-
Scientific Reports Aug 2023Plant essential oils are intricate blends comprising predominantly of monoterpenes and some sesquiterpenes. These oils display diverse bioactivities against targeted...
Plant essential oils are intricate blends comprising predominantly of monoterpenes and some sesquiterpenes. These oils display diverse bioactivities against targeted organisms, often arising from complex interactions among their constituents, which may demonstrate synergistic or antagonistic effects. Despite their wide use as botanical insecticides, the mechanisms behind these interactions and their effects on bioactivity are poorly understood. This study investigated the synergistic interaction of thymol and p-cymene, two major constituents of Thymus vulgaris essential oil, on the larvae and adults of the housefly, Musca domestica. The results showed that p-cymene synergized the insecticidal activity of thymol in adult houseflies, but not in larvae. GC-MS analyses and bioassays indicated the increased cuticular penetration of thymol by p-cymene was the mechanism of synergy, which was observed only in the adults. Two potential routes were proposed: the expansion of the wetting area, or the disruption of cuticular integrity through dissolving the wax layer. The sequential application and large-volume treatment bioassay results suggested that the former was the more likely mechanism. Also, the hydrophobicity of the cuticle seemed critical for this stage-specific synergy. Wax-devoid adults failed to show synergistic toxicity, whereas artificially wax-coated larvae gained a synergistic effect. Overall, the findings provide insights into the synergistic mechanism of insecticidal activity of plant essential oils and suggest potential applications in developing effective strategies using penetration-enhancing synergists.
Topics: Animals; Thymol; Houseflies; Insecticides; Plant Oils; Oils, Volatile; Larva
PubMed: 37542185
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-39898-6 -
Journal of Alzheimer's Disease : JAD 2024In recent years, there has been a growing interest, supported by many experimental and clinical studies, about the benefits of pomegranate in preventing various... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
BACKGROUND
In recent years, there has been a growing interest, supported by many experimental and clinical studies, about the benefits of pomegranate in preventing various pathologic conditions, including brain neurodegeneration. The pomegranate seed oil (PSO) contains high levels of fatty acids that have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
OBJECTIVE
Due to the lack of clinical trials, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of PSO on cognition of people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).
METHODS
Eighty people with the diagnosis of MCI were randomized forty to take 5 drops of PSO and follow the Mediterranean Diet (MeDi) and forty just followed MeDi. All were examined with an extensive neuropsychological assessment before and after one year of treatment.
RESULTS
The results showed that the participants who took the PSO had statistically significantly better global cognition (p = 0.004), verbal episodic memory (p = 0.009), and processing and executive functions (p < 0.001) in contrast with the participants who did not take it.
CONCLUSIONS
In conclusion, the PSO can be beneficial for people with MCI as it is helpful for some important cognitive domains. As PSO is a natural product that does not burden the human body, it can be used by people with MCI and be a significant and promising part of holistic approaches for the prevention of dementia.
Topics: Humans; Biological Products; Cognition; Cognitive Dysfunction; Neuropsychological Tests; Plant Oils; Pomegranate
PubMed: 38306046
DOI: 10.3233/JAD-231100 -
Journal of Food Science Aug 2023Medium-long-medium (MLM) structured lipid (SL) as a new SL is a potential functional ingredient in food and nutraceutical products, but its...
Medium-long-medium (MLM) structured lipid (SL) as a new SL is a potential functional ingredient in food and nutraceutical products, but its composition-structure-physicochemical properties relationship has not been revealed in food industry. MLM type of medium-long chain triacylglycerol (MLCT) was synthesized from Camellia oil by combi-lipase; its physicochemical properties and composition-structure relationship were investigated in this research. The higher MLCT (67.24% ± 0.09) and MLM (52.71% ± 0.53) productivities were achieved after parameter optimization. The physicochemical characterization of SLs exhibited mild thermal property, intermediate Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy absorption intensity, and better crystal morphology. Joint characterizations identified that MLM and long-medium-long type SL were rich in 1,3-dioctanoyl-2-linoleoyl glyceride (CaLCa), 1,3-dioctanoyl-2-oleoyl glyceride (CaOCa), 1,3-dilinoleoyl-2-octanoyl glyceride (LCaL), and 1,3-dilinoleoyl-2-decanoyl glyceride (LCL) components, respectively. This is ascribed to the higher proportion of caprylic and linoleic acid in 1,3-specific enzyme. The 3D structural analysis further demonstrated that the CaLCa, CaOCa, LCaL, and LCL molecules had lower steric energy to form symmetrical structure at 1,3-position. This research provides a practical method to produce MLM-type SL from edible oils and fats in food industry.
Topics: Plant Oils; Triglycerides; Fats; Linoleic Acid; Camellia; Fatty Acids; Esterification
PubMed: 37350069
DOI: 10.1111/1750-3841.16677 -
Polish Journal of Veterinary Sciences Mar 2024Candida albicans, a polymorphic yeast, is a physiological component of the human and animal commensal microbiome. It is an etiological factor of candidiasis, which is...
Candida albicans, a polymorphic yeast, is a physiological component of the human and animal commensal microbiome. It is an etiological factor of candidiasis, which is treated by azole antifungals. Growing resistance to azoles is a reason to look for other alternative treatment options. The pharmacotherapeutic use of plant extracts and essential oils has become increasingly important. In our experiment, C. albicans showed susceptibility to four observed plant extracts and essential oils from peppermint ( Mentha piperita), thyme ( Thymus vulgaris), sage ( Salvia officinalis), and oregano ( Origanum vulgare). Oregano plant extract and essential oil showed the highest antifungal activity, at MIC values of 4.9 mg/mL and 0.4 mg/mL respectively. Therefore, it was subjected to further research on the influence of virulence factors - biofilm formation, extracellular phospholipase production and germ tube formation. Oregano plant extract and essential oil showed an inhibitory effect on the observed C. albicans virulence factors at relatively low concentrations. The extract inhibited the adherence of cells at MIC 12.5 mg/mL and essential oil at MIC 0.25 mg/mL. Degradation of the formed biofilm was detected at MIC 14.1 mg/mL for plant extract and at MIC 0.4 mg/mL for essential oil. Extracellular phospholipase production was most effectively inhibited by the essential oil. In particular, the number of isolates with intensive extracellular phospholipase production decreased significantly. Of the 12 isolates intensively producing extracellular phospholipase, only 1 isolate (4.5%) retained intense production. Essential oil caused up to a 100 % reduction in germ tubes formation and plant extract reduced their formation depending on the concentration as follows: 2.6% (0.8 mg/mL), 21.2 % (6.25 mg/mL), and 64.5 % (12.5 mg/mL) compared to the control.
Topics: Humans; Animals; Oils, Volatile; Candida albicans; Origanum; Plant Extracts; Virulence Factors; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Antifungal Agents; Phospholipases; Plant Oils
PubMed: 38511572
DOI: 10.24425/pjvs.2024.149330 -
PloS One 2023Essential oils from Cinnamomum cassia bark and Eucalyptus globulus leaves have been traditionally applied for bacterial infections, through both of aromatherapy and oral...
Essential oils from Cinnamomum cassia bark and Eucalyptus globulus leaves have been traditionally applied for bacterial infections, through both of aromatherapy and oral application. (E)-cinnamaldehyde and 1,8 cineole have been identified as their major secondary metabolites, and are also generally considered as the main active ingredients responsible for their medicinal applications. However, ethnobotanical doctors still prefer to use whole essentials oils over purified compounds in bacterial infections. We therefore hypothesized that multi-compound extracts might exert better effects than isolated ingredients. In order to verify the hypothesis about advantages of whole materials, we examined antibacterial properties of the 2 plant essential oils in the comparison with their isolated major compounds, such as (E)-cinnamaldehyde and 1,8 cineole. Effects of liquid- and vapor-phase were examined on a set of 6 gram-positive and -negative bacteria, applying broth dilution, agar well diffusion and disc volatilization methods. In all 3 investigations, we observed that whole cinnamon and eucalyptus oils, with the lower concentrations of (E)-cinnamaldehyde (89.1%) and 1,8 cineole (61.2%), were able to induce better effects than the purified active compounds (≥ 99%). These results partly explain the advantages of using whole essential oils over isolated ingredients, and therefore support the application of traditional dosage forms for bacterial infections in ethnomedicine.
Topics: Oils, Volatile; Eucalyptol; Eucalyptus; Cinnamomum aromaticum; Plant Bark; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Plant Leaves; Plant Oils; Microbial Sensitivity Tests
PubMed: 37450504
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0288787 -
Scientific Reports Dec 2023Food emulsifier are mostly prepared from a lipophilic lipid tail with a hydrophilic sugar head. In this study, the lipophilic tail was obtained from apricot kernels,...
Food emulsifier are mostly prepared from a lipophilic lipid tail with a hydrophilic sugar head. In this study, the lipophilic tail was obtained from apricot kernels, which are food waste, and the hydrophilic head was gluconic acid instead of sugar, in order to draw attention to the non-cyclic poly hydroxyl compounds. Thus, oleic acid of apricot kernel was used as the lipophilic moiety of the prepared surfactant. So, apricot kernel was grinned and dried, oil was extracted using soxhlet apparatus, Physical and chemical parameters and fatty acids composition of the extracted oil had been determined. The extracted oil was then hydrolyzed into glycerol and a mixture of free fatty acids. The fatty acids mixture was separated. Then, oleic acid was extracted individually in pure form using supercritical CO extractor, it was then confirmed according to its melting point, Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) after esterification, elemental analysis, Proton nuclear magnetic resonance (HNMR), and mass spectrometry (MS) to detect the corresponding molecular ion peak. The pure individual oleic acid was converted to hydroxy stearic acid, which was then converted to an amphiphilic compound (surfactant) via esterification reaction with the hydrophilic gluconic acid, and afforded a new surfactant known as 2,3,4,5-tetrahydroxy-6-((9-((-2,3,4,5,6-pentahydroxyhexanoyl) oxy)octadecanoyl) oxy)hexanoic acid or stearyl gluconate for simplification. The structures elucidation of all synthesized compound was established according to elemental analysis and spectral data (Fourier transform infrared IR, H NMR, C NMR and MS). Moreover, the prepared compound was tasted for its antibacterial activity, and showed good activities against some types of bacteria. The surface-active properties, foamability, foaming stability and emulsion stability of stearyl gluconate were studied and compared with the properties of the well-known surfactant sucrose stearate, and it was clear that, the activity of stearyl gluconate as a surfactant was higher than that of sucrose stearate. Moreover, establishment of safety of this compound was performed using albino rats by acute oral toxicity and kidney and liver functions of these mice. On the other hand, the prepared surfactant was used in the production of low fat-free cholesterol mayonnaise as egg replacer. Texture properties and the sensory evaluation of the prepared mayonnaise showed that the properties were improved by using the new prepared surfactant. Thus, the prepared gluconyl stearate can be used as a safe food additive.
Topics: Rats; Mice; Animals; Prunus armeniaca; Surface-Active Agents; Food; Refuse Disposal; Plant Oils; Fatty Acids; Gluconates; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Sugars; Oleic Acids
PubMed: 38057365
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-48404-x -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Nov 2023The fruits of , and 'Kampot' are traditionally used as spices in Cambodian cuisine. In this study, the chemical composition of essential oils (EOs) and supercritical...
The fruits of , and 'Kampot' are traditionally used as spices in Cambodian cuisine. In this study, the chemical composition of essential oils (EOs) and supercritical CO extracts from all three species was determined using GC-MS, with two columns of different polarity (HP-5/DB-HeavyWAX). Differences between the chemical profile of the EOs and CO extracts were observed for all species. The greatest difference was detected in EO containing mainly eucalyptol (78.8/72.6%), while the CO extract was rich in fatty acids (13/55.92%) and long-chain alkanes (25.55/9.54%). Furthermore, the results for the CO extract of this species differed, where tricosane (14.74%) and oleic acid (29.26%) were the main compounds identified when utilizing the HP-5 or DB-HeavyWAX columns, respectively. Moreover, the EO and CO extract from 'Kampot' fruits and the CO extract from fruit peel, containing respective amounts 34.84/39.55% (for EO) and 54.21/55.86% (for CO extract) of β-caryophyllene and 30.2/28.9% of β-pinene, were isolated and analyzed for the first time. Generally, these findings suggest that supercritical CO could potentially be used for the extraction of all three spices. Nevertheless, further research determining the most efficient extraction parameters is required before its commercial application.
Topics: Oils, Volatile; Piper nigrum; Carbon Dioxide; Amomum; Citrus; Plant Extracts; Chromatography, Supercritical Fluid; Plant Oils
PubMed: 38067483
DOI: 10.3390/molecules28237748 -
Protective Effect of Black Seed and Lettuce Oils Against Paracetamol-Induced Hepatotoxicity in Rats.Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences... Jan 2024<b>Background and Objective:</b> The liver is one of the organs that play an essential role in the human body, including supporting metabolism, immune...
<b>Background and Objective:</b> The liver is one of the organs that play an essential role in the human body, including supporting metabolism, immune functions, digestive system, detoxification, storage of vitamins and other functions. This investigation aimed to study the protective effects of black seed and lettuce oil against hepatotoxicity as induced by paracetamol in experimental rats. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> Twenty male Sprague-Dawley albino rats weighing 150±5 g were divided randomly into four groups (5 rats each) and distributed as follows; 1st group was controlled negative (C -ve group), 2nd group controlled positive (orally administered with 500 mg/kg b.wt., paracetamol), 3rd and 4th groups were orally administered with black seed oil and lettuce oil at a dose of 1 mL/kg b.wt., each) as a preventive dose. All rats were sacrificed and blood was collected for biochemical analysis and then statistically analyzed. <b>Results:</b> The rat administered with black seed and lettuce oils enhanced body weight gain, food intake and feed efficiency ratio. Moreover, exhibited a significant reduction in the liver enzymes AST, ALT, ALP and TBIL. Meanwhile, black seed and lettuce oils significantly improved kidney functions, lipid profiles and some immune biomarkers including creatine kinase (CK), Creatine Kinase-MB (CK-MB) and Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH). <b>Conclusion:</b> This study revealed that the oils of black seed (<i>Nigella sativa</i>) and lettuce (<i>Lactuca sativa</i>) have a protective role in improving body weight gain, food intake, feed efficiency ratio, liver enzymes, kidney functions, lipid profiles and some immune biomarkers against paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity in experimental rats.
Topics: Humans; Rats; Animals; Male; Acetaminophen; Lactuca; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Nigella sativa; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury; Plant Oils; Seeds; Biomarkers; Creatine Kinase; Body Weight
PubMed: 38516747
DOI: 10.3923/pjbs.2024.59.68 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Oct 2023It has been reported that vanillin has been intentionally added to enhance the taste and flavor of low-quality vegetable oils. Therefore, it is crucial to investigate...
It has been reported that vanillin has been intentionally added to enhance the taste and flavor of low-quality vegetable oils. Therefore, it is crucial to investigate the accurate concentrations of vanillin in three types of fragrant vegetable oils commonly consumed in China. In this study, a method has been developed for the quantification of vanillin in commercial fragrant vegetable oils using the stable isotope dilution assay (SIDA) and headspace-solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) coupled with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) of the analyte were determined to be 20 µg kg and 50 µg kg, respectively. The validation study demonstrated that the recoveries ranged from 89% to 101%, with intra-day and inter-day precision being less than 7.46%. A survey of 80 commercially available fragrant vegetable oils was performed using the present method. Vanillin was found to be widely present in fragrant vegetable oils, with sesame oils showing the highest average content (842.6 µg kg), followed by rapeseed oils (262.1 µg kg) and peanut oils (115.0 µg kg). The results indicate that the proposed method is a simple, accurate, and eco-friendly approach for determining the presences of vanillin in fragrant vegetable oils.
Topics: Solid Phase Microextraction; Plant Oils; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Isotopes
PubMed: 37959708
DOI: 10.3390/molecules28217288 -
Phytochemical Analysis : PCA Dec 2023The marula fruit is an important indigenous African fruit since various commercial products are produced from the pulp and the seed oil. The increased demand requires...
Characterisation of Sclerocarya birrea (marula) seed oil and investigation of the geographical origin by applying similarity calculations, differential NMR and hierarchical cluster analysis.
INTRODUCTION
The marula fruit is an important indigenous African fruit since various commercial products are produced from the pulp and the seed oil. The increased demand requires methods for authentication, quality control and determination of geographical origin.
OBJECTIVE
The study aimed to establish a fast and reliable method for characterisation and authentication of marula seed oil. Furthermore, to identify marker compounds that can distinguish marula seed oils from other commercial oils and indicate regional differences.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Metabolic profiling of 44 commercial marula seed oils was performed using proton nuclear magnetic resonance ( H NMR). For rapid classification similarity calculations were compared with principal component analysis. Differential NMR was used to determine marker compounds.
RESULTS
Marula seed oil was found to be similar to macadamia and olive oils and was distinguished from these oils by the detection of minor components. Marula seed oil is differentiated from the other two oils by the absence of α-linolenic acid, relatively high levels of monoglycerides and diglycerides, and an approximately 1:1 ratio of 1,2- and 1,3-diglycerides. When comparing marula seed oils from various regions using hierarchical cluster analysis, clustering of the marula seed oils from Namibia and Zimbabwe was observed and was related to the quantities of linoleic acid and monoglycerides and diglycerides. Some samples displayed deviations in their composition which might indicate adulteration or contamination during the production process.
CONCLUSION
The study demonstrates the potential of NMR as a tool in the quality control of marula seed oil. This technique requires very little sample preparation, circumvents derivatisation of the oil components with fast run-times. In addition, samples with chemical profiles that differ from the general signature profile can easily be identified.
Topics: Plant Oils; Anacardiaceae; Diglycerides; Monoglycerides; Olive Oil; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; Cluster Analysis
PubMed: 37515510
DOI: 10.1002/pca.3264