Constituents Of Essential Oil Research Articles

Foliar application of silicon, selenium, and zinc nanoparticles can modulate lead and cadmium toxicity in sage (Salvia officinalis L.) plants by optimizing growth and biochemical status

Different techniques have been used to alleviate metal toxicity in medicinal plants; accordingly, nanoparticles (NPs) have a noticeable interest in modulating oxidative stresses. Therefore, this work aimed to compare the impacts of silicon (Si), selenium (Se), and zinc (Zn) NPs on the growth, physiological status, and essential oil (EO) of sage(Salvia officinalis L.)treated with foliar application of Si, Se, and Zn NPs upon lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) stresses. The results showed that Se, Si, and Zn NPs decreased Pb accumulation by 35, 43, and 40%, and Cd concentration by 29, 39, and 36% in sage leaves. Shoot plant weight showed a noticeable reduction upon Cd (41%) and Pb (35%) stress; however, NPs, particularly Si and Zn improved plant weight under metal toxicity. Metal toxicity diminished relative water content (RWC) and chlorophyll, whereas NPs significantly enhanced these variables. The noticeable raises in malondialdehyde (MDA) and electrolyte leakage (EL) were observed in plants exposed to metal toxicity; however, they were alleviated with foliar application of NPs. The EO content and EO yield of sage plants decreased by the heavy metals but increased by the NPs. Accordingly, Se, Si, and Zn NPS elevated EO yield by 36, 37, and 43%, respectively, compared with non-NPs. The primary EO constituents were 1,8-cineole (9.42-13.41%), α-thujone (27.40-38.73%), β-thujone (10.11-12.94%), and camphor (11.31-16.45%). This study suggests that NPs, particularly Si and Zn, boosted plant growth by modulating Pb and Cd toxicity, which could be advantageous for cultivating this plant in areas with heavy metal-polluted soils.

Micromeria biflora Benth: Phytochemical Analysis and in vitro Biological Investigations of Essential Oil with Concomitant in silico Molecular Docking, PASS Prediction and ADME/Tox Studies

Micromeria biflora Benth. (Lamiaceae) is an important medicinal herb used widely for treating the ailments like nose bleeds, toothaches, wounds, and sinusitis. The essential oil (EO) of Micromeria biflora collected from Bageshwar, Uttarakhand in India was examined by GC and GC/MS, which contributed 97.1% of the total essential oil. The EO was found to be dominated by E-caryophyllene (19.6%), geranial (16.2%), neral (11.5%) and caryophyllene oxide (10.8%). The EO was studied for antioxidant, antiamylase, nematicidal, antifeedant, insecticidal, antimicrobial and herbicidal activities. EO showed excellent insecticidal activity against Lipaphis erysimi with 96.33±0.18% inhibition whereas exhibited moderate mortality (78.66±2.08%) and egg hatchability (26.33±1.20%) against Meloidogyne incognita at 5 μL/mL. The EO was found significant against Raphanus raphanastrum with sprout inhibition of 96.33±0.33%, shoot length inhibition of 93.66±0.33% and root length inhibition of 95.66±0.33%, respectively for herbicidal activity compared to the standard pendimethalin (100.00±0.00%). It showed good to moderate antifungal activities against Curvularia lunata (88.14±0.37%) and Fusarium oxysporum (81.11±1.11%), antibacterial activity against Salmonella typhimurium (18.00±0.57 mm), Escherichia coli (17.33±0.33 mm), Staphylococcus aureus (23.33±0.66 mm) and Bacillus subtilis (18.66±0.33 mm). Similarly, a significant antifeedant activity (97.98%) against Spodoptera litura larvae was observed. The EO was found to show antioxidant and anti amylase activities. The probable mode of action of EO constituents using in-silico molecular docking, PASS prediction and ADME/Tox studies predicted that M. biflora can be a potential bioactive mixture of EO constituents for different biological activities.

ANALYSIS OF THE ESSENTIAL OIL OF ARTEMISIA ABSINTHIUM IN TWO HARVEST TIMES

Artemisia absinthium, also known as wormwood, is used in traditional medicine as anti-parasitic and analgesic. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of four doses of mineral fertilization in two harvest times on the content and composition of the essential oils produced by A. absinthium. The tested doses of mineral fertilization were the following: without fertilization (D0); 50% of the recommended dose (D1); recommended dose (D2); and 150% of the recommended dose (D3). The plants were cultivated in 10 L pots kept in greenhouse. The samples for extracting the essential oils were collected at 60 and 125 days after transplantation (DAT). The essential oils were obtained by hydrodistillation using a Clevenger-type apparatus. Identification and relative percentage of the compounds in the essential oils were performed by GC-MS. The essential oils content varied from 0.04% to 0.41% w/w. The highest essential oil content obtained was 0.41% using the dose D3 at 120 DAT. Myrcene and Z-isocitral were the major constituents of essential oils. According to the results obtained, A. absinthium can be used as a source of myrcene, depending on the dosage of mineral fertilization used and the time of harvest.

Interaction of NaCl salinity and light intensity affect growth, physiological traits and essential oil constituents in Artemisia dracunculus L. (tarragon)

Soil salinity is one of the major limiting factors of medicinal plant performance and may affect their properties and chemical constituents. Although various reports have suggested the light quality-mediated modulation of growth and metabolism, little is known about physiological and phytochemicals aspects of light intensity on medicinal plants. In the present study, a factorial experiment as a randomized complete block design with three replicates was conducted to investigate the effects of salinity stress and light intensity on tarragon plants grown in pots at outdoor conditions. The experimental treatments consisted of NaCl salt stress at three levels (0, 60, and 120 mM) and different light intensities (full light, 75% of sunlight, and 50% of sunlight). According to the results, salinity led to a reduction in plant height, shoot dry weight, relative water content (RWC), and chlorophyll content compared to control conditions. While low light intensity improved the above mentioned characteristics. However, the interaction effect of salinity (60 mM) and low light intensity significantly increased anthocyanin and chlorophyll contents, and dry weight. Overall, tarragon yield can be improved at 75% of light intensity and moderate salinity by increasing the synthesis of photosynthetic pigments and phenolic compounds as protective substances. Essential oils examined here were particularly rich in methyl chavicol (68.39–79.02%), camphene (0.26–6.28%), β-pinene (0.24–5.21%), and trans-β-o-cymene (1.49–4.53%).

Evaluation of savory (Satureja hortensis L.) under organic farming system

Growing herbs and spices using organic methods are supported and encouraged in Egypt. This study was conducted on summer savory (Satureja hortensis L.) throughout the growing seasons of 2019/2020 and 2020/2021. The research was carried out on a plantation that adheres to organic farming practices to ascertain the impact of chitosan and bio-fertilizer EM on the crop. The study was designed with a split-plot as the layout. For the main plots, it was recommended to use rates for chitosan spray that were 0, 5, and 10 liters/hectare. For the subplots, it was recommended to use bio-fertilizer EM, either with or without. Our findings indicated that applying chitosan spray to plants at 10 liters/hectare while using bio-fertilizer produced the highest growth, herbage yield, and improved volatile oil characteristics. The volatile oil constituents were dominated by γ-terpinene and carvacrol. The highest levels of γ-terpinene and carvacrol were found in oils extracted from chitosan and biofertilizer-treated plants. These constituents were lower in control.

Isoegomaketone alleviates inflammatory response and oxidative stress in sepsis lung injury.

Sepsis is a life-threatening condition characterized by acute organ dysfunction, which frequently leads to acute lung injury (ALI) in approximately 40% of cases. Isoegomaketone (IK) is a constituent of essential oil found in P. frutescens, known for its diverse biological properties, including anti-inflammatory and antitumor effects. However, the regulatory impact of IK on ALI in the context of sepsis remains poorly understood. Pathological alterations in lung tissues were assessed using hematoxylin and eosin staining. Enumeration of total leukocytes and neutrophils in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was performed using a hematocytometer, while the levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β, IL-10, and IL-17 in BALF were quantified using enzyme-linked immunosorbent serological assay. In addition, the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), myeloperoxidase (MPO), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione (GSH) in lung tissues were assessed using respective commercial kits; cell apoptosis was evaluated using the terminal deoxynucleotide transferase--mediated dUTP nick end-labeling assay, and protein expressions were determined through Western blot analysis. Our findings revealed that cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) treatment in mice induced severe lung injury, characterized by increased lung injury scores, significant bleeding, neutrophil infiltration, and alveolar edema. However, treatment with IK at a dose of 10 mg/kg ameliorated CLP-induced lung injury, while IK dose of 5 mg/kg showed no significant effect. Additionally, IK treatment at 10 mg/kg reduced CLP-induced inflammation by decreasing levels of IL-6, IL-1β, IL-10, and IL-17. Furthermore, IK at 10 mg/kg attenuated CLP-induced oxidative stress by modulating levels of MDA, MPO, SOD, and GSH. Moreover, IK treatment with a dose of 10 mg/kg activated the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2-heme oxygenase-1 (Nrf2-HO-1) pathway by enhancing the protein expressions of Nrf2 and HO-1. This study demonstrates that IK could mitigate the inflammatory response and oxidative stress associated with sepsis-induced ALI, supporting IK as a promising therapeutic agent for the treatment of sepsis-associated ALI.

Isolation, Bioactive Potential, and Application of Essential Oils and Terpenoid-Rich Extracts as Effective Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Agents in Meat and Meat Products.

Using food additives (e.g., preservatives, antioxidants) is one of the main methods for preserving meat and meat product quality (edible, sensory, and technological) during processing and storage. Conversely, they show negative health implications, so meat technology scientists are focusing on finding alternatives for these compounds. Terpenoid-rich extracts, including essential oils (EOs), are remarkable since they are generally marked as GRAS (generally recognized as safe) and have a wide ranging acceptance from consumers. EOs obtained by conventional or non-conventional methods possess different preservative potentials. Hence, the first goal of this review is to summarize the technical-technology characteristics of different procedures for terpenoid-rich extract recovery and their effects on the environment in order to obtain safe, highly valuable extracts for further application in the meat industry. Isolation and purification of terpenoids, as the main constituents of EOs, are essential due to their wide range of bioactivity and potential for utilization as natural food additives. Therefore, the second goal of this review is to summarize the antioxidant and antimicrobial potential of EOs and terpenoid-rich extracts obtained from different plant materials in meat and various meat products. The results of these investigations suggest that terpenoid-rich extracts, including EOs obtained from several spices and medicinal herbs (black pepper, caraway, Coreopsis tinctoria Nutt., coriander, garlic, oregano, sage, sweet basil, thyme, and winter savory) can be successfully used as natural antioxidants and antimicrobials in order to prolong the shelf-life of meat and processed meat products. These results could be encouraged for higher exploitation of EOs and terpenoid-rich extracts in the meat industry.

IDENTIFICATION IDENTIFICATION OF THE CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OF CITRUS HYSTRIX ESSENTIAL OIL, CANANGA ORDORATA ESSENTIAL OIL, AND POGOSTEMON CABLIN BENTH ESSENTIAL OIL USING GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY-MASS SPECTROPHOTOMETRY (GC-MS)

Essential oils, commonly known as etheric oils (essential oil, volatile oil), are produced by plants and can be obtained from the roots, stems, leaves, and flowers of plants. This study aims to determine the chemical components of kaffir lime (Citrus hystix) essential oil, ylang ylang (Cananga ordorata), and patchouli oil (Pogostemon cablin benth) obtained from farmers and refiners in Lembang, West Java. The composition of this essential oil was analyzed using the gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) method. The results of the analysis of the chemical components of the essential oil constituents of kaffir lime showed that the main components included linalyl acetate (20.59%), D-limonene (17.77%), and linalool (15.19%). In ylang-ylang oil, bioactive compounds such as sesquiterpenes, namely caryophyllene, were found in as much as 14.36%, which has anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and local anesthetic properties. Identification of patchouli oil with its main component, namely patchouli alcohol, at 19.27%.

Essential Oil Composition Analysis, Antimicrobial Activities, and Biosystematic Studies on Six Species of Salvia.

The essential oil constituents, antimicrobial properties, and biosystematic characteristics (morphological, palynological, and anatomical features) of six Salvia species from different regions of Turkey were investigated qualitatively and quantitatively in this study. The chemical composition of the essential oils of dried aerial parts of Salvia species, i.e., S. absconditiflora, S. ceratophylla, S. multicaulis, S. verbenaca, S. viridis, and S. syriaca were analyzed by GC-MS. The main constituents of the six Salvia species studied were 1,8-cineol, caryophyllene oxide, spathulenol, and borneol in different ratios. The antimicrobial activity of the essential oil extracted from the aerial parts of species of the genus Salvia was tested by the disc diffusion method. The essential oils of Salvia species showed different antimicrobial activity against the studied microorganisms. The highest antimicrobial activity against E. coli was observed in S. multicaulis and the highest antimicrobial activity against K. pneumoniae was observed in S. verbenaca. The morphology of the stem, leaf, bract, and flower structures of the Salvia species were analyzed in this study. Anatomical investigations focused on the root, petiole, and stem in more detail. Our research has broadened the criteria of anatomical characters unique to the Salvia species. Under light microscopy, the pollen grains of the six species belonging to Salvia were isopolar and radially symmetrical. The properties of the essential oil constituents, antimicrobial properties, and biosystematic data obtained in this study contribute to the bioactive and biosystematic studies of Salvia species used for food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic purposes.

Essential Oil Composition of Seven Bulgarian Hypericum Species and Its Potential as a Biopesticide.

Hypericum species and especially H. perforatum L. are well known for their therapeutic applications. The present study assessed the essential oil (EO) composition, and antifungal and aphid suppression activity of seven Bulgarian Hypericum species. The EOs were analyzed by GC-MS-FID. Two experiments were conducted. In the first experiment, H. perforatum, H. maculatum, and H. hirsutum were used. Additionally, the EO composition of H. perforatum extracted via hydrodistillation (ClevA) and via commercial steam distillation (Com) were compared. The second experiment compared the EOs of H. perforatum, H. cerastoides, H. rumeliacum, H. montbretii, and H. calycinum (flowers and leaves) extracted via hydrodistillation and collected with n-hexane. Overall, the EO constituents belonged to four classes, namely alkanes, monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, and fatty acids. The main class for compounds in H. maculatum and H. perforatum (section Hypericum) were sesquiterpenes for both experiments except for H. perforatum (Com). Hypericum montbretii (section Drosocarpium) EO had monoterpenes (38.09%) and sesquiterpenes (37.09%) as major groups, while H. hirsutum EO (section Taeniocarpium) contained predominately alkanes (67.19%). Hypericum hirsutum EO contained cedrol (5.04%), found for the first time in Hypericum species. Fatty acids were the main compounds in H. cerastoides (section Campylopus), while monoterpenes were the most abundant class in H. rumeliacum and H. calycinum EOs. α-Pinene and germacrene D were the major EO constituents of all analyzed Hypericum species except for H. hirsutum and H. cerastoides. Hypericum perforatum EO (Com) had significant repellent and insecticidal activity against two aphid species, Rhopalosiphum padi (Bird Cherry-oat aphid) and Sitobion avenae (English grain aphid) at concentrations of 0%, 1%, 2.5%, 3.5%, 4.5%, and 5%. The tested EOs did not show significant activity against selected economically important agricultural fungal pathogens Fusarium spp., Botrytis cinerea, Colletotrichum spp., Rhizoctonia solani, and Aspergillus sp. The EO of the Hypericum species found in the Bulgarian flora could be utilized for the development of new biopesticides for aphid control.

Separation and Qualitative Study of Mentha asiatica Boriss. Essential Oil Components by prep-GC, GC-QTOF-MS, NMR and Prediction of Bioactive Compounds.

In order to understand the material basis of wild Mentha asiatica Boris. in Xinjiang, the chemical constituents of essential oil extracted from aerial parts of this plant were studied. A total 52 components were detected and 45 compounds were identified. First of all, the essential oil was separated by silica gel column chromatography, and divided into several parts according to the results of thin layer chromatography. Eight fractions were obtained, and then each fragment was preliminarily screened for antibacterial activity. It was found that all eight fragments had certain antibacterial activity in different level. Then the fractions were subjected to preparative gas chromatography (prep-GC) for further isolation. Ten compounds were identified by 13 C-NMR, 1 H-NMR and gas chromatography-quadrupole time of flight-Mass spectrometry (GC-QTOF-MS). They are sabinene, limonene and β-caryophyllene, (1R*,3S*,5R*)-sabinyl acetate, piperitone oxide, rotundifolone, thymol, piperitone, 4-hydroxypiperiditone, cedrol. After screened by bioautography, 4-hydroxypiperone and thymol were showed best antibacterial activity. The inhibitory effects of the two isolated compounds on Candida albicans and their related mechanisms were studied. The results showed that, 4-hydroxypiperone and thymol significantly reduced ergosterol content on the surface of Candida albicans cell membrane in a dose-dependent manner. This work has accumulated experience for the development and utilization of Xinjiang characteristic medicinal plant resources and new drug research and development, and provided scientific basis and support for the later research and development of Mentha asiatica Boris.

Enhancing Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis, L.) Growth and Volatile Oil Constituents Grown under Soil Salinity Stress by Some Amino Acids

The current study was carried out during the two consecutive winter seasons of 2019/2020 and 2020/2021 at the Experimental Farm of Ash-Shoubak University College, Jordan, as a pot experiment. This experiment was planned to evaluate the impact of various soil salinity levels (1.17, 3.34, 6.51, and 9.68 ds/m) and amino acid types (control, L-tryptophan acid at 100 ppm, glutamine acid at 200 ppm, and L-tryptophan acid + glutamine acid) as well as their combinations on growth, salt resistance index, and some of the chemical constituents of rosemary plants. The obtained results indicated that plant height and the total herb dry weight of rosemary, the salt resistance index (SRI), and the total chlorophyll in leaves were discernably reduced with increasing soil salinity levels compared with the control. However, salinity enhanced leaf proline content. Each amino acid or its mixture improved plant growth, chlorophyll content, and SRI parameters. The SRI percentage of R. officinalis enhanced to more than 100% under a soil salinity level of 1.17 ds/m, combined with amino acids at any type, when compared with the other combination treatments. Furthermore, GC/MS showed that the identified compounds ranged from 98.39% to 99.18% and the unidentified compounds from 0.82% to 1.61% from the volatile oil of rosemary plants. The major constituents of volatile oil samples were camphor (34.95% to 40.21%), D-verbenone (13.74% to 15.23%), and α-pinene (13.21% to 16.73%).

The Antioxidant Effect of Rosemary on the Oxidation Stability of Refıned Sunflower Oil

In this study, the essential oil chemical compounds of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) and its antioxidant activity on the oxidation stability of refined sunflower oil (RSO) were investigated by the Rancimat method. The plant material was obtained from Afyonkarahisar Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Center/Turkey. Based on the GC/FID-MS analysis result, 1,8-Cineole (15.18%), Camphor (11.39%), Borneol (11.39%), Germacrene D (11.12%), Carvacrol (11.05%), α-Pinene (6.01%) and p-Cimene (3.07%) were identified as the major constituents of rosemary essential oil. The total antioxidant activity of rosemary essential oil was determined using the DPPH method. The EC50 value was measured as 3.35 mg mL-1. While the induction time of RSO is 1.57 hours on average,the induction time of RSO with 1 g of 100 g-1 rosemary added was 1.68 hours on average, and the induction time of RSO with 5 g of 100 g-1 rosemary added was 1.79 hours on average. According to the results, rosemary, as an economic medicinal and aromatic plant, significantly increased the oxidation stability of RSO. Therefore, rosemary can be recommended as a natural antioxidant to extend the shelf life of edible fixed oils.

Quantity and chemical components of essential oil of “Mentha x piperita L.” leaves under ultrasonic/hot air drying

This study was conducted to evaluate the influence of combined high-intensity ultrasonic power/hot air drying on quantity and chemical constituents of essential oil of peppermint leaves. According to the experimental findings, in comparison with the fresh leaves, both increment and decrement were observed in yielded essential oil from the dried samples. Increasing drying temperature in the practiced range reduced the oil yield. The maximum oil yield (26.42 g/kg dry matter) belonged to the samples dried at 40 °C and 360 W while the minimum value (9.93 g/kg dry matter) was obtained at air temperature of 70 °C with no ultrasonic power. Both the air temperature and ultrasonic power showed no definite influence on main chemical groups of the oil. In point of quality view, drying treatment of 70 °C and ultrasonic power of 270 W produced the highest quality essential oil.

Biological Activity of Hybrid Molecules Based on Major Constituents of Cinnammomun verum and Thymus vulgaris Essential Oils.

Plants have been used by humans since ancient times due their antimicrobial and medicinal properties. Essential oils (EOs) are complex mixtures of secondary plant metabolites, including terpenoids, phenylpropanoids, and other aromatic compounds. Cinnamomun verum and Thyme vulgaris EOs and their organic extracts exert numerous biological activities because of their major compounds, particularly thymol, carvacrol, eugenol, and benzoic and cinnamic acid. The structural motifs presented by these phytochemicals are responsible for their biological activities. Modification or hybridization of these structures could lead to new bio-based compounds with improved efficacy or multiple modes of action. In this work, we aimed to develop reliable methods of obtaining six hybrid molecules from the major constituents of C. verum and T. vulgaris EOs. For the first time, we tested their efficacy in the inhibition of the mycelium growth and spore germination of two of the most important phytopathogenic fungi, Fusarium oxysporum and Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, and one opportunistic human pathogen, Aspergillus niger. The cytotoxic activity of the obtained hybrids was assessed using the brine shrimp lethality assay. In addition, we report for the first time a biocatalytic process for the obtention of these bioactive hybrid molecules. The results of this work enable the possibility of using hybrid molecules based on the major constituents of EOs as active ingredients in strategic industries such as agriculture, aquaculture, and pharmaceuticals.

Comparative Study on the Essential Oils Extracted from Tunisian Rosemary and Myrtle: Chemical Profiles, Quality, and Antimicrobial Activities.

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) and myrtle (Myrtus communis L.) are perennial herbs, typical of the Tunisian flora, with an intense aromatic flavor. Their essential oils, obtained by hydro-distillation, were analyzed by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry and by infrared Fourier transform spectrometry. In addition, these oils were assessed for their physicochemical properties as well as their antioxidant and antibacterial activities. The physicochemical characterization proved to be of good quality by analyzing pH, water content (%), density at 15 °C (g/cm3), and iodine values according to standard test methods. The study of the chemical composition allowed for the identification of 1,8-cineole (30%) and α-pinene (40.4%) as the main constituents of myrtle essential oil, while 1,8-cineole (37%), camphor (12.5%), and α-pinene (11.6%) were identified as principal components in rosemary essential oil. The evaluation of their antioxidant activities permitted to obtain the IC50 values, which ranged between 22.3 and 44.7 μg/mL for DPPH and between 15.52 and 28.59 μg/mL for ferrous chelating assay, for rosemary and myrtle essential oils, respectively, thus indicating that rosemary essential oil is the most effective antioxidant. Furthermore, the antibacterial activity of the essential oils was tested in vitro against eight bacterial strains by the disc diffusion method. The essential oils showed antibacterial effects on both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.

Influence of Planting Distances in Presence of Chemical Fertilization And Compost on Growth, Essential Oil , Artemisinin Content and Chemical Constituents of Artemisia annua L. Plant

Influence of Planting Distances in Presence of Chemical Fertilization And Compost on Growth, Essential Oil , Artemisinin Content and Chemical Constituents of Artemisia annua L. Plant

Effective constituents of essential oil from Gleditsiae Fructus Abnormalis and anti-cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury mechanism: based on GC-MS, network pharmacology, and experimental verification

Based on GC-MS and network pharmacology, the active constituents, potential targets, and mechanism of essential oil from Gleditsiae Fructus Abnormalis(EOGFA) against cerebral ischemia/reperfusion(I/R) injury were explored, and the effective constituents were verified by experiment. To be specific, GC-MS was used identify the constituents of the volatile oil. Secondly, the targets of the constituents and disease were predicted by network pharmacology, and the drug-constituent-target network was constructed, followed by Gene Ontology(GO) term enrichment and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG) pathway enrichment of the core targets. Molecular docking was performed to investigate the binding affinity between the active constituents and the targets. Finally, SD rats were used for experimental verification. The I/R injury model was established, and the neurological behavior score, infarct volume, and pathological morphology of brain tissue were measured in each group. The content of interleukin-1β(IL-1β), interleukin-6(IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-α) was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA), and the protein expression of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) by Western blot. A total of 22 active constituents and 17 core targets were screened out. The core targets were involved in 56 GO terms and the major KEGG pathways of TNF signaling pathway, VEGF signaling pathway, and sphingolipid signaling pathway. Molecular docking showed that the active constituents had high affinity to the targets. The results of animal experiment suggested that EOGFA can alleviate the neurological impairment, decrease the cerebral infarct volume and the content of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α, and down-regulate the expression of VEGF. The experiment verified the part results of network pharmacology. This study reflects the multi-component, multi-target, and multi-pathway characteristics of EOGFA. The mechanism of its active constituents is related to TNF and VEGF pathways, which provides a new direction for in-depth research on and secondary development of Gleditsiae Fructus Abnormalis.

μ-Raman Determination of Essential Oils' Constituents from Distillates and Leaf Glands of Origanum Plants.

A novel, inexpensive and simple experimental setup for collecting μ-Raman spectra of volatile liquids in very small quantities was developed. It takes advantage of capillary forces to detain minute volatile liquid volumes. Spectra of volatile and even scattering or absorbing media can be measured more effectively. The method is used to facilitate the collection of intensity-consistent Raman spectra from a series of reference compounds present in Origanum essential oils, in order to quantify their constituents by multiple linear regression. Wild grown Origanum plants, collected from five different regions in Greece and taxonomically identified as O. onites, O. vulgare subsp. hirtum and O. vulgare subsp. vulgare, were appropriately distilled to acquire their essential oils. Comparison of the Raman results with those from headspace gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS GC-MS) confirmed the successful relative quantification of the most abundant essential oil constituents, highlighting the similarities and differences of the three Origanum taxa examined. Finally, it is demonstrated that directly measuring the leaf peltate glandular hairs yields exploitable results to identify the main components of the essential oil they contain, underlining the potential of in situ (field or industry) measurements utilizing microscope-equipped portable Raman spectrometers.

Essential oil in Phlomis tuberosa

Phlomis tuberosa L. (Lamiaceae) is a flowering perennial plant, native to Eurasia, and sparsely distributed in Bulgaria. The species has been proved to accumulate flavonoids, iridoids, phenolic glycosides, as well as essential oil. To now, there is no information on the chemical content of Bulgarian essential oil from the plant. The aim was to study the chemical composition of essential oils, obtained from the species. Four different samples were studied – essential oils produced from leaves and herbs, collected in the fields, and from leaves and flowering parts, harvested from the mountainous location. It was found that β-copaene was the major in the essential oil from both the leaves and of the flowering parts collected from Popitza. In addition, the other major constituent in leaf essential oil from Kladnitza was tau-muurolol. The essential oil, produced from the species, harvested from the higher altitude had phytol as the main component. The sesquiterpenoid content in leaf essential oil suggests that this plant substance is appropriate for medicinal use, due to the pharmacological properties of these compounds.