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Background: Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) as a member of the Lamiaceae family is a valuable aromatic and medicinal plant which is cultivated in large scale in Iran. Therefore, it is necessary to determine influence of factors affecting plant growth and drug metabolite production. Objectives: This experiment was carried out to evaluate the effects of bio-stimulators compounds on growth and phytochemical traits of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.). Methods: This experiment was conducted on the basis of randomized complete blocks design with three replications at Medicinal Plants Institute (MPI) of ACECR in 2013. The treatments included commercial formulations of aminolforte, kadostim, fosnutren, humiforte (each of them at 0.75 and 1.5 L.ha-1), 120 kg.ha-1 chemical fertilizers (N.P.K, 15:8:15%), and control treatment (without any bio-stimulators and chemical fertilizer applications). Results: The effects of treatments were significant (p≤0.01) on all of the traits in a way that the maximum value of plant height (42.94 cm), leaf length (34.92 mm), leaf width (4.2 mm), number of leaves per plant (465 leaves.plant-1), leaf SPAD value (56.1 SPAD), total dry weight (246.78 kg.ha-1) essential oil (1.4%), α-pinene (27.35%), was obtained by foliar application of 1.5 L.ha-1 fosnutren. Also, the highest of collar diameter of stem (10.77 mm) and number of branches per plant (24.63 branches.plant-1) and camphor (9.87%) was observed in chemical fertilizers treatment, 1.5 L.ha-1 aminolforte and humiforte, respectively. In contrast, the least amounts of traits were observed in control treatment. Conclusion: The growth and phytochemical traits of rosemary increased due to foliar application of bio-stimulators compounds.

Bioactive supplements display relevant therapeutic properties when properly applied according to validated molecular effects. Our previous research efforts established the basis to develop a dietary supplement based on a Rosmarinus officinalis supercritical extract. This was enriched in phenolic diterpenes (RE) with proven properties against signaling pathways involved in colon tumorigenesis, and shark liver oil rich in alkylglycerols (AKG) as a bioactive lipid vehicle to improve RE bioavailability and synergize with the potential therapeutic action of the extract. Herein, we have investigated the tolerability and safety of the supplement and the biological and molecular effects from an immuno-nutritional perspective. Sixty healthy volunteers participated in a six week, double-blind, randomized parallel pilot study with two study arms: RE-AKG capsules (CR) and control capsules (CC). Mean age (±SD) of volunteers was 28.32 (±11.39) and 27.5 (±9.04) for the control and the study groups, respectively. Safety of the CR product consumption was confirmed by analyzing liver profile, vital constants, and oxidation markers (LDLox in blood and isoprostanes and thromboxanes in urine). The following were monitored: (1) the phenotyping of plasmatic leukocytes and the ex vivo response of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs); (2) expression of genes associated with immune-modulation, inflammation, oxidative stress, lipid metabolism, and tumorigenesis; and (3) the correlation of selected genetic variants (SNPs) with the differential responses among individuals. The lack of adverse effects on liver profile and oxidation markers, together with adequate tolerability and safe immunological adaptations, provide high-quality information for the potential use of CR as co-adjuvant of therapeutic strategies against colorectal cancer.

The increasing development of resistance of Candida species to traditional drugs represents a great challenge to the medical field for the treatment of skin infections. Essential oils were recently proposed to increase drug effectiveness. Herein, we developed and optimized (23 full factorial design) Mediterranean essential oil (Rosmarinus officinalis, Lavandula x intermedia “Sumian„, Origanum vulgare subsp. hirtum) lipid nanoparticles for clotrimazole delivery, exploring the potential synergistic effects against Candida spp. Small sized nanoparticles (Lavandula and Rosmarinus as anti-proliferative agents with the potential to be used as co-adjuvants in the treatment of non-tumoral proliferative dermal diseases. Results of calorimetric studies on biomembrane models, confirmed the potential antimicrobial activity of the selected oils due to their interaction with membrane permeabilization. Nanoparticles provided a prolonged in vitro release of clotrimazole. In vitro studies against Candida albicans, Candida krusei and Candida parapsilosis, showed an increase of the antifungal activity of clotrimazole-loaded nanoparticles prepared with Lavandula or Rosmarinus, thus confirming nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC) containing Mediterranean essential oils represent a promising strategy to improve drug effectiveness against topical candidiasis.

Background and Purpose: In recent years, essential oils (EOs) have been reported to possess interesting anti-tumor, anti-mutagenic and anti-carcinogenic activities against various cancer cells. Therefore, we aimed to investigate potential biological activities of EOs from white poplar (Populus alba L., Salicaceae) and rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L., Lamiaceae). Material and Methods: EOs from P. alba L. and R. officinalis L. were extracted by hydrodistillation. MTT assay was carried out to determine the potential antiproliferative and cytotoxic properties of the essential oils as well as their corresponding IC50, and the inhibition (%) calculated. Antioxidant activity was determined using 2,2-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay, and lipid peroxidation capacity was evaluated using thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) method, and the values were calculated using the standards. Results: The EOs were evaluated for their in vitro cytotoxic, antioxidant and lipid oxidation activities. Regarding cytotoxic activity rosemary essential oil possessed strong inhibition (IC50 = 3.06-7.38 µg/mL) of cell proliferation in comparison to that of P. alba L. (IC50 = 10.53-28.16 µg/mL). Additionally, EO from R. officinalis L. was found to have higher antioxidant and lipid peroxidation capacities with IC50 of 10.08 ± 0.15 and 1.76 ± 0.01, respectively. Conclusion: The results suggest that the EOs of both sources exhibited strong antiproliferative, cytotoxic and potent antioxidant properties and therefore they can have potential applications in the cancer treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rosmarinus officinalis L. is commonly used as a spice and flavoring agent. Diterpenes are the main active compounds of R. officinalis. An Ultra High Performance Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (UHPLC-ESI-MS/MS) method was developed for the determination of carnosol, rosmanol, and carnosic acid isolated from R. officinalis in rat plasma, and applied to a pharmacokinetic study after oral administration of R. officinalis extract. Sample preparation involved a liquid-liquid extraction of the analytes with ethyl acetate. Butylparaben was employed as an internal standard (I.S.). Chromatographic separation was carried out on a C18 column (ACQUITY UPLC® HSS T3, 1.8 μm, 2.1 mm × 100 mm) with a gradient system consisting of the mobile phase solution A (0.1% formic acid in water) and solution B (acetonitrile) at the flow rate of 0.3 mL/min. The quantification was obtained using multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode with electrospray ionization (ESI). The UHPLC-MS/MS assay was validated for linearity, accuracy, precision, extraction recovery, matrix effect and stability. This study described a simple, sensitive and validated UHPLC-MS/MS method for the simultaneous determination of three diterpene compounds in rat plasma after oral administration of R. officinalis extract, and investigated on their pharmacokinetic studies as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carnosol and carnosic acid inRosmarinus officinalisL. were separated by high-performance capillary electrophoresis using a 50 cm capillary, a 12 mmol/L 80:20 pH 9.9 borax:methanol buffer using 25 kV of applied voltage at 30°C with detection at 280 nm.Rosmarinus officinalisL. was extracted with methanol with ultrasound at 170 W and 50 kHz for 20 min. The precision, repeatability, and recovery of the method were evaluated. The calibration relationships for carnosol and carnosic acid were y = 2.331x + 5.92 from 0.01 to 0.160 mg/mL and y = 7.980x + 4.32 from 0.005 to 0.080 mg/mL, respectively. The established method allows the separation and quantification of carnosic acid and carnosol inR. officinalisfrom various locations in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rosemary essential oil (REO) contains bioactives having antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. This work investigated the effect of REO combined with modified atmosphere packaging conditions (MAP), in our case, aerobic, vacuum or high O 2 , to extend the shelf life of beef. Beef slices were wrapped in special three-layer sheets of packaging material, some with a coating of REO (active packaging, AP), and some without REO (non active packaging, NAP), and stored at 4 °C for 20 days. The use of REO proved efficacious in every storage condition, as seen in the lower counts of psychrotrophics, Brochothrix thermosphacta, Pseudomonas spp., and Enterobacteriaceae in AP meat compared to NAP meat. Sensory and colourimetric analyses showed that the best packaging conditions were high-O 2 atmosphere in combination with REO. Based on microbiological data, shelf life of beef was 5–6 days for AP samples packaged under aerobic conditions and 14–15 days for AP samples in high-O 2 conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intercropping and agroforestry systems provide sustainable land and resource use efficiency, however, shading conditions generated by the base crop or tree cover is a restricting factor on the growth of the intercrop and productivity of the system. Hence, a two-year field experiment was carried out to assess the yield, essential oil properties, morphological changes, and anatomical adaptation of the shade-exposed sage (Salvia officinalis L.), oregano (Origanum onites L.) and rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) plants. Plant height, leaf area, chlorophyll content, herbage yield, essential oil content and biochemical profile of the selected species were comparatively examined under open-field, 40% and 75% shading conditions. Initially, after the seedlings were transplanted to the field, a horizontal growth of shaded plants, resulted in lower plant height, then, after the plants covered the soil surface, vertical growth was observed. Overall drug herbage yield decreased by 65% due to the shading treatments in the first year whereas rosemary, sage and oregano had 20.9%, 25.3% and 40.3% lower yields respectively in the second year. Average essential oil content of low-light exposed plants increased by 23% and 41% first and second year of the experiment, respectively. A negative linear relation between α-thujone content in essential oil of sage and shading level was recorded while in contrast, carvacrol content of oregano essential oil increased by shade treatment. The results concluded that herbage yield and quality properties of shaded plants were promising, especially after the first year, considering their potential in intercropping and agroforestry systems. Since the current study represented the results for artificial shading conditions, the tree-based intercropping studies needed to be performed with these species for the final conclusion. [Display omitted] • Aromatic plants have a great potential for intercropping and agroforestry systems. • Plant growth and productivity is inhibited by shading conditions in these systems. • The rate of shade-reduced yield of sage, rosemary and oregano decreased second year. • Essential oil rate increased in all species under low-light conditions. • Carvacrol rate increased in oregano and α-thujone rate decreased in sage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethnopharmacological relevance According to traditional medicine, rosemary ( Rosmarinus officinalis ) has been used in many ailments such as dysmenorrhea, rheumatic pain and stomachache. Aim of the study This work was carried out to evaluate putative anti-allodynic and anti-hyperalgesic effects of Rosmarinus officinalis alcoholic extract and some spinal cord molecular changes on a neuropathic pain model in rats. Materials and methods Peripheral neuropathy was induced by chronic constriction injury (CCI) of sciatic nerve. Rats were treated daily with alcoholic extract of aerial parts of R. officinalis (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg, i.p.), from the day of surgery (day 0) for 14 days. Mechanical allodynia, cold allodynia and heat hyperalgesia were measured on days 0, 3, 5, 7, 10 and 14. Investigations into mechanisms involved measurement of apoptotic factors (bcl-2-like protein (Bax)), cleaved caspases 3 and 9, anti-apoptotic mediator, Bcl2, inflammatory mediators including tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), inducible isoform of nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), toll like receptor 4 (TLR4), microglial activation marker, ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1 (Iba-1) and astroglia activation marker, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) were measured via western blot on days 7 and 14. Results CCI rats exhibited a marked mechanical allodynia, cold allodynia, and thermal hyperalgesia on days 3, 5, 7, 10, and 14 post-CCI. All three doses of rosemary alcoholic extract were able to attenuate neuropathic behavioral changes as compared with CCI animals that received vehicle. In the vehicle-treated CCI group, a significant increase in levels of Bax, cleaved caspases 3 and 9, Iba1, TNF-α, iNOS and TLR4 levels was detected on both days 7 and 14. Rosemary extract, 400 mg/kg significantly decreased the amounts of mentioned apoptotic, inflammatory and glial markers as compared with vehicle-treated CCI animals. Conclusions Anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic processes might contribute to the anti-allodynic and anti-hyperalgesic effects of rosemary following nerve injury. Our findings support the ethnopharmacological use of rosemary as a potential candidate in treating neuropathic pain and different neurological disorders that associate with the activation of apoptosis and inflammatory pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the chemical, cytotoxic and anti- Sporothrix brasiliensis properties of commercial essential oils of rosemary ( Rosmarinus officinalis L.), oregano ( Origanum vulgare L.) and marjoram ( Origanum majorana L.). Chemical composition of the oils was identified through gas chromatography with flame ionization detector, and cytotoxicity was performed through MTT assay in VERO cell line. Anti- S. brasiliensis activity was performed according to the CLSI M38-A2 guidelines using isolates obtained from cats and dogs. The major compounds found were carvacrol in the oregano oil (73.9 %) and 1,8-cineole in rosemary and marjoram oils (49.4 and 20.9 %, respectively). All S. brasiliensis isolates were susceptible to the plant oils, including itraconazole-resistant ones. Marjoram and rosemary oils showed MIC of 0.56 and 1.12 mg ml, and MFC of 4.5 and 9 mg ml, respectively. For oregano oil, a strong antifungal activity was observed with MIC and MFC values ≤0.07 mg ml. The weakest cytotoxicity was observed for rosemary oil. Further studies should be undertaken to evaluate the safety and efficacy of these essential oils in sporotrichosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is resistant to different commonly used antibiotics, stressing the need for further strategies to treat this human pathogen with worldwide prevalence. The use of phytochemicals within the current pharmacology is a promising approach to enhance the antimicrobial activity of common antibiotics in the battle against these bacteria.Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the antimicrobial effectiveness of carnosic acid, the major constituent of Rosmarinus officinalis L. leaves, in combination with gentamicin against multi-drug resistant MRSA clinical isolates obtained from pediatric patients with bacteremia.Materials and Methods: Anti-MRSA activity was studied using the broth microdilution assay and time-kill method. Combinations of subinhibitory concentrations of carnosic acid and gentamicin were examined using the checkerboard method.Results: Carnosic acid exhibited a good antibacterial activity against all multidrug-resistant MRSA clinical isolates tested, which are resistant to four up to nine antibiotics. In addition, the combination of carnosic acid with gentamicin not only decreased the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of both by 4- to 5-fold, but also improved the bactericidal potency of the common antibiotic by 32- to 40-fold against both gentamicin-susceptible and gentamicin-resistant MRSA clinical isolates. A clear bactericidal synergistic activity between carnosic acid and gentamicin in killing multidrug-resistant MRSA clinical isolates with a fractional bactericidal concentration index (FBCI) of 0.28-0.35 was demonstrated.Conclusions: Our findings show the potential use of carnosic acid in combination with gentamicin as a promising alternative for the control of healthcare-associated infections caused by multidrug-resistant MRSA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vegetative propagation of medicinal and aromatic herbs with green cuttings is mainly used because of seed low germination percentage and duration of such reproduction. The aim of this investigation was to determine the effect of commercial rooting powder Rhizopon I on the sage rooting (Salvia officinalis L.) and rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) green cutting. The investigation was conducted in the greenhouse of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Banja Luka during April till July of 2012. The experiment consisted of two variants. Cuttings of sage and rosemary were treated with rooting powder or planted directly into the substrate without being previously treated. Morphological properties such as plant height, number of leaves, root length, fresh weight and dry weight of plants were recorded. The treatment with rooting powder resulted in significantly higher values of all morphological parameters tested. Therefore, it is highly recommendable to use it in transplants production thus ensuring the proper rooting of cuttings for earlier transplanting.

Plant biostimulants can stimulate the increase of growth, metabolism and the biosynthesis of metabolites in plants. This study investigated the changes of rosemary essential oil and its components composition under use of biostimulants for the possible reduction in use of chemical fertilizers. Treatments included biostimulants based on amino acids in four formulations, Aminolforte, Kadostim, Humiforte, and Fosnutren (each of them at 0.75 and 1.5 L ha-1), and application of N.P.K fertilizer as a control treatment (by applied complete fertilizer at 100 kg per hectar with proportion of 15:8:15 percentage of N:P:K in the fertilizer). Results showed that the essential oil content and its components were significantly affected by biostimulants application. The maximum content of essential oil was obtained at 1.5 L ha-1 Humiforte and both concentrations of Aminolforte. While, the highest content of α-pinene, 1,8-cineole, and camphor as major components of rosemary essential oil were obtained at 1.5 L ha-1 Fosnutren. In addition, the maximum content of linalool, z-pinocamphone, bornyl acetate, and caryophyllene oxide were observed at 1.5 L ha-1 Fosnutren.Although, the highest content of myrcene and verbenone was obtained in the treatment with N.P.K fertilizer, but the maximum contents of β-pinene, camphene, borneol, and α-terpineol were related to the both concentrations of Aminolforte.We can conclude that biostimulants based on amino acids can be an effective alternative in reducing the use of chemical fertilizer and increasing the quantity and quality of rosemary essential oil.

In this study, Rosmarinus officinalis L. essential oil and three of its main components 1,8-cineole (27.23%), α-pinene (19.43%) and β-pinene (6.71%) were evaluated for their in vitro antibacterial activities and toxicology properties. R. officinalis L. essential oil possessed similar antibacterial activities to α-pinene, and a little bit better than β-pinene, while 1,8-cineole possessed the lowest antibacterial activities. R. officinalis L. essential oil exhibited the strongest cytotoxicity towards three human cancer cells. Its inhibition concentration 50% (IC50) values on SK-OV-3, HO-8910 and Bel-7402 were 0.025‰, 0.076‰ and 0.13‰ (v/v), respectively. The cytotoxicity of all the test samples on SK-OV-3 was significantly stronger than on HO-8910 and Bel-7402. In general, R. officinalis L. essential oil showed greater activity than its components in both antibacterial and anticancer test systems, and the activities were mostly related to their concentrations.

Extratos vegetais podem auxiliar no controle de doenças de plantas, por sua atividade antimicrobiana ou pela ativação de mecanismos de defesa. Neste trabalho, objetivou-se avaliar o efeito dos extratos aquosos de alho e alecrim autoclavados e não autoclavados sobre o crescimento micelial de Colletotrichum lindemuthianum, a produção de faseolina em feijoeiro e a severidade de antracnose em campo. O fungo foi incubado em meio de cultura contendo os extratos, e o crescimento foi mensurado por 18 dias. Para avaliação de faseolina, os extratos foram aplicados sobre hipocótilos de feijão, a extração foi feita em etanol e a leitura foi realizada em espectrofotômetro. A severidade da antracnose foi avaliada em plantas de feijão pulverizadas com os extratos e inoculadas com o fungo. Para o extrato de alho, a maior redução (57,6%) no crescimento micelial foi com a dose de 3,0% do extrato não autoclavado. Já para o extrato de alecrim, a maior redução (18,6%) foi com o extrato autoclavado. A autoclavagem não teve efeito sobre a indução de faseolina. À campo, os extratos não reduziram significativamente a severidade de antracnose. O extrato de alho não autoclavado mostrou-se mais eficiente na redução do crescimento de C. lindemuthianum, enquanto que o de alecrim, autoclavado ou não, foi mais efetivo na indução de faseolina.Plant extracts may assist in controlling plants diseases due to its antimicrobial activity and activation of defense mechanisms. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of aqueous extracts of garlic and rosemary, autoclaved or non autoclaved, on the mycelial growth of Colletotrichum lindemuthianum, production of phaseollin by beans and severity of anthracnose in the field. The fungus was incubated in medium containing the extracts and its growth measured for 18 days. For phaseollin evaluation the extracts were applied on bean hypocotyls, the phytoalexin extracted in ethanol and read in spectrophotometer. The severity of anthracnose was evaluated in bean plants sprayed with the extracts and inoculated with the fungus. For the garlic extract, the greater reduction (57,6%) in micelial growth was at 3% in the non autoclaved extract, as for the rosemary extract, the greater reduction (18,6%) was in the autoclaved extract. Autoclaving had no effect on the induction of phaseollin. At field conditions, the extracts did not reduce significantly the severity of anthracnose. The non autoclaved garlic extract showed to be more efficient in reducing the mycelial growth of C. lindemuthianum, while rosemary, autoclaved or not, proved to be more effective in the induction of phaseollin.

O a - tocoferol é o mais biologicamente ativo de todos os compostos com atividade vitamínica E, porém é considerado o menos estável em alta temperatura. Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar, em condições de termoxidação, a influência do extrato de alecrim na resistência do a - tocoferol original e adicionado em óleo de soja. Foram submetidos ao aquecimento a 180ºC os seguintes sistemas lipídicos: óleo de soja isento de seus tocoferóis originais e adicionado de 600 mg/kg de a-tocoferol (OP + TOC) e adicionado da mistura de 600 mg/kg de -tocoferol e 1.000 mg/kg de extrato de alecrim (OP + M), óleo de soja natural (ON) e óleo de soja natural adicionado de 1.000 mg/kg de extrato de alecrim (ON + ALE). Foi avaliada a alteração das amostras submetidas à termoxidação nos tempos 0, 5 e 10 horas por meio da determinação de a-tocoferol. Após 10 horas de aquecimento, as amostras de OP + TOC, OP + M, ON e ON + ALE apresentaram, respectivamente, 67, 87, 70 e 95% de retenção do -tocoferol inicial. O extrato de alecrim contribuiu para aumentar a retenção do -tocoferol em óleo de soja aquecido em alta temperatura.

The essential oil (EO) from Rosmarinus officinalis L. gains attention as preservative in food and pharmaceutical industry. As specialized metabolites biosynthesis is mostly affected by abiotic factors (e.g. climate, temperature, light, etc.), our efforts have been devoted to study was the chemical composition and the antimicrobial activity of the EO from R. officinalis in Kashan, Iran. Twenty-nine components were identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. The main compounds included α-pinene (19.41%), 1,8-cineole (15.40%), camphor (8.87%), borneol (8.48%) and verbenone (8.8%). The studied EO was active against Gram-positive bacteria Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis. Based on MIC values, the inhibitory effect against Pseudomonas aeruginosa was higher than that of rifampin. The antimicrobial activity of rosemary EO from Kashan Region (Iran) encourages its cultivation among local farmers to promote a local production. • -The essential oil was obtained from rosemary plants harvested in Kashan Region (Iran). • -α-Pinene, 1,8-cineole, camphor, and borneol were the main EO compounds. • -The EO was active against Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus. • -The EO had the strongest inhibitory effect against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The composition of 48 essential oil samples, obtained by steam distillation of rosemary ( Rosmarinus oftiicinalis L.) originated from six different locations of southern Turkey (Izmir, Aydin, Antalya, Mersin, Adana and Hatay) has been analyzed by capillary GC/MS in combination with retention indices. The essential oil yield ranged from 0.35% to 2.08%. Wide variation was observed among the lines regarding their essential oil yield. The highest mean essential oil yield was determined from the Mersin lines with 0.94%. The maximum amount for plant height (16.2 cm), branch per plant (20.48), fresh herb yield (3.34 t/ha), fresh leaf yield and dry leaf yield (0.82 t/ha) was devoted to the lines provided from Antalya province. The essential oil composition of the lines changed from 14.3% to 17.5% camphor, 11.0–21.6% eucalyptol and 10.2–12.5% α-pinene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Groundcovers play a very important role in the creation of urban green spaces. They provide many agronomic and environmental benefits while simplifying the urban landscape management. In the areas with a Mediterranean-type climate, the development of low-input landscapes, with the ability to maintain their functions and aesthetical appeal, is pivotal. The aim of this study was to identify groundcover species that could be suited to the local environmental conditions and to evaluate the effect of different mulching systems on plant growth and weed suppression. Digital image analysis was used to measure the green cover percentage of four species ( Hedera helix L., Hypericum calycinum L., Rosmarinus officinalis L., Vinca minor L.) grown on two different types of mulch (EcoCover ® and wood-chips) and on bare soil. Changes in plant coverage, NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) and weed biomass were recorded over a two year period. The prostrate R. officinalis established rapidly and reached more than 80% of coverage within 3 months after planting. Also, it was not affected by weed competition. Non-native H. calycinum also exhibited a quick spread, but it was unsuitable for low-input Mediterranean landscapes because it died during late summer from fungal disease. H. helix and V. minor were also adversely affected by pathogens and, due to their slow initial growth and low percent cover in the second year, they did not control weeds during the study. With the exception of R. officinalis , mulching materials did not significantly improve the establishment and cover ability of the tested species, but had significant effects on weed suppression. Digital image analysis and spectral reflectance proved to be reliable and objective techniques to assess groundcover performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To evaluate the antioxidant activity of the essential oil obtained from Rosmarinus officinalis ( R. officinalis ) in ethanol-induced gastric ulcer model in vivo . Methods The antioxidant properties of the essential oil obtained from R. officinalis were evaluated against gastric injury induced by absolute ethanol. Gastric tissues were prepared to enzymatic assays. The levels of glutathione, lipid peroxides, and the activities of glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and myeloperoxidase were measured. Results Ethanol produced severe hemorrhagic lesions in the stomach with ulcerative lesion of (140.2 ± 37.2) mm 2 . In animals pretreated with essential oil of R. officinalis (50 mg/kg, p.o. ), a significant inhibition of mucosal injury of (21.2 ± 7.1) mm 2 (84% inhibition) was observed. The essential oil of R. officinalis protected the gastric mucosa probably by modulating the activities of the enzymes (superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase) and increasing or maintaining the levels of glutathione. In addition, lipid peroxides levels were reduced. The essential oil of R. officinalis was analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometer and the main constituents were cineole (28.5%), camphor (27.7%) and alpha-pinene (21.3%). Conclusions We suggest that the monoterpenes present in the essential oil obtained from R. officinalis may be among the active principles responsible for the antioxidant activity shown by essential oil of R. officinalis . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this work was to study the changes during 15 days in the monoterpene emission rates of the Mediterranean shrub rosemary ( Rosmarinus officinalis L.), in response to increasing drought stress and fertilisation using two different composts derived from livestock anaerobic digestates (cattle and pig slurry). Drought stress considerably reduced photosynthetic rates, stomatal conductance and isoprenoid emissions and also induced a change in blend composition. In the drought stressed rosemary plants, a positive relationship of non-oxygenated monoterpene emissions and a negative relationship of oxygenated monoterpene with photosynthesis were observed, indicating a different control mechanism over the emissions of the two types of isoprenoids. The emission of non-oxygenated monoterpenes seemed to depend more on photosynthesis and “de novo” synthesis, whereas emission of oxygenate monoterpenes was more dependent on volatilisation from storage, mainly driven by cumulative temperatures. In the short term, the addition of composted organic materials to the soil did not induce a significant effect on isoprenoid emission rates in the rosemary plants. However, the effect of the interaction between fertilisation and seasonality on isoprenoid emission rates was influenced by the amendment origin. Also, we emphasized changes in potential isoprenoid emission factors throughout the experiment, probably indicating changes in the leaf developmental stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Rosemary ( Rosmarinus officinalis L.) is a widely consumed aromatic plant that belongs to the Lamiaceae family. Fresh and dried leaves are frequently used in traditional Mediterranean cuisine and in folk medicine. Scope and approach For this study, an extensive bibliographic review on rosemary was carried out, including its main uses, components (both nutrients and bioactive), biological activities, interactions with drugs and potential applications. Key findings and conclusions The nutrient composition of rosemary reveals a great amount of vitamins and minerals. The most well studied bioactive compounds are carnosic acid, carnosol, caffeic acid and its derivative, rosmarinic acid. The levels on bioactive compounds depend on many factors, such as the variety, plant part, edafoclimatic conditions, drying conditions (if applied) and extraction and analysis methods. Numerous biological activities of rosemary are recognized including antioxidant, antibacterial and antifungal, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, among others. Therefore it has a vast range of industrial applications such as food and food packaging, pharmaceutical, perfumery and cosmetics industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Ultrasound-assisted encapsulation of essential oils was evaluated in this study. • The application mode of high-intensity ultrasound (HIUS) impacts the phytochemicals retention. • Essential oils had their encapsulation efficiency in colloidal systems affected by HIUS processes. • Applying the same HIUS specific energy in different ways results in different oil retention capacities. • The use of different HIUS processes at 300 J g−1 did not affect the kinetic stability of emulsions. In the last years, high-intensity ultrasound (HIUS) technology has shown consistent growth as a smart alternative for developing processes and innovative products, such as emulsified systems. However, there is still a lack of standard process protocols for designing HIUS-assisted colloidal systems, such as essential oil (EO)-based emulsions. In this work, we reported the impact of different homogenization strategies using ultrasound energy on the production of oil-in-water emulsions containing different EOs (clove, orange, and rosemary) and gum Arabic as an emulsifier. We evaluated the effect of applying a given HIUS specific energy (300 J g−1) on emulsion kinetic stability and encapsulation efficiency, using an acoustic power and process time binomial approach, analogously to conventional thermal pasteurization processes, in two ways: low power and long time (LPLT) and high power and short time (HPST). Emulsions presented kinetic stability after 72 h of storage, except for emulsions containing orange EO and high encapsulation efficiency (EE) values (81.5–100%, approximately). Furthermore, kinetic stability was associated with low droplet sizes (<1 μm). The use of different HIUS processes did not influence the kinetic stability of emulsions. However, the HPST process led to higher EE. This effect was more significant for emulsions containing clove and rosemary EOs. Additionally, different EOs resulted in emulsions with different physicochemical properties and EE. These results suggest that the way of applying ultrasound specific energy may be less significant for emulsion stabilization but might be considered for HIUS-assisted encapsulation. Therefore, the acoustic power and processing time binomial might be a useful approach for designing HIUS-assisted colloidal systems, such as EO-based emulsions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rosmarinus officinalis L. (rosemary) essential oil (REO) was tested for its antimicrobial activity alone and in combination with conventional antibiotics used against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Candida strains. The essential oil was chemically described using GC-MS analysis and its antibiotic-resistance modifying activity was assayed using microdilution method. A significant modulatory effect on the drug resistance was verified when the REO was used in association with aminoglycoside antibiotics against E. coli and S. aureus multidrug resistant strains. With respect to the antifungal tested, there was a decrease on amphotericin B activity when this antibiotic was tested in association with the REO against Candida krusei. On the other hand, the combined use of the REO with benzoilmetronidazole was more effective than the antibiotic alone when tested against C. krusei. Rosemary essential oil could become a promising source of metabolites with antibiotic-resistance modifying activity for use against multi-drug-resistant microorganisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The infections risk related to pathogenic germs increases at the present time considering the increased resistance which certain microbes acquire, whose usual antibiotics are ineffective to treat the infectious disease. The aim of this study was to determine antimicrobial effect of the aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Lavandula stoechas L. and Rosmarinus officinalis L. on Listeria monocytogenes PTCC 1297,Bacillus cereus PTCC 1154, Enterobacter aerogenes PTCC 1221, Enterococcus faecalis PTCC 1237 and Salmonella typhi PTCC 1609 "in vitro". In this experimental study, after collecting plants from of Razavi Khorasan province, the extraction was carried out by the maceration method, after antimicrobial effect of the extracts evaluated by two methods, "Collins method" (spreading of the extract on medium surface) and "disk agar diffusion method". The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) for both species determined by using a dilution method. Statistical analysis was carried out by analysis of variance (ANOVA). The results show that aqueous and ethanolic Lavandula stoechas L. extracts were quite effective in 2000 µg/ml concentration on Listeria monocytogenes,Bacillus cereus and Enterococcus faecalis. The results indicate that ethanolic extracts of Lavandula stoechas L. have the greatest effect on gram-positive bacterium. The result shows that MIC of Lavandula stoechas L. leaves of the aqueous and ethanolic extracts for Enterobacter aerogenes was 32 and 16 mg/ml respectively. The result shows that MIC of Rosmarinus officinalis L. leaves of the aqueous and ethanolic extracts for Enterobacter aerogenes was 128 and 64 mg/ml respectively. The Lavandula stoechas L. and Rosmarinus officinalis L. extracts presented the more effective impact on the growth of gram-positive bacteria than gram-negative bacteria (p<0.05). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Isolation of secondary metabolites in natural products chemistry. [•] Comparison of the performance of semipreparative HPLC and HPTLC. [•] Semipreparative HPTLC offers some advantages over conventional semipreparative HPLC. [•] HPLC remains the most efficient, but for a higher yield, HPTLC should be preferred. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) is an aromatic, evergreen, medicinally important shrub and widely used for cooking, tea, cosmetics as well as medicinal materials. It is grown in many countries including China that had more than 9300 hm2 of commercial cultivation area in 2021. In March 2020, a leaf spot disease sporadic occurred in field rosemarry plants in Nanyang City (32º51´ N, 111º36´ E), Henan Province, China. The disease outbreaked in September with a disease incidence of 57-83%. Symptoms initially appeared as small brown leaf spots that gradually expanded into dark blackbrown irregular lesions. Most of the spots started from the leaf tip or leaf margin, and gradually spread to the leaf base, resulting in heavy defoliation especially on rainy days. Diseased leaf segments (1×3 mm) were surface-sterilized by dipping in 1% sodium hypochlorite for 1 min, rinsed three times with sterile distilled water, and plated on potato dextrose agar, then incubated at 28°C in the dark for 5 days. Twelve fungal isolates with the same morphological characteristics were obtained from nine affected leaves. The fungal colonies were initially white and turned gray brown with flocculent aerial mycelia and a whorled back. Conidia were frequently born in a long chain, with a short beak, brown or light-brown, 13.2 to 48. 7 (average 26.1) × 4.0 to 13.1 (average 8.0) μm in size (n=148) with 0 to 8 transverse and 0 to 3 longitudinal/oblique septa. Phenotypic features of the isolates agreed with those of Alternaria alternata (Simmons et al. 2007). Two isolates Aa1 and Aa2 were randomly selected for molecular and pathogenicity tests. DNA was extracted from mycelia. Partial sequences of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and translation elongation factor 1-alpha (TEF1-α) were amplified using the primer pairs ITS1/ITS4 and EFI-728F/EFI-986R (Wei et al. 2022), respectively. The GenBank accession nos. were OK036714 and OK036715 for ITS, and ON951980 and ON951981 for TEF1-α of Aa1 and Aa2, respectively, with a maximal identity of greater than 99% to multiple A. alternata strains. In the neighbour joining phylogenetic tree of the amplified ITS and TEF1-α sequences both Aa1 and Aa2 clustered with A. alternata strains, clearly separating them from other Alternaria spp. For pathogenicity test, conidial suspensions (1×106 spores /mL) of Aa1 and Aa2 were separately sprayed on healthy one-year-old rosemary plants (n=3) with their leaves slightly wounded with a sterilized needle. Control plants (n=3) were sprayed with sterile water. Both inoculated and control plants were incubated at 90% RH, 28 °C. After 14 days, all the inoculated leaves showed black brown lesions similar to those on naturally affected field plants, whereas controls remained symptomless. Fungal cultures with the same phenotypic features as the inocula were constantly re-isolated from the infected leaves. A. alternata was reported as pathogen causing foliar necrosis on rosemary in Italy (Perello et al.1995) and leaf spot (or leaf blight) on multiple plant species such as Actaea dahurica (Hai et al. 2022), and Ligustrum japonicum (Wei et al. 2022) in China. This is the first report of A. alternata causing leaf black spot on rosemary in China.

• Hydroxyapatite nanoparticles was prepared as novel nano-fertilizer of phosphorus and evaluated for Rosmarinus officinalis plant • Rosemary oil components were higher in nano-fertilizer compared to control group with NPK • On anatomy level, nanofertilizer affected different parameters compared to traditional NPK • Hydroxyapatite nanoparticles nano-fertilizer showed great possibility to improve productivity of rosemary plant Nano-fertilizers are new materials produced by means of nanotechnology and may soon replace conventional fertilizers. Nanomaterials including nanoparticles are characterized by rapid absorption and controlled delivery of nutrients in plants. In the current study, hydroxyapatite, i.e., calcium phosphate, nanoparticles (HAP NPs) were developed as a novel phosphorus nano-fertilizer and evaluated for the growth characters, essential oil content, and histological changes in rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) plants. For comparison, the NPK fertilizer was used. The results showed that compared to the traditional form NPK, nano-HA at 0.5 and 1.0 g/L enhanced the growth character and essential oil production along with its major constituents during both cuts. The levels of rosemary oil components including α-pinene, eucalyptol, camphor, endo-borneol and verbenone were higher in the nano-fertilizer group than in the control group. Furthermore, the highest values of the stem diameter, fiber thickness, phloem tissue thickness, xylem tissue thickness, pith diameter of the stem and the midvein thickness and lamina thickness of the leaf were obtained with nano-fertilizer. In conclusion, the data demonstrate that hydroxyapatite nanoparticles as a nano-fertilizer showed great potential to improve the productivity of rosemary plants. This approach opens a new avenue for exploring nanomaterials as an alternative technology to traditional fertilizers used in medicinal and aromatic plant culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This systematic review aimed to evaluate the potential anti-inflammatory effect of Rosmarinus officinalis in preclinical in vivo models of inflammation. A search was conducted in the databases PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, with related keywords. The inclusion criteria were inflammation, plant, and studies on rats or mice; while, the exclusion criteria were reviews, studies with in vitro models, and associated plants. The predominant animal models were paw edema, acute liver injury, and asthma. Rosemary was more commonly used in its entirety than in compounds, and the prevalent methods of extraction were maceration and hydrodistillation. The most common routes of administration reported were gavage, intraperitoneal, and oral, on a route-dependent dosage. Treatment took place daily, or was single-dose, on average for 21 days, and it more often started before the induction. The most evaluated biomarkers were tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-10, myeloperoxidase (MPO), catalase (CAT), glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), malondialdehyde (MDA), and superoxide dismutase (SOD). The best results emerged at a dose of 60 mg/kg, via IP of carnosic acid, a dose of 400 mg/kg via gavage of Rosmarinus officinalis, and a dose of 10 mg/kg via IP of rosmarinic acid. Rosmarinus officinalis L. showed anti-inflammatory activity before and after induction of treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rosemary oil is one of the more famous essential oils widely used in aromatherapy. However, the effects of rosemary oil on the human body, in particular the nervous system, have not been sufficiently studied. This study investigates the effects of the inhalation of rosemary oil on test subjects' feelings, as well as its effects on various physiological parameters of the nervous system. Twenty healthy volunteers participated in the experiment. All subjects underwent autonomic nervous system (ANS) recording. This consisted of measurements of skin temperature; heart rate; respiratory rate; blood pressure; evaluations of the subjects' mood states; and electroencephalography (EEG) recordings in the pre-, during treatment, and post-rosemary inhalation periods as compared with control conditions. Our results showed significant increases in blood pressure, heart rate, and respiratory rate after rosemary oil inhalation. After the inhalation treatments, subjects were found to have become more active and stated that they felt "fresher". The analysis of EEGs showed a reduction in the power of alpha1 (8-10.99 Hz) and alpha2 (11-12.99 Hz) waves. Moreover, an increment in the beta wave (13-30 Hz) power was observed in the anterior region of the brain. These results confirm the stimulatory effects of rosemary oil and provide supporting evidence that brain wave activity, autonomic nervous system activity, as well as mood states are all affected by the inhalation of the rosemary oil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on characterization of target compounds of rosemary from 16 regions of Algeria in order to highlight the correlation between the samples composition and their origin. Essential oil was determined using gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. Phenolic compounds were analysed using high performance liquid chromatography based on two monolithic columns (HPLC-DAD). The analyses revealed that hydrodistilled essential oils content ranged from 0.33 to 1.47 %; the maximum amounts were observed in the National Institute of Agronomy. A total of 25 components accounting for 88.11-99.80 % of the total essential oil, according regions were identified. α-Pinene (20.13-72.58 %) and camphor (6.64-36.44 %) were identified as the main constituents on oils. Two chemotypes for this plant were proposed. The main antioxidants compounds (carnosol, rosmarinic and carnosic acid) in rosemary were determined at a concentration ranging from 0.27 to 2.49 % for rosmarinic acid, 0.01 to 1.77 % for carnosic acid and 0.17 to 0.94 % for carnosol, according to regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) has been used in folk medicine to treat headaches, epilepsy, poor circulation, and many other ailments. It was found that rosemary could act as a stimulant and mild analgesic and could reduce inflammation. However, the mechanisms underlying the anti-inflammatory effects of rosemary need more study to be established. Therefore, in this study, the effects of rosemary on the activation of nuclear factor kappa beta (NF-kB) and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and the production of nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), and cytokine in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells were investigated. A methanol extract of rosemary and its hexane fraction reduced NO generation with an IC50 of 2.75 and 2.83μg/ml, respectively. Also, the methanol extract and the hexane fraction inhibited LPS-induced MAPKs and NF-kB activation associated with the inhibition of iNOS or COX-2 expression. LPS-induced production of PGE2 and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) were blocked by rosemary. Rosemary extract and its hexane fraction are important for the prevention of phosphorylation of MAPKs, thereby blocking NF-kB activation, which in turn leads to decreased expression of iNOS and COX-2, thus preventing inflammation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Botanical extracts are one of the richest sources of antioxidants that counteract both free radicals and oxygen reactive species. The solvent and extraction conditions used in the extraction may influence the quantity, antioxidant composition and biological activity. Ethanolic extracts of rosemary leaf were produced by maceration and percolation and different ethanol concentrations (30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 and 96%) were used for extraction. Influence of ethanol concentration and extraction method on the amount of total phenolic content and antioxidant activity and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical inactivation were determined spectrophotometrically. The most potent solvent concentration was 50% for the evaluation of total polyphenols 47.39 ± 0.21 mg/mL RAE. All tested rosemary extracts showed high DPPH radical inactivation which ranged from 75.96 ± 1.12% to 85.81 ± 0.14%, but no statistically significant difference (P > 0.0624) was observed. The dry residue was also evaluated and it was higher in the liquid extracts than in tinctures. Stirring of rosemary leaves increased the total phenolics (from 42 till 53 mg/ml RAE) in the 50% ethanolic rosemary tincture. Extraction by percolation showed higher amounts of dry residue and phenolics, but antioxidant activity was lower. Correlation between the total phenolic content and antioxidant activity was not observed. Active moistening is effective and can increase the amount of extractive substances from herbal materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Depending on the use area of rosemary essential oil, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, or in food, the choice of both method and extraction time is fundamental, and the sample characterization is mainly based on comparing a few compounds that act as markers of a defined quality for a precise application. In the present work, the kinetic study of major components of Rosmarinus officinalis L. essential oils obtained by solvent-free microwave extraction (SMFE) and by hydrodistillation (HD) has been followed in order to determine the optimum extraction time of a defined bioactive molecule or its chemical family as well as its recommended extraction technique, either SFME or HD. The monoterpene hydrocarbons were nearly extracted completely in the first instants by SFME and progressively by HD. In contrast, the oxygenated monoterpenes were substantially extracted during the first minutes by HD and progressively by SFME. While the extraction of trans-caryophyllene was achieved at the beginning with SFME, it required more than 2 h with HD. A substantial gain in the extraction time has been obtained using SFME. Even though the essential oils extracted by SFME (30 min) and HD (3 h) are qualitatively similar, the oil fractions obtained during extraction time are very different. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Listeria monocytogenes has the capability of adapting to 1 or more antimicrobial compounds or procedures applied by the food industry to control the growth and survival of microorganisms in foods. In this study, the effects of Rosmarinus officinalis essential oil (EO) and the related compound 1,8-cineole on the inhibition of the growth and survival of L. monocytogenes ATCC 7644 were determined. The ability of the R. officinalis EO and 1,8-cineole to induce direct and cross-protection of bacteria against various stresses (lactic acid, pH 5.2; NaCl, 3 g/100 mL; high temperature, 45 °C) was also determined. At all concentrations tested (minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), ½ MIC, and ¼ MIC), both compounds inhibited the cell viability of L. monocytogenes over 120 min of exposure. Overnight exposure of L. monocytogenes to sublethal amounts of either the R. officinalis EO or 1,8-cineole in meat broth revealed no induction of direct or cross-protection against lactic acid, NaCl, or high temperature. Similarly, cells subjected to 24 h cycles of adaptation with increasing amounts (½ MIC to 2× MIC) of the EO and 1,8-cineole showed no increase in direct tolerance, as they were able to survive in growth medium containing up to ½ MIC of either substance. These results show the antimicrobial efficacy of R. officinalis EO and 1,8-cineole for use in systems, particularly as anti- L. monocytogenes compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Ethnopharmacological relevance: Rosemary is a species used worldwide as a common spice, but also in folk medicine for their therapeutic properties against abdominal pain. The rationale of this study was to examine the involvement of triterpenes and to compare their effectiveness in the antinociceptive effect of an ethanol extract of Rosmarinus officinalis L. (Lamiaceae). Material and methods: Fractionation and HPLC analyses allowed the identification of a mixture of micromeric (121mg/g), oleanolic (64mg/g) and ursolic (83mg/g) acids as partial antinociceptive responsible in an ethyl acetate fraction of R. officinalis by using the acetic acid-induced abdominal constrictions model in mice. Results: These triterpenes individually evaluated produced a significant and dose-dependent antinociceptive response with similar potency as follows: ED50=1.1mg/kg (0.9–1.3mg/kg), 2.1mg/kg (1.6–2.6mg/kg) and 1.6mg/kg (1.1–2.1mg/kg), respectively, by using the intraperitoneal (i.p.) route of administration in mice. Their maximal antinociceptive efficacy resembled that produced by ketorolac (10mg/kg, i.p.), a common clinic analgesic. Conclusion: Our results provide evidence that these triterpenes participate in the antinociceptive activity of R. officinalis. In addition, each individual triterpene showed a similar potency to that observed with ketorolac, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, in this experimental model. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In this study, Rosmarinus officinalis L. essential oil and three of its main components 1,8-cineole (27.23%), α-pinene (19.43%) and β-pinene (6.71%) were evaluated for their in vitro antibacterial activities and toxicology properties. R. officinalis L. essential oil possessed similar antibacterial activities to α-pinene, and a little bit better than β-pinene, while 1,8-cineole possessed the lowest antibacterial activities. R. officinalis L. essential oil exhibited the strongest cytotoxicity towards three human cancer cells. Its inhibition concentration 50% (IC50) values on SK-OV-3, HO-8910 and Bel-7402 were 0.025‰, 0.076‰ and 0.13‰ (v/v), respectively. The cytotoxicity of all the test samples on SK-OV-3 was significantly stronger than on HO-8910 and Bel-7402. In general, R. officinalis L. essential oil showed greater activity than its components in both antibacterial and anticancer test systems, and the activities were mostly related to their concentrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) extracts (RE) are natural antioxidants that are used in food, food supplements and cosmetic applications; exert anti-inflammatory and anti-hyperglycaemic effects; and promote weight loss, which can be exploited to develop new preventive strategies against metabolic disorders. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the preventive effects of rosemary leaf extract that was standardised to 20 % carnosic acid (RE) on weight gain, glucose levels and lipid homeostasis in mice that had begun a high-fat diet (HFD) as juveniles. The animals were given a low-fat diet, a HFD or a HFD that was supplemented with 500 mg RE/kg body weight per d (mpk). Physiological and biochemical parameters were monitored for 16 weeks. Body and epididymal fat weight in animals on the HFD that was supplemented with RE increased 69 and 79 % less than those in the HFD group. Treatment with RE was associated with increased faecal fat excretion but not with decreased food intake. The extract also reduced fasting glycaemia and plasma cholesterol levels. In addition, we evaluated the inhibitory effects of RE in vitro on pancreatic lipase and PPAR-γ agonist activity; the in vitro findings correlated with our observations in the animal experiments. Thus, the present results suggest that RE that is rich in carnosic acid can be used as a preventive treatment against metabolic disorders, which merits further examination at physiological doses in randomised controlled trials. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Abstract: Ethnopharmacological relevance: Rosmarinus officinalis L. is a plant used around the world for its properties to cure pain in several conditions, such as arthritic and abdominal pain or as an antispasmodic; however, there are no scientific studies demonstrating its spasmolytic activity. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of an ethanol extract from Rosmarinus officinalis aerial parts and the possible mechanism involved by using rings from the isolated guinea pig ileum (IGPI). Materials and methods: The IGPI rings were pre-contracted with potassium chloride (KCl; 60mM), acetylcholine (ACh; 1×10−9 to 1×10−5 M) or electrical field stimulation (EFS; 0.3Hz of frequency, 3.0ms of duration and 14V intensity) and tested in the presence of the Rosmarinus officinalis ethanol extract (150, 300, 600 and 1 200μg/mL) or a referenced smooth muscle relaxant (papaverine, 30μM). In addition, the possible mechanism of action was analyzed in the presence of hexametonium (a ganglionic blocker), indomethacine (an inhibitor of prostaglandins), l-NAME (a selective inhibitor of the nitric oxide synthase) and nifedipine (a calcium channel blocker). Results: Rosmarinus officinalis ethanol extract exhibited a significant and concentration-dependent spasmolytic activity on the contractions induced by KCl (CI50 =661.06±155.91μg/mL); ACh (CI50 =464.05±16.85μg/mL) and EFS (CI50 =513.72±34.13μg/mL). Spasmolytic response of Rosmarinus officinalis (600μg/mL) was reverted in the presence of nifedipine 1μM, but not in the presence of hexamethonium 0.5mM, indomethacine 1μM or l-NAME 100μM. Conclusion: The present results reinforce the use of Rosmarinus officinalis as antispasmodic in folk medicine. Moreover, it is demonstrated the involvement of calcium channels in this activity, but not the participation of nicotinic receptors, prostaglandins or nitric oxide. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Polyphenoloxidase (PPO) from Rosmarinus officinalis L. was fractionated by ammonium sulfate ((NH)SO) precipitation and dialysis, and then some of its kinetic properties such as optimum pH and temperature, substrate specificity, thermal inactivation, and inhibition were investigated using 4-methylcatechol, catechol, and pyrogallol as substrates. The protein content of Rosmarinus officinalis L. extracts was determined according to Bradford's method. Kinetic parameters, K and V, were calculated from Lineweaver-Burk plots. According to V/ K ratio, 4-methylcatechol was the most suitable substrate. The optimum temperature and pH values were 20, 30 and 30 °C, and 7, 8 and 8 for 4-methylcatechol, catechol, and pyrogallol substrates, respectively. The thermal inactivation of PPO was investigated at 35, 55, and 75 °C. The enzyme activity decreased with increasing temperature. The effect of different inhibitors on partly purified Rosmarinus officinalis L. PPO was spectrophotometrically investigated. For this purpose, ascorbic acid and l-cysteine were used to inhibit the activity of Rosmarinus officinalis L. PPO at different concentrations. From the experimental results, it was found that l-cysteine is a more effective inhibitor than ascorbic acid due to lower K values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The composition of the essential oil of Rosemary was analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). 22 components, which constitute 97.41% of the oil, were identified. The major constituents were 1,8-Cineole (26.54%) and α-Pinene (20.14%). Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs), minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) and time–kill dynamic processes against three Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis), three Gram-negative bacteria (Proteus vulgaris, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli) and two fungi (Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger) were determined for the oil, 1,8-Cineole and α-Pinene. The oil showed pronounced antibacterial and antifungal activity than 1,8-Cineole and α-Pinene against all of the tested microbes. Furthermore, the survival rates and morphological changes of S. aureus after treatment with different concentrations of the essential oil were assessed by flow cytometry (FCM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The influence of the vacuum level and the microwave power on aroma compounds and sensory quality of Rosmarinus officinalis dehydrated by vacuum–microwave (VM) method was evaluated. VM drying kinetics consisted of two periods: linear until a critical point and exponential beyond that point. The time needed to dry rosemary was shorter for high values of microwave power and vacuum intensity. Volatile compounds of rosemary samples were extracted by steam–hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC–MS. Thirty-one compounds were identified, with α-pinene, verbenone and 1,8-cineole being the major components; monoterpenoids were the predominant chemical family. The total quantity of volatiles of fresh rosemary (27.2gkg−1) decreased during drying, independently of treatments, to a mean of 14.8gkg−1. Soft conditions of VM drying (low vacuum level and microwave power) are recommended to get the highest concentrations of volatiles and the best sensory quality (e.g. 72–74kPa and 360W). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In an attempt to differentiate and study one of the most popular medicinal plants (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) grown in the North East region of Iraq, a number of experiments were carried out to differentiate between subspecies available in Kurdistan Province at the morphological and molecular levels. A survey and morphological study was conducted on these subspecies of rosemary in Erbil and Sulaimania governorates. It was found that there are morphological differences in leaves, flowers, shoot growth directions, number of branches, leaf size and shape, accordingly two subspecies were identified and marked as class A and class B of R. officinalis in North East of Iraq. Subspecies A was characterized by a straight shoot growth, dark green leaves and whitish blue flowers while subspecies B has random growth, green leaves and white flowers. In order to investigate the genetic variation, the DNA was isolated and purified from the two subspecies, and then electrophorized using agarose gel. Chromosomal DNA appeared as a clear smear on gel for both A and B. Six types of restriction enzymes were used to digest the genomic DNA for both subspecies A and B, namely EcoRI, EcoRV, BamHI, HindIII, SalI and SmaI. Resulted genomic DNA was amplified using PCR technique for ribosomal DNA (rDNA) as the target sequence, of 668 bp which includes 18S, 5.8S and 26S RNA genes separated by two ITS regions that represent the non-coding sequence of interest for subspecies identification. It is concluded that there are obvious genomic differences in the rDNA in both subspecies, according to the recognition sites availability of restriction enzymes in template DNA, as there was cleavage sites for each one of EcoRV, BamHI, HindIII and SalI in rDNA sequence of subspecies A, while no one of the six restriction enzymes cleavage sites used was present in subspecies B. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Hesperidin occurs in greatest concentration in plants from the Rutaceae and Lamiaceae families. In human nutrition it contributes to the integrity of blood vessels and its deficiency in the diet has been linked to abnormal capillary leakiness as well as pain. In this study, the bioflavonoid hesperidin was identified as an active compound in an ethanol extract of the Rosmarinus officinalis aerial parts tested in the pain-induced functional impairment model in the rat (PIFIR) as an assay of inflammatory and chronic nociception similar to that observed in clinical gout. Hesperidin produced a dose-dependent and significant response with an ED25 =1666.72mg/kg in comparison to an ED25 =302.90mg/kg for the extract or an ED25 =0.47mg/kg for the reference drug ketorolac in the PIFIR model. Although the antinociceptive response of R. officinalis was reverted in presence of the opioid antagonist naloxone (10mg/kg, s.c.) and the 5HT1A antagonist WAY100635 (0.12mg/kg, s.c.), the hesperidin response was not modified by naloxone (10mg/kg), WAY100635 (0.12mg/kg), bicuculline (1mg/kg, s.c.), flumazenil (10mg/kg, i.p.) or caffeine (1mg/kg, s.c.). Nevertheless, it was reduced in presence of capsazepine (10 or 20mg/kg, s.c.) suggesting the participation of the TRPV1 receptor, which was reinforced when hesperidin significantly reduced the capsaicin-induced nociceptive response. A synergistic interaction was also observed when antinociceptive doses of hesperidin were combined with those of ketorolac producing 15 combinations mainly in additive and supra-additive responses. These results provide evidence for the antinociceptive activity of hesperidin and demonstrate synergistic response when combined with ketorolac, possibly by involvement of the TRPV1 receptor, suggesting their clinical potential in pain therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of the crude extract (CE) of Rosmarinus officinalis L. its derived fractions: hexane (HEX), ethyl acetate (AcOEt), and ethanolic (ET), and isolated compounds: carnosol, betulinic acid and ursolic acid, in the mouse pleurisy model induced by carrageenan. Swiss mice were used in the in vivo experiments. The CE and its derived fractions and isolated compounds inhibited leukocytes, exudation, interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) levels, myeloperoxidase activity (MPO), and nitrite/nitrate production (NO x ) (p< 0.05). R. officinalis L. showed an important anti-inflammatory activity by inhibition not only of leukocytes and exudation, but also of a pro-inflammatory enzyme and mediators (MPO, NO x , IL-1β, and TNF-α). The present study showed that carnosol, betulinic acid and ursolic acid compounds could be responsible for this anti-inflammatory effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]