Diverse biological effects of the essential oil from Iranian Trachyspermum ammi

Assessment of Trachyspermum ammi essential oil against Aspergillus flavus, aflatoxin B1 contamination, and post-harvest quality of Sorghum bicolor

The present investigation explored the antifungal effectiveness of Trachyspermum ammi essential oil (TAEO) against Aspergillus flavus, aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) contamination, and its mechanism of action using biochemical and computational approaches. The GC-MS result revealed the chemical diversity of TAEO with the highest percentage of γ-terpinene (39 %). The TAEO exhibited minimum inhibitory concentration against A. flavus growth (0.5 µL/mL) and AFB1 (0.4 µL/mL) with radical scavenging activity (IC50 = 2.13 µL/mL). The mechanism of action of TAEO was associated with the alteration in plasma membrane functioning, antioxidative defense, and carbon source catabolism. The molecular dynamic result shows the multi-regime binding of γ-terpinene with the target proteins (Nor1, Omt1, and Vbs) of AFB1 biosynthesis. Furthermore, TAEO exhibited remarkable in-situ protection of Sorghum bicolor seed samples against A. flavus and AFB1 contamination and protected the nutritional deterioration. Hence, the study recommends TAEO as a natural antifungal agent for food protection against A. flavus mediated biodeterioration.

Selenium nanoparticles induce coumarin metabolism and essential oil production in Trachyspermum ammi under future climate CO2 conditions

Research on nanoparticles (NPs) and future elevated CO2 (eCO2) is extensive, but the effects of SeNPs on plant growth and secondary metabolism under eCO2 remain uncertain. In this study, we explored the impact of SeNPs and/or eCO2 on the growth, physiology, chemical composition (primary metabolites, coumarins, and essential oils), and antioxidant capacity of Trachyspermum (T.) ammi. The treatment with SeNPs notably improved the biomass and photosynthesis of T. ammi plants, particularly under eCO2 conditions. Plant fresh and dry weights were improved by about 19, 33 and 36% in groups treated by SeNPs, eCO2, and SeNPs + eCO2, respectively. SeNPs + eCO2 induced photosynthesis, consequently enhancing sugar and amino acid levels. Similar to the increase in total sugars, amino acids showed variable enhancements ranging from 6 to 42% upon treatment with SeNPs + eCO2. At the level of the secondary metabolites, SeNPs + eCO2 substantially augmented coumarin biosynthesis and essential oil accumulation. Consistently, there were increases in coumarins and essential oil precursors (shikimic and cinnamic acids) and their biosynthetic enzymes. The enhanced accumulation of coumarins and essential oils resulted in increased overall antioxidant activity, as evidenced by improvements in FRAP, ORAC, TBARS, conjugated dienes, and inhibition % of hemolysis. Conclusively, the application of SeNPs demonstrates significant enhancements in plant growth and metabolism under future CO2 conditions, notably concerning coumarin metabolism and essential oil production of T. ammi.

Nutraceutical Content and Biological Properties of Lipophilic and Hydrophilic Fractions of the Phytocomplex from Pistacia atlantica Desf. Buds, Roots, and Fruits

The aim of the present investigation was to obtain 12 aqueous extracts and 1 oil from Pistacia atlantica Desf. subsp. atlantica specimens. The samples differed for processed plant organs (i.e., roots, buds, and fruits), gender and geographical station of the collected trees. Total phenols, flavonoids, and condensed tannins were determined, revealing that bud extracts exhibited the highest phenolic content (386.785 ± 16.227 mg GAE/g DM), followed by fruit and root preparations. Similar results were detected for flavonoids and tannins, whose quantitation ranged from 0.014 ± 0.005 to 74.780 ± 9.724 mg CE/g DM and from 0.037 ± 0.003 to 14.793 ± 0.821 mg CE/g DM, respectively. The biochemical profile of the extracts was further characterized by HPLC-DAD, in terms of specific phenolics. This analysis identified gallic acid as a typical metabolite for ripe fruit, while hydroxytyrosol for female roots and male buds. In parallel, P. atlantica fruit oil was profiled by GC-MS analysis, which detected 37 lipophilic components, including palmitic acid (the major component, ~55%), anacardol, tetradecanol, arachidic acid, squalene, and some terpenes. The samples revealed interesting antioxidant activity, with EC50 values ranging from 0.073 ± 0.001 to 193.594 ± 28.942 mg/mL and from 0.029 ± 0.001 to 103.086 ± 20.540 mg/mL, in that order, for DPPH and reducing power assays. Concerning the total antioxidant capacity, the results ranged from 0.053 ± 0.008 to 51.648 ± 1.659 mg AAE/g DM. Finally, the antimicrobial potential of the plant extracts was estimated against 7 bacterial species and 2 fungal strains, known to be human pathogens, demonstrating a good antibiotic effect for the bud extracts. All these findings strongly suggest that P. atlantica would represent a natural reservoir for novel additives to be used in therapeutic, food, and cosmetic products.

Effects of Supplemented Coriander, Ajwain, and Dill Seed Essential Oils on Growth Performance, Carcass Characteristics, Gut Health, Meat Quality, and Immune Status in Broilers

Numerous studies have assessed the benefits and optimal dosage of supplementation with essential oils (EOs), including extracts from plants of the Apiaceae family, as an alternative to antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs) in broilers. However, little consideration has been given to the actual chemical composition of the evaluated EOs when drawing critical conclusions, even though EO composition can vary with different extraction conditions and plant characteristics. Therefore, the present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of EOs from seeds of plants of the Apiaceae family: coriander (CEO), ajwain (AjEO), and dill (DEO), containing 56.8% linalool, 68.2% thymol, and 41.1% carvone, respectively, on the growth performance, gut health, and immune status of broilers. In total, 660 one-day-old broiler chicks were divided into 11 experimental diet groups and fed for 35 days with either the control diet, basal diet with added AGP (lincomycin, 500 mg/kg), or one of nine EO diets supplemented with CEO, AjEO, or DEO at 200, 400, and 600 mg/kg. Final body weights were improved by supplementation with not only AGP but also any EO except AjEO at 600 mg/kg; within each EO, supplementation of CEO at 400 mg/kg, AjEO at 200 mg/kg, and DEO at 200 mg/kg afforded the best growth performance. EO supplementation had beneficial effects on gut morphology, such as increased villus height in the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum, and against harmful microbiota, such as reduction of Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. populations. Furthermore, EOs enhanced humoral immunity and improved meat quality by reducing drip loss, likely consequent to their antioxidant properties. Overall, this study presents evidence that CEO, AjEO, and DEO can each play a pivotal role in replacing AGPs, as well as providing information regarding optimal doses for broilers.

Shelf life extending of probiotic beef patties with polylactic acid-ajwain essential oil films and stress effects on Bacillus coagulans

Meat and meat products are prone to the microbial and chemical spoilage, due to the high nutritional content. This study investigated the effect of polylactic acid (PLA) films incorporated with ajwain essential oil (AEO) on microbial (total viable count [TVC], psychrotrophic bacterial count [PTC], Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonas spp., yeast and mold (Y&M), and also Bacillus coagulans [BCG]), chemical (pH, peroxide value [PV], thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance [TBARS], and TVN values), and sensorial properties of beef patties, as well as survivability of BCG during refrigerated storage. Results showed that all microbial counts of samples were significantly increased, except BCG, during storage but the lowest TVC of samples was achieved in samples wrapped with PLA-1% AEO (8 log colony forming units per gram [CFU/g]) at 12th of storage, which is significantly lower than control treatments (10.66 log CFU/g). The best results in all treatments are those wrapped by PLA-1% AEO in all evaluated characteristics. At the final day of storage, PTC (8.82 log CFU/g), Enterobacteriaceae (5.05 log CFU/g), Pseudomonas spp. (9.08 log CFU/g), Y&M (4.69 log CFU/g), and also pH (4.5), PV (5.12 meq/kg), TBARS (2.92 MDA/kg), and TVN (14.43 mgN/100 g) values of PLA-1% AEO treatments were significantly lower than control samples. AEO-PLA films reduce the survival of BCG in raw patties, which reached 6.19 log CFU/g in PLA-1% AEO treatments, although increasing the concentration of AEO in packaging PLA films led to the maintenance of BCG viability during the cooking process by increasing the AEO in PLA films. Overall, results showed shelf life of beef patties is extended 3 days more (150%) by wrapping with PLA films incorporated with 1% AEO.

Nanoliposomal Trachyspermum ammi (L) sprague essential oil for effective control of malaria mosquito larvae, Anopheles stephensi Liston

Controlling mosquito vectors at immature stages using larvicides is a practical strategy to stave off mosquito-borne diseases such as malaria. Developing nanoliposomes bearing essential oil is a promising approach to improving the efficacy and stability of EOs-derived larvicides. The main aim of this investigation was to assess the efficacy of nanoliposome containing Trachyspermum ammi L. EO (TAEO-NL) as a new potential formulation to control Anopheles stephensi Liston (Diptera, Culicidae) mosquito larvae. The chemical constituents of T. ammi L. essential oil (TAEO) were first investigated using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis; its dominant component (48.22%) was thymol. TAEO-NL with a particle size of 54.6 ± 5 nm and zeta potential of -18 ± 0.5 mV were then prepared using the ethanol injection method. Besides, the successful loading of TAEO was confirmed using Attenuated Total Reflection-Fourier Transform Infra-Red (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy analysis. A significant difference (P < 0.05) was observed in the efficacy of TAEO-NL and TAEO with lethal concentration 50% (LC50) values of 14.09 and 59.47 μg/mL against An. stephensi larvae. However, free nanoliposomes show negligible larvicidal effects (<5%). This nano-formulation could thus be suggested as a green product against insects to impede transmission of deadly infectious diseases with possible field applicability scope.

Recent advancements on use of essential oils as preservatives against fungi and mycotoxins spoiling food grains

Spoilage of grains by mycotoxigenic fungi poses a great threat to food security and human health. Conventionally used chemical agents to prevent grain fungi contamination cause increasingly significant problems such as microbial resistance, residual toxicity and environmental unfriendliness. In recent years, plant essential oils (EOs) have become a hot spot in the research of control of grain fungi and mycotoxins, due to their extensive sources, non-toxicity, environmental friendliness and good antifungal efficiency. The current review aims to provide an overview of the prevention of fungi and mycotoxins in grain through EOs. The antifungal and toxin inhibition efficiency of different EOs and their effective components are investigated. The inhibition mechanism of EOs on fungi and mycotoxins in grains is introduced. The influence of EOs treatment on the change of grain quality is also discussed. In addition, the formulations and techniques used to overcome the disadvantages of EOs application are introduced. The results of recent studies have confirmed that EOs provide great potential for controlling common fungi and mycotoxins in grains, and enhancing quantity and quality safety of grains.

Extraction, characterization of polyphenols from certain medicinal plants and evaluation of their antioxidant, antitumor, antidiabetic, antimicrobial properties, and potential use in human nutrition

Introduction

Dietary medicinal plants are among the most sought-after topics in alternative medicine today due to their preventive and healing properties against many diseases.

Aim

This study aimed to extract and determine the polyphenols from indigenous plants extracts, i.e., Mentha longifolia, M. arvensis, Tinospora cordifolia, Cymbopogon citratus, Foeniculum vulgare, Cassia absus, Camellia sinensis, Trachyspermum ammi, C. sinensis and M. arvensis, then evaluate the antioxidant, cytotoxicity, and antimicrobial properties, besides enzyme inhibition of isolated polyphenols.

Methods

The antioxidant activity was evaluated by DPPH, Superoxide radical, Hydroxyl radical (OH.), and Nitric oxide (NO.) scavenging activity; the antidiabetic activity was evaluated by enzymatic methods, and anticancer activity using MTT assay, while the antibacterial activity.

Results

The results showed that tested medicinal plants' polyphenolic extracts (MPPE) exhibited the most significant antioxidant activity in DPPH, hydroxyl, nitric oxide, and superoxide radical scavenging methods because of the considerable amounts of total polyphenol and flavonoid contents. UHPLC profile showed twenty-five polyphenol complexes in eight medicinal plant extracts, categorized into phenolic acids, flavonoids, and alkaloids. The main polyphenol was 3-Feroylquinic acid (1,302 mg/L), also found in M. longifolia, C. absus, and C. sinensis, has a higher phenolic content, i.e., rosmarinic acid, vanillic acid, chlorogenic acid, p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid, gallic acid, catechin, luteolin, 7-O-neohesperideside, quercetin 3,7-O-glucoside, hesperidin, rutin, quercetin, and caffeine in the range of (560-780 mg/L). At the same time, other compounds are of medium content (99-312 mg/L). The phenolics in C. sinensis were 20-116% more abundant than those in M. longifolia, C. absus, and other medicinal plants. While T. cordifolia is rich in alkaloids, T. ammi has a lower content. The MTT assay against Caco-2 cells showed that polyphenolic extracts of T. ammi and C. citratus had maximum cytotoxicity. While M. arvensis, C. sinensis, and F. vulgare extracts showed significant enzyme inhibition activity, C. sinensis showed minor inhibition activity against α-amylase. Furthermore, F. vulgare and C. sinensis polyphenolic extracts showed considerable antibacterial activity against S. aureus, B. cereus, E. coli, and S. enterica.

Discussion

The principal component analysis demonstrated clear separation among medicinal plants' extracts based on their functional properties. These findings prove the therapeutic effectiveness of indigenous plants and highlight their importance as natural reserves of phytogenic compounds with untapped potential that needs to be discovered through advanced analytical methods.

Validation of Broth Macrodilution Volatilization Method for Testing of Essential Oils in Liquid and Vapor Phase: Chemical Composition, Cytotoxicity, and Antibacterial Effect of Indian Medicinal Plants against Pneumonia-Causing Pathogens

Essential oils (EOs) have great potential in inhalation therapy for the treatment of respiratory infections. However, innovative methods for evaluation of antimicrobial activity of their vapors are still needed. The current study reports validation of the broth macrodilution volatilization method for assessment of the antibacterial properties of EOs and shows the growth-inhibitory effect of Indian medicinal plants against pneumonia-causing bacteria in liquid and vapor phase. Among all samples tested, Trachyspermum ammi EO exhibits the strongest antibacterial effect against Haemophilus influenzae, with minimum inhibitory concentrations of 128 and 256 µg/mL in the liquid and vapor phases, respectively. Furthermore, Cyperus scariosus EO is found to be nontoxic to normal lung fibroblasts assessed by modified thiazolyl blue tetrazolium bromide assay. Chemical analysis performed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry identified α-citral, cyperotundone, and thymol as the main constituents of Cymbopogon citratus, C. scariosus, and T. ammi EOs, respectively. In addition, β-cymene is identified as the major compound of T. ammi EO vapors when analyzed using solid-phase microextraction and gas-tight syringe sampling techniques. This study demonstrates the validity of the broth macrodilution volatilization method for antimicrobial screening of volatile compounds in the vapor phase and suggests the therapeutic potential of Indian medicinal plants in inhalation therapy.

Leaf-buds of Pistacia atlantica: a novel source of bioactive molecules with high anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-tyrosinase and antimicrobial properties

In this study, for the first time, the anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-tyrosinase and antimicrobial property of P. atlantica Desf. subsp. atlantica leaf-bud extract have been investigated. The anti-inflammatory activity was determined in vivo by reducing carrageenan-induced hind paw edema in mice, while the antiradical function was evaluated using DPPH, total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and reduction power assays. The extract induced a significant reduction of the edema, from 1 to 6 h in a dose-dependent manner (150, 200 and 300 mg/kg). Histological observations of the inflamed tissues also confirmed this. An effective antioxidant activity of the plant samples was demonstrated, showing an EC50 = 0.183 ± 0.005 mg/mL for the DPPH test, a value of 28.776 ± 2.541 mg AAE/g for the TAC and an EC50 = 0.136 ± 0.003 mg/mL for reducing power. The leaf-bud extract also revealed a good antimicrobial activity against S. aureus and L. monocytogenes (mean diameter of inhibition zones of 13.2 and 17.0 mm, respectively), while a slight antifungal effect was observed. The plant preparation was then documented to inhibit tyrosinase activity, with an EC50 value of 0.098 ± 0.00 mg/mL in a dose-dependent manner. HPLC-DAD analysis revealed that dimethyl-allyl caffeic acid and rutin were the most abundant molecules. The current data documented that P. atlantica leaf-bud extract has strong biological properties and constitutes a potential source of pharmacological molecules.

Cytotoxic effects of Trachyspermum ammi and Ferula assafoetida on MCF-7 and MDA-MB-468 breast cancer cell lines

Background

The induction of oxidative stress is one of the most important cancer etiologies. Plant essential oils contain many effective antioxidant compounds in improving oxidative stress. In the present study, the pharmacological potential of Trachyspermum ammi essential oil (TAEO) and Ferula assafoetida essential oil (FAEO) was compared in oxidative stress improvement and cytotoxic effect. TAEO and FAEO were prepared by Clevenger apparatus, and the medicinal compounds in the essential oils were evaluated by GC–MS assay. The TAEO and FAEO were also evaluated as to their phenolic and flavonoid content, monovalent reducing power, and total radical scavenging activity, respectively, by Folin–Ciocalteu, aluminum chloride, FRAP, and DPPH methods. The cytotoxic effect of the TAEO and FAEO was evaluated by MTT assay on MCF-7 (ER+) and MDA-MB-468 (ER−) breast cancer cell lines.

Results

The GC–MS analysis indicated that thymol and (E)-Sec-Butyl propenyl disulfide, respectively, were the highest components of TAEO and FAEO. The phenolic content (P < 0.0001), flavonoid content (P < 0.0001), reducing power (P < 0.0001), radical scavenging activity (P < 0.0001), and cytotoxic effect (P < 0.05) of TAEO were significantly higher than FAEO. The IC50 value of the cytotoxic effect of TAEO on MCF-7 and MDA-MB-468 after 72 h of incubation was, respectively, 192.5 ± 42.57 and 331.4 ± 7.24 ppm.

Conclusion

The cytotoxic effect of TAEO was more potent on the MCF-7 cell line, probably in an estrogen-dependent manner of cellular growth inhibition. It appears that TAEO has a high capacity for improving oxidative stress and inhibiting cell proliferation in breast cancer.

Echinops spinosissimus Turra Root Methanolic Extract: Characterization of the Bioactive Components and Relative Wound Healing, Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Properties

Echinops spinosissimus Turra subsp. bovei (Asteraceae) is a medicinal plant in western Algeria. Traditionally, roots and inflorescences are employed as hypertensive agents and in the treatment of hemorrhoids. The current study evaluates the chemical composition, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and wound-healing properties of the root methanolic extract from E. spinosissimus subsp. bovei. The content of total phenolics, flavonoids, and tannins was determined. In addition, the phenolic profile was typified. The studied plant extract resulted in being primarily composed of Apigenin, Kaempferol, and their derivatives. The total phenolic content was equal to 95.31 ± 2.90 mg GAE/g DW, while the number of flavonoids and condensed tannins was 16.01 ± 0.16 mg CE/g DW and 8.30 ± 0.65 mg CE/g DW, respectively. The methanolic extract was found to exhibit antioxidant activity towards the DPPH radical, with an IC₅₀ of 7.99 ± 0.28 mg/mL and a TAC of 30.30 ± 0.54 mg AAE/g DW, as well as an antibacterial effect, especially against P. aeruginosa. No significant wound-healing property was observed, even though the histopathological observations showed enhanced wound-healing quality. According to our evidence, E. spinosissimus could represent a source of phytochemicals with potential beneficial effects for human health in terms of antioxidant and antibiotic properties, although further investigations on this species are needed.

Investigating the Antituberculosis Activity of Selected Commercial Essential Oils and Identification of Active Constituents Using a Biochemometrics Approach and In Silico Modeling

Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis which has become prevalent due to the emergence of resistant M. tuberculosis strains. The use of essential oils (EOs) as potential anti-infective agents to treat microbial infections, including TB, offers promise due to their long historical use and low adverse effects. The current study aimed to investigate the in vitro anti-TB activity of 85 commercial EOs, and identify compounds responsible for the activity, using a biochemometrics approach. A microdilution assay was used to determine the antimycobacterial activity of the EOs towards some non-pathogenic Mycobacterium strains. In parallel, an Alamar blue assay was used to investigate antimycobacterial activity towards the pathogenic M. tuberculosis strain. Chemical profiling of the EOs was performed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. Biochemometrics filtered out putative biomarkers using orthogonal projections to latent structures discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA). In silico modeling was performed to identify potential therapeutic targets of the active biomarkers. Broad-spectrum antimycobacterial activity was observed for Cinnamomum zeylanicum (bark) (MICs = 1.00, 0.50, 0.25 and 0.008 mg/mL) and Levisticum officinale (MICs = 0.50, 0.5, 0.5 and 0.004 mg/mL) towards M. smegmatis, M. fortuitum, M. gordonae and M. tuberculosis, respectively. Biochemometrics predicted cinnamaldehyde, thymol and eugenol as putative biomarkers. Molecular docking demonstrated that cinnamaldehyde could serve as a scaffold for developing a novel class of antimicrobial compounds by targeting FtsZ and PknB from M. tuberculosis.

Characteristics of Essential Oils of Apiaceae Family: Their Chemical Compositions, in vitro Properties and Effects on Broiler Production

There has been an upsurge of interest in the phytobiotics coincident with the onset of the potential ban on the use of antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs) in the broiler industry and because many kinds of nutraceuticals play an important role in improving growth performance, feed efficiency, and gut health of broilers. In the previous years, significant biological activities of essential oils (EOs) belonging to phytobiotics were observed, including anti-bacterial, antifungal, antiviral, and antioxidant properties. We found new perspectives on the roles of EOs, particularly extracts from the Apiaceae family, which is one of the largest plant families, in potential replacement of AGPs, and on the chemical composition involved in regulating microorganism activity and oxidative damage. Furthermore, the positive effects of EOs on broiler production and the possible mechanisms inducing the involvement of gut health and growth performance have been studied.

Phytochemical Profile, Antimicrobial, Cytotoxic, and Antioxidant Activities of Fresh and Air-Dried Satureja nabateorum Essential Oils

Satureja nabateorum (Danin and Hedge) Bräuchler is a perennial herb in the Lamiaceae family that was discovered and classified in 1998. This green herb is restricted to the mountains overlooking the Dead Sea, specifically in Jordan’s southwest, the Edom mountains, and the Tubas mountains in Palestine. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of essential oil (EO) of air-dried and fresh S. nabateorum resulted in the identification of 30 and 42 phytochemicals accounting for 99.56 and 98.64% of the EO, respectively. Thymol (46.07 ± 1.1 and 40.64 ± 1.21%) was the major compound, followed by its biosynthetic precursors γ-terpinene (21.15 ± 1.05% and 20.65 ± 1.12%), and p-cymene (15.02 ± 1.02% and 11.51 ± 0.97%), respectively. Microdilution assay was used to evaluate the antimicrobial property of EOs against Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923), clinical isolate Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Enterococcus faecium (ATCC 700221) Klebsiella pneumoniae (ATCC 13883), Proteus vulgaris (ATCC 700221), Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853) and Candida albicans (ATCC-90028). With a MIC of 0.135 μg/mL, the EOs has the most potent antibacterial action against K. pneumonia. Both EOs display good antifungal efficacy against C. albicans, with a MIC value of 0.75 μg/mL, which was better than that of Fluconazole’s (positive control, MIC = 1.56 μg/mL). The antioxidant capacity of EOs extracted from air-dried and fresh S. nabateorum was determined using the DPPH assay, with IC₅₀ values of 4.78 ± 0.41 and 5.37 ± 0.40 μg/mL, respectively. The tested EOs showed significant cytotoxicity against Hela, HepG2, and COLO-205 cells, with IC₅₀ values ranging from 82 ± 0.98 to 256 ± 1.95 μg/mL. The current work shows there is a possibility to use the S. nabateorum EOs for various applications.

Development and characterization of monoterpene loaded microemulsions as novel scolicidal agents

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is one of the most important zoonotic diseases. The primary treatment is surgery and chemical sterilization of the parasitic layers by injection of a scolicidal agent. Available scolicidals possess side effects, and may cause postoperative complications. Several studies reported the scolicidal properties of monoterpene phenols and alcohols such as carvacrol, thymol, and geraniol. The present study aimed to develop, characterize, and assess monoterpene loaded microemulsions as novel green scolicidals products. For this purpose, microemulsions composing 0.37%, 0.75%, and 1.5% of monoterpenoid(s), thymol, carvacrol, and geraniol, alone or in binary or ternary mixtures were formulated. Samples were analyzed by visual inspection, polarizing optical microscope, and dynamic light scattering (DLS). The stability of the samples was evaluated up to a 3-month storage. For the scolicidal bioassay, samples at different concentrations of 200, 100, 50, 25, and 10 μg/ml were added to wells containing 10⁴ viable protoscoleces and mortality rates were recorded at 2, 5, 10, and 20 min after exposure. Results of the present study showed that microemulsions formulated with 0.75% of pure carvacrol or the binary mixture of thymol and carvacrol at 0.375% are promising scolicidal agents.

A Design of Experiment (DoE) Approach to Model the Yield and Chemical Composition of Ajowan (Trachyspermum ammi L.) Essential Oil Obtained by Microwave-Assisted Extraction

Ajowan (Trachyspermum ammi L.) is a spice traditionally used in Middle Eastern medicine and contains a valuable essential oil (EO) exploited in different fields, such as pharmaceutics, agrochemicals and food additives. This EO is mostly characterized by the thymol to which most of its biological properties are related. Given the economic value of ajowan and its increasing demand across the globe, the extraction method used for its EO is of paramount importance in terms of quality and quantity of the final product. In the present study, we used the design of experiment (DoE) approach to study and optimize the extraction of the ajowan EO using the microwave-assisted extraction (MAE), a novel extraction technique with high efficiency, low energy consumption, short process length and low environmental impact. A two-step DoE (screening followed by surface response methodology) was used to reduce the number of experiments and to improve the cost/benefit ratio. Reliable mathematical models, relating the more relevant EO features with the extraction conditions, were obtained and used to identify the best experimental conditions able to maximize the yield and thymol concentration. The optimized MAE procedure assures an EO with a higher yield and thymol amount compared with the standard hydrodistillation procedure.

Proposals for Antimicrobial Testing Guidelines Applied on Ajowan and Spanish Lavender Essential Oils

To fight the rising resistance of microorganisms to antibiotics, a strategy followed by several researchers is to focus on natural compounds, such as essential oils, as a source of potent antibacterial compounds. These last decades, hundreds of original papers have been written about microbiological assays that prove the antibacterial activity of essential oils and their use in the medical field. But can we really compare all the data available in the literature when the raw material, the microbiological assays, and/or the strains are different from one article to another? This review will point out the differences and the inadequate practices found in published articles that tested 2 lesser-studied essential oils-Spanish lavender and the ajowan-by the broth dilution method against Staphylococcus aureus, a human pathogenic bacterium. Many pitfalls were found in the literature, for example, a variable chemical composition rarely underlined by the authors, unidentified strains or clinical strains used without a related antibiogram, a lack of quality controls, and the assertion of questionable positive results. At last, some general guidelines that should be followed by every scientific researcher will be discussed.

Macroporous resin-assisted enrichment, characterizations, antioxidant and anticandidal potential of phytochemicals from Trachyspermum ammi

Extract of de-oiled seeds of Trachyspermum ammi was purified using macroporous resins and the performance of three resins were evaluated to enrich major phytochemical component. A HPLC method has been developed to separate major phytochemical constituents in the crude (CTAE) and partially purified extracts (PTAE). Macroporous resin assisted enrichment and purification suggested XAD-16 as the most efficient (yield 29.8%) followed by XAD-7HP and Diaion HP-20. Concentrated PTAE was subjected to multiple preparative-TLC to afford three compounds, namely, rosmarinic acid-3-O-glucopyranoside (TA-1), kaempferol-(coumaroyl-glucosyl)-rhamnoside (TA-2) and quercetin-3-O-galactoside (TA-3). The structure of these compounds was elucidated from their corresponding spectroscopic characterizations in FT-IR, HR-MS, and partially by ¹ H NMR. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents of the extracts were determined. Antioxidant activity by DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging, CUPRAC assays indicated the highest antioxidant potential of CTAE. Among the compounds, TA-1 exhibited the highest scavenging activity in ABTS (IC₅₀ 33.41 µg/ml) and DPPH (IC₅₀ 69.23 µg/ml), however, relatively lower than CTAE. In vitro anti-candidal activity against virulent strains of Candida spp. revealed C. albicans 4718 as the most susceptible (23.9 µg/ml) to PTAE. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Seeds of Trachyspermum ammi has been extensively investigated for volatile aromatic components of the essential oil. However, the de-oiled seeds have rarely been exploited for potential bioactive phenolics. The present investigation envisaged possible utilization of the de-oiled Trachyspermum seeds for its phenolic constituents, which could be used as natural antioxidant with additional benefits of anticandidal properties. Indeed, macroporous resin assisted enrichment and purification of extracts of T. ammi seeds generate valuable reference compounds, rosmarinic acid-3-O-glucopyranoside, kaempferol-(coumaroyl glucosyl)-rhamnoside, and quercetin-3-O-galactoside.

Combination effect of red light irradiation and Traychspermum ammi essential oil on colorectal cancer cells (SW480)

Colon cancer is the third significant reason for death related to cancers in the world. There are various treatments for colon cancer, which have several side effects. Polyphenol agents are a type of antioxidant in plants that have diverse biological properties, such as anti-cancer effects. Here, we investigate the effect of Trachyspermum ammi essential oil (TEO) and red light irradiation on the colorectal cancer cell line (SW 480). The colorectal cancer cell lines were irradiated at 660 nm for 90 s and then the cells were incubated with different TEO concentrations. In another study, cells initially were treated with various TEO concentrations and then irradiation for 90 s. Effect of TEO and the red light irradiation on viability of the cell, ROS generation, and cell cycle was assessed by MTT and flow cytometry, respectively. The findings demonstrated that early incubation with TEO and then irradiation decreased the SW 480 cells survival more than the early irradiation at 660 nm and then essential oil. In addition, TEO treatment at IC₅₀ concentration in combination with low-level laser irradiation induces ROS generation in SW 480 cells as compared to the dark group. In addition, TEO treatment at IC₅₀ in combination with low-level laser irradiation induces G0/G1 arrest of the cell cycle in SW 480 cells in comparison to the dark group. This study revealed that the Trachyspermum ammi essential oil in combination with low-level laser results in more reduction in survival which leads to ROS generation and cell cycle arrest in SW 480 colorectal cancer cells.

Synthesis, Characterization and Bioactivity Profiling of Gold Nanoparticles of Trachyspermum ammi Crude Extract

Trachyspermum ammi seeds were selected for photochemical study. The crude T. ammi methanol and aqueous extracts showed the presence of alkaloids, saponins, steroids, terpenoids, coumarins, betacyanins, flavonoids and soluble starch. The synthesis of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) using T. ammi extract was characterized using UV-visible, and FT-IR spectroscopy. The appearance of sharp peak at 520 nm in the UV visible spectra, and the appearance of broad band nanoparticles spectra at 563.21 cm-1, 516.92 cm-1 and 462.92 cm-1 as well as the disappearance of the carboxyl OH bond and carbon-carbon triple bond supported the formation of AuNPs. The crude T. ammi methanol and AuNPs were investigated for antioxidant potential using DPPH· free radical assay, which shows that crude extract has significant antioxidant effect. The synthesized AuNPs was also evaluated for antibacterial activities against staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumonia and Bacillus subtilis. The crude extract showed activity against Bacillus subtilis, while AuNPs showed activity against staphylococcus aureus. The in vivo sedative effect and analgesic effect were enhanced in AuNPs treated animals in 5 times less dose (i.e., 5, and 10 mg/kg) than that of crude extract. It was concluded that T. ammi extract include capping and reducing agents, which make it capable to be developed as stable AuNPs. The biological action of AuNPs is either enhanced (sedative and analgesic) or changed (antibacterial activity), when compared with that of plant extract.

Antimicrobials from Medicinal Plants: An Emergent Strategy to Control Oral Biofilms

Oral microbial biofilms, directly related to oral diseases, particularly caries and periodontitis, exhibit virulence factors that include acidification of the oral microenvironment and the formation of biofilm enriched with exopolysaccharides, characteristics and common mechanisms that, ultimately, justify the increase in antibiotics resistance. In this line, the search for natural products, mainly obtained through plants, and derived compounds with bioactive potential, endorse unique biological properties in the prevention of colonization, adhesion, and growth of oral bacteria. The present review aims to provide a critical and comprehensive view of the in vitro antibiofilm activity of various medicinal plants, revealing numerous species with antimicrobial properties, among which, twenty-four with biofilm inhibition/reduction percentages greater than 95%. In particular, the essential oils of Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Stapf and Lippia alba (Mill.) seem to be the most promising in fighting microbial biofilm in Streptococcus mutans, given their high capacity to reduce biofilm at low concentrations.

Pistacia atlantica Desf. roots extract: LC-ESI-MS Analysis, antioxidant activity and gastroprotective effect on experimentally-induced ultrastructural gastric ulcers in mice

Pistacia atlantica Desf. (Atlas Pistachio) is an Anacardiaceae tree traditionally used in Tunisia for the treatment of ophthalmic, stomatitis, and digestive tract diseases. In the present study, the Pistacia atlantica Desf. roots extract (PR) was phytochemically analyzed, for the first time, by LC-ESI-MS for phenolic and flavonoid contents, in vitro tested for its potential antioxidant activity based on the 2.2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and the reduced power essays (FRAP), and in vivo tested for its ability to shield against ethanol-induced gastric ulcer in mice. The LC-ESI-MS analysis proved the identification of 12 compounds, including Quinic, Gallic, and Protocatechuic, as major phenolic acids and high levels of flavonoids, such as Catechin, Epicatechin, and Cirsiliol. PR also exhibited a mild in vitro antioxidant activity when compared with ascorbic acid. In vivo pretreatment of ethanol-ulcerated mice with PR doses 50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg body weight (b.w) significantly reduced (P< .05) gastric lesions at a rate of 20.10% and a rate of 40.90%, respectively, when compared with 60.70% rate of sucralfate (50 mg/kg b.w) evidenced by a dose-dependent manner increase in the gastric mucosa enzymatic (SOD, CAT, GPx) antioxidant levels, the decline of the lipid peroxidation, and the preservation of normal gastric superficial epithelium. The underlying mechanism of PR antiulcerogenic activity could be due to a synergistic effect of phenolic acids and flavonoid contents which enhances the gastric antioxidant defense system.Abbreviations: BHT: butylated hydroxytoluene, b.w: body weight, CAT: catalase, DPPH:1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl, DW: dry weight, EtOH: ethanol, FRAP: Ferric reducing antioxidant power, GAE: gallic acid equivalents, GPx: Glutathione peroxidase, QE: quercetin equivalents, LC-ESI-MS: Liquid chromatography-Electrospray Ionization-Tandem Mass Spectrometry, MDA: malondialdehyde, PR: Pistacia root, TBA: thiobarbituric acid reagent, TBARS: thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, TCA: trichloroacetic acid, SOD: Superoxide dismutase.

Effect of Active-Edible Coating and Essential Oils on Lamb Patties Oxidation during Display

The use of natural products to reduce the use of synthetic additives in meat products, reducing the oxidation and improving the shelf life is a current challenge. Meat quality from lamb patties during 10 days of display on modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) and active-edible coating were tested under six treatments: uncoated patties without coating (CON); patties with alginate coating (EC) and patties with coating and 0.1 or 0.05% of essential oils (EOs) from either thyme (TH 0.1; TH 0.05) or oregano (OR 0.1; OR 0.05). Display and treatment significantly modified (P < 0.001) all the studied meat quality variables (pH, color, water holding capacity, weight losses, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), antioxidant activity). Display produced discoloration and lipid oxidation, however, the samples with essential oils presented lower (P < 0.001) lipid oxidation than the CON or EC groups. Coated samples with or without EOs showed better color (lower lightness but higher redness and yellowness) and lower water losses (P < 0.001) than the CON. The addition of thyme EO caused a decrease (P < 0.001) in the consumer’s overall acceptability, whereas no statistical differences appeared between CON, EC and oregano EO addition. Thus, using EOs as natural antioxidants, especially those from oregano at low dosages (0.05%), could be considered a viable strategy to enhance the shelf life and the product quality of lamb meat patties without damaging the sensory acceptability.

The Potential of Plant-Based Bioactive Compounds on Inhibition of Aflatoxin B1 Biosynthesis and Down-regulation of aflR, aflM and aflP Genes

The use of plant extracts in pre- and post-harvest disease management of agricultural crops to cope with aflatoxin B1 contamination has shown great promise due to their capability in managing toxins and safe-keeping the quality. We investigated the anti-aflatoxigenic effect of multiple doses of eight plant extracts (Heracleum persicum, Peganum harmala, Crocus sativus, Trachyspermum ammi, Rosmarinus officinalis, Anethum graveolens, Berberis vulgaris, Berberis thunbergii) on Aspergillus flavus via LC-MS and the down-regulatory effect of them on aflR, aflM and aflP genes involved in the aflatoxin B1 biosynthesis pathway using RT-qPCR analyses. Our results showed that H. persicum (4 mg/mL), P. harmala (6 mg/mL) and T. ammi (2 mg/mL) completely stopped the production of aflatoxin B1, without inducing significant changes in A. flavus growth. Furthermore, our findings showed a highly significant correlation between the gene expression and the aflatoxin B1 biosynthesis, such that certain doses of the extracts reduced or blocked the expression of the aflR, aflM and aflP and consequently reduced the synthesis of aflatoxin B1. Interestingly, compared to the regulatory gene (aflR), the down-regulation of expression in the structural genes (aflM and aflP) was more consistent and correlated with the inhibition of aflatoxin B1 production. Overall, this study reveals the anti-aflatoxigenic mechanisms of the selected plant extracts at the gene expression level and provides evidence for their use in plant and crop protection.

Antibacterial and Cytotoxic Activities of Ten Commercially Available Essential Oils

There is a huge concern in the medical field concerning the emergence of bacterial resistance to antibiotics. Essential oils are a source of antibacterial compounds that can overcome this problem. Ten essential oils that are commercially available were investigated in the present study: ajowan, basil, German chamomile, Chinese cinnamon, coriander, clove, lemongrass, Spanish lavender, oregano and palmarosa. Their direct, synergistic and indirect antibacterial activities were evaluated against different human pathogenic Gram-positive and Gram-negative strains. To evaluate their possible use in clinics, the cytotoxicity of these essential oils was also tested on keratinocyte and epithelial cell lines. Except for the Chinese cinnamon, coriander and lemongrass, all other essential oils presented no cytotoxicity at 32 and 16 μg/mL. The highest indirect antibacterial activities were observed with the palmarosa and Spanish lavender in association with penicillin V. These two associations presented a 64-fold decrease against a resistant strain of Staphylococcus aureus, however, at a cytotoxic concentration. It can also be highlighted that when tested at a non-cytotoxic concentration, the activity of oregano in association with penicillin V presented an eight-fold decrease. These results show the interest to use essential oils in combination with antibiotics to reduce their concentrations inside drugs.

Chemical Composition and Antiproliferative Effect of Essential Oils of Four Solidago Species (S. canadensis, S. gigantea, S. virgaurea and S.×niederederi)

There is a growing interest in the research of natural products with potent activity in the prevention and treatment of diseases. Thereby, essential oil phytochemicals have demonstrated broad bioactivities. This study highlights the chemical composition of essential oils obtained from the leaves and inflorescences of diverse species of the genus Solidago (Solidago canadensis, Solidago gigantea, Solidago virgaurea and Solidago×niederederi), also known as Goldenrod, through GC/MS analysis, and their antiproliferative activity on three human tumor cell lines (MDA-MB 231, A375 and HCT116) by the MTT assay. The most represented chemical classes in the essential oils were oxygenated sesquiterpenes, sesquiterpene hydrocarbons, oxygenated monoterpenes and monoterpene hydrocarbons, with a remarkable contribution of compounds such as germacrene D (3.89-19.51 %), α-pinene (3.59-18.82 %), bornyl acetate (3.30-12.73 %) and caryophyllene oxide (3.07-9.18 %). Chemical quali- and quantitative differences were noticed between the leaves and flowers of the same species, as well as between the studied species. The MTT assay showed that the essential oils from the leaves were more active than those from the flower ones. The essential oil having the highest impact on cell viability was that from S.×niederederi (IC₅₀ =12.93, 6.72, and 6.82 μg/ml), followed by S. virgaurea (IC₅₀ =13.39, 7.96, and 8.36 μg/ml) and finally S. gigantea (IC₅₀ =18.04, 5.94, and 8.10 μg/ml) on MDA-MB 231, A375 and HCT116 cell lines, respectively. The essential oil from S. canadensis showed the lowest activity (IC₅₀ =29.33, 12.63, and 18.03 μg/ml, respectively). Taken together, these findings highlight the Solidago species as good sources of cytotoxic compounds. Further studies are encouraged on the in vivo effects and safety of these products.

Mosquitocidal and Anti-Inflammatory Properties of The Essential Oils Obtained from Monoecious, Male, and Female Inflorescences of Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) and Their Encapsulation in Nanoemulsions

Among the various innovative products obtainable from hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) waste biomass originating from different industrial processes, the essential oil (EO) deserves special attention in order to understand its possible application in different fields, such as cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and botanical insecticides. For the purpose, in the present work, we studied the chemical composition of EOs obtained from different hemp varieties, namely Felina 32 and Carmagnola Selezionata (CS) using monoecious, male, and female inflorescences, and we evaluated their mosquitocidal activities on larvae and pupae of two main malaria vectors, Anopheles gambiae and An. stephensi. Then, in order to evaluate the safe use of hemp EOs for operators, the potential pro- or anti-inflammatory effect of hemp EOs together with their toxicological profile were determined on dermal fibroblasts and keratinocytes. Given the promising results obtained by insecticidal and anti-inflammatory studies, a preliminary evaluation of EOs encapsulation into nanoemulsions (NEs) has been performed with the aim to develop a formulation able to improve their poor physicochemical stability. Felina 32 and CS inflorescences provided EOs with an interesting chemical profile, with monoterpene and sesquiterpene hydrocarbons as the major components. This study highlighted the potential application of male inflorescences, which are usually discharged during hemp product processing. These EOs could be exploited as potential sustainable and eco-friendly insecticides, given their capability to be toxic against mosquitoes and the possibility to use them to prepare stable and safe formulations. The LC₅₀ values found in this study (<80 ppm) are lower, on average, than those of many plant EOs, with the advantage of using an industrial waste product. From MTT assay and gene and protein expression analysis, EOs showed no cytotoxicity at the appropriate doses and exerted an anti-inflammatory effect on the human cell lines tested. These findings encourage further applied research on hemp EOs in order support their industrial exploitation.

Comparative Evaluation of the Inhibitory Potential of Synthetic N-Heterocycles, Cu/Fe3O4@SiO2 Nanocomposites and Some Natural Products against Non-Resistant and Antibiotic-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii

Background: Acinetobacter baumannii is a common infectious agent in hospitals. New antimicrobial agents are identified and prepared to combat these bacterial pathogens. In this context, the blocking potentials of a series of synthesized N-heterocyclic compounds, Cu/Fe3O4@SiO2 nanocomposites, glycine, poly-L-lysine, nisin and hydroalcoholic extracts of Trachyspermum ammi, Curcuma longa and green tea catechins were evaluated against non-resistant and multidrug-resistant strains of A. baumannii. Methods: Solutions of heterocyclic derivatives and hydroalcoholic extracts of Trachyspermum ammi, Curcuma longa and green tea catechins were prepared at initial concentration of 10240 μg ml-1 in 10% DMSO. Other compounds were dissolved in water at the same concentrations. Their in vitro inhibitory activity was assessed by determination of IZD, MIC and MBC values. Results: Glycine, poly-L-lysine, nisin, Curcuma longa and green tea catechins extracts, and thiazoles 3a, 3d and 3f were ineffective at their initial concentrations. Heterocyclic derivatives 7a-f, 3c, 3e and 3h, Cu/Fe3O4@SiO2 nanocomposites and Trachyspermum ammi extract could block the growth of bacterial strains with IZDs (7.40-15.51 mm), MICs (32-1024 µg ml-1) and MBCs (128-2048 µg ml-1). Conclusion: Among synthetic chemicals and natural products, the best antimicrobial effects were recorded with (E)-2-(5-acetyl-4-methylthiazol-2-yl)-2-(thiazolidin-2-ylidene)acetonitrile (7b) and the extract of Trachyspermum ammi. It is imperative that their toxic and histopathologic effects were assessed in future researches. It is predicted that the essential oil of Trachyspermum ammi will improve its antibacterial activities.

Promising insecticidal efficacy of the essential oils from the halophyte Echinophora spinosa (Apiaceae) growing in Corsica Island, France

Echinophora spinosa (Apiaceae) is a psammophilous species growing along Mediterranean coastal sand dunes. This species secretes essential oils made up of monoterpenoids, phenylpropanoids, and polyacetylenes, which may represent effective, eco-friendly and safe active ingredients for the preparation of green insecticides. Based on this, in the present study, we selected a French accession of E. spinosa growing on the coastal dunes of Corsica, extracting the essential oils from aerial parts and roots by hydrodistillation. The essential oils were analyzed by GC-MS for chemical composition and screened for their insecticidal activity on three target insects, Culex quinquefasciatus, Spodoptera littoralis, and Musca domestica. The essential oil from roots was dominated by the phenylpropanoid myristicin and the monoterpene hydrocarbon terpinolene, with a minor contribution of (Z)-falcarinol. The oil from the aerial parts was characterized by monoterpenes, mainly p-cymene, a-phellandrene, and α-pinene. The root essential oil exhibited promising toxicity on the target insects, with special reference to C. quinquefasciatus larvae (LC₅₀ = 15.7 mg L^-1), while on M. domestica and S. littoralis, it showed LD₅₀ of 38.3 μg adult^-1 and 55.6 μg larva^-1, respectively. Based on our findings, E. spinosa can be viewed as a new potential crop to produce insecticidal essential oils in arid salty areas. However, synergistic and antagonistic effects of the major constituents of both oils tested here deserve future research. Further studies on the efficacy of stable formulations of the E. spinosa root essential oil, with special reference to micro- and nanoformulations, are ongoing.

Chemical Composition, Antibacterial and Radical Scavenging Activity of Essential Oils from Satureja macrantha C.A.Mey. at Different Growth Stages

Essential oils (EOs) from medicinal and aromatic plants are interesting products to be used as natural food preservatives. The EOs from the genus Satureja are reported to inhibit foodborne pathogens being worthy of use as food preservatives. Satureja macrantha is found in Western and Northwest Iran and commonly used as a food flavoring agent and for the treatment of urinary diseases. The objective of the present study was to identify the chemical composition of S. macrantha EOs at different growth stages (vegetative, flowering and fruiting stages) and to evaluate their biological activities. Chemical compositions were analyzed using GC-FID and GC-MS. The antibacterial activity was evaluated using the broth microdilution method against the foodborne pathogenic bacteria Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC23922), Enterococcus faecalis (ATCC29212) (Gram-positive), Enterobacter aerogenes (ATCC13046) and Escherichia coli. The antioxidant activity was estimated using the DPPH, ABTS and reducing power assays. The yields of S. macrantha EOs were in the range of 1.4–1.8%, thus scalable for the manufacture of food preservatives on an industrial level. The main compounds of EOs were carvacrol (42.7–48.2%), thymol (0.2–16.5%), p-cymene (10.1–14.7%) and γ-terpinene (7.9–9.1%) in all phenological stages examined. The strongest antibacterial activity (MICs = 5–20 µg/mL) of the EOs was recorded in samples obtained during the flowering stage where carvacrol (42.7%) and thymol (16.5) were present both at high percentages. On the other hand, the antioxidant activity was found to be slightly higher in the other stages. As the EO obtained at flowering showed the best inhibitory properties against foodborne pathogenic bacteria, it is suggested that plants at this stage can be selected as main sources of food preservative agents.

Efficacy of ajwain (Trachyspermum ammi L.) seed at graded levels of dietary threonine on growth performance, serum metabolites, intestinal morphology and microbial population in broiler chickens

The present study investigated the influence of dietary threonine (Thr) levels and ajwain seed (AS) on the growth performance, immunity, blood metabolites, ileal microflora and jejunum morphology of broiler chickens. A total of 600-day-old male broiler chickens (Ross 308) were randomly allocated among five replicates of eight dietary treatments according to a 4 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments, including four different levels of Thr (100, 105, 110 and 115% of requirements) and two inclusion rates of AS (0 or 10 g/kg of the diet). Body weight gain and FCR improved in broiler chickens fed 105% Thr supplement during the starter, finisher and whole periods of the experiment (p < .05). The broiler chickens fed AS supplemented diet had a greater weight gain (25-42 days) and better FCR (1-10 and 25-42 days) than those without AS (p < .05). A significant interaction was observed between Thr and AS supplementation for lymphocyte, heterophil/lymphocyte (H/L), bursa and spleen (p < .05). The liver enzyme activity of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) was higher in the chicks that received diet without AS supplement than those fed AS diet (p < .05). Inclusion of 105% dietary Thr and 10 g/kg AS increased the viable cell counts of Lactobacilli and decreased the population of the Escherichia coli in broilers (p < .05). In jejunum morphology, the broiler chickens fed 105% Thr diet had a greater villus length, width and crypt depth (p < .05). Also, the villus length was longer in broilers that received AS supplemented diet (p < .05). It is concluded that the dietary 105% of Thr and AS supplement individually improved growth performance, ileal microbial population and jejunum morphology of broiler chickens.

Development, larvicide activity, and toxicity in nontarget species of the Croton linearis Jacq essential oil nanoemulsion

In this study, the essential oil (EO) from leaves of Croton linearis Jacq was extracted and characterized by GC/MS. The EO hydrophilic-lipophilic balance required (rHLB) for nanoemulsion (NE) development was determined by the Griffin' method. For evaluating the larvicidal effect against Aedes aegypti, the preparation process of NE was optimized, using a central composite design. It was also evaluated the possible toxic effect of NE in nontarget species. The leaves of C. linearis contain 1.50% of EO, enclosing 61 volatile compounds, mainly eucalyptol (26.66%). The best surfactant, oil:water ratio (4.5-5.0-91.5; % w:w:w), allows to achieve the optimal NE, using a stirring speed of 800 rpm, the addition rate of 0.5 ml/min, and a stirring time of 30 min. NE (with particle size = 163 nm) showed a larvicide effect (LC₅₀ = 17.86 μg/mL) more potent than the whole EO (LC₅₀ = 64.24 μg/mL). NE showed neither hemolytic effect nor cytotoxicity, and it was classified as a nontoxic product, according to the OECD class toxicity test (IC₅₀ > 2000 mg/kg). This product arises in a new green bio-larvicide that could be used for mosquito control.

Essential Oils and Mono/bi/tri-Metallic Nanocomposites as Alternative Sources of Antimicrobial Agents to Combat Multidrug-Resistant Pathogenic Microorganisms: An Overview

Over the past few decades, many pathogenic bacteria have become resistant to existing antibiotics, which has become a threat to infectious disease control worldwide. Hence, there has been an extensive search for new, efficient, and alternative sources of antimicrobial agents to combat multidrug-resistant pathogenic microorganisms. Numerous studies have reported the potential of both essential oils and metal/metal oxide nanocomposites with broad spectra of bioactivities including antioxidant, anticancer, and antimicrobial attributes. However, only monometallic nanoparticles combined with essential oils have been reported on so far with limited data. Bi- and tri-metallic nanoparticles have attracted immense attention because of their diverse sizes, shapes, high surface-to-volume ratios, activities, physical and chemical stability, and greater degree of selectivity. Combination therapy is currently blooming and represents a potential area that requires greater attention and is worthy of future investigations. This review summarizes the synergistic effects of essential oils with other antimicrobial combinations such as mono-, bi-, and tri-metallic nanocomposites. Thus, the various aspects of this comprehensive review may prove useful in the development of new and alternative therapeutics against antibiotic resistant pathogens in the future.

Effects of phytogenic feed additives, probiotic and mannan-oligosaccharides on performance, blood metabolites, meat quality, intestinal morphology, and microbial population of Japanese quail

1. The aim of this experiment was to investigate the effects of ajwain (Trachyspermum ammi) and dill (Anethum graveolens) essential oils (AEO and DEO, respectively), probiotic (PRO) and mannan-oligosaccharides (MOS) on the growth performance, serum metabolites, meat quality, intestinal morphology and microbial populations of Japanese quail.2. A total of 375 one-day-old Japanese quail were randomly allocated into five treatment groups with five replicates of 15 birds each for a 42 d feeding experiment. The dietary treatments were a basal diet (control) or the same diet supplemented with PRO (0.15 g/kg feed), MOS (2 g/kg feed), AEO (0.25 g/kg feed) or DEO (0.25 g/kg feed).3. AEO, MOS, and PRO supplementation increased weight gain, while diets supplemented with AEO decreased feed intake (FI), and improved feed conversion ratio from d 1 to 21 (P < 0.05). The relative weight of the gizzard was higher in birds supplemented with AEO compared to control group, while the birds fed MOS diet had the longest intestine (P < 0.05). Ceca length was greater in control, MOS and PRO groups (P < 0.05). Both essential oils decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration of breast meat and percentage of cooking loss in quail (P < 0.05). The villus length (VL) was greater in birds fed diet supplemented with MOS, AEO, and DEO (P < 0.05).The population of E.coli decreased in Japanese quail fed MOS, while Lactobacilli spp. count was increased in the MOS group (P < 0.05).4. In conclusion, AEO, MOS, and PRO supplementation exhibited a positive effect on growth performance, while lipid peroxidation of the meat decreased in birds fed AEO and DEO diets. The intestinal morphometric indices increased in quail fed the AEO, MOS, and DEO diets. Supplementation with MOS modulated intestinal microbial populations of the Japanese quail.

Exploration of Medicinal Plants as Sources of Novel Anticandidal Drugs

BACKGROUND

Human infections associated with skin and mucosal surfaces, mainly in tropical and sub-tropical parts of the world. During the last decade, there have been an increasing numbers of cases of fungal infections in immunocompromised patients, coupled with an increase in the number of incidences of drug resistance and toxicity to anti fungal agents. Hence, there is a dire need for safe, potent and affordable new antifungal drugs for the efficient management of candidal infections with minimum or no side effects.

INTRODUCTION

Candidiasis represents a critical problem to human health and a serious concern worldwide. Due to the development of drug resistance, there is a need for new antifungal agents. Therefore, we reviewed the different medicinal plants as sources of novel anticandidal drugs.

METHODS

The comprehensive and detailed literature on medicinal plants was carried out using different databases, such as Google Scholar, PubMed, and Science Direct and all the relevant information from the articles were analyzed and included.

RESULTS

Relevant Publications up to the end of November 2018, reporting anticandidal activity of medicinal plants has been included in the present review. In the present study, we have reviewed in the light of SAR and mechanisms of action of those plants whose extracts or phytomolecules are active against candida strains.

CONCLUSION

This article reviewed natural anticandidal drugs of plant origin and also summarized the potent antifungal bioactivity against fungal strains. Besides, mechanism of action of these potent active plant molecules was also explored for a comparative study. We concluded that the studied active plant molecules exhibit potential antifungal activity against resistant fungal strains.

Essential oils and their bioactive compounds as green preservatives against fungal and mycotoxin contamination of food commodities with special reference to their nanoencapsulation

Fungal and mycotoxin contamination of stored food items is of utmost concern throughout the world due to their hazardous effects on mammalian systems. Most of the synthetic chemicals used as preservatives have often been realised to be toxic to humans and also cause adverse environmental effects. In this respect, use of different plant products especially essential oils (EOs) and their bioactive compounds has been recognized as a green strategy and safer alternatives to grey synthetic chemicals in view of their long traditional use. The current nanoencapsulation technology has strengthened the prospective of EOs and their bioactive compounds in food preservation by enhancing their bioactivity and mitigating other problems regarding their large-scale application. Although, the antimicrobial potential of EOs and their bioactive compounds has been reviewed time to time by different food microbiologists, but very less is known about their mode of action. Based on these backgrounds, the present article provides an account on the antifungal and antimycotoxigenic mode of action of EOs as well as their bioactive compounds. In addition, the article also deals with the application of currently used nanoencapsulation approach to improve the stability and efficacy of EOs and their bioactive compounds against mycotoxigenic fungi causing deterioration of stored food items so as to recommend their large-scale application for safe preservation and enhancement of shelf life of food items during storage.

Larvicidal activity of selected essential oil in synergized combinations against Aedes aegypti

This study was conducted to attain an alternate plant essential oil (EO) based mosquito larvicide against the dengue vector Aedes aegypti. Here three plants were selected based on their local availability, safety and insecticidal properties. EOs were extracted from Syzygium aromaticum (Myrtaceae) flower buds, fruits of Illicium verum (Schisandraceae) and Trachyspermum ammi (Apiaceae) by hydro-distillation and tested against Ae. aegypti larvae individually and in combinations to find synergistic interactions. Chemical constituent analysis of EOs was done by GC/MS/MS analysis and the main constituents in T. ammi were thymol (93.58%) and terpinen-4-ol (2.16%), in S. aromaticum eugenol 56.32% and caryophyllene 17.91% and in I. verum trans-anethole 53.05% and p-anisaldehyde 12.47%. The EOs from T. ammi, I. verum and S. aromaticum and their top components thymol, trans-anethole and eugenol exhibited larvicidal activity with LC₅₀ values 39.48, 41.30, 66.90, 59.76, 50.19 and 60.89 mgL^-1 respectively against Ae. aegypti larvae. The values for the co-toxicity factors for the binary combinations of the EOs were > 20 showing synergistic interactions among the binary mixtures. The respective LC₅₀ values for the 1:1 binary combinations (S. aromaticum + I. verum), (S. aromaticum + T. ammi) and (I. verum + T. ammi) were 49.07, 48.54 and 27.67 mgL^-1. β-cyclodextrin inclusion complex made with I. verum + T. ammi combination showed an LC₅₀ value of 23.93 mgL^-1. On the whole the outcome of this study draw attention to the capability of synergistic EO combinations to emerge as a safe and environment friendly effective larvicide to control Aedes mosquitoes.

In Vitro and In Vivo Effectiveness of Carvacrol, Thymol and Linalool against Leishmania infantum

BACKGROUND

One of the most important causative agents of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is Leishmania infantum, which is mainly spread by Phlebotomus and Lutzomyia sandflies in the Old and New World, respectively. Novel and effective drugs to manage this neglected vector-borne disease are urgently required. In this study, we evaluated the toxicity of carvacrol, thymol and linalool, three common essential oil constituents, on amastigotes and promastigotes of L. infantum. Methods: in vitro experiments were performed by 24 h MTT assay. Carvacrol, thymol and linalool at concentrations ranging from 1.3 to 10 μg/mL were tested on promastigotes of L. infantum. For in vivo test, two groups of hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) received 100 mg/kg of body weight/day of carvacrol and thymol as intraperitoneal injection on day 7 post-infection, followed by a 48 h later injection. The third group was treated with the glucantime as standard drug (500 mg/kg) and the last group (control) just received normal saline. On the 16th day, the number of parasites and histopathological changes in liver and spleen were investigated.

RESULTS

24 h MTT assay showed promising antileishmanial activity of thymol and carvacrol, with IC₅₀ values of 7.2 (48 μM) and 9.8 μg/mL (65 μM), respectively. Linalool at all concentrations did not affect L. infantum promastigote viability. In vivo toxicity data of carvacrol and thymol showed that the former at 100 mg/kg was the safest and most effective treatment with little side effects on the liver.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, thymol and carvacrol are highly promising candidates for the development of effective and safe drugs in the fight against VL.