The essential oil from the twigs of Cinnamomum cassia Presl alleviates pain and inflammation in mice

The chemical compositions and larvicidal potential against mosquito vectors of selected essential oils obtained from five edible plants were investigated in this study. Using a GC/MS, 24, 17, 20, 21, and 12 compounds were determined from essential oils of Citrus hystrix, Citrus reticulata, Zingiber zerumbet, Kaempferia galanga, and Syzygium aromaticum, respectively. The principal constituents found in peel oil of C. hystrix were beta-pinene (22.54%) and d-limonene (22.03%), followed by terpinene-4-ol (17.37%). Compounds in C. reticulata peel oil consisted mostly of d-limonene (62.39%) and gamma-terpinene (14.06%). The oils obtained from Z. zerumbet rhizome had alpha-humulene (31.93%) and zerumbone (31.67%) as major components. The most abundant compounds in K. galanga rhizome oil were 2-propeonic acid (35.54%), pentadecane (26.08%), and ethyl-p-methoxycinnamate (25.96%). The main component of S. aromaticum bud oil was eugenol (77.37%), with minor amounts of trans-caryophyllene (13.66%). Assessment of larvicidal efficacy demonstrated that all essential oils were toxic against both pyrethroid-susceptible and resistant Ae. aegypti laboratory strains at LC50, LC95, and LC99 levels. In conclusion, we have documented the promising larvicidal potential of essential oils from edible herbs, which could be considered as a potentially alternative source for developing novel larvicides to be used in controlling vectors of mosquito-borne disease.

Anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities of Croton urucurana Baillon bark

Identification of perfumery residues contained in glass objects from Parthian to early Islamic period with gas-chromatography coupled with mass spectroscopy

The present study aims to evaluate the effect of essential oil (EO) from Cymbopogon citratus leaves against the spoilage flora of fresh orange juice. Thus, the EO was extracted by hydrodistillation from fresh leaves of Cymbopogon citratus collected in southern Benin and its chemical composition was determined by gas chromatography, coupled to mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Orange samples were collected from large production areas of South and Central Benin and juices were extracted by mechanical pressing. After identification of spoilage flora of fresh orange juice, antimicrobial tests were carried out with the EO of Cymbopogon citratus to evaluate its antimicrobial activity on spoilage flora of fresh orange juice. Results indicate that the spoilage flora of fresh orange juice is mainly composed of fungi belonging to the genera of Cladosporium, Penicillium and Fusarium. Bacteria such as Enterobacter cloacae and Enterobacter aerogenes were also identified in some samples. The major compounds identified in the EO by GC/MS are Neral (33.0%) and geranial (41.3%) with a predominance of oxygenated monoterpenes (85.5%). Antimicrobial tests have revealed a high antibacterial activity of the EO, with minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBC) between 0.1 and 0.15 μL.mL-1. Antifungal tests revealed that fungi are also susceptible to this EO with minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) between 0.15 and 0.25 μL.mL-1. Results obtained during the evaluation of the physicochemical characteristics of the orange juice stored by adding EO, indicated a significant decrease in the pH and vitamin C content. However, with EO concentration of 0.250 μL.mL-1, the pH of stored juice was 6.4 ± 0.1 after 15 days of preservation, with a best vitamin C content of 28.06 ± 0.03 mg / 100mL. The EO of Cymbopogon citratus, with high antimicrobial activity, could be used as an alternative in the preservation of fruit juices, replacing antimicrobials from chemical synthesis.

Volatile constituents and biological activities of the leaf and root of Echinacea species from South Africa

Albizia lebbeck and Albizia zygia volatile oils exhibit anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory properties in pain models

This study was initiated to evaluate the chemical composition and in vitro antimicrobial activity of essential oils from four Cameroonian spices and to determine the therapeutic effect of a cream based on essential oil from Aframomum citratum. Essential oils were extracted from seeds by hydrodistillation and analyzed by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The broth microdilution method was used for the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum microbicidal concentration (MMC) determinations. The therapeutic effect of a cosmetic cream based on essential oil from A. citratum seed (1.25, 2.5 and 5% w/w) was evaluated against dermatosis induced with a Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in rats. The main identified compounds in the essential oils are geraniol for A. citratum; eucalyptol, α-terpineol and geraniol for Aframomum daniellii; β-pinene, germacrene D, trans-β-caryophyllene, α-pinene, naphthalene and sabinene for Piper capense; α-phellandrene, germacradienol and δ-cadinene for Monodora myristica. Essential oil of A. citratum (MIC = 8-4096 µg/ml) was the most active against bacteria and fungi, following in decreasing order by those of A. daniellii, P. capense and M. myristica. The antibacterial activity of the essential oil of A. citratum against MRSA and Escherichia coli S2(1) (MIC = 8 µg/ml) was higher than that of amoxicillin used as reference drug (MIC = 128- 256 µg/ml). The combination of essential oils of A. citratum and A. daniellii (1:1) displayed a synergistic effect. The cream based on essential oil of A. citratum (5%) and Baneocin (reference drug) eradicated the dermatosis induced with MRSA in rat after two weeks of treatment. These results indicate that the tested essential oils possess antimicrobial activities which could be a function of either the individual or the additive effects of the identified phytoconstituents. Key words: Spices, hydrodistillation, essential oils, gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS), antibacterial, antifungal, synergistic effect.

Chemical composition and anti-inflammatory activity of the essential oils of Piper gaudichaudianum and Piper mikanianum

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of ylang-ylang (Cananga odorata) essential oil (YEO) on models of experimental arthritis, persistent inflammation, and nociception in mice. YEO treatment at doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg reduced the infiltration of leukocytes into the joint cavities of mice submitted to zymosan-induced arthritis 6 h and 7 days after arthritis induction. At these doses, YEO treatment reduced the formation of joint edema 4 and 6 h after arthritis induction, and at a dose of 200 mg/kg, YEO treatment reduced mechanical hyperalgesia 3 and 4 h after arthritis induction. At the dose of 200 mg/kg, YEO treatment reduced interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels and cartilage destruction in the zymosan-induced arthritis model, and reduced edema formation and mechanical hyperalgesia in the model of persistent inflammation (21 days) induced by complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) in mice. YEO treatment at a dose of 200 mg/kg reduced the nociceptive response in experimental models of nociception induced by acetic acid and formalin. The YEO treatment reduced inflammatory parameters in the experimental arthritis model, and presented antiarthritic, anti-hyperalgesic, antinociceptive, and anti-inflammatory properties.

Background: The increasing use of synthetic antimicrobials and antioxidants is a concern for human health. Aims: The main objective of this study was to examine the chemical composition of the essential oil extracted from Salvia argentea and its hydrosol extract while evaluating their antioxidant and antimicrobial effects in vitro. Materials and Methods: The essential oil was obtained by hydrodistillation, while the hydrosol extract was obtained by the liquid-liquid extraction method. The volatile compounds of the essential oil and hydrosol extract were analysed by gas chromatography (GC/FID) and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Antioxidant activities were evaluated using two methods: free radical scavenging activity (DPPH) and iron reduction antioxidant power (FRAP), with BHT used as a positive control. The antimicrobial activity of the essential oil and hydrosol extract was evaluated using the agar disc diffusion method. Results: According to the GC/FID and GC/MS analysis, the essential oil of S. argentea consisted mainly of germacrene D-4-ol (26.3%), epi-α-muurolol (19.2%), and epi-α-cadinol (10.2%). In contrast, the hydrosol extract consisted of oxygenated compounds, including (E)- phytol (23.5%), 14-hydroxy-δ-cadine (17.5%), caryophyllene oxide (11.5%), piperitone (13.5%), and piperitone oxide (11.5%). The essential oil and hydrosol extract showed positive antioxidant activity with both tests. It should be noted that the hydrosol extract showed the best performance, with an IC50 of 8.3 g/L with the DPPH and an IC50 of 12.3 g/L with the FRAP test compared to the BHT. The essential oil revealed antimicrobial activity with strong inhibition against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Bacillus subtilis compared to Gentamicin. Conclusion: The results showed that essential oil and hydrosol extract have promising antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. These findings provide encouraging prospects for their potential use in the pharmaceutical or cosmetic sectors.

The essential oils of Jatropha intigrimma, J. roseae and J. gossypifolia (Euphorbiaceae) were analyzed employing GC/MS (Gas Chromatography coupled with Mass Spectrometry) analyses. A total of 95 volatile constituents were identified from J. intigrimma, J. gossypifolia and J. roseae essential oils, accounting for 91.61, 90.12, and 86.24%, respectively. Chemometric analysis using principal component analysis (PCA) based on the obtained GC data revealed the formation of three discriminant clusters due to the placement of the three Jatropha species in three different quadrants, highlighting the dissimilarity between them. Heneicosane, phytol, nonacosane, silphiperfol-6-ene, copaborneol, hexatriacontane, octadecamethyl-cyclononasiloxane, 9,12,15-Octadecatrienoic acid, methyl ester and methyl linoleate constitute the key markers for their differentiation. In vitro antibacterial activities of the essential oils were investigated at doses of 10 mg/mL against the Gram-negative anaerobe Escherichia coli using the agar well diffusion method and broth microdilution test. J. gossypifolia essential oil showed the most potent antimicrobial activity, demonstrating the largest inhibition zone (11.90 mm) and the least minimum inhibitory concentration (2.50 mg/mL), followed by the essential oil of J. intigrimma. The essential oils were evaluated for their anti-adhesion properties against the Gram-negative E. coli biofilm using a modified method of biofilm inhibition spectrophotometric assay. J. intigrimma essential oil showed the most potent biofilm inhibitory activity, demonstrating the least minimum biofilm inhibitory concentration (MBIC) of 31.25 µg/mL. In silico molecular docking performed within the active center of E. coli adhesion protein FimH showed that heneicosane, followed by cubebol and methyl linoleate, displayed the best fitting score. Thus, it can be concluded that the essential oils of J. gossypifolia and J. intigrimma leaves represent promising sources for antibacterial drugs with antibiofilm potential.

Tuta absoluta is one of the most destructive pests of tomatoes. Chemical insecticides used to control this leafminer harm all organisms, increasing the risk to public health and the environment. Developing natural alternatives, such as bioinsecticides formulated from essential plant oils, is a key strategy to address this problem. These volatile compounds, derived from the secondary metabolic pathways of plants, exhibit targeted activity against specific pest species. Their use is consistent with an environmentally responsible framework that reduces adverse impacts on ecosystems, protects non-target organisms, safeguards human health, and enhances the efficacy of integrated crop management systems. This study aims to determine the chemical composition of the essential oils (EOs) of from round leaf mint (Mentha rotundifolia) and crown chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum coronarium) and to evaluate their toxicity to T. absoluta larvae in-vitro. The chemical composition of EOs obtained by steam distillation from the leaves of the plants was analyzed by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Indeed, 77 volatile compounds representing 98.19% of the total oil of M. rotundifolia, including cyclobutane acetonitrile, 1-methyl-2-(1-methyl ethenyl)-, terpinene-4-ol, p-menthane, germacrene D, caryophyllene and myrcene, were the main compounds. However, farnesene, myrcene, eugenol, germacrene D, phytol, and pinene were significant components among 69 compounds representing 95.39% of the total oil of C. coronarium. Results showed that the EOs were toxic to the different larval stages. According to the Finney method, concentrations 2.88 and 1.07% are the LC50 of M. rotundifolia and C. coronarium oils, which induce 50% mortality of T. absoluta within 7 days of exposure. Statistical analysis of in-vitro tests showed that both EOs had a similar level of insecticidal efficacy by contact. The overall results showed that the oils used have been shown to have an important insecticidal effect and can be used as a source of biological and natural treatment against tomato leafminer (TLM).

Simple SummaryEssential oils (EOs) from plants are promising products for pest management. This paper describes the chemical composition and repellent action of four EOs against Ulomoides dermestoides, a common pest on several stored products. Most abundant chemical components found in the EOs were sabinene, trans-β-caryophyllene, and α-humulene for phellandrene-rich Lippia origanoides; limonene and carvone for carvone-rich Lippia alba; geranial, geraniol, and neral for citral-rich Lippia alba; and α-guaiene, α-bulnesene, and patchoulol for Pogostemon cablin. The repellent bioactivity, carried out utilizing the area preference method, showed that all EOs displayed great repellency with low mortality rates, suggesting these natural mixtures can be used in formulations of repellents against stored grain pests.The essential oils (EOs) from bioactive species can provide an alternative tool for the management of stored grain insects that is less environmentally damaging than synthetic chemicals. The aim of this study was to assess the repellent action and toxicity of EOs obtained from phellandrene-rich Lippia origanoides, carvone-rich Lippia alba, citral-rich L. alba, and Pogostemon cablin aerial parts on adults of Ulomoides dermestoides. These EOs were isolated by hydrodistillation and characterized by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The repellency assay was carried out using the area preference method, and the toxicity evaluated utilizing a filter paper contact test. The major components (>10%) of the studied EOs were sabinene (16.9%), trans-β-caryophyllene (18.6%) and α-humulene (10.1%) for phellandrene-rich L. origanoides EO; limonene (40.1%) and carvone (37.7%) for carvone-rich L. alba EO; geranial (24.5%), geraniol (19.0%), and neral (11.9%) for citral-rich L. alba EO; and α-guaiene (13.3%), α-bulnesene (15.7%), and patchoulol (35.3%) for P. cablin EO. All EOs displayed 100% repellency at a concentration of 16 μL/mL, with lower toxicity than that elicited by the commercial repellent DEET. EO concentrations up to 8 µL/mL did not induce any mortality on the beetle. These findings show that the EOs provide active and safe molecules for natural repellent formulations to prevent and control insect infestations of stored products.

Stored fish are frequently contaminated by foodborne pathogens. Lipid oxidation and microbial growth during storage are also important factors in the shelf-life of fresh fish. In order to ensure the safety of fish items, there is a need for control measures which are effective through natural inhibitory antimicrobials. It is also necessary to determine the efficacy of these products for fish protection against oxidative damage, to avoid deleterious changes and loss of commercial and nutritional value. Some synthetic chemicals used as preservatives have been reported to cause harmful effects to the environment and the consumers. The present investigation reports on the extraction by hydrodistillation and the chemical composition of three citrus peel essential oils (EOs): orange (Citrus sinensis L.), lemon (Citrus limonum L.) and bergamot (Citrus aurantium L.) from Algeria. Yields for EOs were between 0.50% and 0.70%. The chemical composition of these EOs was determined by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The results showed that the studied oils are made up mainly of limonene (77.37%) for orange essential oil (EO); linalyl acetate (37.28%), linalool (23.36%), for bergamot EO; and finally limonene (51.39%), β-pinene (17.04%) and γ-terpinene (13.46%) for lemon EO. The in vitro antimicrobial activity of the EOs was evaluated against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) using the agar diffusion technique. Results revealed that lemon EO had more antibacterial effects than that from other EOs. Minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) showed a range of 0.25–0.40 μL/mL. Lemon and bergamot citrus peel EOs were added at 1 × MIC and 4 × MIC values to Sardina pilchardus (S. pilchardus) experimentally inoculated with S. aureus at a level of 3.5 log10 CFU/g and stored at 8 ± 1 °C. The results obtained revealed that the 4 × MIC value of bergamot reduced completely the growth of S. aureus from day 2 until the end of storage. The presence of EOs significantly extended lipid stability. Samples treated with bergamot EO displayed greater antioxidant activity than lemon EO. In fact, the oxidation rate is inversely proportional to the concentration of EO. At 1 × MIC and 4 × MIC values of bergamot EO, the levels of malonaldehyde compared to the control samples were 1.66 and 1.28 mg malonaldehyde/kg at the end of storage, corresponding to inhibition percentages of 42.76% and 55.87%, respectively. These results suggest the possibility that citrus EOs could be used as a way of combating the growth of common causes of food poisoning and used as potent natural preservatives to contribute to the reduction of lipid oxidation in sardines.

In vitro and in vivo antifungal activity of Cymbopogon citrates essential oils from different climate conditions against Botrytis cinerea