformans, with a MIC value of 0.32 μL/mL.

Chemical characterisation and biological activity of leaf essential oils obtained from Pistacia terebinthus growing wild in Tunisia and Sardinia Island

In the present work the chemical compositions, measured by GC and GC-MS, of the essential oils obtained by hydrodistillation from leaves of Pistacia terebinthus collected in Bizerte (Tunisia) and Baunei (Italy) are reported. Both essential oils possessed high content of monoterpene hydrocarbons (86.3% and 90.9%, respectively), being α-pinene (62.4 vs. 35.0)%, camphene (3.0 vs. 2.4)%, β-pinene (12.1 vs. 4.5)%, terpinolene (1.7 vs. 35.2)% and β-phellandrene (3.8 vs. 4.5)% the main components. The Tunisian essential oil exhibited higher antifungal activity than the Italian one. Cryptococcus neoformans and the majority of dermatophyte strains showed more sensitivity to the Tunisian oil, when compared to Candida strains, in particular Trichophyton rubrum, Microsporum canis and Epidermophyton floccosum, with MIC and MLC values in the range (0.16-0.32) μL/mL. The results obtained support the use of the oil from Tunisia for the treatment of dermatophytosis.

Chemical composition, efficacy and safety of Pistacia vera (var. Fandoghi) to inactivate protoscoleces during hydatid cyst surgery

At present, various scolicidal agents have been used for inactivation of protoscoleces during hydatid cyst surgery, however, they are associated with serious adverse side effects including sclerosing colangititis (biliary tract fibrosis), liver necrosis and methaemoglobinaemia. This investigation was designed to evaluate the chemical composition and in vitro scolicidal effects of Pistacia vera (var. Fandoghi) essential oil against protoscoleces of hydatid cysts and also its toxicity in mice model. The components of the P. vera essential oil were identified by gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy (GC/MS) analysis. Protoscoleces were aseptically aspirated from sheep livers having hydatid cysts. Various concentrations of the essential oil (25-200μl/mL) were used for 5-30min. Viability of protoscoleces was confirmed using eosin exclusion test (0.1% eosin staining). In addition, forty male NIH mice were used to determine the acute and sub-acute toxicity of P. vera essential oil for 2 and 14 days, respectively. The main components of P. vera essential oil were limonene (26.21%), α-pinene (18.07%), α-thujene (9.31%) and α-terpinolene (9.28%). Findings of the present study demonstrated that the P. vera essential oil at the concentrations of 100 and 200μl/mL killed 100% protoscoleces after 10 and 5min of exposure, respectively. The LD50 values of intraperitoneal injection of the P. vera essential oil was 2.69ml/kg body weight, and the maximum nonfatal doses were 1.94ml/kg body weight. No significant difference (P>0.05) was observed in the clinical chemistry and hematological parameters following oral administrations of P. vera essential oil at the doses 0.1, 0.2, and 0.4ml/kg for 14 days. The obtained findings demonstrated new chemical composition and promising scolicidal activity of the P. vera with no significant toxicity which might be used as a natural scolicidal agent in hydatid cyst surgery.

Chemical composition and in vitro antibacterial activity of Pistacia terebinthus essential oils derived from wild populations in Kosovo

BACKGROUND

Plant material from different organs of Pistacia terebinthus L., (Anacardiaceae) were collected in Kosovo with aim to analyze the chemical variability of the essential oils among native populations and to test them for potential antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus.

METHODS

Essential oils obtained from leaves, pedicels, fruits and galls were analyzed by GC-FID and GC/MS. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against three clinically relevant strains of S. aureus (NRS385, LAC and UAMS-1) were used to evaluate the antibacterial activity of essential oils.

RESULTS

In total, 33 different compounds were identified. The main constituents were α-pinene (12.58-66.29 %), D-limonene (13.95-46.29 %), β-ocimene (0.03-40.49 %), β-pinene (2.63-20.47 %), sabinene (0.00-5.61 %) and (Z)-β-ocimene (0.00-44.85 %). Antibacterial testing of the essential oils against three clinical isolates of S. aureus revealed that seven of the eight samples had some activity at the concentration range tested (0.04-0.512 % v/v). The gall tissues from both sites produced the highest yield of essential oil (3.24 and 6 %), and both exhibited growth inhibitory activity against S. aureus. The most bioactive essential oils, which exhibited MIC90 values ranging from 0.032-0.128 % v/v, obtained from the fruits of the Ura e Shejtë collection site. Likewise, the leaf and pedicel essential oil from the same site was highly active with MIC90 values of 0.064-0.128 and 0.032-0.256 % v/v, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Principle Component Analyses demonstrated that there is a variation in the chemical composition of essential oil depending on the plant organs from which essential oil are obtained and the geographical origin of the plant populations. The highest variability regarding the chemical composition of essential oil was found between oils obtained from different organs originating from the Prizren site. The MIC90 activity of Pistacia terebinthus was on par or superior compared with Tea Tree Oil control (0.128 % v/v), suggesting that essential oils from this species may have some potential for development as an antibacterial agent for S. aureus infections.