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An antioxidant, antibacterial, and biocompatible biomaterial is essential to repair skin wounds effectively. Here, we have employed two natural biopolymers, isabgol (ISAB) and konjac glucomannan (KGM), to prepare microporous scaffolds by freezing and lyophilization. The scaffolds are loaded with thymol (THY) to impart potent antioxidant and antibacterial activities. The physicochemical properties of the ISAB+KGM+THY scaffold, like porosity (41.8±2.4 %), swelling, and biodegradation, were optimal for tissue regeneration application. Compared to the control, ISAB+KGM+THY scaffolds promote attachment, migration, and proliferation of L929 fibroblasts. The antioxidant activity of the ISAB+KGM+THY scaffold was significantly improved after loading THY. This would protect the tissues from oxidative damage. The antibacterial activity of the ISAB+KGM+THY scaffold was significantly higher than that of the control, which would help prevent bacterial infection. The vascularization ability of the ISAB+KGM scaffold was not altered by incorporating THY in the ISAB+KGM scaffold. Therefore, a strong antioxidant, antibacterial, and biocompatible nature of the ISAB+KGM+THY scaffold could be useful for various biomedical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The thymol chemotype of the essential oil of Thymus vulgaris (EOTV-T) and its nanoemulsion (NEOTV-T) were investigated as anesthetics in the management of Colossoma macropomum. The stability of nanoemulsions was analyzed by zeta potential and dynamic light scattering for an interval of 37 days prior to carrying out two anesthesia experiments. The first experiment determined anesthesia induction and recovery intervals for juveniles anesthetized with different concentrations of EOTV-T and NEOTV-T. Based on the obtained induction and recovery curve, the second experiment adopted concentrations of 75 mg/L of EOTV-T and 50 mg/L of NEOTV-T for use during biometric management every 10 days for 60 days of cultivation of juvenile C. macropomum. The results showed that NEOTV-T had an average diameter of less than 100 nm for up to 22 days and was more effective at inducing anesthesia than EOTV-T. The continuous use of anesthetics during biometrics did not affect juvenile performance in terms of growth, feed consumption, and survival. Furthermore, no significant differences were observed in hematological and biochemical parameters between juveniles of the control treatment and those subjected to biometric management using 75 mg/L of EOTV-T and 50 mg/L of NEOTV-T. It can be concluded that the essential oil of T. vulgaris and its nanoemulsion can be used to facilitate the management of juvenile C. macropomum without compromising their performance or well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Staphylococcus aureus is an important pathogen due to its ability to form strong biofilms and antibiotic resistance. Biofilms play an important role in bacterial survival against the host immune system and antibiotics. Natural compounds (NCs) have diverse bioactive properties with a low probability of resistance, making them promising candidates for biofilm control. NC such as curcumin, cinnamaldehyde, carvacrol, eugenol, thymol, citral, linalool, 1,8-cineole, pinene, cymene, terpineol, quercetin, and limonene have been widely utilized for the inhibition and destruction of S. aureus biofilms. NCs influence biofilm formation through several procedures. Some of the antibiofilm mechanisms of NCs are direct bactericidal effect, disrupting the quorum sensing system, preventing bacteria from aggregation and attachment to surfaces, reducing the microbial surface components recognizing adhesive matrix molecules (MSCRAMMs), interfering with sortase A enzyme, and altering the expression of biofilm-associated genes such as icaADBC, agr, and sarA. Furthermore, these compounds affect extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and their components, such as polysaccharide intercellular adhesin (PIA) and eDNA. However, some disadvantages, such as low water solubility and bioavailability, limit their clinical usage. Therefore, scientists have considered using nanotechnology and drug platforms to improve NC's efficacy. Some NC, such as thymol and curcumin, can also enhance photodynamic therapy against S. aurous biofilm community. This article evaluates the anti-biofilm potential of NC, their mechanisms of action against S. aureus biofilms, and various aspects of their application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant global health challenge, exacerbated by the emergence of drug‐resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tb). The complex biology of M. tb, particularly its key porins, contributes to its resilience against conventional treatments, highlighting the exploration of innovative therapeutic strategies. Following with this challenges, the present study investigates the bioactivity properties of phenolic compounds derived from the terpene groups, specifically through Thymol (THY) against M. smegmatis as a surrogated model for M. tb. Furthermore, the study employed with combination of two approaches i.e., in vitro assays and computational methods to evaluate the efficacy of THY against M. smegmatis and its interaction with M. tb biofilm and efflux pump proteins, particularly Rv1258c and Rv0194. The in vitro findings demonstrated that THY exhibits inhibitory activity against M. smegmatis and shows promising interaction with a combination of isoniazid (INH) and rifampicin (RIF) of TB regimens. Furthermore, THY demonstrated significant inhibitory action towards motility and biofilm formation of M. smegmatis. The combination of THY with INH and RIF exhibited a synergistic effect, enhancing the overall antimicrobial efficacy. Additionally, THY displayed reactive oxygen species (ROS) activity and potential efflux pump inhibitory action towards M. smegmatis. The computational analysis revealed that THY interacts effectively with efflux pump proteins Rv1258c and Rv0194, showing superior binding affinity compared to verapamil, a known efflux pump inhibitor. Pharmacokinetic studies highlighted that THY possess a favourable safety profile. In conclusion, THY represents a promising inhibitory compound for tuberculosis prevention, potentially addressing challenges posed by drug resistance. Summary: This study investigates the bioactivity properties of Thymol (THY) against Mycobacterium smegmatis and its potential as a therapeutic agent. THY diminished bacterial motility and led to a 95% reduction in biofilm formation, revealing its synergistic effects alongside INH and RIF. THY was effective in reducing dormant and persistent cells found in biofilms, with its inhibition mechanisms associated with the modulation of efflux pumps and the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Computational analysis highlights a way of THY's efflux pump inhibitory and antibiofilm activity action with Rv1258c and Rv0194 proteins. The significance of this study opens up a key window to provide a novel solution towards the growing problem of drug‐resistant TB, which remains a major global health challenge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrophobic Deep Eutectic Solvents (HDES), as a subclass of Natural Deep Eutectic Solvents (NADES), present a green-chemistry alternative to toxic chemicals. As HDES are based on terpenoids, these solvents could potentially be effective antifungal agents against phytopathogens Monilinia fructicola and Botrytis cinerea that frequently cause diseases in sweet cherry fruit. To contribute to the disease prevention and management goals, as a part of this study, 30 different HDES were tested in the vapor phase, at identical concentrations of 25%, 50%, and 100%. In vitro experiments were conducted on Potato Dextrose Agar medium (PDA), while in planta experiments were carried out in hermetically sealed containers with inoculated sweet cherry fruits. All tested HDES demonstrated efficacy in suppressing the growth of M. fructicola colonies (66 − 100%) and B. cinerea colonies (37 − 100%). According to the Area Under the Disease Progress Curve (AUDPC), all HDES exhibited high efficacy in preventing disease occurrence in cherry fruits by the tested phytopathogens. This research provides the first insights into the antifungal potential of HDES in the vapor phase, with promising applications as biofumigants that minimize harmful impacts on the food − human − environment complex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food waste is a global concern with enormous economic, environmental and social impacts that has contributed to active packaging evolution. However, incorporating bioactive substances into the packaging can deteriorate its physicochemical and mechanical characteristics. Thus, the objective of this work was to entrap the natural bioactive compound thymol into microparticles and apply them in the form of pads for the controlled release of bioactivity in food packaging material. The physicochemical characteristics and bioactivity of five different ethyl cellulose-based microparticles were evaluated. Increasing the amount of thymol in the formulation led to higher encapsulation efficiency. Encapsulation resulted in a substantial increase of >10–20 °C in the volatilization temperature of thymol, and the release of thymol occurred following a sustained profile, best described by the Higuchi release kinetic model. Increasing the polymer to thymol ratio in the microparticles resulted in higher thermal stability and a more gradual release profile. While all formulations demonstrated considerable inhibition of E. coli growth, the ones with the highest thymol content maintained their antimicrobial activity for at least one month of microparticle storage. Furthermore, the ability of the microparticles in retaining pH and titratable acidity of cherry tomatoes was evaluated, and it was confirmed that these characteristics were maintained during 21 days of storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory, estrogenic disorder caused by endometrial tissue growth places other than uterine lumen, resulting in infertility and severe pelvic pain. Thymol, an extract of Thymus vulgaris, processes diverse biological properties, including anti-inflammatory, local anesthetic, decongestant, and antiseptic effects. However, the efficacy of thymol in treating endometriosis has still not been explored. Herein, this research aimed to investigate the role of thymol in the treatment of endometriosis using a murine model and Ishikawa cells. Thirty C57BL/6 mice were administered 17β-E2 (100 ng/mouse) subcutaneously for three consecutive days to induce synchronous estrus. On the last day of injection, the mice underwent surgical induction of endometriosis. After that, the mice were divided into three groups, i.e., Control (CTRL), Thymol 30 mg/kg and Thymol 60 mg/kg, receiving oral administration of either saline or thymol (30 mg/kg/d or 60 mg/kg/d, as 0.1 mL/kg/d, respectively) for a three-week duration. Each group consisted of ten mice and was evenly divided into estrus and diestrus according to the vaginal cytology on the last day of treatment. Thymol significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the weight and volume of ectopic tissue, hindered cell proliferation, and stimulated apoptosis compared to the CTRL group. Additionally, in the thymol-treated group, the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-6, as well as the numbers of neutrophils and macrophages, were significantly (p < 0.05) decreased. Moreover, a novel role of thymol in rebalancing estrogen and progesterone (E2-P4) signaling was explored, and it was distributed in the ectopic endometrium. Next, the role of thymol on Ishikawa cells was determined. The results demonstrated that thymol significantly (p < 0.05) suppressed the E2-induced proliferation of Ishikawa cells. Furthermore, molecular docking analyses suggested that thymol potentially binds to ESR1-like estrogens, indicating its antagonistic activity against estrogens. The estrogen receptor 1 (ESR1) and its target gene expression exhibited significant (p < 0.05) downregulation, while progesterone receptor (PGR) and target genes were markedly (p < 0.05) upregulated following thymol treatment in the ectopic endometrium. Most importantly, our data revealed the minimal impact of thymol treatment on the eutopic endometrium and its crucial role in supporting pregnancy, thus indicating the safety of thymol in treating endometriosis. Overall, our study suggests that thymol holds promising therapeutic implications for endometriosis by virtue of its anti-inflammatory properties and ability to antagonize estrogen activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recurrence and relapse of vaginal infections in women is a major issue and a challenging pathway to identify and develop new approaches to treatment. In the case of antibiotic therapy, contraceptives, and dietary changes, the recurrence of vaginitis is more common these days. Anaerobic bacteria, Candida spp., and trichomonas in the vaginal microflora cause both symptomatic and asymptomatic vaginitis, which includes vaginal inflammation. It changes the vaginal microbiota and decreases Lactobacilli spp. growth, which is maintaining the vaginal pH (3.5-4.5) through lactic acid production, antimicrobial peptides, bacteriocin, and bacteriocin-like inhibitory substances. The remarkable antimicrobial activity of plant's producing metabolites like alkaloids, tannins, phenolic compounds, flavonoids and terpenoids for several vaginal infections have been reported in previous studies. Presented review focuses on the pivotal role of monoterpenes, providing a detailed description of thymol, geraniol, limonene, eugenol, eucalyptol, and α-terpineol as antimicrobial molecules in the treatment of vaginal infections. These monoterpenes are very good at killing E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Aspergillus niger, Trichomonas vaginalis and Candida albicans which are the main microbes that cause vaginitis. Future research could explore the latent combinations of such monoterpenes as synergistic antimicrobial agents to treat bacterial and fungal vaginal infections, trichomoniasis, among other conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanostructured lipid carrier (NLC) is a second-generation smart delivery system with a solid matrix at room temperature. This carrier system consists of biocompatible surfactants and lipid materials and is accepted by regulatory authorities for use in various delivery systems. This study is a comparative study between the function of thymol-loaded NLC and thymol-nanoemulsion (NE) in Na-alginate coating to extend the shelf life of fresh chicken meat. Results indicated that the droplet size of the NE and NLC was 105.7 and 164.2 nm with encapsulation efficiency of 99% and 96%, respectively. The agar diffusion method results exhibited higher inhibition zones for free thymol and NE than those for NLC against S. aureus and E. coli. Meanwhile, a faster release profile for thymol was observed in NE than in NLC. The lowest peroxide values, TVBN amounts, microbial quality (against total viable counts, Enterobacteriaceae, lactic acid bacteria, and total mold and yeast), and the highest sensory attributes and color parameters were achieved in nanocomposite alginate coatings. Overall, Al-NE, Al-NLC, and Al-NE-NLC can be potent alternatives for improving the shelf life and stability of fresh chicken fillets during cold storage. In this regard, Al-NLC may be a better choice due to its higher sensory scores over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Protestant (medical) missionaries were the main proponents of Western medicine in China after the Opium Wars. Several studies have highlighted how they used spectacular surgery as a means of gaining public trust. As well as surgery, they also administered anthelmintic drugs such as santonin as a tool of persuasion and conversion. Many anthelmintic drugs of the European materia medica had a colonial history. My paper analyses how coloniality materialised in medical practice and anthelmintics in China. For the late nineteenth century, I will examine the colonial practices in which the drug santonin was involved. At the time, santonin was the drug of choice for treating roundworm. In the early twentieth century, medical missionaries became involved in parasitological research on parasitic worms such as hookworm and Fasciolopsis buski. For this period, I will explore how new knowledge about anthelmintics emerged in the scattered knowledge space of China, and how it related to colonialism and imperialism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of Nachrichten aus der Chemie is the property of Wiley-Blackwell 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.)

Sheath blight of rice is a global disease that significantly reduces rice yield. This study reports the antifungal activity of an active compound of essential oil, thymol, at different concentrations against Rhizoctonia solani (strain RS‐Gvt). In vitro assay results indicated that thymol concentrations (0.5 mg mL−1 and 0.25 mg mL−1) completely inhibited (100%) the mycelial growth of RS‐Gvt (p ≤ 0.01). Microscopic observations of thymol‐treated mycelium of RS‐Gvt at 0.0312 mg mL−1 and above concentrations, revealed a distorted mycelial morphology with deformed hyphae. Hyphae showed a bead‐like appearance, reduction in size, and constriction of the hyphae at uneven points with increased hyphal density often entangling with each other. Further, an on‐field experiment was conducted to study the field bio‐efficacy of thymol for two consecutive Kharif seasons of 2022 and 2023 using a factorial RCBD design. The disease severity was measured as the percent disease index (PDI), and the results of two seasons were pooled. Pathogen (RS‐Gvt) and thymol were inoculated in different combinations/methods as main treatments (M1‐M3), and concentrations of thymol (0.0625–1.0 mg ML−1) as sub‐treatments. The results indicated that all two factors significantly (P = 0.05) influenced the PDI and grain yield. The pooled data of two seasons indicated a significant difference between the main treatments (M1: RS‐Gvt + thymol together; M2: thymol sprayed first followed by RS‐Gvt; M3: RS‐Gvt first followed by thymol spray) on PDI (53.39–59.67) and grain yield (4.16–4.75 t ha−1). M1 exhibited a lower PDI (53.39) and a higher grain yield (4.75 t ha−1) compared to M2 and M3, indicating a protective mode of action of thymol against sheath blight disease of rice. The sub‐treatments have shown significant variation in PDI and grain yield. The PDI and grain yield ranged from 33.70 (at 1 mg mL−1) to 66.21 (at 0.0625 mg mL−1) and 4.18 (at 1 mg mL−1) to 5.26 (at 0.0625 mg mL−1) t ha−1, respectively, among the thymol concentrations. This indicates that increasing concentrations of thymol have negatively influenced the PDI and positively impacted the yield. Therefore, the spray of 1 mg mL−1 of thymol at the potential disease‐infection stage is most effective in controlling the sheath blight disease of rice. This study provides an alternative green bioactive compound for controlling the sheath blight disease, and thymol can be included in developing eco‐friendly integrated disease management practices. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate the effect of xanthohumol and thymol on the impact of Candida albicans on the structure, size and cell viability of subgingival biofilms formed on dental implant surfaces. The structure and microbial biomass of biofilms developed after 72 h, treated and untreated with both extracts, were compared by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and confocal laser microscopy (CLSM). Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was used to quantify the number of viable and total microorganisms of each of the biofilm-forming strains in each condition. A general linear model was used to compare and validate the CLSM and qPCR results. The presence of xanthohumol and thymol during biofilm development inhibited the filamentous growth of C. albicans. The biofilm incubated with xanthohumol had significantly lower bacterial biomass and cell viability than the biofilm not exposed to the extract (p < 0.05). In contrast, these global parameters showed no differences when the biofilm was incubated with thymol. In the presence of xanthohumol, there was a decrease in counts and cell viability of Fusobacterium nucleatum, Porphyromonas gingivalis, and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans. Thymol treatment reduced the viability of F. nucleatum and P. gingivalis. The presence of these vegetable extracts during the development of a dynamic in vitro multispecies biofilm model inhibited the filamentous growth of C. albicans, partially reversing the effect that the fungus exerted on the structure, size and vitality of periodontopathogenic bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa are the most common bacteria co-isolated from chronic infected wounds. Their interactions remain unclear but this coexistence is beneficial for both bacteria and may lead to resistance to antimicrobial treatments. Besides, developing an in vitro model where this coexistence is recreated remains challenging, making difficult their study. The aim of this work was to develop a reliable polymicrobial in vitro model of both species to further understand their interrelationships and the effects of different antimicrobials in coculture. In this work, bioluminescent and fluorescent bacteria were used to evaluate the activity of two antiseptics (chlorhexidine and thymol) against these bacteria planktonically grown, or when forming single and mixed biofilms. At the doses tested (0.4-1,000 mg/L), thymol showed selective antimicrobial action against S. aureus in planktonic and biofilm states, in contrast with chlorhexidine which exerted antimicrobial effects against both bacteria. Furthermore, the initial conditions for both bacteria in the co-culture determined the antimicrobial outcome, showing that P. aeruginosa impaired the proliferation and metabolism of S. aureus. Moreover, S. aureus showed an increased tolerance against antiseptic treatments when co-cultured, attributed to the formation of a thicker mixed biofilm compared to those obtained when monocultured, and also, by the reduction of S. aureus metabolic activity induced by diffusible molecules produced by P. aeruginosa. This work underlines the relevance of polymicrobial populations and their crosstalk and microenvironment in the search of disruptive and effective treatments for polymicrobial biofilms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glomerella leaf spot (GLS) and bitter rot (BR) are severe diseases of apple. Colletotrichum nymphaeae and Colletotrichum chrysophillum are the main species in Brazil. To control GLS and BR in Brazilian apple orchards, mancozeb and thiophanate-methyl fungicides are still used despite reported Colletotrichum resistance to these active ingredients. In addition, mancozeb has been banned from apple-importing countries and it has been a great challenge for apple producers to find products for its replacement that are eco-friendly. So, this study aimed to search for alternatives to control the diseases. We assessed the antifungal activity of eugenol, isoeugenol, thymol, carvacrol, and some of their ester derivatives. The best products to inhibit the pathogen in in vitro assays were thymol, thymol butyrate, and carvacrol, completely inhibiting mycelial growth at 125 mg L−1 and conidial germination at 100 mg L−1. In detached apple fruit, eugenol, eugenyl acetate, carvacryl acetate, and thymol butyrate, significantly reduced BR symptoms caused by Colletotrichum species with some variation between experiments and species, decreasing the risk of BR with the time compared to control. In detached leaves, all tested compounds significantly reduced the risk of development of GLS symptoms with disease control varying from 30 to 100%. The compounds tested are promising alternatives to replace fungicides to control bitter rot and Glomerella leaf spot on apple culture and should be tested for field conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Klebsiella poses a significant global threat due to its high antibiotic resistance rate. In recent years, researchers have been seeking alternative antimicrobial agents, leading to the introduction of natural compounds such as monoterpenes, specifically thymol and carvacrol. This review aims to illustrate the potential antimicrobial, anti-biofilm, and synergistic traits of thymol and carvacrol in combat against Klebsiella. Methods: Searching PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, we reviewed available evidence on the antibacterial effects of thymol, carvacrol, or combined with other compounds against Klebsiella until May 2024. Reference checking was performed after the inclusion of studies. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC), fractional inhibitory concentration (FIC), and anti-biofilm activity were gathered, and the MBC/MIC ratio was calculated to assess the bactericidal efficacy. Results: We retrieved 38 articles out of 2,652 studies screened. The gathered data assessed the anti-microbial activity of thymol, carvacrol, and both compounds in 17, 10, and 11 studies, respectively. The mean (± standard deviation) non-weighted MIC was 475.46 μg/mL (±509.95) out of 60 MIC for thymol and 279.26 μg/mL (±434.38) out of 68 MIC for carvacrol. Thymol and carvacrol showed anti-biofilm activities in the forms of disruption, inhibition, and mass reduction of biofilms. The MBC/MIC ratio was lower than 4 in 45 out of 47 cases, showing high bactericidal efficacy. FIC values were gathered for 68 combinations of thymol and carvacrol with other compounds, and they were mostly synergistic or additive. Conclusion: Thymol and carvacrol alone or in combination with other compounds, specifically known antibiotics, show great antimicrobial activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study successfully obtained chitosan thymol nanoparticles using an electrohydrodynamic technique, which is a simple one-step procedure. The morphological and physical characterization, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activity assessments of electrosprayed thymol-loaded chitosan nanoparticles (CTNPs) were carried out. The ABTS assay and the agar well diffusion test were used to determine the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of the CTNP samples, respectively. The results showed that CTNPs possessed efficient antimicrobial capacity against B. cereus, S. aureus, E. coli, and S. typhimurium. CTNPs indicated a radical scavenging activity of 90% regarding the ABTS assay. CTNPs with biological activities could be an effective alternative for practical food safety and health applications. In this study, the use of electrohydrodynamic atomization technique to produce biopolymer nanoparticles present a novel approach for encapsulating thymol-like volatile active agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carum copticum L. is one of the medicinal plants belonging to the Apiaceae family that has significant pharmaceutical properties. This plant was first described by Carl von Linnaeus. Carum copticum possesses antimicrobial, antiseptic, antihypertensive, antihyperlipidemic, carminative, antiviral, anesthetic, antitussive, bronchodilatory, hepatoprotective and antiulcer effects which are practical nowadays. Considering the importance of C. copticum, we studied evaluation of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) and light spectrum such as white, white–blue and blue on improvement of antioxidant properties and essential oils. For this purpose, the seedlings were grown under controlled hydroponic conditions and after 3 weeks treated by spraying of different TiO2 NPs concentrations (0, 100, 200, 300 and 400 ppm) on their leaves and then treated by the light. Afterwards, some of the physiological, phytochemical parameters and essential oils were analyzed. The results showed that 300 ppm TiO2 NPs combined with white–blue light is significantly the most effective treatments for improving the quantity of physiological and phytochemical parameters in C. copticum. Furthermore, TiO2 NPs and light play the role of elicitor that can induce remarkable enhanced changes in the desired parameters. In addition, studing of the essential oil contents of C. copticum using Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry demonstrated that thymol, α-pinene and γ-terpinene are the main essential oil components of this plant and the treated seedlings under 300 ppm TiO2 NPs and white–blue light together showed a significant increase in the contents of thymol and γ-terpinene. Besides, α-pinene enhanced considerably at 400 ppm TiO2 NPs combined with white–blue light spectrum.Key message: Titanium dioxide nanoparticles combined with the light spectrum may be considered as proper elicitors to enhance secondary metabolites and essential oils of C. copticum (L.). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: MSSA and MRSA strains are challenging human pathogens that can develop resistance to antibiotics, highlighting the need for alternative antimicrobial agents. Plant metabolites, particularly volatile phytochemicals, may offer promising antimicrobial properties. The aim was to evaluate the antimicrobial and antibiofilm efficacy of various commercial volatile phytochemicals from the terpene and terpenoid groups against reference MSSA and MRSA strains, focusing on synergistic effects in both binary combinations and combinations with antibiotics. Methods: The microdilution method was used to determine the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) for antibiotics and phytochemicals. The checkerboard method assessed synergistic interactions between phytochemicals and between phytochemicals and antibiotics, while the time-kill method was used to confirm these results. Biofilm quantification was performed using the microtiter plate method to evaluate the effects of phytochemicals, antibiotics, and their binary combinations on the eradication of 48-h-old biofilms. Results: Carvacrol and thymol demonstrated the strongest anti-staphylococcal activity, while other terpene compounds showed weaker effects. In binary combinations, carvacrol and thymol exhibited synergy against one MSSA strain (FICI = 0.50) and with tetracycline and chloramphenicol (FICI = 0.28–0.50). Synergy was also noted with streptomycin sulfate against one MRSA strain (FICI = 0.31–0.50) and with other antibiotics, including gentamicin (FICI = 0.25–0.50) and oxacillin (FICI = 0.44). Additionally, effective combinations achieved over 50% biofilm removal at both minimum inhibitory and sub-inhibitory concentrations. Conclusions: Results showed that synergy varies based on strain sensitivity to chemical agents, highlighting their potential for personalized therapy. Despite the difficulty in removing preformed biofilms, the findings highlight the importance of combined treatments to enhance antibiotic effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The therapeutic efficacy of various concentrations and combinations of thymol, Artemisia absinthium oil and nanoparticle ozone against Nosemosis caused by Nosema ceranae in honey bees was studied. Two-hundred colonies were examined for N. ceranae positivity and negativity under light microscopy; 119 colonies were positive and 81 colonies were negative for Nosemosis. The study evaluated the therapeutic efficacy of 17 different combinations against N. ceranae. Nine of the 17 combinations were applied by spray to frames and eight were applied orally (combinations added to the sugar syrup reservoir) to the hives. Each of the 17 combinations was prepared in 1,000 ml from (2%, 3% and 5%) of thymol and (2% and 3%) A. absinthium oil, and 1,000, 2,000, 4,000, and 8,000 ppm concentrations of nanoparticle ozone. N. ceranae spore counts before and after the treatment were counted on Neubauer thoma slides by the digestion method, and the efficacy of the combinations was determined by the percent reduction test. In spray form, 200 ml 2,000 ppm nanoparticle ozone + 100 ml 3% thymol + 700 ml sugar syrup (efficacy-89.47%) (Group 5) and in oral form, 250 ml 2% thymol + 200 ml 2% A. absinthium oil + 500 ml sugar syrup (efficacy-85.95%) (Group 16), were found to be more effective. In conclusion, the combination of thymol and nanoparticle ozone in spray form was more effective than other combinations in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing threat of antibiotic resistance has created an urgent need for new antibacterial agents, particularly plant-based natural compounds and their derivatives. Thymol, a natural monoterpenoid phenolic compound derived from Monarda citriodora , is known for its aromatic and therapeutic properties, including antibacterial activity. This study focuses on synthesizing dihydropyrimidinone and dihydropyridine derivatives of thymol and exploring their antibacterial properties. The synthesized compounds were tested for their in vitro antibacterial potential against pathogenic microorganisms, specifically Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Gram-negative) and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) (Gram-positive). Among the synthesized derivatives, compound 3i (ethyl 4-(4-hydroxy-5-isopropyl-2-methylphenyl)-2-imino-6-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyrimidine-5-carboxylate) exhibited the most promising antibacterial activity, with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of 12.5 µM against P. aeruginosa and 50.0 µM against MRSA. Additionally, compound 3i demonstrated a synergistic effect when combined with vancomycin, enhancing its antibacterial efficacy. The optimum fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICI) observed was 0.10 and 0.5 for MRSA and P. aeruginosa , respectively, in combination with vancomycin. In silico analysis of the physiochemical properties of 3i indicated compliance with all drug-likeness rules. Furthermore, molecular docking studies revealed that compound 3i has a stronger binding affinity to the target protein than thymol, providing valuable insights into its potential mechanism of action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Light 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. Results: The 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%. Conclusions: These 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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Global warming is an important issue in the context of climate change affecting cold-water aquaculture. Heat stress induces oxidative stress in fish, hence the use of a functional diet supplemented with antioxidant additives, such as thymol, can be useful to counteract the impact of global warming on aquaculture. In this study, we used thymol-enriched diets to rear rainbow trout fingerlings over an 8-week period followed by a period of heat stress of 48 h. Although thymol had no significant benefits on the growth and innate immunity of the fish, it improved antioxidant capacity and reduced lipid peroxidation and mortality after heat stress. The appropriate thymol dose for these benefits is 100 mg/kg. Rainbow trout fingerlings were fed, in triplicate, diets supplemented with 0 (CTL), 50 (50 TM), 100 (100 TM), 200 (200 TM), 400 (400 TM) and 800 (800 TM) mg/kg of thymol, followed by 48 h of thermal stress. Growth performance and humoral immunological parameters showed no significant responses to dietary thymol concentrations. Fish fed 50–400 mg/kg thymol diets had significantly higher survival after heat stress. Plasma cortisol, glucose, hepatic glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase and erythrocyte catalase significantly increased after thermal stress, whereas total plasma antioxidant capacity, ascorbate, and hepatic/erythrocyte reduced-glutathione significantly decreased. There were significant elevations in plasma ascorbate and hepatic glutathione reductase in the 50 TM, 100 TM and 200 TM groups; plasma total antioxidant capacity in the 100 TM and 200 TM groups; hepatic glutathione peroxidase in the 200 TM group; and hepatic-reduced glutathione in the 100 TM, 200 TM and 400 TM groups, compared to CTL. The highest hepatic superoxide dismutase and lowest hepatic malondialdehyde were observed in the 100 TM group before heat stress. These parameters significantly increased after thermal stress in the treatment groups, except in the 100 TM and 200 TM groups. Hepatic catalase showed no significant difference among the treatment groups before thermal stress. Hepatic catalase significantly increased after heat stress in all treatment groups, except in the 100 TM group. Erythrocyte superoxide dismutase significantly increased in the 100 TM group before heat stress, whereas erythrocyte malondialdehyde significantly decreased in the 100 TM and 200 TM groups after thermal stress. Based on the results, 100 mg/kg of thymol can promote antioxidant power and thermal stress resistance in rainbow trout. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Essential oils extracted from natural plants can serve as safe food additives, compared with conventional chemical or synthetic additives. Essential oils have also been incorporated into food packaging materials to impart their bacteriostatic and antioxidant properties. Among them, thymol (THY), a monoterpene phenolic compound extracted from the thyme plant, has been used as a bacteriostatic agent in active packaging materials with functional properties, due to its significant bacteriostatic properties. However, the activity of highly volatile THY is easily affected by the packaging environment. Therefore, appropriate techniques are needed to incorporate the THY into polymer matrices, in order to improve its stability and utilization for controlled release. This study aims to prepare the potato starch films of active packaging, taking the mesoporous nano-silica (mobil composition of matter No. 41, MCM-41) as the controlled-release carrier of THY (THY-MCM-41), potato starch as the film-forming substrate, glycerol as the plasticizer, and calcium chloride as the cross-linking agent. Single-factor experiments were carried out to determine the suitable additive ranges of potato starch, glycerol, calcium chloride, and THY-MCM-41 mass concentration in the packaging film. The L9 (34) orthogonal test was also implemented to investigate the interactive effects of potato starch, glycerol, calcium chloride, and THY-MCM-41 on the thickness, opacity, moisture absorption (MA), water vapor permeability (WVP), tensile strength (TS), and elongation at break (EB) of the packaging film. The optimal conditions were obtained to prepare the potato starch films of active packaging. A systematic investigation was made to clarify the THY release kinetics in the optimal combination of packaging film at different temperatures and relative humidity (RH) environments. A prediction model of THY release was constructed to optimize the THY. The results showed that the optimal properties of the prepared packaging film A were achieved in the TS, MA, WVP, oxygen permeability (OP) and opacity were 7.16 MPa, 89.23%, 1.42 × 10-10 g/(m·s·Pa), 1.02 × 10-15 cm²/s·Pa, and 1.16 mm-1, respectively, when the mass concentrations of potato starch, glycerol, calcium chloride and THY-MCM-41 were 0.04, 0.015, 0.005, and 0.005 g/mL, respectively. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and Fourier-transformed infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy confirmed that the denser and more uniform microstructure of packaging film was observed, where THY-MCM-41 was uniformly dispersed in the potato starch film, indicating better compatibility with potato starch. Thermogravimetric (TG) analysis showed that the encapsulation of MCM-41 improved the stability of THY in the potato starch film. In addition, the release kinetics of THY in the potato starch film of active packaging demonstrated that the initial explosive release was shifted to a subsequent sustained release under different temperature-RH environments. The active packaging film was prepared to effectively control the release rate of THY for the effective time of THY up to 10d. The release pattern of THY was in accordance with the First-order release model (R² > 0.980), and the release index “n” was less than 0.5, indicating that the release behavior of THY followed Fickian diffusion law. This finding can also provide the theoretical foundation for the precise release of active substances in the development of active packaging films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The signaling pathway of the transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß/SMAD3 plays a crucial role in developing liver and kidney fibrosis. TGF-ß is linked to metastasis through SRY-related, highmobility box (SOX-2). The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of thymol and menthol, two monoterpene compounds, on the SOX-2 expression and TGF-ß/SMAD3 signaling in the liver and kidneys of mice after administering diethylnitrosamine (DEN). Methods: The Balb/C male mice, aged 14 days, were administered a single intraperitoneal injection of DEN (25 mg/kg) and then given daily either thymol (10 mg/kg) or menthol (50 mg/kg) for 26 consecutive weeks. The mRNA levels of TGF-ß, SMAD3, and SOX-2 were measured after 4 and 26 weeks of treatment. Results: The administration of DEN increased the expressions of TGF-ß, SMAD3, and SOX-2 in the liver of animals after 4 and 26 weeks; however, their expressions in the kidneys increased only at the end of the 26th week compared to that of the control group. Thymol and menthol inhibited the expression of TGF-ß, SMAD3, and SOX-2 in the liver and kidneys of the mice injected with DEN. Conclusion: Based on the study findings, we concluded that thymol and menthol prevented carcinogenesis induction via expression of DEN in the liver and kidneys by inhibiting the associated expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition and SOX-2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to investigate the swelling and degradation behavior of a controlled-release system using gelatin, thymol loading capacity, characterization, morphology, and thymol release level in relation to the recommended therapeutic dose for varroosis control. In this context, a series of hydrogels were first produced using a glutaraldehyde (GA) crosslinker and swelling tests were performed. Thymol loading was performed on the appropriate hydrogels, with swelling values between 269% and 431%. Thymol loading efficiency was determined to be between 20.07% and 29.80%. The chemical structures of the hydrogels with and without thymol loading were compared by Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FT-IR) and it was determined that thymol was loaded into the structure. The morphological structures of the thymol-loaded and unloaded hydrogels were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). It was observed that the non-thymolloaded hydrogel had larger pores than the thymol-loaded hydrogel. A model release environment and measurement system were developed to predict the release type, level, and duration of the controlled release system in the hive air environment. In this model release environment, release tests were carried out for four weeks using different thymol application systems and the measurements were compared. As a result, it was found that the controlled thymol release system developed for the control of varroosis showed a more stable release compared to existing application systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Common thyme (Thymus vulgaris L., Lamiaceae) is one of the most wellknown plants in the world, widely used in medicine, culinary arts, and cosmetics. The aim of this study was to analyse the content and composition of essential oils (EO) obtained from the T. vulgaris commercial samples grown in Estonia and in various European countries. Gas chromatography was used to characterize the quality and diversity of chemotypes of the studied plant raw material of different origins. The samples of the T. vulgaris herb contained 3-28 mL/kg of EO, and in five samples it was below the European Pharmacopoeia (Ph. Eur.) requirement (minimum 12 mL/kg). In total, 44 EO compounds were identified in the essential oils of the studied T. vulgaris samples. Among them, five principal compounds were carvacrol (2.3-87.5%), thymol (0.9-71.2%), pcymene (0.3-26.0%), γ-terpinene (0.1-16.1%), and (E)β-caryophyllene (0.6-9.2%). It was concluded that the main compound of T. vulgaris EO (n = 37) was thymol with an average content of 41.1%. Monoterpenoids (90.5%) and sesquiterpenoids (5.7%) were the most dominating groups of terpenoids in the studied EO. Regarding the minimum and maximum content of key compounds in EO, none of the studied samples (n = 22) fully met the requirements of Ph. Eur. 11. The content of the four most important terpenoids (thymol, carvacrol, pcymene, and γ-terpinene) in the EO of T. vulgaris does not change much from the beginning to the end of the flowering period. Correlations between the content of the most important (>2%) components (n = 14) of the studied EO (n = 37) showed a level >0.9 in several cases. Among seven studied chemotypes of T. vulgaris EO, five contained thymol as one of the main components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims This study aimed to explore the effectiveness of dietary citronellol, thymol, and trans-cinnamaldehyde (CTC) essential oils blend on broilers' growth performance, immunity, intestinal microbial count, gut integrity, and resistance against Clostridium perfringens utilizing the necrotic enteritis (NE) challenge model. Methods and results A total of 200 Ross 308 male broiler chicks received either a control diet or diet supplemented with three graded levels of CTC blend, including 300, 600, and 900 mg of CTC blend/kg diet and experimentally infected with C. perfringens strain at 23 days of age. Herein, dietary CTC blend fortifications significantly improved the broilers' growth performance, which was supported by upregulating the expression levels of MUC-2 , occludin, and JAM-2 genes. Moreover, dietary CTC blend inclusion significantly enhanced the levels of blood phagocytic percentage and serum IgA, IgG, and MPO, and reduced the values of serum CRP, and NO at 5 days pre-infection, 10-, and 15 days post-infection (dpi) with C. perfringens. At 15 dpi, CTC blend inclusion significantly reduced the intestinal digesta pH, coliforms and C. perfringens loads, and the expression levels of genes related to C. perfringens virulence (cpe, cnaA , and nanI), proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1β and TNF-α), and chemokines (CCL20), in addition to increasing the count of beneficial total Lactobacillus and total aerobic bacteria, and the expression levels of genes related to anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-10) and chemokines (AvBD6 and AvBD612). Conclusion Our results point to the growth-provoking, immunostimulant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antivirulence characteristics of the CTC blend, which improves the broilers' resistance to C. perfringens and ameliorates the negative impacts of NE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The essential oils were isolated from Thymus serpyllum L. leaves, stem, flowers and whole plant using hydrodistillation technique and % yield was determined. The chemical constituents were studied using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry and Gas Chromatography-Flame Ionisation Detection. The analysis revealed the presence of 38 compounds in the essential oils obtained from different plant parts. Identification of compounds was achieved by detailed analysis of mass spectrum and retention indices. The major constituents of essential oil from the whole plant were thymol (35.25%), p-cymene (27.57%), thymol acetate (8.03%) and γ-terpinene (6.92%). In leaves they were thymol (45.59%), p-cymene (24.26%), thymol acetate (6.41%), and β-bisabolene (5.91%); whereas in flowers these were thymol (68.74%) and thymol acetate (7.40%) and in the stem, these were thymol (55.15%) and thymol acetate (8.01%). Specifically, it is the first report wherein essential oil constituents of T. serpyllum L. whole plant, leaves, flowers, and stems have been analyzed separately. Further, fundamental analysis of complex mass fragmentation patterns of terpenes and terpenoids using EI-MS has been achieved and the logical reason for the fragmentation pattern has been elaborated. Detailed elaboration of the mass fragmentation pattern may strengthen the EI-MS-based compound identification of terpenes and terpenoids from essential oils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thymol and carvacrol belong to the class of terpenoids that usually contribute to the flavor, color, and development of plants, and their complexation with CD has been recently reported. Due to their structural similarities, including such guests in CD poses a challenging task to theoretical methodologies. With the present contribution, we applied the recently developed GFN2-xTB multi-equilibrium approach to study the inclusion of those guests into β-CD. The inclusion of 1-adamantane carboxylic acid in β-CD was also investigated for comparison. The study was conducted with a progressive increase in the number of systems in steps, comprising 792, 1,188, and 1,584 systems. Therefore, for the three guest/host pairs studied, complete optimization in vacuum and water with the ALPB continuum method was applied to 10,692 systems at the GFN2-xTB level of theory. Furthermore, single-point calculations at the B97-3c/def2-TZVPP level of theory were carried out using the SMD solvation model. As a result, beyond determining the experimental trend, we addressed that the additional degree of freedom represented by the gamma Euler parameter decreased the errors related to the estimated adjusted binding constants. On the other hand, the use of the B97-3c/def2-TZVPP in conjunction with the set of systems selected by GFN2-xTB (ALPB) must be further investigated since the experimental trend was obtained only with a basis in the difference in electronic energies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ticks pose a significant threat due to their ability to lay thousands of eggs, which can persist in the environment for extended periods. While the impact of various compounds on adult and larval ticks has been studied, research on their efficacy against tick eggs is limited. This study evaluated the ovicidal activity of commercial acaricides, disinfectants, and natural products against Rhipicephalus annulatus eggs using the egg hatch assay (EHA). Deltamethrin and cypermethrin caused a non-significant inhibition of hatching (IH%), even at concentrations higher than the recommended levels. By contrast, the acaricides chlorpyrifos, phoxim, and amitraz significantly inhibited hatching at all tested concentrations. Ivermectin also demonstrated significant IH% at various concentrations but did not fully inhibit the hatching process. Among the disinfectants tested, Virkon-S®, TH4, and Chlorox showed insignificant effects, whereas formalin achieved an IH% of only 34.1% at a high concentration of 200 mg/mL. Natural products, carvacrol and thymol, exhibited significant ovicidal activity, with a significant IH%. In a semi-field application, phoxim (0.5 mg/mL) and deltamethrin (0.05 mg/mL) were sprayed on tick eggs on pasture soil from a farm. The results indicated that phoxim-treated eggs had a 40% IH%, while deltamethrin-treated eggs showed only an 8.79% IH%. In conclusion, the acaricides amitraz, phoxim, and chlorpyrifos, as well as the natural products carvacrol and thymol, caused significant toxicity to R. annulatus eggs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thymol-loaded polymeric nanocapsules were developed in this study to control volatilization and drug release for repellent application on Rhipicephalus sanguineus nymphs. Policaprolactone-loaded nanocapsules were prepared and characterized by diameter, PdI, zeta potential, pH, entrapment efficiency, and thymol content. Moreover, drug release, skin permeation profile, and repellent activity were evaluated. Nanocapsules showed a mean diameter of 195.7 ± 0.5 nm, a PdI of 0.20 ± 0.01, a zeta potential of −20.6 ± 0.3 mV, a pH of 4.7 ± 0.1, and an entrapment efficiency and a thymol content of 80.1 ± 0.1% and 97.9 ± 0.2%, respectively. The nanosystem progressively released 68.6 ± 2.3% of the thymol over 24 h, demonstrating that it can control drug release. Thymol-loaded nanocapsules showed less epidermis penetration upon skin application than pure thymol (control). Moreover, nanocapsules showed 60–70% repellency for 2 h against Rhipicephalus sanguineus nymphs. Thus, the nanocapsules proved to be a promising alternative for use as an arthropod repellent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Plant fungal diseases pose a significant threat to crop production. The extensive use of chemical pesticides has led to growing environmental safety risks and pesticide resistance of various plant pathogens. Therefore, it is an urgent task to explore novel eco‐friendly fungicidal agents with high efficacy to combat fungal infection. RESULTS: In this study, we rationally designed a series of novel thymol derivatives by incorporation of the sulfonamide moiety and evaluated their biological activities against plant pathogenic fungi. The bioassay results underscored the remarkable in vitro antifungal activity of compounds 5m and 5t against Phytophthora capsici (P. capsici), with EC50 values of 8.420 and 8.414 μg/mL, respectively. Their efficacies were superior to that of widely used commercial fungicides azoxystrobin (AZO, 20.649 μg/mL) and cabendazim (CAB, 251.625 μg/mL). Furthermore, compound 5v exhibited excellent in vitro antifungal activity against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (S. sclerotiorum), with an EC50 value of 12.829 μg/mL, significantly outperforming AZO (63.629 μg/mL). In vivo bioassays demonstrated the impactful activity of compound 5v against S. sclerotiorum, achieving over 98% curative and protective efficacies at the concentration of 200 μg/mL. Further mechanistic investigations unveiled that compound 5v induced mycelial shrinkage and collapse in S. sclerotiorum, resulting in organelle damage and the accumulation of antioxidant enzyme activity. CONCLUSION: The significant antifungal efficacy of the prepared thymol derivatives shall encourage further exploration of compound 5v as a promising candidate to develop novel fungicides for crop protection. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present work, starch/thymol nano-emulsions (S-T-NE) were prepared by enzymatic hydrolysis combined with dynamic high-pressure microfluidization technology. Three different methods including starch-DHPM-thymol-magnetic stirring (SDTM), starch-thymol-magnetic stirring-DHPM (STMD), and starch-thymol-DHPM-magnetic stirring (STDM) were selected to discuss the multi-dimensional structure and property discrepancies of S-T-NE. Results showed that S-T-NE particles exhibited the minimal aggregation with uniformly adsorption of thymol by STMD, which was benefited to ensure the excellent storage stability of S-T-NE. In the meantime, the S-T-NE prepared by STMD displayed the highest thymol loading rate (78.30%±1.73%) and drug loading capacity (223.71±3.02 μg/mg) compared with other methods. Furthermore, the growth of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus was obviously inhibited by S-T-NE, showing inhibition zone diameters with 16.15±0.19 mm and 13.98±0.26 mm, respectively. For another, the S-T-NE prepared by STMD exhibited remarkable iron reduction capability (1.36±0.04 mmol Trolox/L) and DPPH, ABTS+ free radical scavenging abilities (0.11±0.00, 0.43±0.00 mmol Trolox/L). These findings provided valuable technical support on the preparation and application of starch-based nanoemulison loaded with bio-active compounds.

Abstract Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa are the most common bacteria co-isolated from chronic infected wounds. Their interactions remain unclear but this coexistence is beneficial for both bacteria and may lead to resistance to antimicrobial treatments. Besides, developing an in vitro model where this coexistence is recreated remains challenging, making difficult their study. The aim of this work was to develop a reliable polymicrobial in vitro model of both species to further understand their interrelationships and the effects of different antimicrobials in coculture. In this work, bioluminescent and fluorescent bacteria were used to evaluate the activity of two antiseptics (chlorhexidine and thymol) against these bacteria planktonically grown, or when forming single and mixed biofilms. At the doses tested (0.4-1,000 mg/L), thymol showed selective antimicrobial action against S. aureus in planktonic and biofilm states, in contrast with chlorhexidine which exerted antimicrobial effects against both bacteria. Furthermore, the initial conditions for both bacteria in the co-culture determined the antimicrobial outcome, showing that P. aeruginosa impaired the proliferation and metabolism of S. aureus. Moreover, S. aureus showed an increased tolerance against antiseptic treatments when co-cultured, attributed to the formation of a thicker mixed biofilm compared to those obtained when monocultured, and also, by the reduction of S. aureus metabolic activity induced by diffusible molecules produced by P. aeruginosa. This work underlines the relevance of polymicrobial populations and their crosstalk and microenvironment in the search of disruptive and effective treatments for polymicrobial biofilms.

Abstract Background Light 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. Results The 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%. Conclusions These 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.

Common thyme (Thymus vulgaris L., Lamiaceae) is one of the most well-known plants in the world, widely used in medicine, culinary arts, and cosmetics. The aim of this study was to analyse the content and composition of essential oils (EO) obtained from the T. vulgaris commercial samples grown in Estonia and in various European countries. Gas chromatography was used to characterize the quality and diversity of chemotypes of the studied plant raw material of different origins. The samples of the T. vulgaris herb contained 3â28 mL/kg of EO, and in five samples it was below the European Pharmacopoeia (Ph. Eur.) requirement (minimum 12 mL/kg). In total, 44 EO compounds were identified in the essential oils of the studied T. vulgaris samples. Among them, five principal compounds were carvacrol (2.3â87.5%), thymol (0.9â71.2%), p-cymene (0.3â26.0%), γ-terpinene (0.1â16.1%), and (E)-β-caryophyllene (0.6â9.2%). It was concluded that the main compound of T. vulgaris EO (n = 37) was thymol with an average content of 41.1%. Monoterpenoids (90.5%) and sesquiterpenoids (5.7%) were the most dominating groups of terpenoids in the studied EO. Regarding the minimum and maximum content of key compounds in EO, none of the studied samples (n = 22) fully met the requirements of Ph. Eur. 11. The content of the four most important terpenoids (thymol, carvacrol, p-cymene, and γ-terpinene) in the EO of T. vulgaris does not change much from the beginning to the end of the flowering period. Correlations between the content of the most important (>2%) components (n = 14) of the studied EO (n = 37) showed a level >0.9 in several cases. Among seven studied chemotypes of T. vulgaris EO, five contained thymol as one of the main components.

The research was conducted to examine the neuroprotective effect of thymol and its precursor p-cymene on chronic immobility stress in adult male Wistar rats. The rats were subjected to 2.5 h of stress every day for 14 consecutive days by placing them inside a restrainer. Thymol (10 mg/kg) and p-cymene (50 mg/kg) were given to the rats during the same period. The results showed that thymol and p-cymene prevented the increase of MDA level, decline of GSH level, and decrease of SOD and GPx activity in the hippocampus of rats exposed to stress. These monoterpenes also prevented the increase in the expression of Tnfa, Il1b, Tlr4, and Nfkb, and the decrease in the expression of Nrf2, Ho1, and Bdnf. In addition, thymol and p-cymene inhibited the increase in the expression and activity of acetylcholinesterase in the hippocampus of animals exposed to immobility and enhanced the expression of A7nachr. They also reduced neuronal death in the CA1 region of stressed animals and improved their performance in the Morris water maze and elevated plus maze tests. Based on these findings, thymol and p-cymene may be effective in preventing neurodegenerative diseases as they reduce oxidative stress and neuroinflammation, strengthen ACh signaling, and stimulate Bdnf expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A catalyst- and solvent-free procedure has been developed for the synthesis of p -[(benzothiazolylamino)(aryl/heteroaryl)methyl]-functionalized phenols and its O -tosylates via one-pot three-component coupling reaction of thymol or carvacrol, aryl/heteroaryl aldehydes, and 2-aminobenzothiazoles with high selectivity. The present amino methylation process is convenient to perform even on large scale with a broad scope. The products were likely formed through the initial para attack of thymol on aldehydes to generate p -quinone methide intermediate and subsequent 1,6-aza-Michael addition of 2-aminobenzothiazoles on in-situ generated p -quinone methide intermediate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

IntroductionGarden thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.), is a small perennial plant native to the Mediterranean region that is now found worldwide. It is commonly used as a culinary herb and for medicinal purposes as well (Silva et al., 2021). Thymol is one of the main and active chemical compounds of thyme. It has been shown to have antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral properties and is often used as a natural preservative in food and cosmetic products (Hammoudi et al., 2022). Golubkina et al. (2020) reported that the use of mycorrhizal fungi as a technology that is compatible with the environment and by increasing plant access to nutrients and increasing resistance to stresses as well as improving water absorption, can lead to improved plant growth. Today, the use of organic compounds such as humic acid can affect many morphological, physiological and biochemical processes of plants and lead to improvement in plant growth (Mousavi et al., 2022).Materials and MethodsIn order to investigate the effects of foliar application of humic acid fertilization and mycorrhizal fungi symbiosis on Thymus vulgaris L., a factorial layout has been applied, based on a randomized complete block design with three replications at the field of the research farm of Islamic Azad University, Takestan Branch during 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 growing seasons. Experimental factors included three species of mycorrhiza fungi (control, Glomus mosseae, G.etunicatum and G.intradices) and humic acid fertilizer levels included (control, 150 and 300 mg.L-1). Important traits such as plant height, herbal fresh weight, essential oil percentage, and yield, flavonoid content, root colonization percentage, thymol and carvacrol percentage were measured and analyzed.Results and DiscussionThe results showed that the effects of the treatments were significant at the 1% level for all investigated traits. For the characteristics of essential oil percentage and essential oil yield, the interaction effect was also significant at 1%, with an observed increase of over 200%. The application of 300 mg/liter humic acid resulted in a 14% increase in root colonization and a 16% increase in flavonoid percentage. Similarly, the application of mycorrhiza increased these traits by 23% and 30%, respectively. Thymol and carvacrol were the most abundant essential oil compounds. It can be concluded that the quality of thyme essential oil improved under the treatments. Among the mycorrhizae used in this research, G. mosseae mycorrhizae were more effective than the other two types. The results suggest that the application of mycorrhiza has a more significant impact on improving the examined traits compared to humic acid.ConclusionBased on the results of this study, application of mycorrhiza due to creating a symbiotic relationship with the roots of the garden thyme plant and humic acid spraying could increase the quantity and quality of the produced product. mycorrhiza was better than the use of humic acid in most treatments.

Abstract Mosquito-borne diseases, such as malaria, dengue, and Zika, pose major public health challenges globally, affecting millions of people. The growing resistance of mosquito populations to synthetic insecticides underscores the critical need for effective and environmentally friendly larvicides. Although chemical pesticides can initially be effective, they often lead to negative environmental consequences and health hazards for non-target species, including humans. This study aimed to evaluate the larvicidal effects of Trachyspermum ammi essential oil and Delphinium speciosum extract on the larvae of three major mosquito species: Aedes aegypti, Anopheles stephensi, and Culex quinquefasciatus. Mosquito larvae of Ae. aegypti, An. stephensi, and Cx. quinquefasciatus were reared under controlled laboratory conditions. The larvicidal activity of T. ammi essential oil and D. speciosum extract was evaluated through standard bioassays, using various concentrations of essential oils (10, 20, 40, 80, and 160 ppm) and extracts (160, 320, 640, 1280, and 2560 ppm) to determine the lethal concentration (LC50) values after 24 h of exposure. Fresh plant materials were collected, with the essential oil extracted via hydro-distillation, and the extract prepared using methanol solvent extraction. The chemical composition of T. ammi essential oil was examined using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Additionally, the preliminary analysis of the chemical compounds in D. speciosum extract was carried out using thin layer chromatography (TLC) and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) techniques. The results indicated that the essential oil of T. ammi exhibited more effective larvicidal activity compared to the D. speciosum extract. Specifically, the essential oil demonstrated LC50 values of 18 ppm for Cx. quinquefasciatus and 19 ppm for Ae. aegypti. In contrast, the D. speciosum extract showed the strongest larvicidal effect against An. stephensi, with an LC50 of 517 ppm. Concentrations of 40 ppm of the essential oil and 1280 ppm of the extract resulted in 100% mortality across all three species. Both the essential oil of T. ammi and the D. speciosum extract exhibited concentration-dependent larvicidal activity, and these results were statistically significant (p

Introduction and objectives: Klebsiella pneumoniae is an opportunistic pathogen that plays a major role in the development of nosocomial infections. One of the most important mechanisms of resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics is the production of beta-lactamase enzymes by this bacterium. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of AmpC beta-lactamase producing clinical isolates of K. pneumoniae in Guilan and investigating the inhibitory effect thymol on these isolates. Methods: Sixty isolates of K. pneumoniae were isolated and identified from clinical laboratories in Rasht during 2022. The pattern of antibiotic susceptibility in isolates was determined and beta-lactamase production was investigated using combined disk method. The presence of AmpC encoding genes including FOX, CITM and DHAM beta-lactamase genes in isolates was determined by PCR. The growth inhibitory effect of thymol on these isolates was determined using disck diffusion and broth microdilution and the efflux inhibitory effect was determined by Cartwheel methods. Results: Among tested isolates 46 (76.6%) showed multi drug resistant phenotype. Of the 22 phenotypically AmpC-producing isolates, CITM and DHAM genes were detected in 12 (20%) and 7 (11.66%) isolates respectively and 4 isolates had both CITM and DHAM genes at the same time. Thymol, showed growth and efflux inhibitory effects against all tested K. pneumoniae isolates. Conclusion: The results of the present study suggest the necessity of finding a successful treatment option to prevent the spread of infections caused by AmpC producing K. pneumoniae. According to the results, the use of thymol can provide a basis for the development of a new treatment against multi-drug resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae.

Background and Aim: In drug delivery, the formation of cyclodextrin complexes is a widely used strategy to overcome biopharmaceutical challenges associated with various active pharmaceutical ingredients, such as poor water solubility, initial instability, and low bioavailability. Given the anti-cancer properties of thymol, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of thymol-loaded nanoparticles in a beta-cyclodextrin complex and to assess their anti-cancer effects in melanoma skin cancer cells (A2058) by examining the expression of the VEGF and VEGFR genes. Methods: The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized using various methods, including zeta potential analysis, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). To determine the cytotoxicity of the synthesized nanocomplex, the MTT assay was performed with β-CD-Thymol nanoparticle concentrations ranging from 62.5 to 500 μg/ml. The Chorioallantoic Membrane (CAM) assay was conducted to evaluate the cytotoxicity of the synthesized β-CD-Thymol nanoparticles in the context of angiogenesis. Finally, the expression levels of genes involved in angiogenesis (VEGF and VEGFR) were analyzed using real-time PCR. Results: Dynamic light scattering analysis revealed that the mean size of the nanoparticles was 116.20 nm, with a zeta potential of -21.64 mV. FTIR studies indicated the presence of several biologically active functional groups in the synthesized nanoparticles. Additionally, the anti-cancer effects and inhibitory role of the β-CD-Thymol complex were confirmed by a significant reduction in the expression of angiogenesis-related genes (VEGF and VEGFR) in A2058 cells treated with the β-CD-Thymol nanoparticle complex (P < 0.001). The results from the CAM assay further supported these findings. Conclusion: The findings of this study demonstrated a significant decrease in the expression of genes involved in angiogenesis, specifically VEGF and VEGFR, indicating that the β-CD-Thymol complex effectively inhibits angiogenesis in the A2058 skin cancer cell line. Overall, in addition to inhibiting the formation of new blood vessels, the β-CD-Thymol nanostructure shows promise as an anti-angiogenic agent by modulating the expression of VEGF and VEGFR genes.

[Objective] This study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy of essential oil (EO) from diverse chemotypes of Lippia graveolens against oxytetracycline-resistant Aeromonas hydrophila, which primarily affects the tilapia aquaculture (O. niloticus) in Guatemala. [Methodology] L. graveolens were collected in three departments in Guatemala. The EO was obtained by hydrodistillation and characterized using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Subsequently, an antimicrobial assay was conducted using disk and dilution susceptibility tests and evaluation of synergistic interactions among the chemotypes. Each test was performed in triplicate. [Results] The analysis revealed the presence of twenty-seven compounds in the EO obtained from the chemotypes, with the main class being monoterpenes. The major constituents identified were cis-Dihydro-β-terpineol (8.84%) in chemotype I, carvacrol (51.82%) in chemotype II, and thymol (79.62%) in chemotype III. All EO chemotypes of L. graveolens demonstrated the ability to inhibit the A. hydrophila growth. Thymol chemotype exhibited the strongest inhibitory effect against bacterial growth, with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 92.4 µg/mL and a minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of 184.8 µg/mL. Furthermore, the results suggest that there is no synergistic or additive effect when combining different chemotypes of L. graveolens. [Conclusions] This is the first report of L. graveolens chemotypes exhibiting antimicrobial activity against oxytetracycline-resistant A. hydrophila. The findings suggest that the chemotype thymol could be a potential treatment for infections in the tilapia aquaculture in Guatemala.

Developing a spectroscopic approach to assess the medicinal substance thymol was one of the research's objectives. Using an oxidative coupling reaction between thymol solution and N,N-dimethyl-p-phenylenediamine dihydrochloride solution (N,N-DMPPDADH) in alkaline media with potassium periodate as an oxidizing agent, the current technology forms a blue-colored soluble product. The wavelength at which a colored product exhibits maximum absorption is 600 nm. According to Beer's law, the concentration range covered by the approach under review is 1.25–20.00 μg/mL of thymol. The specific molar absorbance value of 10725.71 L/mol cm indicates the method's sensitivity. The Sandell significance value was 0.014 μg/cm2, which represents sensitivity per unit length. The precision of the method is demonstrated to be commendable, and the low relative standard deviation value of 0.16% supports this. This method's accuracy in identifying thymol at such low quantities is demonstrated by its confirmed detection limit of 0.0124 μg/mL. The developed technique has been useful in screening thymol in pharmaceutical products, with mouthwash being the focus of particular attention. Thymol content in real-world samples was accurately determined using the approach, as evidenced by the reported 101.13% recovery rate of thymol in the examined samples.