Essential Oils Of Medicinal Plants Research Articles

Phytochemistry and antimicrobial activity of Moroccan Origanum compactum and Ruta montana essential oils against nosocomial bacteria

Introduction: Healthcare-associated infections are a global public health issue with farreaching individual and economic repercussions. The microorganism’s multi-resistance frequently increases the risk that can be lowered by using biomolecules of medicinal plant essential oils (EOs). This study investigated the phytochemical components and antimicrobial potential of the EOs of Moroccan Origanum compactum and Ruta montana gathered from Taza Region. Methods: The EOs’ chemical analysis was performed by GC/MS and their antimicrobial effects were assessed by the microplate dilution method against eight nosocomial resistantbacterial strains. Results: The main constituents of O. compactum EO were Thymol (29.56%), carvacrol (26.44%), γ-terpinene (18.86%) and p-cymene (12.01%), while those of R. montana EO were 2-undecanone (85.76%), 2-nonanone (3.95%), 2-decanone (3.67%) and 2-dodecanone (1.94%). The O. compactum EO had important antimicrobial effects on all bacteria experienced. The lower minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values were obtained for the tested Staphylococcus species (0.062%, 0.125% (v/v)) while the highest one (2% (v/v)) was obtained for Klebsiella pneumonia and Pantoea spp. The R. montana EO showed MIC values of 4% (v/v) for Pantoea spp. and 8% (v/v) for the other tested strains except K. pneumonia for which no effect was shown. Conclusion: Therefore, these EOs, especially the O. compactum one, have an interesting antibacterial potential against nosocomial infections and might be used to develop new antimicrobial agents.

In Vitro anthelmintic efficacy of medicinal plant essential oils against Marshallagia marshalli: Evidence on oxidative/nitrosative stress biomarkers, DNA damage, and egg hatchability

One of the major public health problems is drug resistance in parasitic diseases. It is therefore important to find new active ingredients to combat parasites. Herbal products such as essential oils (EOs) may show promise in treating infections caused by gastrointestinal nematodes (GINs). This study investigated the in vitro anthelmintic activity of the EOs of Lavandula angustifolia and Quercus infectoria against Marshallagia marshalli. The in vitro study was based on an egg hatch test (EHT), adult and larval motility inhibition tests, DNA damage, and several biomarkers of oxidative/nitrosative stress, including superoxide dismutase [SOD], catalase [CAT], and glutathione peroxidase [GSH -Px], protein carbonylation [PCO], malondialdehyde [MDA], total antioxidant status [TAS], and nitric oxide levels [NO]. Different concentrations of Lavandula angustifolia and Quercus infectoria EOs (1, 5, 10, 25 and 50 mg/ml) were used to determine the anthelmintic effect on three stages of the life cycle of M. marshalli, i.e. eggs, larvae and adult parasites, for 24 hr. The results showed that EOs of L. angustifolia and Q. infectoria play an important role as anthelmintics. These essential oils significantly reduced the egg hatching and motility of larval and adult worms. This anthelmintic effect is dependent on concentration and time. Furthermore, the EOs of L. angustifolia and Q. infectoria caused oxidative/nitrosative stress (reduced SOD, GSH-Px and CAT and increased MDA, PCO and NO) and DNA damage, thereby providing significant antihelminthic effects. Based on the results, it seems that the EOs extracted from L. angustifolia and Q. infectoria may be effective in the control and treatment of M. marshalli infections. Further research is needed to investigate their potential for in vivo use in the treatment of parasitic infections.

A comparison of ATR-FTIR and Raman spectroscopy for the non-destructive examination of terpenoids in medicinal plants essential oils

A comparison of ATR-FTIR and Raman spectroscopy for the non-destructive examination of terpenoids in medicinal plants essential oils

Effectiveness of medicinal plant essential oils on drug-resistant bacteria in Iran: A systematic review

Effectiveness of medicinal plant essential oils on drug-resistant bacteria in Iran: A systematic review

Polycaprolactone/Cellulose Acetate Loaded Psidium guajava Essential Oil Electrospun Nanofibrous Mat Dressing for Healing Wounds

Natural products and essential oils of medicinal plants are extensively employed in wound healing, particularly in the pharmaceutical industry. Essential oils obtained from Psidium guajava were utilised as an antibacterial agent against Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Enterococcus faecalis, and to control drug-resistant strains. In this study, electrospinning for applications in antimicrobial activity and drug delivery systems was used to develop biocomposite nanofibers of Polycaprolactone (PCL)/Cellulose Acetate (CA) and Psidium guajava essential oil (PGEO). Images from the FESEM revealed that the mean fire diameters were 120 nm for the PCL/CA and 223 nm for PCL/CA/PGEO biocomposite nanofibers. The diameters of the nanofibers were increased following the addition of PGEO into PCL/CA nanofibers. Furthermore, FTIR studies revealed the -OH peak in pure electrospun PCL/CA and PCL/CA/PGEO, lacking pure PGEO nanofibrous mats. These findings reflect that Psidium guajava essential oil/PCL/CA electrospun nanofibers are promising candidates for presenting bioactive compounds in wound management or other approaches for wound healing and bacterial infections.

Toxicity effects of several medicinal plants essential oils on Angoumois grain moth (Sitotroga cerealella) female adults

Toxicity effects of several medicinal plants essential oils on Angoumois grain moth (Sitotroga cerealella) female adults

Microbiological justification of the advisability of using essential oils of medicinal plants in the treatment of inflammatory diseases of the upper respiratory tract

Introduction. The role of the respiratory tract microflora violations as an etiological and pathogenetic factor in the development of the inflammative upper respiratory tract disease is indisputable, and the importance of persistence factors of respiratory opportunistic microorganisms (URT) is high. The traditional use of antibiotics and antimycotic agents in the pathology of URT has failed due to a significant increase in the number of antibiotic-resistant strains of microorganisms and the development of a number of undesirable adverse reactions in patients. An alternative advantage in these conditions is belonged to herbal preparations.Aim. To conduct a comparative in vitro study of antibacterial and antifungal activities of the plant essential oils as a component of the Dyshi Oil composition and the Dyshi Oil composition itself against opportunistic microorganisms - causative agents of inflammatory upper airway diseases.Materials and methods. Essential oils of clove, juniper, peppermint, eucalyptus, as well as the composition of oils “Dyshi” were used in the work. Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Klebsiella pneumoniae ICIS-278, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, and Candida albicans ATCC 24433 bacterial cultures were used as test cultures. Staphylococcus epidermidis 25 strain, isolated from a conditionally healthy person, was chosen as a representative of the URT normobiota. Antimicrobial activity of essential oils was determined by the method of diffusion in nutrient agar, MIC - by the method of serial dilutions.Results. The presence of zones of pronounced growth retardation of Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella and Pseudomonas, as well as yeast-like fungi was established when exposed to the composition of “Dyshi” oils, while separately used oils did not have a visible effect on the growth of bacteria and fungi, which indicates a synergistic interaction of the drug oils components.Conclusion. The presence of a synergistic antimicrobial effect of the “Dyshi” oil composition against opportunistic bacteria and yeast-like fungi of the genus Candida has been proven. The absence of an inhibitory effect on the growth of Staphylococcus epidermidis, which is a representative of the upper respiratory tract normobiota indicates a possible selective effect of “Dyshi” oil aimed at maintaining the colonization resistance of the URT biotope.

β­caryophyllene oxide induces apoptosis and inhibits proliferation of A549 lung cancer cells

One of the most common cancers that result in death is lung cancer. There is new hope in the fight against lung cancer thanks to the chemopreventive properties of natural dietary substances like β-caryophyllene oxide (CPO), and research is currently being done to test this theory. CPO, a sesquiterpene isolated from medicinal plant essential oils, inhibits carcinogenesis and has been effective in treating many cancers. This study examined how CPO affected proliferation of human lung cancer A549 cells. CPO was found to have an inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 124.1 g/ml. The proliferative markers Ki67 and PCNA were significantly inhibited after cells were treated with CPO at a concentration of 50 g/ml compared to controls. CPO-treated cells expressed more P21, P53, and DNA strand breaks than controls. This was accompanied by a significant cell cycle arrest in the S and G2/M phases. In treated A549 cells, this was also associated with a significant induction of apoptosis, as shown by the upregulation of the expression of caspases 3, 7, and 9, as well as Bax, and the downregulation of Bcl-2. Furthermore, the redox status of treated A549 cells revealed a marked rise in GSH and GPx activity levels and a decline in 4-HNE levels, indicating low oxidative stress following CPO treatment of A549 cells. In conclusion, cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, which are unrelated to oxidative stress, were the mechanisms by which CPO reduced cancer lung cell growth. This finding might be a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of lung cancer.Graphical abstractHypothetical scheme of CPO anticancer effects (mechanism of signaling) in A549 cells; in vitro. CPO treatment increases expression of p21, p53 and DNA fragmentation. These events cause arrest of cell cycle which was associated with significant induction in apoptosis via increase expression of caspases (-3,-7,-9), and Bax and downregulation of Bcl-2.

Use of checkerboard assay to determine the synergy between essential oils extracted from leaves of Aegle marmelos (L.) Correa and nystatin against Candida albicans.

Candida albicans is one of the most common pathogenic yeasts, responsible for causing candidiasis. The use of conventional antifungal agents for the treatment of Candida is reported to be less effective and hence alternative therapies for the treatment are needed. Essential oils of medicinal plants may serve as a strong candidate for natural products in modern therapies. The aim of this study was to determine the synergistic potential of essential oils extracted from leaves of Aegle marmelos (L.) Correa and a potent antifungal agent, nystatin, against three clinical isolates of C. albicans using checkerboard assay. The antifungal activity of the essential oils of A. marmelos was screened against test cultures by disc diffusion technique. Antibiograms of the test organisms were developed. To determine the minimum fungicidal concentration of the essential oil and nystatin, the broth microdilution method was employed, and a checkerboard assay was used to investigate the synergistic potential of the essential oil and nystatin against the clinical isolates under study. The data were expressed as mean ± standard deviation. The Σ fractional inhibitory concentration values were calculated as 0.12, 0.37, and 0.28 for three different strains of C. albicans used, respectively, which was <0.5, therefore, the synergy was demonstrated between essential oils and nystatin against the test cultures. Combinatorial therapy of the essential oils extracted from the leaves of A. marmelos and nystatin may be considered a line of treatment for candidal infections.

In vitro antimikrobna aktivnost različitih ekstrakata Verbascum niveum

Introduction. Medicinal plants are the main ingredient of numerous medicines and pharmaceutical products, and antimicrobial activity has been demonstrated in a large number of medicinal plant extracts and essential oils. Considering that Verbascum L. species (mullein), officially approved by the European Medicines Agency, show antimicrobial properties, but also that there are species of this genus that have not been sufficiently studied, the aim of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of six different extracts of Verbascum niveum Ten. Material and methods. Antimicrobial bioassays were performed with one fungus (Candida albicans) and four bacterial strains (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis) by broth microdilution method according to the recommendations of the European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing. The results were expressed as the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of an extract (mg/ml) that prevents the visible growth of bacteria/fungi. Results. The MIC values ranged from 0.39 to 1.25 mg/ml. The strongest effect was obtained with the ethanolic extract of leaves against Staphylococcus aureus (0.39 mg/ml). Conclusion. Although Verbascum species are considered to be an excellent antimicrobial agent, according to our result, the tested extracts had modest antimicrobial activity.

The Use of Biopolymers as a Natural Matrix for Incorporation of Essential Oils of Medicinal Plants.

The benefits of using biopolymers for the development of films and coatings are well known. The enrichment of these material properties through various natural additions has led to their applicability in various fields. Essential oils, which are well-known for their beneficial properties, are widely used as encapsulating agents in films based on biopolymers. In this study, we developed biopolymer-based films and tested their properties following the addition of 7.5% and 15% (w/v) essential oils of lemon, orange, grapefruit, cinnamon, clove, chamomile, ginger, eucalyptus or mint. The samples were tested immediately after development and after one year of storage in order to examine possible long-term property changes. All films showed reductions in mass, thickness and microstructure, as well as mechanical properties. The most considerable variations in physical properties were observed in the 7.5% lemon oil sample and the 15% grapefruit oil sample, with the largest reductions in mass (23.13%), thickness (from 109.67 µm to 81.67 µm) and density (from 0.75 g/cm3 to 0.43 g/cm3). However, the microstructure of the sample was considerably improved. Although the addition of lemon essential oil prevented the reduction in mass during the storage period, it favored the degradation of the microstructure and the loss of elasticity (from 16.7% to 1.51% for the sample with 7.5% lemon EO and from 18.28% to 1.91% for the sample with 15% lemon EO). Although the addition of essential oils of mint and ginger resulted in films with a more homogeneous microstructure, the increase in concentration favored the appearance of pores and modifications of color parameters. With the exception of films with added orange, cinnamon and clove EOs, the antioxidant capacity of the films decreased during storage. The most obvious variations were identified in the samples with lemon, mint and clove EOs. The most unstable samples were those with added ginger (95.01%), lemon (92%) and mint (90.22%).

Comparison of nano-capsulated thyme essential oils on intestinal microbial population and anti-oxidation status of broilers

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of non and nano-capsulated thyme essential oils with saturated and unsaturated lipids (tallow and canola oil) and two levels of diet crude protein (standard and low than standard) on intestinal microbial population and anti-oxidation status of broilers. In this study, 384 Ross-308 broiler chickens in a factorial engagement of 2×2×2 (2 medicinal plant essential oils, two sources of vegetable oils, and 2 levels of diet crude protein) were used in a completely randomized design with 8 treatments, 4 replicates, and 12 bird in each replicate for 42 days. Experimental periods included starter (1-10 days), grower (11-24 days), and finisher (25-42 days). Canola oil significantly reduced the intestinal coliforms population. In contrast, tallow increased them (P&lt;0.05), a similar effect was observed with thyme forms, so the lowest coliform population blogged to the nano-capsulated form of thyme. In contrast, the highest coliform population resulted in non-capsulated thyme essential oil (P&lt;0.05). In an interaction between thyme essential oil form and diet crude protein level, the lowest coliform population was observed with diet contained nano-capsulated thyme essential oil and low level of diet crude protein (P&lt;0.05). Regarding antioxidant status, reducing the diet crude protein increased MDA and GPX (P&lt;0.05). In an interaction between diet crude protein and thyme form, a diet with low crude protein and capsulated thyme increased the level of SOD (P&lt;0.05). In general, results of the current experiment indicated that in Ross-308, broiler chickens using capsulated thyme essential oil with canola oil and low crude protein improves intestine microbial population and antioxidant status of broilers.

La soledad en la persona mayor en contexto de pandemia por covid-19 y el uso de terapias complementarias

COVID-19 pandemic has shown how deteriorated the social, economic, emotional and psychological areas are in our population, however, it is the elderly who have bee the most affected, not just because they belong to the group at greatest risk of contractingthe virus, but also because of the psychological consequences that quarantines and social isolation have left on they. In Chile, multiple interventions have been developed to reduce the figures around mental health pathologies in this group, from activated a special phone number for their attention to the reactivation of health care programs. This is the reason for this article, which contemplates a systematic review of articles related to complementary therapies, in this aspect it was concluded that aromatherapy, through the use of essential oils of medicinal plants, is considered as an alternative viable to coping the loneliness, anxiety and depression in the elderly, over other complementary medicines such as light therapy, since the latter does not have enough studies or information to be recommended.

Investigation of the Antibiofilm Activity of Some Spices and Medicinal Plants Essential Oils

Biofilms are the structure microbial that attach to different surfaces and enclave microorganisms in a matrix composed, protecting them from harsh conditions, including immune effectors and antibiotics. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the anti-biofilm activity of lavender, cloves, eucalyptus, rosemary, thyme, and oregano commercial essential oils, known for their biocidal properties against Gram-positive and Gram-negative ESKAPE isolates, exhibiting multiple drug resistance. The most efficient proved to be the oregano, thyme, and clove essential oils, which exhibited the lowest minimal biofilm eradication concentrations values against all bacterial species. Although lavender, eucalyptus, and rosemary had a weaker effect than the first three oils, they have also inhibited biofilm development at concentrations low enough to be considered effective. This experimental approach may open new perspectives for developing efficient strategies to combat the emergent threat of antibiotic resistance and to control the formation of microbial biofilms, being also a valuable source of bioactive compounds and new anti-biofilm drugs.

Effect of hydrochloric polyhexamethylene guanidine (PHMGH) and polyhexamethylene biguanidine (PHMBH), also in combination with plant essential oils and ZnO nanoparticles on some eukaryotic cattle and pig cells

Aim. To investigate both toxic (hemolytic), and stimulating effects of two polymeric derivatives of guani- dine, in particular, polyhexamethylene guanidine (PHMG) and polyhexamethylene biguanidine (PHMB) both in the hydrochloride form, on eukaryotic cells depending on the concentration of the preparation; to study the possibility of using wound-healing and stimulating properties of these preparations in veterinary medicine. Methods. The hemolytic activity (toxicity) of PHMGH and PHMBH preparations in the concentration of 0.1% towards cattle and pig erythrocytes was determined by titration. Primary cell cultures of fetal kidney cells of calves and piglets were used to determine the influence of PHMGH and PHMBH both alone and in combination with the following biologically active substances: essential oils of Pinus sylvestris, Eucalyptus globulus, Citrus sinensis, Monarda didyma, ZnO nanoparticles (size c. 25 nm), and electrochemically acti- vated water – anolyte (Eh = –800 mV, pH 6.5–7.0). The concentration of the cells in the nutrient medium was determined via photocolorimetry. Results. It was found that depending on the concentration, PHMGH, and PHMBH preparations can cause the lysis of erythrocytes, and stimulate cell proliferative activity, including the formation of a monolayer of kidney cells of calves and piglets They cause hemolysis of cattle erythro- cytes in the concentrations commonly used for disinfection, i.e., about 0.1 %, in the average titers of 1 : 7 for PHMGH and 1 : 2.5 for PHMBH. Therefore, PHMBH shows greater hemolytic (biocidal) activity for cattle erythrocytes than PHMGH (in ≈2.8x). The high molecular weight fraction of PHMBH (M2 ≈ 2,000–7,000 Da) demonstrated a lower (in ≈2.4x) hemolytic activity than the low molecular weight basic fraction (M1 ≈ 500–2,000 Da). The experiments on the kidney cell cultures of pigs and cattle have shown that at non-toxic concentrations (10–5 %) PHMBH can effectively stimulate (from 27 to 65 % increase) the proliferative activ- ity of eukaryotic cells and accelerate the formation of a monolayer of cells. The combinations of PHMGH with some essential oils of medicinal plants also show a good effect (from 52 to 95 % increase), and PHMBH shows a good effect with oil of pine for pig kidney cells (20 % increase) and oil of horsemint for cattle kidney cells (67 % increase). Conclusions. PHMGH and PHMBH can possibly be used in agricultural production not only as disinfectants or antiseptics, but also in wound healing. Although their toxicity is also significant to eukaryotic cells, yet they can possibly be used in veterinary medicine in low concentrations (0.005–0.5 %) for the treatment of wounds of various origin, including burns, in the composition of ointments, gels, bandages, or plasters, which we have presently in investigation.

TRP channels and monoterpenes: Past and current leads on analgesic properties.

The activation of the transient receptor potential (TRP) channels expressed by sensory neurons is essential to the transduction of thermal and mechanical sensory information. In the setting of chronic inflammatory conditions, the activation of the melastatin family member 8 (TRPM8), the TRP vanilloid 1 (TRPV1), and the TRP ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) is correlated with pain hypersensitivity reactions. Monoterpenes, among which pulegone and menthol, a major class of phytocompounds present in essential oils of medicinal plants, are known modulators of those TRP channels activity. In the present review, we correlate the monoterpene content of plants with their historical therapeutic properties. We then describe how monoterpenes exert their anti-inflammatory and antihyperalgesia effects through modulation of TRP channels activity. Finally, we discuss the importance and the potential of characterizing new plant extracts and reassessing studied plant extracts for the development of ethnopharmacology-based innovative treatments for chronic pain. This review suggests that monoterpene solutions, based on composition from traditional healing herbs, offer an interesting avenue for the development of new phytotherapeutic treatments to alleviate chronic inflammatory pain conditions.

Scolicidal activity of some medicinal plant essential oils on Echinococcus granulosus protoscolices

ABSTRACT We assessed a panel of six essential oils (EOs) including Clausena anisata, Lippia alba, Pimpinella anisum, Syzygium aromaticum, Litchi chinensis and Heracleum sphondylium for their chemical constituents and scolicidal activity on Echinococcus granulosus. Protoscolices were collected from fertile hydatid cysts and exposed to different concentrations of the EOs. After 10 min of exposure, S. aromaticum and C. anisata EOs at the concentration of 100 μg/ml resulted in the mortality rate of 63.33 and 51.33%, respectively. EOs of S. aromaticum, L. alba and C. anisata were the most potent with LC50 values of 16.8, 23.9 and 24.3 µg/ml, respectively. EO of L. alba showed a LC90 value of 442.7 µg/ml, which was significantly higher than S. aromaticum (58.4) and C. anisata (76.7). The obtained results demonstrated that EOs of S. aromaticum and C. anisata can be further studied for the development of new therapeutics and have the potential to be tested under in vivo conditions.

Medicinal plant essential oils as promising Anti-Varroa agents: Oxidative/nitrosative screens

Melissa officinalis L., Quercus infectoria G. Oliviera, and Ceratonia siliqua L. are medicinal plants that have been used in different ethno-medical systems especially in the Iranian Traditional Medicine for the treatment of several diseases. Their several biological activities were well-documented, however, their anti-Varroa activities are unknown. Varroa destructor, the most important ectoparasite of Apis mellifera, threatens the honey bee populations all over the world so the search for novel control methods is an essential task for researchers. In this study, various concentrations (5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 μL/l air) of Quercus infectoria, Melissa officinalis, and Ceratonia siliqua essential oils at various exposure times (5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 h) were evaluated for their anti-Varroa activity. After exposure, mortality rate and oxidative/nitrosative stress biomarkers including superoxide dismutase [SOD], catalase [CAT], glutathione peroxidase [GSH-Px], protein carbonylation [PCO], malondialdehyde [MDA], total antioxidant status [TAS], nitric oxide contents [NO] in V. destructor were measured. The obtained results indicated that mite mortality was increased in parallel with increase in essential oils concentration and exposure time. The concentrations of 15, 20 and 25 μL/l air of all essential oils resulted in the induction of oxidative/nitrosative stress (decreased SOD, GST, CAT and GSH-Px, and increased MDA, PCO and NO), and mortality of V. destructor compared to the control. These essential oils did not cause a large amount of mortality in A. mellifera compared to the control group. Also, GC/MS analysis of the oils showed that carvacrol (24.97%), γ –Terpinene (20.68%) in M. officinalis oil, β-pinene oxide (21.09), β-pinene (14.31%) in Q. infectoria, Nonadecane (23.34%), 1,2-Benzenedicarboxylic acid, dibutyl ester (15.95%) in C. siliqua oil were the major chemical constituents. In conclusion, our experiment indicated that these essential oils could be a great agent of choice to manage V. destructor.

Chemical Composition and Antiproliferative and Antioxidant Activities of Essential Oil from Juniperus phoenicea L. Cupressaceae

Being multipurpose, relatively safe, and widely favorable for consumption, interest in the essential oils of medicinal plants has been increasing. Essential oil (EO) of Juniperus phoenicea is traditionally used for treatment of several health problems such as diabetes, rheumatism, and cancer that is the second leading cause of death in Jordan. This study aims to collect and chemically analyze EO from Juniperus phoenicea L., from Jordan and to evaluate its cytotoxic and antioxidant activity against human breast cancer cells (T47D), colorectal adenocarcinoma cells (CACO2), and normal human fibroblasts (MRC5). EO was extracted by hydro-distillation and analyzed in a gas chromatograph coupled with a mass spectrometer. Cell viability was assessed using trypan blue, neutral red, and MTT assays, and antioxidant activity was evaluated using DPPH scavenging activity assay. Chemical composition analysis revealed 23 constituents in the EO, and the amount of α- pinene was the highest (69.71%). The results also revealed that the IC50 values of the viability assays were higher among normal cells compared to the human cancer cell lines, and the viability inhibition was significant at higher concentrations compared to untreated cells. Nevertheless, low antioxidant activity was observed for the oil in the DPPH scavenging activity test. To sum up, this study indicates that Jordanian Juniperus phoenicea EO, albeit unlikely to be an effective antioxidant, is optimistically potential to be utilized in breast and colon cancers treatment due to its preferential cytotoxicity against cancer cells.

Effects of Normal and Nano-Capsulated Thyme and Peppermint Essential Oils on Intestinal Morphology and Microbial Population of Broilers Fed on Standard and Low Crude Protein Diets

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of normal and nano-capsulated forms of thyme and peppermint essential oils on intestinal morphology and microbial population of broilers fed on normal and low crude protein diets. The study was carried out with a total of 320 Ross-308 broiler chickens as a 2×2×2 (2 medicinal plant essential oils, 2 forms of oils and 2 levels of diet crude protein) factorial arrangements with 32 groups (10 chicks per replicate) according to a completely random design. This experiment was done in three periods included: Starter (1-10 days), grower (11-24 days) and finisher (25-42 days). The experimental diets had significant effects on intestinal morphology (P<0.05), so that the use of the usual form of essential oils while reducing the depth of the crypt, increased the ratio of the length of the villa to the depth of the crypt. In use of peppermint essential oil with standard protein, crypt depth increased, and the ratio of villi height to crypt depth was minimal (P<0.05). A decrease in dietary crude protein level reduced the population of lactobacilli in the intestine (P<0.05). However, the level of crude protein in the diet and the form of use of the essential oil, as well as the type of essential oil and its form, did not have significant effects on the intestinal microbial population (P>0.05). Based on the results of this experiment, it can be stated that in broilers, the use of the encapsulated form of thyme essential oil in diets with standard crude protein levels, improved the intestinal morphology and intestinal non-pathogenic microbial population of broilers. Ten percent reduction in dietary crude protein level had adverse effects on measured traits and is not recommended, and in case of reduction of dietary protein, it is necessary to use peppermint essential oils supplements.