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The aim of this study was to develop and evaluate the transdermal patch formulations of nifedipine. The patch formulations containing nifedipine were prepared and optimized with different ratios of vinyl and cellulose-derived polymers, drug contents, and permeation enhancers. Among the various formulations, the patch formulation containing a 1:5 ratio of ethyl cellulose and polyvinyl pyrrolidone was selected for ex vivo pharmacokinetic study based on in vitro permeation studies using stratum corneum of the pig's skin. The cumulative percentage release after the transdermal administration of the optimized patch formulation was 71.43%, and the plasma concentration of nifedipine was maintained for 16 hrs. The physicochemical evaluation study including flatness, thickness, moisture content and uptake, drug content in vitro release, and ex vivo permeation indicated satisfactory results. The formulation batch with clove oil as a penetration enhancer has shown better ex vivo permeation as compared to the formulations without enhancers and another synthetic enhancer. These results suggest that the optimized patch formulation Q3 could be further developed for clinical applications, providing the therapeutic plasma level of nifedipine over an extended period. Hence analyzing the results of the evaluation tests, in vitro and ex vivo data on the preparation and optimization of nifedipine-loaded transdermal patch, it can be concluded that the formulation shows its feasibility as an effective transdermal delivery system for nifedipine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Textile consumers are now highly concerned about health and environmental safety while choosing commodities. This could be accomplished by using clean and green textile auxiliaries and finishes during textile processing. Essential oils are used mainly in food, nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, medical, cosmetics and textile industries to impart fragrance and bioactivity. It is useful to develop a deeper understanding of their chemistry and biological properties for value-added applications. The present review focuses on various sources of essential oils and their encapsulation with particular attention to textile applications. Due to their volatile and fragile nature, the essential oils may need some protection layers, such as encapsulation in suitable shell materials, thus allowing sustained release under desirable physiological conditions. The encapsulated essential oils find diverse applications in textiles for aroma, antimicrobial, cosmetic, medical and mosquito-repellent products. The literature highlights a need for more efficient and effective microencapsulation and application techniques for essential oils to develop intelligent functional textiles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Rose myrtle (Rhodomyrtus tomentosa (Ait.) Hassk), is an evergreen shrub species belonging to the family Myrtaceae, which is enriched with bioactive volatiles (α-pinene and β-caryophyllene) with medicinal and industrial applications. However, the mechanism underlying the volatile accumulation in the rose myrtle is still unclear. Results: Here, we present a chromosome-level genomic assembly of rose myrtle (genome size = 466 Mb, scaffold N50 = 43.7 Mb) with 35,554 protein-coding genes predicted. Through comparative genomic analysis, we found that gene expansion and duplication had a potential contribution to the accumulation of volatile substances. We proposed that the action of positive selection was significantly involved in volatile accumulation. We identified 43 TPS genes in R. tomentosa. Further transcriptomic and TPS gene family analyses demonstrated that the distinct gene subgroups of TPS may contribute greatly to the biosynthesis and accumulation of different volatiles in the Myrtle family of shrubs and trees. The results suggested that the diversity of TPS-a subgroups led to the accumulation of special sesquiterpenes in different plants of the Myrtaceae family. Conclusions: The high quality chromosome-level rose myrtle genome and the comparative analysis of TPS gene family open new avenues for obtaining a higher commercial value of essential oils in medical plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fungi constitute the Earth's second most diverse kingdom, however only a small percentage of these have been thoroughly examined and categorized for their secondary metabolites, which still limits our understanding of the ecological chemical and pharmacological potential of fungi. In this study, we explored members of the co-evolved termite-associated fungal genus Xylaria and identified a family of highly oxygenated polyketide-terpene hybrid natural products using an MS/MS molecular networking-based dereplication approach. Overall, we isolated six no yet reported xylasporin derivatives, of which xylasporin A (1) features a rare cyclic-carbonate moiety. Extensive comparative spectrometric (HRMS2) and spectroscopic (1D and 2D NMR) studies allowed to determine the relative configuration across the xylasporin family, which was supported by chemical shift calculations of more than 50 stereoisomers and DP4+ probability analyses. The absolute configuration of xylasporin A (1) was also proposed based on TDDFT-ECD calculations. Additionally, we were able to revise the relative and absolute configurations of co-secreted xylacremolide B produced by single x-ray crystallography. Comparative genomic and transcriptomic analysis allowed us to deduce the putative biosynthetic assembly line of xylasporins in the producer strain X802, and could guide future engineering efforts of the biosynthetic pathway. Fungi constitute the Earth's second most diverse kingdom, however, only a small percentage of these have been thoroughly examined and categorized for their secondary metabolites, which still limits our understanding of the ecological, chemical, and pharmacological potential of fungi. Here, the authors explore members of the co-evolved termite-associated fungal genus Xylaria and identify a family of highly oxygenated polyketide-terpene hybrid natural products using an MS/MS molecular networking-based dereplication approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extraction of compounds with different physicochemical properties from a complex matrix usually involves several individual steps and requires large volumes of organic solvents. In this pioneering study, we propose a comprehensive two-step supercritical fluid extraction using carbon dioxide, ethanol, and water. This novel approach allows the extraction of non-polar and polar analytes within one run in two consecutive steps. Indeed, the first step with a dominant amount of CO2 with only 2% cosolvent allowed the selective extraction of non-polar volatile terpenes only in 20 min. The conditions were then automatically switched. Increasing the cosolvent volume in the extraction solvent up to 44% (v/v) resulted in the extraction of more polar compounds, including flavonoids and phenolic acids, in 60 min. Importantly, switching the supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) conditions does not require any manual intervention but results in two separate fractions containing target compounds with distinctly different physicochemical properties. The novel method was verified in terms of repeatability, accuracy, precision, and greenness. Two-step SFE was applied to seven plant species differing in volatile terpenes and phenolic profiles. The results proved that this concept is suitable for the analysis of complex plant samples. In addition, it enables a reduction in the toxic solvents consumption, extraction time, and manual intervention required for traditional extraction approaches when isolating different groups of metabolites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OILTS is a viral class I terpene synthase found from the giant virus Orpheovirus IHUMI–LCC2. It exhibits a unique structure and demonstrates high plasticity to metal cofactors, allowing it to biosynthesize different cyclic terpene frameworks. Notably, while OILTS produces only (+)‐germacrene D–4–ol with the most common cofactor, Mg2+, it also biosynthesizes a different cyclic terpene, (+)‐cubebol, with Mn2+, Co2+, or Ni2+, presenting a rare instance of cofactor‐dependent enzyme catalysis. This is the first report of (+)‐cubebol biosynthesis, to our knowledge. In addition, OILTS can uptake Zn2+ as a cofactor, which is uncommon among ordinary terpene synthases. These findings suggest that OILTS′s functional plasticity may benefit the virus in diverse host environments, highlighting potential evolutionary implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rhanterium epapposum Oliv. (Family: Asteraceae) is a common plant in Saudi Arabia, possessing a variety of traditional uses. The current targets were studying the comparative chemical profile and antioxidant of the essential oil (EO) of R. epapposum collected from a sandy habitat at Qareenah, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The EO profiling was constructed via gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and GC-flame ionization detection (GC-FID). Forty-eight compounds were found, including monoterpenes (hydrocarbons 3.25% and oxygenated 48.64%), sesquiterpenes (hydrocarbons 12.64 % and oxygenated 32.38%), which are the backbone of the oil along with a minor of other non-terpenoid compounds (1.31%). Linalool (18.02%), α-eudesmol (11.98%), trans-sesquisabinene hydrate (11.63%), aromadendrene oxide-(1) (7.68%), nerol (6.88%), and α-terpineol (5.01%) were identified as the dominant components. The EO was evaluated for its antioxidant activity using in vitro DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP methods. The results demonstrated that R. epapposum EO possesses a dosage-dependent ability for antioxidant scavenging activity as per all three techniques. This EO exhibited IC50 values of 517.59, 350.24, and 713.72 μg/mL for the DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP, respectively, through the comparison with the ascorbic acid with respective values of 36.10, 26.12, and 44.58 μg/mL. The main compounds were subjected to docking analysis on cytochrome P450 1A1 and xanthine oxidase. All evaluated compounds exhibited good binding affinities especially α-eudesmol and linalool for both enzymes, respectively. The current research confirmed the potent free radical scavenging properties of R. epapposum EO. More research on the antioxidant content of this oil and/or its primary constituents in pure form on the two enzymes, cytochrome P450 1A1 and xanthine oxidase, is proposed to develop a better understanding of the oxidative action routes in vivo and in vitro. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the purposes of chemotaxonomic distinction of four pine species Pinus nigra, Pinus ponderosa, Pinus rigida and Pinus sylvestris growing in the suburban landscape of the central part of the Czech Republic, resin extracts from tree trunks, needles and female cones were analysed using gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy. Monoterpenes were shown to be the main terpene fraction of the resins of all studied pine species. On average, they made up 80% of the total terpene content. A characteristic monoterpene for distinguishing pine species was β-pinene, with high levels in P. ponderosa, moderate levels in P. rigida and low levels in P. sylvestris and P. nigra. P. sylvestris contained only trace amount of Δ-3-carene (0.6%) in resins from needles and thus belongs to the α-pinene chemotypic variation. Slight seasonal variability in terpene production was found for resins from needles of P. nigra and P. sylvestris. When comparing European populations according to the monoterpene composition of resins from needles, it can be stated that the α-pinene content increased in the order P. ponderosa < P. rigida < P. nigra < P. sylvestris while the β-pinene content changed in the opposite direction. This statement confirms the terpene biosynthesis uniformity of European pines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biomass residues from the aromatic and medicinal oil extraction industries were used as fuel to produce steam necessary for the extraction of essential oils (EO) by hydrodistillation from a plant around the Mediterranean, Daucus carota L. The results obtained in terms of yield and extraction time were compared to those obtained by the classical method of hydrodistillation (HD) using electric heating. Several advantages with hydrodistillation in the presence of biomass as an energy source (BEHD) have been observed: faster kinetics and higher efficiency with similar yields: 1.03% and an extraction time of 30 min against 180 min for classic hydrodistillation. The antimicrobial activity and the antioxidant activity of the EO extracted by HD and BEHD were evaluated. The results showed that the oil extracted by BEHD has a better antioxidant activity and it is much more active than that isolated by HD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacteria use different types of motilities in order to colonize and adapt to new environments. These motilities also play an important role in the formation of biofilm, allowing bacteria to develop resistance to antibiotics and host’s immune systems. The objective of this study was to evaluate the ability of essential oils of Lippia multiflora flowers to inhibit biofilm formation and motility in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1. The capacity of essential oil of Lippia multiflora flowers to inhibit biofilm formation in Pseudomonas aeruginosa was evaluated spectrophotometrically by using the crystal violet method. The property of the essential oil to inhibit different types of motilities such as swimming, swarming and twitching was further evaluated by measuring the diameters of bacterial migration on liquid or semiliquid Luria Bertani agar medium. The essential oil exhibited good anti-biofilm activity in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. At a concentration of 1%, essential oil presented a degree of biofilm inhibition similar to that of salicylic acid used as a reference (P > 0.05). In addition, the essential oil significantly inhibited swarming, twitching and swimming in Pseudomonas aeruginosa compared to the control (P < 0.001). The inhibition of biofilm formation as well as that of bacterial motility increases with the concentration of the essential oil. The essential oil of Lippia multiflora flowers possesses an anti-bacterial potential to fight against multi-resistant bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anisomeles indica (L.) Kuntze (Lamiaceae), commonly called catmint, is an essential oil-bearing herb used in traditional systems of medicine against rheumatism, convulsions, inflammatory skin disorders, and epilepsy. However, the efficacy and mechanism of action of its essential oil against inflammatory conditions remain elusive. The current study aims at the chemical characterization of the essential oil of A. indica leaves (AILEO) and understanding the mechanism of its anti-inflammatory effects by an integrated approach of network pharmacology and in vitro assays. GC–MS analysis of AILEO revealed a total of 30 constituents representing 94.19 % of the total oil. The majority of the chemical groups include diterpene hydrocarbons with abietatriene (58.13 %) and abietadiene (7.18 %) as the major constituents. Out of 30 compounds, 20 passed the ADME screening and were considered as active constituents. A total of 524 compound targets, 409 anti-inflammation targets, and 88 compound-disease intersecting targets were obtained. Multi-level network analysis revealed that the pharmacological mechanisms of alleviation of inflammation by AILEO are due to its interaction with five core inflammatory targets such as PI3K, AKT1, MEK1, ERK1, and RXRA involved in the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway. AILEO did not exhibit any cytotoxic effect on RAW 264.7 cells, but it significantly inhibited nitric oxide (NO) production and reduced the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β) in vitro assays. Further, AILEO enhanced the expression levels of endogenous antioxidant enzymes (CAT, SOD, GPx, and GSH) in comparison to the LPS-induced group. RT-qPCR analysis revealed that AILEO modulated the level of mRNA expression of all five core targets associated with the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway, which further supported the findings of network pharmacology. This study provides valuable insights into the intricate mechanisms by which AILEO exerts anti-inflammatory action indicating its pharmacological potential as a promising candidate for the treatment of disorders linked with inflammation. [Display omitted] • Anisomeles indica leaf essential oil (AILEO) is rich in abietane diterpenoids. • AILEO did not exhibit any cytotoxic effect on RAW 264.7 cells. • Network pharmacology analysis identified 5 key targets linked with PI3K-AKT pathway. • AILEO exerts anti-inflammatory activity by regulating proinflammatory mediators. • AILEO may prove to be a potential agent for the treatment of inflammatory conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We analysed genetic diversity of 12 Lippia origanoides genotypes. • This is the first study that assesses the morphological markers in Lippia origanoides. • The results indicated great variability among the Lippia origanoides genotypes. • Multivariate analyses were performed. • E- caryophyllene, bicyclogermacrene and α–pinene were prevalent in the essential oil. The species Lippia origanoides Kunth is a medicinal plant, native to Brazilian a species native to the Brazilian northeast and has pronounced pharmacological, agronomical and economic importance. However, few studies have been done focusing on the conservation of this species, which has been obtained exclusively through extraction. The objective of this study was to characterize 12 genotypes of L. organoides in different regions in the state of Bahia, based in 13 morpho-agronomic descriptors related to the plant, flowers and leaves, as well as to identify the chemical compounds present of its essential oil (EO). The essential oil was obtained from dry leaves by hydrodistillation and analyzed by gas chromatograph coupled to mass spectrometer and a flame ionization detector (GC–MS/FID). The results show variations in the qualitative morphological characteristics, such as coloration of petals and leaf format, as well as significant differences in the variables LC, LW, LL/LWL, LA, FLM, DLM, EOC and EOY. In the multivariate techniques used, the accessions were divided in four distinct groups in accordance with the geographic proximity. The accessions LO010, LO007, and LO012 presented elevated production of essential oil. The most important compounds to discriminate the twelve genotypes were (E)-methylcinnamate (52.70 %), (Z)-methyl cinnamate (33.25 %), limonene (4.69 %), camphene (2.49 %), camphor (2.46 %) and α-pinene (2.06 %). The findings of this study contributed to the understanding of the morpho-agronomic characters and the chemical composition of these new genotypes, being important to guide future industrial applicability and studies in genetic breeding program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Tagetes erecta L. components (ray, disc florets, and oil) reduces the risk of ulcers. • Higher pH, reduced acidity, and lower ulcer index confirm herb's ulcer-protective effects. • Hydro-ethanolic extract showed significant dose dependent anti-ulcer potential. • Single oil dose reduces acute ulcers by 94 % and chronic ulcers by 96.93 %. • Prepared leaf oil surpasses herbal extract for superior ulcer protection. The Tagetes erecta Linn (family: Asteraceae) herb possesses medicinal and antioxidants value. The herb is traditionally used to treat various ailments, including ulcers. In order to investigate antiulcer activity of T. erecta herb , experimental study was performed between ray and disc florets extracted with 30 parts of water and 70 parts of ethanol solvents using Soxhlet apparatus and leaf's essential oil extracted in Clevenger apparatus by steam distillation method. Two doses of the hydroethanolic extract (400 and 800 mg/kg, Per os) and single dose of essential oil (10 ml/Kg, Per os) were administered for five consecutive days. Rat's pyloric ligation and aspirin (200 mg/kg, Per os) were used to induce acute and chronic gastric ulcers respectively. Antiulcer activity of both the herb's parts was compared on gastric juice parameters (pH, free acidity, total acidity) ulcer-index and ulcer percent protection. The p value of less than 0.05 was considered significant in statistical analysis. Elevation in pH, reduction in free acidity, total acidity and ulcer-index in both the ulcer models confirm that the test drug showed the ulcer-protective activity in rats. Dose-dependent effects were observed in the antiulcer activity of the hydroethanolic extract. However, the leaf's essential oil showed 94 % and 96.93 % ulcer protection in the pyloric ligation and aspirin-induced gastric ulcer models respectively. The hydroethanolic extract and the essential oil may be capable in part, regulating gastric acid secretion pathways or stimulating the cytoprotective secretion of bicarbonate, mucus and prostaglandins. Histological studies supported the observed antiulcer activity of the herb. The essential oil has more potent and significant anti-ulcer activity than hydro-ethanolic extract and respective standard drugs: ranitidine (50 mg/kg, Per os) & pantoprazole (20 mg/kg, Per os). The herb exhibits antiulcer activity, which could be due to the presence of lead phytochemicals: Quercetin-3-methyl ether, quercetin-7-methyl-ether & kaempferol flavonoids in the extract and limonene & terpinolene in leaf's essential oil and, thus, confirmed the traditional uses of T. erecta in the treatment of ulcers. The herb may cure acid pepsin disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Srt-A facilitates S. mutans biofilm creation, anchoring proteins to cell walls, promoting dental plaque adherence. • Boesenbergia rotunda essential oils explored via virtual screening against (SrtA). • MD simulations, ADMET identified compounds with lead potential. • Hemanthidine efficiently inhibit SrtA catalytic function of Streptococcus mutans. • Recent findings could reveal novel treatment strategies against dental cavity. Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans), a bacterium involved in tooth decay, utilizes the enzyme sortase-A (Srt-A) to anchor surface proteins and form biofilms, aiding in its adhesion to tooth surfaces. However, the emergence of resistance to existing inhibitors necessitates the search for novel treatment options. This study employed virtual screening methods to identify potential inhibitors, focusing on compounds derived from the essential oils of Boesenbergia rotunda.Gas chromatography with mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) identified 18 compounds and out of them, identified top five compounds with the lowest docking scores. Simulations based on molecular dynamics (MD) were then executed for investigating the extent of stability shown by the resulting complexes. Furthermore, the compound's pharmacological properties were evaluated using absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET) analysis. Findings unveiled a multitude of compounds, including Nerol, (1E)-[(2,4-Dinitrophenyl) (phenyl)methylene] hydrazine, and Chloromethyl 2-chlorodecanoate, which demonstrated favorable affinities, appropriate pharmacokinetic parameters, and the ability to form hydrogen bonds with Cys205, thus making them potential inhibitors to disrupt the catalytic activity of SrtA. Notably, Hemanthidine exhibited a high binding affinity of -9.22 kcal/mol, and found better than standard curcumin -5.62 kcal/mol. Moreover, its carbonyl group may play a crucial role in impeding biofilm formation. These promising results provide a basis for further research in developing effective treatments for bacterial infections, specifically targeting tooth decay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The essential oil (EO) extraction is one of the ways to utilize of grapefruit (Citrus paradisi L.) peel waste. However, the low stability and penetration problems of EO limit their use. These limitations can be overcome by nanoemulsions. Therefore, this study aimed to form and characterize of the grapefruit peel essential oil nanoemulsion (EO N) and investigate its insecticidal properties against Sitophilus granarius (Linnaeus, 1875) and Tribolium castaneum (Herbst, 1797) for an alternative bio-economic way. The grapefruit peel EO N (4:3:3:90 w/w, EO:Tween 80:Ethanol:water) was formed by using the grapefruit peel EO with major chemical components such as d-limonene (85.70 %), myrcene (3.57 %), α-pinene (1.17 %). The grapefruit peel EO N was characterized by TEM (50–120 nm), Zeta sizer (the mean droplet particle size: 109.3 nm, ζ-potential value:-20.6 mV, polydispersity index:0.265) and FT-IR analysis. 500 ppm of the grapefruit peel EO N caused 50 % and 20 % mortality in S. granarius and T. castaneum after 7 days, respectively. 1000 ppm of the grapefruit peel EO N caused 85 % and 50 % mortality in S. granarius and T. castaneum after 7 days, respectively. Based on the findings, the grapefruit peel EO N may be considered having the potential to integrate management strategies for these pests and open a new bio-economic way. [Display omitted] • One of the ways to evaluate grapefruit peel waste is essential oil (EO) extraction. • Limitations on the use of EO can be overcome with nanoemulsion (N) form. • Grapefruit peel EO N (50–120 nm and −20.6 mV of ζ potential) was formed. • Grapefruit peel EO N showed a higher toxicity against S. granarius than T. castaneum. • EO N can be one of bio-economic ways of grapefruit peel waste in pest management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Staphylococcus aureus causes many diseases under pathological conditions. Due to the rapid development of antibiotic resistance, the search for alternative approaches to antimicrobial treatment of Staphylococci is challenging. Natural and synthetic terpenoids, due to their membranotropic properties, both exhibit antimicrobial properties and potentiate other antibiotics. The antimicrobial activity of 53 natural terpenes and their synthetic oxygen-containing derivatives, as well as their ability to potentiate the effect of conventional antimicrobials against S. aureus, has been assessed. It has been shown that (+)-3β,4β-carandiol and (−)-myrtenic acid increase the efficiency of amikacin, ceftriaxone, and miramistin up to 4-fold, thus suggesting them as promising agents for combination therapy with antimicrobials to reduce active concentrations of the latter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Growing consumer concern about foodborne disease outbreaks and health risks associated with chemical additives has propelled the usage of essential oils (EOs) as novel food additives, but are limited by instability. In this regard, a series of EOs nano/micro-capsules have been widely used to enhance their stability and improve food quality. However, classical food quality assessment methods are insufficient to fully characterize the effects of encapsulated EOs on food properties, including physical, biochemical, organoleptic, and microbial changes. Recently, the rapid development of high-throughput sequencing is accelerating the application of metabolomics in food safety and quality analysis. This review seeks to present the most recent achievements in the application of non-targeted metabolomics to identify and quantify the overall metabolite profile associated with food quality, which can guide the development of emerging food preservation technologies. The scientific findings confirm that metabolomics opens up exciting prospects for biomarker screening in food preservation and contributes to an in-depth understanding of the mechanisms of action (MoA) of EOs. Future research should focus on constructing food quality assessment criteria based on multi-omics technologies, which will drive the standardization and commercialization of EOs for food industry applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quantity and quality of essential oil extracted from the plant is strongly influenced by the extraction conditions, so optimizing the extraction conditions can help us to achieve the most essential oil content with the best quality. Satureja sahendica Bornm. is an endemic medicinal plant of Iran, which is of great importance due to its high essential oil and thymol content. In this research, the effect of plant particle size (mesh sizes of 12, 18 and 35) and the ratio of plant material to water (1:5, 1:10 and 1:15 w/v) on essential oil content and compositions of this plant were evaluated. The essential oils were extracted based on hydro-distillation method by Clevenger’s apparatus and then analyzed using GC/MS and GC/FID. The results indicated that the extracted essential oil decreased with the decrease in the plant particle size. The optimal ratio of plant material to water in order to obtain more essential oil was different depending on the plant particle size. The highest of essential oil content (2.15% v/w) was obtained from plant material with mesh size of 12 in the ratio of 1:15 plant material to water. The number, type and amount of essential oil compounds were strongly affected by different treatments. The highest amount of thymol (81.79%) as the most important component of the Satureja sahendica essential oil was obtained from samples with mesh size of 35 and in the ratio of 1:10 plant material to water. Determining the most appropriate extraction conditions can be different depending on the purpose and desired chemical composition of the essential oil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Muscat flavour represents a group of unique aromatic attributes in some grape varieties. Biochemically, grape berries with muscat flavour produce high levels of monoterpenes. Monoterpene biosynthesis is mainly through the DOXP/MEP pathway, and VvDXS1 encodes the first enzyme in this plastidial pathway of terpene biosynthesis in grapevine. A single‐point mutation resulting in the substitution of a lysine with an asparagine at position 284 in the VvDXS1 protein has previously been identified as the major cause for producing muscat flavour in grapes. In this study, the same substitution in the VvDXS1 protein was successfully created through prime editing in the table grape Vitis vinifera cv. 'Scarlet Royal'. The targeted point mutation was detected in most of the transgenic vines, with varying editing efficiencies. No unintended mutations were detected in the edited alleles, either by PCR Sanger sequencing or by amplicon sequencing. More than a dozen edited vines were identified with an editing efficiency of more than 50%, indicating that these vines were likely derived from single cells in which one allele was edited. These vines had much higher levels of monoterpenes in their leaves than the control, similar to what was found in leaf samples between field‐grown muscat and non‐muscat grapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comprehensive Summary: As one of the most common structural motifs in natural products, cyclopentenones usually can be fabricated by Nazarov cyclization using divinyl ketones or functionalized tertiary divinyl carbinols (TDCs) as substrates. However, straightforward method for transforming unfunctionalized TDCs to their corresponding cyclopentenones is currently lacking. Herein, we wish to report the total syntheses of four structurally distinct terpenoids, namely laurane‐type marine sesquiterpenoids isolaurene, debromoaplysin and aplysin, and guaiane sesquiterpenoid guaiadienone A, all using a novel synthetic method, named oxidative Nazarov cyclization, as the key step. This work demonstrated our robust method is suitable for synthesizing various highly substituted cyclopentenones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Terpenoids have extensive pharmacological activities and are extensively applied in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food industries. Increasing the structural diversity of terpenoids would expand their potential applications. Noncanonical backbones can be generated by coexpressing the canonical mevalonate pathway and C-methyltransferases, or the lepidopteran mevalonate pathway, in engineered strains. The design and chemical synthesis of farnesyl pyrophosphate analogs to create unnatural terpenoids promises two advantages: it complements other methods of terpene synthesis and bypasses the task of engineering entire metabolic pathways to produce alternative substrates in vivo. The artificial metalloenzyme Ir(Me)-porphyrin IX CYP119 allows cyclopropanation of limonene to synthesize high titers of unnatural products with high diastereoselectivity. Terpenoids display chemical and structural diversities as well as important biological activities. Despite their extreme variability, the range of these structures is limited by the scope of natural products that canonically derive from interconvertible five-carbon (C5) isoprene units. New approaches have recently been developed to expand their structural diversity. This review systematically explores the combinatorial biosynthesis of noncanonical building blocks via the coexpression of the canonical mevalonate (MVA) pathway and C-methyltransferases (C-MTs), or by using the lepidopteran mevalonate (LMVA) pathway. Unnatural terpenoids can be created from farnesyl diphosphate (FPP) analogs by chemobiological synthesis and terpene cyclopropanation by artificial metalloenzymes (ArMs). Advanced technologies to accelerate terpene biosynthesis are discussed. This review provides a valuable reference for increasing the diversity of valuable terpenoids and their derivatives, as well as for expanding their potential applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among the many different types of wound dressings, nanofiber-based materials produced through electrospinning are claimed to be ideal because of their advantageous intrinsic properties and the feasibility of employing several strategies to load bioactive compounds into their structure. Bioactive compounds with antimicrobial properties have been incorporated into different wound dressings to promote healing as well as prevent and treat bacterial infections. Among these, natural products, such as medicinal plant extracts and essential oils (EOs), have proven particularly attractive thanks to their nontoxic nature, minor side effects, desirable bioactive properties, and favorable effects on the healing process. To this end, the present review provides an exhaustive and up-to-date revision of the most prominent medicinal plant extracts and EOs with antimicrobial properties that have been incorporated into nanofiber-based wound dressings. The most common methods used for incorporating bioactive compounds into electrospun nanofibers include: pre-electrospinning (blend, encapsulation, coaxial, and emulsion electrospinning), post-electrospinning (physical adsorption, chemical immobilization, and layer-by-layer assembly), and nanoparticle loading. Furthermore, a general overview of the benefits of EOs and medicinal plant extracts is presented, describing their intrinsic properties and biotechniques for their incorporation into wound dressings. Finally, the current challenges and safety issues that need to be adequately clarified and addressed are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Triatomines are haematophagous insects, some species are vectors of Trypanosoma cruzi, the aetiological agent of Chagas disease. The main strategy for interrupting T. cruzi transmission is to avoid contact of the vector populations with humans. Volatiles from commercial essential oils are excellent candidates to serve as repellents of kissing bugs. We used an exposure device to assess the repellence effect of eight commercial essential oils on Triatoma pallidipennis. The most effective oils were blended and evaluated against T. infestans, T. pallidipennis and Rhodnius prolixus. The blend was also evaluated on parasitised T. pallidipennis. Data were compared with the commercial repellent NN‐diethyl‐3‐methylbenzamide. We recorded the time the insects spent in the proximity of the host and determined if any of the evaluated oils served as kissing bug repellent. We found commercial essential oils and a blend that significantly reduced the time spent in the proximity of the host. The blend was effective for use by human males and females, repelling infected and non‐infected insects. The study of essential oils as repellents of blood‐sucking disease‐vector insects could shed light on the development of new control strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study assessed the acaricidal properties of 20 compounds derived from essential oils against the Rhipicephalus microplus tick, a significant menace to tropical livestock with considerable economic losses. A novel methodology was devised, involving the determination of mortality times for R. microplus larvae upon direct contact with these compounds. Mortality times were compared against a negative control (soybean oil) and two positive controls (commercial pour-on products). Tests were conducted in 48-well polyethylene plates, with around 100 larvae immersed in 200 µl of oil (at a 100% dose). The 10 compounds exhibiting the shortest mortality times were subsequently diluted in soybean oil at varying concentrations. Notably, thymol exhibited potent acaricidal activity, with the lowest effective dose (1.56%) resulting in larval mortality within 15 minutes, whereas positive controls necessitated over 66 minutes. A correlation was established between the molecular structure of the compounds and their acaricidal efficacy, indicating that cyclic compounds containing 10 carbon atoms demonstrated heightened lethality compared to acyclic counterparts. This innovative methodology enables the rapid identification of substances with substantial acaricidal potential in vitro, yielding results within minutes, in stark contrast to the traditional larval immersion test, which demands a minimum of 24 hours for conclusive outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ocimum species, including African basil (Ocimum gratissimum) and Holy basil (Ocimum sanctum), are valued for their diverse therapeutic properties particularly in the form of essential oils (EOs). This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the health and therapeutic potentials of Ocimum essential oils, specifically focusing on African and Holy basil. It encompasses various aspects, such as isolation methods, phytochemical characterization, bioactivities, bioavailability, and future directions. Various studies have highlighted the bioactive compounds within these EOs, such as eugenol, camphor, and α-pinene, attributing to their wide-ranging health benefits. Notably, Ocimum EOs exhibit potent antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, and anticancer properties, making them promising candidates for alternative medicine and pharmaceutical applications. However, the rapid absorption and poor bioavailability of EOs pose challenges, mitigated through nanoencapsulation techniques enhancing their efficacy. Future research directions include mechanistic studies utilizing specialized cell cultures and animal models, alongside clinical trials to validate reported bioactivities. Optimization of delivery systems and exploration of novel nano-formulations are also essential for optimizing the complete therapeutic potential of Ocimum essential oils. Lastly, efforts to enhance EO yield and augment bioactivity through genetic strategies and elicitation techniques have been suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ylang-ylang (Cananga odorata) essential oil is valued for its medicinal and cosmetic benefits. This study compared the volatile compounds and antioxidant capacity of six essential oils from C. odorata flowers obtained industrially by steam distillation. The volatiles were identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity, and total phenolic content (TPC) were measured by ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectrophotometry. The main components included benzyl acetate (21.78–27.82%), benzyl benzoate (12.30–18.07%), linalool (9.45–14.39%), and germacrene D (9.17–14.46%). The highest antioxidant values were shown by the sample S6 (206.50 ± 7.45 mmol TE/L, 52.03 ± 0.88 mg GAE/g), followed by S5. The multivariate analysis separated S6 and S5 from the remaining essential oils, suggesting that extraction was more influenced by the steam flow rate. Notably, the antioxidant capacity of S6 revealed a positive correlation between volatiles and TPC values. These findings denote the importance of improving empirical industrial procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study reports for the first time a comprehensive gas chromatography coupled to flame ionisation detector and mass spectrometry detection of the essential oils from leaf, stem-bark and root bark of three wild Cinnamomum species collected from Sinharaja and Kanneliya Forests in Sri Lanka together with cultivated cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum). DNA barcoding has been carried out to identify and distinguish wild cinnamon species from commercial cinnamon species. Predominant compounds in stem bark oil were trans-Cinnamaldehyde [C. zeylanicum (68.3%)], β-linalool [Cinnamomum capparu-coronde (44.5%], β-phellandrene [Cinnamomum dubium (24.7%)] or menthol, 1'-(butyn-3-one-1-yl) [Cinnamomum sinharajaense (17.7%)]. The predominant constituents in leaf oil were eugenol [C. zeylanicum (83.0%) and C.capparu-coronde (71.6%)], β-phellandrene [C. dubium (39.9%)] or palmitic acid [C. sinharajaense. (79.8%)]. In oil extracted from root bark, the principal constituents were either camphor [C. zeylanicum (51.1%)], methyl eugenol [C. sinharajaense (82.2%) and C. dubium (84.2%)] or safrole [C. capparu-coronde (58.6%)]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ruta angustifolia, a wild plant which largely grows in Morocco, is commonly used in folk medicine and is believed to possess several therapeutic properties. In the present work, we aimed to determine the chemical composition, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties of the essential oil obtained from the aerial parts of Ruta angustifolia collected from the Rif region in Morocco. The employment of gas chromatography coupled to flame ionization detector and mass spectrometry detection led to the identification of five major components, representing 91.69 % of the total volatile fraction with a dominance of nonyl methyl ketone (accounting for % 86.97 % of the whole sample). The tested essential oil displayed moderate antioxidant activity and a strong antifungal effect against Fusarium oxysporum and Botrytis cinerea with MIC values equal to 7 µL/mL and 0.81 µL/mL respectively. However, no antibacterial effect was revealed against Gram-negative or Gram-positive bacterial strains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this investigation was to explore the protective impacts and mechanisms of Anastatica hierochuntica essential oil (EOAH) against dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced experimental colitis in mice. EOAH demonstrated a reduction in DSS-induced body weight decline, disease activity index (DAI), colon length reduction, colonic tissue damage, and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity. The essential oil significantly mitigated the production of pro-inflammatory agents including TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-12. Further analysis revealed that EOAH's anti-inflammatory effects involved the regulation of NF-κB and PPARγ pathways, as well as the inhibition of NLRP3 activation in colitis mice. Notably, EOAH treatment elevated the levels of beneficial commensal bacteria such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria, while reducing Escherichia coli levels in the mice's feces. In addition, EOAH restored the expression of occludin and ZO-1 proteins in colonic tissues affected by ulcerative colitis (UC). These findings indicate that supplementing with EOAH might offer a novel therapeutic approach for UC prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work aimed to investigate the effectiveness of Lippia sidoides and Syzygium aromaticum essential oils (EOs) encapsulated in nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) as SARS-CoV-2 inhibitors through virucidal activity assessment. We developed anionic and cationic NLCs loaded with the EOs and assessed their physicochemical properties and SARS-CoV-2 virucidal activity, focusing on the effects of EO type and the NLCs composition. The NLCs exhibited particle sizes of 141.30 to 160.53 nm for anionic and 109.30 to 138.60 nm for cationic types, with PDIs between 0.16 and 0.25. High zeta potentials (>29.0 in modulus) indicated stable formulations. The NLCs effectively encapsulated the EOs, achieving encapsulation efficiencies between 84.6 to 100% w/w of marker compound. The EOs-loaded NLCs reduced the SARS-CoV-2 virion count, exceeding 2 logs over the control. NLCs loaded with Lippia sidoides and Syzygium aromaticum EOs represent an innovative strategy for combating SARS-CoV-2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study introduces an innovative approach, Ultrasonic Sonication Pretreatment Sparger-based Microwave Assisted Extraction (U Sp-MAE), designed to enhance lemongrass essential oil extraction. Addressing the challenge of maximizing yield and quality, our work systematically optimized key extraction parameters. Results demonstrated a significant improvement over conventional methods, with the highest yield of 1.89% achieved under specific conditions: a Sparger Flow rate of 4 L/min, Ultrasound Power of 700 W, Sonication Time of 5 min, and Liquid-to-Solid Ratio of 5 mL/g. This method not only advances essential oil extraction but holds promise for broader applications in society, showcasing its potential impact on sustainable and efficient resource utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Terpenoids are defense metabolites that are induced upon infection or wounding. However, their role in systemic‐induced resistance (SIR) is not known. Here, we explored the role of terpenoids in this phenomenon at a very early stage in the interaction between Austrian pine and the tip blight and canker pathogen Diplodia pinea. We induced Austrian pine saplings by either wounding or inoculating the lower stems with D. pinea. The seedlings were then challenged after 12 h, 72 h, or 10 days with D. pinea on the stem 15 cm above the induction. Lesion lengths and terpenoids were quantified at both induction and challenge locations. Key terpenoids were assayed for antifungal activity in in vitro bioassays. SIR increased with time and was correlated with the inducibility of several compounds. α‐Pinene and a cluster of β‐pinene, limonene, benzaldehyde, dodecanol, and n‐dodecyl acrylate were positively correlated with SIR and were fungistatic in vitro, while other compounds were negatively correlated with SIR and appeared to serve as a carbon source for D. pinea. This study shows that, overall, terpenoids are involved in SIR in this system, but their role is nuanced, depending on the type of induction and time of incubation. We hypothesize that some, such as α‐pinene, could serve in SIR signaling. Summary statement: Trees can resist recurring pathogenic attacks using memory of successful prior encounters with pest or pathogens. Here we show that pathogenic induction results in systemic and selective accumulation of certain terpenoids and other non‐terpenoids in trees conferring higher resistance against newer infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The document is a contents list for the journal Chemical Communications, published by The Royal Society of Chemistry. It includes a feature article on the use of tetrazoles in constructing assemblies, as well as several communications on various topics such as electron-poor Au(III) trication, cold denaturation of DNA origami nanostructures, and optical discrimination of terpenes in citrus peels. The journal aims to connect the global chemistry community and publishes work from scientists at all career stages and countries. [Extracted from the article]

A simple aqueous host:guest sensing array can selectively discriminate between different types of citrus varietal from peel extract samples. It can also distinguish between identical citrus samples at varying stages of ripening. The discrimination effects stem from detection of changes in the terpenoid composition of the peel extracts by the host:guest array, despite the overwhelming excess of a single component, limonene, in each sample. The hosts are insensitive to limonene but bind other monoterpenes strongly, even though they are similar in structure to the major limonene component. This work demonstrates the capability of host:guest arrays in sensing target molecules in environments with the competing agents present at high abundances in the sample matrix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Terpene synthases (TPSs) catalyze the first step in the formation of terpenoids, which comprise the largest class of natural products in nature. TPSs employ a family of universal natural substrates, composed of isoprenoid units bound to a diphosphate moiety. The intricate structures generated by TPSs are the result of substrate binding and folding in the active site, enzyme‐controlled carbocation reaction cascades, and final reaction quenching. A key unaddressed question in class I TPSs is the asymmetric nature of the diphosphate‐(Mg2+)3 cluster, which forms a critical part of the active site. In this asymmetric ion cluster, two diphosphate oxygen atoms protrude into the active site pocket. The substrate hydrocarbon tail, which is eventually molded into terpenes, can bind to either of these oxygen atoms, yet to which is unknown. Herein, we employ structural, bioinformatics, and EnzyDock docking tools to address this enigma. We bring initial data suggesting that this difference is rooted in evolutionary differences between TPSs. We hypothesize that this alteration in binding, and subsequent chemistry, is due to TPSs originating from plants or microorganisms. We further suggest that this difference can cast light on the frequent observation that the chiral products or intermediates of plant and bacterial terpene synthases represent opposite enantiomers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Terpene synthases (TPSs) catalyze the first step in the formation of terpenoids, which comprise the largest class of natural products in nature. TPSs employ a family of universal natural substrates, composed of isoprenoid units bound to a diphosphate moiety. The intricate structures generated by TPSs are the result of substrate binding and folding in the active site, enzyme‐controlled carbocation reaction cascades, and final reaction quenching. A key unaddressed question in class I TPSs is the asymmetric nature of the diphosphate‐(Mg2+)3 cluster, which forms a critical part of the active site. In this asymmetric ion cluster, two diphosphate oxygen atoms protrude into the active site pocket. The substrate hydrocarbon tail, which is eventually molded into terpenes, can bind to either of these oxygen atoms, yet to which is unknown. Herein, we employ structural, bioinformatics, and EnzyDock docking tools to address this enigma. We bring initial data suggesting that this difference is rooted in evolutionary differences between TPSs. We hypothesize that this alteration in binding, and subsequent chemistry, is due to TPSs originating from plants or microorganisms. We further suggest that this difference can cast light on the frequent observation that the chiral products or intermediates of plant and bacterial terpene synthases represent opposite enantiomers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the effects of seven distinct were assessed in two harvesting seasons (spring and autumn) on the essential oil (EO) content, total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), antioxidant activity, and volatile compounds of thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.). The drying methods tested included sun-drying, shade-drying, freeze-drying (FD), oven drying at 40 °C (OV40) and 70 °C (OV70), and microwave 360 W (MW360) and 720 W (MW720). The analysis of essential oils facilitated the identification of numerous compounds, 18 of which accounted for approximately 64.94% to 67.84% of the total thyme EO compounds. Six significant compounds were investigated, including thymol, p-cymene, γ-terpinene, carvacrol, linalool, and borneol. The results demonstrated that the thyme samples harvested in spring possessed higher amounts of γ-terpinene, thymol, carvacrol, EO content, and TFC, while samples harvested in autumn exhibited the highest amounts of borneol, p-cymene, TPC, and higher antioxidant activity. Principal component analysis (PCA) findings revealed that thyme samples harvested in spring, dried in the sun, shade, and FD conditions were rich in EO content, γ-terpinene. The samples dried in MW720, OV40, and FD conditions possessed the highest amounts of thymol, carvacrol, and TFC. Drying the samples under MW360, OV40, and FD indicated significantly higher TPC and linalool. Drying the autumn-harvested samples under the sun and shade also exhibited higher linalool and TFC than other methods. Overall, the results conclusively indicated that the harvesting season and drying conditions significantly affected bioactive compounds, antioxidant activity, and EO production and quality. Such findings may add value to the product at the producers' levels to produce more quality thyme depending on the harvesting season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Naturally derived essential oils and their active components are known to possess various properties, ranging from anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-cancer activities. Numerous types of essential oils and active components have been discovered, and their permissive roles have been addressed in various fields. In this comprehensive review, we focused on the roles of essential oils and active components in skin diseases and cancers as discovered over the past three decades. In particular, we opted to highlight the effectiveness of essential oils and their active components in developing strategies against various skin diseases and skin cancers and to describe the effects of the identified essential-oil-derived major components from physiological and pathological perspectives. Overall, this review provides a basis for the development of novel therapies for skin diseases and cancers, especially melanoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) causes a variety of infections outside the intestine. The treatment of these infections is becoming increasingly difficult due to the emergence of multi-drug resistant (MDR) strains, which can also be a direct or indirect threat to humans as consumers of poultry products. Therefore, alternative antimicrobial agents are being sought, which could be essential oils, either administered individually or in interaction with antibiotics. Sixteen field isolates of E. coli (originating from 1-day-old broilers) and the ATCC 25922 reference strain were tested. Commercial cinnamon bark, clove bud, lavender flower essential oils (EOs) and enrofloxacin were selected to assess the sensitivity of the selected E. coli strains to antimicrobial agents. The checkerboard method was used to estimate the individual minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for each antimicrobial agent as well as to determine the interactions between the selected essential oil and enrofloxacin. In the case of enrofloxacin, ten isolates were resistant at MIC ≥ 2 μg/mL, three were classified as intermediate (0.5–1 μg/mL) and three as sensitive at ≤0.25 μg/mL. Regardless of the sensitivity to enrofloxacin, the MIC for cinnamon EO was 0.25% v/v and for clove EO was 0.125% v/v. All MDR strains had MIC values for lavender EO of 1% v/v, while drug-sensitive isolates had MIC of 0.5% v/v. Synergism between enrofloxacin and EO was noted more frequently in lavender EO (82.35%), followed by cinnamon EO (64.7%), than in clove EO (47.1%). The remaining cases exhibited additive effects. Owing to synergy, the isolates became susceptible to enrofloxacin at an MIC of ≤8 µg/mL. A time–kill study supports these observations. Cinnamon and clove EOs required for up to 1 h and lavender EO for up to 4 h to completely kill a multidrug-resistant strain as well as the ATCC 25922 reference strain of E. coli. Through synergistic or additive effects, blends with a lower than MIC concentration of enrofloxacin mixed with a lower EO content required 6 ± 2 h to achieve a similar effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microglia are key players in the brain's innate immune response, contributing to homeostatic and reparative functions but also to inflammatory and underlying mechanisms of neurodegeneration. Targeting microglia and modulating their function may have therapeutic potential for mitigating neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration. The anti-inflammatory properties of essential oils suggest that some of their components may be useful in regulating microglial function and microglial-associated neuroinflammation. This study, starting from the ethnopharmacological premises of the therapeutic benefits of aromatic plants, assessed the evidence for the essential oil modulation of microglia, investigating their potential pharmacological mechanisms. Current knowledge of the phytoconstituents, safety of essential oil components, and anti-inflammatory and potential neuroprotective effects were reviewed. This review encompasses essential oils of Thymus spp., Artemisia spp., Ziziphora clinopodioides, Valeriana jatamansi, Acorus spp., and others as well as some of their components including 1,8-cineole, β-caryophyllene, β-patchoulene, carvacrol, β-ionone, eugenol, geraniol, menthol, linalool, thymol, α-asarone, and α-thujone. Essential oils that target PPAR/PI3K-Akt/MAPK signalling pathways could supplement other approaches to modulate microglial-associated inflammation to treat neurodegenerative diseases, particularly in cases where reactive microglia play a part in the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying neurodegeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The resurgence of cannabis (Cannabis sativa L.) has been propelled by changes in the legal framework governing its cultivation and use, increased demand for hemp-derived products, and studies recognizing the industrial and health benefits of hemp. This has led to the creation of novel high-cannabidiol, low-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol varieties, enabling hemp crop expansion worldwide. This review elucidates the recent implications for hemp cultivation in Europe, with a focus on the legislative impacts on the cultivation practices, prospective breeding efforts, and dynamic scientific landscape surrounding this crop. We also review the current cultivars' cannabinoid composition of the European hemp market and its major differences with that of the United States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This narrative review aims to examine the therapeutic potential and mechanism of action of plant extracts in preventing and treating alopecia (baldness). We searched and selected research papers on plant extracts related to hair loss, hair growth, or hair regrowth, and comprehensively compared the therapeutic efficacies, phytochemical components, and modulatory targets of plant extracts. These studies showed that various plant extracts increased the survival and proliferation of dermal papilla cells in vitro, enhanced cell proliferation and hair growth in hair follicles ex vivo, and promoted hair growth or regrowth in animal models in vivo. The hair growth-promoting efficacy of several plant extracts was verified in clinical trials. Some phenolic compounds, terpenes and terpenoids, sulfur-containing compounds, and fatty acids were identified as active compounds contained in plant extracts. The pharmacological effects of plant extracts and their active compounds were associated with the promotion of cell survival, cell proliferation, or cell cycle progression, and the upregulation of several growth factors, such as IGF-1, VEGF, HGF, and KGF (FGF-7), leading to the induction and extension of the anagen phase in the hair cycle. Those effects were also associated with the alleviation of oxidative stress, inflammatory response, cellular senescence, or apoptosis, and the downregulation of male hormones and their receptors, preventing the entry into the telogen phase in the hair cycle. Several active plant extracts and phytochemicals stimulated the signaling pathways mediated by protein kinase B (PKB, also called AKT), extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK), Wingless and Int-1 (WNT), or sonic hedgehog (SHH), while suppressing other cell signaling pathways mediated by transforming growth factor (TGF)-β or bone morphogenetic protein (BMP). Thus, well-selected plant extracts and their active compounds can have beneficial effects on hair health. It is proposed that the discovery of phytochemicals targeting the aforementioned cellular events and cell signaling pathways will facilitate the development of new targeted therapies for alopecia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the chemical composition of the essential oil obtained from the leaves of Bocageopsis multiflora (Mart.) R.E.Fr (Annonaceae), examining its effectiveness in combating both the larvae and adult forms of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. Additionally, for a deeper understanding of the insecticidal activity, toxicity properties and molecular docking calculations were conducted using the main compounds of this essential oil. GC/MS analysis revealed the presence of 26 constituents, representing 95.2% of the essential oil, with the major components identified as the sesquiterpenes α-selinene, β-selinene, and β-elemene. Larvicidal assays demonstrated potent activity of this essential oil with significant LC50 values of 40.8 and 39.4 μg/mL at 24 and 48 h, respectively. Adulticidal assessments highlighted strong efficacy with LC50 of 12.5 µg/mL. Molecular docking analysis identified optimal interaction activities of α-selinene and β-selinene with key Aedes proteins. The in silico studies comparing synthetic insecticides with the major sesquiterpenes of the essential oil revealed that β-selinene exhibited a significantly higher binding affinity compared to the other two sesquiterpenes. Also, ADMET studies of the three main sesquiterpenes indicated acceptable drug-like properties. In these findings, safety evaluations showed low toxicity and skin sensitization for the main sesquiterpenes, contrasting with commercial synthetic insecticides. Therefore, in silico analyses suggest promising interactions with Aedes proteins, indicating its potential as an effective alternative to conventional insecticides These results show the larvicidal and adulticidal potential of the essential oil from Bocageopsis multiflora against Aedes aegypti, supported by its predominant constituents, α-selinene, β-selinene and β-elemene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radiolysis of α-pinene by 61.3 MeV 84Kr15 + ions was analysed with the scope to simulate the effects of heavy ion cosmic ray bombardment on chiral molecules in the interstellar medium. The α-pinene ice samples were irradiated at 10 K and their chemical evolution was monitored by mid-infrared Fourier transform (FTIR) spectroscopy to characterize the reaction products and to determine the extent of racemization. The integrated band strengths have been obtained for all the neutral α-pinene vibrational bands using the experimental band integrated absorbances and the theoretical absolute intensities calculated along the column densities. In the current heavy ion bombardment experiments, small molecules were formed and the precursor, α-pinene, was destroyed instead of being racemized. Twelve hydrocarbons were produced (final fluence of 2.0 × 1012 ions cm−2): methane (CH4), acetylene (C2H2), ethylene (C2H4), propylene (C3H6), propane (C3H8), n-butane (C4H10), butene (C4H8), propyne (C3H4), benzene (C6H6), ethane (C2H6), vinylacetylene (C4H4), and 2-methyl-1,3-butadiene or isoprene (C5H8). The highest formation cross-section (∼ 40 × 10−15 cm2) was observed for the C3H4 and the lowest was for C3H8 (∼ 3 × 10−15 cm2). The radiochemical yields for these molecules follow the same trends as those of their cross-sections. The atom budget calculation confirms that all the expected products have been generated during the radiolysis and supports the conclusion that the proposed A values are accurate. The α-pinene sputtering yield for this ion beam was found to be Y0  = 1.84 × 106 molecules per impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Malignant melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer. Since resistance and relapse to established therapy regimes for the treatment of malignant melanoma still occur frequently, the development of novel therapeutics is the key to improve patient prognosis. The study aimed to understand the function of the natural compound Garcinol on melanoma cells to contribute to its potential use in tumor therapy. We could show that Garcinol reduced proliferation and induced apoptosis in melanoma cells. Furthermore, we showed that melanoma cells expressing T-cadherin (CDH13) respond more sensitively to garcinol treatment. We postulate, that particularly T-cadherin-positive-patients could be receptive to garcinol therapy. Targeted therapies with chemotherapeutic agents and immunotherapy with checkpoint inhibitors are among the systemic therapies recommended in the guidelines for clinicians to treat melanoma. Although there have been constant improvements in the treatment of melanoma, resistance to the established therapies continues to occur. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore the function of garcinol with regards to specific cancer properties such as proliferation and apoptosis. Garcinol, a natural compound isolated from the plant also known as mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana), is a newly discovered option for cancer treatment. Numerous pharmaceutical substances are derived from plants. For example, the derivates of camptothecin, extracted from the bark of the Chinese tree of happiness (Camptotheca acuminate), or paclitaxel, extracted from the bark of the Western yew tree (Taxus brevifolia), are used as anti-cancer drugs. Here, we show that garcinol reduced proliferation and induced apoptosis in melanoma cell lines. In addition, we found that those cells that are positive for the expression of the cell–cell adhesion molecule T-cadherin (CDH13) respond more sensitively to treatment with garcinol. After knock-down experiments with an siRNA pool against T-cadherin, the sensitivity to garcinol decreased and proliferation and anti-apoptotic behavior of the cells was restored. We conclude that patients who are T-cadherin-positive could especially benefit from a therapy with garcinol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]