Search

Electrospinning technology has demonstrated extensive applications in biomedical engineering, energy storage, and environmental remediation. However, its utilization in the cosmetic industry remains relatively underexplored. To address the challenges associated with skin damage caused by preservatives and thickeners used for extending the shelf life of conventional products, a soothing lavender-scented electrospun fibrous eye mask with coaxial layers was developed using the electrospinning technique. Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) served as the hydrophilic outer sheath, while polycaprolactone (PCL) constituted the hydrophobic core, with lavender oil (LO) encapsulated within. The structural and physicochemical properties of the samples were characterized using a scanning electron microscope (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and contact angle measurements. Upon hydration, the fibrous membrane exhibited strong adhesion properties, notable antioxidant activity, and a degree of antibacterial efficacy, demonstrating its potential for safe and effective use in skincare and eye mask applications. These findings suggest that the developed electrospun material offers promising functional properties and functional properties for integration into cosmetic formulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focused on the formulation, electron beam (e-beam) crosslinking, and characterisation of hydrogels enriched with lavender oil (LO) to enhance their structural and functional properties for biomedical applications. Stable hydrogels were synthesised using water-soluble polymers and suitable ratios of Tween 80 and Isopropyl alcohol (IPA) as surfactant and co-surfactant, respectively, via e-beam irradiation at doses up to 70 kGy. The most effective crosslinking was achieved with a radiation dose of 30 kGy, depending on the concentrations of surfactants and LO. LO-enriched hydrogels exhibited enhanced superabsorbent swelling (7700% to 18,000%) and faster equilibrium rates than the control hydrogel. Structural analysis revealed a flexible spongiform porous architecture with larger mesh sizes (156 nm to 246 nm) and adequate elastic moduli (130 to 308 Pa). Degradation tests aligned with swelling data, demonstrating a degradation rate of 12% after 35 days, indicating an appropriate balance of stability and degradation. These findings suggest that e-beam technology, in conjunction with LO and surfactant addition, can effectively tailor hydrogel properties for biomedical applications, making them promising candidates for further research in wound care, drug delivery systems, and other biological applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the enantiomeric composition and possibilities of analysis of 1-octen-3-yl acetate (OcAc), a chiral compound found in various samples of lavender essential oils (EOs). Essential oils are complex mixtures exhibiting diverse biological activities and are often subject to sophisticated adulteration methods, necessitating advanced analytical techniques for authenticity verification. Using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and chiral gas chromatography, the analysis of lavender EOs samples determines the presence and enantiomeric ratios of OcAc. The results showed significant variations in the oils; however, there were minimal differences in enantiomeric purity among samples sourced from France, Bulgaria, and Slovakia. Major components such as linalool and linalyl acetate were predominant. The high enantiomeric purity of OcAc observed across all samples indicated there was no adulteration by synthetic products. The study underscores the importance of rigorous analytical methods to ensure the quality and authenticity of EOs, highlighting the influence of geographical origin on their chemical composition. These findings provided valuable insights into the factors affecting the authenticity and possible therapeutic efficacy of lavender essential oil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This study aimed to investigate lavender essential oil aromatherapy as a calming phytoextract to improve the welfare of fattening Italian heavy pigs (intended for Parma ham production) and its possible effects on pig meat. Three pig groups were formed: one raised in commercial conditions, one receiving lavender oil inhalation administration once a day and one receiving lavender oil twice a day. We observed no effects of lavender on carcass or blood stress indicators, and only minor effects on meat quality, not affecting the subsequent dry curing processing. No residues were found in lean or fat tissue. With respect to welfare, animals treated once a day showed less severe tail lesions (indicating a lower level of frustration and damaging behaviors) compared to the other groups. Unexpectedly, animals treated twice a day showed a more severe degree of lesions on the body compared to the other groups (possibly indicating increased agonistic behaviors). Although from these conflicting results it was not possible to conclude on the ability of the product to improve the level of animal welfare, further studies are needed to investigate the potential effects on pig behavior and the optimization (frequency and modality) of the administration of vaporized lavender essential oil. We assessed the effects of inhalation administration of lavender essential oil (LEO) either once (L1) or twice (L2) a day on animal welfare indicators, carcass and meat quality of Italian heavy pigs. Pigs (n = 108) were allotted to three experimental groups (control -C-, L1 and L2) and lavender was administered, via a vaporizer device, to the treated groups during the entire fattening–finishing period (79–160 kg BW). Tail lesion severity was reduced in L1 at the end of the trial compared to the other groups (p < 0.05). Body lesion counts, however, were higher in L2 than in C (p < 0.05), resulting in a more severe overall damage classification (p < 0.01). At slaughter, no differences were observed in carcass traits or blood stress indicators, only minor differences were observed in meat quality, and no LEO residual was found in fat or lean tissues, highlighting the preserved suitability of thighs for the dry curing process. While it was not possible to conclude on the ability to improve animal welfare of vaporized LEO in this production phase, the absence of adverse effects on meat quality and the discrepancies observed regarding the body lesions in L1 and L2 make further studies on behavioral aspects and the method of administration (route, frequency) of the product desirable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Essential oils (EOs) have recently attracted more interest due to their insecticidal activities, low harmfulness, and rapid degradation in the environment. Therefore, Lavandula steochas (L. steochas) essential oil was assessed for its chemical constituents, in vitro cytotoxicity, and scolicidal, acaricidal, and insecticidal activities. Using spectrometry and gas chromatography, the components of L. steochas EOs were detected. Additionally, different oil concentrations were tested for their anticancer activities when applied to human embryonic kidney cells (HEK-293 cells) and the human breast cancer cell line MCF-7. The oil's scolicidal activity against protoscolices of hydatid cysts was evaluated at various concentrations and exposure times. The oil's adulticidal, larvicidal, and repelling effects on R. annulatus ticks were also investigated at various concentrations, ranging from 0.625 to 10%. Likewise, the larvicidal and pupicidal activities of L. steochas against Musca domestica were estimated at different concentrations. The analyses of L. steochas oil identified camphor as the predominant compound (58.38%). L. steochas oil showed significant cytotoxicity against cancer cells. All of the tested oil concentrations demonstrated significant scolicidal activities against the protoscoleces of hydatid cysts. L. steochas EO (essential oil) showed 100% adulticidal activity against R. annulatus at a 10% concentration with an LC50 of 2.34%, whereas the larvicidal activity was 86.67% and the LC50 was 9.11%. On the other hand, the oil showed no repellent activity against this tick's larva. Furthermore, L. steochas EO achieved 100% larvicidal and pupicidal effects against M. domestica at a 10% concentration with LC50 values of 1.79% and 1.51%, respectively. In conclusion, the current work suggests that L. steochas EO could serve as a potential source of scolicidal, acaricidal, insecticidal, and anticancer agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lipid nanocapsules (LNCs) are promising for transdermal drug delivery due to their higher permeability-enhancing effects compared to polymeric nanoparticles. Lavender oil is an essential oil consisting of several terpenes (primarily linalool and linalyl acetate) known for their profound permeation-enhancing action. In the present work, we successfully encapsulated asenapine maleate (a second-generation antipsychotic that is highly metabolized by the liver, reducing its oral bioavailability) into biocompatible LNCs for transdermal application using a novel oily phase, i.e., lavender oil (LO-LNCs). A comparative study was conducted to determine the effects of different oily phases (i.e., Miglyol® 812, Labrafil® M1944CS, and Labrafac™ PG) on the LNCs. Surfactant types (Kolliphor® HS15, Kolliphor® EL and Tween80) and oil:surfactant ratios were studied. Blank and asenapine-loaded LNCs were optimized for particle size, polydispersity index, zeta potential, drug content and ex vivo skin permeation. Lavender oil and Labrafil® showed smaller vesicular sizes, while LO-LNCs increased the permeation of ASP across rat skin. In vivo pharmacokinetics revealed that LO-LNCs could increase the ASP Cmax via transdermal application by fourfold compared to oral suspension. They increased the bioavailability of ASP by up to 52% and provided sustained release for three days. The pharmacokinetic profile of the LO-LNCs was compared to ASP-loaded invasomes (discussed in a previous study) to emphasize LNCs' transdermal delivery behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on many years of experience, packaging is considered as an inactive barrier that protects materials and goods from environmental factors. The applicability of native chemical additive such as essential oils in wrapping papers can be used in the forms of films, treatments, coatings or others. Essential oils or extracts from different aromatic plants are used as bioactive substances for antimicrobial activity. In this research, lavender essential oil treatment of packaging papers is examined for its inhibition activity under nine microorganisms—two Gram-positive bacteria, three Gram-negative bacteria, two yeast and two fungal strains. The effectiveness of the treatment on the structural and strength indicators of the obtained paper samples is monitored. In detail, a five-day examination is conducted on the antibacterial effectiveness of lavender essential oil treatment. Results indicate that the lavender treatment of the obtained packaging paper is successful and the antifungal effect is more pronounced. The antimicrobial efficiency of paper treated with lavender essential oil is between 60 and 90% in the first two hours after treatment and gradually decreases to 40%–50% at the end of the 120 h period. The lavender essential oil treatment of wrapping paper has a promising perspective for preserving products from microbial spoilage and extending their shelf life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among the factors that delay the wound healing process in chronic wounds, bacterial infections are a common cause of acute wounds becoming chronic. Various therapeutic agents, such as antibiotics, metallic nanoparticles, and essential oils have been employed to treat infected wounds and also prevent the wounds from bacterial invasion. Essential oils are promising therapeutic agents with excellent wound healing, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activities, and good soothing effects. Some essential oils become chemically unstable when exposed to light, heat, oxygen, and moisture. The stability and biological activity of essential oil can be preserved via loading into hydrogels. The polymer-based hydrogels loaded with bioactive agents are regarded as ideal wound dressings with unique features, such as controlled and sustained drug release mechanisms, good antibacterial activity, non-toxicity, excellent cytocompatibility, good porosity, moderate water vapour transmission rate, etc. This review addresses the pre-clinical outcomes of hydrogels loaded with essential oils in the treatment of infected wounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acinetobacter sp. represent an important cause of nosocomial infections. Their resistance to some antibiotics, their ability to survive on inanimate surfaces in the hospital environment and their ability to produce biofilms contributes to their virulence. The aim of the study was to determine the antibacterial properties of cinnamon, lavender and geranium essential oils against bacteria of the genus Acinetobacter isolated from several clinical materials and from the hospital environment. A comprehensive evaluation of the susceptibility of Acinetobacter sp. clinical strains to recommended antibiotics was performed. The constituents of cinnamon, lavender and geranium essential oils were identified by GC-FID-MS analysis, and their Minimal Inhibitory Concentrations (MICs) against tested clinical strains were determined by the micro-dilution broth method. In addition, the effects of essential oils on the viability of human microvascular endothelial cells (HMEC-1) and glioblastoma cell line (T98G) were evaluated. Cinnamon bark oil was the most active against clinical and environmental strains of Acinetobacter baumannii with MIC values ranging from 0.5 to 2.5 μL/mL. The MIC values for geranium oil were between 7.5 and 9.5 μL/mL, and between 10.5 and 13.0 μL/mL for lavender oil. These essential oils can be best employed in the fight against infections caused by bacteria from Acinetobacter genus as components of formulations for hygiene and disinfection of hospital environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The air-dried aerial parts of Lavandula angustifolia Mill, a traditional Uygur herbal drug, is used as resuscitation-inducing therapy to treat neurodisfunctions, such as stroke. This study was designed to assess the neuroprotective effects of lavender oil against ischemia/reperfusion (IR) injury in mice. Focal cerebral ischemia was induced by the intraluminal occlusion method with a nylon string. The neurodysfuntion was evaluated by neurological deficit and the infarct area was showed by 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining. The histopathological changes were observed by hematoxylin and eosin staining. The levels of mitochondria-generated reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA) and carbonyl, the ratio of reduced glutathione (GSH)/glutathione disulfide (GSSG), the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathion peroxidase (GSH-Px) in brain tissue were measured to estimate the oxidative stress state. Neurological deficit, infarct size, histopathology changes and oxidative stress markers were evaluated after 22 h of reperfusion. In comparison with the model group, treatment with lavender oil significantly decreased neurological deficit scores, infarct size, the levels of MDA, carbonyl and ROS, and attenuated neuronal damage, upregulated SOD, CAT, GSH-Px activities and GSH/GSSG ratio. These results suggested that the neuroprotective effects of lavender oil against cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury may be attributed to its antioxidant effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Essential oils have been studied for various applications, including for therapeutic purposes. There is extensive literature regarding their properties; however, their low stability limits their application. Generally, the microencapsulation of essential oils allows enhanced stability and enables the potential incorporation in solid dosage forms. Lavender and peppermint oils were encapsulated in microparticles using a spray-drying technique under optimized conditions: 170 °C temperature, 35 m3/h aspiration volume flow, and 7.5 mL/min feed flow. Arabic gum and maltodextrin were used as coating polymers individually in varying concentrations from 5 to 20% (w/v) and in combination. The microparticles were studied for morphology, particle size, oil content, and flowability. The formulated powder particles showed a high yield of 71 to 84%, mean diameter 2.41 to 5.99 µm, and total oil content of up to 10.80%. The results showed that both the wall material type and concentration, as well as the type of essential oil, significantly affected the encapsulation process and the final particle characteristics. Our study has demonstrated that the encapsulation of lavender and peppermint oils in Arabic gum/maltodextrin microparticles by spray-drying represents a feasible approach for the conversion of liquids into solids regarding their further use in powder technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various treatments are carried out in order to extend both the shelf life and storage life of fresh fruit and vegetables after harvest and among them non-toxic for humans, environmentally and economically friendly alternative treatments are gained more importance. In the current study, methyl jasmonate (MeJA), cytokinin, and lavender oil which are eco-friendly and safe for human health were applied on apricot fruit. The treated fruit were stored at 0 °C and 90–95% relative humidity for 25 days and catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) enzyme activities and lipid peroxidation of apricots after treatments were studied. According to the findings obtained from the study, it was observed that 5 ppm cytokinin and 1000 ppm lavender oil treatments of apricot fruit gave better APX and CAT enzyme activity, respectively. In addition, better SOD enzyme activity in fruit was obtained with MeJA + lavender oil treatments. As a result, it can be emphasized that the product quality of apricot fruit is preserved as both the eco-friendly application of MeJA, cytokinin, and lavender oil separately from each other and the treatment of combinations between these compounds activate the enzymatic antioxidant defense systems of apricot fruit after harvest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Preliminary protection of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) with terpenoids such as betulin, its derivatives, and essential oils components has been proposed to produce gel-like oleophilic and hydrophilic formulations. We studied the properties of gel-like dispersions of ZnO NPs with immobilized terpenoids and their effects on the activity of LDH, GR, G6PDH, restoration of redox balance of co-enzyme pairs NAD+/NADH and NADP+/NADPH, as well as the activity of SOD, catalase, AlDH in erythrocytes in the treatment of burns in rats. Hysteresis loops on the rheograms of studied dispersions characterize their thixotropic properties. ZnO NPs with betulin diphosphate in the water–ethanol medium lead to a 20-fold increase in the hydrodynamic radius at pH 7.3 compared to the initial ZnO NPs, and facilitate the formation of Zn2+ ions and their penetration into the viable epidermis, unlike oleophilic dispersions. All dispersions reduce the healing time by one and a half times compared with the untreated control group, increase the activity of LDH, GR, G6PDH, SOD, catalase, AlDH, and contribute to the normalization of coenzyme balance. Normalization of the redox balance and wound state was more effective using hydrophilic dispersions due to Zn2 + penetration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herbs and the essential oils derived from them have been used from the beginning of human history for different purposes. Their beneficial properties have been applied to mask unpleasant odors, attract the attention of other people, add flavor and aroma properties to prepared dishes, perfumes, and cosmetics, etc. Herbs and essential oils (EOs) have also been used in medicine because of their biological properties, such as larvicidal action, analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties, antioxidant, fungicide, and antitumor activities, and many more. Many EOs exhibit antimicrobial properties, which is extremely important in fields of science and industry, such as medicine, agriculture, or cosmetology. Among the 250 EOs which are commercially available, about a dozen possess high antimicrobial potential. According to available papers and patents, EOs seem to be a potential alternative to synthetic compounds, especially because of the resistance that has been increasingly developed by pathogenic microorganisms. In this review we summarize the latest research studies about the most-active EOs that are known and used because of their antimicrobial properties. Finally, it is noteworthy that the antimicrobial activities of EOs are not preeminent for all strains. Further investigations should, thus, focus on targeting EOs and microorganisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]