Highest Essential Oil Research Articles

Salvia multicaulis × Salvia officinalis hybridization: Changes in the phenolic and essential oil profiles, gene expression and biological activity under Saint Catherine conditions—Egypt

The Salvia genus, particularly the wild genotypes, received significant attention due to its antibacterial, antioxidant, antiviral, and anticancer properties. Crossbreeding wild and cultivated plants can conserve the genetic resources of wild plants and develop new hybrids with high yields and high resistance to climatic changes. In this study, Salvia multicaulis (P1, wild) and Salvia officinalis (P2, cultivated) have been crossed to produce a novel hybrid (F1 hybrid) in the Saint Catherin protectorate - Egypt. In P1, P2, and F1 hybrid, heterosis, phytochemical composition, gene expression of PAL (Phenylalanine ammonia-lyase), RAS1 (Rosmarinic acid synthase I), CYP (Cytochrome P450), and CS (1,8-Cineole synthase), besides antioxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial effects were assessed. The F1 hybrid recorded the highest means of plant height in the two seasons. Heterosis over the mid-parents was positively associated with various traits, including stem thickness, number of branches, fresh yield, and percentage of oil in both seasons. Total phenolic and flavonoid content were found in the following order: P2 > P1 > F1. DPPH antioxidant effect was found in the following order: P2 > F1 > P1. The F1 hybrid had the highest content of rosmarinic acid (12.379 mg/g), quercetin (0.595 mg/g), and naringenin (0.152 mg/g), followed by P1 and P2. The 1,8-cineol and α-pinene were the main compounds in the essential oils of P1, P2, and F1. The 1,8-cineol was found in the following order: P2 > F1 > P1, while α-pinene was found in the following order: P1 > F1 > P2. The RAS1 expression showed a weak correlation with the concentration of rosmarinic acid, while the expressions of PAL and CYP were strongly correlated with the concentrations of main phenolics, including rosmarinic acid, quercetin, and naringenin. The 1,8-cineol content was negatively correlated with the expression of the CS gene. The P2 extract and the F1 hybrid essential oil showed potent anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties. Crossbreeding S. multicaulis (P1, wild) and S. officinalis (P2, cultivated) in this study developed a new hybrid (F1) with good growth characteristics, high essential oil yields, high levels of bioactives, and good bioactivity. This makes it suitable for large-scale production for use in food and pharmaceutical applications.

GC-MS analysis and nutra-pharmaceutical potential of Mentha piperita essential oil extracted by supercritical fluid extraction and hydro-distillation

This study reports the comparative evaluation of yield, physico-chemical composition and biological attributes (antioxidant activity, antimicrobial activity, biofilm inhibition and hemolytic activity) of peppermint (Mentha piperita L.) essential oil (EO) obtained by hydro-distillation (HD) and supercritical fluid (CO2) extraction (SCFE) methods. The yield (%) of EO obtained by HD (0.20 %) was significantly (p < 0.05) higher than that of SCFE (0.13 %) while the variation in the physical parameters like solubility, color, density (at 25 °C) and refractive index (at 25 °C) was not significant between the tested oils. The data of chemical compositional analysis revealed that menthol was the key component in the EO obtained by HD (52.85 %) and SCFE (45.51 %), followed by menthone [HD (25.93 %) and SCFE (27.3 %)] and eucalyptol [HD (8.59 %); SCFE (8.92 %)]. The EO extracted with supercritical fluid (SCFE-EO) exhibited superior (p < 0.05) DPPH free radical inhibition potential (52 %) with an IC50 value of 15.65 μg/mL and reducing power compared to that of HD-EO. The highest antimicrobial activity was exhibited by SCFE-EO against Pasturella multocida with an inhibition zone of 18.00 mm (MIC value of 86 μg/mL). The results of biofilm inhibition and hemolytic activity revealed that the SCFE method was superior to recover high quality EO in comparison to the HD method. The peppermint EO obtained by SCFE, owing to potent bioactive components, can be a potential candidate to develop nutra-pharmaceuticals.

Determination of Phenolic, Flavonoid Content and Antioxidant Activity of Oil Rose Products

Rose and rose products are used as raw materials in many sectors including cosmetics, food and medicine. The Rosa damascena Mill. rose genotype, which is intensively cultivated in the Isparta region of Türkiye, is an important export product. The flower of the plant is main source of raw materials for rose oil, herbal teas and cosmetic products due to its high essential oil and polyphenols contents. In this study, Rosa damascena, Rosa centifolia, Rosa alba L., Rosa alba ‘Semiplena’ genotypes were grown in Yalova, which is an alternative region in terms of agro-climatic conditions from Isparta and its surroundings where rose oil cultivation is carried out in Türkiye. Within the scope of the study, total phenolic matter, total antioxidant activity (DPPH and CUPRAC) and total flavonoid contents of flowers (whole flowers), rose water and wastewater of the genotypes were determined. It is important to identify alternative rose genotypes to R. damascena in Türkiye and their potential for cultivation under different climatic conditions. The highest phenolic content (4115 mg gallic acid equivalent GAE 100 g-1) and DPPH antioxidant activity (4893 mg trolox equivalent TE 100 g-1) values were obtained in R. damascena genotype at the first harvest period. The highest CUPRAC antioxidant activity (34237 mg TE 100 g-1) values were obtained in R. centifolia genotype at the first harvest period. In the second harvest period, the highest phenolic content, DPPH antioxidant activity and CUPRAC antioxidant activity values were determined in R. centifolia genotype. Antioxidant activity, phenolic and flavonoid contents of dried rose flowers were higher than in rose water and wastewater. Rose petals were found to have the potential to be used as an important antioxidant source, while total phenolic matter and antioxidant activity values were found to be low in rose water and wastewater. The harvest period was found to be major factor in oil rose flowers, which can be an important polyphenol source.

Extraction of essential oils by hydrodistillation of four aromatic species: Conditioning, extraction conditions, yield and chemical composition

Essential oils are one of the most important products in the agricultural and food industry, as they are obtained from aromatic plants using various extraction techniques, such as steam distillation or hydrodistillation. However, these methods present challenges, such as low efficiency, limited selectivity, extensive use of solvents and long extraction times. Moreover, the quality of the oils obtained can be affected by hydrolysis or oxidation due to the duration and amount of water used in the process. This review updates the information on Clevenger-type hydrodistillation extraction of four high-value commercial plant species: Matricaria chamomilla, Rosmarinus officinalis, Origanum vulgare, and Eucalyptus spp. The aim is to evaluate the results of original articles, considering the origin and characteristics of the plant material, extraction conditions, yield and metabolites. The search covered a 10-year period (2013-2023) in Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, and Google Scholar, using keywords such as species names and terms “essential oils” and “hydrodistillation”, with Boolean connectors such as OR, AND or NOT. The results show that quality and yield are influenced by factors such as geographical regions of origin, plant part used, drying techniques or extraction conditions (plant material/water ratio, extraction temperature, extraction time, etc.). In future research, the conditions associated with the plant material and the extraction process need to be optimized in obtaining high quality essential oils.

The Essential Oil Composition of Eryngium galioides Lam.—An Endemic Species of the Iberian Peninsula

The Eryngium L. genus belongs to the Apiaceae family and, with about 250 species, has a cosmopolitan distribution. Only fourteen of the twenty-six species described in Flora Europaea grow in the Iberian Peninsula. One of these is Eryngium galioides Lam., a small annual plant (2–30 cm) that grows in open dry places in the mid-west of the Iberian Peninsula. For this study, the whole plant (aerial parts and roots) of this species was gathered in Guadalajara (Spain). The essential oil of this population was extracted by hydro-distillation and analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS). It is worth noting that this species gave rise to a relatively high essential oil yield (0.48%) in comparison with other species of this genus. E. galioides oil consisted of a complex mixture of more than 70 compounds. The main constituents of this oil were identified as valencene (49.7%) and a phyllocladene isomer (23.7%), both representing more than the 70% of the total oil. Other representative compounds of this oil were found to be β-chamigrene (6.0%), γ-muurolene (3.4%), (E)-caryophyllene (3.0%) and β-elemene (1.6%). As far as we know, this is the first report about the chemical composition of E. galioides essential oils. With this work, we contribute to the knowledge of this genus and provide a chemical and botanical basis to promote the in vitro cultivation of E. galioides as a source of essential oils rich in bio-actives for application in different fields.

The biochemical properties of Satureja species affected by micronutrients, genotype, and locations in drought stress conditions

Medicinal plants, as important sources of secondary metabolites, are used for treating different diseases. It is accordingly pertinent to find methods, which may improve their growth and quality in different conditions including variable stresses. It was hypothesized micronutrients use and suitable genotypes may improve Satureja growth and quality in drought stress conditions. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of drought stress (irrigating plants each 3 (A1), 6 (A2) and 9 days (A3)), micronutrients (Mn and Cu at 0 (M1), 20 (M2) and 40 mgL−1 (M3)), and field location (Isfahan (F1) and Golpayegan (cooler) (F2), Isfahan province, Iran) on the biochemical properties of different Satureja species including S. bakhtiarica, S. khuzestanica and S. mutica. The experimental treatments significantly affected the measured parameters including nodule number, essential oil, antioxidant activity, proline, Mn and Cu contents, and relative water content. Although Cu and Mn, enhanced plant biochemical properties, especially in M2, in some cases, the two micronutrients, unfavorably affected plant properties in M3. The responses of genotypes were different in the two research fields and S. bakhtiarica performed better in F2. The highest essential oil was resulted by A2. The two micronutrients improved plant responses in drought stress by increasing nodule number (148 %), and essential oil yield (143 %) and decreasing plant relative water content and conserving plant water. The use of Mn and Cu is recommendable for planting Satureja species in drought stress conditions, as the two nutrients may enhance plant tolerance by increasing proline production and antioxidant activities.

Phytochemical analysis, post-harvest shade drying, and biological activities of Melaleuca linariifolia Sm. from foothills of Kumaun Himalayas, India

Melaleuca linariifolia Sm. (Genus: Melaleuca; Family: Myrtaceae) cultivated for its ornamental usages in the Kumaun Himalayan region of Uttarakhand is commercially known as flax-leaved paper bark tree. The present study analyzes the chemical variation of the essential oils obtained from aerial parts and flowers of M. linariifolia. The effect of post-harvest shade drying on the essential oil composition was also assessed in the study. Total of 16 compounds accounting for 94.2 % and 94.6 % were identified in the aerial parts and flowers essential oil, respectively. 1,8-Cineole (71.8 %–73.8 %) was identified as the predominant compound in both the studied essential oils followed by limonene (1.7 %–9.3 %) and α-terpineol (4.2 %–6.7 %). Moreover, the fresh aerial parts had 73.8% of 1,8-cineole content which increased up to 79.2% post-harvest drying. The study revealed oxygenated monoterpenes as the major class constituents with 1,8-cineole as the marker component ranging from 67.7 % to 79.2 % during the post drying analysis. While assessing the biological activities, the antioxidant activity of the oils was investigated in vitro using three assays: DPPH radical scavenging activity, Iron(II) complexing activity, and H2O2 radical scavenging activity. The oil also inhibited the activity of α-amylase with IC50 of 3.26 ± 0.04 μg/ml and protein denaturation with IC50 of 3.0 ± 0.03 g/ml. This is the first-time report of essential oil analysis of M. linariifolia flowers and post-harvest drying study from bhabar region of the Kumaun Himalayas. The high essential oil yield, rich chemical composition and biological activities suggest the cultivation of Melaleuca species as an industrial crop.

Preliminary optimization of extraction process for Citrus sinensisOsbeck L. peel essential oil and quality evaluation

The present study performed optimization of the essential oil extraction from Citrus sinensis Osbeck L. peel. The conditions of grinding time of 1 min, extraction time of 150 min, and a water-to-material ratio of 1:3 (w/v) on frozen matter yielded 4.20 (%, g/100 g fresh matter) of extract in semi-pilot scaleby hydrodistillation method. C. sinensis peel EO was subjected to sensory evaluation, heavy metal contents, physical properties including density, pole rotation angles, and refractive index. D-limonene was identified in the synthesized peel extract with the highest content of 98.12 %. Thisprocess may have great potential as an alternative as it allows the recovery of C. sinensis by-products and production of high quality essential oils. ® 2024 Journal of Science and Technology - NTTU

Evaluation of monthly changes in essential oil yield and components of cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus L.) leaf

This research was carried out to examine the monthly changes in both the volatile oil content and volatile components of cherry laurel leaves by taking samples every month for 12 months in Turkey. Harvest periods significantly affected volatile oil content (P &lt; 0.01). Depending on harvest periods, volatile oil ratios ranged from 0.19 to 0.35%. The months of August, July, and September yielded the highest volatile oil ratios. Benzaldehyde, phenol, benzoic acid, benzeneacetonitrile, pentadecanone, 1,54-dibromotetrapentacontane and, tetrapentacontane were determined as components in the volatile oil. The ratio of benzaldehyde, the main active ingredient, varied between 83.89 and 94.41%, depending on the harvest time. The cherry laurel leaf should be harvested in July, August, and September for high essential oil ratios and in May, June, and July for high benzaldehyde ratios. Due to the high concentration of benzaldehyde in its volatile oil, cherry laurel evergreen leaf can be considered a valuable source of raw materials for the fragrance and pharmaceutical sectors.

Efficient nanostructured materials to reduce nutrient leaching to overcome environmental contaminants.

Nutrient leaching is a major reason for fresh and ground water contamination. Menthol is the major bioactive ingredient of Mentha arvensis L. and one of the most traded products of global essential oil market. The indigenous production of menthol crystals in developing countries of the world can prove to be the backbone for local growers and poor farmers. Therefore, present research was designed to check the effects of nano-structured plant growth regulators (PGRs) (28-homobrassinolide and ethephon) with reduced leaching potentials on the essential oil and menthol (%) of Mentha arvensis L. The prepared nano-formulations were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS), Differential scanning colorimetry-thermal gravimetric analysis (DSC-TGA), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) and Zeta potential and Zeta size analysis. The menthol (%) was determined by modified spectrophotometric and gas chromatographic (GC) method. The highest essential oil (%) was obtained by the application of 28-homobrassinolide-Zn-NPs-L-II (0.92 ± 0.09%) and ethephon-Ca-NPs-L-III (0.91 ± 0.05%) as compared to the control (0.65 ± 0.03%) and blank (0.62 ± 0.09%). The highest menthol (%) was obtained by applying 28-homobrassinolide-Ca-NPs-L-I (80.06 ± 0.07%), 28-homobrassinolide-Ca-NPs-L-II (80.48 ± 0.09%) and 28-homobrassinolide-Ca-NPs-L-III (80.84 ± 0.11%) and ethephon-Ca-NPs-L-III (81.53 ± 0.17%) and ethephon-Zn-NPs-L-II (81.93 ± 0.26%) as compared to control (67.19 ± 0.14%) and blank (63.93 ± 0.17%).

Prediction of essential oil content in C. sintoc Leaves based on the direction of vegetation slope in Mount Ciremai National Park using ANFIS Artificial Neural Network.

C. sintoc is a plant that has a high essential oil content. Essential oils have many health benefits. Mount Ciremai National Park is an area that has abundant vegetation, especially C. sintoc. The purpose of this study was to predict the volume of oil contained in the leaves of C. sintoc based on its growing location in Mount Ciremai National Park (TNGC), West Java. Sampling was carried out in two stages, namely field samples and laboratory samples. Field samples with a single plot measuring 20 x 20 meters. Extraction of laboratory samples by steam distillation method. Data analysis using ANFIS method to predict the volume of essential oil. The results showed that the volume of essential oil in the leaves was largest on the western slope (1,96 ml), northern slope (2,01 ml), eastern slope (1,55 ml) and southern slope (1,37 ml) while the essential oil yield of extract oil in the leaves is found on the western slope (0,08%), northern slope (0,07 %), eastern slope (0,06 %) and southern slope (0,04), On the western slope (1,82 ml), northern slope (1,73 ml). The ANFIS analysis results showed a prediction accuracy of 90,99% with the highest tree productivity when C. sintoc BL grows at an altitude of 650-700 meters above sea level, tree diameter of 42 cm, height of 12 m, growing on sand-textured land and at a humidity of 75 and at a growing temperature range of 25-270C. The value of essential oil production volume is influenced by each variable such as tree diameter, tree height, soil texture, altitude, temperature and humidity.

Determination of Essential Oil Yields and Composition Lavender and Lavandin Cultivars (Lavandula sp.) Cultivated in Tuzlukçu, Konya

Lavender is an important medicinal plant, which used in many fields such as perfumery, cosmetics, medicine, aromatherapy and phytotherapy thanks to its high quality essential oils components. Hemus and Sevtapolis lavender cultivars of Lavandula angustifolia and Super A lavandin of Lavandula x intermedia were used in the study. The lavenders and lavandin were planted in 2022 in Tuzlukçu district of Konya province and harvested in 2023. Essential oils were obtained from the dried flowers of the plant. The essential oil components of the plant materials were measured by GC-MS. The essential oil yield of Lavandula angustifolia cv. Hemus was 2.65%, that of Lavandula angustifolia cv. Sevtapolis was 2.14% and that of Lavandula x intermedia cv. Super A was 7.95%. In the Hemus cultivar of lavender, the concentration of linalyl acetate was 19.76%, linalool was 39.09%, and camphor, an undesired component in lavender essential oil, amounted to 0.41%. Meanwhile, the Sevtapolis cultivars contained 10.64% linalyl acetate, 40.41% linalool and 0.47% camphor. In Lavandin (Super A) cultivar contained 30.39% linalyl acetate, 30.29% linalool, and 6.71% camphor.

Exploring the Multifaceted Potential of Annona squamosa: A Natural Treasure for Health and Wellness

This article gives an in-depth look at the tropical fruit Annona squamosa L., which has a long history of traditional medicinal usage and is discussed in this review for its phytochemical and pharmacological qualities. The botanical specimen showcases an extensive assortment of bioactive constituents, encompassing glycosides, proteins, carbohydrates, saponins, alkaloids, flavonoids, and phenolics, which have significant antioxidant, antibacterial, antiviral, anticancer, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, anti-ulcer, and skin-protective properties. The leaves contain high protein content and essential oils amusing in terpenes and sesquiterpenes, which have shown potential in treating health conditions

Historical and contemporary development of novel chemotype varieties with high essential oil of lemongrass in India: A review

Lemongrasses found in India encompass Cymbopogon flexuosus, C. citratus, C. khasianus, and C. pendulus. This fragrant perennial grass belongs to the Poaceae family and is indigenous to India as well as other tropical and subtropical regions in Southeast Asia and Africa. Pinpointing its precise place of origin is challenging due to its extensive history of cultivation and utilization across various cultures. It is believed to have originated in the maritime Southeast Asian region, encompassing countries like India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, and Malaysia. Lemongrass thrives in these regions and has played a significant role in their culinary and medicinal traditions for many generations. Among these, Cymbopogon citratus, a tropical lemongrass variety, is native to multiple Asian regions, particularly Southeast Asia and South Asia. It is widely cultivated and employed in a range of global cuisines and traditional healing practices. Lemongrass finds extensive applications in the herbal, medicinal, cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and fragrance industries. Lemongrass oil is known for its diverse biological properties, which encompass antibacterial, immunomodulatory, and antioxidant effects. Not too long ago, India ranked as one of the world' leading exporters of lemongrass essential oil. Several prominent lemongrass cultivars have emerged, including GRL-1 (geraniol-rich), Krishna, Cauveri, Pragati, Praman, T-1, CIM Shikhar, Chirharit, CKP-25, SD-68, CIMAP Suwarna, and Krishnapriya. Among these, CIMAP Suwarna, Krishna, and CIM Shikhar stand out as the most widely favoured varieties across India developed at the CSIR-CIMAP in Lucknow, India. Indian universities and research institutions have also played a pivotal role in the development of novel lemongrass cultivars. Examples include Jor Lab L-2, OD-19, SD-68 (C. flexuosus), RRL-16 (C. pendulus), and CKP-25. Notably, there's Jor Lab L-9, a distinctive strain of C. khasianus known for its high methyl eugenol content. Furthermore, the germplasm for Malabar lemongrass (C. khasianus) is notable for its abundant herbage and elevated elemicin content, reaching up to 70%. The CSIR-NEIST in Jorhat and the CSIR-CIMAP, Lucknow have contributed to the development of new high geraniol-rich lemongrass cultivars, such as "Jor Lab L-15" (C. khasianus), GRL-1, and CIM Atal (C. flexuosus), respectively. b: citral, elemicin, geraniol, methyl eugenol content, vitamin A, Cymbopogon, flexuosus, Cymbopogon pendulus, Cymbopogon khasianus, Cymbopogon citratus, Lemongrass varieties Citral, Cymbopogon citratus, Cymbopogon flexuosus, Cymbopogon khasianus, Cymbopogon pendulus, Elemicin, Geraniol, Lemongrass varieties, Methyl eugenol content, Vitamin A

Microencapsulation of Essential Oil from Campomanesia adamantium Residue with Antioxidant Capacity Retention

The essential oil (EO) extracted from the peels and seeds of guavira (Campomanesia adamantium) was microencapsulated via complex coacervation between gelatin and gum arabic, followed by freeze-drying. This process aimed to reduce the volatility of the essential oil and protect bioactive compounds through the microcapsule wall. For process optimization, the influence of proportions of wall materials (gelatin: gum arabic ratios of 1:1, 1:2, 1:3, 2:1, and 3:1) and EO quantity (20% - 42.8%) on antioxidant capacity, morphology, and microencapsulation yield was measured using a central composite rotational design (CCRD). Additionally, the chemical composition and EO retention rate in the microcapsules were assessed. Gelatin: gum arabic ratio of 1:2 and EO quantity of 40.3% resulted in superior results, with the highest antioxidant capacity, a microencapsulation yield of 68%, and spherical morphology. Notably, the incorporation of a higher amount of EO led to an increase in the antioxidant capacity, with values reaching up to 99% equivalent to pure oil. All formulations maintained the same pure EO&amp;rsquo;s main constituents, including &amp;alpha;-pinene, limonene, &amp;beta;-ocimene, and &amp;beta;-caryophyllene, indicated by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. Consequently, for the first time, EO microcapsules were successfully obtained from guavira residue, showing high microencapsulation yield and EO retention. This achievement adds sustainable value to residue normally discarded, which enables better use of residue generated by the food industry. Due to the preservation of its antioxidant capacity and enhanced retention of volatile compounds, these microcapsules promise applications in the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries, aligning with sustainability principles.

A Promising Coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) Genotype WFPS 48-1 for High Yield and Quality for South Eastern Rajasthan, India

Coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.), a major seed spice crop of India and Rajasthan is valued for seed and leaf, used for flavouring and seasoning of food and food products. A promising coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) genotype WFPS 48-1 has been identified for high yield and essential oil, on the basis of multilocation testing across the coriander growing states and specifically for Zone V of Rajasthan state. It bears white flowers and recorded average yield of 1933 kg/ha with around 11, 19 and 25 percent superiority over the zonal, state and national checks viz., RKD 18, RCr 436 and Hisar Anand, respectively. Its seeds contain higher essential oil content of &gt;0.55% showing an advantage of 6 and 18 percent, respectively over the national checks RCr 728 and Hisar Anand. The genotype WFPS 48-1 could be further used in crop improvement programmes to provide a suitable replacement of the existing varieties to increase coriander production and productivity.

Low-temperature perception and modulations in Ocimum basilicum commercial cultivar CIM-Shishir: Biosynthetic potential with insight towards climate-smart resilience

The newly released interspecific hybrid variety CIM-Shishir, resulting from a cross between Ocimum basilicum and Ocimum kilimandscharicum claims to be a multicut, lodging resistant, cold tolerant, high essential oil yielding with linalool rich variety. It has a purple-green stem and has a unique feature and advantage of better survival in the winter season than other O. basilicum varieties, illustrating its physiological mechanisms for cold tolerance. In this study, we subjected both the CIM-Shishir variety and a control plant to cold stress to investigate the impact of low temperatures on various physiological, trichome developments, secondary metabolite constitution aspects related to essential oil production, and gene expression. The analysis revealed a significantly higher density and altered morphology of trichomes on the leaf surface of the variety subjected to low temperatures, indicating its adaptation to cold conditions. Furthermore, when comparing the treated plants under low-temperature stress, it was observed that the relative electrolyte leakage and Malondialdehyde (MDA) contents substantially increased in the control in contrast to the CIM-Shishir variety. This finding suggests that CIM-Shishir exhibits superior cold tolerance. Additionally, an increase in proline content was noted in the variety exposed to low temperatures compared to the control. Moreover, the chlorophyll and anthocyanin content gradually increased with prolonged exposure to low-temperature stress in the newly developed variety, indicating its ability to maintain photosynthetic capacity and adapt to cold conditions. The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) also increased under low-temperature conditions in the CIM-Shishir variety, further highlighting its cold tolerance behaviour. In our research, we investigated the comprehensive molecular mechanisms of cold response in Ocimum. We analyzed the expression of key genes associated with cold tolerance in two plant groups: the newly developed hybrid variety known as CIM-Shishir Ocimum, which exhibits cold tolerance, and the control plants susceptible to cold climates that include WRKY53, ICE1, HOS1, COR47, LOS15, DREB5, CBF4, LTI6, KIN, and ERD2. These genes exhibited significantly higher expression levels in the CIM-Shishir variety compared to the control, shedding light on the genetic basis of its cold tolerance. The need for climate-smart, resilient high-yielding genotype is of high importance due to varied climatic conditions as this will hit the yield drastically and further to the economic sectors including farmers and many industries that are dependent on the bioactive constituents of Ocimum.

Phenotypic Diversity of Litsea cubeba in Jiangxi China and the Identification of Germplasms with Desirable Characteristics

Litsea cubeba (Lour.) Pers. is an important economic tree. We aimed to explore the phenotypic diversity of wild L. cubeba provenances from Jiangxi province and identify the germplasms with desirable characteristics. Nest variance analysis, multiple comparisons, correlation analysis, path analysis, redundancy analysis, and cluster analysis were conducted to compare the phenotypes of 526 wild L. cubeba trees from 27 provenances. We detected significant differences in the growth traits, fruit traits, and essential oil (EO) content of L. cubeba provenances, as well as significant differences in tree height, thousand seed dry weight, and the proportion of five essential oil components (citral, neral, geranial, D-limonene, and citronellal) within the provenances. The fresh fruit yield (FFY) was mainly determined by the ground diameter and the annual average minimum temperature. The EO content was mainly affected by the water content, annual average temperature, longitude, and latitude. The proportion of citral (CitrP) was negatively affected by extreme low temperatures. Four individual L. cubeba trees had a high FFY of over 10.00 kg·tree−1. Two trees had a high EO content exceeding 5%, with their CitrP over 80%. The provenances with high FFY were Guixi and Yushan (2.65 kg·tree−1; 2.89 kg·tree−1). The provenances with a high EO content of about 4.00% were Dayu, Yudu, Ji’an, Xinfeng, and Yushan. The provenance with the highest CitrP level (80.61%) was Ningdu.

Anti-nutrient contents and methane reduction potential of medicinal plants from maize stover based diet

Greenhouse gas emissions from Ethiopian agriculture are significantly increasing, with the largest share is from enteric fermentation and manure left on pasture. An investigation was conducted to evaluate the anti-nutrient composition and effect of commonly used medicinal plant extracts on enteric methane emission from fibrous feeds using maize stover as substrate feed. Total phenols, flavonoid, tannin and essential oil contents were analyzed using established standards. Effects of leaf extracts of Acacia nilotica, Azadirachta indica, three varieties of Cymbopogon citratus (Cymbopogon citratus-I, Cymbopogon citratus java and Cymbopogon citratus upper awash), Leucaena leucocephala, Moringa stenopetala, three varieties of Rosmarinus officinalis (Rosmarinus officinalis I, Rosmarinus officinalis II and Rosmarinus officinalis III) and Thyme schimperi, seed of three Coriandrum sativum varieties (Coriandrum sativum Batu, Coriandrum sativum Tulu and Coriandrum sativum Waltai) and root of Echinops kebericho on total gas production, digestibility and methane production of maize stover were investigated at different doses using the standard procedures. The results indicated that leaf extracts of Acacia nilotica had the highest (P < 0.001) total phenolic and total tannin contents. Compared to other evaluated plant species, all varieties of Cymbopogon citratus had the highest (P < 0.001) flavonoid content. Significantly high (P < 0.001) essential oil content was observed in Rosmarinus officinalis II than other varieties of Rosmarinus officinalis and other plant species. Significant reduction (P < 0.001) of methane production was observed with extracts of Cymbopoon citratus java (22.5 % less methane than the control) and thyme schimperi (16.7 % less methane than the control) at dose of 50 mg/kg DM. There was also significant (P < 0.001) interaction effect between plant species and dose rates at 50 mg/kg DM for both plant species. It can be concluded that the use of 50 mg/kg DM of Cymbopoon citratus java and Thyme schimperi extract to maize stover reduced methane production without negatively affecting feed digestibility. Further studies are necessary to examine the storability of the extracts in different time durations and evaluate their effects in vivo with animals.

Novel approaches for lemon grass essential oil extraction: Ultrasound sonication and sparger‐based microwave assisted extraction as a combined technique

AbstractThe utilization of essential oils spans across various industries, encompassing food, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics. Lemongrass, an herb renowned for its high essential oil content, was the focal point of this research. The objective was to explore a novel approach to extract essential oil from lemongrass by employing ultrasonic sparger‐based microwave‐assisted extraction (U Sp‐MAE) coupled with ultrasound sonicator pretreatment. The findings revealed that the application of the U Sp‐MAE technique, combined with ultrasound sonicator pretreatment, resulted in a significant increase in lemongrass essential oil yield. At a mixing ratio of 80 g of chopped lemongrass per 500 mL of deionized water, a remarkable yield of 1.87% was achieved. This study demonstrates the potential of the U Sp‐MAE technique, with ultrasound sonicator pretreatment, as a promising and efficient method for extracting essential oil from lemongrass. Furthermore, its potential applications extend to industrial settings, offering new avenues for utilization.