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The effect of intercropping of hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis L.) from Lamiaceae with a medicinal legume, that is, fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) on the hyssop essential oil was investigated. The highest herbage and essential oil yields of hyssop were produced from sole cropping and also intercropped hyssop with fenugreek (3:1 ratio); however, the highest antioxidant activity was obtained from the intercropped hyssop with fenugreek (1:3 ratio). The highest contents of the major constituents in the hyssop essential oil such as cis- and trans-pinocamphone and β-pinene were obtained from sole cropped of hyssop and the intercropping of hyssop with fenugreek (3:1 ratio). In conclusion, the intercropping of hyssop with fenugreek can increase biodiversity and efficiency of using resources. Therefore, this strategy could be considered in order to recommend in simultaneous production of secondary metabolites in the herbs like hyssop in an agricultural land. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, variation in the essential oil (EO) compositions of the aerial parts of Prangos platychlaena collected from 13 different natural habitats of five provinces in southwestern Iran, was investigated for the first time. Significant variability in the EO yield was observed among the investigated populations (ranging from 0.04 to 2.85% v/w). GC-FID and GC/MS analysis of the EOs identified 35 chemical components. The EOs were rich in monoterpene hydrocarbons (69.06–90.14%). The main constituents of the EOs were delta (Δ)-3-carene (or 3-carene, (+)-3-carene, δ-3-carene) (9.25–43.17%), α-pinene (4.58–27.41%), β-pinene (3.72–25.55%) and β-phellandrene (4.02–17.88%). Briefly, the highest amounts of the mentioned components were observed in the EOs of R5, R4, R9, R10, R5, R4, R9 and R7 populations. According to the cluster analysis (CA) and principal component analysis (PCA) of all the major components, the populations could be grouped into four main chemotypes: chemotype I (β-pinene/β-phellandrene/α-pinene/Δ-3-carene/α-phellandrene/α-thujone/α-terpinolene), chemotype II (Δ-3-carene/β-phellandrene/β-pinene/α-pinene), chemotype III (Δ-3-carene/β-phellandrene/α-pinene/β-pinene/β-caryophyllene/myrcene) and chemotype IV (α-pinene/Δ-3-carene/β-phellandrene/β-pinene/α-phellandrene). These chemotypes are discussed as being possibly the result of environmental and ecological factors, differences in plant genetics and their interactive effects. Finally, the difference between the EOs of P. platychlaena, collected from different habitats, is consistent with the fact that variation in chemical compositions could be related to the specific populations of P. platychlaena, which were collected from various environmental and ecological conditions and different geographical areas and origins. Moreover, the results of the present investigation can help to improve the conservation and breeding programs of this new crop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a major cause of nosocomial and community acquired infections. Nanoparticles are considered as proper tools to overcome the therapeutic problem of antimicrobial-resistant infections because of the drug concentration increment at the desired location and protection from enzymatic degradation. The goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of the antibacterial and antibiofilm activities of zingerone and niosome containing zingerone against pre-formed biofilm of MRSA isolates., Materials and Methods: 62 MRSA isolates cultured from patients with diabetic ulcers were investigated. Niosomes were synthesized and characterized by X-ray diffraction, zeta potential and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The size of niosomal particles measured by SEM and zetasizer., Results: The surface charge of prepared niosomes was about -37 mV. The effect of the zingerone and noisome containing zingerone was evaluated against biofilms of MRSA isolates. Also, the antibiofilm activity of prepared niosomes on gene expression of MRSA biofilms was evaluated using Real Time PCR. Our results demonstrated that the niosome containing zingerone had a diameter of 196.1 nm and a -37.3-mV zeta potential. Zingerone removed one and three-day old biofilms of MRSA at the concentration of 1000 μg/ml, while the zingerone-laoded niosomes removed 1, 3- and 5-days old biofilms at the concentration of 250 μg/ml, 250 μg/ml, and 500 μg/ml., Conclusion: The results indicated that niosome containing zingerone eliminated MRSA and its biofilms faster compared with free zingerone and it suggested that zingerone-encapsulated niosomes could be considered as a promising treatment against MRSA and its biofilms., (Copyright© 2024 The Authors. Published by Tehran University of Medical Sciences.)