Thymol Content Research Articles

Improving quantity and quality of Thymus daenensis Celak. essential oil with application of Myco-Root biofertilizer under different irrigation levels

To determine the effects of Myco-Root biofertilizer and different irrigation levels on the content and essential oil compounds of thyme (Thymus daenensis Celak.), a factorial experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with eight treatments and three replications in the greenhouse of Plant Production and Genetics department, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Maragheh, Iran, in 2020. The factors included drought stress at four levels of without stress (irrigation at field capacity (FC) as a control), mild (irrigation at 75% FC), moderate (irrigation at 55% FC), and severe (irrigation at 35% FC) stresses and biofertilizer at two levels of inoculation and non-inoculation with Myco-Root. The results demonstrated that the fresh and dry weight of leaves, stem dry weight, total dry weight, leaf relative water content, chlorophylls a and b and total chlorophyll content, and root colonization percentage decreased significantly with increasing the water deficit level. However, the carotenoid content and essential oil percentage showed an increasing trend with increasing drought stress. The highest carotenoid content and essential oil percentage was obtained by using Myco-Root under moderate drought stress. Thymol, carvacrol, p -cymene, 1,8-cineole, (E)-caryophyllene, borneol, γ-terpinene, and α-pinene were identified as the major constituents of essential oil in the all treatments. The highest content of thymol was obtained under mild drought stress with the Myco-Root application. Furthermore, the highest content of carvacrol was recorded under mild, moderate, and severe drought stresses, respectively with the Myco-Root application. On average, the application of Myco-Root biofertilizer increased the content of thymol, carvacrol, 1,8-cineole, E-caryophyllene, borneol, and α-pinene by 4.19, 48.28, 15.93, 16.33, 14.15, and 3.78%, respectively compared to not using this biofertilizer. Overall, the results showed that some morphological and physiological traits of thyme decreased significantly with increasing the water deficit levels, but the application of Myco-Root biofertilizer could amend drought stress and improve the growth, percentage and essential oil quality of the plant. Thus, the use of Myco-Root biofertilizer instead of chemical fertilizers could be recommended to achieve the sustainable agriculture in the thyme cultivation.

Effect of organic manures, PGPR and micronutrients on yield and quality enhancement in ajwain (Trachyspermum ammi L)

Experiments were conducted for two consecutive years during 2017-19 to study the effect of organic manures, PGPR and micronutrients on yield and quality of ajwain seed. Farm yard manure (FYM) and vermicompost (VC) were used as organic sources at 50% and 75% recommended dose of nitrogen (RDN) as basal dose. PGPRs namely Azospirillum lipoferum, Bacillus megaterium and Frateuria aurantia were used for seed priming. Micronutrients namely ZnSO4 and Fe2SO4 were applied thrice as foliar application @ 0.5% first before flowering, second at 50% flowering and third during grain formation. The results revealed that highest number of umbels plant-1, umbellets umbel-1, number of fruits umbellet-1, seed yield plant-1, seed yield hectare-1, straw yield, biological yield, test weight of seeds and essential oil yield were recorded with the application of 50% RDN through VC, which was on par with 50% RDN through FYM, seed priming with Azospirillum and foliar application of zinc with respect to their individual effect. Maximum essential oil content, fixed oil content and thymol content were also observed in case of application of 50% RDN through VC, seed priming with Azospirillum and foliar application of zinc individually. Highest Benefit Cost Ratio (BCR) of 3.33 was recorded with combined application of 50% of RDN through FYM along with seed priming with Azospirillum and foliar spray of Zn at 0.5%. The integrated use of organic manures, PGPRs and micronutrients could also exert significant influence on yield and quality of Ajwain. It was observed that highest seed yield, yield attributing characters and essential oil yield and quality parameters were recorded with combined application of 50% of RDN through vermicompost along with seed priming with Azospirillum and foliar application of zinc which was statistically on par with application of 50% of RDN through FYM along with seed priming with Azospirillum and foliar application of zinc.

Chromatographic profiles and antimicrobial activity of the essential oils obtained from some species and cultivars of the Mentheae tribe (Lamiaceae).

The present study was focused on the chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of the essential oils (EsO) obtained from five Lamiaceae representatives grown in the south of Ukraine. Among them are Salvia sclarea L., Monarda didyma (cultivar ‘Cambridge Scarlet’), Thymus pulegioides (cultivar ‘2/6-07’), Thymus vulgaris (cultivar ‘Jalos’), and Thymus serpyllum L. The component analysis of the EsO was carried out by gas chromatography method coupled with mass spectrometry (GC–MS). The antimicrobial properties of the EsO were determined using the agar diffusion test against widespread pathogenic bacterial strains (Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis, Streptococcus pyogenes) and opportunistic yeast Candida albicans. The EsO of Thymus serpyllum and Thymus vulgaris (cultivar ‘Jalos’) displayed noteworthy antibacterial properties against a wide spectrum of the microorganisms. These antimicrobial properties could be attributed to the high content of aromatic monoterpenoid thymol (52.56% and 47.33%, respectively). The EsO of Salvia sclarea with the dominance of linalyl acetate (45.51%) and linalool (38.98%) as well as Thymus pulegioides (cultivar ‘2/6-07’) containing α-citral (27.10%) and β-citral (17.11%) demonstrated the strongest antimicrobial effects on typical and clinical strains of Staphylococcus aureus with the inhibition zones in the range of 24.0–31.0 mm. The Salvia sclarea EsO demonstrated the most significant effect against clinical strains of Candida albicans. In conclusion, the present study revealed the chemical composition of five Lamiaceae species and cultivars grown in the south of Ukraine and considerable antimicrobial activity of the tested EsO, especially against the typical and clinical strains of Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans. The obtained results could be perspective for applying in the pharmaceutical industry and for the conservation of food and cosmetic products.

Thymol in fattening rabbit diet, its bioavailability and effects on intestinal morphology, microbiota from caecal content and immunity.

To our knowledge, no study has been carried out to evaluate the effects of thymol sustained administration on gut health and immune response in terms of its bioavailability in the rabbit organism. A total of 48 rabbits were randomly divided at 35days of age into two dietary treatment groups (C/control or T/thymol at 0.025% addition). Thymol was added for 21days and then withdrawn for 7days. Thymol content in faeces (p<0.001) and caecal content (p<0.05) was significantly higher than in plasma during the thymol addition and withdrawal (2442±451.4, 881.9±231.3ng/g DM and 46.2±28.4ng/ml, respectively; 149.5±40.54, 45.76±12.44ng/g DM and 2.73±0.45ng/ml, respectively). Increasing of villi height to crypt depth ratio in small intestinal wall (p<0.01), phagocytic activity in blood (p<0.0001) and lactic acid bacteria in caecal appendix (p<0.01) and faeces (p<0.05) was still presented after withdrawn of thymol. The thymol at this concentration demonstrated its biological properties and was able to positively affect gut health and immune response of rabbits.

Modification of phytochemical production and antioxidant activity of Dracocephalum kotschyi cells by exposure to static magnetic field and magnetite nanoparticles

Dracocephlum kotschyi Boiss is a genus in Lamiaceae family and a medicinal herb native to Iran. The cell suspension cultures were treated by static magnetic field (SMF) and Fe3O4 magnetite nanoparticles (MNP) to understand the production yield of secondary metabolites. The treatment procedure was done by cultivating the cells either with 100 ppm MNP, SMFs, or simultaneous exposure to both MNP and SMFs. The SMF at 30 mT was uniformly applied to the cells either for 3 or 4 days with a 3 h per day or a 5 h per day intervals, respectively. The contents of phenolics and phytochemicals were then examined by high performance liquid chromatography and UV–Vis spectrophotometer. These treatments imposed oxidative stress and induced polyphenol oxidase and phenylalanine ammonia lyase, accompanied by enhanced production of phenolics, anthocyanins, flavonoids, and lignin. The highest membrane embrittlement and elicitation was found upon simultaneous application of the MNPs and SMFs, followed by the MNP and SMFs. The contents of naringin, rosmarinic acid, quercetin, thymol, carvacrol, apigenin, and rutin increased in the intracellular biomass of all treated cells and extracellular culture media. These findings propose the potential of these elicitors in simultaneous production and secretion of these phytochemicals into culture media.

Каллусные культуры Thymus vulgaris и Trifolium pratense – перспективные источники активных веществ геропротекторного действия

Introduction. Geroprotectors are biologically active substances that inhibit the aging process. Many plant species are natural geroprotectors. For instance, Thymus vulgaris and Trifolium pratense are callus cultures with strong geroprotective properties.&#x0D; Study objects and methods. The present research featured T. vulgaris and T. pratense grown in vitro on various nutrient media. Their extracts were obtained by aqueous-alcoholic extraction using the following parameters: water-ethanol solvent Se = 30, 50, and 70 %; temperature Te = 30, 50, and 70°C; time τe = 2, 4, and 6 h. The quantitative and qualitative analysis was based on high-performance liquid mass spectrometry, gas mass spectrometry, and thin-layer chromatography.&#x0D; Results and discussion. The optimal extraction parameters for T. vulgaris were τe = 4 h, Te = 50°C, Se = 70 %, for T. pratense – τe = 6 h, Te = 70°C, Se = 70 %. The chromatography detected flavonoids, phenylpropanoids, simple phenols, higher fatty acids, mono- and sesquiterpenes, and aliphatic hydrocarbons. T. vulgaris appeared to have the highest content of thymol (23.580 ± 1.170 mg/mL); its thymol, apigenin, gallic, chlorogenic, and caffeic components demonstrated geroprotective properties. The extract of T. pratense possessed the highest rutin content (10.05 ± 0.35 mg/mL), and it owed its geroprotective characteristics to rutin, chlorogenic and p-coumaric acids.&#x0D; Conclusion. The callus cultures of T. vulgaris and T. pratense proved to be promising sources of geroprotective biologically active substances.

Optimizing Intercropping Systems of Black Cumin (Nigella sativa L.) and Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum‐graecum L.) through Inoculation with Bacteria and Mycorrhizal Fungi

AbstractThis study evaluates the effects of intercropping patterns, plant growth‐promoting rhizobacteria and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on seed yield and yield components of black cumin (Nigella sativa L.) and fenugreek (Trigonella foenum‐graecum L.), as well as the essential oil and fatty acid profile of black cumin. A two‐year two‐factorial field experiment was conducted in 2015 and 2016 to investigate intercropping of black cumin and fenugreek in five ratios and biofertilizer application as AMF and bacteria. Intercropping reveals higher concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus compared with monocropping, whereas monocropping inoculated with bacteria shows the highest seed yield of both fenugreek (151 g m−2) and black cumin (148 g m−2). Regarding the quality of black cumin, the combination of a black cumin:fenugreek‐intercropping pattern of 66:34 with bacteria fertilization is most promising, as it shows i) the maximum essential oil content, oil yield, and fixed oil content, ii) the highest contents of thymol and p‐cymene, iii) the highest content of linoleic acid, and iv) the maximum land equivalent ratio. Conclusively, bacteria fertilization and black cumin:fenugreek‐intercropping pattern of 66:34 helps improving essential oil, fixed oil quality, and quantity of black cumin, thus creating a more sustainable cultivation system for black cumin and fenugreek.

Variation of Essential Oil Content and Composition, Phenolics, and Yield Related Traits Using Different Pollination Systems in Populations of Thymus Species.

The production of self-pollinated plants could be important for improving medicinal plants secondary metabolites. In this study, 11 Thymus populations from eight species were evaluated to determine the effect of self and open pollination on agro-morphological characteristics, total phenolic content (TPC), essential oil (EO) content, and EO components. Inbreeding led to some positive effects of above mentioned traits in most of the studied populations. Total phenolic content ranged from 7.07 to 52.69 mg tannic acid equivalents (TAE) g-1 dry weight (DW) in open pollinated derived populations, while it varied from 1.2 to 55.03 mg TAE g-1 DW in self-pollinated ones. Under open and self-pollination condition, the highest EO content was obtained in T. trautvetteri (3.37 %) and T. pubescens (1.96 %), respectively. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) identified 42 compounds including thymol, carvacrol, linalool, p-cymene, γ-terpinene, terpinen-4-ol, and α-terpineol as the main compounds. In most cases, selfed plants compared to open pollinated ones, revealed higher thymol content. T. daenensis-1 showed a significant increase in thymol content (from 25.22 % to 74.3 %) due to self-pollination. Moreover, self-pollination led to emergence of some new compounds. Carvacrol methyl ether was the constituents of Thymus EO that are being reported in self-pollinated populations. Finally, inbreeding in Thymus might be suggested as a useful tool to increase genetic homogeneity for the selection of superior plants for improving secondary metabolite.

Comparative Studies on Volatile Oil Components Derived from Integrated Processing Technology of Origin and Traditional Cutting Processing Technology of Moslae Herba and Their Effects on Rats With Lung-Yin Deficiency.

This study aimed to examine the components of the volatile oil derived from the integration processing technology of origin (IPTO) of Moslae Herba (MH) and their effects on the treatment of rats with Lung-Yin deficiency. IPTO was compared with the traditional cutting processing technology (TCPT) to provide a feasible basis. The chemical constituents of the volatile oil were identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The Lung-Yin deficiency model was established by subjecting the animals to smoke and administering them with thyroid tablet suspension. The rats were randomly divided into six groups: control, model, Tween-80, positive, IPTO, and TCPT. After 30 days of intragastric administration, the macroscopic signs of rats and pathological morphology of the lung tissues were observed by the hematoxylin and eosin (H & E) staining method. The positive expression of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) was observed by an immunohistochemical method. The levels of cholesterol (CHO), albumin (ALB), total protein (TP), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin-1beta (IL-1β), cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) were detected in the serum of rats. A total of 42 and 37 components were identified from the volatile oils of IPTO and TCPT, respectively. Among them, the contents of carvacrol and thymol were higher in IPTO. The volatile oil of MH derived from IPTO and TCPT could improve the general signs and autonomous activities of the rats with Lung-Yin deficiency; increase the contents of cGMP, TP, and ALB; and decrease the anal temperature of the rats, the contents of IL-1β, CHO, and BUN in serum, the ratio of cAMP to cGMP, and the average optical density of TNF-α in their lung tissues. The findings indicated that IPTO was more efficient than TCPT. Its therapeutic effect might be associated with the change in TNF-α expression; the increase in cGMP, TP, and ALB contents; and the decrease in IL-1β, CHO, and BUN levels, laying the foundation for the clinical development and application of MH.

Antioxidant Capacity of Origanum heracleoticum L. Flower and Leaf Extracts and Their Essential Oil Profiles of Plants from Micropropagation and Collection from Natural Habitats

The composition of the essential oils and the antioxidant properties of Origanum heracleoticum L. leaves and flowers collected from four different natural populations in Bulgaria (two locations in Kresna Gorge and two locations in Rhodopes Mountain) were studied and compared with those of micropropagated and field-adapted plants. Explants for micropropagation from wild-growing plants from Gorna Breznitsa (Kresna Gorge) were used. The enzyme antioxidant potential characterised by the activity of superoxide dismutase, catalase, guaiacol peroxidase, ascorbate peroxidase as well as the non-enzyme antioxidant potential characterized by the content of phenols, flavonoids, water- and lipid-soluble antioxidant metabolites, were affected by environmental conditions and type of propagation (wild or micro). The highest enzyme antioxidant potential was observed in the flowers and leaves of the micropropagated plants, followed by the plants collected from Gorna Breznitsa. The variation in the content of metabolites with antioxidant potential in the Greek oregano collected from the two locations from each two areas of Bulgaria was detected. The higher content of phenols and flavonoids was detected in micropropagated plants as well as in wild-plants collected from two localities from Kresna Gorge, when compared with the wild-plants collected from Eastern Rhodopes. Forty-five compounds in the O. heracleoticum essential oil collected from the native populations were identified. Based on the essential oil composition, and especially on the carvacrol and thymol contents, the O. heracleoticum plants from all investigated natural populations in Bulgaria belonged to the carvacrol chemotype. Besides environmental conditions, another factor that affected the composition of O. heracleoticum essential oil was the existence of chemotypes.

Plant regeneration and transformation of Trachyspermum ammi using Agrobacterium tumefaciens and zygotic embryos

BackgroundTrachyspermum ammi is one of the key medicinal plant species with many beneficial properties. Thymol is the most important substance in the essential oil of this plant. Thymol is a natural monoterpene phenol with high anti-microbial, anti-bacterial, and anti-oxidant properties. Thymol in the latest research has a significant impact on slowing the progression of cancer cells in human. In this research, embryos were employed as convenient explants for the fast and effectual regeneration and transformation of T. ammi. To regenerate this plant, Murashige and Skoog (MS) and Gamborg’s B5 (B5) media were supplemented with diverse concentrations of plant growth regulators, such as 6-benzyladenine (BA), 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA), 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), and kinetin (kin). Transgenic Trachyspermum ammi plants were also obtained using Agrobacterium-mediated transformation and zygotic embryos explants. Moreover, two Agrobacterium tumefaciens strains (EHA101 and LBA4404) harboring pBI121-TPS2 were utilized for genetic transformation to Trachyspermum ammi. ResultsAccording to the obtained results, the highest plant-regeneration frequency was obtained with B5 medium supplemented with 0.5 mg/l BA and 1 mg/l NAA. The integrated gene was also approved using the PCR reaction and the Southern blot method. Results also showed that the EHA101 strain outperformed another strain in inoculation time (30 s) and co-cultivation period (1 day) (transformation efficiency 19.29%). Furthermore, HPLC method demonstrated that the transformed plants contained a higher thymol level than non-transformed plants. ConclusionsIn this research, a fast protocol was introduced for the regeneration and transformation of Trachyspermum ammi, using zygotic embryo explants in 25–35 days. Our findings confirmed the increase in the thymol in the aerial part of Trachyspermum ammi. We further presented an efficacious technique for enhancing thymol content in Trachyspermum ammi using Agrobacterium-mediated plant transformation system that can be beneficial in genetic transformation and other plant biotechnology techniques.

Functionalization of polyamide microfiltration membranes by supercritical solvent impregnation

The study reports the application of supercritical solvent impregnation to deliver antibacterial substance thymol to the defined polymeric structure of commercial polyamide microfiltration membranes. The process performed at a temperature of 40 °C and pressures of 10, 15, and 20 MPa was characterized by the fast impregnation in the first 30 min with thymol loadings up to 29 wt%. The maximal achieved thymol loading in the process was around 42 wt%, regardless the pressure. The scanning electron and ion microscopy analyses revealed that the membranes’ microstructure was preserved with a thymol content of 20 wt%, while a more prominent swelling effect was observed in samples with 35 wt% of thymol. The cross-flow filtration tests showed that the impregnation process did not harm the membranes’ functionality in samples with 20 wt% of thymol. These membranes exhibited strong anti-biofilm activity, and were less prone to the blockage with bacteria in comparison to neat membranes.

PRODUCTIVITY AND OIL QUALITY OF THYMUS VULGARIS L. UNDER GROWTH PROMOTERS AND SOILLESS CULTURE CONDITIONS

Thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.) belongs to the lamiaceae family. It is characterized by its medicinal and economic values. Thymus is grown worldwide for cosmetic and medical use. Plant bio-stimulants are classified as substances which have positive effects on growth and productivity of plants. Bio-stimulants are obtained naturally from various economically and environmentally viable sources. The current experiment aimed to investigate the response of thymus physical and chemical properties to the different types and concentrations of bio-stimulators under soil less culture conditions for two successive seasons 2019 and 2020. Thymus seedlings were planted in pots filled with mixed media of perlite: sand (1:1v/v). Plants were sprayed with aqueous solution of ascorbic acid (1 and 2g/l), aspartic acids (500 and 1000 ppm) and dry yest (2 and 4g/l) and combination of them compared with control. The herp was harvested in mid- July (First cutting) and first week of October (second cut). Growth and yield characters were measured. The essential oil percentage was determined and analyzed by GC in both cuts from the fresh herb. Results showed that, spraying of mixtures of ascorbic acid (2g/l), aspartic acids (1000 ppm) and yeast (4g/l)) significantly increased yield, total carbohydrates, total phenols, total pigments, essential oil percentage and yield as well as its NPK content characters and components of essential oil high contents of thymol, ? and ? –Pinene during both cuts and for both seasons. Economic evaluation was carried out by calculating with the highest return in the mixture treatment. It is clear that all treatments are economically feasible however, one can find that the maximum return or profit comes from mixture treatments where the benefit to cost ratio were 3.99 and 3.9 for Mix2 and Mix1 respectively.

Control of mango decay using antifungal sachets containing of thyme oil/modified starch/agave fructans microcapsules

The aim of the present work was to control phytopathogens associated to mango decay by exposure to antifungal thyme oil-starch/agave fructans microcapsules in Nylon sachets. Fusarium pseudocircinatum, Alternaria alternata, Neofusicocum kwambonambiense, Cladosporium pseudocladosporioides, and Colletotrichum gloeosporioides were isolated from mango fruits and its mycelial growth was 100% inhibited with 5 μL of thyme oil. Thyme oil was microencapsulated with modified starch/agave fructans by spray drying. Thymol content, size, and shape of microcapsules were evaluated. Antifungal sachets were prepared by filling Nylon bags (4 × 4 cm) with different doses of thyme oil microcapsules: 0.10, 0.15 and 0.20 g. The mycelial growth of all microorganisms was controlled with 0.10, 0.15 and 0.20 g of antifungal sachets. The incidence (75 and 65%) and severity (77 and 41%) of C. gloeosporioides were effectively reduced in mango, respectively, using 0.10 and 0.20 g of antifungal sachets.

Content and Composition of Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa L.) Essential Oil at Different Phenological Phases

Using gas chromatography, we show that the ratio between constituents of Monarda fistulosa L. essential oil varies with the phase in plant development. Our 3-year long studies reveal that the essential oil content of wild bergamot peaks at the mass flowering phase, reaching 1.77%. This period is characterized by higher levels of α-terpineol (37.74%) and p-cyneme (4.85)—intermediate products of biosynthesis of phenolic compounds. As the plant development goes through the budding phase to the end of flowering, the thymol content increases to 48.95%, while the carvacrol content falls from 20.99 to 2.29%. We establish that the content of thymoquinone, a pharmacologically important constituent, in the essential oil of the considered plant tends to increase by the end of the flowering stage, from 3.39 to 17.65%.

ESSENTIAL OIL COMPOSITION OF THYMUS FALLAX FISCH. &amp; C.A. MEY. AT DIFFERENT GROWING ALTITUDES IN MAZANDARAN, IRAN

Thymus fallax Fisch. &amp; C.A. Mey. (Lamiaceae) is a permanent plant that grows in some mountain rangelands of Mazandaran province in Iran. The aerial parts of Thymus fallax were collected during flowering stage from mountain rangelands of Mazandaran province, in North of Iran. Around samples were collected from three altitudes (2400 m, 2700 m and 3000 m a.s.l.), in mountain regions of Mazandaran province. The goal of current research was to assess the effect of altitude on the chemical composition and function of essential oil in Thymus fallax. The essential oil was obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) and gas spectrometry (GC-MS). Based on the results, the essential oil content is between 1.12 - 1.61% at different altitudes. The result of study shows that the highest concentrated essential oil (1.61%) was extracted in the lowest altitude (2400 m), while it was opposite, (0.1.12%) in the highest altitude (3000 m). The main compounds of essential oil are: thymol (5.95% - 10.06%), carvacrol (13.63% - 69.04%), p-cymene (4.19% - 12.18%) and borneol (4.72% - 5.66%). According to the results, altitude has a negative effect on the percentage of essential oils and essential oil decreases with increasing altitude. The altitude has a negative effect on the percentage of thymol and the content of thymol decreased with increasing altitude. The altitude has a positive effect on the percentage of carvacrol and the content of carvacrol increased with increasing altitude.

Growth, Production and Bioactive Content of Several Black Cumin (Nigella sativa L.) Accessions With Different Harvesting Times in a D3 Type Climate Regime

&#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; Black cumin (Nigella sativa L.) is a species Ranunculaceae family which grows in the Middle Eastern and Southern Mediterranean countries. Black cumin is also known as habbatus sauda , or kalonji in South Asia. Black cumin seeds are used as spice traditional medicine; the essential oil compound in the seeds has been identified as thymoquinone. Thymoquinone has a potent antioxidant effect, which could protect organs from oxidative damage by generating free radical agents. Indonesia is one of the most geographically diverse country in the world. Some regions have scattered low and high plains, abundant sunlight, evenly distributed rainfall throughout the year, and highly diverse soil types. The purpose of this study was to study the growth, production, thymoquinone and thymol content of several accessions of black cumin with different harvesting time in D3 type climate regimes. The research was conducted from April to September 2019 in Ngadirejo Village, Sukapura District, Probolinggo Regency, East Java with an altitude of 1.680 m above sea level. The experiment used a randomized complete block design with one factor for the vegetative phase, namely accession (“American”, “Indian”, “Kuwait”, and “Slovenian”) and two factors for the generative phase, namely accession and harvesting time. The harvesting time of black cumin was conducted at 6, 7, and 8 weeks after the anthesis. “Indian” and “Slovenian” accession demonstrated the best vegetative growth, whereas “Indian” had the highest capsules number per plant, seeds weight per plant, and the highest estimated production compared to other accessions (603 kg seeds. ha-1). “American”, “Indian” and “Kuwait” accessions are well adapted in D3 type climate. The harvesting time of 7 to 8 weeks from anthesis was shown to be optimal for all accessions. Thymoquinone and thymol content for the four accessions was circa 349.64– 3,030.45 μg. g-1 of seeds and 385.56 – 2,003.46 μg.g-1 of seeds, with potential production values of 0.18 - 1.83 kg.ha-1 and 0.19 - 0.45 kg.ha-1, respectively. The optimal harvesting time to maximize seed production was unaffected by the black cumin accession.&#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D;

Influences of freeze‐ and spray‐drying vs. encapsulation with soy and whey proteins on gastrointestinal stability and antioxidant activity of Mediterranean aromatic herbs

SummaryThe aim of the present research was to study the chemical profile of volatile and non‐volatile compounds in freeze‐ and spray‐dried oregano, thyme, sage, and rosemary as well as to study the gastrointestinal stability and the biological activity of the samples after encapsulation using two proteins (soy and whey). Chemical analysis was performed by HS‐SPME/GC‐MS and HPLC‐PDA techniques. The antioxidant activity (FRAP, DPPH and ORAC assays) and HPLC‐PDA analyses were performed before and after simulated two‐phase digestion process (gastric and duodenal) using human gastrointestinal enzymes. The effect of protein carriers was depended on the plant matrix and the class of compound. Soy protein is useful for the protection of thymol and carvacrol content in thyme and the increase of the antioxidant activity of sage. Whey protein is useful for flavanols stability in all studied herbs before and after the duodenal digestive phase.

The Variability of Thymol and Carvacrol Contents Reveals the Level of Antibacterial Activity of the Essential Oils from Different Accessions of Oliveria decumbens.

Oliveria decumbens (Apiaceae) is an aromatic herb traditionally employed in the Persian medicine for the treatment of infectious and gastrointestinal disorders. In the present study, we analyzed the chemical composition of essential oils obtained from different Iranian populations and evaluated their efficacy on a panel of human pathogens (Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli), probiotic (Bacillus subtilis), and phytopathogens (Clavibacter michiganensis, Curtobacterium flaccumfaciens, Xanthomonas citri, and Agrobacterium tumefaciens). The gas chromatographic-mass spectrometry analysis put in evidence four main volatile constituents such as thymol (20.3–36.4%), carvacrol (18.8–33.1%), γ-terpinene (10.6–25.9%), and p-cymene (9.5–17.3%), though with significant variability from an essential oil to another. Notably, the oils from the populations sited in Nourabad Mamasani and Dehdasht showed the highest amount of the phenolic monoterpenes thymol (36.4 and 35.2%, respectively) and carvacrol (33.1 and 30.6%, respectively). The antibacterial activity of O. decumbens essential oils was assessed by the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) methods, showing high activity for the samples from Nourabad Mamasani and Dehdasht populations exhibiting high level of the above phenolics. The obtained MIC and MBC values (mg/ml) were in the ranges 0.0625–2 mg/ml and 1–16 mg/ml, respectively. Noteworthy, in some cases, the antibacterial activity of O. decumbens essential oils was higher than that of chloramphenicol used as positive control. The average MBCs displayed by the O. decumbens samples showed that C. flaccumfaciens had the highest sensitivity to the essential oils. Based on these results, our work shed light on selected O. decumbens populations deserving proper breeding and cultivation strategies in order to warrantee production of bioactive essential oils to be used at pharmaceutical and agricultural level to combat several pathogens.

Development and characterization of antimicrobial protein films based on soybean protein isolate incorporating diatomite/thymol complex

Diatomite was used as an effective carrier of thymol to obtain diatomite/thymol (D/T) complex, which was further incorporated into soybean protein isolate (SPI) to develop antimicrobial protein films. The as-prepared D/T complex was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transformed infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, laser particle size analyzer and thermogravimetric analyzer (TG). It was demonstrated that thymol was adsorbed into the pores and loaded onto the surface of diatomite, and the content of thymol in the D/T complex was estimated to be about 39%. Then, the D/T complex was incorporated into SPI, and the morphological, physical and functional properties of antimicrobial protein films were investigated in comparison with those of SPI films incorporating diatomite or thymol alone. The FTIR and SEM analysis indicated the improved dispersibility and compatibility of D/T complex in the SPI matrix. Consequently, the film containing D/T complex had moderate mechanical and water barrier properties among all the films. For instance, its tensile strength was 1.53 MPa higher than that of film containing thymol, and elongation at break was 39.98% higher than that of film containing diatomite only. More importantly, compared to the SPI film incorporating thymol alone, diatomite was found to reduce the loss of thymol during the film formation and storage, and a sustained release of thymol from D/T complex in film was also observed, thus noticeably prolonging its antimicrobial effect against on Escherichia coli even until 100 h. In conclusion, the obtained antimicrobial SPI film containing D/T complex with tunable physical properties and antibacterial activity showed great potential for active food packaging.