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Zeitschrift Fur Naturforschung. C,... Jul 2020Today, the numbers of people suffering from lifestyle diseases like diabetes, obesity, allergies and depression increases mainly in industrialised states. That does not... (Review)
Review
Today, the numbers of people suffering from lifestyle diseases like diabetes, obesity, allergies and depression increases mainly in industrialised states. That does not only lower patients' quality of life but also severely stresses the health care systems of these countries. Essential oils (EO) have been in use as therapeutic remedies for centuries against various complaints, but still their effectiveness is being underestimated. In the last decades, a great number of controlled studies have supported efficacy of these volatile secondary plant metabolites for various therapeutic indications. Besides others, EO has antidepressant, anti-obesity, antidiabetic, antifirogenic and antiallergic effects. In this review the pharmacological mechanisms for selected EO are summarised and discussed with the main attention on their impact against public health disorders. Additionally, toxicity of these oils as well as possible drug interactions is presented.
Topics: Animals; Drug Interactions; Herbal Medicine; Humans; Oils, Volatile; Plant Oils; Plants; Public Health; Quality of Life; Signal Transduction
PubMed: 32623381
DOI: 10.1515/znc-2020-0007 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Aug 2019The present work describes the chemical characterization and the phytotoxicity assessment of essential oils (EOs) obtained from spent materials or pruning waste of four...
The present work describes the chemical characterization and the phytotoxicity assessment of essential oils (EOs) obtained from spent materials or pruning waste of four plant species: Roscoe used in the juicing industry, L. var. used in the food industry, discarded material of industrial hemp ( L. var. ), and pruning waste from L. The phytochemical profile of the EOs was evaluated by gas chromatographic flame ionization detection (GC-FID) and GC-MS analyses, which highlighted the presence of several compounds with a wide range of biological activities. Among them, application possibilities in agriculture were evaluated by studying the phytotoxic activity against germination and initial radical growth of several seeds such as L., L., L., L., Lam., and L.
Topics: Antioxidants; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Oils, Volatile; Phytochemicals; Plant Oils; Plants; Portulaca
PubMed: 31416129
DOI: 10.3390/molecules24162941 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Oct 2021Essential Oils (EOs) are expensive hydrocarbons produced exclusively by specific species in the plant kingdom. Their applications have deep roots in traditional herbal... (Review)
Review
Essential Oils (EOs) are expensive hydrocarbons produced exclusively by specific species in the plant kingdom. Their applications have deep roots in traditional herbal medicine, which lacks scientific evidence. Nowadays, more than ever, there is a growing global interest in research-based discoveries that maintain and promote health conditions. Consequently, EOs became a much attractive topic for both research and industry, with revenues reaching billions of dollars annually. In this work, we provide key guidance to all essential oil-bearing plants growing in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The comprehensive data were collected following an extensive, up-to-date literature review. The results identified 137 plant species, including indigenous and naturalized ones, in the UAE, citing over 180 published research articles. The general overview included plant botanical names, synonyms, common names (Arabic and English), families and taxonomic authority. The study acts as a baseline and accelerator for research, industry and discoveries in multiple disciplines relying on essential oil-bearing plants.
Topics: Ecosystem; Humans; Oils, Volatile; Phytochemicals; Plant Oils; Plants; Soil; United Arab Emirates; Weather
PubMed: 34770890
DOI: 10.3390/molecules26216486 -
The Plant Journal : For Cell and... May 2008The seed oils of domesticated oilseed crops are major agricultural commodities that are used primarily for nutritional applications, but in recent years there has been...
The seed oils of domesticated oilseed crops are major agricultural commodities that are used primarily for nutritional applications, but in recent years there has been increasing use of these oils for production of biofuels and chemical feedstocks. This is being driven in part by the rapidly rising costs of petroleum, increased concern about the environmental impact of using fossil oil, and the need to develop renewable domestic sources of fuel and industrial raw materials. There is also a need to develop sustainable sources of nutritionally important fatty acids such as those that are typically derived from fish oil. Plant oils can provide renewable sources of high-value fatty acids for both the chemical and health-related industries. The value and application of an oil are determined largely by its fatty acid composition, and while most vegetable oils contain just five basic fatty acid structures, there is a rich diversity of fatty acids present in nature, many of which have potential usage in industry. In this review, we describe several areas where plant oils can have a significant impact on the emerging bioeconomy and the types of fatty acids that are required in these various applications. We also outline the current understanding of the underlying biochemical and molecular mechanisms of seed oil production, and the challenges and potential in translating this knowledge into the rational design and engineering of crop plants to produce high-value oils in plant seeds.
Topics: Fatty Acids; Models, Biological; Plant Oils; Seeds
PubMed: 18476869
DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-313X.2008.03430.x -
Nutrients Sep 2022Back in 2010, when we first published data on the in vivo nutrigenomic effects of virgin olive oil polyphenols within the frame of the Mediterranean diet [...].
Back in 2010, when we first published data on the in vivo nutrigenomic effects of virgin olive oil polyphenols within the frame of the Mediterranean diet [...].
Topics: Diet, Mediterranean; Humans; Nutrigenomics; Olive Oil; Plant Oils; Polyphenols
PubMed: 36145158
DOI: 10.3390/nu14183782 -
Nutricion Hospitalaria Jul 2015In recent decades, the consumption of vegetable oils has increased in our society, being an important part of the diet worldwide. South America is a major producer of an... (Review)
Review
In recent decades, the consumption of vegetable oils has increased in our society, being an important part of the diet worldwide. South America is a major producer of an important variety of vegetable oils. The composition of vegetable oils is not standard as it varies greatly in the amount of saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids, and particularly in the amounts of omega-6 and omega-3, which are associated with the source either plant species, seed, plant or fruit, providing different nutritional benefits. The purpose of this article is to review and update the data and evidence about the consumption of oils produced and commercialized in South America, such as soybean oil, corn, palm, sunflower, canola and olive oils, and also to determine health effects from studies related with the topic.
Topics: Diet; Fatty Acids; Humans; Plant Oils; Public Health Surveillance; South America
PubMed: 26262691
DOI: 10.3305/nh.2015.32.1.8874 -
International Journal of Molecular... Feb 2023The classification of olive oils and the authentication of their biological or geographic origin are important issues for public health and for the olive oil market and...
The classification of olive oils and the authentication of their biological or geographic origin are important issues for public health and for the olive oil market and related industries. The development of techniques for olive oil classification that are fast, easy to use, and suitable for online, in situ and remote operation is of high interest. In this study, the possibility of discriminating and classifying vegetable oils according to different criteria related to biological or geographical origin was assessed using cyclic voltammograms (CVs) as input data, obtained with electrochemical sensors based on carbonaceous nanomaterials and gold nanoparticles. In this context, 44 vegetable oil samples of different categories were analyzed and the capacity of the sensor array coupled with multivariate analysis was evaluated. The characteristics highlighted in voltammograms are related to the redox properties of the electroactive compounds, mainly phenolics, existing in the oils. Moreover, the antioxidant activity of the oils' hydrophilic fraction was also estimated by conventional spectrophotometric methods (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and galvinoxyl) and correlated with the voltammetric responses of the sensors. The percentage of DPPH and galvinoxyl inhibition was accurately predicted from the voltammetric data, with a correlation coefficients greater than 0.97 both in calibration and in validation. The results indicate that this method allows for a clear discrimination of oils from different biological or geographic origins.
Topics: Olive Oil; Antioxidants; Gold; Metal Nanoparticles; Plant Oils
PubMed: 36769346
DOI: 10.3390/ijms24033010 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Aug 2021Prickly pear ( L.) is a member of the Cactaceae family originally grown in South America, and the plant is now distributed to many parts of the world, including the... (Review)
Review
Prickly pear ( L.) is a member of the Cactaceae family originally grown in South America, and the plant is now distributed to many parts of the world, including the Middle East. The chemical composition and biological activities of different parts of prickly pear, including cladodes, flowers, fruit, seeds and seed oil, were previously investigated. Oil from the seeds has been known for its nutritive value and can be potentially used for health promotion. This review is an effort to cover what is actually known to date about the prickly pear seeds oil extraction, characteristics, chemical composition and potential health benefits to provide inspiration for the need of further investigation and future research. Prickly pear seeds oil has been extracted using different extraction techniques from conventional to advanced. Chemical characterization of the oil has been sufficiently studied, and it is sufficiently understood that the oil is a high linoleic oil. Its composition is influenced by the variety and environment and also by the method of extraction. The health benefits of the prickly pear seed oil were reported by many researchers. For future research, additional studies are warranted on mechanisms of action of the reported biological activities to develop nutraceutical products for the prevention of various chronic human diseases.
Topics: Health; Humans; Opuntia; Plant Oils
PubMed: 34443606
DOI: 10.3390/molecules26165018 -
Brazilian Journal of Biology = Revista... Aug 2018In this study were evaluated the anaesthesia and analgesic effects of clove Eugenia caryophyllata, tea tree Melaleuca alternifolia and basil Ocimum basilicum essential...
In this study were evaluated the anaesthesia and analgesic effects of clove Eugenia caryophyllata, tea tree Melaleuca alternifolia and basil Ocimum basilicum essential oils (EO) during handling of yellowtail clownfish Amphiprion clarkii. Juveniles (3.70 ± 0.75 cm and 1.03 ± 0.50 g; mean ± standard deviation) were submitted to concentrations of 40, 50, 60, 70 and 80 µl L-1 of clove, 150, 200, 250, 300 and 350 µl L-1 of basil and 200, 300, 400, 500 and 600 µl L-1 of tea tree oils (n=10/concentration), previously defined in pilot tests. Individually and only once, fish from each treatment were placed in a glass recipient containing 1 L of seawater at a temperature of 25 °C, salinity of 35 g L-1 and the specific concentration of diluted EO (stock solution). Control (only seawater) and blank (seawater and ethanol at the highest concentration used to dilute the oils) treatments were also conducted. After reaching the stage of surgical anaesthesia, fish were submitted to biometry and a sensibility test. After that, they were transferred to clean seawater for anaesthesia recovery. The times of induction needed to reach each anaesthesia stage and anaesthesia recovery were recorded. Animals were observed for 72 hours after the procedures. All the EO provoked anaesthesia and analgesic effects in A. clarkii, but basil oil is not recommended because it caused involuntary muscle contractions and mortality in 100% and 12% of fish, respectively. The lower concentrations that promote suitable induction and recovery times are 50 µl L-1 of clove oil and 500 µl L-1 of tea tree oil. However, due to its complementary high analgesic efficiency, clove oil is recommended as the ideal anaesthetic for A. clarkii.
Topics: Analgesia; Analgesics; Anesthesia; Anesthetics; Animals; Clove Oil; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Fishes; Muscle Contraction; Ocimum; Oils, Volatile; Plant Oils; Species Specificity; Tea Tree Oil
PubMed: 29185608
DOI: 10.1590/1519-6984.166695 -
BMC Complementary and Alternative... Aug 2016The management of Candida infections faces many problems, such as a limited number of antifungal drugs, toxicity, resistance of Candida to commonly antifungal drugs,...
BACKGROUND
The management of Candida infections faces many problems, such as a limited number of antifungal drugs, toxicity, resistance of Candida to commonly antifungal drugs, relapse of Candida infections, and the high cost of antifungal drugs. Though azole antifungal agents and derivatives continue to dominate as drugs of choice against Candida infections, there are many available data referring to the anticandidal activity of essential oils. Since we have previous observed a good antimicrobial activity of some essential oils against filamentous fungi, the aim of this study was to extend the research to evaluate the activity of the same oils on Candida albicans, C.glabrata and C.tropicalis clinical strains, as well as the effects of related components. Essential oils selection was based both on ethnomedicinal use and on proved antibacterial and/or antifungal activity of some of these oils. Fluconazole and voriconazole were used as reference drugs.
METHODS
The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the minimal fungicidal concentration (MFC) of essential oils (thyme red, fennel, clove, pine, sage, lemon balm, and lavender) and their major components were investigated by the broth microdilution method (BM) and the vapour contact assay (VC).
RESULTS
Using BM, pine oil showed the best activity against all strains tested, though C.albicans was more susceptible than C.glabrata and C.tropicalis (MIC50-MIC90 = 0.06 %, v/v). On the contrary, sage oil displayed a weak activity (MIC50-MIC90 = 1 %, v/v). Thyme red oil (MIC50-MIC90 ≤ 0.0038 %, v/v for C.albicans and C.tropicalis, and 0.0078- < 0.015 %, v/v for C.glabrata), followed by lemon balm, lavender and sage were the most effective by VC. Carvacrol and thymol showed the highest activity, whereas linalyl acetate showed the lowest activity both by two methods. α-pinene displayed a better activity by BM than VC.
CONCLUSION
Results show a good activity of essential oils, mainly thymus red and pine oils, and their components carvacrol, thymol and α-pinene against Candida spp., including fluconazole/voriconazole resistant strains. These data encourage adequately controlled and randomized clinical investigations. The use in vapour phase could have additional advantages without requiring direct contact, resulting in easy of environmental application such as in hospital, and/or in school.
Topics: Antifungal Agents; Candida; Candida albicans; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Oils, Volatile; Plant Oils; Plants, Medicinal
PubMed: 27576581
DOI: 10.1186/s12906-016-1316-5