Mexican Oregano Research Articles

Antifungal Activity of Mexican Oregano (Lippia graveolens Kunth) Extracts from Industrial Waste Residues on Fusarium spp. in Bean Seeds (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

Food security is essential to ensure everyone can access sufficient nutritious food. Cereals and legumes are fundamental foods worldwide. Phaseolus vulgaris L., the common bean, is an essential staple food in many nations worldwide. However, it is vulnerable to fusariosis, a disease caused by the fungus Fusarium spp. that can significantly decrease crop quality and yield. To combat plant diseases, industrial residues and plant residues are valuable due to their bioactive compounds with biotechnological applications. This study proposes using ethanolic extracts with phytochemical compounds, such as flavonoids, different from those reported in essential oils, to reduce the growth of Fusarium species both in vitro and in vivo. Industrial residues that are produced after extracting essential oils offer a promising alternative to develop organic biopesticides, promoting more sustainable and environmentally friendly agriculture.

Solid-State Fermentation for Phenolic Compounds Recovery from Mexican Oregano (Lippia graveolens Kunth) Residual Leaves Applying a Lactic Acid Bacteria (Leuconostoc mesenteroides)

The Mexican oregano by-products are a source of bioactive molecules (polyphenols) that could be extracted using solid-state fermentation (SSF). This study fermented the by-products via SSF (120 h) with a lactic acid bacteria (LAB) Leuconostoc mesenteroides. Sequentially, a bioactive and chemical determination was made according to the phenolic content, antioxidant activity (DPPH●/FRAP), bioactive properties (α-amylase inhibition and antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli), and chemical composition (HPLC-MS). The results showed that the total phenolics and flavonoid content, as well as the antioxidant activity, increased (0.60, 2.55, and 3.01 times, respectively) during the SSF process compared with unfermented material. Also, the extracts showed antimicrobial activity against E. coli and α-amylase inhibition. These inhibitory results could be attributed to bioactive compounds identified via HPLC, such as gardenin B, trachelogenin, ferulic acid, and resveratrol 3-O-glucoside. Therefore, the application of L. mesenteroides under SSF on oregano by-products comprises an eco-friendly strategy for their valorization as raw materials for the recovery of phenolic compounds that could be natural alternatives against synthetic antioxidant and antimicrobial agents, promoting a more circular and sustainable supply system within the oregano industry.

Loading and release of phenolic compounds from mexican oregano (Lippia graveolens) in different Cationic-PEGylated matrixes and their effect on CACO-2 and CCD-18co cells

Phenolic compounds (PPHs) extracted from Mexican oregano (Lippia graveolens) have shown various biological activities, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties. However, these compounds tend to be unstable, show low aqueous solubility, and are sensitive to changes in the pH and temperature of the medium. In this article, the encapsulation of this type of phenolic compounds in different poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) functionalized cationic matrixes, based on poly(N,N′-diethylaminoethyl methacrylate) (PDEAEM) and Chitosan (CS), is reported. Particle sizes between 122 and 458 nm were obtained for the PDEAEM and CS platforms, and the loading content was around 62 % for both systems, while the loading efficiency was higher than 90 %. The identification of the loaded phenolic compounds by Ultra High-Resolution Liquid Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (UPLC/MS) predominantly showed hesperidin, naringenin, phloridzin, and cirsimaritin. As compared with the plant extract, the prepared formulation led to an increase in the extract's stability and antioxidant activity. It was also observed that concentrations of loaded extract ≤500 μg mL−1 did not show cytotoxicity in CCD18 fibroblasts, while they exhibited substantial antiproliferative activity in colon cancer cells (CACO-2). After 72 h, the activity of the loaded systems was similar to the anticancer drug 5-fluorouracil, so these cationic systems loaded with phenolic compounds could act as a good coadjutant in the treatment of colon cancer.

Optimized Ultrasonic Extraction of Essential Oil from the Biomass of Lippia graveolens Kunth Using Deep Eutectic Solvents and Their Effect on Colletotrichum asianum

Essential oils are emerging as alternatives to conventional pest control chemicals. Lippia graveolens Kunth (Mexican oregano) is a source of essential oils and during conventional extraction, the biomass generated is discarded as waste; however, reports show that this biomass is still a rich source of essential oils. Conventional essential oil extraction causes contamination and utilizes toxic solvents. Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) offer low toxicity, biodegradability, high selectivity, and yields comparable to organic solvents. This study obtained essential oil from Lippia graveolens biomass via hydrodistillation with ultrasound-assisted DES pretreatment. This research aimed to optimize the extraction of essential oil from Lippia graveolens biomass using ultrasound-assisted DESs and assess its in vitro and in vivo inhibitory effect on C. asianum. The response variables were extraction yield and total reducing capacity. Optimal conditions were determined using a central composite rotatable design, considering solid-to-liquid ratio (0.38 g/mL), ultrasonic amplitude (45.05%), and time (7.47 min). The optimized oil, with thymol (48%) as the predominant component, exhibited more volatile compounds than conventional hydrodistillation. Fungicidal assays highlighted its potential in controlling anthracnose in papaya fruits caused by C. asianum, making ultrasound-assisted DES pretreatment a promising alternative for obtaining essential oil from botanical byproducts.

Essential Oil of Fractionated Oregano as Motility Inhibitor of Bacteria Associated with Urinary Tract Infections.

In this research, several analyses were carried out on concentrated fractions of Mexican oregano essential oil (Poliomintha longiflora Gray) in order to determine its ability to inhibit the growth and the motility of Escherichia coli (swimming), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (swimming), and Proteus vulgaris (swarming); these Gram-negative bacteria associated with urinary tract infections are motile due to the presence of flagella, which is considered an important virulence factor that favors their motility when trying to reach the target organ and cause an infection. Also, the resistance pattern to antibiotics of each strain was determined. The results showed resistance pattern (8 out of 12 antibiotics tested) for P. aureginosa, while E. coli and P. vulgaris were resistant to 4 antibiotics out of the 12 tested. On the other hand, fractionated oregano caused an inhibition of growth and a reduction in motility, varying between fractions and among bacteria. Fraction 4 showed major growth reduction, with MBC values ranging from 0.002 to 23.7 mg/mL. Treatment with fractionated oregano (F1, F2, F3, F4) reduced the motility by 92-81% for P. vulgaris, 90-83% for E. coli, and 100-8.9% for P. aeruginosa. These results demonstrated a higher performance with a lower application dose due to its high content of Carvacrol and Thymol; unlike other concentrated fractions, this synergy of oxygenated monoterpenes may cause greater antimicrobial activity.

Antifungal activity of alginate coatings with essential oil of Mexican oregano incorporated in the stem of tomatoes

SummaryAdding natural antimicrobials such as essential oils (EOs) to alginate coatings on fruits provides an antifungal effect and a semipermeable water vapour barrier. This work aims to evaluate the antifungal effect of Lippia berlandieri S. (Mexican oregano) EO incorporated into alginate to coat tomato stems inoculated with Penicillium commune, Fusarium spp., or Cladosporium herbarum. Alginate films and coatings with EO concentrations (0%, 0.25%, 0.75%, 1%, 2%, or 4% v/v) were prepared to evaluate their properties (physical, mechanical, and water vapour transmission rates) as well as their effect on mould growth on tomato stems for 28 days during refrigerated storage. Mould growth was described with probabilistic and time‐to‐growth predictive models. Two treatment types were assessed (tomato inoculated and coated, TIC, and tomato coated and inoculated, TCI) to provide information about the moment of mould contamination (before or after coating). EO concentration influenced the alginate films' physical, mechanical, and barrier properties. Testing the coatings against moulds revealed varying inhibitory effects. Fusarium spp. exhibited the highest resistance, while C. herbarum was the most susceptible. The predictive models appropriately described the probability of growth or the time‐to‐growth of the studied moulds, identifying critical concentrations of oregano EO needed to inhibit mould growth effectively. The findings suggest that alginate coatings with oregano EO can serve as a natural and effective antifungal treatment for tomatoes, offering insights into optimal concentrations and application methods for extended shelf life.

Lippia graveolens Essential Oil to Enhance the Effect of Imipenem against Axenic and Co-Cultures of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii.

This research focuses on assessing the synergistic effects of Mexican oregano (Lippia graveolens) essential oil or carvacrol when combined with the antibiotic imipenem, aiming to reduce the pathogenic viability and virulence of Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The study highlighted the synergistic effect of combining L. graveolens essential oil or carvacrol with imipenem, significantly reducing the required doses for inhibiting bacterial growth. The combination treatments drastically lowered the necessary imipenem doses, highlighting a potent enhancement in efficacy against A. baumannii and P. aeruginosa. For example, the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) for the essential oil/imipenem combinations were notably low, at 0.03/0.000023 mg/mL for A. baumannii and 0.0073/0.000023 mg/mL for P. aeruginosa. Similarly, the combinations significantly inhibited biofilm formation at lower concentrations than when the components were used individually, demonstrating the strategic advantage of this approach in combating antibiotic resistance. For OXA-51, imipenem showed a relatively stable interaction during 30 ns of dynamic simulation of their interaction, indicating changes (<2 nm) in ligand positioning during this period. Carvacrol exhibited similar fluctuations to imipenem, suggesting its potential inhibition efficacy, while thymol showed significant variability, particularly at >10 ns, suggesting potential instability. With IMP-1, imipenem also displayed very stable interactions during 38 ns and demonstrated notable movement and positioning changes within the active site, indicating a more dynamic interaction. In contrast, carvacrol and thymol maintained their position within the active site only ~20 and ~15 ns, respectively. These results highlight the effectiveness of combining L. graveolens essential oil and carvacrol with imipenem in tackling the difficult-to-treat pathogens A. baumannii and P. aeruginosa.

Development of Antifungal Packaging From Low‐Density Polyethylene With Essential Oil of Oregano and Potassium Sorbate

ABSTRACTAntimicrobial low‐density polyethylene (LDPE) films were developed by adding 0%, 0.5%, 1.0%, 2.5% and 5.0% (w/w) of Mexican oregano essential oil (OEO) or potassium sorbate (PS) as a positive antifungal control to inhibit the growth of Penicillium expansum, Penicillium citrinum and Aspergillus niger in vitro. Three methods of adding OEO in LDPE were evaluated; the best OEO yield in film was achieved when OEO was incorporated after laminating (88%); otherwise, when added into cool‐melting resin, OEO lost up to 91.5% from LDPE and completely volatilized (&gt;99%) when combined with the resin before melting. PS yields in LDPE film were &gt; 88% when incorporated into cool‐melted resin. Antimicrobial films with 2.5% or 5.0% (w/w) OEO or PS delayed the growth of P. expansum and P. citrinum for up to 4–5 days, and for A. niger, only films with 5.0% of OEO retarded its growth for 5 days. The modified Gompertz model was used to describe mould growth response, obtaining the parameters A (maximum growth), μm (maximum growth rate) and λ (lag phase), which correctly fit the data. P. citrinum was the most sensitive mould, and A. niger was the most resistant to the tested antimicrobials. The addition of antimicrobial agents significantly (p &lt; 0.05) impacted the physical and mechanical properties of the LDPE films, wherein thickness and puncture strength were increased, and the colour changed (reducing the transparency and promoting the yellowness). In contrast, the water vapour transmission rate was dropped only by incorporating PS.

Effects of essential oils on mortality and population density of the whitefly (Bemisia tabaci Genn.) and the two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae Koch) in the greenhouse

ABSTARCT Essential oils (EOs) and their components have toxic effects on insects and mites. In the present study, we evaluated the effects of the EOs of mexican oregano, grapefruit, albahaca and sour orange at 0.2% (v/v) on the mortality and population density of Bemisia tabaci and Tetranychus urticae in a greenhouse. All EOs caused significant mortality (70–90%) of eggs and nymphs of B. tabaci, with the highest by the mexican oregano EO. This EO also produced the highest mortality (50–55%) of adults and nymphs of T. urticae. All EOs caused a significant decrease in the population density of T. urticae, but no effect was observed on the population of B. tabaci. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis showed that the major constituent in mexican oregano EO was carvacrol, in grapefruit and sour orange EOs was d-limonene, and in albahaca EO was eucalyptol.

Comparison of the composition and cost estimation of steam distillation and supercritical fluid extraction from leaves of Lippia graveolens

Lippia graveolens, mostly known as Mexican oregano, is an aromatic plant with great economic im-portance. However, very little is known about the reasons that could explain the variation observed with respect to the yield and composition of the essential oil obtained. The effect of steam distillation and supercritical fluid extraction processes on composition, yield and economic viability were evaluated. The essential oil was obtained by steam distillation, with a laboratory scale equipment and supercritical extraction equipment with a 1L capacity cell. The extracts were analyzed by GC–MS. where Carvacrol was the majority compound in both processes. The essential oil is obtained by steam distillation, with laboratory scale equipment and supercritical extraction equipment with a 1L capacity cell. In the case of steam distillation, a maximum yield of 4.1% on a dry weight basis was obtained, while the supercritical fluid extraction obtained provided a maximum yield of 2.8% on a dry weight basis at the same bed porosity (0.91). The costs that were obtained in a period of one year through. The process of extraction by steam distillation showed good results to obtained essential oil from L. graveolens. where it is observed that steam distillation is still the best option.

In Vitro Evaluation of Essential Oils and Saturated Fatty Acids for Repellency against the Old-World Sand Fly, Phlebotomus papatasi (Scopoli) (Diptera: Psychodidae).

The sand fly, Phlebotomus papatasi (Scopoli, 1786), is a major vector for Leishmania major in the Middle East, which has impacted human health and US military operations in the area, demonstrating the need to develop effective sand fly control and repellent options. Here, we report the results of spatial repellency and avoidance experiments in a static air olfactometer using the female P. papatasi testing essential oils of Lippia graveolens (Mexican oregano), Pimenta dioica (allspice), Amyris balsamifera (amyris), Nepeta cataria (catnip), Mentha piperita (peppermint), and Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree); the 9-12 carbon saturated fatty acids (nonanoic acid, decanoic acid, undecanoic acid, and dodecanoic acid); and the synthetic repellents DEET and IR3535. The materials applied at 1% exhibited varying activity levels but were not significantly different in mean repellency and avoidance from DEET and IR3535, except in regards to nonanoic acid. Some materials, particularly nonanoic and undecanoic acids, produced sand fly mortality. The observed trends in mean repellency over exposure time included the following: (1) P. dioica oil, M. alternifolia oil, decanoic acid, undecanoic acid, DEET, and IR3535 exhibited increasing mean repellency over time; (2) oils of N. cataria, A. balsamifera, M. piperita, and dodecanoic acid exhibited relatively constant mean repellency over time; and (3) L. graveolens oil and nonanoic acid exhibited a general decrease in mean repellent activity over time. These studies identified the essential oils of N. cataria and A. balsamifera as effective spatial repellents at reduced concentrations compared to those of DEET. Additional research is required to elucidate the modes of action and potential synergism of repellents and essential oil components for enhanced repellency activity.

Enhancement of Strawberry Shelf Life via a Multisystem Coating Based on Lippia graveolens Essential Oil Loaded in Polymeric Nanocapsules.

Strawberries (Fragaria xannanasa) are susceptible to mechanical, physical, and physiological damage, which increases their incidence of rot during storage. Therefore, a method of protection is necessary in order to minimize quality losses. One way to achieve this is by applying polymer coatings. In this study, multisystem coatings were created based on polymer nanocapsules loaded with Lippia graveolens essential oil, and it was found to have excellent optical, mechanical, and water vapor barrier properties compared to the control (coating formed with alginate and with nanoparticles without the essential oil). As for the strawberries coated with the multisystem formed from the polymer nanocapsules loaded with the essential oil of Lippia graveolens, these did not present microbial growth and only had a loss of firmness of 17.02% after 10 days of storage compared to their initial value. This study demonstrated that the multisystem coating formed from the polymer nanocapsules loaded with the essential oil of Lippia graveolens could be a viable alternative to preserve horticultural products for longer storage periods.

Supercritical CO2 extraction of naringenin from Mexican oregano (Lippia graveolens): its antioxidant capacity under simulated gastrointestinal digestion

A supercritical CO2 method was optimized to recover naringenin-rich extract from Mexican oregano (Lippia graveolens), a flavanone with high antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. The effect of the extraction parameters like pressure, temperature, and co-solvent on naringenin concentration was evaluated. We used response surface methodology to optimize the naringenin extraction from oregano; the chemical composition by UPLC-MS of the optimized extract and the effect of simulated gastrointestinal digestion on its antioxidant capacity and total phenolic content were also evaluated. The optimum conditions were 58.4 °C and 12.46% co-solvent (ethanol), with a pressure of 166 bar, obtaining a naringenin content of 46.59 mg/g extract. Also, supercritical optimized extracts yielded high quantities of cirsimaritin, quercetin, phloridzin, apigenin, and luteolin. The results indicated that the naringenin-rich extract obtained at optimized conditions had higher total phenolic content, antioxidant capacity by TEAC and ORAC, and flavonoid content, compared with the methanolic extract, and the simulated gastrointestinal digestion reduced all these values.

The Primary Mode of Action of Lippia graveolens Essential Oil on Salmonella enterica subsp. Enterica Serovar Typhimurium.

Essential oils are known to exhibit diverse antimicrobial properties, showing their value as a natural resource. Our work aimed to investigate the primary mode of action of Cuban Lippia graveolens (Kunth) essential oil (EO) against Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Typhimurium (S. enterica ser. Typhimurium). We assessed cell integrity through various assays, including time-kill bacteriolysis, loss of cell material with absorption at 260 and 280 nm, total protein leakage, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The impact of L. graveolens EO on membrane depolarization was monitored and levels of intracellular and extracellular ATP were measured by fluorescence intensity. The minimum inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations (MIC and MBC) of L. graveolens EO were 0.4 and 0.8 mg/mL, respectively. This EO exhibited notable bactericidal effects on treated cells within 15 min without lysis or leakage of cellular material. TEM showed distinct alterations in cellular ultrastructure, including membrane shrinkage and cytoplasmic content redistribution. We also observed disruption of the membrane potential along with reduced intracellular and extracellular ATP concentrations. These findings show that L. graveolens EO induces the death of S. enterica ser. Typhimurium, important information that can be used to combat this foodborne disease-causing agent.

Inhibition of Acinetobacter baumannii Biofilm Formation by Terpenes from Oregano (Lippia graveolens) Essential Oil.

Acinetobacter baumannii is a nosocomial pathogen known for its ability to form biofilms, leading to persistent infections and antibiotic resistance. The limited effective antibiotics have encouraged the development of innovative strategies such as using essential oils and their constituents. This study evaluated the efficacy of oregano (Lippia graveolens) essential oil (OEO) and its terpene compounds, carvacrol and thymol, in inhibiting A. baumannii biofilms. These treatments showed a minimum inhibitory concentration of 0.6, 0.3, and 2.5 mg/mL and a minimum bactericidal concentration of 1.2, 0.6, and 5 mg/mL, respectively. Sub-inhibitory doses of each treatment and the OEO significantly reduced biofilm biomass and the covered area of A. baumannii biofilms as measured by fluorescence microscopy. Carvacrol at 0.15 mg/mL exhibited the most potent efficacy, achieving a remarkable 95% reduction. Sub-inhibitory concentrations of carvacrol significantly reduced the biofilm formation of A. baumannii in stainless steel surfaces by up to 1.15 log CFU/cm2 compared to untreated bacteria. The OEO and thymol exhibited reductions of 0.6 log CFU/cm2 and 0.4 log CFU/cm2, respectively, without affecting cell viability. Moreover, the terpenes inhibited twitching motility, a crucial step in biofilm establishment, with carvacrol exhibiting the highest inhibition, followed by OEO and thymol. The study provides valuable insights into the potential of terpenes as effective agents against A. baumannii biofilms, offering promising avenues for developing novel strategies to prevent persistent infections and overcome antibiotic resistance.

Antioxidant and Antibacterial Activity of Mexican Oregano Essential Oil, Extracted from Plants Occurring Naturally in Semiarid Areas and Cultivated in the Field and Greenhouse in Northern Mexico.

In recent years, the determination of the antioxidant and antibacterial activity of essential oils in wild plants, such as Mexican oregano (Lippia graveolens Kunth), has become increasingly important. The objective was to compare the antioxidant and antibacterial activity of Mexican oregano essential oil obtained from plants occurring naturally in semiarid areas (Wild1 and Wild2), and those cultivated in the field (CField) and greenhouse (CGreenhouse) in northern Mexico. The Mexican oregano essential oil extraction was performed using the hydrodistillation method, the antioxidant activity was determined using the ABTS method, and the antibacterial activity was assessed through bioassays under the microwell method at nine different concentrations. The aim was to determine the diameter of the inhibition zone and, consequently, understand the sensitivity level for four bacterial species. The results revealed an antioxidant activity ranging from 90% to 94% at the sampling sites, with Wild1 standing out for having the highest average antioxidant activity values. Likewise, six out of the nine concentrations analyzed showed some degree of sensitivity for all the sampling sites. In this regard, the 25 µL mL-1 concentration showed the highest diameter of inhibition zone values, highlighting the Wild2 site, which showed an average diameter greater than 30 mm for the four bacteria tested. Only in the case of S. typhi did the CGreenhouse site surpass the Wild2, with an average diameter of the inhibition zone of 36.7 mm. These findings contribute to the search for new antioxidant and antibacterial options, addressing the challenges that humanity faces in the quest for opportunities to increase life expectancy.

Repellency of Oregano (Lippia graveolens HBK): Against Periplaneta americana (Blattodea: Blattidae) from Durango, Mexico in Vitro

Background: The sewer cockroach is one of the important pests in the health sector due to the microorganisms they carry in their bodies, contaminate food, and mainly affect the respiratory tract. Most chemical insecticides applied to control this pest affect people’s health and in addition to the fact that cockroaches have already become resistant to many of these products. An environmentally friendly alternative in pest control is the use of aromatic plants. The repellency of residual oregano hydrosols from three municipalities of Durango was evaluated in this research. The control groups drank drinking water, and the test groups oregano hydrosols. Insect survival was monitored daily for four weeks. Results: The survival results were successful for the hydrosols of similar chemical composition from Mezquital and Nombre de Dios. These hydrosols additionally produced an insecticidal effect. The analysis of variance of the bioassays showed significant differences for a confidence interval of 95%. The results of the Kaplan-Miers survival analysis showed that oregano hydrosols with higher thymol content were more effective. Conclusions: Oregano hydrosols (Lippia graveolens HBK) contain mainly thymol, are effective in controlling Periplaneta americana, and could reduce insecticide contamination.

Response of Phenolic Compounds in Lippia graveolens Kunth Irrigated with Aquaculture Wastewater and Steiner Solution

Lippia graveolens is one of the most important aromatic species in Mexico due to antioxidant and antibiotic activities reported in its essential oil. The aim of this work was to assess the effect of irrigation with aquaculture wastewater and salicylic acid addition on the production of phenolic compounds in L. graveolens. L. graveolens plants (14) were irrigated with aquaculture wastewater and (14) using Steiner solution for 28 days; at the same time, salicylic acid was exogenously applied at 0.0 (control), 0.5 and 1.0 mM concentrations in both treatments at 5 and 19 experimental days. The total phenolic content was measured by Folin–Ciocalteu, the flavonoid content was determined by the aluminum chloride method, and the antioxidant capacity was measured by DPPH and FRAP assays. The results showed an increase in the total phenolic and flavonoid content in plants irrigated with aquaculture wastewater solution (17.25 ± 2.35 to 38.16 ± 4.47 mg eq GA·g⁻1 W). The antioxidant capacity was higher in plants irrigated with Steiner solution (98.52 mg eq T·g⁻1 W). In conclusion, L. graveolens irrigated with aquaculture wastewater leads to an increase in the total phenolic content and Steiner-solution antioxidant capacity in plants.

Green Extracts and UPLC-TQS-MS/MS Profiling of Flavonoids from Mexican Oregano (Lippia graveolens) Using Natural Deep Eutectic Solvents/Ultrasound-Assisted and Supercritical Fluids.

Mexican oregano (Lippia graveolens) is an important source of bioactive compounds, such as flavonoids. These have presented different therapeutic properties, including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory; however, their functionality is related to the quantity and type of compounds, and these characteristics depend on the extraction method used. This study aimed to compare different extraction procedures to identify and quantify flavonoids from oregano (Lippia graveolens). Emerging and conventional technologies include maceration with methanol and water, and ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) using deep eutectic solvents (DES) such as choline chloride-ethylene glycol, choline chloride-glycerol, and choline chloride-lactic acid. Supercritical fluid extraction using CO2 as a solvent was also studied. Six different extracts were obtained and the total reducing capacity, total flavonoid content, and antioxidant capacity by ABTS•+, DPPH•, FRAP, and ORAC were evaluated. In addition, flavonoids were identified and quantified by UPLC-TQS-MS/MS. Results showed that UAE-DES had the best extraction effect and antioxidant capacity using colorimetric methods. However, maceration-methanol was superior in compound content, and highlighting naringenin and phloridzin were the major compounds. In addition, this extract was microencapsulated by spray drying, which provided a protection feature of their antioxidant potential. Oregano extracts are rich in flavonoids and the microcapsules present promising results for future research.

Oregano oil extraction process using the "Coreganoil" coil steam drag method

It is an unprecedented process of extracting oil from the oregano plant (Lippia graveolens), from the distillation dry by the coil method. With innovation, a purer oil will be obtained by increasing the essences in thymol and carvacrol counteracting all possible moisture generated by the process. In addition to saving inputs for the extraction of volatile essences, which give it quality and purity, directly impacting the sale price. The objective that coreganoil offers to the market is the high purity of the oil extracted from the oregano plant, thanks to the new unprecedented dry distillation process using the coil method, resulting in an oregano oil with higher percentages of thymol and carvacrol, obtaining a purer oil. The methodological extraction procedure of this innovation is dry distillation by the coil method, which will allow the extraction process to be effective with a higher concentration of its physicochemical properties, giving it more added value. Coreganoil's contribution in obtaining it is a project that has the presence of a potential market in the south central region of the state of Chihuahua where there are 14,805 potential clients according to INEGI (2020). Potential clients for this project are mostly people of either sex dedicated to the pharmaceutical industry, culinary arts, farmers and fragrance industry and the general public.