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The aim of this study is to demonstrate the antifungal, anti-inflammatory and anti-migratory potential of the essential oil of Teucrium scordium subsp. scordioides (Schreb.) Arcang, a plant widely used in traditional medicine in Sardinia. The oil was rich in germacrene D (25.1%), δ-cadinene (12.9%) and alloaromadendrene (11.3%). The yeast Cryptococcus neoformans and the dermatophytes Trichophyton rubrum, T. mentagrophytes var. interdigitale and Epidermophyton floccosum were the most susceptible fungi to the action of the oil. In lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophages, the oil was able to decrease nitric oxide production by ca. 30% at 1.25 μL/mL, without affecting cell viability. In the scratch wound assay, it allowed for ca. 36% of wound closure after 18 h, thus showing anti-migratory properties. Overall, this study highlights the potential of this species to mitigate fungal infections associated with an inflammatory response. Furthermore, we also reported for the first time its anti-migratory capacity, thus suggesting anticancer properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The chemical composition of two populations of Teucrium capitatum L. one from the coastline and the other one from the mountainous area of Sardinia (Italy) was assessed. Two chemotypes were identified: limonene/α-pinene/(E)-nerolidol chemotype predominant in the coastline, and limonene/α-pinene/α-trans-bergamotene/humulene epoxide II chemotype common in plants growing in the mountainous area. In addition, our results showed that the sample growing in the coastline had a more promising antifungal activity. Furthermore, this sample was highly effective in inhibiting C. albicans germ tube formation, at doses well below its MIC. Overall, this study shows that the edaphoclimatic characteristics play an important role on the essential oil composition and biological activity of Teucrium capitatum L. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work reports the results and the comparison concerning the chemical and biomolecular analyses and the antifungal activity of three wild Pistacia species (Anacardiaceae) from Sardinia. Volatile oils from leaves and twigs of Pistacia x saportae, Pistacia lentiscus and Pistacia terebinthus were characterised using GC-FID and GC-MS techniques and tested against some fungal strains. Two DNA nuclear regions (ITS and 5S-rRNA-NTS) were amplified through PCR technique and sequenced. The three **Pistacia have similar chemical profile, although there are some important quantitative differences. The analysis of ITS and 5S-rRNA-NTS regions, reveals a species-specific nucleotide variation among the three **taxa. This method could emerge as a powerful tool for the species identification, especially because the discrimination of these three **taxa appears difficult for non-expert botanists. Concerning the antifungal activity, P. lentiscus and P. x saportae show the highest activity against Cryptococcus neoformans, with a MIC value of 0.32 μL/mL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present work the chemical compositions, measured by GC and GC-MS, of the essential oils obtained by hydrodistillation from leaves of Pistacia terebinthus collected in Bizerte (Tunisia) and Baunei (Italy) are reported. Both essential oils possessed high content of monoterpene hydrocarbons (86.3% and 90.9%, respectively), being α-pinene (62.4 vs. 35.0)%, camphene (3.0 vs. 2.4)%, β-pinene (12.1 vs. 4.5)%, terpinolene (1.7 vs. 35.2)% and β-phellandrene (3.8 vs. 4.5)% the main components. The Tunisian essential oil exhibited higher antifungal activity than the Italian one. Cryptococcus neoformans and the majority of dermatophyte strains showed more sensitivity to the Tunisian oil, when compared to Candida strains, in particular Trichophyton rubrum, Microsporum canis and Epidermophyton floccosum, with MIC and MLC values in the range (0.16–0.32) μL/mL. The results obtained support the use of the oil from Tunisia for the treatment of dermatophytosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The chemical composition and antifungal activity of volatile extracts of Tanaceutum audibertii (Req.) DC., an endemic species of Sardinia and Corsica islands, were investigated. The extract and the essential oil, obtained respectively by supercritical fluid extraction with carbon dioxide (SFE) at pressures of 90 bar and temperature of 40 °C and by hydrodistillation (HD), were analyzed by GC/FID and GC/MS. Artemisia ketone, trans -linalyl oxide acetate and 1,8-cineole were the main components. The HD oil was evaluated against yeasts and dermatophyte strains, being more active against Cryptococcus neoformans , with MIC and MLC values of 0.64 μL/mL. Moreover, the oil revealed an important inhibitory effect on germ tube formation in C. albicans at sub-inhibitory concentrations. At the concentration of 1/16 MIC the inhibition of filamentation was more than 70% in comparison to untreated control cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article reports the results concerning the qualitative and quantitative composition of the volatile oil obtained from the aerial parts of Tanacetum vulgare, collected in Lithuania, by supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) with CO2 at 90 bar and 40 °C and by hydrodistillation (HD). GC-MS and GC-FID analysis revealed that the oils mainly consisted of 1,8-cineole, trans-thujone, cis-chrysanthenol, borneol and myrtenol. Oils obtained by HD displayed, with respect to the SFE volatile oil, a higher amount of hydrocarbon monoterpenes. The hydrodistilled oil was particularly active against dermatophyte strains and Cryptococcus neoformans, with MIC values in the range of 0.16–0.64 μL/mL. The oil revealed a significant inhibitory effect on germ tube formation in Candida albicans at sub-inhibitory concentrations. At the concentration of 1/16 MIC, the inhibition of filamentation was more than 80% in comparison to untreated control cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Alkaloids present in plants of the Amaryllidaceae family are secondary metabolites of high biological interest, possessing a wide range of pharmacological activities. In the search for new plant-derived compounds with antimicrobial activities, two alkaloid extracts obtained from bulbs and leaves of Pancratium illyricum L., a plant of the Amarillydaceae family, were tested for their effect on bacterial and yeast growth. Methods: The broth microdilution susceptibility test was applied to study the effect of plant extracts on the growth of reference bacterial strains and Candida albicans reference and clinical isolates strains. Extracts obtained from the different parts of the plant were tested and compared with the pure components identified in the extracts. Since matrix metalloproteinase enzymes play a role in the dissemination process of Candida albicans, the effect of the bulb extract and pure alkaloids on in vitro collagenase activity was tested. Cell viability test was carried out on human embryo lung fibroblasts (HEL 299). Results: Whilst both extracts did not show any inhibitory activity against neither Gram positive nor Gram negative bacteria, a strong antifungal activity was detected, in particular for the bulb extract. All clinical isolates were susceptible to the growth inhibitory activity of the bulb extract, with endpoint IC50 values ranging from 1.22 to 78 µg/mL. The pure alkaloids lycorine and vittatine, identified as components of the extract, were also assayed for their capacity of inhibiting the yeast growth, and lycorine turned very active, with endpoint IC50 values ranging from 0.89 to 28.5 µg/mL. A potent inhibition of the in vitro collagenase activity was found in the presence of the bulb extract, and this effect was much higher than that exerted by the pure alkaloids. Viability of cell lines tested was not affected by the extract. Conclusions: Taken together, results suggest that the extract of Pancratium illyricum may act as antifungal agent both directly on the yeast growth and by altering the tissue invasion process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The composition of supercritical CO2 extracts and essential oils obtained by hydrodistillation of Bupleurum fruticosum L., growing spontaneously in Italy and Portugal, and its antifungal activity is reported. The collected extracts were analyzed by GC-FID and GC-MS methods. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the minimal lethal concentration (MLC) were used to evaluate the antifungal activity of the oils against Candida albicans, C. tropicalis, C. krusei, C. guillermondii, C. parapsilosis, Cryptococcus neoformans, Trichophyton rubrum, T. mentagrophytes, Microsporum canis, M. gypseum, Epidermophyton floccosum, Aspergillus niger, A. fumigatus and A. flavus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Isolation of volatile concentrates from leaves, flowers and fruits of Vitex agnus-castus L. have been obtained by supercritical extraction with carbon dioxide. The composition of the volatile concentrates has been analysed by GC/MS. In all plant organs, the extracts are composed chiefly of α-pinene, sabinene, 1,8-cineole, α-terpinyl acetate, (E)-caryophyllene, (E)-β-farnesene, bicyclogermacrene, spathulenol and manool. The main difference observed was in the content of sclarene, which was not present in the samples from flowers or fruits. To complete the investigation, a comparison with the hydrodistilled oil has been carried out. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the minimal lethal concentration were used to evaluate the antifungal activity of the oils against dermatophyte strains (Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Microsporum canis, T. rubrum, M. gypseum and Epidermophyton floccosum). Antifungal activity of the leaf essential oil was the highest, with MIC values of 0.64 µL mL-1 for most of the strains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The essential oils and supercritical CO2 extracts of wild Daucus carota L. subsp. carota growing spontaneously in Sardinia and in Portugal were investigated. The main components in the Sardinian essential oil of flowering and mature umbels with seeds are β-bisabolene (17.6–51.0%) and 11-α-(H)-himachal-4-en-1-β-ol (9.0–21.6%); instead, the oils from Portuguese samples are predominantly composed of geranyl acetate (5.2–65.0%) and α-pinene (3.5–37.9%). Supercritical extracts contain lower amounts of monoterpenes and higher amounts of sesquiterpene hydrocarbons. Antifungal activities of the Sardinian oils were the highest, particularly for dermatophytes and Cryptococcus neoformans, with MIC values of 0.16–0.64 μL mL− 1. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]