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Essential oils are often utilized for therapeutic purposes and are composed of complex structural molecules, including sesquiterpenes, with high molecular weight and potential for stereochemistry. A detailed study on the properties of selected sesquiterpenes was conducted as part of a broader investigation on the effects of sesquiterpenes on the central nervous system. A set of 18 sesquiterpenes, rigorously selected from an original list of 114, was divided into 2 groups i.e., the training and test sets, with each containing 9 compounds. The training set was evaluated for the sedative activity in mice through inhalation, and all compounds were sedatives at any dose in the range of 4 × 10−4 –4 × 10−2 mg/cage, except for curzerene. Molecular determinants of the sedative activities of sesquiterpenes were evaluated using quantitative structure–activity relationship (QSAR) and structure–activity relationship (SAR) analyses. An additional test set of six compounds obtained from the literature was utilized for validating the QSAR model. The parental carbonyl cation and an oxygen-containing groups are possible determinants of sedative activity. The QSAR study using multiple regression models could reasonably predict the sedative activity of sesquiterpenes with statistical parameters such as the correlation coefficient r2 = 0.82 > 0.6 and q2LOO = 0.71 > 0.5 obtained using the leave-one-out cross-validation technique. Molar refractivity and the number of hydrogen bond acceptors were statistically important in predicting the activities. The present study could help predict the sedative activity of additional sesquiterpenes, thus accelerating the process of drug development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Origanum spp. are used both for culinary purposes and for their biological activities. In this study, commercial Origanum majorana, Origanum minutiflorum, Origanum vulgare , and Origanum onites essential oils and their prominent constituent carvacrol were evaluated for their in vitro and in silico angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 and lipoxygenase enzyme inhibitory potentials. The essential oils were analysed by gas chromatography-flame ionisation detection and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, where carvacrol was identified as the major component (62 – 81%), confirming the quality. In vitro enzyme inhibition assays were conducted both with the essential oils (20 µg/mL) and with carvacrol (5 µg/mL). The comparative values of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 percent inhibition for O. majorana, O. minutiflorum, O. vulgare , and O. onites essential oils were determined as 85.5, 79.1, 74.3, and 42.8%, respectively. As a result of the enzyme assays, carvacrol showed 90.7% in vitro angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 inhibitory activity. The in vitro lipoxygenase inhibition of the essential oils (in the same order) was 89.4, 78.9, 81.1, and 73.5%, respectively, where carvacrol showed 74.8% inhibition. In addition, protein–ligand docking and interaction profiling was used to gain structural and mechanistic insights into the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 and lipoxygenase inhibitory potentials of major Origanum essential oil constituents. The in silico findings agreed with the significant enzyme inhibition activity observed in vitro. Further in vivo studies are suggested to confirm the safety and efficacy of the oils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Origanum spp. are used both for culinary purposes and for their biological activities. In this study, commercial Origanum majorana, Origanum minutiflorum, Origanum vulgare , and Origanum onites essential oils and their prominent constituent carvacrol were evaluated for their in vitro and in silico angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 and lipoxygenase enzyme inhibitory potentials. The essential oils were analysed by gas chromatography-flame ionisation detection and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, where carvacrol was identified as the major component (62 – 81%), confirming the quality. In vitro enzyme inhibition assays were conducted both with the essential oils (20 µg/mL) and with carvacrol (5 µg/mL). The comparative values of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 percent inhibition for O. majorana, O. minutiflorum, O. vulgare , and O. onites essential oils were determined as 85.5, 79.1, 74.3, and 42.8%, respectively. As a result of the enzyme assays, carvacrol showed 90.7% in vitro angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 inhibitory activity. The in vitro lipoxygenase inhibition of the essential oils (in the same order) was 89.4, 78.9, 81.1, and 73.5%, respectively, where carvacrol showed 74.8% inhibition. In addition, protein–ligand docking and interaction profiling was used to gain structural and mechanistic insights into the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 and lipoxygenase inhibitory potentials of major Origanum essential oil constituents. The in silico findings agreed with the significant enzyme inhibition activity observed in vitro. Further in vivo studies are suggested to confirm the safety and efficacy of the oils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of China Cleaning Industry / Zhongguo Xidi Yongpin Gongye is the property of China Cleaning Industry Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Antimicrobial research into the use of Melaleuca alternifolia essential oil has demonstrated broad-spectrum activity; however, much of the research published focuses on identifying the potential of this essential oil individually, rather than in combination for an enhanced antimicrobial effect. This study aimed to determine the antimicrobial activity of four essential oil combinations, all inclusive of M. alternifolia , against nine pathogens associated with the respiratory tract. The minimum inhibitory concentration assay was used to determine the antimicrobial activity of four essential oil combinations, M. alternifolia in combination with Cupressus sempervirens, Origanum majorana, Myrtus communis , and Origanum vulgare essential oils. The interactions between essential oil combinations were analyzed using isobolograms and SynergyFinder 2.0 software to visualize the synergistic potential at varied ratios. The antimicrobial activity of the different combinations of essential oils all demonstrated the ability to produce an enhanced antimicrobial effect compared to the essential oils when investigated independently. The findings of this study determined that isobolograms provide a more in-depth analysis of an essential oil combination interaction; however, the value of that interaction should be further quantified using computational modelling such as SynergyFinder. This study further supports the need for more studies where varied ratios of essential oils are investigated for antimicrobial potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is necessary to diversify the scion/rootstock combinations for Persian lime cultivation, notably under tropical rainfed conditions. Therefore, in this work we evaluated the performance of a new cultivar, BRS EECB IAC Ponta Firme, up to six years after planting on 26 citrus rootstocks under Aw climate in northern São Paulo state, Brazil. Thirty single-tree randomized replications of each rootstock were evaluated without irrigation at 1,000 trees·ha-1. Lemon-type, followed by mandarin rootstocks induced the largest tree size and higher mean yield, probably related to the higher drought tolerance. The true dwarfing rootstocks of Flying Dragon trifoliate orange and Lindcove citrandarin were highly drought-intolerant, but, in addition to Swingle citrumelo and four other citrandarins, they did not present huanglongbing-symptomatic trees during the evaluation period under strict control of the insect vector. Overall, BRS EECB IAC Ponta Firme fruit quality was minimally influenced by the rootstock cultivar and fulfilled the requirements for both domestic and export fresh fruit markets. Due to superior production efficiency associated with high yield in relation to the canopy size, the Goutoucheng sour orange, BRS Ary, BRS Bravo and BRS Matta hybrids were selected as potential rootstocks of rainfed BRS EECB IAC Ponta Firme lime under Aw climate (tropical savannah) conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acne is a skin condition arising from excess sebum production and microbial overgrowth within the pilosebaceous unit. Several commercial essential oils have shown promising activity against acne-related pathogens. Due to their volatility and thermal instability, the formulation of essential oils into commercial products remains a pharmaceutical challenge. Thus, this study aimed to develop a viable anti-acne topical treatment as an oil-in-water emulsified lotion to overcome these challenges. Chrysopogon zizanioides (vetiver) displayed noteworthy antimicrobial activity with a mean minimum inhibitory concentration of 0.14 mg/mL against Cutibacterium acnes, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis , and Streptococcus pyogenes. Emulsified lotions containing C. zizanioides were developed through the hydrophilic-lipophilic balance approach. At tested hydrophilic-lipophilic balance values of 8, 9, and 10, C. zizanioides emulsified lotions displayed maximum stability at hydrophilic-lipophilic balance 9 with a minimum change in mean droplet size and polydispersity index of 20.61 and 33.33%, respectively, over 84 days. The C. zizanioides emulsified lotion at optimum hydrophilic-lipophilic balance 9 completely inhibited the growth of C. acnes and killed S. aureus, S. epidermidis , and S. pyogenes within 24 h. Additionally, the lotion retained antimicrobial activity against these test micro-organisms over the 84-day stability test period. Thus, the C. zizanioides emulsified lotion demonstrated physical stability and antimicrobial efficiency, making it an ideal natural product anti-acne treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Essential oils and isolated essential oil compounds are known to exert various pharmacological effects, such as antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, anti-immunomodulatory, antioxidant, and wound healing effects. Based on selected articles, this review deals with the potential antiviral and virucidal activities of essential oils and essential oil compounds together with their mechanism of action as well as in silico studies involving viral and host cell-specific target molecules that are indispensable for virus cell adsorption, penetration, and replication. The reported in vitro and in vivo studies highlight the baseline data about the latest findings of essential oils and essential oil compounds antiviral and virucidal effects on enveloped and non-enveloped viruses, taking into account available biochemical and molecular biological tests. The results of many in vitro studies revealed that several essential oils and essential oil compounds from different medicinal and aromatic plants are potent antiviral and virucidal agents that inhibit viral progeny by blocking different steps of the viral infection/replication cycle of DNA and RNA viruses in various host cell lines. Studies in mice infected with viruses causing respiratory diseases showed that different essential oils and essential oil compounds were able to prolong the life of infected animals, reduce virus titers in brain and lung tissues, and significantly inhibit the synthesis of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines. In addition, some in vitro studies on hydrophilic nano-delivery systems encapsulating essential oils/essential oil compounds exhibited a promising way to improve the chemical stability and enhance the water solubility, bioavailabilty, and antiviral efficacy of essential oils and essential oil compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Terpenes are secondary metabolites produced from isopentenyl pyrophosphate (IPP) and dimethylallyl pyrophosphate (DMAPP). Considering their role against biotic and abiotic stress conditions, the D-limonene, a terpene recognized for its roles in plant defense and as pigment molecules, was tested to monitor its impact in the accumulation of carotenoid terpene pigments during tomato fruit ripening. The concentrations of 0.0, 1.0, and 2.0 mL · L--1 were sprayed weekly on tomato plants 'Micro-Tom' until the harvest. The fruits were harvested at the mature green stage (MG), the breaker stages (BR), three days after the breaker (BR + 3), the red ripe stage (RR), and the concentration of carotenoids was evaluated. The application of D-limonene enhanced the concentration of carotenoids in the early stages of tomato fruit ripening and ripe fruits, and the accumulation of carotenoids was greater following dose increment. This result can bring important contributions to horticulture and food nutrition by linking plant defense and the accumulation of molecules with recognized antioxidant capacity in fruit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Teucrium is a large and polymorphic genus of the Lamiaceae family distributed in mild climate zones, particularly in the Mediterranean basin and Central Asia. Studies of nonvolatile constituents of Teucrium species showed that they are a rich source of neo -clerodane diterpenoids, considered as chemotaxonomic markers of the genus. In addition to the nonvolatile metabolites, there has been a large interest in the essential oils of this genus. In this review, a complete survey of the chemical composition and biological properties of the essential oils isolated from Teucrium taxa is provided. In traditional medicine, since ancient times, species of this genus have been widely implemented for their biological properties, including antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, insecticidal, anti-malaria, etc. Therefore, a complete review of all of the traditional uses of Teucrium taxa are also reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Manuka oil, an essential oil derived from the Leptospermum scoparium , has been traditionally used for wound care and as a topical antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory. However, the essential oil is not well retained at mucosal sites, such as the oral cavity, where the benefits of the aforementioned properties could be utilized toward the treatment of persistent biofilms. Within this study, L. scoparium essential oil was incorporated into a semisolid emulsion for improved delivery. The safety profile of L. scoparium essential oil on human gingival fibroblasts was determined via cell viability, cytotoxicity, and caspase activation. The minimal bactericidal concentration of L. scoparium essential oil was determined, and the emulsionʼs antibiofilm effects visualized using confocal laser scanning microscopy. L. scoparium essential oil demonstrated a lower IC50 (0.02% at 48 h) when compared to the clinical control chlorhexidine (0.002% at 48 h) and displayed lower cumulative cytotoxicity. Higher concentrations of L. scoparium essential oil (≥ 0.1%) at 6 h resulted in higher caspase 3/7 activation, suggesting an apoptotic pathway of cell death. A minimal bactericidal concentration of 0.1% w/w was observed for 6 oral bacteria and 0.01% w/v for Porphyromonas gingivalis. Textural and rheometric analysis indicated increased stability of emulsion with a 1 : 3 ratio of L. scoparium essential oil: Oryza sativa carrier oil. The optimized 5% w/w L. scoparium essential oil emulsion showed increased bactericidal penetrative effects on Streptococci gordonii biofilms compared to oil alone and to chlorhexidine controls. This study has demonstrated the safety, formulation, and antimicrobial activity of L. scoparium essential oil emulsion for potential antibacterial applications at mucosal sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant volatile organic compounds (volatiles) are secondary plant metabolites that play crucial roles in the reproduction, defence, and interactions with other vegetation. They have been shown to exhibit a broad range of biological properties and have been investigated for antimicrobial and anticancer activities. In addition, they are thought be more environmentally friendly than many other synthetic chemicals 1. Despite these facts, their applications in the medical, food, and agricultural fields are considerably restricted due to their volatilities, instabilities, and aqueous insolubilities. Nanoparticle encapsulation of plant volatile organic compounds is regarded as one of the best strategies that could lead to the enhancement of the bioavailability and biological activity of the volatile compounds by overcoming their physical limitations and promoting their controlled release and cellular absorption. In this review, we will discuss the biosynthesis and analysis of plant volatile organic compounds, their biological activities, and limitations. Furthermore, different types of nanoparticle platforms used to encapsulate the volatiles and the biological efficacies of nanoencapsulated volatile organic compounds will be covered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Candida albicans is the most common human fungal pathogen, and with the increase in resistance rates worldwide, it is necessary to search for new pharmacological alternatives. Lavandula dentata L. essential oil is recognized as having antimicrobial properties. However, its effect against fungal biofilms has been poorly described. C. albicans -related infections involve the development of biofilms, which are highly resistant to conventional antifungals. In this work, we evaluated the antibiofilm effect of L. dentata L. essential oil against C. albicans. First, we characterized the essential oil by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The antifungal effect on C. albicans reference strains was evaluated by a disk diffusion assay and the minimal inhibitory concentration was obtained through a microdilution assay. The effect of the essential oil on the adhesion ability of C. albicans was determined through a crystal violet assay, and morphogenesis inhibition was assessed by light microscopy. The effect of the essential oil on the microarchitecture of biofilms was evaluated through scanning electron microscopy. Finally, the antibiofilm effect was evaluated through an adapted biofilm scratch assay and XTT viability assay. The main constituent of the essential oil was the monoterpenoid eucalyptol (60%). The essential oil presented minimal inhibitory concentrations of 156 and 130 µg/mL against two strains assayed. This minimal inhibitory concentration inhibited adhesion, morphogenesis, biofilm formation, altered microarchitecture, and decreased the viability of established biofilms formed on abiotic surfaces for both strains assayed. This study demonstrates that the essential oil from L. dentata could be a promising treatment against C. albicans biofilms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of China Cleaning Industry / Zhongguo Xidi Yongpin Gongye is the property of China Cleaning Industry Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Prangos ferulacea (L.) Lindl. (Fam. Apiaceae), an orophilous species of eastern Mediterranean and western Asia, possesses a number of biological properties that are worthy of exploitation in different fields. Phytochemical investigations revealed the presence of coumarins, prenyl-coumarins, and furano-coumarins as the main constituents of this species, as well as several flavonoids. Among prenyl-coumarins, osthol is a promising apoptotic agent quite selective toward cancer cells. In addition, the essential oils have been extensively investigated, and several chemotypes have been identified. This work reviews the literature on this species published between 1965 and 2018, describes its volatile and nonvolatile metabolites, and outlines its pharmacological effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geraniol is an acyclic isoprenoid monoterpene isolated from the essential oils of aromatic plants including Cinnamomum tenuipilum, Valeriana officinalis, and several other plants. The limited source of geraniol from plant isolation cannot fulfill the great demand from the flavor and fragrance industries, which require maximizing geraniol production through biotechnology processes. The diverse activities of geraniol suggested that geraniol could treat various diseases as a promising drug candidate. In order to evaluate the potential of geraniol applied in a clinical trial, this review aims at providing a comprehensive summary of the pharmacological effects of geraniol. The publications retrieved from PubMed, ScienceDirect, Springer, and Wiley databases were collected and summarized for the last 6 years. Then, the potential application of geraniol as a drug is discussed based on its pharmacological properties, including antitumor, anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, and antimicrobial activities, and hepatoprotective, cardioprotective, and neuroprotective effects. Hence, this review aims at providing evidence of the pharmacological activities of geraniol in the context of further development as a drug candidate in clinical application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leishmaniases is a tropical disease caused by protozoa of the genus Leishmania for which the current treatment is expensive, besides increasing reports of parasite resistance. This study investigated the anti- Leishmania amazonensis activity of the essential oil from Aloysia gratissima (AgEO) and guaiol, the major sesquiterpene constituent in the oil. Our results showed that AgEO killed promastigotes and intracellular amastigotes at an IC50 of 25 and 0·16 µ g mL−1, respectively, while guaiol killed amastigotes at an IC50 of 0·01 µ g mL−1. Both AgEO and guaiol were safe for macrophages up to 100 µ g mL−1, as evaluated by the dehydrogenase activity, membrane integrity and phagocytic capacity. AgEO and guaiol did not induce nitrite oxide (NO) in resting macrophages and inhibited the production of NO in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated macrophages. The ultrastructural analysis suggested that AgEO and guaiol act directly on parasites, affecting promastigotes kinetoplast, mitochondrial matrix and plasma membrane. Together, these results pointed out that AgEO and guaiol could be promising candidates to develop anti- Leishmania drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-field NMR is an expensive and important quality control technique. In recent years, cheaper and simpler low-field NMR has become available as a new quality control technique. In this study, 60 MHz qH-NMR was compared with GC-MS and refractometry for the detection of adulteration of essential oils, taking patchouli essential oil as a test case. Patchouli essential oil is frequently adulterated, even today. In total, 75 genuine patchouli essential oils, 10 commercial patchouli essential oils, 10 other essential oils, 17 adulterants, and 1 patchouli essential oil, spiked at 20% with those adulterants, were measured. Visual inspection of the NMR spectra allowed for easy detection of 14 adulterants, while gurjun and copaiba balsams proved difficult and one adulterant could not be detected. NMR spectra of 10 random essential oils differed not only strongly from patchouli essential oil but also from one another, suggesting that fingerprinting by low-field NMR is not limited to patchouli essential oil. Automated chemometric evaluation of NMR spectra was possible by similarity analysis (Mahalanobis distance) based on the integration from 0.1 -8.1 ppm in 0.01 ppm increments. Good quality patchouli essential oils were recognised as well as 15 of 17 deliberate adulterations. Visual qualitative inspection by GC-MS allowed for the detection of all volatile adulterants. Nonvolatile adulterants, and all but one volatile adulterant, could be detected by semiquantitation. Different chemometric approaches showed satisfactory results. Similarity analyses were difficult with nonvolatile adulterants. Refractive index measurements could detect only 8 of 17 adulterants. Due to advantages such as simplicity, rapidity, reproducibility, and ability to detect nonvolatile adulterants, 60 MHz ¹H-NMR is complimentary to GC-MS for quality control of essential oils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(Acetoxy-)valerenic acid and total essential oil content are important quality attributes of pharmacy grade valerian root (Valerianae radix). Traditional analysis of these quantities is time-consuming and necessitates (harmful) solvents. Here we investigated an application of attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy for extractionless analysis of these quality attributes on a representative sample comprising 260 wild-crafted individuals covering the Central European taxonomic diversity of the Valeriana officinalis L.s. l. species aggregate with its three major ploidy cytotypes (i.e., di-, tetra- and octoploid). Calibration models were built by orthogonal partial least squares regression for quantitative analysis of (acetoxy-)valerenic acid and total essential oil content. For the latter, we propose a simplistic protocol involving apolar extraction followed by gas chromatography as a reference method for multivariate calibration in order to handle the analysis of samples taken from individual plants. We found good predictive ability of chemometric models for quantification of valerenic acid, acetoxyvalerenic acid, total sesquiterpenoid acid, and essential oil content with a root mean squared error of cross-validation of 0.064, 0.043, and 0.09 and root mean squared error of prediction of 0.066, 0.057, and 0.09 (% content), respectively. Orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis revealed good discriminability between the most productive phenotype (i.e., the octoploid cytotype) in terms of sesquiterpenoid acids, and the less productive ones (i.e., di- and tetraploid). All in all, our results demonstrate the application of attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy for rapid, extractionless estimation of the most important quality attributes of valerian root and minimally invasive identification of the most productive phenotype in terms of sesquiterpenoid acids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis is a protozoan that causes mucocutaneous leishmaniasis, which is an infectious disease that affects more than 12 million people worldwide. The available treatment is limited, has side-effects or is inefficient. In a search for alternative compounds of natural origin, we tested the microbicidal activity of Piper aduncum essential oil (PaEO) on this parasite. Our data showed that PaEO had an inhibitory effect on the growth of L. braziliensis promastigotes with an IC50/24 h=77·9 μg mL−1. The main constituent (nerolidol: 25·22%) presented a similar inhibitory effect (IC50/24 h = 74·3 μg mL−1). Ultrastructural observation of nerolidol-treated parasites by scanning and transmission electron microscopies revealed cell shrinkage and morphological alterations in the mitochondrion, nuclear chromatin and flagellar pocket. Flow cytometry analysis showed a reduction in the cell size, loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, phosphatidylserine exposure and DNA degradation, which when associated with the morphological changes indicated that nerolidol induced incidental cell death in the L. braziliensis promastigotes. The results presented here indicate that nerolidol derivatives are promising compounds for further evaluation against Leishmania parasites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extracts and essential oils from plants are important natural sources of pesticides. These compounds are considered an alternative to control ectoparasites of veterinary importance. Schinus molle, an endemic species of Brazil, produces a high level of essential oil and several other compounds. The aim of this work was to determinate the chemical composition of extracts and essential oils of S. molle and further to evaluate the activity against eggs and adults of Ctenocephalides felis felis, a predominant flea that infests dogs and cats in Brazil. In an in vitro assay, the non-polar (n-hexane) extract showed 100% efficacy (800 µg cm−2; LD50 = 524·80 µg cm−2) at 24 and 48 h. Its major compound was lupenone (50·25%). Essential oils from fruits and leaves were evaluated, and had 100% efficacy against adult fleas at 800 µg cm−2 (LD50 = 353·95 µg cm−2) and at 50 µg cm−2 (LD50 = 12·02 µg cm−2), respectively. On the other hand, the essential oil from fruits and leaves was not active against flea eggs. This is the first study that reports the insecticidal effects of essential oils and extracts obtained from Schinus molle against Ctenocephalides felis felis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to evaluate the in vitro and in vivo antileishmanial activities of Pistacia vera essential oil and compare their efficacy with a reference drug, meglumine antimoniate (Glucantime®). This essential oil (0-100 µg/mL) was evaluated in vitro against the intracellular amastigote forms of Leishmania tropica (MHOM/IR/2002/Mash2) and then tested on cutaneous leishmaniasis of male BALB/c mice by Leishmania major (MRHO/IR/75/ ER). In the in vitro assay, it could be observed that P. vera essential oil significantly (p<0.05) inhibited the growth rate of amastigote forms (IC50 of 21.3 ± 2.1 µg/mL) in a dose-dependent response compared with the control drug. Meglumine antimoniate also demonstrated antileishmanial effects with an IC50 value of 44.6 ± 2.5 µg/mL for this clinical stage. In the in vivo assay, the results indicated that 30 mg/mL of the essential oil had potent suppression effects on cutaneous leishmaniasis in BALB/c mice (87.5% recovery), while 10 and 20 mg/mL of the essential oil represented the suppression effects as weak to intermediate. The mean diameter of the lesions decreased about 0.11 and 0.27 cm after the treatment of the subgroups with the essential oil concentrations of 10 and 20 mg/mL, respectively. In contrast, in the subgroup treated with the essential oil concentration of 30 mg/mL, the mean diameter of the lesions decreased about 0.56 cm. In the control subgroups, the mean diameter of the lesions increased to 1.01 cm. The main components of P. vera essential oil were limonene (26.21 %), α-pinene (18.07%), and α-thujene (9.31 %). It was also found that P. vera essential oil had no significant cytotoxic effect on J774 cells. The present study found that P. vera essential oil showed considerable in vitro and in vivo effectiveness against L. tropica and L major compared to the reference drug. These findings also provided the scientific evidence that natural plants could be used in traditional medicine for the prevention and treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compositions of true lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) and spike lavender (Lavandula latifolia) essential oils, cultivated and extracted in the Southeast of Spain, were determined by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry detection, obtaining both relative (peak area) and absolute (using standard curves) concentrations. Linalool (37-54%), linalyl acetate (21-36%) and (E)-β-caryophyllene (1-3%) were the most abundant components for L. angustifolia. Linalool (35-51%), eucalyptol (26-32%), camphor (10-18%), α-pinene (1-2%), α-terpineol (1-2%) and α-bisabolene (1-2%) were the most abundant components for L. latifolia. The characterization was completed with enantioselective gas chromatography, in which the determined main molecules were (-)-linalool, (-)-linalyl acetate and (+)-camphor. (S)-(-)-camphene, (R)-(+)-limonene, (1R, 9S)-(-)-(E)-β-caryophyllene and (1R, 4R, 6R, 10S)-(-)-caryophyllene oxide were found in this study as the predominant enantiomers in Spanish L. angustifolia. The characterised essential oils were tested for their antioxidant activity against free radicals ABTS, DPPH, ORAC, chelating, and reducing power. Inhibitory activity on lipoxygenase was observed indicating a possible anti-inflammatory activity, mainly due to linalool, camphor, p-cymene and limonene. These results can be the starting point for a future study of the potential use of L. angustifolia and L. latifolia essential oils as natural cosmetic and natural pharmaceutical ingredients for several skin diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diverse solvent extracts of Artemisia indica leaves originating from the West Bengal region (India) were assessed for the content of artemisinin and characteristic Artemisia polymethoxyflavonoids, namely eupatin (1), casticin (2), chrysoplenetin (3), cirsilineol (4), chrysophenol-D (5), and arte-metin (6). HPLC-DAD and HPLC-MS were used to investigate the extracts macerated by solvents of increasing polarity, i.e., petroleum ether, n-hex-ane, dichloromethane, acetone, MeOH, or EtOH (either 96, 80, or 60% v/v), and hot water. Artemisinin was absent in all extracts. The acetone and EtOH extracts comprised the highest levels of polymethoxyflavonoids, whereas no flavonoid could be detected in the infusion. None of the remaining extracts contained chryosphenol-D (5) or artemetin (6), while chrysoplenetin (3) was found in all extracts. The essential oil of the plant was also obtained by hydrodistillation and analysed by gas chromatography and gas chromatog-raphy-mass spectrometry simultaneously. Of the 92 compounds detected in the oil, camphor (13.0%) and caryophyllene oxide (10.87%) were the major components. All solvent extracts and the volatile oil showed in vitro antimalarial activity, plus a potential malaria prophylactic effect by inhibiting at least two recombinant plasmodial fatty acid biosynthesis (P/FAS-II) enzymes. Except for the infusion, all extracts were also active against other parasitic protozoa and displayed low cytotoxicity against mammalian cells. This is the first detailed study investigating both artemisinin and polymethoxyflavonoid content as well as in vitro malaria prophylactic and detailed antiprotozoal potential of A. indica extracts against a panel of protozoan parasites. This is also the first report of antiparasitic activity of the essential oil of the plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Duguetia gardneriana, popularly known in the Brazilian northeast as "jaquinha", is a species belonging to the family Annonaceae. The aim of this work was to assess the chemical composition and antitumor properties of the essential oil from the leaves of D. gardneriana in experimental models. The chemical composition of the essential oil was analyzed via gas chromatography-flame ionization detector and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. In vitro cytotoxic activity was determined in cultured tumor cells, and in vivo antitumor activity was assessed in B16-F10-bearing mice. The identified compounds were β-bisabolene (80.99%), elemicin (8.04%), germacrene D (4.15%), and cyperene (2.82%). The essential oil exhibited a cytotoxic effect, with IC50 values of 16.89, 19.16, 13.08, and 19.33 µg/mL being obtained for B16-F10, HepG2, HL-60, and K562 cell lines, respectively. On the other hand, β-bisabolene was inactive in all of the tested tumor cell lines (showing IC50 values greater than 25 µg/ mL). The in vivo analysis revealed tumor growth inhibition rates of 5.37-37.52% at doses of 40 and 80 mg/kg/day, respectively. Herein, the essential oil from the leaves of D. gardneriana presented β-bisabolene as the major constituent and showed cytotoxic and antitumor potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zornia brasiliensis, popularly known as "urinária", "urinana", and "carrapicho", is a medicinal plant used in Brazilian northeast folk medicine as a diuretic and against venereal diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the chemical composition and antitumor potential of the leaf essential oil of Z. brasiliensis. The essential oil was obtained by hydrodistillation using a Clevenger-type apparatus and analyzed by GC-MS and GC-FID. Its composition was characterized by the presence of trans-nerolidol, germacrene D, trans-caryophyllene, α-humulene, and farnesene as major constituents. In vitro cytotoxicity of the essential oil and some of its major constituents (trans-nerolidol, trans-caryophyllene, and α-humulene) was evaluated for tumor cell lines from different histotypes using the Alamar blue assay. The essential oil, but not the constituents tested, presented promising cytotoxicity. Furthermore, mice inoculated with B16-F10 mouse melanoma were used to confirm its in vivo effectiveness. An in vivo antitumor study showed tumor growth inhibition rates of 1.68-38.61% (50 and 100 mg/kg, respectively). In conclusion, the leaf essential oil of Z. brasiliensis presents trans-nerolidol, germacrene D, trans-caryophyllene, α-humulene, and farnesene as major constituents and is able to inhibit cell proliferation in cultures as well as in tumor growth in mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Croton zehntneri is an aromatic plant native to Northeast Brazil and employed by local people to treat various diseases. The leaves of this plant have a rich content of essential oil. The essential oil of C. zehntneri samples, with anethole as the major constituent and anethole itself, have been reported to have several pharmacological activities such as antispasmodic, cardiovascular, and gastroprotective effects and inducing the blockade of neuromuscular transmission and antinociception. Since several works have demonstrated that essential oils and their constituents block cell excitability and in view of the multiple effects of C. zehntneri essential oil and anethole on biological tissues, we undertook this investigation aiming to characterize and compare the effects of this essential oil and its major constituent on nerve excitability. Sciatic nerves of Wistar rats were used. They were mounted in a moist chamber, and evoked compound action potentials were recorded. Nerves were exposed in vitro to the essential oil of C. zehntneri and anethole (0.1-1mg/mL) up to 180 min, and alterations in excitability (rheobase and chronaxie) and conductibility (peak-to-peak amplitude and conduction velocity) parameters of the compound action potentials were evaluated. The essential oil of C. zehntneri and anethole blocked, in a concentration-dependent manner with similar pharmacological potencies (IC50: 0.32 ± 0.07 and 0.22 ± 0.11 mg/mL, respectively), rat sciatic nerve compound action potentials. Strength-duration curves for both agents were shifted upward and to the right compared to the control curve, and the rheobase and chronaxie were increased following essential oil and anethole exposure. The time courses of the essential oil of C. zehntneri and anethole effects on peak-to-peak amplitude of compound action potentials followed an exponential decay and reached a steady state. The essential oil of C. zehntneri and anethole caused a similar reduction in conduction velocities of the compound action potential waves investigated. In conclusion, we demonstrated here that the essential oil of C. zehntneri blocks neuronal excitability and that this effect, which can be predominantly attributable to its major constituent, anethole, is important since these agents have several pharmacological effects likely related to the alteration of excitability. This finding is relevant due to the use of essential oils in aromatherapy and the low acute toxicity of this agent, which exhibits other effects of potential therapeutic usefulness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Syzygium aromaticum has been widely used in traditional medicine. Our study investigated the safety and antidepressant-like effects of the essential oil of S. aromaticum after acute or longterm treatment. Using GC-MS, a total of eight volatile constituents were identified in the essential oil of S. aromaticum. The single LD50 was approximately 4500 mg/kg based on a 24-h acute oral toxicity study. In a long-term repeated toxicity study of this essential oil (100, 200, and 400mg/ kg, p. o.), only 400 mg/kg induced a significant decrease in body weight. In addition, no significant changes in relative organweights and histopathological analysis were observed in all doses of essential oil-treated mice compared with the control group. Furthermore, acute S. aromaticum essential oil administration by gavage exerted antidepressant- like effects in the forced swimming test (200 mg/kg, p < 0.05) and tail suspension test (100 and 200 mg/kg, p < 0.05). Long-term S. aromaticum essential oil treatment via gavage significantly increased sucrose preference (50mg/kg, p < 0.05; 100 and 200 mg/kg, p < 0.01) as well as elevated the protein levels of hippocampal p- ERK, p-CREB, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor inmice exposed to chronic unpredictable mild stress. These results confirmed the safety of the essential oil of S. aromaticum and suggested that its potent antidepressant-like property might be attributed to the improvement in the hippocampal pERK1/2-pCREB-BDNF pathway in rats exposed to chronic unpredictable mild stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the chemical composition and biological activity of the essential oil of Artemisia absinthium was studied. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of ethnopharmacological uses of this plant species in the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases and wounds, and as an insect repellent. The aerial part of the plant was hydrodistilled, and the chemical composition of the essential oil was analyzed by gas chromatography and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Forty-seven compounds, corresponding to 94.65% of the total oil, were identified, with the main constituents being sabinene (24.49%), sabinyl acetate (13.64%), and α-phellandrene (10.29%). The oil yield was 0.23% (v/w). The antimicrobial activity of the oil was investigated against ten bacterial isolates (from patients wounds and stools) and seven American Type Culture Collection strains using a microwell dilution assay. The minimal inhibitory/bactericidal concentration of the oil ranged from <0.08 to 2.43 mg/mL and from 0.08 to 38.80 mg/mL, respectively. The antioxidant activity of the essential oil was evaluated using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazil and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) radical-scavenging methods and assessed as significant. Skin irritation potential and acute toxicity of the oil were also investigated. Results of the skin irritant reaction showed that none of the 30 volunteers developed a positive skin irritant reaction to undiluted A. absinthium essential oil. Acute oral exposure to the essential oil did not cause mortality in the treated mice, but it did cause neurological, muscle, and gastrointestinal problems. A subchronic toxicity test on Drosophila melanogaster showed that the essential oil of A. absinthium is toxic for developing insect larvae. Starting with the concentration of 0.38% of essential oil in medium, significant mortality of larvae exposed to the oil was noted when compared to the control. Probit analysis revealed that the LC50 value of A. absinthium essential oil for D. melanogaster larvae after 15 days of exposure was 6.31 % (49 mg/mL). The essential oil also affected the development of D. melanogaster larvae and significantly delayed achievement of the pupa stadium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxidized low-density lipoprotein has been demonstrated to induce vascular injury, at least partly, through the nitric oxide-dependent pathway. Our previous studies showed that the essential oil from Fructus Alpiniae zerumbet had a capacity of antioxidation to ameliorate endothelial function and vasodilatation on aortic rings ex vivo. The present study aims to confirm the hypothesis that Fructus Alpiniae zerumbet protects against oxidized low-density lipoprotein-induced endothelial dysfunction in human aortic endothelial cells, and the role nitric oxide synthase plays in the process. Human aortic endothelial cells were pretreated with one of three different doses of Fructus Alpiniae zerumbet (1, 2, or 4pg/mL), simvastatin (10 pM), or vehicle, followed by coincubation with oxidized low-density lipoprotein (150pg/mL), for designed time periods. Exposure to oxidized low-density lipoprotein resulted in cytotoxicity accompanied by mitochondrial membrane potential collapse, excessive reactive oxygen species generation, and a decrease of nitric oxide production. The upregulation of inducible nitric oxide synthase mRNA and protein expression was determined by reverse transcription- polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis, respectively. Furthermore, oxidized lowdensity lipoprotein inhibited Akt phosphorylation and downregulated endothelial nitric oxide synthase and soluble guanylatecyclase in mRNA expression and the protein level. However, cytotoxicity and aberrant reactive oxygen species and nitric oxide generation caused by oxidized lowdensity lipoprotein could be significantly inhibited by Fructus Alpiniae zerumbet or Sim pretreatment. Results from this study confirmed that Fructus Alpiniae zerumbet could protect against oxidized low-density lipoprotein-induced endothelial dysfunction by antioxidation and modulating the Akt/nitric oxide synthase-nitric oxide signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The leaves of Myrcia ovata, popularly known as "laranjinha do mato", are frequently used as an infusion in folk medicine. The essential oil obtained from these leaves is rich in citral, a mixture of neral and geranial isomers, known for its analgesic effect. Male Swiss mice (20-22 g) were tested in models of acute pain (acetic acid-induced abdominal writhing, tail flick, and formalin tests) and acute inflammation (paw oedema and air pouch tests) as well as in a model for evaluation of spontaneous motor performance (openfield test). The essential oil from M. ovata was administered orally at doses of 50-300 mg/kg. In addition, water, vehicle, morphine (5.01 mg/kg for evaluation of pain and motor performance), acetyl salicylic acid (200 mg/kg in the formalin test), and dexamethasone (2.25 mg/kg for evaluation of oedema formation, leukocyte extravasation, and quantification of cytokines) were administered. The essential oil showed a significant effect at doses of 200 and 300 mg/kg in the acute pain and acute inflammation tests. The effect of the essential oil was reduced by pretreatment with naloxone. The essential oil did not induce motor impairment. The extract was not toxic after oral administration (LD50 > 3000 mg/kg). These data provide initial evidence that the traditional use of M. ovata can be effective in reducing pain and inflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The leaves and bark of Croton cajucara, a shrub from the Amazon region, have been used in folk medicine to treat diabetes, malaria, and gastrointestinal and liver disorders. The essential oil from the leaves, rich in linalool, presented antileishmanial and antimicrobial activities. A chemotype of this species was found with an essential oil rich in 7-hydroxycalamenene. During our studies of the C. cajucara essential oil, we isolated 7-hydroxycalamenene at > 98% purity. The minimum inhibitory concentration of 7-hydroxycalamenene against Absidia cylindrospora, Cunninghamella elegans, Mucor circinelloides, Mucor circinelloides f. circinelloides, Mucor mucedo, Mucor plumbeus, Mucor ramosissimus, Rhizopus microsporus, Rhizopus oryzae, and Syncephalastrum racemosum ranged from 19.53 to 2500 µg/mL. The reference drug used, amphotericin B, presented a minimum inhibitory concentration ranging from 0.085 µg/ mL to 43.87 µg/mL. 7-Hydroxycalamenene also altered spore differentiation and total lipid content. Ultrastructural analysis by transmission electron microscopy showed significant alterations in the cellular structure of R. oryzae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Xylopia laevigata, popularly known as "meiú" and "pindaíba", is a medicinal plant used in the folk medicine of the Brazilian Northeast for several purposes. The chemical constituents of the essential oil from leaves of X. laevigata, collected from wild plants growing at three different sites of the remaining Atlantic forest in Sergipe State (Brazilian Northeast), were analyzed by GC/FID and GC/ MS. The effect of the essential oil samples was assessed on tumor cells in culture, as well on tumor growth in vivo. All samples of the essential oil were dominated by sesquiterpene constituents. A total of 44 compounds were identified and quantified. Although some small differences were observed in the chemical composition, the presence of γ-muurolene (0.60-17.99%), δ-cadinene (1.15-13.45%), germacrene B (3.22-7.31%), a-copaene (3.33-5.98%), germacrene D (9.09-60.44%), bicyclogermacrene (7.00-14.63%), and (E)-caryophyllene (5.43-7.98%) were verified as major constituents in all samples of the essential oil. In the in vitro cytotoxic study, the essential oil displayed cytotoxicity to all tumor cell lines tested, with the different samples displaying a similar profile; however, they were not hemolytic or genotoxic. In the in vivo antitumor study, tumor growth inhibition rates were 37.3-42.5%. The treatment with the essential oil did not significantly affect body weight, macroscopy of the organs, or blood leukocyte counts. In conclusion, the essential oil from the leaves of X. laevigata is chemically characterized by the presence of γ-muurolene, δ-cadinene, germacrene B, α-copaene, germacrene D, bicyclogermacrene, and (E)-caryophyllene as major constituents and possesses significant in vitro and in vivo anticancer potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plants are promising sources of new bioactive compounds. The aim of this study was to investigate the cytotoxic potential of nine plants found in Brazil. The species studied were: Annona pickelii Diels (Annonaceae), Annona salzmannii A. DC. (Annonaceae), Guatteria blepharophylla Mart. (Annonaceae), Guatteria hispida (R.E. Fr.) Erkens & Maas (Annonaceae), Hancornia speciosa Gomes (Apocynaceae), Jatropha curcas L. (Euphorbiaceae), Kielmeyera rugosa Choisy (Clusiaceae), Lippia gracilis Schauer (Verbenaceae), and Hyptis calida Mart. Ex Benth (Lamiaceae). Different types of extractions from several parts of plants resulted in 43 extracts. Their cytotoxicity was tested against HCT-8 (colon carcinoma), MDA-MB-435 (melanoma), SF-295 (glioblastoma), and HL-60 (promielocitic leukemia) human tumor cell lines, using the thiazolyl blue test (MTT) assay. The active extracts were those obtained from G. blepharophylla, G. hispida, J. curcas, K. rugosa, and L. gracilis. In addition, seven compounds isolated from the active extracts were tested; among them, β-pinene found in G. hispida and one coumarin isolated from K. rugora showed weak cytotoxic activity. In summary, this manuscript contributes to the understanding of the potentialities of Brazilian plants as sources of new anticancer drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigation of the essential oil of the aerial parts of Eryngium maritimum L. from Corsica led to the isolation of one known sesquiterpene (1) and three new oxygenated sesquiterpenes with a muurolane or cadinane skeleton (2-4). Structure assignments of 4βH-muurol-9-en-15-al (1), 4βH-cadin-9-en-15-al (2), 4βHmuurol- 9-en-15-ol (3) and 4βH-cadin-9-en-15-ol (4) were carried out by GC/MS (EI and CI) and comprehensive 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy. Antibacterial activity of Eryngium maritimum L. oil and column chromatography fractions have been investigated for the first time. The oxygenated fraction, which contains the four sesquiterpenes, was efficient against Listeria monocytogenes and Echerichia coli. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study analyzes the chemical composition of the essential oil obtained from the leaves of Ugni myricoides (Kunth) O. Berg (U. myricoides EO). The composition of the essential oil was characterized by GC‐FID and GC‐MS analysis, showing at least six major constituents: α-pinene (52.1 %), 1,8-cineole (11.9 %), α-humulene (4.6 %), caryophyllene oxide + globulol (4.5 %), humulene epoxide II (4.2 %) and β-caryophyllene (2.9 %). It demonstrates for the first time the systemic anti-hypernociceptive properties of this orally administered oil in inflammatory and neuropathic models of hypernociception in mice. The effects of U. myricoides EO and its major constituent, α-pinene, were compared with those of indomethacin or gabapentin, drugs used clinically to treat inflammatory and neuropathic processes. Like indomethacin (5 or 10 mg/kg, p. o.), U. myricoides EO (5–50 mg/kg, p. o.) was able to significantly prevent mechanical hypernociception induced by carrageenan or complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) in mice. These effects were observed for up to 48 h after i.pl. injection of flogistic agents. Repeated treatment with U. myricoides EO (5–25 mg/kg, p. o.), α-pinene (5–50 mg/kg, p. o.), or gabapentin (70 mg/kg, p. o.) also abolished the mechanical sensitization induced by CFA, or following the partial ligation of the sciatic nerve (PLSN). The present results indicate that U. myricoides EO produces marked anti-hypernociceptive effects in carrageenan and CFA mechanical sensitization models, and also inhibited neuropathic pain-like behavior after PLSN with efficacy similar to that observed for indomethacin or gabapentin. The relevant effects shown by U. myricoides EO are related, at least in part, to the presence of α-pinene and may be of potential interest for the management of inflammatory and neuropathic pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study on the impact of selected essential oils for either hen welfare or egg production. Small groups of laying hens were studied in poultry huts arranged in an open-fronted shed at Cockle Park Farm in Morpeth, England where the suitability of selected essential oils as an acaricide for the poultry red mite (Dermanyssus gallinae) was determined. Results showed variations in feed intake and feed efficiency and bodyweights of hens. It also concluded that thyme essential oil may is a potential repellent for poultry red mite.

The aim was to investigate the effects of volatile fraction of essential oils from Picea abies, Eucalyptus globulus, Rosmarinus officinalis and volatile fraction of Abies sibirica oil on fungi isolated from apple, leek, carrot, onion. Researches were made in 2008-2009. Tested fungi were as follows: Penicillium roqueforti, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus flavus var. oryzae, Mortierella hyalina var. hyaline, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Sporotrichum aurantiacum, Phoma exiqua, Clonostachys rosea f. catenulata. All parts of the plant from which fungi were isolated were injured by rot. Fungi of the tested species grew on the potato dextrose agar medium in different colonies, which grew at different speed. The oils were dripped on the covers of Petri dishes. There were three different variations taking the different portions of oil: 0.005, 0.01 and 0.015 ml. It was calculated the inhibitory activeness (R). Volatile fractions of all tested oils inhibited the growth of mycelium of all 8 species fungi. The inhibiting effect depended on: 1) the amount of oil, 2) the species of the plant, from which the oil was isolated, 3) the species of the tested fungi and 4) the incubation period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clove oil derived from the clove plant [Syzygium aromaticum (=Eugenia caryophyllata) ] is active against various soil-borne plant pathogens and therefore has potential for use as a bit-based pesticide. A clove oil formulation previously found to be toxic to the southern root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) in laboratory assays was investigated in greenhouse studies for nematode suppression and phytotoxicity on vegetable crops. Phytotoxicity studies were conducted with 0.1%, 0.2%, and 0.3% clove oil applied to soil 0, 2, 5, and 7 days before transplant of cucumber (Cucumis sativus), muskmelon (Cucumis melt), pepper (Capsicum annuum), and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) seedlings. Tomato seedlings were the most sensitive to clove oil. The 0.2% and 0.3% clove oil concentrations applied as drenches at transplant (0 day) were the most phytotoxic to seedlings of all the tested vegetable species, with only 0% to 50% seedling survival. Most of the clove oil concentrations applied as drenches at transplant decreased shoot heights and fresh shoot weights of all seedlings. Some applications of clove oil at 0.2% and 0.3%, applied 2, 5, or 7 days before transplant also significantly reduced shoot growth, especially of pepper and tomato. Greenhouse experiments evaluating suppression of nematode populations on cucumber were conducted with 0.10%, 0.15%, and 0.20% clove oil applied 7 days before transplant. Overall, plants inoculated with nematodes tended to have smaller shoots and heavier roots than plants without nematodes. Effects of clove oil treatments on nematode population densities were inconsistent between the two trials. In Trial 1, 0.10% and 0.15% clove oil decreased population densities compared with the carrier control. In Trial 2, nematode population densities were lowest in the water and carrier control treatments. The results indicate that, with the tested clove oil formulation and application times, southern root-knot nematode populations would not be consistently reduced with clove oil concentrations that were not phytotoxic to one or more of the tested vegetable crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The essential oil from guarana [ Paullinia cupana H.B.K. var. sorbilis (Mart.) Ducke] was analysed. Nine components were identified, namely (2) methylbenzenes, (1) cyclic monoterpene and (2) cyclic sesquiterpene hydrocarbons, (2) methoxyphenylpropenes and (2) alkylphenol derivatives. The alleged psychoactivity of the essential oil is presumably due to the identified constituents estragole and anethole. Any contribution of aminated metabolites of estragole/anethole to the alleged psychoactivity of the essential oil of guarana can be excluded. Neither the psychoactive 4-methoxyamphetamine nor tert-aminoketones could be traced in human urine after oral application of guarana. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Protozoans of the trypanosomatid family cause the neglected tropical diseases leishmaniasis and trypanosomiasis, for which few drugs are available. In this context our group has recently reported that the essential oil obtained by steam distillation of the fruits of Piper cubeba is active against Schistosoma mansoni. Therefore, we have investigated the in vitro effects of the essential oil against the trypomastigote and amastigote forms of Trypanosoma cruzi isolated from an LLCMK2 cell line culture and the promastigote forms of Leishmania amazonensis. The in vitro activity of the essential oil against trypomastigotes of T. cruzi increased upon rising concentrations, giving IC50 values of 45.5 and 87.9 μg·mL-1 against trypomastigotes and amastigotes, respectively. The essential oil was not active against L. amazonensis, since it displayed lyses of only 24% at 400 μg·mL-1, and an IC50 of 326.5 μg·mL-1. Therefore, the essential oil should be further investigated to determine the compounds responsible for the observed activities, as well as its mechanism of action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]