In this study the chemical composition, antioxidant activities and cytotoxic effect of the essential oils of Myristica fragrans (nutmeg) and Morinda citrifolia (mengkudu) were determined.
Annona muricata is a member of the Annonaceae family and is a fruit tree with a long history of traditional use. A. muricata, also known as soursop, graviola and guanabana, is an evergreen plant that is mostly distributed in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. The fruits of A. muricata are extensively used to prepare syrups, candies, beverages, ice creams and shakes. A wide array of ethnomedicinal activities is contributed to different parts of A. muricata, and indigenous communities in Africa and South America extensively use this plant in their folk medicine. Numerous investigations have substantiated these activities, including anticancer, anticonvulsant, anti-arthritic, antiparasitic, antimalarial, hepatoprotective and antidiabetic activities. Phytochemical studies reveal that annonaceous acetogenins are the major constituents of A. muricata. More than 100 annonaceous acetogenins have been isolated from leaves, barks, seeds, roots and fruits of A. muricata. In view of the immense studies on A. muricata, this review strives to unite available information regarding its phytochemistry, traditional uses and biological activities.
Introduction: This is a proto-type product which is based on Frankincense essential oil and hydrosol. Methods: Three oleo gum resin species, namely; Boswellia carterii (BC), Boswellia frereana (BF), and Commiphora myrrha (CM) of Burceraceae family were extracted for their essential oil by hydro-distillation. They were screened for their poten-tial of anti-cariogenic activity by in-vitro experimental study of two main bacterial species (Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus spp), which are considered the main cause of dental and mouth diseases. Results: Methanol and acetone extracts of the three plants inhibited the growth of the bacteria. However, BF-methanol extract shows the greatest inhibition followed by BC and CM respectively. Hence, the obtained result encourages proceeding further thorough investigation to benefit the positive outcomes of these plant extracts in terms of introducing new potential antimicrobial formulations, such as mouth wash which can be used for mouth cleansing and protection from the diseases such as mouth ulcers, gingivitis, sinusitis, glandular fever and brucellosis as well as dental caries. This result can be converted to Boswellia Mouthwash Essential Oil (BosMEO) and Boswellia Mouthwash Hydrosol (BosMoHy) based products. This new plant extract product can be exploited for further research for its potential used as moth infection natural treatments such as mouth ulcers, gingivitis, sinusitis, glandular fever, brucellosis as well as respi-ratory problem. It is free of synthetic chemicals, organic, natural, plant based, and halal with no major health side effects. Conclusion: Plant-based product which is free from synthetic chemicals and with minimal side effects will satisfy its quality efficiency.
The evolution of cosmetic products results in the growing demands for cosmetics that are preservatives free. Plant essential oils were found to be a promising antimicrobial and also antioxidant agent. In this study, Cymbopogon citratus (lemongrass), Laurus nobilis (bay leaf) and Backhousia citriodora (lemon myrtle) essential oils were selected and evaluated for their antimicrobial properties. It was found that Laurus nobilis exhibited strong antimicrobial activity against the selected bacteria Streptococcus saprophyticus (ATCC 49619), Streptococcus aureus (ATCC 22923), Streptococcus pyogenes (ATCC 29436), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 13048), Klebsiella pneumoniae (ATCC 700603), Escherichia coli (ATCC 22922) with MIC ranging between 7.8 ug/mL to 250 μg/mL. The antioxidant activity of selected essential oils was determined by antioxidant assays which were 1,1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl assay (DPPH), determination of ferric reducing antioxidant power assay (FRAP) and β-Carotene/linoleic acid bleaching assay. Backhousia citriodora and Laurus nobilis showed the highest antioxidant activity.
n-Octanal and β-Selinene were identified to be the major components with peak area of 26.37 % and 13.92 % respectively in secondary metabolites analysis by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GCMS).
This research work was executed to determine chemical composition, anti-oxidant and anti-microbial potential of the essential oils extracted from the leaves and stem of Daphne mucronata Royle. From leaves and stem oils fifty-one different constituents were identified through GC/MS examination. The antioxidant potential evaluated through DPPH free radical scavenging activity and %-inhibition of peroxidation in linoleic acid system. The stem's essential oil showed the good antioxidant activity as compared to leaves essential oil. Results of Antimicrobial activity revealed that both stem and leaves oils showed strong activity against Candida albicans with large inhibition zone (22.2 ± 0.01, 18.9 ± 0.20 mm) and lowest MIC values (0.98 ± 0.005, 2.44 ± 0.002 mg/mL) respectively. Leaves essential was also active against Escherichia coli with inhibition zone of 8.88 ± 0.01 mm and MIC values of 11.2 ± 0.40 mg/mL. These results suggested that the plant's essential oils would be a potential cradle for the natural product based antimicrobial as well as antioxidant agents.
Based on an ethnobotanical study on use for plant species against mosquito bites in the Kota Tinggi District, Johor State, Malaysia, 3 plants selected for study, Citrus aurantifolia (leaves), Citrus grandis (fruit peel), and Alpinia galanga (rhizome), were extracted using hydrodistillation to produce essential oils. These essential oils were then formulated as a lotion using a microencapsulation process and then tested for their repellent effect against Aedes aegypti. N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide (deet) was also prepared in the same formulation and tested for repellency as controls. Four commercial plant-based repellent (KAPS(®), MozAway(®), BioZ Natural(®), and Mosiquard(®)) also were incorporated in the bioassay for comparison purposes. Bioassays revealed that at 20% concentration all repellent formulations demonstrated complete protection for 2 h and >90% for 4 h post-application. The A. galanga-based formulation provided the greatest level of protection (98.91%), which extended for 4 h post-application and was not significantly different from deet at similar concentration. When compared with commercial plant-based repellents (KAPS(®), MozAway(®), and BioZ Natural(®)), the 3 lotion formulations showed significantly better protection against Ae. aegypti bites, providing >90% protection for 4 h. In conclusion, our 3 plant-based lotion formulations provided acceptable levels of protection against host-seeking Ae. aegypti and should be developed.
Recently, many scientists and polymer engineers have been working on eco-friendly materials for starch-based food packaging purposes, which are based on biopolymers, due to the health and environmental issues caused by the non-biodegradable food packaging. However, to maintain food freshness and quality, it is necessary to choose the correct materials and packaging technologies. On the other hand, the starch-based film's biggest flaws are high permeability to water vapor transfer and the ease of spoilage by bacteria and fungi. One of the several possibilities that are being extensively studied is the incorporation of essential oils (EOs) into the packaging material. The EOs used in food packaging films actively prevent inhibition of bacteria and fungi and have a positive effect on food storage. This work intended to present their mechanical and barrier properties, as well as the antimicrobial activity of anti-microbacterial agent reinforced starch composites for extending product shelf life. A better inhibition of zone of antimicrobial activity was observed with higher content of essential oil. Besides that, the mechanical properties of starch-based polymer was slightly decreased for tensile strength as the increasing of essential oil while elongation at break was increased. The increasing of essential oil would cause the reduction of the cohesion forces of polymer chain, creating heterogeneous matrix and subsequently lowering the tensile strength and increasing the elongation (E%) of the films. The present review demonstrated that the use of essential oil represents an interesting alternative for the production of active packaging and for the development of eco-friendly technologies.
Hand weeding continues to be one of the most laborious aspects of nursery
maintenance. Oxygenated monoterpene, an important group of secondary metabolite found in
essential oils, has a potential herbicidal activity that could be exploited as natural herbicide
whereas organic mulch could delay weed emergence. Thus, this study aimed to examine the
phytotoxicity of geraniol, an oxygenated monoterpene compound, in combination with
lemongrass leaf mulch against three common weeds, Eleusine indica (grass), Cyperus distans
(sedge), and Tridax procumbens (broadleaf). Greenhouse experiments were carried out by
treating 4.0 t/ha lemongrass leaf mulch with 7.5% (v/v) geraniol compound. The pretreated
mulch acted synergistically and inhibited the emergence and shoot growth of T. procumbens
completely. However, the pretreated mulch exhibited a moderate inhibitory effect on C. distans
emergence and growth. Geraniol-treated lemongrass leaf mulch acted synergistically and
inhibited the emergence of E. indica by 72%, but it acted antagonistically and caused a 45%
reduction of shoot biomass. The present findings suggest that geraniol-treated lemongrass leaf
mulch has potent herbicidal activity but its phytotoxic effect is species-dependent.
Neurodegenerative diseases commonly affect elderly population and are characterised by progressive neuronal loss. Oxidative stress is highly associated with neurodegeneration. The targeted herbal plant in this review, Ocimum basilicum (O. basilicum), is typically used in Indochina and Italian cuisine. Pharmacological studies on O. basilicum have demonstrated potent antioxidant activities with some reports of neuroprotective actions. This brief review highlights the potential neuroprotective roles of O. basilicum by discussing previously documented antioxidative actions of the plant extract, essential oils and its phytochemical compounds on the nervous system based on in vitro and in vivo studies. Accumulating evidence on the neuroprotective action of O. basilicum points to a notion that neuroprotection is made possible by way of its antioxidant properties and largely due to the presence of polyphenol compounds such as rosmarinic acid which has been identified as the major constituent. Although the mechanisms of O. basilicum antioxidant action have been proposed, further studies are required for better understanding of its antioxidant action leading to neuroprotective roles. It is also possible that the antioxidant actions of O. basilicum are mediated through synergism of a mixture of various naturally-occurring bioactive compounds in the plant, as is with many other plant-based food supplements, to produce the putative effects instead of a single bioactive compound from the plant. Therefore, specific targeting of neuroprotection by means of antioxidant actions warrants further preclinical and clinical studies investigating the therapeutic potentials of O. basilicum particularly in view of the prevention of neurodegenerative processes.
Polygonum minus is a plant rich with bioactive components that contribute to food, pharmaceutical, and perfume industries. However, high moisture content in fresh plants will allow
microbial activity that leads to the degradation of plant quality. This can be prevented by
drying the fresh plants to preserve the characteristics of their bioactive components. The
present work was conducted to determine the effect of different drying methods such as
air-drying, oven-drying (40 and 60°C), and freeze-drying on essential oil (EO) yield and
chemical compounds of P. minus roots. For comparison purposes, all samples were extracted
by maceration with n-hexane at room temperature. Then, the samples were analysed and
identified by using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The highest EO yield
extract was obtained from freeze-drying (4.15 ± 0.5), followed by air-drying (3.79 ± 0.19). EO
yield from oven-drying at 40 and 60°C was 3.4 ± 0.14 and 0.86 ± 0.04, respectively. Results
showed that by increasing the drying temperature, the EO yield would decrease and cause a
loss of major chemical compounds in the P. minus root. Air-drying was found to be the best
method in preserving the presence of important chemical compound in P. minus roots such as
β-caryophyllene (1.43%), pentadecane (4.34%), hexadecanoic acid (3.91%) and oleic acid
(3.97%).
Sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) is a very important food additive as well as for its therapeutic and cosmetic potential. The composition of essential oils in plants is affected by genetics and environmental conditions, which is determined by growth region and harvesting time in terms of ontogenetical variability. This study was carried out to assess the effect of plant ontogeny (pre-flowering, at flowering, fruiting) on essential oil content and chemical constituents for four sweet basil cultivated under irrigation conditions in the experimental farm of the National Oilseed Processing Research Institute (NOPRI), University of Gezira, Sudan. The essential oils were hydro-distilled from the leaves using Clevenger apparatus and the chemical constituents were determined by GC-MS. The results reveal that the essential oil yield content ranged from 0.1% to 0.2% at pre-flowering stage, whereas the oil content obtained at post-flowering stage was 0.1% for the investigated accessions. The highest essential oil content was recorded at flowering stage (0.2-0.5%), where the two Sudanese accessions had the maximum content (0.5%). The major chemical constituents, linalool, citral, methyleugenol, and eucalyptol reported at different developmental stages, punctuated between 5.73% and 32.93% in the four investigated accessions.
Coccidiosis is one of the most dangerous diseases that affect poultry, resulting in worldwide economic losses. Plant extracts and essential oils have been used as potential alternatives for chemotherapeutics, because they don't have the negative consequence of creating tissue residue and drug resistance. Therefore, this study had been conducted to determine the efficacy of artemisinin liquid extract, cinnamon essential oil and clove essential oil against Eimeria stiedae in rabbits. Sixty New Zealand white rabbits were divided into six equal groups, where group 1 and group 2 represented the negative and the positive controls, respectively, and groups 3-6 were infected with Eimeria stiedae and received 15 ppm toltrazuril, 200 ppm artemisinin, 100 mg/kg cinnamon oil, and 100 mg/kg clove oil, respectively. The results showed that artemisinin had a significant beneficial role in protection against hepatic coccidiosis: it mitigated the clinical symptoms, reduced the mortality rates, improved body weight and feed conversion, decreased the oocyst output, prevented oxidative stress, improved biochemical parameters, and decreased the lesion formation. Moreover, it has been found that cinnamon and clove essential oils induced partial protection against hepatic coccidiosis. Our findings suggested that artemisinin liquid extract and cinnamon and clove essential oils could be used for protection against hepatic coccidiosis. However, further investigations are needed in order to elucidate the active components, optimal doses, and mode of action of these extracts and essential oils before their clinical applications.
Diseases such as diabetes mellitus and gout are among the chronic diseases affecting worldwide population. Investigation is required to find the alternative approaches to treat these chronic diseases, such as plant based medicine. In this study, lemongrass (Cymbopogan citratus) was chosen and examined on the basis of their usage in traditional medicines throughout Southeast Asia. GCMS analysis revealed the major constituents of the lemongrass essential oil which compromise 67.769% and 67.328% of the total oil respectively. Total phenolic content of the essential oil was analyzed by Folin Ciocalteau method and the results indicated that highest amount of phenolic content was obtained from essential oil extracted from lemongrasses stalk, with phenolic concentration of 2100.769 mg/l GAE. Anti oxidant activity was examined by DPPH scavenging test and the highest inhibition was obtained by essential oil extracted from lemongrass stalk (89.5%). β-glucosidase inhibition assay was carried out using an in-vitro model for anti diabetic test and lemongrass stalk essential oil showed highest degree of inhibitory activity (89.63%). Anti gout test was examined by xanthine oxidase inhibition (XOI) assay with the maximum percentage of xanthine oxidase inhibition of 81.34% obtained from lemongrass stalk essential oil.
The use of herbal preparations remained the main approach of folk medicine to the treatment of ailments and debilitating diseases. Initial intensive researches conducted on Lemongrass extracts (tea) may have showed conflicting evidences, however the resurgence in claims of folk medicine practitioners necessitated further inquiry into the efficacy of the tea. Lemongrass tea contains several biocompounds in its decoction, infusion and essential oil extracts. Anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-obesity, antinociceptive, anxiolytic and antihypertensive evidences of lemongrass tea were clearly elucidated to support initial pharmacological claims. Lemongrass tea was non-toxic, non-mutagenic and receives wide acceptance among alternative medicine practitioners in several developing countries. This review therefore presents previous research activities, technologies and information surrounding bioactivities of lemongrass tea. Areas of future researches which may elucidate mechanisms of the biological properties of lemongrass extracts were highlighted.
The essential oils obtained by hydrodistillation from the fresh leaf and stem of Piper porphyrophyllum N.E. Br. were analyzed by GC and GC/MS. Thirty four constituents were identified in the leaf oil, while thirty eight constituents were identified in the stems oil. The most abundant components in the leaf oil included bicyclogermacrene (14.7 %), α-copaene (13.2 %) and β-phellandrene (9.5 %) while sabinene (15.5 %), bicyclogermacrene (12.3 %) and α-copaene (8.1 %) were the main constituents in the stem oil. The evaluation of antibacterial activity by using micro-dilution method revealed that both oils were moderately active against all the Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis) and Gram-negative bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pseudomonas putida and Escherichia coli) with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values in the range 125-1000 µg/ml.
The effect of chamber pressure of a freeze dryer on essential oil contents, drying kinetics, drying characteristics lemon balm leaves and morphology of lemon balm glandular trichomes (oil reservoirs) were investigated. It was found that overall freeze drying (FD) carried out at high (FD-HP) and low pressure (FD-LP) settings consist of sublimation rate, first falling rate and second falling rate periods. Drying rate of FD-LP dried Lemon Balm leaves are higher than FD-HP dried samples, where the drying rates ranged from 0.063 to 0.449 g H2O/ g DM. s and 0.0365 to 0.395 g H2O/ g DM. s, respectively. 3rd order Polynomial model was found to be the best fit model for both drying kinetics. In terms of product quality, eight (8) major constituents of lemon balm leaves essential oil were quantified. Further to this, electro-microscope was used to observe the peltate glandular hairs structure. Product quality analysis showed that FD-HP retained higher amount of essential oil, shape of glandular hairs, but no positive effect on the freeze drying duration.
The leaf and bark oils of Cinnamomum verum J.S. Presl. were examined for their antifungal activity against 6 dermatophytes (Trichophyton rubrum, T. mentagrophytes, T. tonsurans, Microsporum canis, M. gypseum and M. audouini), one filamentous fungi (Aspergillus fumigatus) and 5 strains of yeasts (Candida albicans, Ca. glabrata, Ca. tropicalis, Ca. parapsilosis and Crytococcus neoformans) by using the broth microdilution method. The antifungal activities of 4 standard compounds (cinnamaldehyde, eugenol, linalool and a-terpineol) which were major constituents in the oils were also investigated in an effort to correlate the effectiveness of the oils with those of the components of the oils. The combined antifungal effect of the oils against M. canis, M. gypseum and Cr. neoformans was investigated by the checkerboard assay. Isobolograms were constructed and Fractional Inhibitory Concentrations Index (FICI) were calculated to determine the combination effects between the oils. The chemical composition of the oils was analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography- mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The oils showed strong activity against all the tested fungi with Minimum Inhibition Concentration (MIC) values ranging from 0.04 to 0.31 mg/ml. Cinnamaldehyde which was the most abundant component of the bark oil of C. verum showed the strongest activity against all the fungi studied. Based on the results of the assay on standard samples, it may be that the high levels of cinnamaldehyde and eugenol in the oils and in combination with the minor components could be responsible for the high antifungal activity of the oils. The antifungal effect of the leaf and bark oils of C. verum in combination against the tested fungi was not synergistic. However, the effect was additive against M. gypseum and antagonistic against Cr. neoformans and M. canis.
Nickel oxide nanoparticles (NiO NPs) have attracted increasing attention owing to potential capacity to penetrate to several human cell systems and exert a toxic effect. Elsewhere, the use of medicinal plants today is the form of the most widespread medicine worldwide. Utilizing aromatic plants as interesting source of phytochemicals constitute one of the largest scientific concerns. Thus this study was focused to investigate antioxidant and cytoprotective effects of essential oil of a Mediterranean plant P. lentiscus (PLEO) on NiO NPs induced cytotoxicity and oxidative stress in human lung epithelial cells (A549). The obtained results showed that cell viability was reduced by NiO NPs, who's also found to induce oxidative stress in dose-dependent manner indicated by induction of reactive oxygen species and reduction of antioxidant enzymes activities. Our results also demonstrated that PLEO contains high amounts in terpinen-4-ol (11.49%), germacrene D (8.64%), α-pinene (5.97%), sabinene (5.19%), caryophyllene (5.10%) and δ-Cadinene (4.86%). PLEO exhibited a potent antioxidant capacity by cell viability improving, ROS scavenging and enhancing the endogenous antioxidant system against NiO NPs in this model of cells. The present work demonstrated, for the first time, the protective activity of PLEO against cell oxidative damage induced by NiO NPs. It was suggested that this plant essential oil could be use as a cells protector.
Orthosiphon stamineus Benth. (Lamiaceae) is a valued medicinal plant in traditional folk medicine. Many pharmacological studies have demonstrated the ability of this plant to exhibit antimicrobial, antioxidant, hepatoprotection, antigenotoxic, antiplasmodial, cytotoxic, cardioactive, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory activies. This review is a comprehensive summary of the presently available chemical, pharmacological investigations as well as the traditional and therapeutic uses of this plant. Important and different experimental data have been addressed along with a review of all phytochemicals identified in this plant, including flavonoids, terpenoids, and essential oils. O. stamineus has wide traditional and pharmacological uses in various pathophysiological conditions. Therefore, it is an attractive subject for further experimental and clinical investigations.
Zingiberaceae is one of the largest plant families consisting of rhizomes that are commonly used as spice in soups and curries as well as alternative medications in folklore medicine. Zingiber officinale or commonly known as ginger is extensively employed in Asian, Ayurvedic, Chinese, and Arabian folklore medicine for the treatment of pain, inflammation and various spasm-associated gastric ailments. The past few decades saw rapid advancements in the extraction process of ginger bioactive constituents and validation of their corresponding pharmacodynamic and pharmacotherapeutic activities, and biological properties in vivo and in vitro. Results reported from several biological studies on ginger showed that extracts and compounds from this tuberous rhizome exhibit antiemetic, anticancer, antipyretic, antispasmogenic and antimicrobial activities. This article reviews the effect of Zingiber officinale and its bioactive constituents on isolated organ preparations from several species of animals in view of its potential use as an alternative treatment for muscle spasms and common gastric ailments.