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Background/Objectives: Degradation by physical and chemical agents affects the properties of essential oils; therefore, this study aimed to protect the volatile compounds present in essential oils through biopolymer encapsulation. Methods: The Achyrocline satureioides (Lam) DC. essential oil was obtained by steam distillation at 2.5 bar. The nano-sized physical coating of the active oil core resulted in an optimal polymer/oil ratio of 1:3 and particle diameter of 178 nm. The particle morphology was evaluated using scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The inclusion of the essential oil in the polymer was confirmed using thermogravimetric analysis. Results: The pH of the formulation remained stable for 90 days, and controlled release and encapsulation efficiencies were evaluated. Formulations were evaluated using the perfumery radar technique, which indicated a predominantly woody profile. The diffusion of fragrant compounds in the air was assessed over time and mathematically modeled. Conclusions: The produced nanostructures were efficient for the controlled release of volatile compounds from the essential oil of Achyrocline satureioides .

Pterocaulon polystachyum is a species of pharmacological interest for providing volatile and non-volatile extracts with antifungal and amebicidal properties. The biological activities of non-volatile extracts may be related to the presence of coumarins, a promising group of secondary metabolites. In the present study, leaves and inflorescences previously used for the extraction of essential oils instead of being disposed of were subjected to extraction with supercritical CO 2 after pretreatment with microwaves. An experimental design was followed to seek the best extraction condition with the objective function being the maximum total extract. Pressure and temperature were statistically significant factors, and the optimal extraction condition was 240 bar, 60 °C, and pretreatment at 30 °C. The applied mathematical models showed good adherence to the experimental data. The extracts obtained by supercritical CO 2 were analyzed and the presence of coumarins was confirmed. The extract investigated for cytotoxicity against bladder tumor cells (T24) exhibited significant reduction in cell viability at concentrations between 6 and 12 μg/mL. The introduction of green technology, supercritical extraction, in the exploration of P. polystachyum as a source of coumarins represents a paradigm shift with regard to previous studies carried out with this species, which used organic solvents. Furthermore, the concept of circular bioeconomy was applied, i.e., the raw material used was the residue of a steam-distillation process. Therefore, the approach used here is in line with the sustainable exploitation of native plants to obtain extracts rich in coumarins with cytotoxic potential against cancer cells.

Coumarins are benzopyrones found in several plant genera, including Pterocaulon (Asteraceae). These compounds represent an important source of new treatments, especially as antimicrobial and antifungal agents. In this study, two coumarin-rich extracts from Pterocaulon balansae using green technologies were obtained through aqueous maceration (AE) and supercritical fluid extraction (SFE). Such extracts were incorporated into nanoemulsions (NAE and NSFE) composed of a medium-chain triglyceride oil core stabilized by phospholipids. The nanoemulsions exhibited droplet sizes between 127 and 162 nm, pH above 5.0, and viscosity of approximately 1.0 cP, properties compatible with the topical route. The coumarins permeation/retention from formulations through ear porcine skin using Franz-type diffusion cells were evaluated. Whatever the extract, coumarins were distributed in skin layers, especially in the dermis in both intact and impaired (tape stripping) skin. In addition, a significant increase in coumarins that reached up to the receptor fluid was observed for impaired skin, with increases of approximately threefold for NAE and fourfold for NSFE. Finally, antifungal activity of nanoemulsions was evaluated according to minimum inhibitory concentrations, and the values were 250 µg/mL for all strains tested. The overall results demonstrated the feasibility of incorporating P. balansae extracts into nanoemulsions and showed a potential alternative for the treatment of sporotrichosis.

A widely disseminated native species from Australia, Acacia mearnsii , which is mainly cultivated in Brazil and South Africa, represents a rich source of natural tannins used in the tanning process. Many flowers of the Acacia species are used as sources of compounds of interest for the cosmetic industry, such as phenolic compounds. In this study, supercritical fluid extraction was used to obtain non-volatile compounds from A. mearnsii flowers for the first time. The extract showed antimicrobial activity and the presence of p -anisic acid, a substance with industrial and pharmaceutical applications. The fractionation of the extract was performed using a chromatographic column and the fraction containing p -anisic acid presented better minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) results than the crude extract. Thus, the extraction process was optimized to maximize the p -anisic acid extraction. The response surface methodology and the Box-Behnken design was used to evaluate the pressure, temperature, the cosolvent, and the influence of the particle size on the extraction process. After the optimization process, the p -anisic acid yield was 2.51% w / w and the extraction curve was plotted as a function of time. The simulation of the extraction process was performed using the three models available in the literature., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Objective: This study aims to correlate new experimental data relevant to the description of the combined evaporation/permeation process of a perfume applied onto the skin., Methods: The vapour pressure data were measured by thermogravimetric analysis (TG-DTA). The Antoine constants and the Clarke and Glew parameters were determined for the same set of fragrance molecules to describe its low vapour pressures at new temperature ranges. The permeability coefficient of a set of 14 fragrance molecules in ethanolic solution was determined by Franz diffusion cell experiments, using porcine skin. The samples were analysed by gas chromatography with a flame ionization detector (GC/FID) and high-performance liquid chromatography with UV visible detector (HPLC/UV). A QSAR model was proposed to correlate the experimental data., Results: The Antoine constants were determined and presented low standard deviations. The Clarke and Glew physically significant parameters were obtained along with its statistical analysis. The fitting is good since the magnitude order is in accordance with the literature, associated with the low correlation between the estimated parameters and low standard deviations. The presented correlation, based on a mixture using only ethanol as solvent, showed better results than previous QSAR models with a standard relative deviation ( σ r ) of 0.190, a standard error (SE) of 0.397 and a determination coefficient (R 2 ) of 0.7786., Conclusion: The dataset is still small compared to larger and more general QSAR models; however, it is much more specific as to the type of solvent and class of materials studied. This work represents an advance for the modelling of the perfume diffusion process since it specifies important properties that until then had been treated in a more general way., (© 2021 Society of Cosmetic Scientists and the Société Française de Cosmétologie.)

Background: Species of Valeriana show sedative, hypnotic, anxiolytic, antidepressant and anti-inflammatory properties, which are associated with valepotriates. However, data about toxicity and safety of these compounds are still limited. The aim of this study was to investigate the toxicity of a valepotriate-enriched fraction (VAL) from Valeriana glechomifolia Meyer based on the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) guidelines 423 and 407., Methods: In the acute study, CF1 mice were treated with a single dose of VAL (2000 mg/kg, p.o.) and observed for 14 days. In the repeated dose study, CF1 mice received single daily doses of VAL (30, 150 or 300 mg/kg, p.o.) or vehicle for 28 days. These doses were chosen based on previous results by our group and according to Guideline 407- OECD., Results: The acute study allowed to classify VAL in the hazard category 5. The repeat-dose study has shown that VAL 300 mg/kg delayed weight gain and reduced food consumption in the first week, probably due to transient sedative effects. The other doses had no effect on animals' ponderal evolution. At the end of the treatment, all groups had equal body weight and food consumption. None of the doses altered any behavioral, urinary, biochemical, hematological, anatomic or histological parameters., Conclusion: A valepotriate-enriched fraction from Valeriana glechomifolia presents relatively low oral acute toxicity and does not induce evident toxicity after oral repeated treatment (at least up to 300 mg/kg) in mice., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

In this study we evaluated the effect of a pressure gradient (1-2 atm) in the extraction and composition of the essential oil (EO) of Piper hispidinervum by steam distillation. We also evaluated the insect antifeedant effects (Spodoptera littoralis, Leptinotarsa decemlineata, Myzus persicae and Rhopalosiphum padi) and nematicidal activity (Meloidogyne javanica) of the oils, their major components and their synergistic interactions. Safrole was the major component (78-81%) followed by terpinolene (5-9%). The EOs tested were effective insect antifeedants. Safrole, explained most of the insect antifeedant action of P. hispidinervum EOs. When safrole and terpinolene were tested in binary combinations, low ratios of safrole improved the antifeedant effects of terpinolene. P. hispidinervum EOs caused higher mortality of M. javanica juveniles than their major components. In binary combinations, low ratios of terpinolene increased the nematicidal effects of safrole. The EO treatment strongly suppressed nematode egg hatching and juvenile infectivity. P. hispidinervum EOs affected the germination of S. lycopersicum and L. sativa mostly at 24 h of treatment, being L. sativa the most sensitive. Safrole moderately affected germination and root growth of L. sativa, S. lycopersicum and L. perenne. Terpinolene only affected S. lycopersicum root growth., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)