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Zingiber cassumunar is an important plant used in traditional medicine and as a natural mosquito repellent. However, the compounds responsible for the repellent activity of the plant are still unknown. The aim of the study is to identify the components of Z. cassumunar essential oil that show repellent activity against Aedes albopictus. We also evaluated the larvicidal and adulticidal activities of Z. cassumunar essential oil against Ae. albopictus. In-cage mosquito repellent experiments showed that Z. cassumunar essential oil possessed moderate repellent activity with a minimum effective dose (MED) of 0.16 ± 0.01 mg/cm2, compared to reference standard N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide (DEET, 0.03 ± 0.01 mg/cm2). Bioassay-guided fractionation identified the major active compound of Z. cassumunar essential oil as (−)-terpinen-4-ol (1) (MED: 0.19 ± 0 mg/cm2). We also found that Z. cassumunar essential oil showed moderate larvicidal activity against first instar larvae of Ae. albopictus with a LC50 (50% lethal concentration) of 44.9 μg/L after 24 h. Fumigation bioassays showed that Z. cassumunar essential oil exhibits moderate adulticidal activity against Ae. albopictus with a LC50 of 5.44%, while (−)-terpinen-4-ol showed significant adulticidal activity with a LC50 of 2.10% after 24 h. This study verifies that the Z. cassumunar essential oil has mosquito repellent activity, and that (−)-terpinen-4-ol is mainly responsible for this activity. Furthermore, this study provides scientific support for the folk usage of Z. cassumunar essential oil as mosquito repellent and indicates that Z. cassumunar essential oil and (−)-terpinen-4-ol can be used as plant-derived repellents and insecticides for mosquito control.

Purpose To investigate in vitro effects of active ingredients in eye cleansing wipes and solutions on the life span of Demodex. Methods Demodex mites were extracted by eyelash epilation method from volunteers who were found to have chronic demodex blepharitis during an ophthalmological examination. Preparations with three or more motile, live adult Demodex parasites were included in the study. Two drops of the test solution were dropped on the samples: saline, 2% tea tree oil (TTO; Osto (R), AKD Medical products, Turkey), 7.5% TTO (Blefaritto (R), Jeomed, Turkey), and 0.5% terpinen-4-ol (T4O; Blefastop plus (R), NTC, Italy). Under light microscopy at 100x and 400x magnification, samples were examined and followed. The average killing time of Demodex was noted for each preparation. Results The study was analyzed on 120 patient samples. In the control group with saline, the average killing time of Demodex had an average of 323.5 +/- 21.1 min. In other groups, an average mean of 95.9 +/- 25.2 min in the 2% TTO group, 67.1 +/- 21.8 min in the 7.5% TTO group, and 27.3 +/- 6.0 min in the 0.5% T4O group was observed. It was found that the 0.5% T4O group was significantly more effective than the other groups. Conclusion Chronic Demodex blepharitis treatment is quite difficult in ophthalmology practice. It appears that, even at very low concentrations, T4O has an effective anti-Demodex effect.

The distribution of terpinen-4-ol (TP4ol) and DMPBD inclusion complexes with 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HPbCD) in human skin has been investigated using the TOF-SIMS technique. TP4ol and DMPBD have been found to be major components of Zingiber cassumunar Roxb. (Plai) oil extracted by steam distillation. The results mainly show accumulation of TP4ol and DMPBD inclusion complexes with HPbCD in the epidermis and dermis whereas these two compounds without cyclodextrin cannot penetrate into the epidermis. This approach can be expanded for investigation of anti-inflammatory action and relief of muscle pain.

Essential oil from leaf, root, and stem of Peperomia pellucida native to different countries have been isolated and characterized. Variations in the chemical composition of the essential oil from t...

Purpose To describe the effectiveness of cyclic treatment with terpinen-4-ol, a tea tree oil component, on Demodex blepharitis. Methods The presence of Demodex was determined by eyelash rotation as proposed by Mastrota. Schirmer test, tear breakup time, ocular surface disease index, lid margin score, meibomian gland expressibility score, and Oxford grade were performed. Patients were advised to apply heat followed by terpinen-4-ol soaked wipes to eyelids twice a day for 2 weeks. At the end of 2 weeks, treatment was interrupted for 7–10 days. The same treatment was repeated once again. The patients were examined after the first and second cycle of treatment and after 1 year. Results There was a statistically significant improvement in Schirmer test (10.37 ± 4.73 and 13.13 ± 3.44 mm/5 min), tear breakup time (6.47 ± 3.31 and 7.6 ± 2.89 s), ocular surface disease index (47.94 ± 19.77 and 34.28 ± 13.40), lid margin score (3.2 ± 0.7 and 2.63 ± 0.71), meibomian gland expressibility scores (1.93 ± 0.64 and 1.4 ± 0.67), and Oxford grade (0.9 ± 0.8 and 0.5 ± 0.63) after the first cycle of treatment ( p Conclusion The administration of terpinen-4-ol to the eyelid margins in a cyclic manner in Demodex blepharitis is effective against adult and hatching Demodex and breaks the vicious cycle.

Background This study investigated the effects of terpinen-4-ol on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and its biofilm, and the possible mechanisms governing this effect. Results We observed that terpinen-4-ol has good antibacterial activity and inhibits the formation of MRSA biofilm. The MIC and MBC values for terpinen-4-ol against S. aureus were 0.08% ~ 0.32%. And terpinen-4-ol at 0.32% could kill all bacteria and clear all biofilms. Untargeted metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses showed that terpinen-4-ol strongly inhibited DNA and RNA biosynthesis in MRSA at 2 h after treatment by affecting genes and metabolites related to purine and pyrimidine metabolic pathways. Some differential genes which play important roles in DNA synthesis and the production of eDNA from biofilm exposed to terpinen-4-ol was also significantly decreased compared with that of the control. Conclusions Terpinen-4-ol has good antibacterial activity and significantly inhibits the formation of MRSA biofilm by inhibiting purine and pyrimidine metabolism.

The antimicrobial properties of essential oil from Lavandula sp. raise hopes related to its use in phytotherapy. This study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of essential oils from cultivars of L. angustifolia (‘Hidcote Blue Strain’, ‘Hidcote Blue’) and L. × intermedia (‘Phenomenal’, ‘Grosso’) grown in central-eastern Poland, that is, at the border of the northern lavender cultivation range. The chemical composition of the essential oils was determined by GC/MS. Essential oil concentrations (20, 10, 5, 2.5, 1.25, 0.6, 0.3, 0.16, 0.08, and 0.04 mg/mL) were tested to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) or minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) towards ten strains of Gram-positive bacteria, five Gram-negative bacteria, and eight yeasts in vitro culture. Essential oils from the Lavendula cultivars showed antimicrobial activity against all microorganisms analysed. The yeasts were characterised by higher sensitivity to lavender oil compared to bacteria, while Gram-positive bacteria were more sensitive than Gram-negative bacteria. The lowest MIC values for bacteria and fungi were obtained for ‘Grosso’. Furthermore, the ‘Grosso’ oil showed the highest fungicidal activity, while the highest bactericidal activity was found in ‘Hidcote Blue’ and ‘Grosso’. Using Staphylococcus aureus as an example, it was shown that different bacterial strains of the same species show varying sensitivity to the essential oil. A higher oil content was noted for the cultivars L. × intermedia, especially for the ‘Phenomenal’. Linalyl acetate and linalool were the main components of the essential oil in all cultivars. However, in the ‘Grosso’ oil, a high content of terpinen-4-ol (18.08%) was also recorded. An analysis of the relationships between the content of the main components in the analysed essential oils and the antimicrobial activity of essential oils suggested that linalool and terpinen-4-ol were compounds potentially responsible for antimicrobial activity. The obtained results allow us to conclude that essential oil with significant antimicrobial activity can be obtained from Lavandula sp. plants harvested in the northern part of the cultivation range.

Antimicrobial resistance is a major public health issue raising growing concern in the face of dwindling response options. It is therefore urgent to find new anti-infective molecules enabling us to fight effectively against ever more numerous bacterial infections caused by ever more antibiotic-resistant bacteria. In this quest for new antibacterials, essential oils (or compounds extracted from essential oils) appear to be a promising therapeutic option. In the present work, we investigate the potential antibacterial synergy between a combination of terpinen-4-ol and α-terpineol (10:1) compared to standard tea tree oil. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were determined. Then, time kill assays, in vitro cytotoxicity and bactericidal activity on latent bacteria (persisters) were investigated. Finally, an in silico study of the pharmacokinetic parameters of α-terpineol was also performed. Altogether, our data demonstrate that the combination of terpinen-4-ol and α-terpineol might be a precious weapon to address ESKAPE pathogens.

Aim: This study investigated the effect of terpinen-4-ol against Sporothrix schenckii complex and its interactions with antifungals. Materials & methods: The antifungal activity of terpinen-4-ol was evaluated by broth microdilution. The potential effect on cellular ergosterol concentration was evaluated by spectrophotometry. The antibiofilm activity was evaluated by violet crystal staining and XTT reduction assay. The potential pharmacological interactions with antifungals were evaluated by the checkerboard assay. Results: terpinen-4-ol (T-OH) showed minimal inhibitory concentrations ranging from 4 to 32 mg/l decreasing cellular ergosterol content and presented a SMIC ranging from 64 to 1024 mg/l for Sporothrix spp. The combinations of T-OH with itraconazole or terbinafine were synergistic. Conclusion: T-OH has antifungal activity against Sporothrix spp. and acts synergistically with standard antifungals.

Antifungal and herbicidal activity of terpenes, being the components of the essential oils, is directly related to the incorporation of these compounds into cellular membranes. Thus, the differences in the lipid composition of various pathogenic membranes may be the factor determining the activity of these molecules. One of the class of lipids, which form the membrane environment are sterols. The aim of this work was to compare the effect of two terpenes: terpinen-4-ol and eucalyptol on the monolayers formed by ergosterol and β - sitosterol, which are the components of fungi and plant membranes, respectively. The modifications in the sterol monolayer properties were investigated in the surface pressure-area measurements and penetration studies as well as in a micrometer scale (Brewster angle microscopy experiments) and in nanoscale (GIXD technique). It was evidenced that although at higher surface pressure the terpene molecules are in part removed from the interface, they are able to substantially modify the condensation, morphology and molecular organization of the sterol film. It was also found that the incorporation of terpenes into sterol films is comparable for both sterols, however, β - sitosterol monolayers properties are affected more strongly than ergosterol films. Finally, the analysis of the results of the studies performed on model membrane systems and the results of antimicrobial studies reported in literature, enabled us to suggest that the activity of terpenes depends on the membrane composition and that the sterol concentration may be important from the point of view of antifungal effect of terpinen-4-ol and eucalyptol.

Bark beetles have caused extensive damage to forests in central Sweden during the past decade, and the four‐eyed spruce bark beetle, Polygraphus poligraphus, seems to be involved. However, its role in these bark beetle outbreaks is still not clear. The purpose of this study was to develop an efficient pheromone bait for P. poligraphus, which would make it possible to study the species more carefully and thereby contribute to protect exposed forests in an environmentally friendly way. Three field studies were conducted in 2015, 2016 and 2018 in Medelpad, county of Vasternorrland, Sweden. The pheromone of P. poligraphus, (−)‐terpinen‐4‐ol, was tested at different release rates and in different enantiomeric purities, to find the most attractive formulation for the beetles. It was also tested in combination with racemic frontalin, a compound which has previously been shown to produce a synergistic effect together with (−)‐terpinen‐4‐ol of low enantiomeric purity; 52% ee. Other compounds, chosen based on responses from electroantennographic studies, were also tested in an attempt to find additional attractants and repellents for P. poligraphus. The most attractive treatment tested was enantiomerically pure (−)‐terpinen‐4‐ol (99% ee). When the enantiomeric purity was lower (50% ee), the trap catches was lowered to levels comparable to the catches for unbaited control traps. A strong synergistic effect with frontalin was observed for (−)‐terpinen‐4‐ol of low enantiomeric purity (50% ee) but not for the enantiomerically pure compound (99% ee). The release rate of (−)‐terpinen‐4‐ol (99% ee) was shown to be an important factor. For the combination of frontalin and (−)‐terpinen‐4‐ol (50% ee), the attraction seemed strongest when (−)‐terpinen‐4‐ol was released at a higher rate than frontalin. An interesting and novel result was that a repellent compound, α‐terpineol, was identified in our studies. Our results from field studies and electroantennography recordings also indicate that (+)‐terpinen‐4‐ol is a repellent for P. poligraphus.

ESSENTIAL oils (EOs) are one of antimicrobial agents that naturally found in many plant’s parts and have long been recognized for their medicinal properties. The efficacy of ten essential oils (Tea tree, Lavender, Eucalyptus, Rosemary, Lemon grass, Basil, Olbanum, Cumin, Onion and Cress) against food pathogens isolates and their enzymes have been evaluated. Lemon grass exhibited a potent inhibitory activity against all isolates and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the most susceptible with MIC and MBC values of 3.12μL/mL and 6.25μL/mL, respectively. Tea tree oil was most effective against fungal isolates, Aspergillus flavus was the most susceptible with MIC value 1.56μL/mL and MFC value 3.12μL/mL. Transmission electron micrographs also confirmed that MIC concentrations of both oils caused many alternations in cell structure of both sensitive bacterial and fungal isolates. The most active antimicrobial fractions of Lemongrass and Tea tree oil were separated using TLC and analyzed by GC-MS as Citral and Terpinen-4-ol, respectively. These compounds exhibited a pronounced inhibitory effect on food spoilage enzymes (amylases, proteases, lactase, and lipases) with inhibition percentages ranged between 80 and 90%.

Juniperus excelsa M. Bieb and J. sabina L. contain essential oil (EO), while J. sabina also contains podophyllotoxin, which is used as a precursor for anti-cancer drugs. Two studies were conducted. The first assessed the variability in the EO profile and podophyllotoxin concentration of the two junipers, depending on the location and tree gender. The main EO constituents of J. excelsa were α-cedrol, α-limonene and α-pinene, while the constituents in J. sabina were sabinene, terpinen-4-ol, myrtenyl acetate and α-cadinol. The podophyllotoxin yield of 18 J. sabina accessions was 0.07–0.32% (w/w), but this was not found in any of the J. excelsa accessions. The second study assessed the effect of hydrodistillation (Clevenger apparatus) and steam distillation (in a semi-commercial apparatus) on the EO profile and bioactivity. The extraction type did not significantly alter the EO composition. The EO profiles of the two junipers and their accessions were different and may be of interest to the industry utilizing juniper leaf EO. Breeding and selection programs could be developed with the two junipers (protected species) in order to identify chemotypes with (1) a high EO content and desirable composition, and (2) a high concentration of podophyllotoxin in J. sabina. Such chemotypes could be established as agricultural crops for the commercial production of podophyllotoxin and EO.

Legionella pneumophila (Lp), responsible for a severe pneumonia called Legionnaires’ disease, represents an important health burden in Europe. Prevention and control of Lp contamination in warm water systems is still a great challenge often due to the failure in disinfection procedures. The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro activity of Terpinen-4-ol (T-4-ol) as potential agent for Lp control, in comparison with the essential oil of Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) (TTO. Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) of T-4-ol were determined by broth micro-dilution and a micro-atmosphere diffusion method to investigate the anti-Lp effects of T-4-ol and TTO vapors. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) was adopted to highlight the morphological changes and Lp damage following T-4-ol and TTO treatments. The greatest antimicrobial activity against Lp was shown by T-4-ol with a MIC range of 0.06–0.125% v/v and MBC range of 0.25–0.5% v/v. The TTO and T-4-ol MIC and MBC decreased with increasing temperature (36 °C to 45 ± 1 °C), and temperature also significantly influenced the efficacy of TTO and T-4-ol vapors. The time-killing assay showed an exponential trend of T-4-ol bactericidal activity at 0.5% v/v against Lp. SEM observations revealed a concentration- and temperature- dependent effect of T-4-ol and TTO on cell surface morphology with alterations. These findings suggest that T-4-ol is active against Lp and further studies may address the potential effectiveness of T-4-ol for control of water systems.

Staphylococcus aureus is able to rapidly develop mechanisms of resistance to various drugs and to form strong biofilms, which makes it necessary to develop new antibacterial drugs. The essential oil of Melaleuca alternifolia is used as an antibacterial, a property believed to be mainly due to the presence of terpinen-4-ol. Based on this, the objective of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial and antibiofilm potential of terpinen-4-ol against S. aureus. The Minimal Inhibitory and Minimal Bactericidal Concentrations (MIC and MBC) of terpinen-4-ol were determined, and the effect of its combination with antibacterial drugs as well as its activity against S. aureus biofilms were evaluated. In addition, an in silico analysis of its pharmacokinetic parameters and a molecular docking analysis were performed. Terpinen-4-ol presented a MIC of 0.25% (v/v) and an MBC of 0.5% (v/v) (bactericidal action); its association with antibacterials was also effective. Terpinen-4-ol has good antibiofilm activity, and the in silico results indicated adequate absorption and distribution of the molecule in vivo. Molecular docking indicated that penicillin-binding protein 2a is a possible target of terpinen-4-ol in S. aureus. This work highlights the good potential of terpinen-4-ol as an antibacterial product and provides support for future pharmacological studies of this molecule, aiming at its therapeutic application.

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are important regulatory factors in multiple biological processes, and several lncRNAs are known to respond to insecticides. However, the lncRNA functions that are associated with terpinen-4-ol resistance in the red flour beetle (Tribolium castaneum) have not yet been identified. In this study, we determined the differentially transcribed lncRNAs between fumigated and control experimental groups. In the six libraries that underwent RNA sequencing, 34,546 transcripts were identified, including 8267 novel lncRNAs, 4155 novel mRNAs, 1151 known lncRNAs, and 20,973 known mRNAs. Among these, we found that the expression of 1858 mRNAs and 1663 lncRNAs was significantly different in the fumigated group compared with the control group. Among the differentially transcribed lncRNAs, 453 were up-regulated and 1210 were down-regulated lncRNAs. In addition, we identified the regulatory function targets of the lncRNAs. Functionally, all lncRNAs and target genes associated with terpinen-4-ol metabolism were enriched in several metabolic pathways, like the ATP-binding cassette transporter, pentose interconversion, and glucuronate interconversion. To the best of our knowledge, this study represents the first global identification of lncRNAs and their potential association with terpinen-4-ol metabolism in the red flour beetle. These results will provide reference information for studies on the resistance to terpinen-4-ol and other essential oil compounds and chemical pesticides, as well as an understanding of other biological processes in T. castaneum.

Terpenes – the essential oil components - due to confirmed antimicrobial effect can be applied e.g. as ecological pesticides instead of synthetic and environmentally hazardous compounds. A practical use of these systems must be proceeded by the analysis of the properties and activity of a given mixture. In this paper the monolayers at the air/water solution interface were applied to verify the influence of eucalyptol/terpinen-4-ol mixtures on plant pathogen Botrytis cinerea model membrane. The experiments included the measurements of the surface pressure – area isotherms for model membranes on water and terpene solutions as well as terpenes penetration into lipid monolayers. In the studies done for particular terpenes stronger ability of terpinen-4-ol over eucalyptol to incorporate into membrane, alter the membrane lateral elasticity and decrease its stability was found. Based on the results for the mixtures composed of terpenes in various concentrations it was found that not only the concentration of the system but also its composition, namely the proportion of both terpenes, determines the influence on lipid system. Moreover, terpinen-4-ol, but not eucalyptol, even in low concentrations, was of strong influence on membrane activity of total mixture. Additionally, it was suggested that terpinen-4-ol acts as penetration enhancer for eucalyptol into the model membrane system.

Mastitis is the main cause of antibiotic use in dairy sheep. Post-milking teat disinfection is adopted to prevent intra-mammary infections. Use of chemical disinfectants is associated with biocide ...

Australian tea tree oil (TTO) and its extract terpinen-4-ol (T4O) are found to be effective in moderating demodex-related diseases. Their possible effects are lowering the mite counts, relieving the demodex-related symptoms and modulating the immune system especially the inflammatory response. This review summarizes the topical treatments of TTO and T4O in human demodicosis, their possible mechanism of actions, side-effects and potential resistance in treating this condition. Although current treatments other than TTO and T4O are relatively effective in controlling the demodex mite population and the related symptoms, more research on the efficacy and drug delivery technology is needed in order to assess its potential as an alternative treatment with minimal side-effect profile, low toxicity and low risk of demodex resistance.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the anesthetic efficacy of tea tree oil (TTO; Melaleuca alternifolia) and its three main compounds: terpinen-4-ol, γ-terpinene, and α-terpinene, in silver catfish (Rhamdia quelen). We also aimed to investigate which of these compounds may be responsible for the anesthetic effect, as well as the effect of prolonged exposure on oxidative parameters. Fish were exposed to 100, 300, 500, 800, and 1000 μL L− 1 of TTO, and the corresponding concentrations of terpinen-4-ol, γ-terpinene, and α-terpinene in TTO; anesthesia induction time was recorded based on fish behavior. Anesthesia induction time with 300–1000 μL L− 1 TTO was 185–1.512 s, and with terpinen-4-ol was 103–630 s; for both, the recovery time was 134–673 s. The monoterpenes α-terpinene and γ-terpinene were incapable of causing sedation and anesthesia in R. quelen, but presented with an antagonistic effect when used in association with terpinen-4-ol. Based on this evidence, it can be concluded that terpinen-4-ol itself caused an anesthetic effect, and therefore, can be considered the compound responsible for the anesthetic effect of TTO. Long-term (6 h) exposure to TTO (25 μL L− 1) and terpinen-4-ol (42 μL L− 1) reduced thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances levels in the liver, and terpinen-4-ol (42 and 20 μL L− 1) reduced lipid hydroperoxide in the liver and kidney. Glutathione-S-transferase activity demonstrated an increase in the liver of silver catfish exposed to terpinen-4-ol (20 and 42 μL L− 1), and increased in the kidney of silver catfish exposed to TTO at concentration of 25 μL L− 1 compared to the control group. In summary, TTO and terpinen-4-ol may be recommended to induce faster anesthesia, and may be suitable as sedatives for transport, because they improved the antioxidant status of silver catfish.

Origanum vulgare L. (Lamiaceae) is a widespread flavoring culinary and medicinal herb. The present study aimed at investigating the antimicrobial activity of Origanum vulgare (OV) essential oil (EO) through illustrating its biostatic, biocidal and the dynamics of the biocidal activity against 11 different microorganisms. GC/MS of OV EO allowed the identification of 32 compounds representing 99.94% of the oil. The two major identified compounds were terpinen-4-ol (38.35%) and trans-sabinene hydrate (10.06%). Different methods were employed to illustrate the biostatic activity of OV EO. Results of the biostatic studies on OV EO using agar and broth dilution methods showed that Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) was the most sensitive organism; with a Minimum inhibitor concentration (MIC) 1.18 mg/ml. Agar diffusion method showed that the highest activity was observed against Bordetella bronchiseptica (Br. bronchiseptica), Saccharomyces cerevisiae (S. cerevisiae), Bacillus subtilis (B. subtilus) and Staphylococcus epidermidis (S. epidermidis) with inhibition zones 38 ± 1.5, 29.5 ± 0.8, 26.9 ± 0.9 and 26.9 ± 1.1 mm, respectively. Studying the dynamics of 1% v/v OV essential oil emulsion over a period of 6 h revealed that Escherichia coli (E. coli), B. subtilis, S. epidermidis and S. cerevisiae had the fastest response. Also increasing concentrations of OV oil emulsion increased the rate of cell killing and the duration of growth lag phase increased correspondingly. These data indicated that OV EO produces a concentration and time-dependent antimicrobial activity.

Made available in DSpace on 2020-12-12T02:12:16Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2020-01-01. Added 1 bitstream(s) on 2021-07-15T15:25:54Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 S1806-83242020000100236.pdf: 1049809 bytes, checksum: 01ba29f6343076ea6e70ac97a2d02b95 (MD5) Candida infection is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised patients. The increase in its incidence has been associated with resistance to antimicrobial therapy and biofilm formation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of tea tree oil (TTO) and its main component-terpinen-4-ol-against resistant Candida albicans strains (genotypes A and B) identified by molecular typing and against C. albicans ATCC 90028 and SC 5314 reference strains in planktonic and biofilm cultures. The minimum inhibitory concentration, minimum fungicidal concentration, and rate of biofilm development were used to evaluate antifungal activity. Results were obtained from analysis of the biofilm using the cell proliferation assay 2,3-Bis-(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-2Htetrazolium-5-carboxanilide (XTT) and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). Terpinen-4-ol and TTO inhibited C. albicans growth. CLSM confirmed that 17.92 mg/mL of TTO and 8.86 mg/mL of terpinen-4-ol applied for 60 s (rinse simulation) interfered with biofilm formation. Hence, this in vitro s tudy r evealed t hat n atural substances such as TTO and terpinen-4-ol present promising results for the treatment of oral candidiasis. Universidade Estadual Paulista-Unesp School of Dentistry of Araraquara Department of Physiology and Pathology Universidade Estadual de Campinas-Unicamp School of Dentistry of Piracicaba Department of Physiological Sciences Universidade Estadual Paulista-Unesp School of Dentistry of Araraquara Department of Physiology and Pathology

Made available in DSpace on 2019-10-06T17:14:20Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2019-01-01 The aim of this study was to investigate the cytotoxic activity and inhibitory effect of terpinen-4-ol (T4ol) and carvacrol against single- and multi-species biofilms. The toxicity of each compound was tested on oral keratinocytes and evaluated by XTT assay. Inhibition and eradication of single-species biofilms were analyzed by crystal violet assay and the effect on multi-species biofilm composition was evaluated by qPCR. T4ol and carvacrol did not affect the epithelial cell viability, in contrast to chlorhexidine, which showed a high cytotoxic effect. Inhibition and eradication of single-species biofilms treated with T4ol and carvacrol were observed. The same inhibitory effect was observed for multi-species biofilms, especially on periodontal pathogens. In conclusion, specific concentrations of T4ol and carvacrol without toxicity towards the epithelial cells reduced the numbers of periodontal pathogens in single- and multi-species biofilms. Department of Oral Diagnosis and Surgery School of Dentistry São Paulo State University (Unesp) Department of Oral Health Sciences University of Leuven & Dentistry University Hospitals Leuven Department of Physiology and Pathology School of Dentistry São Paulo State University (Unesp) Department of Oral Diagnosis and Surgery School of Dentistry São Paulo State University (Unesp) Department of Physiology and Pathology School of Dentistry São Paulo State University (Unesp)

Alan G KabatPennsylvania College of Optometry, Salus University, Elkins Park, PA 19027, USAPurpose: Demodex folliculorum is a ubiquitous mite that can infest the eyelash follicles. Two commercial lid hygiene products have asserted their effectiveness in killing Demodex mites, yet there has never been a comparative trial between these two products. This study evaluated the demodicidal activity of 0.01% hypochlorous acid (HOCl) solution (Avenova; NovaBay Pharmaceuticals; Emeryville, CA) and 4% terpinen-4-ol (T4O) solution (Cliradex, Bio-Tissue; Miami, FL) in comparison to mineral oil (MO), a negative control.Methods: Live Demodex mites were obtained from volunteers. Samples were immersed in 1–2 drops of test solution: 0.01% HOCl, 4% T4O, or 100% MO. Samples were observed under the microscope every 10mins for up to 90mins. Kill time was defined as the elapsed time between the addition of test solution and all cessation of movement of the body, legs, mouth and pedipalps for a minimum of 60seconds.Results: T4O demonstrated a mean kill time of 40±0.0mins. HOCl had a mean kill time of 87.86±4.23mins, with 79% of samples surviving the full 90mins. In the MO group, all samples survived through the 90min mark. Kill time was statistically significant in favor of T4O as compared to HOCl (p=0.0005). There was no statistically significant difference in kill time between HOCl and MO (p=0.25).Conclusion: 4% T4O effectively killed all adult mite samples within 40mins of exposure. In contrast, the demodicidal activity of 0.01% HOCl was minimal, and comparatively similar to 100% MO.Keywords: Demodex, blepharitis, lid hygiene, tea tree oil, terpinen-4-ol, hypochlorous acid

Eucalyptus oil is known from antimicrobial properties and due to natural origin and low toxicity it can be applied as a green pesticide. This plant extract is a mixture of compounds among which Eucalyptol prevails strongly over the number of minor components including terpinen-4-ol. However, antimicrobial effect of total extract is stronger than the effect of its major component. The mechanism of action of essential oils involves their incorporation into membrane of pathogenic cell. To investigate the effect of eucalyptus oil components on bacterial membrane in this work the influence of Eucalyptol on model lipid systems of various compositions was studied and then compared with the effect induced by the mixture of Eucalyptol and terpinen-4-ol. The analysis of the lipid monolayer properties modified by the presence of the essential oils evidenced that Eucalyptol reduces the lipids packing and decreases membrane rigidity, however, its influence is determined both by the concentration of this terpene and by the composition of lipid film. As indicated the results of calculation of the surface excess values Eucalyptol molecules tend to adsorb at the interface, however, at higher concentration in the subphase, the molecules undergo desorption at membrane-related surface pressure. By mixing of Eucalyptol and terpinen-4-ol stronger monolayer fluidization and destabilization can be achieved as well as stronger adsorption, even at higher surface pressures, occurs. However, these effects are also determined by the composition of model system. The collected data suggest that these compounds may act by penetrating bacterial membrane. Moreover, it can be proposed that although Eucalyptol is a major component of the Eucalyptus oil the antimicrobial effect of total extract is generated also by a minor component. This may explain stronger antimicrobial effect of Eucalyptus oil as compared to sole Eucalyptol confirmed in biological studies.

To assess the changes in essential oil content and composition of sweet- marjoram (Origanum majorana L.) during post harvest drying / storage, an experiment was conducted in the hilly region of Utt...

This study aimed to evaluate the susceptibility in vitro and in vivo of Trypanosoma evansi to terpinen-4-ol, γ-terpinene and α-terpinene, the three main compounds of tea tree oil (Melaleuca alternifolia) with known efficacy in the treatment of trypanosomosis. In vitro, a trypanocidal effect of terpinen-4-ol, γ-terpinene, and α-terpinene was observed when used alone or associated at 0.5, 1 and 2% concentrations i.e., the α-terpinene showed a faster trypanocidal effect when compared to chemotherapy (diminazene aceturate - D.A.). In vivo studies were performed in two experiments: I and II where experiment I used T. evansi infected mice treated with terpinen-4-ol, γ-terpinene and α-terpinene alone (at a dose of 1.0 mL kg(-1)) or associated (two compounds, dose of 0.5 mL kg(-1) of each compound; tree compounds, dose of 0.335 mL kg(-1) of each compound); Treatment with α-terpinene was able to extend animal longevity, but showed no curative efficacy. In experiment II, T. evansi infected mice were treated with D.A. associate with α-terpinene, where a curative efficacy of 57.14% was found, a much better result when D.A. was used alone (14.28%). In summary, α-terpinene associated with D.A. can be used as an alternative treatment for T. evansi infection. The compound α-terpinene from M. alternifolia essential oil is the one responsible for the trypanocidal effect, a fact confirmed by in vitro results and the increased longevity observed on treated mice.

Staphylococcus aureus is able to rapidly develop mechanisms of resistance to various drugs and to form strong biofilms, which makes it necessary to develop new antibacterial drugs. The essential oil of Melaleuca alternifolia is used as an antibacterial, a property believed to be mainly due to the presence of terpinen-4-ol. Based on this, the objective of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial and antibiofilm potential of terpinen-4-ol against S. aureus. The Minimal Inhibitory and Minimal Bactericidal Concentrations (MIC and MBC) of terpinen-4-ol were determined, and the effect of its combination with antibacterial drugs as well as its activity against S. aureus biofilms were evaluated. In addition, an in silico analysis of its pharmacokinetic parameters and a molecular docking analysis were performed. Terpinen-4-ol presented a MIC of 0.25% (v/v) and an MBC of 0.5% (v/v) (bactericidal action), its association with antibacterials was also effective. Terpinen-4-ol has good antibiofilm activity, and the in silico results indicated adequate absorption and distribution of the molecule in vivo. Molecular docking indicated that penicillin-binding protein 2a is a possible target of terpinen-4-ol in S. aureus. This work highlights the good potential of terpinen-4-ol as an antibacterial product and provides support for future pharmacological studies of this molecule, aiming at its therapeutic application.

The Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae) poses a major threat to fruit and vegetable production in the United States and throughout the world. New attractants and detection methods could improve control strategies for this invasive pest. In this study, we developed a method that combined thin-layer chromatography (TLC) of tea tree essential oil (TTO) (Melaleuca alternifolia) with short-range bioassays to isolate attractive kairomones for male C. capitata. After development, the TLC chromatogram indicated that TTO separated into five major spots, designated as zones 1 to 5. When the TLC plate was exposed to flies, zones 1 and 3 were strongly attractive to male C. capitata. To confirm activity, the developed TLC plate was cut into five zones which were then tested in short-range bioassays. Again, flies were observed to aggregate around zones 1 and 3, which corresponded with Rf values of 0.93 and 0.59. In addition, zones 1 to 5 were separated using preparative-TLC, and olfactory responses to volatile emissions from the five fractions were quantified by electroantennography (EAG). Highest amplitude EAG responses were recorded with fractions 1 and 3, further supporting the bioactivity of these samples. In conclusion, a TLC-based bioassay system can provide an effective, rapid screening protocol for initial isolation of insect kairomones from complex mixtures such as essential oils or plant extracts. Further analysis of TTO fractions 1 and 3 is needed to identify the specific constituents attractive to male C. capitata.

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical improvement in ocular symptoms and signs in patients suffering from Demodex anterior blepharitis after using a novel cleansing wipe impregnated with 2.5% terpinen-4-ol and 0.2% hyaluronic acid. Study design: This was an exploratory, multicenter, open, randomized, two-parallel group comparative study. Methods: Forty-eight patients with Demodex anterior blepharitis were randomly assigned to apply the sterile wipe T1172 (Blephademodex®), either once daily (n=24, Group 1) or twice daily (n=24, Group 2) for 29 days. Overall ocular discomfort and other individual symptoms were measured using a 0–10 numeric rating scale at Day 8 and Day 29. Ocular signs, including eyelid margin hyperemia and number of cylindrical dandruff, were examined at slit lamp. Overall treatment performance by investigator, patient satisfaction and tolerance were evaluated with questionnaires. Results: Overall ocular discomfort was significantly reduced from baseline (p

Made available in DSpace on 2018-12-11T17:38:29Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2018-01-01 This study evaluated the antibacterial properties of carvacrol and terpinen-4-ol against Porphyromonas gingivalis and Fusobacterium nucleatum and its cytotoxic effects on fibroblast cells. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were examined. The minimum biofilm inhibition concentration (MBIC) was evaluated by XTT assay. Biofilm decontamination on titanium surfaces was quantified (CFU ml−1), evaluated by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and cytotoxic activity by MTT. The MIC and MBC for carvacrol were 0.007% and 0.002% for P. gingivalis and F. nucleatum, and 0.06% for terpinen-4-ol for both microorganisms. The MBIC for carvacrol was 0.03% and 0.06% for P. gingivalis and F. nucleatum, and for terpinen-4-ol was 0.06% and 0.24%. The results indicated anti-biofilm activity using carvacrol (0.26%, 0.06%) and terpinen-4-ol (0.95%, 0.24%) and showed cytotoxic activity similar to chlorohexidine (CHX). However, terpinen-4-ol (0.24%) showed higher cell viability than other treatments. Carvacrol and terpinen-4-ol showed antibacterial activity in respect of reducing biofilms. Moreover, CHX-like cytotoxicity was observed. Department of Oral Diagnosis and Surgery School of Dentistry São Paulo State University (Unesp) Department of Physiology and Pathology School of Dentistry São Paulo State University (Unesp) Department of Dental Materials and Prosthodontics School of Dentistry São Paulo State University (Unesp) Department of Oral Diagnosis and Surgery School of Dentistry São Paulo State University (Unesp) Department of Physiology and Pathology School of Dentistry São Paulo State University (Unesp) Department of Dental Materials and Prosthodontics School of Dentistry São Paulo State University (Unesp)

This study investigated the anti-Candida activity and the Shore A hardness of a tissue conditioner (Softone™) modified by incorporation of terpinen-4-ol and cinnamaldehyde. Agar diffusion, microdilution, and mechanism of action methods were performed to determine to evaluate the antifungal activity of phytoconstituents. Then, phytoconstituents in varying concentrations were incorporated into the tissue conditioner. The anti-Candida effect of the modified conditioner was evaluated through agar punch well and biofilm formation methods. Shore A hardness of the experimental liners was evaluated after baseline, 24 h, 48 h, 4 days, and 7 days immersion on artificial saliva. The phytoconstituents incorporated into Softone showed completely inhibited fungal growth in concentrations of 20–40% and did not present significant antifungal activity until their concentrations where higher than 5%. There were differences between non-modified Softone and M5, M10, C10, and T10% (p

Purpose To compare the in vitro anti-demodectic activity of four commercially available dedicated eyelid cleansers (Cliradex® towelette cleanser, Oust™ Demodex® cleanser, Blephadex™ eyelid foam, TheraTears® SteriLid® eyelid cleanser), tea tree oil, undiluted terpinen-4-ol and linalool; and to assess the terpinen-4-ol content of the commercial cleansers and tea tree oil. Methods In vitro anti-demodectic efficacy assessment: 93 viable Demodex mites were acquired from the epilated eyelashes of 10 participants, and were randomised to application with one of the four eyelid cleansers, 100% and 50% tea tree oil, undiluted terpinen-4-ol and linalool, or no treatment. Following treatment application, mite viability was assessed for 300 min, based on limb/body movement and/or the development of a crenated/translucent appearance. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was then performed. Mass spectrometry analysis The absolute concentration of terpinen-4-ol and the relative abundance of linalool in the four eyelid cleansers and tea tree oil were determined. Results In vitro anti-demodectic efficacy assessment: No significant differences were observed between undiluted tea tree oil, terpinen-4-ol and linalool (all p > 0.05). Although all commercial eyelid cleansers effected lower mite survival probabilities than the untreated group, Cliradex® was the only eyelid cleanser that demonstrated comparable antiparastic activity to 50% tea tree oil (p = 0.36). Mass spectrometry analysis Among the four eyelid cleansers, Cliradex® contained the highest concentration of terpinen-4-ol, while linalool was present in TheraTears® SteriLid® only. Conclusions Of the four commercial eyelid cleansers, Cliradex® demonstrated the highest levels of in vitro anti-demodectic activity and terpinen-4-ol content. Undiluted linalool and terpenin-4-ol showed comparable antiparasitic efficacy, and the use of linalool in the management of demodectic blepharitis warrants further investigation.

Aims The essential oil of Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) has been evaluated as a potential eco-friendly antifungal agent against Botrytis cinerea. In this study, we investigated the antifungal activity and mode of action of tea tree oil (TTO) and its components against B. cinerea. Methods and Results Of the components we tested in contact phase, terpinen-4-ol had the highest antifungal activity, followed by TTO, α-terpineol, terpinolene, then 1,8-cineole. As one of characteristic components of TTO, terpinen-4-ol treatment led to pronounced alterations in mycelial morphology, cellular ultrastructure, membrane permeability under scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscope and fluorescent microscope, and also reduced the ergosterol content of fungi. As another characteristic component, 1,8-cineole caused serious intracellular damage but only slightly affected B. cinerea otherwise. When terpinen-4-ol and 1,8-cineole were used together, the synergistic antifungal activity was significantly higher than either component by itself. Conclusions The results of our study confirmed that terpinen-4-ol and 1,8-cineole act mainly on the cell membranes and organelles of B. cinerea, respectively, and when combined are similar to TTO in antifungal activity due to their differences. Significance and Impact of the Study Understanding the mechanism of terpinen-4-ol and 1,8-cineole antifungal action to B. cinerea is helpful for investigation on their synergistic effect and explaining antifungal action modes of TTO.

The deterpenation process of essential oils consists of terpene removal and a consequent concentration of oxygenated compounds, which increases the sensorial quality, the aromatic potential and the oxidative stability of the oil. Deterpenation of oregano (Origanum vulgare L., Lamiaceae) essential oil, which has been used extensively as a popular medication and as an antimicrobial, antifungal, antimutagenic and a powerful antioxidant agent, can be performed by (liquid + liquid) extraction using hydroalcoholic solvents. This research presents (liquid + liquid) equilibrium data for model systems composed of p-cymene, thymol, terpinen-4-ol and α-terpineol, some of the main components of oregano essential oil, using hydrous ethanol as the solvent with the water mass fraction ranging from 0.28 to 0.41 at T = (298.2 ± 0.1) K. The results show that an increase in the hydration of the alcoholic solvent causes a negative influence on the values of the distribution coefficient for the three oxygenated compounds (thymol, terpinen-4-ol and α-terpineol), with an increase in solvent selectivity. An increase in the content of oxygenated compounds in the terpene-rich phase reduces their distribution coefficients and the selectivity values. In addition, binary interaction parameters were estimated correlating the experimental data using the NRTL and UNIQUAC thermodynamic models, and the global deviations were lower than 0.0060 for all systems, indicating that both molecular models show a good descriptive performance.

This work demonstrates the potential of fast multiple heart-cut enantioselective multidimensional gas chromatography (GC-eGC) and enantioselective comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (eGC×GC), to perform the stereoisomeric analysis of three key chiral monoterpenes (limonene, terpinen-4-ol and α-terpineol) present in tea tree oil (TTO). In GC-eGC, separation was conducted using a combination of mid-polar first dimension ((1)D) column and a chiral second dimension ((2)D) column, providing interference-free enantioresolution of the individual antipodes of each optically active component. A combination of (1)D chiral column and (2)D polar columns (ionic liquid and wax phases) were tested for the eGC×GC study. Quantification was proposed based on summation of two major modulated peaks for each antipode, displaying comparable results with those derived from GC-eGC. Fast chiral separations were achieved within 25min for GC-eGC and

This study was designed to examine the chemical composition of essential oils of three Eucalyptus spices (E. spathulata, E. microtheca, and E. torquata) and in vitro antifungal activities of the essential oils of five Eucalyptus spices (E. largiflorens, E. oleosa, E. spathulata, E. microtheca, and E. torquata). The chemical composition of the hydrodistilled essential oils of leaves of these three spices were analyzed by GC-MS and GC-FID. The predominant and common components in the all oils were α-pinene (2.3 - 14.5 %), 1,8- cineole (6.6 - 69.6 %), terpinen-4-ol (0.8 - 9.6 %), α-terpineol (1.1 - 4.3 %), aromadenderene (0.3 - 10.5 %) and viridiflorol (0.0 - 5.7 %). The antifungal activities of essential oils have been investigated by minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and disc diffusion methods against A. flavus, A. parasiticus, A. niger, P. chryzogenum and P. citrinum. A high antifungal activity was found in the leaf oil of E. largiflorens. The relationship between the some major constituents ...

The growing awareness of a mounting trend toward adulteration of essential oil products has resulted in considerable interest among producer and consumer industries to develop suitable and cost-effective methods for authenticity control. In response to this trend, this study reports authenticity assessment of Australian tea tree oil (TTO) by means of stereospecific analysis of designated chiral monoterpenes present within the oil. Enantioselective gas chromatography ( e GC) coupled with either flame ionization detection or mass spectrometry was used to determine the enantiomeric distribution of terpinen-4-ol and α-terpineol, both key chemical markers in TTO. Consistent enantiomeric ratios of 68.5 ± 0.2% (+): 31.5 ± 0.2% (–) for terpinen-4-ol and 74.2 ± 1.4% (+): 25.8 ± 1.4% (–) for α-terpineol were observed for the 57 authentic 100% pure Australian TTOs analyzed, which were sourced directly from different plantation sites throughout Australia. On the other hand, considerable variations from these ratios were observed for a number of commercial TTOs sampled from different continents, with 50% of the samples varying markedly from the ∼68.5% value found for (+) terpinen-4-ol. Robustness of the method and reliability of the attained results were evaluated by cross-checking data derived from the two independent analyses performed in this study. To the best of our knowledge, this work encapsulates the most comprehensive dataset currently available for the enantiomeric distribution of terpinen-4-ol and α-terpineol in pure Australian TTO, and which can serve as an important reference for detection of variation in commercially-sourced samples, and be a potential indicator of adulteration. Additionally, results of this study proved the considerable potential of using chiral compositions of terpinen-4-ol and α-terpineol as chiral signatures for authenticity assessment of TTO.

Made available in DSpace on 2019-10-06T16:55:59Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2018-07-01. Added 1 bitstream(s) on 2019-10-09T18:35:42Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 S0103-64402018000400359.pdf: 3525999 bytes, checksum: ae97b2be8c3697063e4d5a2e983a35e2 (MD5) Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) The aim of this study was to evaluate the antifungal activity of Terpinen-4-ol associated with nystatin, on single and mixed species biofilms formed by Candida albicans and Candida tropicalis, as well as the effect of terpinen-4-ol on adhesion in oral cells and the enzymatic activity. The minimum inhibitory concentrations and minimum fungicide concentrations of terpinen-4-ol and nystatin on Candida albicans and Candida tropicalis were determined using the microdilution broth method, along with their synergistic activity (“checkerboard” method). Single and mixed species biofilms were prepared using the static microtiter plate model and quantified by colony forming units (CFU/mL). The effect of Terpinen-4-ol in adhesion of Candida albicans and Candida tropicalis in coculture with oral keratinocytes (NOK Si) was evaluated, as well as the enzymatic activity by measuring the size of the precipitation zone, after the growth agar to phospholipase, protease and hemolysin. Terpinen-4-ol (4.53 mg mL-1) and nystatin (0.008 mg mL-1) were able to inhibit biofilms growth, and a synergistic antifungal effect was showed with the drug association, reducing the inhibitory concentration of nystatin up to 8 times in single biofilm of Candida albicans, and 2 times in mixed species biofilm. A small decrease in the adhesion of Candida tropicalis in NOK Si cells was showed after treatment with terpinen-4-ol, and nystatin had a greater effect for both species. For enzymatic activity, the drugs showed no action. The effect potentiated by the combination of terpinen-4-ol and nystatin and the reduction of adhesion provide evidence of its potential as an anti-fungal agent. Department of Oral Diagnosis and Surgery School of Dentistry UNESP-Universidade Estadual Paulista Department of Physiology and Pathology School of Dentistry UNESP-Universidade Estadual Paulista Department of Physiological Sciences School of Dentistry of Piracicaba UNICAMP-Universidade Estadual de Campinas Department of Oral Diagnosis and Surgery School of Dentistry UNESP-Universidade Estadual Paulista Department of Physiology and Pathology School of Dentistry UNESP-Universidade Estadual Paulista FAPESP: 2015/00155-0

Terpinen-4-ol has several biological properties, but its low stability and water-solubility limit its use. This study reports the formation of a solid terpinen-4-ol/β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) inclusion complex via lyophilization. Release experiments were performed at various temperatures (40, 60, 80, and 100°C) with humidity of 70%. The release of terpinen-4-ol was significantly increased with rising temperature. Avrami's equation was used to analyse release kinetics and a good fit was observed for terpinen-4-ol release. In addition, the complex enhanced antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aurueus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli, with concentration ranging from 1.25 mg/ml to 5 mg/ml. To explain the experimental data, physico-chemical techniques have been utilized to investigate the inclusion complex of terpinen-4-ol with β-CD. Finally, the possible structure of the complex was proposed by quantum chemical calculations. The results indicated that enhanced thermal stability and antibacterial activity of terpinen-4-ol could be attributed to the weak interactions of hydrogen bonds between terpinen-4-ol and β-CD. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Leaves essential oils of Cupressus torulosa D. Don of different girth sizes grown in Chakrata region (Uttarakhand) were investigated for yield (%) and composition in four different seasons. The essential oils were obtained by hydro-distillation and analyzed by GC-FID and GC-MS. The yield of oils (% v/w) at different seasons varied from 0.36 to 1.38 %, highest in monsoon season. A total twenty-four components were identified, representing 77.06-90.08 % of the total oil. Analyzing data using SPSS, afforded the seasonal variation factors to use the relative amount (%) with different tree girth stages. The oil was dominated by varied composition of monoterpenoids (69.81-87.77 %). In monsoon season, the major compound was terpinen-4-ol, ranged from 13.66-22.94 %. The marker constituent of post-monsoon was found to be limonene (18.44-35.94 %). The maximum limonene content (35.94 %) was noted in medium sized trees, followed by big trees (21.62 %) and small trees (18.44 %). Conversely, in winter, α-pinen...

The composition of the essential oil obtained from the dried flowering aerial parts of Salvia limbata C. A. Mey. (Lamiaceae) was analyzed by GC and GC-MS. 111 components have been identified in the essential oil of S. limbata. The major compounds of the essential oil were caryophyllene oxide (11.5 %), terpinen-4-ol (8.9 %), sabinene (8.3 %) and spathulenol (8.1 %).

The chemical constituents from the root, leaf and aerial part of Nepeta asterotricha Rech.f., growing in Iran, were obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC and GC-MS. The root oil was characterized by higher amount of 4aα, 7β, 7aα- nepetalactone ( 26.25 %), linalool ( 10.20 %), 1,8-cineole (10.18 %) and terpinen-4-ol (9.18 %). Thirty-two constituents representing 97.58 % of the chromatographical leaf oil were identified of which 1,8-cineole (21.01 %), 4aα, 7β, 7aα- nepetalactone (15.05 %), terpinen-4-ol (14.33 %) and linalool (7.69 %) were the major components. The main components of the aerial part oil were 1,8-cineole (26.12 %), terpinen-4-ol (14.83 %), 4aα, 7α, 7β- nepetalactone (8.65 %) and cis-sabinene hydrate (8.58 %). The antimicrobial effects of root, leaf and aerial part essential oils from N. asterotricha were studied against seven Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and three fungi by disc diffusion method. The results of the bioassays showed the interesting antimicrobia...

The growing interest towards essential oils stems from their biological capabilities that include antibacterial and antioxidant effects. Such properties may be extremely useful in the reproductive field, nonetheless essential oils show toxic effects that can lead to cell disruption. The present study aimed to evaluate and compare the effects of tea tree oil (TTO) and its principal component terpinen-4-ol (TER) on the morpho-functional parameters of swine spermatozoa. Experimental samples were prepared by suspending 15 &times, 107 spermatozoa in 5 mL of medium with different concentrations of the above-mentioned compounds: from 0.2 to 2 mg/mL at an interval of 0.2 for TTO, while TER concentrations were adjusted according to its presence in TTO (41.5%). After 3 h incubation at 16 &deg, C, samples were analyzed for pH, viability, acrosome status, and objective motility. The results highlighted a concentration-dependent effect of TTO with total motility as the most sensitive parameter. TER was better tolerated, and the most sensitive parameters were related to membrane integrity, suggesting a different pattern of interaction. The study confirms the importance of evaluating the effects of natural compounds on spermatozoa before exploiting their beneficial effects. Spermatozoa seem to be good candidates for preliminary toxicological screenings in the light of their peculiar properties.

Cassumunar ginger (Zingiber montanum (Koenig) Link ex Dietr.) is a native Thai herb with a high content and large variety of terpenoids in its essential oil. Improving the essential oil content and quality of cassumunar ginger is difficult for a breeder due to its clonally propagated nature. In this research, we describe the isolation and expression level of the monoterpene synthase gene that controls the key step of essential oil synthesis in this plant and evaluate the mechanical wounding that may influence the transcription level of the monoterpene synthase gene. To isolate the gene, the selected clones from DNA derived from young leaves were sequenced and analyzed and the monoterpene synthase gene from cassumunar ginger (ZMM1) was identified. The ZMM1 CDS containing 1 773 bp (KF500399) is predicted to encode a protein of 590 amino acids. The deduced amino acid sequence is 40-74% identical with known sequences of other angiosperm monoterpene synthases belonging to the isoprenoid biosynthesis C1 superfamily. A transcript of ZMM1 was detected almost exclusively in the leaves and was related to leaf wounding. The results of this research offer insight into the control of monoterpene synthesis in this plant. This finding can be applied to breeding programs or crop management of cassumunar ginger for better yield and quality of essential oil.

Alpinia zerumbet is a medicinal plant from Asian origin used in folk medicine for the treatment of hypertension, which effect is attributed to terpinen-4-ol, the major component of the essential oil. The objective of this work was to identify the essential oil secretory structures in the leaf, flower, root and rhizome of this plant, and analyze the content and the chemical composition of the oil in the different organs of the plant. Sections were subjected to histochemical test with Nadi reagent for in situ localization of secretion. The essential oil extraction was performed by hydrodistillation in a Clevenger apparatus and the compounds were identified in CG-EM/FID. The histochemical test was positive for terpenoids, confirming the presence of essential oil stored in secretory structures named oils cells present in all analyzed organs. The higher essential oil content was found on the leaf (0.30%), while the petal and the rhizome presented content of 0.10% and 0.06%, respectively. It was not possible to determine essential oil content of the root due to the low amount of biomass produced. There were qualitative and quantitative differences in the chemical composition of the essential oil in the different plant organs, but the major constituent in all of them was the terpinen-4-ol, followed by 1,8 cineol in the leaf and by the α-terpineol in the flower and rhizome.

The essential oils from male and female branchlets and from female cones of Cupressus torulosa D. Don were analyzed by capillary gas chromatography (GC) and GC–mass spectrometry (GC–MS), and their compositions were compared. The analysis of essential oils revealed fifty-five constituents comprising 89.65–99.05% of the essential oil composition. Monoterpene hydrocarbons (51.09–58.06%) and oxygenated monoterpenes (28.61–39.48%) were found to be the major group of the constituents. Predominant constituents were umbellulone (16.26–26.66%), terpinen-4-ol (0.10–19.64%), α-pinene (9.62–17.76%), limonene (13.27–14.56%), sabinene (5.87–14.33%), γ-terpinene (1.97–6.89%) and α-terpinene (1.95–5.31%).