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Polito F, Di Mercurio M, Rizzo S, Di Vito M, Sanguinetti M, Urbani A, Bugli F, De Feo V. Artemisia spp. Essential Oils: From Their Ethnobotanical Use to Unraveling the Microbiota Modulation Potential. Plants (Basel) 2024; 13:967. [PMID: 38611496 PMCID: PMC11013866 DOI: 10.3390/plants13070967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2024] [Revised: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The 2015 Nobel Prize in Medicine, awarded for the discovery of artemisinin in Artemisia annua, reignited interest in aromatic plants, including Artemisia absinthium L. This article delves into the historical, ethnopharmacological and medicinal significance of A. absinthium, examining its bitter taste noted since ancient Greek times and its association with medicinal properties throughout history. Despite being banned in the 20th century due to perceived health risks; recent research has led to the reconsideration of A. absinthium's potential applications. This study focuses on the prebiotic efficacy of essential oils (EOs) from two Artemisia species: A. absinthium and A. annua. MATERIALS AND METHODS A broth microdilution test, growth curve test and in vivo models were used to study the impact of low doses (from 0.5% v/v to 0.00048 v/v) of Artemisia spp-EO on the three probiotic strains (Lactobacillus, Lactobacillus casei and Saccharomyces boulardii). RESULTS These essential oils, when used in minimal concentrations (lower than 0.06% v/v), are safe and exhibit prebiotic effects on major probiotic strains, supporting the traditional culinary use of Artemisia spp. CONCLUSION This research opens avenues for potential applications in the food industry, emphasizing the need for further exploration into the prebiotic properties of Artemisia spp-EOs and their influence on the microbiota.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flavio Polito
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II, 132, Fisciano, 84084 Salerno, Italy; (F.P.); (V.D.F.)
| | - Mattia Di Mercurio
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biotecnologiche di Base, Cliniche Intensivologiche e Perioperatorie, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy; (M.D.M.); (S.R.); (M.S.); (A.U.); (F.B.)
| | - Silvia Rizzo
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biotecnologiche di Base, Cliniche Intensivologiche e Perioperatorie, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy; (M.D.M.); (S.R.); (M.S.); (A.U.); (F.B.)
| | - Maura Di Vito
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biotecnologiche di Base, Cliniche Intensivologiche e Perioperatorie, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy; (M.D.M.); (S.R.); (M.S.); (A.U.); (F.B.)
| | - Maurizio Sanguinetti
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biotecnologiche di Base, Cliniche Intensivologiche e Perioperatorie, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy; (M.D.M.); (S.R.); (M.S.); (A.U.); (F.B.)
- Dipartimento di Scienze di Laboratorio e Infettivologiche, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Largo A. Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Urbani
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biotecnologiche di Base, Cliniche Intensivologiche e Perioperatorie, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy; (M.D.M.); (S.R.); (M.S.); (A.U.); (F.B.)
- UOC Chimica, Biochimica e Biologia Molecolare Clinica, Dipartimento di Scienze di Laboratorio e Infettivologiche, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Bugli
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biotecnologiche di Base, Cliniche Intensivologiche e Perioperatorie, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy; (M.D.M.); (S.R.); (M.S.); (A.U.); (F.B.)
- Dipartimento di Scienze di Laboratorio e Infettivologiche, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Largo A. Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Vincenzo De Feo
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II, 132, Fisciano, 84084 Salerno, Italy; (F.P.); (V.D.F.)
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