Lippia Citriodora Research Articles

Ethnobotanical Survey on Antidepressive Plants Used for Mood Management in Algeria

AbstractDepression is a mood disorder associated with cognitive decline. To self-medicate, people use medicinal herbs to limit the side effects associated with taking antidepressants, such as addiction, hallucinations, and dizziness. Current research consists of ethnobotanical studies of medicinal plants used to improve depression-related mood disorders, and the socio-economic profiles of people with depression (gender, age, education level…) and information about the listed antidepressant plants (common name, part used…). 129 individuals belonging to some regions of Algeria answered our questionnaire among which 82% are women and 98% are academics. The informants cited 44 species (Mentha spicata with a relative frequency of citation (RFC) =0.69, Chamomilla nobilis RFC=0.49, Aloysia citrodora RFC=0.19, Lavandula officinalis, Melissa officinalis RFC=0.17, Foeniculum vulgare RFC=0.1, Pimpinella anisum RFC=0.09 and Hypericum perforatum RFC=0.07…) belonging to 25 botanical families represented mainly by the Lamiaceae family (38%). Infusion remains the most common method of preparation, and the leaves are the most used part. These plants modulated the depressive state of informants in a similar way to synthetic antidepressants. These plants deserve to be studied for the development of new herbal drugs with acceptable side effects.

Effects of Combretum micranthum, Xienmia americana and Aloysia citrodora Leaf Extracts against Oviposition and Egg Viability of Anopheles gambiae S.L. (Diptera: Culicidae)

The study investigated the oviposition and egg viability effects of leaf extracts from Combretum micranthum, Xienmia americana, and Aloysia citrodora on female Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes. Leaves were sourced from Goron-maje Town, Dambatta LGA, Kano State, and extracts were prepared using ethanol, methanol, and ethyl-acetate. Bioassays were conducted at ambient temperature and relative humidity, testing oviposition activity and egg viability. Ethyl-acetate extracts, particularly from A. citrodora, significantly reduced oviposition compared to controls, with a 42.85% decrease. Ethanol extract of C. micranthum also showed reduced oviposition (8.84%). Significant differences were observed in the effects of different concentrations (ppm/mL) of plant extracts compared to controls. X. americana ethanol leaf extract at 20.0 ml concentration showed a 10% decrease in egg viability, while Combretum micranthum extracts at 20.0 ml and 30.0 ml concentrations showed 40.0% and 26.0% reductions in viability respectively. Aloysia citrodora methanol extracts exhibited a lower effect (48.0%) on viability compared to controls. X. americana ethanol leaf extract at 10% concentration significantly reduced hatching ability (26±06.21). Similarly, ethanol and ethyl-acetate extracts of C. micranthum and A. citrodora at 20.0 ml and 30.0 ml concentrations showed decreased hatching abilities compared to controls. The study suggests that ethanol and ethyl-acetate extracts of X. americana, C. micranthum, and A. citrodora could be effective and safer methods for mosquito control.

Exploring tea and herbal infusions consumption patterns and behaviours: The case of Portuguese consumers

Consumption of tea and herbal infusions (THIs) have a long history in traditional medicine and cultural practices. The health-promoting benefits attributed to THIs are considered influential factors in consumer choices. However, there is limited data on consumer choices and attitudes that might interfere with the positive effects associated with THIs consumption.The aim of this study was to investigate the consumption pattern and behavior of THIs consumers in Portugal, assessing the influence of socio-demographic factors on the selection of THIs products and consumer practices related to these beverages.An online survey was conducted, and from the collected data, 720 responses met the aim of the study and were further analyzed. Most of the respondents were female, 74.4%, belonging to the 40–60 age group (40.6%) and were medium consumers of THIs (47.2%). Green tea was the most consumed type among participants, and its consumption was associated not only with age but also with the pattern of THIs consumption. Despite that, participants preferred herbal infusions, with citronella, chamomile, and lemon verbena being the most consumed types. For certain types of herbal infusions, consumption was associated with age, while other types were preferred by moderate or heavy consumers. Most participants purchased THIs in supermarkets, registered trademark and brand stores, in the form of THIs bag. Light consumers use only bag, while medium/heavy consumers indicated the use of other forms. Almost half of the respondents admitted to not reading the information on product labels before consumption and using THIs after the expiry date, while only one-third of them declared paying attention to the label instructions.This study revealed the impact of socio-demographic factors as age on the consumption patterns and preferences of THIs of consumers. Of concern is the neglect of label usage among Portuguese consumers. This emphasizes the urgency of implementing interventions to guide proper label use and promote good consumption practices to ensure the quality of THIs products.

Comparative analysis of antidepressant-like effects of five herbal essential oils on mice with reserpine-induced depression

The antidepressant-like effects of five herbal essential oils (EOs), Jasminum sambac (Linn.) Aiton essential oil (JSEOs), Magnolia denudata Desr. essential oil (MDEOs), Rosa rugosa Thunb. essential oil (RREOs), Aloysia citriodora Ortega ex Pers. essential oil (ACEOs) and Abies balsamea (L.) Mill. essential oil (ABEOs) were evaluated. By virtue of a reserpine-induced depression mouse model, the antidepression activities and mechanisms of these EOs were explored. The results indicated that the inhalation of EOs significantly ameliorated depression-like behaviors in reserpine-induced depression mice, including a decrease in anxiety and immobility time. JSEOs and ABEOs significantly attenuated reserpine-induced depression-like behaviors, particularly the decreased body weight and immobility time, as determined by tail suspension and forced swimming tests. Furthermore, RT-qPCR and western blotting analyses indicated that the EOs influenced brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), serotonin1A (5-HT1A), and inflammatory cytokine levels. ACEOs attenuated reserpine-induced hippocampal and neuronal damage, significantly increased glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and 5-HT1A levels, and suppressed the inflammatory response. These results provide new insights into the antidepressant effects of herbal EOs and suggest that the five EOs evaluated in this study are potential nutraceuticals for the treatment of depression.

Protective Potential of a Botanical-Based Supplement Ingredient against the Impact of Environmental Pollution on Cutaneous and Cardiopulmonary Systems: Preclinical Study.

Air pollution is a growing threat to human health. Airborne pollution effects on respiratory, cardiovascular and skin health are well-established. The main mechanisms of air-pollution-induced health effects involve oxidative stress and inflammation. The present study evaluates the potential of a polyphenol-enriched food supplement ingredient comprising Lippia citriodora, Olea europaea, Rosmarinus officinalis, and Sophora japonica extracts in mitigating the adverse effects of environmental pollution on skin and cardiopulmonary systems. Both in vitro and ex vivo studies were used to assess the blend's effects against pollution-induced damage. In these studies, the botanical blend was found to reduce lipid peroxidation, inflammation (by reducing IL-1α), and metabolic alterations (by regulating MT-1H, AhR, and Nrf2 expression) in human skin explants exposed to a mixture of pollutants. Similar results were also observed in keratinocytes exposed to urban dust. Moreover, the ingredient significantly reduced pollutant-induced ROS production in human endothelial cells and lung fibroblasts, while downregulating the expression of apoptotic genes (bcl-2 and bax) in lung fibroblasts. Additionally, the blend counteracted the effect of urban dust on the heart rate in zebrafish embryos. These results support the potential use of this supplement as an adjuvant method to reduce the impact of environmental pollution on the skin, lungs, and cardiovascular tissues.

Evaluation of Bioactive Effects of Five Plant Extracts with Different Phenolic Compositions against Different Therapeutic Targets.

Plant extracts rich in phenolic compounds have been reported to exert different bioactive properties. Despite the fact that there are plant extracts with completely different phenolic compositions, many of them have been reported to have similar beneficial properties. Thus, the structure-bioactivity relationship mechanisms are not yet known in detail for specific classes of phenolic compounds. In this context, this work aims to demonstrate the relationship of extracts with different phenolic compositions versus different bioactive targets. For this purpose, five plant matrices (Theobroma cacao, Hibiscus sabdariffa, Silybum marianum, Lippia citriodora, and Olea europaea) were selected to cover different phenolic compositions, which were confirmed by the phytochemical characterization analysis performed by HPLC-ESI-qTOF-MS. The bioactive targets evaluated were the antioxidant potential, the free radical scavenging potential, and the inhibitory capacity of different enzymes involved in inflammatory processes, skin aging, and neuroprotection. The results showed that despite the different phenolic compositions of the five matrices, they all showed a bioactive positive effect in most of the evaluated assays. In particular, matrices with very different phenolic contents, such as T. cacao and S. marianum, exerted a similar inhibitory power in enzymes involved in inflammatory processes and skin aging. It should also be noted that H. sabdariffa and T. cacao extracts had a low phenolic content but nevertheless stood out for their bioactive antioxidant and anti-radical capacity. Hence, this research highlights the shared bioactive properties among phenolic compounds found in diverse matrices. The abundance of different phenolic compound families highlights their elevated bioactivity against diverse biological targets.

Investigating the Effect of Lippia Citriodora Leaf Hydro-Ethanolic Extract on Two Prostate Cancer Cell Lines PC-3 and LNCaP Alone and in Combination with Docetaxel

Background: Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men. Docetaxel is the most important drug for prostate cancer, but drug resistance reduces its effectiveness. One of the important strategies to increase the drug efficacy is the use of combination therapy. This study investigated toxic effect of Lippia citriodora leaf extract on two prostate cancer cell lines and its effect on docetaxel cytotoxicity.
 Methods: Cytotoxicity of Lippia citriodora leaf extract was evaluated individually or in combination with docetaxel. Cells were cultured in 96-well plates. After treating cells with different concentrations of extracts and drugs, their survival was measured by MTT assay.
 Results: Lippia citriodora leaf extract showed a highly toxic effect on prostate cancer cells. The extract at the highest concentration, decreased the percentage of viable cells to 18.01 ± 1.37 in PC-3 cells and to 20.80 ± 1.06 in LNCaP cells. The IC50 value of the extract was 78.14 mg/ml for PC-3 cells and 88.76 mg/ml for LNCaP cells. In addition, the extract increased the cytotoxicity of docetaxel. In the maximum increasing effect, the percentage of survival in PC-3 and LNCaP cells decreased from 50.87 ± 2.46 to 26.48 ± 1.12 and from 54.13 ± 1.83 to 28.84 ± 1.69, respectively.
 Conclusion: Lippia citriodora leaf extract had a remarkable toxic effect on prostate cancer cells in vitro and increased docetaxel cytotoxicity. The antitumor effects of the extract can be further evaluated in vivo and clinical trials.

Antioxidant-Rich Extracts from Lemon Verbena (Aloysia citrodora L.) Leaves through Response Surface Methodology

A member of the Verbenaceae family, Aloysia citrodora, or lemon verbena, is a medicinal herb with antioxidant compounds. The aim of this study was to develop a green, optimized method for the bioactive compound (carotenoids, ascorbic acid, and polyphenols) extraction from lemon verbena leaves through response surface methodology (RSM). The bioactive compound recovery was shown to be significantly affected by the extraction technique (both with pulsed electric field and ultrasound-assisted extraction), along with an extraction solvent, based on partial least squares analysis. Consequently, the maximum polyphenol yield required a double-assisted extraction with a relatively low extraction duration (60 min) at a high temperature (80 °C), with a moderate-polarity extraction solvent (50% v/v ethanol). With the optimized method, the total polyphenol content (TPC) was measured at 175.03 mg gallic acid equivalents/g, whereas chromatographic analysis revealed that verbascoside was the most prevalent polyphenol (132.61 mg/g). The optimum extract provided a high antioxidant capacity through the measurements of FRAP (1462.17 μmol ascorbic acid equivalents (AAE)/g), DPPH (1108.91 μmol AAE/g), and H2O2 (1662.93 μmol AAE/g). Total carotenoids were measured at 499.61 μg/g, with ascorbic acid at 8.36 μg/g. Correlation analyses revealed a negative correlation of the latter compound with color coordinates. This study highlights the potential of lemon verbena leaves to be used in pharmaceutical and food industries.

Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants used in the prevention and treatment of COVID-19 infection in the Tiaret region (Algeria)

The Corona Virus disease has spread widely over the world with a high mortality rate. This spread has prompted people to look for other ways to treator minimize the negative impact of this out break. During the pandemic, the Algerian population used medicinal plants for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19. The present work was carried out to identify the medicinal plants used during COVID-19 by the population of Tiaret region (Algeria). An ethnobotanical survey was conducted to collect data on the medicinal plants used, including the socio demographic parameters of the users and floristic characteristics of the plants. Information was obtained from 428 participants, of which 67.05% were women, aged between 16 and 88 years old. Most plant users were between 41 and 64 years old. The majority of participants have a high level of education (55.14% university and 20.32% secondary). Quantitative indices, namely, Frequency of Citation (FC), Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC) and Family Importance Value (FIV) were used to analyze the data. 27 species of medicinal plants belonging to 15 botanical families used during the COVID - 19 pandemic in our region. The most used species were Syzygium aromaticum, Zingiber officinale, Citrus limon and Aloysia citriodora.

Dynamics of Agronomic Characteristics and Plant Diversity in Lemon Verbena (Aloysia citrodora Paláu) Cultivation in Greece

Nowadays, there is an increasing negative environmental effect of using chemical fertilizer. For this reason, the use of biofertilizers is promoted in the agriculture sector. The purpose of this investigation was to carry out an evaluation of the effects of biological fertilizer (biofertilizers are organic materials that can be used to improve soil properties) use on the growth and agronomic characteristics of Aloysia citrodora. To achieve this aim, a two-year randomized complete blocks field experiment was carried out in central Greece. The experiment included four biological fertilizer levels (0, 50, 100 and 150 N kg ha−1) with three replications. Plant height, dry stem, dry leaves, dry total yield and leaf area index (LAI) were measured during the two growing years. The results showed that in the first and second studied years, the maximum plant height and total dry yield were observed in the BF150 treatment. Moreover, LAI was ameliorated by applying the BF100 and BF150 treatments in both studied years. A key finding in this study is that the A. citrodora ecosystem favors herbaceous plant species richness. Also, soil factors (soil organic matter, P and K) promote positive herbaceous plant diversity within the A. citrodora ecosystem. Finally, A. citrodora could be a promising medicinal plant, cultivated under Mediterranean climatic conditions.

Disclosing the potential of Cupressus leylandii A.B. Jacks & Dallim, Eucalyptus globulus Labill., Aloysia citrodora Paláu, and Melissa officinalis L. hydrosols as eco-friendly antimicrobial agents

Antimicrobial resistance is a major global health concern, threatening the effective prevention and treatment of infections caused by microorganisms. These factors boosted the study of safe and green alternatives, with hydrosols, the by-products of essential oils extraction, emerging as promising natural antimicrobial agents. In this context, four hydrosols obtained from Cupressus leylandii A.B. Jacks & Dallim, Eucalyptus globulus Labill., Aloysia citrodora Paláu and Melissa officinalis L. were studied. Their chemical composition comprises neral, geranial, 1,8-cineole, terpinen-4-ol, and oplopanonyl acetate, compounds with recognised antimicrobial activity. Concerning antimicrobial activity, significant differences were found using different hydrosol concentrations (10–20% v/v) in comparison to a control (without hydrosol), showing the potential of the tested hydrosols to inhibit the microbial growth of Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans. A. citrodora hydrosol was the most effective one, inhibiting 90% of E. coli growth and 80% of C. albicans growth, for both hydrosol concentrations (p < 0.0001). With hydrosol concentration increase, it was possible to observe an improved antimicrobial activity with significant reductions (p < 0.0001). The findings of this work indicate the viability of reusing and valuing the hydrosols, encouraging the development of green applications for different fields (e.g., food, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics).Graphical

&lt;i&gt;In silico&lt;/i&gt; screening of phytochemicals against Ypd1 protein of a destructive storage fungi, &lt;i&gt;Aspergillus&lt;/i&gt;

One of the most common pests in stored grain is Aspergillus. This group of fungi produces a carcinogenic toxin, Aflatoxin during their growth and development. Contamination of Aspergillus in food grains during storage leads to food insecurity. In the present-day scenario, using plant-based derivatives in controlling Aspergillus is one of the efficient and eco-friendly ways. Hence an in silico study was carried out to know the effective phytochemicals present in Citrus, Carum carvi, Coriander sativum, Aloysia citriodora, Mentha citrate, Spent hops, Nardostachys jatamansi, Feoniculum vulgare, Zingiber officinale, Lantana camara, Chamaecyparis obtusa, Ocimum kilimandscharium, Tagetes filifolia against Aspergillus. Results revealed that the photochemicals viz. Eugenol, zingiberene, carvone, citronellal, limonene, coumaran, linalool, linalyl acetate, esdragol, menthol, E-anethole, camphor, bornyl acetate, xanthohumol and aristolone present in the selected plants can inhibit the normal functioning of Ypd1 protein of Aspergillus by blocking its active site. Thus, the present study makes a base for future researchers to find the most effective phytochemicals in controlling Aspergillus following in vivo method.

Ethnobotany of medicinal plants in the canton of Arajuno, province of Pastaza, Ecuador

The World Health Organization promotes the use of medicinal plants to facilitate access to alternative treatments. Ancestral ethnographic knowledge is integrated into basic healthcare, benefiting cultural traditions and compensating for the limitations of medical services, especially in hard-to-reach areas. This study characterized the traditional use of medicinal plants in the canton of Arajuno, province of Pastaza, Ecuador. A total of 160 ethnobotanical questionnaires were applied, identifying 30 families and 49 medicinal plants. The most commonly used were Chamaemelum nobile, Piper aduncum L., Maytenus laevis, Kalanchoe pinnata, Solanum dulcamara L., and Aloysia triphylla, employed to treat gastrointestinal, respiratory, and anti-infective conditions. Leaves were the most used part of the plants, and infusion was the most common preparation method. These findings highlight the importance of ancestral knowledge in traditional medicine and its role in community health

Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants used in the prevention and treatment of COVID-19 infection in the Tiaret region (Algeria)

The Corona Virus disease has spread widely over the world with a high mortality rate. This spread has prompted people to look for other ways to treator minimize the negative impact of this out break. During the pandemic, the Algerian population used medicinal plants for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19. The present work was carried out to identify the medicinal plants used during COVID-19 by the population of Tiaret region (Algeria). An ethnobotanical survey was conducted to collect data on the medicinal plants used, including the socio demographic parameters of the users and floristic characteristics of the plants. Information was obtained from 428 participants, of which 67.05% were women, aged between 16 and 88 years old. Most plant users were between 41 and 64 years old. The majority of participants have a high level of education (55.14% university and 20.32% secondary). Quantitative indices, namely, Frequency of Citation (FC), Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC) and Family Importance Value (FIV) were used to analyze the data. 27 species of medicinal plants belonging to 15 botanical families used during the COVID - 19 pandemic in our region. The most used species were Syzygium aromaticum, Zingiber officinale, Citrus limon and Aloysia citriodora.

Comparing the Addition of Different Levels of Lemon Verbena Leaves Powder (Aloysia citriodora) and the Antibiotic Oxtetracycline to Diets Broiler in the Qualitative Traits of Broiler Carcasses

From October 29, 2022, to December 10, 2022, researchers from the University of Baghdad’s College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences monitored birds at the Abu Ghraib chicken farm as part of a 42-day comparative study. Analyzing the effects on the quality of broiler meat from varying amounts of oxtetracycline and lemon verbena leaves powder (aloysia citriodora) in their meals. Three hundred commercial hybrid broiler chicks (ROSS 308) were employed, all of which were unnaturalized at one day old and had an initial weight of 42.42 g/chicken. T1 chicks were fed a standard broiler diet without any additives, T2 chicks were fed diets containing 250 mg of oxytetracycline antibiotic powder per kilogram of body weight, and T3 chicks, T4 chicks, and T5 chicks were fed diets containing 1%, 1.5%, and 2% of aloysia citriodora leaves extract powder. There were no unethical changes in live weight or carcass weight between transactions (p>0.05), but the clearing ratio for the third transaction was much better than the rest of the transection. This study also demonstrated the beneficial effect of adding powdered lemon verbena leaves on flavor oxidation markers after two months of freezing, with a marked reduction in comparison to both the control treatment and the antibiotic treatment.

Comparison of chitosan nanoparticles containing Lippia citriodora essential oil and citral on the induction of apoptosis in A375 melanoma cells

BackgroundUsing nanoparticles containing L. citriodora EO and citral has shown potential in treating skin disorders such as melanoma.MethodsIn this study, GC‒MS was used to analyze the chemical composition of L. citriodora essential oil (EO). The ion gelation method prepared free chitosan nanoparticles and chitosan nanoparticles containing L. citriodora EO and citral. The successful loading of the EO and citral was evaluated using ATR-FTIR. The DPPH assay measured the antioxidant effect of citral, L. citriodora EO, Citral-ChiNPs, L. citriodora-ChiNPs, and Free-ChiNPs. A375 melanoma cell viability was assessed using the MTT assay. The qPCR technique was employed to evaluate the expression of apoptotic genes, and flow cytometry was used to detect apoptosis.ResultsThis study showed that in equal concentrations, the antioxidant properties of chitosan nanoparticles containing citral were greater than those of chitosan nanoparticles containing L. citriodora. The IC50 values of chitosan nanoparticles containing citral, L. citriodora EO, and their nonformulated states were 105.6, 199.9, 136.9, and 240 µg/ml, respectively. The gene expression results showed that the ratio of the expression of the apoptosis gene to the inhibitory gene was higher than 1 in all the samples, indicating that the conditions for apoptosis were present. Flow cytometry confirmed cell apoptosis, with 93.5 ± 0.3% in chitosan nanoparticles containing citral, 80 ± 0.2% in chitosan nanoparticles containing L. citriodora EO, 63 ± 0.3 in citral, and 42.03% in L. citriodora EO-treated cells.ConclusionThe results showed that using the Nano form of L. citriodora and citral increased their efficiency in apoptosis pathways and their toxicity against 375 melanoma cancer cells.

Enhancing the extraction of essential oil from Mexican lippia (Aloysia citriodora) leaves obtained by hydro-distillation aided by natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES)

Due to the increasing demand for green technologies for the extraction of essential oils, natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) have emerged as a type of environmentally friendly solvents. This work aimed to study the use of different NADES in combination with microwave pretreatment for intensifying the extraction of Aloysya citriodora (Mexican lippia) essential oil (ACEO), a barely studied plant. The chemical composition (GCMS–) and biological activities (antimicrobial activity, antioxidant activity, and total phenolic compounds) of the obtained oils are reported. The yield of ACEO extracted with NADES increased from 0.10 to 0.21 %. The main compounds of each ACEO were verbenone (28–54 %), limonene (2–10 %), and spathulenol (3–15 %). ACEOs extracted with NADES showed better antimicrobial activity against gram-positive bacteria. The ACEO extracted by Ch:OA reduced 3.6 log CFU/mL against Listeria monocytogenes. Meanwhile, ACEOs extracted by Ch:CA and Ch:OA showed the highest antioxidant activities (27.77–35.95 mg TE/mL of EO), and total phenolic compounds (15.33–17.35 mg GAE/mL of EO). Overall results suggest that using these green solvents aided the extraction method and may represent a study opportunity for extracting natural products without harming the environment, improving the process efficiency through a sustainable and innovative approach, with promising industrial applications.

Organic Medicinal and Aromatic Plants: Consumption Profile of a Portuguese Consumer Sample.

The production and consumption of organic products have been increasing in Portugal, as well as in the European Union as a whole. The main objective of this work is to understand the consumption habits of organic medicinal and aromatic plants (OMAPs) among Portuguese adults. An online questionnaire was distributed using social networks, resulting in the collection and statistical analysis of 300 responses. Of the participants who reported consuming OMAPs, 44.3% showed a daily consumption pattern. The most frequently mentioned OMAPs for fresh consumption were parsley (Petrosselinum crispum L., 92%), garlic (Allium sativum L., 84.1%), and coriander (Coriandrum sativum L., 78.1%). The most commonly mentioned OMAP for consumption as dried plants were oregano (Origanum vulgare L., 74.6%), lemon balm (Melissa officinalis L., 49.2%), and lemon verbena (Aloysia citrodora L., 46.8%). The main reasons cited for using OMAPs were their benefits to health (58.7% of participants), benefits to the environment (33.2%), and reduced salt consumption (29.5%). Among these, the main health benefits mentioned included anti-inflammatory properties (45.0%), prevention of cardiovascular diseases (41.6%), and prevention of high cholesterol (39.9%). Furthermore, 82.5% of respondents considered themselves sufficiently, well, or excellently informed about the nutritional properties of OMAPs. This research initiates a discussion about whether profiling OMAP consumption habits can serve as a valuable tool for promoting organic farming in Portugal, increasing OMAP production and consumption, and strengthening the connection between these products and potential positive human health effects.

Excito-repellent and Pesticide-Likeness Properties of Essential Oils on Carpophilus dimidiatus (Fabricius) (Nitidulidae) and Oryzaephilus mercator (L.) (Silvanidae).

Carpophilus dimidiatus (Fabricius) (Nitidulidae) and Oryzaephilus mercator (L.) (Silvanidae) are insect pests that cause severe damage in important walnut growing regions in the northwest of Argentina. The current management approaches for these pests involve the use of unsafe phosphorus pesticides whose overuse have led to farmworker poisoning, pest resistance issues, and environmental contamination. Plant extracts, particularly essential oils, are an alternative source of insect control agents. Excito-repellent essential oils can be used to develop ecofriendly tools for managing the pest population without affecting quality and visual appearance of the stored walnuts. Laboratory studies were conducted to assess the excito-repellent effects of C. dimidiatus and O. mercator of 12 essential oils derived from aromatic plants used as food additives and traditional medicine in Argentina: Aloysia citrodora (AC), Aloysia gratissima (AG), Aloysia gratissima var. Gratissima (AGG), Blepharocalyx salicipholius (BS), Hyptis mutabilis (HM), Lippia junelliana (LJ), Lippia turbinata (LT), Mentha x piperita (MP), Minthostachys mollis (MM), Minthostachys verticillata (MV), Origanum vulgare(OV), and Rosmarinus officinalis (RO). The most bioactive EOs (ERijk ≥ 70%) were Aloysia gratissima var. Gratissima (AGG), Minthostachys verticillata, and Lippia junelliana. Their bioactivity profile and chemical space, characterized from GC-MS measures, Generalized Estimating Equations, and Hierarchical Cluster Analysis, revealed that they are mixtures of very functionalized molecules with physicochemical properties similar to those of insecticides with low residual property that enter the insect body through the respiratory system by inhalation. The AGG, MV, and LJ oils are promising as protective agents of walnut products. In our laboratory, studies of their formulations for use in integrated pest management programs are still ongoing.

Clinical Effect of Lemon Verbena Mouthwash on Plaque-Induced Gingivitis Compared with Chlorhexidine: A Randomised Clinical Trial

Clinical Effect of Lemon Verbena Mouthwash on Plaque-Induced Gingivitis Compared with Chlorhexidine: A Randomised Clinical Trial