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Ravenia spectabilis Engl. belongs to the family Rutaceae is known to possess several biologically active phytomolecules. This study was planned to investigate the chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of the leaf essential oil of R. spectabilis. The hydrodistillation of fresh leaves of R. spectabilis gave 0.19 ± 0.02% essential oil. The resulting essential oil was analysed by gas chromatography-flame ionization detector (GC-FID) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Altogether, thirty-one constituents forming 97.6 ± 1.72% of the total oil composition were identified. Major components of the oil were sabinene (60.8 ± 0.36%), α-pinene (5.4 ± 0.30%), myrcene (4.8 ± 0.25%), δ-3-carene (4.7 ± 0.62%) and β-pinene (4.3 ± 0.17%). The in-vitro antimicrobial potential of the oil was examined against eight human pathogenic bacterial and fungal strains. The essential oil showed significant activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis, Candida albicans, and Candida kefyr. This is the first report on R. spectabilis leaf essential oil composition and its antimicrobial activity. The essential oil could be a promising natural source of sabinene and antimicrobial for developing new phytotherapeutics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artemisia pallens Wall. ex DC, commonly known as davana, is cultivated in India for extraction of its essential oil (DO). In this study, DO collected from thirteen locations (DO1-DO13) and those extracted from six different phenophases and different plant parts were investigated using GC-FID and GC-MS. Altogether, 84 constituents were identified, forming 81.0–96.2% of the total oil composition. Major components of the oils were cis-davanone (17.4–65.1%), bicyclogermacrene (4.0–22.0%), cis-methyl jasmonate (0.4–8.5%), β-eudesmol (0.3–6.6%), davana ether isomer (0.5–6.1%), trans-ethyl cinnamate (1.4–6.1%), and germacrene D (0.1–4.7%). Among all tested oils, the DO10, having low cis-davanone content (27.5%), was found more potent against test microorganisms. The oils collected from different locations showed variations in their physical properties, chemical composition, and antimicrobial activity. Based on the yield and cis-davanone content, the flower bud and full-flowering stages could be suitable for harvesting good quality oil in north Indian plains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to investigate the chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of the essential oil of the senescent leaves of Psidium guajava L. (Myrtaceae). The hydrodistilled essential oil of the leaves was analysed by GC-FID and GC-MS. The antimicrobial activity of the oil was assessed against human and plant pathogenic microorganisms by disc diffusion, microdilution broth and poison food techniques. A total of forty-six constituents, representing 90.9% of the total oil composition were identified. Major constituents of the oil were limonene (29.1%), (E)-caryophyllene (15.7%), caryophyllene oxide (8.8%), caryophylla-4(12),8(13)-dien-5-ol (6.5%), (E)-nerolidol (4.0%), α-cadinol (3.4%), and muurola-4,10(14)-dien-1-β-ol (2.5%). The chemical composition of the examined essential oil was quite different from those reported earlier. The essential oil showed significant inhibition of human pathogenic bacteria (MIC: 0.065–0.261 mg/mL) and plant pathogenic fungi, namely Curvularia lunata (86.02%) and Fusarium chlamydosporum (82.80%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Present study was aimed to investigate the antibacterial activity, bactericidal mechanism of action, killing kinetics and anti-inflammatory activity of Isodon melissoides (Benth.) H. Hara essential oil. The gas chromatography-flame ionization detector (GC-FID) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis revealed the presence of carvacrol (45.4%), p-cymene (11.6%) and thymol (11.3%) as major constituents of the oil. The oil displayed broad spectrum significant antibacterial activity (MIC: 0.13–8.33 ppm; MBC: 0.13–>33.34 ppm) against test strains. The oil exhibited a time and dose-dependent bactericidal effect. The oil disrupted the cell membrane by changing the cell membrane permeability. The essential oil significantly decreased the overproduction of proinflammatory cytokines in LPS-induced inflammation in HaCaT cells without any cytotoxic effect. I. melissoides essential oil can be a promising alternative antimicrobial agent for the control of methicillin resistant staphylococci and other pathogenic bacteria tested, and also useful for the topical anti-inflammatory properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Citronella (Cymbopogon spp.) essential oil is an important component of various fragrances, cosmetics, and household products. In this study, comparative chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of Java citronella (Cymbopogon winterianus Jowitt ex Bor) essential oil, extracted by different methods, namely hydro-distillation and steam-distillation were determined by GC, GC-MS, and disc diffusion assay and microdilution broth assay. Major constituents of the essential oil were citronellal (2.2–55.4%), geraniol (14.2–53.0%), citronellol (8.2–16.4%), isopulegol (0.3–12.6%), elemol (0.8–8.2%), and limonene (0.2–5.0%). The essential oils showed inhibition of test bacteria with minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) in the range of 250–1000 µg/mL and showed anticandidal activity with MIC in the range of 125–500 µg/mL. In general, the oils were moderately active against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains and also showed good activity against Candidal strains. The essential oils extracted from the herbage by different techniques exhibited variations in their yield, chemical composition, and antimicrobial activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Curcuma longa L. is an important industrial crop used by medicinal and cosmetic industries in the world. Its leaves are a waste material after harvesting rhizomes. The aim of the study was to evaluate the chemical and pharmacological profile of essential oil from waste leaves of Curcuma longa (EOCl) against skin inflammation.Methods: EOCl was subjected to gas chromatography (GC) analysis for identification of essential oil constituents and its anti-inflammatory evaluation through in vitro and in vivo models.Results: Chemical fingerprinting using GC and GC-MS analysis of EOCl revealed the presence of 11 compounds, representing 90.29% of the oil, in which terpinolene (52.88%) and α-phellandrene (21.13%) are the major components. In the in vitro testing EOCl inhibited the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced inflammation in the human keratinocyte cell line (HaCaT). Topical application of EOCl produced anti-inflammatory effects by reducing ear thickness, ear weight and ameliorating the level of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β) at protein and mRNA levels as well as regulating the overproduction of oxidative markers and restoring the histopathological damage in a TPA-induced mouse model of inflammation.Conclusion: These findings of topical anti-inflammatory properties of EOCl provide a scientific basis for medicinal use of this plant material against inflammatory disorders.Graphical Abstract: [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) is a rod-shaped, anaerobic, Gram-positive, opportunistic bacterium, that causes infectious and inflammatory diseases, such as acne vulgaris synovitis-acnes-pustulosis-hyperostosis-osteitis syndrome, sarcoidosis, and prostate cancer. Earlier evidence suggests that essential oils have been used to treat skin diseases and disorders since ancient times. Thus, the present study investigated the anti-microbial activity of 28 essential oils from nine families, including Lamiaceae, Poaceae, Geraniaceae, Myrtaceae, Zingiberaceae, Verbenaceae, Cupressaceae, Asteraceae, and Cyperaceae against P. acnes. The anti-bacterial susceptibility and efficacy of the essential oils were examined using paper disc diffusion, broth micro-dilution, time-kill kinetics and ROS assays. P. acnes was cultured under anaerobic conditions. The kinetic process evaluated the time and dose-dependent effects of essential oils. The alteration in membrane potential and ROS production were measured in terms of mean fluorescence intensity. Consequently, the chemical composition of essential oil was analyzed by GC and GC/MS analysis. Eighteen essential oils inhibited the growth of P. acnes with a clear zone of 5 – 20.33 mm. Eucalyptus , Mentha, Palmarosa, Lemongrass, Citronella , Geranium, Patchouli, Ocimum , and Clarysage possess better antibacterial activity (ZGI: 10.33 ± 2.31 mm - 20.33 ± 4.72 mm). Lippia alba oil showed the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 0.125% v/v, and the MIC of Mentha, Ocimum , and Patchouli oils ranged from 0.25% to 0.50% v/v. Further, the concentration and time-kill kinetic study indicated that L. alba and O. sanctum oils suppress the growth at MIC till 12 h and at 2 × MIC until 72 h. Moreover, the oils induced ROS production with one fold change at 2 × MIC. In addition, O. sanctum oil altered the membrane integrity with a fold change of 1.0 and 2.0 at MIC and 2 × MIC, respectively, while L. alba oil modified a fold change of 1.0. The essential oils suppressed bacterial growth by inducing ROS and modulating membrane integrity. Therefore, L. alba and O. sanctum essential oils could be used as an alternative to chemicals/drugs for treating microbe-associated acne problems. [Display omitted] • Antimicrobial efficacy of 28 essential oils from 9 different families was investigated. • Lippia alba and Ocimum sanctum oils suppress the growth of Propionibacterium acnes. • L. alba and O. sanctum oils depict low MIC compared to other essential oils. • L. alba and O. sanctum oils induce ROS production and modulate membrane integrity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In traditional, herbal medicine, and aromatherapy, use of essential oils and their aroma compounds have been known since long, for the management of various human diseases. The essential oil is a mixture of highly complex, naturally occurring volatile aroma compounds synthesized by medicinal and aromatic plants as secondary metabolites. Essential oils widely used in pharmaceutical, cosmetic, sanitary, food industry and agriculture for their antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, antiparasitic, insecticidal, anticancer, neuroprotective, psychophysiological, and anti-aging activities. Moreover, volatile aroma compounds comprise a chemically diverse class of low molecular weight organic compounds with significant vapor pressure. However, aroma compounds produced by plants, mainly attract pollinators, seed dispersers and provide defense against pests or pathogens. However, in humans, about 300 active olfactory receptor genes are involved to detect thousands of different aroma compounds and modulates expression of different metabolic genes regulating human psychophysiological activity, brain function, pharmacological signaling, and therapeutic potential. Keeping in mind this importance, present database, namely, AromaDb (http://bioinfo.cimap.res.in/aromadb/) covers information of plant varieties/chemotypes, essential oils, chemical constituents, GC-MS profile, yield variations due to agromorphological parameters, trade data, aroma compounds, fragrance type, and bioactivity details. The database includes 1,321 aroma chemical structures, bioactivities of essential oil/aroma compounds, 357 fragrance type, 166 commercially used plants, and their high yielding 148 varieties/chemotypes. Also includes calculated cheminformatics properties related to identification, physico-chemical properties, pharmacokinetics, toxicological, and ecological information. Also comprises interacted human genes affecting various diseases related cell signaling pathways correlating the use of aromatherapy. This database could be a useful resource to the plant's growers/producers, an aroma/fragrance industrialist, health professionals, and researchers exploring the potential of essential oils and aroma compounds in the development of novel formulations against human diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The essential oil obtained by hydro distillation of flowers of Bauhinia variegata were analyzed by GC and GC-MS analysis. Fifty one compounds have been identified in the flowers oil, representing 87.3% of total oil. The major components were identified as α-pinene (5.1%), β-pinene (2.2%), β-elemene (2.6%), γ-elemene (19.0%), δ-cadinene (3.6%), occidentalol (2.3%), cis-murrol-5-en-4-α-ol (24.4%) and α-cadinol (4.4%). This is the first report on chemical composition of B. variegata flowers essential oil of north Indian origin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aloe barbadensis popularly known as Aloe vera is an extensively cultivated medical herb that is significantly affected by phytopathogenic fungal infestations worldwide. Huge economic losses occur due to leaf spot disease caused by Alternaria spp. The use of different fungicides to manage this disease has harmful impacts on both the environment and the pharmacologically valuable components of Aloe vera. In this study, the antifungal activities and mechanism of 1,8-cineole, a major component of Eucalyptus globulus essential oil (EGO) was investigated as the potential substitute for synthetic fungicides against Alternaia tenuissima. 1,8-cineole at a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 5 µL mL−1 significantly reduced the ergosterol biosynthesis, along with weak cellular membrane, stunted germ tube development with hampered cell wall rigidity. At the gene level, the elevated expression of NADPH oxidase A (NoxA) gene in fungus treated with 1,8-cineole resulted in an increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that triggered cellular damage, leading to the successful mitigation of the phytopathogen. Furthermore, 1,8-cineole downregulated genes related to chitin synthase, ergosterol synthase, cellulase production, glycosyl hydrolase, RhO1 G protein (Rho1), cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase subunit 1 (AAPK1), and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GADPH) which validated its detrimental effect on A. tenuissima. To further confirm the proposed antifungal mechanism, docking simulations were run between 1,8-cineole and a potential antifungal target glucosamine-6-phosphate synthase that revealed an efficient interaction with the designed protein model. Consequently, this research offers promising prospects for developing sustainable methods for safeguarding crops through the use of bioactive phyto compounds. [Display omitted] • First report on antifungal effect of Eucalyptus globules oil against Alternaria tenuissima. • 1, 8-cineole identified as a major bioactive molecule of the oil through GC-MS analysis. • 1, 8-cineole effects the expression of virulence and structural genes of A. tenuissima. • Glucosamine-6-phosphate synthase was found as potential target of 1,8-cineole through docking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Treatment of palmarosa and ajwain oils inhibited sprouting of potato tubers. • Treatments of lemon grass and clove oils induced sprouting of potato tubers. • Selected oils treatments modulated accumulation of reducing sugars and ethylene. • Selected oils treatments modulated expression of key genes of tuber-sprouting. • Selected oils can be used for reducing post-harvest losses of potato crop. Abstract Use of harmful chemicals and expensive maintenance of cold-storage conditions for controlling sprouting are among the major problems in potato storage. Here, 20 essential oils (EOs) were tested for their sprouting-inhibiting and sprouting-inducing activities. Overall, treatments of lemon grass (LG) and clove (CL) oils could induce sprouting whereas palmarosa (PR) and ajwain (AZ) oils could inhibit sprouting of potato tubers at normal-room-temperature (25 ± 2 °C) storage. Selected-EOs treatments affected sprouting by modulation of accumulation of reducing sugars, ethylene, and expression of genes involved in tuber-sprouting such as ARF , ARP , AIP and ERF. Surprisingly, 7-days AZ-treatments could inhibit sprouting for 30-days which was mediated via damaging apical meristem. However, LG- and CL-treated tubers could produce enhanced potato yield as well. Present work clearly demonstrates that selected-EOs can be used as a promising eco-friendly approach for inducing/inhibiting sprouting of potato tubers during potato storage and those enhancing sprouting can be used for enhancing productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Marigold petals are the primary industrial source of lutein. • An efficient green process described for isolating high purity lutein from marigold petals. • The process does not require recrystallization for further purification of free lutein. • The process does not use toxic solvents, high temperatures, acid, etc. • 2-MeTHF appears as a potential alternative solvent to hexane for lutein extraction. Marigold (Tagetes erecta L.) petals are the primary industrial source of lutein, which is used as a colouring agent and nutrient supplement to foods. This research extracted marigold petals using different solvents, covering conventional and non-toxic green solvents. The oleoresin, free lutein, and recrystallized lutein yields varied from 8.47–16.67%, 2.56–9.62%, and 1.11–1.61%, respectively. The purity of lutein was achieved up to 92.57% and 97.64% in conventional and newly established green methods, respectively. The present study described an efficient green process to isolate lutein with significantly improved yield (2.56%) and purity (97.33%) over the conventional methods. Based on the results, 2-methyltetrahydrofuran could be a practical green alternative to the traditional toxic solvents for the processing of lutein. Further, the chemical analysis of the essential oil of the residual receptacles obtained after removing petals revealed the presence of important organic volatiles, including piperitone (54.7%) and piperitenone oxide (6.5%), indicating its usefulness for value-addition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lavender oil (LO) is an aromatic/essential oil extracted from Lavandula angustifolia and traditionally used as an aromatherapy massage oil due to its anti-inflammatory and wound healing property and also for providing the relief in other skin conditions such as psoriasis, dermatitis and eczema. However, LO has not been evaluated scientifically for psoriasis like skin inflammation. This study was aimed to investigate the LO and its major components linalool (L) and linalyl acetate (LA) against psoriasis like skin inflammation. Anti-psoriatic activity was done using Imiquimod (IMQ) induced psoriasis like skin inflammation in BALB/c mice. Assessment of anti-psoriatic effect of LO, L and LA was done on the basis of change in ear thickness, psoriasis area severity index (PASI) scoring at alternative day, CosCam scoring using skin analyzer equipped with SkinSys software, biochemical, immunohistochemical and histological investigations. Level of effectiveness against psoriasis was investigated by percent reduction in PASI scores, CosCam scores and level of Th-1 and Th-17 cell expressing cytokines, as compared to the diseased mice. Topical application of LO 10% showed 73.67% recovery in PASI and 87% in Th-17 cell-specific cytokines towards normal as compared to disease group. L and LA were identified as the major components of LO and favoured ligands for selected psoriasis targets. At 2% topical dose, L and LA showed 64% and 47.61% recovery in PASI scores, respectively. Both, L and LA showed significant recovery in Th-1 specific TNF-α and IL-1β however, only L showed significant recovery of Th-17 cytokines (IL-17 and IL-22). In contrast to LA (which restored granulosis), L restored epidermal hyperplasia and parakeratosis toward the normal condition. On the other hand, L also reduced the expression of NF-κβ, ccr6 and IL-17, while LA reduced the expression of NF-κβ only. At 10% topical dose, LO was observed to be slight irritant while at 2% topical dose, L and LA were found non-irritant to the skin. This study proves the effectiveness of LO and its major phytoconstituents linalool and linalyl acetate against IMQ induced psoriasis like skin inflammation and provides the scientific evidence for topical use of lavender oil. Image 1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]