Essential Oil Compounds Research Articles

Chemical Profile of Kumquat (Citrus japonica var. margarita) Essential Oil, In Vitro Digestion, and Biological Activity

Kumquat is one of the smallest citrus fruits (from the Rutaceae family), and its essential oil’s biological effects have not yet been sufficiently researched, in contrast to the essential oils of its relatives. Therefore, the aim of this large-scale study was to investigate the chemical profile of kumquat essential oils (KEOs) isolated by microwave-assisted distillation (MAD) and Clevenger hydrodistillation using GC-MS analysis. To test the bioaccessibility of their bioactive components, in vitro digestion with commercially available enzymes was performed. The final step of this research was to test their cytotoxic activity against a cervical cancer cell line (HeLa), a human colon cancer cell line (HCT116), a human osteosarcoma cell line (U2OS), and a healthy cell line (RPE1). Two methods were used to test the antioxidant activity: DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) and ORAC (oxygen radical absorbance capacity). The antibacterial activity was tested in relation to the growth and adhesion of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus on a polystyrene surface. The GC-MS analysis showed that the major compound in both kumquat essential oils was limonene, which was stable before and after in vitro digestion (>90%). The results showed that the cytotoxic activity of the KEOs in all three cancer cell lines tested was IC50 1–2 mg/mL, and in the healthy cell line (RPE1), the IC50 value was above 4 mg/mL. The antibacterial activity of the KEOs obtained after MAD and Clevenger hydrodistillation was 4 mg/mL against E. coli and 1 mg/mL against S. aureus. The KEOs after MAD and Clevenger hydrodistillation reduced the adhesion of E. coli by more than 1 log, while there was no statistically significant effect on the adhesion of S. aureus to the polystyrene surface. Both KEOs exhibited comparable levels of antioxidant activity using both methods tested, with IC50 values of 855.25 ± 26.02 μg/mL (after MAD) and 929.41 ± 101.57 μg/mL (after Clevenger hydrodistillation) for DPPH activity and 4839.09 ± 91.99 μmol TE/g of EO (after MAD) and 4928.78 ± 275.67 μmol TE/g of EO (after Clevenger hydrodistillation) for ORAC. The results obtained show possible future applications in various fields (e.g., in the food, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and agricultural industries).

Synthesis of antibiofilm (1R,4S)-(-)-fenchone derivatives to control Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato.

Biofilm plays a crucial role in Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato (Pst) infection. We identified (1R,4S)-(-)-fenchone (FCH) as the most potent antibiofilm agent against Pst among 39 essential oil compounds. Subsequently, we synthesized a series of FCH oxime ester and acylhydrazine derivatives to explore more potent derivatives. II3 was screened out as the most potent derivative, exhibiting a minimal biofilm inhibitory concentration of 60 μg mL-1 and a lowest concentration with maximal biofilm inhibition (LCMBI) of 200 μg mL-1, lower than those of FCH (80 and 500 μg mL-1, respectively). II3 and FCH showed minimum inhibitory concentration values >1000 μg mL-1 and similar maximal biofilm inhibition extents of 48.7% and 49.5% at their respective LCMBIs, respectively. Meanwhile, neither of them influenced cell viability or the activity of metabolic enzymes at their respective LCMBIs. II3 at its LCMBI significantly reduced biofilm thickness, extracellular polysaccharide content, and pectinase and cellulase production indices. In vivo assay results indicated that II3 could preventatively reduce the bacterial contents in tomato leaves at its LCMBI, and when combined with kasugamycin (KSG) (10 μg mL-1), II3 achieved the same level of bacterial reduction as the sole application of KSG (70 μg mL-1), thereby reducing the required dosage of KSG. Mechanistic studies demonstrated that II3 can down-regulate biofilm-related genes and inhibit PsyR/PsyI quorum sensing system, which differs from the bactericidal mechanisms. These results underscore the potential of II3 as an antibiofilm agent for the control of Pst or FCH as a promising natural candidate for future in-depth optimization. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Thermal-Induced Alterations in Phenolic and Volatile Profiles of Monovarietal Extra Virgin Olive Oils

In the present study, the influence of heating on the evolution of oxidative indices, antioxidant activity, phenolic and volatile compounds in monovarietal extra virgin olive oils (EVOOs) obtained from Leccino, Istarska bjelica, and Buža cultivars was investigated. The samples were submitted to heating in an air oven (180 °C and 220 °C), simulating usual roasting conditions typical for Mediterranean cuisine. The decreases in the oxidative indicators, phenolic and volatile compounds were more pronounced at higher heating temperatures, underlining the temperature dependency of the oxidative degradation during heating conditions. Despite this, it must be emphasized that a significant amount of phenolic compounds and antioxidative activity remained preserved after the heating treatment. Each oil cultivar showed some specificity during the course of the thermal degradation. Hydroxytyrosol acetate among phenolic compounds and octanal, (E)-2-octenal, hexanal, 3-pentanone, and 1-penten-3-one among the volatiles were underlined as possible markers of thermal oxidation. Principal component analysis revealed that the content of volatile compounds in monovarietal EVOO samples distinguished samples primarily by the heating temperature, while the changes in the phenolic compounds were cultivar-dependent aside from being influenced by the temperature of heating.

Correlation between Major Bioactive Compounds in Essential Oils from Wild and Cultivated Moroccan Plants and their Antibacterial Efficacy against Foodborne Pathogens

Correlation between Major Bioactive Compounds in Essential Oils from Wild and Cultivated Moroccan Plants and their Antibacterial Efficacy against Foodborne Pathogens

Varying levels of natural light intensity affect the phyto-biochemical compounds, antioxidant indices and genes involved in the monoterpene biosynthetic pathway of Origanum majorana L.

BackgroundLight is a critical environmental factor in plants, encompassing two vital aspects: intensity and quality. To assess the influence of different light intensities on Origanum majorana L., pots containing the herb were subjected to four levels of light intensity: 20, 50, 70, and 100% natural light. After a 60-day treatment period, the plants were evaluated for metabolite production, including total sugar content, protein, dry weight, antioxidant indices, expression of monoterpenes biosynthesis genes, and essential oil compounds. The experimental design followed a randomized complete blocks format, and statistical analysis of variance was conducted.ResultsThe results indicated a correlation between increased light intensity and elevated total sugar and protein content, which contributed to improved plant dry weight. The highest levels of hydrogen peroxide and malondialdehyde (MDA) were observed under 100% light intensity. Catalase and superoxide dismutase enzymes exhibited increased activity, with a 4.23-fold and 2.14-fold increase, respectively, under full light. In contrast, peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase enzyme activities decreased by 3.29-fold and 3.24-fold, respectively. As light intensity increases, the expression level of the 1-deoxy-D-xylulose 5-phosphate reductoisomerase (DXR) gene increases. However, beyond a light intensity of 70%, the DXR gene expression level decreased. Furthermore, the expression levels of the cytochrome P450 genes CYP71D178 and CYP71D179 exhibited an increasing trend in response to elevated light intensity. Essential oil content increased from 0.02 to 0.5% until reaching 70% light intensity. However, with further increases in light intensity, the essential oil content decreased by 54 to 0.23%.ConclusionsThese findings emphasize the importance of balancing plant growth promotion and stress management under different light conditions. The research suggests that sweet marjoram plants thrive best in unshaded open spaces, resulting in maximum biomass. However, essential oil production decreases under the same conditions. For farmers in areas with an average light intensity of approximately 1700 µmol m−2s−1, it is recommended to cultivate sweet marjoram in shade-free fields to optimize biomass and essential oil production. Towards the end of the growth cycle, it is advisable to use shades that allow 70% of light to pass through. The specific duration of shade implementation can be further explored in future research.

Comparative study of volatile compounds of cold-pressed oils extracted from three different oilseeds after gamma irradiation.

To investigate the effect of gamma irradiation on the volatile compounds of edible oils. Three types of oilseeds, including peanut, sesame, and flaxseed, were subjected to 8 kGy gamma irradiation, followed by cold pressing to extract their oils. The volatile compounds of the oils were isolated by simultaneous distillation extraction and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. A total of 91 volatile compounds were identified, which can be grouped into eight categories: hydrocarbons, aldehydes, ketones, alcohols, acids, esters, furans, and benzene derivatives. Irradiation treatment resulted in a significant increase in the levels of hydrocarbons, aldehydes, and ketones in all oil samples (p<0.05), with the greatest increase observed in hydrocarbons (4-14 times). In contrast, changes in alcohols, acids, esters, furans, and benzene derivatives were related to oilseed type. The increased hydrocarbons mainly originated from the degradation of palmitic, stearic, oleic, and linoleic acids. The irradiation resistance of the three oilseeds varied considerably, in the order: flaxseed>sesame>peanut. Based on the odor activity value, 11 key aroma compounds were selected, and (E)-2-decenal (tallow, oily, and orange), 1-octanol (soapy and oily), and 1-nonanol (floral and soapy) were only detected in the irradiated samples. Principal component analysis revealed that the oil samples of the three oilseeds could be well classified based on their key aroma compounds, and that the irradiation treatment had no remarkable effect on their intrinsic aroma.

Coated oregano essential oil and cinnamaldehyde compounds supplementation improves growth performance, enhances immune responses and inhibits cecal Escherichia coli proliferation of broilers.

Plant essential oils are unstable due to high volatility and easy oxidation, while microencapsulation provides a potentially effective strategy for increasing the stability of natural essential oils and preserving their function. This study examined the effects of feeding coated oregano essential oil and cinnamaldehyde (COEC) compounds on growth, immune organ development, intestinal morphology, mucosal immune function, and the cecal microbiota populations of broilers. Three hundred one-day-old male Arbor Acres broiler chicks were organized into five groups: (1) negative control fed basal diet alone (NC), (2) positive control receiving basal diet plus 50mg/kg of chlortetracycline (CTC), (3) basal diet plus 150mg/kg COEC (COEC150), (4) plus 300mg/kg COEC (COEC300), and (5) plus 450mg/kg COEC (COEC450). The supplement trial was continued for 42 days. The results showed that CTC, COEC300 and COEC450 treatments decreased the feed conversion ratio of broilers both in the starter and whole experiment phases, increased the height of jejunal villi at 21 d and the number of goblet cells and IgA-producing cells at 21 or 42 d compared with NC group (P < 0.05). Members of the COEC300 treatment group had a higher thymus weight index and jejunum length index than birds of NC or CTC groups at 21 d (P < 0.05). CTC and all COEC treatments decreased malondialdehyde content in jejunal mucosa at 42 d (P < 0.05). The population of Escherichia coli in the cecal digesta at 21 d was lower in the CTC, COEC300 and COEC450 treatment groups compared with the NC group (P < 0.05). In contrast to the CTC group, COEC supplementation dose-dependently accelerated body weight gain, improved jejunal morphology, decreased malondialdehyde content in jejunal mucosa, increased numbers of jejunal goblet cells and IgA-producing cells, and decreased the Escherichia coli population in cecal digesta at 21 or 42 d (P < 0.05). Thus, we concluded that feeding broiler chickens with 300 or 450mg/kg in antibiotic-free diets can improve growth performance, enhance immune responses and inhibit the proliferation of cecal pathogenic bacteria.

First Report on Salvia Sahendica Boiss & Buhs roots biocomponents characterization by GC-MS and HPLC and Antibacterial Potency

Treatment of bacterial infections with antibiotic resistance is complicated. For this reason, new therapeutic methods are needed to control bacterial infections. Therefore, it is necessary to discover new antibiotics from medicinal plants that can destroy drug-resistant bacteria. Essential oils (EO) of some medicinal plants have antimicrobial effects and can be used as antimicrobial agents in the treatment of infections and food industries. The aim of this study was to determine the EO composition and antimicrobial effects of EO and polyphenols profile of Salvia Sahendica roots for the first time. Chemical compounds and antibacterial activity of EOs against Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus as gram-positive and Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa as gram- negative bacteria were evaluated using microtiter broth dilution method. Studied organs of S. sahendica showed significant diversity in terms of type and percentage of essential oil and polyphenol compounds. Overall, 44, 46, 42, and 45 compounds were identified in the essential oil of leaves, flowers, stems, and roots of this plant, which constituted 99.6, 99.3, 98.2, and 99.4% of total oil composition, respectively. The current study collectively demonstrated inhibitory effects ranged from strong (S. aureus) to low inhibition (P. aeruginosa). According to the HPLC result, the amounts of coumaric acid, chlorogenic acid, and gallic acid compounds in the root are higher than in other plant parts, which indicate that the root can be a suitable source for the production of these valuable polyphenol compounds. Due to the results, it is possible to hope for the application of EO from S. sahendica as natural antibacterial in the pharmaceutical and food industries.

Development and characterization of nanoemulsions containing Lippia origanoides Kunth essential oil and their antifungal potential against Candida albicans.

Nanoemulsions based on plant essential oils have shown promise as alternatives against fungal pathogens by increasing the solubility and bioavailability of the active compounds of essential oils, which can improve their efficacy and safety. In the present study, we aimed to prepare and characterize nanoemulsions of Lippia origanoides essential oil, and analyze their antifungal activity against C. albicans in planktonic and biofilm form. Additionally, we sought to verify their cytotoxicity. Alginate nanoemulsions were prepared with different concentrations of essential oil, sunflower oil and surfactant to investigate ideal formulations regarding stability and antifungal efficiency. The results showed the nanoemulsions remained stable for longer than 60 days, with acidic pH, particle sizes ranging from 180.17±6.86nm to 497.85±253.50nm, zeta potential from -60.47±2.25 to -43.63±12, and polydispersity index from 0.004 to 0.622. The photomicrographs revealed that the addition of sunflower oil influenced the formation of the particles, forming nanoemulsions. The antifungal results of the essential oil and nanoemulsions showed that the MIC ranged from 0.078 to 0.312mg mL-1. The nanoemulsions were more effective than the free essential oil in eradicating the biofilm, eliminating up to 89.7% of its mass. With regard to cytotoxicity, differences were found between the tests with VERO cells and red blood cells, and the nanoemulsions were less toxic to red blood cells than the free essential oil. These results show that nanoemulsions have antifungal potential against strains of C. albicans in planktonic and biofilm forms.

Cerium Oxide Nanoparticles (CeO2 NPs) Enhance Salt Tolerance in Spearmint (Mentha spicata L.) by Boosting the Antioxidant System and Increasing Essential Oil Composition

Salinity represents a considerable environmental risk, exerting deleterious effects on horticultural crops. Nanotechnology has recently emerged as a promising avenue for enhancing plant tolerance to abiotic stress. Among nanoparticles, cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeO2 NPs) have been demonstrated to mitigate certain stress effects, including salinity. In the present study, the impact of CeO2 NPs (0, 25, and 100 mg L−1) on various morphological traits, photosynthetic pigments, biochemical parameters, and the essential oil profile of spearmint plants under moderate (50 mM NaCl) and severe (100 mM NaCl) salinity stress conditions was examined. As expected, salinity reduced morphological parameters, including plant height, number of leaves, fresh and dry weight of leaves and shoots, as well as photosynthetic pigments, in comparison to control. Conversely, it led to an increase in the content of proline, total phenols, malondialdehyde (MDA), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and antioxidant enzyme activities. In terms of CeO2 NP applications, they improved the salinity tolerance of spearmint plants by increasing chlorophyll and carotenoid content, enhancing antioxidant enzyme activities, and lowering MDA and H2O2 levels. However, CeO2 NPs at 100 mg L−1 had adverse effects on certain physiological parameters, highlighting the need for careful consideration of the applied concentration of CeO2 NPs. Considering the response of essential oil compounds, combination of salinity stress and CeO2 treatments led to an increase in the concentrations of L-menthone, pulegone, and 1,8-cineole, which are the predominant compounds in spearmint essential oil. In summary, foliar application of CeO2 NPs strengthened the resilience of spearmint plants against salinity stress, offering new insights into the potential use of CeO2 NP treatments to enhance crop stress tolerance.

Comparison of Essential Oils of Schinus molle L. Leaves Growing in Different Regions of Algeria in Terms of Their Chemical Compositions and Various Biological Activities

ABSTRACTThis preliminary study investigated the chemical composition and biological properties of essential oils derived from Schinus molle L. leaves obtained from three specific regions in Algeria: Algiers (SMA), Djelfa (SMD), and Mascara (SMM). Gas chromatography (GC) and Gas chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC–MS) analyses confirmed the presence of 52 compounds (100.0%) in SMA essential oil, 50 compounds (100.0%) in SMD, and 72 compounds (100.0%) in SMM essential oils. The main components of SMA oil were camphene (31.82%), limonene (14.71%), and p‐cymene (9.25%). In SMD and SMM oils, α‐phellandrene (14.25% and 12.70%), limonene (13.02% and 11.90%), and germacrene D (10.62% and 10.15%) were the major components, respectively. The antioxidant characteristics were evaluated using five methods: β‐carotene‐linoleic acid, DPPH, ABTS+, CUPRAC, and Metal chelating assays. The results revealed a moderate to low anti‐oxidant effect, with SMA essential oils exhibiting the highest activity. A moderate inhibitory effect against acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), α‐glucosidase, α‐amylase, urease, and tyrosinase was observed, indicating anti‐enzymatic activity. Nevertheless, all samples had higher IC50 values for both antioxidant and anti‐enzymatic activities than 200 μg/mL. It was determined that regional differences in the locations where S. molle grows showed both qualitative and quantitative differences in essential oil components. This difference was also detected in the biological activities of the essential oils. The anti‐inflammatory capacities of the three samples were assessed using Human Red Blood Cell (HRBC) membrane stabilisation and egg albumin denaturation techniques. The results showed effective anti‐inflammatory activity in all three samples. The antimicrobial efficacy was evaluated using a range of tests, such as anti‐quorum sensing, violacein inhibition, anti‐swimming, and anti‐swarming assays, demonstrating moderate activity. No toxic effects were observed at the tested dosages when assessing cytotoxicity against a healthy cell line (CCD18‐Co). This thorough examination provides valuable insights into the chemical composition and bioactive properties of essential oils derived from S. molle. These findings indicate the possible use of these essential oils in the food, medicinal, and cosmetic industries.

A computational biology approach for the identification of potential SARS-CoV-2 main protease inhibitors from natural essential oil compounds.

Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has fomented a climate of fear worldwide due to its rapidly spreading nature, and high mortality rate. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared it as a global pandemic on 11th March, 2020. Many endeavors have been made to find appropriate medications to restrain the SARS CoV-2 infection from spreading but there is no specific antiviral therapy to date. However, a computer-aided drug design approach can be an alternative to identify probable drug candidates within a short time. SARS-CoV-2 main protease is a proven drug target, and it plays a pivotal role in viral replication and transcription. Methods: In this study, we identified a total of 114 essential oil compounds as a feasible anti-SARS-CoV-2 agent from several online reservoirs. These compounds were screened by incorporating ADMET profiling, molecular docking, and 50 ns of molecular dynamics simulation to identify potential drug candidates against the SARS-CoV-2 main protease. The crystallized SARS-CoV-2 main protease structure was collected from the RCSB PDB database (PDB ID 6LU7). Results: According to the results of the ADMET study, none of the compounds have any side effects that could reduce their druglikeness or pharmacokinetic properties. Out of 114 compounds, we selected bisabololoxide B, eremanthin, and leptospermone as our top drug candidates based on their higher binding affinity scores, and strong interaction with the Cys 145-His 41 catalytic dyad. Finally, the molecular dynamics simulation was implemented to evaluate the structural stability of the ligand-receptor complex. MD simulations disclosed that all the hits showed conformational stability compared to the positive control α-ketoamide. Conclusions: Our study showed that the top three hits might work as potential anti-SARS-CoV-2 agents, which can pave the way for discovering new drugs, but for experimental validation, they will require more in vivo trials.

Study of Hyssop Essential Oil from Southeastern Serbia.

The aim of the present study was a chemical, microbiological and statistics analysis of Hyssopus officinalis L. subsp. aristatus (Godr.) Nyman essential oil during different stages of development from three natural populations of plant collected in southeastern Serbia. In addition, using statistical tools, we also tried to explain the effect of dominant components' content on antimicrobial activity. Oxygenated monoterpenes were the most abundant compound class in the H. officinalis oil during examined phenological stages (27.32-92.25%). The four most abundant essential oil components are eucalyptol, cis-pinocamphone, β-pinene and β-ocimene. H. officinalis essential oils demonstrated minimum inhibitory concentrations and minimum microbicidal concentrations values from 2.4 to 160 mg/mL. Maximum antimicrobial activity, in total, was recorded in November, after the flowering stage. The percentage of dominant compounds of essential oils, eucalyptol, and cis-pinocamphone, affects essential oils' antibacterial activity. The essential oil with most closely matched research criteria was extracted from a plant in Kravlje village.

Effect of atmospheric cold plasma treatment on the flavor of high-fat aquatic products: A case study of golden pomfret (Trachinotus ovatus, family Bramidae) oil using GC-MS, GC-IMS, and an E-nose

This study examines the effects of atmospheric cold plasma (AP) treatment on golden pomfret oil, particularly its physicochemical properties and flavor compounds. Volatile flavor compounds in the golden pomfret fish oil were investigated following AP treatment and cold storage for 30 d using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, gas chromatography-ion mobility mass spectrometry, and an electronic nose. The relative odor activity values revealed that certain molecules, including pentane, tridecane, styrene, methyl palmitate, benzyl benzoate, 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone, and oleic acid, were potential markers for distinguishing between the aromas at fresh group, 30 d of storage, and 30 d of AP storage. The content of volatile compounds changed during low-temperature refrigeration. AP treatment was a protective measure against flavor changes during storage. This information can aid in exploring the formation mechanism of the characteristic odor of AP-treated golden pomfret oil and its related metabolic pathways.

Isolation of linalool compounds of nampu rhizome essential oil (Homalomena occulta) by vacuum fractionation distillation method

The perfume industry in various countries is increasingly expanding and the appeal of perfume comes from its distinctive scent. One of Indonesia's potential needs in the organic perfume industry is essential oils. Nampu rhizome (Homalomena occulta) has great potential and is widely spread on the island of Java. This is because the Nampu rhizome has the main chemical component in the form of linalool compounds, which are essential oil components with high economic value, so it needs to improve quality by increasing its purity. A technology that was developed to improve the purity of essential oils was vacuum fractionation distillation. The purpose of the study was to analyze the effect of temperature on the quality of distillation in the fractionation results of Nampu rhizome essential oil (linalool compound). The experiment used a material temperature factor between 135-160°C and &gt; 160°C.The analysis of fractionation results was carried out on physical properties including refractive index, specific gravity, optical rotation, colour, and linalool compound with GC-FID and yield. The results showed a refractive index value of 1.4620 nD, specific gravity of 0.8647, optical rotation of -19.80, clear oil colour and yield of 69.80%. Chemical analysis with GC-FID improves the purity level of the final product against the linalool fraction increased by 10.02% or linalool purity by 90.92%.

Comparative Analysis of Volatile Compounds and Biochemical Activity of Curcuma xanthorrhiza Roxb. Essential Oil Extracted from Distinct Shaded Plants.

The application of shade during plants' growth significantly alters the biochemical compounds of the essential oil (EO). We aimed to analyze the effect of shade on the volatile compounds and biochemical activities of EO extracted from Curcuma xanthorrhiza Roxb. (C. xanthorrhiza) plants. Four shading conditions were applied: no shading (S0), 25% (S25), 50% (S50), and 75% shade (S75). The volatile compounds of EO extracted from each shaded plant were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The antioxidant, antibacterial, and antiproliferative activities of EO were also investigated. We found that shade application significantly reduced the C. xanthorrhiza EO yield but increased its aroma and bioactive compound concentration. α-curcumene, xanthorrhizol, α-cedrene, epicurzerenone, and germacrone were found in EO extracted from all conditions. However, β-bisabolol, curzerene, curcuphenol, and γ-himachalene were only detected in the EO of S75 plants. The EO of the shaded plants also showed higher antioxidant activity as compared to unshaded ones. In addition, the EO extracted from S75 exerted higher antiproliferative activity on HeLa cells as compared to S0. The EO extracted from S0 and S25 showed higher antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria than kanamycin. Our results suggest that shade applications alter the composition of the extractable volatile compounds in C. xanthorrhiza, which may result in beneficial changes in the biochemical activity of the EO.

The effect of chemical fertilizers on the quantitative and qualitative yield of oregano (Origanum vulgare L) plant

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of NPK fertilizer on marjoram plant for two years (2017 and 2018). Various levels of nitrogen (0, 50 and 100 kg/ha), potash (0, 40 and 80 kg/ha), and phosphorus (0 and 30 kg/ha) fertilizers were applied. The results revealed that the use of NPK fertilizers significantly increased the dry weight of the aerial parts (leaves, inflorescences, and whole aerial parts) of the marjoram plant. In the first year, the dry weight of the whole shoot increased by 82 to 124 g/m2, and in the second year, it increased by 82 to 129 g/m2. Moreover, regarding essential oil concentration, this parameter in inflorescence ranged from 2.38% to 3.66% in the first year, while in the second year, it ranged from 3.02% to 4.14%. Notably, the inflorescence had a higher essential oil concentration compared to the leaves. The study also found that the use of NPK fertilizer at a ratio of 100:20:40 kg/ha resulted in the highest percentage of essential oil in the aerial. Conversely, the control treatment led to a decrease in essential oil yield. Among the essential oil compounds, Carvacrol and p-Cymene were the predominant components, with concentrations ranging from 49.36% to 60.32% and 2.03% to 4.56%, respectively, in various marjoram plant organs.

In silico study of the xanthine oxidase enzyme inhibition by the essential oil compounds of Myrtus communis plant in the treatment of gout disease

In silico study of the xanthine oxidase enzyme inhibition by the essential oil compounds of Myrtus communis plant in the treatment of gout disease

Application of iron oxide nanoparticles improves growth and phytochemical constituents of in vitro cultured Carum copticum L.

Iron oxide nanoparticles (FeONPs) are widely used in various applications, such as biomedicine, environmental remediation, and agriculture. Moreover, FeONPs can affect the production of secondary metabolites in plants, which are compounds that have various biological and pharmacological activities. Therefore, in this study, the ajwain (Carum copticum L.) seeds were grown in MS medium containing different levels of FeONPs (0, 100, 200, and 400 mg l−1). After four weeks, the effects of FeONPs on growth, photosynthesis pigments, total phenolic, and anthocyanin content, activities of some antioxidant enzyme and secondary metabolites of ajwain) were investigated. The results showed that low levels of FeONPs (especially 200 mg l−1) increased fresh weight (231 %), total chlorophyll (49 %), total phenolics (259 %), anthocyanin content (110 %), as well as thymol (8 %) and γ-terpinene (16 %) content. Conversely, 400 mg l−1 FeONPs reduced root length (60 %) and fresh weight (64 %) was associated with a reduction in CAT activity, phenol (55 %), thymol (22 %), and γ-terpinene (18 %) content compared to ajwain treated with 200 mg l−1 FeONPs. This reduction was probably due to the increase in ROS caused by the low catalase enzyme activity and important essential oils compounds such as thymol and γ-terpinene. Thus, our results indicate that FeONPs at certain levels can be used as a new way for in vitro production of valuable essential oils and antioxidant compounds in ajwain.

Effects of different pressing methods on physicochemical properties and volatile compounds of the apricot kernel oil

Effects of different pressing methods on physicochemical properties and volatile compounds of the apricot kernel oil