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The essential oils (EOs) of Coriandrum sativum, Carum carvi and Artemisia herba-alba have been screened for their insecticidal activity against Tribolium castaneum, Sitophilus oryzae and Lasioderma serricorne and for their antimicrobial activity against Gram (+), Gram (-) bacteria and against yeast strain. Artemisia herba-alba EO showed good insecticidal activity with 24-h against L. serricorne (LC50 = 29.7) and against T. castaneum (66.1 µg/mL) and antibacterial potentials against Staphyloccocus aureus (MIC = 0.125 mg/mL). The antimicrobial activities of C. carvi EO, rich in D-carvone (72.4%) and D-limonene (23.8%) were particularly remarkable, with LC50 of 27.9 µg/mL against L. serricorne. Similarly, coriander EO, with linalool (64.6%) as the major compound was selected for its antimicrobial activities (Candida albicans, MIC = 1 mg/mL). These findings demonstrated that the tested EOs could be used as a natural source of insecticidal and antimicrobial activity, which may have a variety of uses in the food and pharmaceutical sectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Nowadays, due to the toxic effects of synthetic compounds, we are witnessing a marked increase in the use of natural types, such as plant extracts. The present study aimed to assess the total phenolic and flavonoid content and in vitro comparative study of the biological activities of methanolic and aqueous extracts of Cuminum cyminum, Carum carvi, and Nigella sativa. Materials and Methods: This study measured the total phenolic and flavonoid contents. Thereafter, antioxidant capacity was measured by the DPPH free radical scavenging and reducing power methods. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were evaluated using the broth microdilution method. Results: Based on the results, total phenol and flavonoid contents varied from 6.1 to 37.7 mg GAE/g dw and 6.2 to 56.2 mg QE /g dw in the studied species. The species showed high antioxidant capacities. The extracts from the studied species exhibited significant antioxidant activity, with the highest percentage of DPPH free radical inhibition being attributed to the methanolic extract of Carum carvi at a concentration of 400 μg/mL (74.67%) and the highest iron-reducing capacity being attributed to the methanolic extract of Carum carvi at a concentration of 1000 μg/mL (54.0%). The results also pointed out that the methanolic extracts of all three plants, Cuminum cyminum, Carum carvi, and Nigella sativa, have antibacterial activity against four bacterial species: Escherichia coli (PTCC1399), clinical Salmonella typhimurium, Bacillus cereus (PTCC1015), and Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC25923). The lowest inhibitory concentration (25.6 mg/ml) and the lowest bactericidal concentration (5.12 mg/ml) were observed for the methanolic extract of Nigella sativa against E. coli, while among the aqueous extracts, only the aqueous extracts of Cuminum cyminum and Nigella sativa exhibited antibacterial effects against the four studied species. Conclusion: As evidenced by the results of this study, methanolic extract of three Cuminum cyminum, Carum carvi, and Nigella sativa had significant antioxidant and antibacterial activity against pathogenic bacteria. Therefore, these extracts can be considered natural herbal products for the management of bacterial infections. *Corresponding Author: Mojtaba Ranjbar; Emails: ranjbarf@ausmt.ac.ir View ORCID iD Profile You can also search for this author in: PubMed ResearchGate Scopus Google Scholar Google Scholar Profile

Simple Summary: The green peach aphid (Myzus persicae (Sulzer)) is considered one of the main pests of economically valuable crops. In the last decades, it has developed resistance to several chemical pesticides. More effective and environmentally friendly solutions for green peach aphid management, including plant essential oils, are being tested as alternatives to chemical pesticides. Repellents have gained interest because lower doses can be used against agricultural pests, with a reduced risk of developing insect resistance. In this study, three different types of caraway (Carum carvi L.) seed essential oils against green peach aphids were tested. Repellent activity testing was carried out using a bridge method and host plants of white cabbage. The aphids were placed on the bridge, and their choice was recorded depending on whether they went to the treatment side (containing the selected essential oil) or the control side (no essential oil). All the selected caraway essential oils showed that they repel aphids to various degrees. The optimal essential oil dose was determined in the same way. In addition, the essential oil was mixed with different surfactants to create a formulation basis for ready-to-use products, but the testing showed decreased repellent activity of such mixtures. An in vivo dual choice bioassay with white cabbage as a host plant was used to determine the repellent effect of three different accessions of caraway (Carum carvi L.) essential oils (EOs) against the green peach aphid Myzus persicae (Sulzer). The dominant components of the EO were D-Carvone (47.3–74.4%) and D-limonene (25.2–51.9%), which accounted for 99.2–99.5% of the EOs determined by GC/MS. The EO with the highest D-limonene content (51.9%) showed the highest repellence (Repellency Index (RI) = +41%), which was stable up to 330 min. The incorporation of several surfactants with different hydrophilic-lipophilic balance values (from 12.4 to 16.7) with caraway EO caused a general inhibition of the repellent effect during the testing period (RI from +41% to −19%). Overall, the findings indicate that caraway EO could be used as a green peach aphid repellent, but more work is needed to formulate the EO into a ready-to-use product. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background The skin has several functions, one of the most important of which is to protect the internal organs from external damage and the entry of germs. Since skin and wound healing is one of the mostly concerned issues worldwide, the development of wound healing remedies is one of the main fields in modern medical research. Objectives To evaluate the effect of the hydroalcoholic extract of Cumin carvi L. seed as one of the traditional medicinal plants used for wound healing through an in vivo model. Methods Wide circular skin wounds (2 × 2 cm) were created on the dorsal area of 50 Sprague–Dawley male rats ​​following ethical principles. The animals were divided into five groups including no treatment, base gel, tetracycline treatment, 10% v/v hydroalcoholic extract of Cumin carvi L. seed treatment and 20% v/v hydroalcoholic extract of Cumin carvi L. seed treatment group. Treatment was performed within 20 days. On days 1, 3, 5, 7 and 10, photographs were taken, and the percentage of wound healing was calculated. Also, on the 10th day, the skin area was sampled for histopathology and on the 20th day, the skin was sampled for biomechanical and total protein assessments. Results The results of wound healing percentage showed that from day 3 onwards, there was a significant improvement between the group treated with 20% v/v hydroalcoholic extract of Cumin carvi L. and the negative control and basal gel groups (p < 0.05). According to histopathological and total protein content evaluations, the amount of collagen production and inflammation score in the Cumin carvi‐treated groups confirmed the healing process compared to other groups. Conclusions According to the results of this project, 20% v/v ethanolic extract of Cumin carvi L. has potential therapeutic effects in the treatment of skin wounds. Wounds are one of the health concerns, and the economic burden of wound care and healing has continued to increase over the past years. The healing effects of C. carvi. ethanolic extract on the wound were investigated. The histopathological and macroscopical evaluations, as well as total protein content, were measured to investigate its wound healing properties.

Fungal plant diseases are considered one of the most destructive diseases for plants. In this current study, Neoscytalidium dimidiatum as a fungal plant pathogen was isolated from an infected Carum carvi L. plant (C. carvi) for the first time and controlled it using clove essential oil nanoemulsion (CEONE). This fungal plant pathogen was identified morphologically and genetically, then deposited in the gene bank under accession number OQ338188. CEONE was prepared and characterized using DLS, Zeta potential, and TEM analysis. The characterization results illustrated that the size of CEONE was lower than 100 nm, which was confirmed by TEM, which appeared spherical in shape. Results revealed that CEONE has promising antifungal activity towards N. dimidiatum, where inhibition percentages of CEONE at concentrations of 5000, 3000, and 1000 ppm were 82.2%, 53.3%, and 25.5%, respectively. At the pot level, N. dimidiatum was highly virulent on C. carvi, and CEONE and CEO were highly effective against N. dimidiatum blight disease, with 71.42% and 57.14% protection, respectively. Moreover, results revealed that there was a vast improvement in root length, plant height, and leaves. Additionally, the application of CEONE and CEO induced plant resistance by modifying proline, phenol, hydrogen peroxide, malondialdehyde, and antioxidant enzymes. In conclusion, N. dimidiatum was highly virulent on C. carvi but can be effectively reduced by CEONE through the eco-friendly method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Nowadays, due to the toxic effects of synthetic compounds, we are witnessing a marked increase in the use of natural types, such as plant extracts. The present study aimed to assess the total phenolic and flavonoid content and in vitro comparative study of the biological activities of methanolic and aqueous extracts of Cuminum cyminum, Carum carvi, and Nigella sativa. Materials and Methods: This study measured the total phenolic and flavonoid contents. Thereafter, antioxidant capacity was measured by the DPPH free radical scavenging and reducing power methods. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were evaluated using the broth microdilution method. Results: Based on the results, total phenol and flavonoid contents varied from 6.1 to 37.7 mg GAE/g dw and 6.2 to 56.2 mg QE /g dw in the studied species. The species showed high antioxidant capacities. The extracts from the studied species exhibited significant antioxidant activity, with the highest percentage of DPPH free radical inhibition being attributed to the methanolic extract of Carum carvi at a concentration of 400 μg/mL (74.67%) and the highest iron-reducing capacity being attributed to the methanolic extract of Carum carvi at a concentration of 1000 μg/mL (54.0%). The results also pointed out that the methanolic extracts of all three plants, Cuminum cyminum, Carum carvi, and Nigella sativa, have antibacterial activity against four bacterial species: Escherichia coli (PTCC1399), clinical Salmonella typhimurium, Bacillus cereus (PTCC1015), and Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC25923). The lowest inhibitory concentration (25.6 mg/ml) and the lowest bactericidal concentration (5.12 mg/ml) were observed for the methanolic extract of Nigella sativa against E. coli, while among the aqueous extracts, only the aqueous extracts of Cuminum cyminum and Nigella sativa exhibited antibacterial effects against the four studied species. Conclusion: As evidenced by the results of this study, methanolic extract of three Cuminum cyminum, Carum carvi, and Nigella sativa had significant antioxidant and antibacterial activity against pathogenic bacteria. Therefore, these extracts can be considered natural herbal products for the management of bacterial infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trotz steigender Nachfrage stagniert der Arzneipflanzenanbau in Deutschland seit Jahren. Derzeit wird der steigende Bedarf zu ca. 85-90 % aus Importen gedeckt (Fachagentur Nachwachsende Rohstoffe e. V., 2014). Ein Grund für den begrenzten Anbau stellen pilzliche Pathogene dar, die zu massiven Ernteausfällen führen können. Ein breites Screening auf aktuell auftretende pilzliche Pathogene wurde an Johanniskraut (Hypericum perforatum), Anis (Pimpinella anisum), Kümmel (Carum carvi), Koriander (Coriandrum sativum) und Fenchel (Foeniculum vulgare) über vier Jahre (2020-2023) durchgeführt, wobei der Schwerpunkt auf H. perforatum und P. anisum lag. Untersucht wurden symptomatische und asymptomatische Pflanzenproben sowie Saatgutchargen der genannten Kulturen. Um Pilze aus dem Material zu isolieren, wurde die Oberfläche des Materials desinfiziert und auf ein Nährmedium übertragen. Diese kulturabhänge Methode ist jedoch nicht für den Nachweis aller Pilze geeignet. So können z. B. Pilze mit einem sehr langsamen Wachstum von anderen überwachsen werden. Zudem können obligat biotrophe Pilze nicht auf Medium kultiviert werden. Für den Johanniskrautwelkeerreger, der derzeit immer noch ein massives Problem im H. perforatum-Anbau darstellt, wurde eine kulturunabhängige Methode unter Verwendung der Real-Time-PCR optimiert und validiert. Dieser Test ist schneller und sensitiver als der bisher verwendete kulturabhängige Nachweis und kann sehr gut für Routinetestungen verwendet werden. An P. anisum stellt Rost (Puccinia pimpinellae) eine große Herausforderung für den Anbau dar, da dieser den Ertrag und die Qualität des Ernteguts erheblich beeinträchtigt. Für den Nachweis dieses obligat biotrophen Pathogens wurde eine kulturunabhängige Methode mittels konventioneller PCR etabliert, die die Detektion von Pilz-DNA in Pflanzenmaterial und Samen ermöglicht. Auch diese Methode steht für Routinetestungen zur Verfügung. Der routinemäßige Einsatz beider Methoden zur Überprüfung von Saatgut auf Befall mit den genannten Pathogenen ermöglicht es, kontaminierte Saatgutchargen vor der Aussaat zu identifizieren, vom Markt zu nehmen oder einer Saatgutbehandlung zu unterziehen. Dieses unterstützt eine gesunde Kultur sowie eine deutliche Einschränkung der Pathogenverbreitung.

Agricultural intensification has led to structurally simplified landscapes with reduced and fragmented resources for farmland insects. However, studies on the effects of landscape composition on farmland insects have mainly been performed in areas dominated by open arable land and semi-natural grasslands, while studies from forest-dominated landscapes are scarce. This research examined the effects of landscape composition on hoverfly species richness and abundance in arable land in boreal forest-dominated landscapes. Hoverflies were sampled in 22 mass-flowering caraway (Carum carvi) fields in Central Finland using pan traps. The effects of landscape composition on species richness and abundance were examined for all hoverflies, and for species groups with different adult habitat preferences. Landscape composition was measured as proportions of land cover classes within two different radii. Species richness and abundances of all hoverflies, forest species and open-habitat species increased with decreasing arable land cover and/or increasing forest cover within a 500 m radius (the two land cover classes strongly negatively correlated). Wetland species were most abundant in landscapes with an intermediate cover of arable land and forest, and most species-rich in landscapes with intermediate (10%) water cover. The species richness and abundance of mixed-habitat species increased with increasing cover of transitional woodland. Implications for insect conservation: Our results show that most hoverfies in arable land benefit from increasing surrounding forest cover even in relatively heterogeneous, forest-dominated landscapes. Preserving or increasing the area of forests and other non-arable habitats is needed to safeguard a diversity of resources for hoverflies, and associated ecosystem services in farmland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carum carvi-derived quantum dots (CcQDs) were prepared using thermal pyrolyzing. The surface functionalization of CcQDs were achieved via L-cysteine ligand. Labeled CcQDs with technetium-99m were prepared using a simple direct radiolabeling method. Radio chromatographic techniques were used to analyze radiochemical yield. Quality control results indicated that QDs could be efficiently labeled with 99mTc-radionuclide (> 98% radiochemical yield). The in vivo biodistribution parameters were studied in tumorized BALB/c mouse. The amount of uptake in xenograft models of mice colon carcinoma was 1.27 ± 0.15% ID/g after 1 h. 99mTc-labeled T-Cysteine-CcQDs, could be included as a radiotracer for imaging colon carcinoma tumors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An in vivo dual choice bioassay with white cabbage as a host plant was used to determine the repellent effect of three different accessions of caraway (Carum carvi L.) essential oils (EOs) against the green peach aphid Myzus persicae (Sulzer). The dominant components of the EO were D-Carvone (47.3–74.4%) and D-limonene (25.2–51.9%), which accounted for 99.2–99.5% of the EOs determined by GC/MS. The EO with the highest D-limonene content (51.9%) showed the highest repellence (Repellency Index (RI) = +41%), which was stable up to 330 min. The incorporation of several surfactants with different hydrophilic-lipophilic balance values (from 12.4 to 16.7) with caraway EO caused a general inhibition of the repellent effect during the testing period (RI from +41% to −19%). Overall, the findings indicate that caraway EO could be used as a green peach aphid repellent, but more work is needed to formulate the EO into a ready-to-use product.

Background: The skin has several functions, one of the most important of which is to protect the internal organs from external damage and the entry of germs. Since skin and wound healing is one of the mostly concerned issues worldwide, the development of wound healing remedies is one of the main fields in modern medical research. Objectives: To evaluate the effect of the hydroalcoholic extract of Cumin carvi L. seed as one of the traditional medicinal plants used for wound healing through an in vivo model. Methods: Wide circular skin wounds (2 × 2 cm) were created on the dorsal area of 50 Sprague–Dawley male rats ​​following ethical principles. The animals were divided into five groups including no treatment, base gel, tetracycline treatment, 10% v/v hydroalcoholic extract of Cumin carvi L. seed treatment and 20% v/v hydroalcoholic extract of Cumin carvi L. seed treatment group. Treatment was performed within 20 days. On days 1, 3, 5, 7 and 10, photographs were taken, and the percentage of wound healing was calculated. Also, on the 10th day, the skin area was sampled for histopathology and on the 20th day, the skin was sampled for biomechanical and total protein assessments. Results: The results of wound healing percentage showed that from day 3 onwards, there was a significant improvement between the group treated with 20% v/v hydroalcoholic extract of Cumin carvi L. and the negative control and basal gel groups (p < 0.05). According to histopathological and total protein content evaluations, the amount of collagen production and inflammation score in the Cumin carvi‐treated groups confirmed the healing process compared to other groups. Conclusions: According to the results of this project, 20% v/v ethanolic extract of Cumin carvi L. has potential therapeutic effects in the treatment of skin wounds. Wounds are one of the health concerns, and the economic burden of wound care and healing has continued to increase over the past years. The healing effects of C. carvi. ethanolic extract on the wound were investigated.The histopathological and macroscopical evaluations, as well as total protein content, were measured to investigate its wound healing properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carum carvi is a well-known herb traditionally used as a spice in Asian countries. Acetaminophen is a known marketed drug mainly used as an analgesic. It has been scientifically proven that consumption of acetaminophen (paracetamol) is associated with liver toxicity if taken in high doses without medical supervision. The present study evaluated the in vivo antioxidant and hepatoprotective efficacy of Carum carvi against acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity in Wistar rats. Our results demonstrate that Carum carvi, at doses (mg/kg) of 100 (D1) and 200 (D2), showed inhibitory properties for DNA-sugar damage, lipid peroxidation, DPPH scavenging, and increased reducing potential in a concentration-dependent manner. Our results also confirm that liver toxicity associated with paracetamol, such as depletion of reduced glutathione and antioxidant enzyme levels, as well as induction of cytochrome P450, oxidative stress, apoptosis, and inflammatory cytokines, was efficiently restored by Carum carvi treatment in rats. Moreover, the expression of redox-sensitive transcription factors, namely, NF-κB and TNF-α levels, was also modulated by Carum carvi in the rats. In summary, our study confirms that Carum carvi inhibits inflammation and oxidative stress, thereby protecting liver cells from paracetamol prompted hepatotoxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eradication of Helicobacter pylori is a challenge due to rising antibiotic resistance and GIT-related disorders. Cuminum cyminum, Pimpinella anisum, and Carum carvi are fruits belonging to the Apiaceae family. Their essential oils were extracted, analyzed using GC-MS, tested for anti-H. pylori activity by a micro-well dilution technique, identified for potential anti-H. pylori inhibitors by an in-silico study, and investigated for anti-inflammatory activity using a COX-2 inhibition assay. Results showed that the main components of C. cyminum, P. anisum, and C. carvi were cumaldehyde (41.26%), anethole (92.41%), and carvone (51.38%), respectively. Essential oil of C. cyminum exhibited the greatest anti-H. pylori activity (3.9 µg/mL) followed by P. anisum (15.63 µg/mL), while C. carvi showed the lowest activity (62.5 µg/mL). The in-silico study showed that cumaldehyde in C. cyminum has the best fitting energy to inhibit H. pylori.C. cyminum essential oil showed the maximum ability to reduce the production of Cox-2 expression approaching celecoxib with IC50 = 1.8 ± 0.41 µg/mL, followed by the C. carvi oil IC50 = 7.3 ± 0.35 µg/mL and then oil of P. anisum IC50 = 10.7±0.63 µg/mL. The investigated phytochemicals in this study can be used as potential adjunct therapies with conventional antibiotics against H. pylori. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fungal plant diseases are considered one of the most destructive diseases for plants. In this current study, Neoscytalidium dimidiatum as a fungal plant pathogen was isolated from an infected Carum carvi L. plant (C. carvi) for the first time and controlled it using clove essential oil nanoemulsion (CEONE). This fungal plant pathogen was identified morphologically and genetically, then deposited in the gene bank under accession number OQ338188. CEONE was prepared and characterized using DLS, Zeta potential, and TEM analysis. The characterization results illustrated that the size of CEONE was lower than 100 nm, which was confirmed by TEM, which appeared spherical in shape. Results revealed that CEONE has promising antifungal activity towards N. dimidiatum, where inhibition percentages of CEONE at concentrations of 5000, 3000, and 1000 ppm were 82.2%, 53.3%, and 25.5%, respectively. At the pot level, N. dimidiatum was highly virulent on C. carvi, and CEONE and CEO were highly effective against N. dimidiatum blight disease, with 71.42% and 57.14% protection, respectively. Moreover, results revealed that there was a vast improvement in root length, plant height, and leaves. Additionally, the application of CEONE and CEO induced plant resistance by modifying proline, phenol, hydrogen peroxide, malondialdehyde, and antioxidant enzymes. In conclusion, N. dimidiatum was highly virulent on C. carvi but can be effectively reduced by CEONE through the eco-friendly method.

Background and Purpose: The present study was conducted to investigate the inhibitory effects of Carum carvi essential oil (EO) against ERG6 gene expression in relation to fungal growth and some important virulence factors in Candida albicans. Materials and Methods: The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of C. carvi EO against C. albicans was determined by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute M27-A4 method at a concentration range of 20-1280 μg/ml. Furthermore, the expression of ERG6 gene was studied at the 0.5× MIC concentration of C. carvi EO using real-time polymerase chain reaction. The proteinase and phospholipase activities, cell surface hydrophobicity (CSH), and cell membrane ergosterol (CME) content of C. albicans were also assessed at the 0.5× MIC concentration of the plant EO using the approved methods. In addition, fluconazole (FLC) was used as a control antifungal drug. Results: The results indicated that the MIC and minimum fungicidal concentration of C. carvi EO for C. albicans growth were 320 and 640 μg/ml, respectively. The expression of fungal ERG6 at an mRNA level and ergosterol content of yeast cells were significantly decreased by both C. carvi EO (640 μg/ml) and FLC (2 μg/ml). The proteinase and phospholipase activities were also reduced in C. carvi EO by 49.82% and 53.26%, respectively, while they were inhibited in FLC-treated cultures by 27.72% and 34.67%, respectively. Furthermore, the CSH was inhibited in EO- and FLC-treated cultures by 12.75% and 20.80%, respectively. Conclusion: Our findings revealed that C. carvi EO can be considered a potential natural compound in the development of an efficient antifungal agent against C. albicans.

Due to the increasing rate of invasive fungal infections and emerging antifungal resistance, development of novel antifungal drugs has been an urgent necessity. Antifungal peptides (AFPs) have recently attracted attention due to their unique ability to evade drug-resistant fungal pathogens. In this study, a novel AFP, Cc-AFP1, with a molecular weight of ~3.759 kDa, was isolated from Carum carvi L., purified by ammonium sulfate precipitation and reversed-phase HPLC and finally identified by sequence analysis using Edman degradation. Peptide sequence analysis revealed a fragment of 36 amino acid residues as RVCFRPVAPYLGVGVSGAVRDQIGVKLGSVYKGPRG for Cc-AFP1 with a net charge of +5 and a hydrophobicity ratio of 38%. The antifungal activity of Cc-AFP1 was confirmed against Aspergillus species with MIC values in the range of 8–16 µg/ml. Cc-AFP1 had less than 5% hemolytic activity at 8–16 µg/ml on human red blood cells with no obvious cytotoxicity against the HEK293 cell line. Stability analysis showed that the activity of Cc-AFP1 was maintained at different temperatures (20°C to 80°C) and pH (8 to 10). The results of a propidium iodide uptake and transmission electron microscopy showed that the antifungal activity of Cc-AFP1 could be attributed to alteration in the fungal cell membrane permeability. Taken together, these results indicate that Cc-AFP1 may be an attractive molecule to develop as a novel antifungal agent combating fungal infections cause by Aspergillus species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the increasing rate of invasive fungal infections and emerging antifungal resistance, development of novel antifungal drugs has been an urgent necessity. Antifungal peptides (AFPs) have recently attracted attention due to their unique ability to evade drug-resistant fungal pathogens. In this study, a novel AFP, Cc-AFP1, with a molecular weight of ~3.759 kDa, was isolated from Carum carvi L., purified by ammonium sulfate precipitation and reversed-phase HPLC and finally identified by sequence analysis using Edman degradation. Peptide sequence analysis revealed a fragment of 36 amino acid residues as RVCFRPVAPYLGVGVSGAVRDQIGVKLGSVYKGPRG for Cc-AFP1 with a net charge of +5 and a hydrophobicity ratio of 38%. The antifungal activity of Cc-AFP1 was confirmed against Aspergillus species with MIC values in the range of 8–16 µg/ml. Cc-AFP1 had less than 5% hemolytic activity at 8–16 µg/ml on human red blood cells with no obvious cytotoxicity against the HEK293 cell line. Stability analysis showed that the activity of Cc-AFP1 was maintained at different temperatures (20°C to 80°C) and pH (8 to 10). The results of a propidium iodide uptake and transmission electron microscopy showed that the antifungal activity of Cc-AFP1 could be attributed to alteration in the fungal cell membrane permeability. Taken together, these results indicate that Cc-AFP1 may be an attractive molecule to develop as a novel antifungal agent combating fungal infections cause by Aspergillus species.

Carum carvi is a well-known herb traditionally used as a spice in Asian countries. Acetaminophen is a known marketed drug mainly used as an analgesic. It has been scientifically proven that consumption of acetaminophen (paracetamol) is associated with liver toxicity if taken in high doses without medical supervision. The present study evaluated the in vivo antioxidant and hepatoprotective efficacy of Carum carvi against acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity in Wistar rats. Our results demonstrate that Carum carvi, at doses (mg/kg) of 100 (D1) and 200 (D2), showed inhibitory properties for DNA-sugar damage, lipid peroxidation, DPPH scavenging, and increased reducing potential in a concentration-dependent manner. Our results also confirm that liver toxicity associated with paracetamol, such as depletion of reduced glutathione and antioxidant enzyme levels, as well as induction of cytochrome P450, oxidative stress, apoptosis, and inflammatory cytokines, was efficiently restored by Carum carvi treatment in rats. Moreover, the expression of redox-sensitive transcription factors, namely, NF-κB and TNF-α levels, was also modulated by Carum carvi in the rats. In summary, our study confirms that Carum carvi inhibits inflammation and oxidative stress, thereby protecting liver cells from paracetamol prompted hepatotoxicity.

Eradication of Helicobacter pylori is a challenge due to rising antibiotic resistance and GIT-related disorders. Cuminum cyminum, Pimpinella anisum, and Carum carvi are fruits belonging to the Apiaceae family. Their essential oils were extracted, analyzed using GC-MS, tested for anti-H. pylori activity by a micro-well dilution technique, identified for potential anti-H. pylori inhibitors by an in-silico study, and investigated for anti-inflammatory activity using a COX-2 inhibition assay. Results showed that the main components of C. cyminum, P. anisum, and C. carvi were cumaldehyde (41.26%), anethole (92.41%), and carvone (51.38%), respectively. Essential oil of C. cyminum exhibited the greatest anti-H. pylori activity (3.9 µg/mL) followed by P. anisum (15.63 µg/mL), while C. carvi showed the lowest activity (62.5 µg/mL). The in-silico study showed that cumaldehyde in C. cyminum has the best fitting energy to inhibit H. pylori.C. cyminum essential oil showed the maximum ability to reduce the production of Cox-2 expression approaching celecoxib with IC50 = 1.8 ± 0.41 µg/mL, followed by the C. carvi oil IC50 = 7.3 ± 0.35 µg/mL and then oil of P. anisum IC50 = 10.7±0.63 µg/mL. The investigated phytochemicals in this study can be used as potential adjunct therapies with conventional antibiotics against H. pylori.

Background and objectives: Plants are usually used for treatment of different diseases according to their traditional application. The use of the plant based medications is increasingly becoming popular all over the world. Traditional herbal medicines should be transformed into new forms to make better acceptance and more comfortable use by patients. The aim of the present study was to formulate a poly herbal gel based on Iranian traditional medicine (ITM), and determine its physicochemical characteristics. Methods: The gel formulation consisted of Boswellia spp., Carum carvi L., Punica granatum L. and Myrtus communis L. extracts. The product was evaluated for the physicochemical parameters. The laboratory stability tests, microbiological tests and rheological behavior were performed on the gel. Additionally, total tannin content of the gel was measured as pyrogallol using Folin-Ciocalteu reagent and hide powder. Results: Stability and physicochemical evaluations as well as microbiological tests showed that the prepared formulation was stable towards physical changes with no growth of pathogenic microorganisms. Moreover, it represented plastic behavior which is in favor of a topical product and alsototal tannins contents were determined to be 0.27 % in the gel. Conclusion: The product was acceptable due to its physical characterisitcs and so appropriate for topical use. Regarding the antibacterial, antifungal and anti-inflammatory properties of the medicinal herbs in the gel and also, the role of tannins as astringent agents, this formulation could be a suitable candidate for abnormal vaginal discharge with regards to its traditional application in ITM.

Abstract Carum carvi or caraway is traditionally used for treatment of indigestion, pneumonia, and as appetizer, galactagogue, and carminative. Essential oil, fixed oil and many other valuable extractive compounds with industrial applications are prepared from caraway. This review article has new deep research on caraway as medicinal plant. For preparing the manuscript, the information was extracted from accessible international databases (Google scholar, PubMed, Science direct, Springer, and Wiley), electronic resources and traditional books by key word of caraway or Carum carvi. The results of traditional studies exhibited that the galactagogue and carminative effects of caraway fruits are superior to other effects. Although, the traditional scholars used it as appetizer, while caraway was the main ingredient of anti-obesity drugs in traditional medicine, which has been confirmed in two modern clinical trials of human studies. Caraway oil in combination with peppermint oil or menthol is used for treatment of functional dyspepsia in clinical studies. Caraway oil topically on abdomen relieves the IBS symptoms in patient. Although, the use of caraway oil is not recommended in adults under 18 years due to insufficient data, but it can topically use as anti-colic and carminative agent in children or infants. The anti-aflatoxigenic, antioxidant and antimicrobial effects of caraway oil along with its reputation as spice help the industries to use it as natural preservatives and antioxidant agents.

Recently, there has been a great deal of interest in the use of the medicinal plants with high antioxidant compounds for curing liver injuries induced by hepatoxcitic agents. This study was to assess the protective effect of Carum carvi L. essential oil (E.O) on the hepatoxitic rats induced by overdose of iron oxide nanoparticles (NPs). The rats were distributed to 4 groups. In negative control group (NC), the rats received normal saline and DMSO daily for 3 days. In control group (C), iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe2O3) (200 mg/kg b.w) was injected daily for 3 days. In the treatment groups, iron oxide nanoparticles plus E.O at 100 & 200 mg/kg b.w were injected daily for 3 days. In following, cytochrome P450 (CYP450), glutathione S-transferase (GST), glutathione (GSH), aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and alanine transaminase (ALT) were estimated at 72 h after NP-treatment. The administration of the E.O could return considerably the decrease of the GST and GSH levels as well as the increase of the level of AST induced by iron oxide NPs. These results are in agreement with histopathological results. The data indicated that E.O provided an efficient prevention against iron oxide NPs-induced hepatotoxicity in rats.

RAPD and ISSR markers were used in the present study to determine genetic relationship and distance between some populations of Carum carvi. Amplification of genomic DNA all population using RAPD analysis yielded 126 fragments, where TIBMBA02 and TIBMBA08 had the minimum number of fragments (7) and TIBMBC05 had the maximum number of fragments, (22). ISSR marker yielded 79 fragments, where UBC112 and UBC809had the minimum (1) and maximum (15) fragments, respectively. The Diversity Index value of RAPD primers ranged from 0.8 (TIBMBA02) to 0.94 (TIBMBC05) and also Shanoon Diversity and Nei diversity were 0.57 and 0.38, respectively. In ISSR primers The Diversity Index value ranged from 0.0 (UBC112) to 0.92 (UBC809) and also Shanoon Diversity and Nei diversity were 0.57 and 0.39 respectively. According to ISSR and RAPD markers in combination, maximum genetic similarity (0.48) was observed between Kerman and Jandagh Carum carvi while the minimum similarity (0.115) was observed between Kerman and Neishabour Carum carvi with average 0.315. Also, cluster analysis segregated all populations into 3 groups according to geographical zone.

Caraway (Carum carvi) is an important aromatic plant of the Apiaceae family. Fruits and essential oil are used as spice, pharmaceutical and for various industrial purposes. Cultivation is endangered by on-going climatic changes so that new breeding projects are necessary to secure future cultivation of caraway. However, the initialization of new breeding programs is hampered by poor availability of phenotypic data. To close this gap, 64 annual and 68 biennial caraway accessions were phenotyped under field conditions in two years. We determined the beginning of flowering, the end of flowering, maturity, plant height, thousand-grain weight, stalk attachment rate, shattering rate, limonene, carvone and total essential oil content. Best linear unbiased estimates (BLUEs) and broad sense heritability were computed using linear mixed-effects models. We observed a high variability for all traits with medium to high heritability (h2 = 0.52 – 0.95). Merely for the carvone to limonene ratio, heritability was lower (0.17–0.25). Thus, the observed phenotypic diversity is applicable to breeding. Insights into correlations between traits may ease selection processes in breeding projects. The distribution of the phenotypic variation of some traits was partially associated with the genetic substructure detected by genotyping by sequencing (GBS) data. This could be explained by selections in former breeding programs. • Field evaluation revealed high variability of caraway (Carum carvi) germplasm, which is applicable to breeding. • Developmental traits, seed traits and essential oil related traits were analysed. • Traces of selection from breeding processes were found in principal component analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herbs and spices have been used since antiquity for their nutritional and health properties, as well as in traditional remedies for the prevention and treatment of many diseases. Therefore, this study aims to perform a chemical analysis of both essential oils (EOs) from the seeds of Carum carvi (C. carvi) and Coriandrum sativum (C. sativum) and evaluate their antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-acetylcholinesterase, and antidiabetic activities alone and in combination. Results showed that the EOs mainly constitute monoterpenes with γ-terpinene (31.03%), β-pinene (18.77%), p-cymene (17.16%), and carvone (12.20%) being the major components present in C. carvi EO and linalool (76.41%), γ-terpinene (5.35%), and α-pinene (4.44%) in C. sativum EO. In comparison to standards, statistical analysis revealed that C. carvi EO showed high and significantly different (p < 0.05) antioxidant activity than C. sativum EO, but lower than the mixture. Moreover, the mixture exhibited two-times greater ferric ion reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) (IC50 = 11.33 ± 1.53 mg/mL) and equipotent chelating power (IC50 = 31.33 ± 0.47 mg/mL) than the corresponding references, and also potent activity against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) (IC50 = 19.00 ± 1.00 mg/mL), β-carotene (IC50 = 11.16 ± 0.84 mg/mL), and superoxide anion (IC50 = 10.33 ± 0.58 mg/mL) assays. Antimicrobial data revealed that single and mixture EOs were active against a panel of pathogenic microorganisms, and the mixture had the ability to kill more bacterial strains than each EO alone. Additionally, the anti-acetylcholinesterase and α-glucosidase inhibitory effect have been studied for the first time, highlighting the high inhibition effect of AChE by C. carvi (IC50 = 0.82 ± 0.05 mg/mL), and especially by C. sativum (IC50 = 0.68 ± 0.03 mg/mL), as well as the mixture (IC50 = 0.63 ± 0.02 mg/mL) compared to the reference drug, which are insignificantly different (p > 0.05). A high and equipotent antidiabetic activity was observed for the mixture (IC50 = 0.75 ± 0.15 mg/mL) when compared to the standard drug, acarbose, which is about nine times higher than each EO alone. Furthermore, pharmacokinetic analysis provides some useful insights into designing new drugs with favorable drug likeness and safety profiles based on a C. carvi and C. sativum EO mixture. In summary, the results of this study revealed that the combination of these EOs may be recommended for further food, therapeutic, and pharmaceutical applications, and can be utilized as medicine to inhibit several diseases.

Background: Caraway oil (CO) obtained from the fruits of Carum carvi L. (Apiaceae) is used in traditional systems of medicine for various diseases. The present study was designed to evaluate the safety profile of CO by acute and repeated dose oral toxicity as per the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development guidelines 423 and 407, respectively. Methods: In an acute toxicity study, a single dose of CO (300 and 2000 mg/kg) was given to female Wistar rats, and the animals were observed for signs of behavioral alterations, morbidity and mortality for 14 days. Repeated dose toxicity was performed at doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg for 28 days in Wistar rats. The effects of CO on food and water intake, body weight, relative organ weight, clinical biochemistry, hematological parameters and urine parameters were studied. Gross necropsy and histopathology of vital organs were carried out. Results: A single oral dose at 300 mg/kg CO did not show any signs of toxicity and mortality, while a dose of 2000 mg/kg showed signs of mortality in one animal and some signs of toxicity in another two animals. In the repeated dose toxicity study, CO at selected dose levels did not show any significant alterations in food and water intake, body weight and relative organ weight. Administration of CO did not show any significant changes in hematological, biochemical and urine parameters and histopathology study when compared with normal control animals. Conclusions: The CO was found to be safe at all selected dose levels in the repeated dose toxicity study in rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Chemical characterization of Coriandrum sativm L. and Carum carvi L. seeds essential oils. • Antifungal and antiaflatoxigenic activities of Coriandrum sativm L., Carum carvi L. essential oils and their major terpene components. • Higher biological activities against Aspergillus flavus for Carum carvi L. EO and carvone. • Carvone presents a strong potential for use as biopreservative against aflatoxins contamination. With the purpose of searching for biological substances for controlling aflatoxins production in foodstuffs, we assessed the antifungal and antiaflatoxigenic activities of two essential oils (EOs) extracted from Carum carvi L., Coriandrum sativum L. seed and their major terpene component against Aspergillus flavus. The chemical profiles of Carum carvi , and Coriandrum sativum EOs were identified through Gas chromatography mass spectrometry analysis where carvone and linalool were respectively, recorded as the major terpene compound (78.85 and 72.34%). The effects of the EOs (0.1–0.7% (v/v)) and terpenes (100–2000 μg/mL) on the hyphal extension and aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) synthesis of A. flavus were tested by contact assay in Yeast Extract Sucrose medium. Carum carvi EO displayed a higher antimicrobial activity against A. favus than Coriandrum sativum EO with a minimum inhibitory concentration of about 0.4 and 0.7%, respectively. In the presence of 0.3% of EOs, 73.3 and 99.6% inhibition of AFB1 production was recorded, respectively, with Coriandrum sativm and Carum carvi. The antifungal and antiaflatoxigenic effects of carvone were also more significant than those of linalool (p < 0.05) with respectively, 64 and 16% of growth rate inhibition and 77.9 and 0.1% of AFB1 synthesis decrease recorded at 1000 μg/mL. Hence, the antifungal and antiaflatoxigenic activities of the two tested EOs were similar to their main terpene component. In conclusion, seed essential oils proved to be apotential natural source of antifungal and aflatoxin inhibition agent against Aspergillus flavus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, infrared radiation (IR) has been considered as one of the suitable methods for drying and decontamination of different spices. However, the low penetration depth of the IR limits its use for food processing in the industry. Due to the importance of Carum carvi as a spice with medical properties, this research aimed to determine the effect of the sample’s structure (powder and seeds), water activity (0.24, 0.56 and 0.89) and the power of IR emitter (222 to 960W) on the penetration depth of the IR into Carum carvi For this propose, the heat fluxes received by copper black body that placed under samples with different thickness was measured. Afterward, the penetration depth was calculated through a mathematical model. The results indicated while aw of the sample, the IR power, and their interaction had a significant effect on the penetration depth of the IR, the structural properties of the sample had no significant effect on it. Increasing the infrared power to 601W enhanced the penetration depth in all of the samples. The highest penetration depth into the powder and the seeds of Carum carvi with aw 0.24 was achieved at the IR power of 601W, and was recorded 4.07±0.27 and 3.85±0.23mm while the samples with aw 0.89 were shown the highest penetration depth when they were irradiated by IR power of 845W (4.12±0.18 and 4.09±0.13mm). According to the results, determining of IR penetration depth in the spice can be used to determine of their optimal thickness during the infrared food process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carum carvi or caraway is traditionally used for treatment of indigestion, pneumonia, and as appetizer, galactagogue, and carminative. Essential oil, fixed oil and many other valuable extractive compounds with industrial applications are prepared from caraway. This review article has new deep research on caraway as medicinal plant. For preparing the manuscript, the information was extracted from accessible international databases (Google scholar, PubMed, Science direct, Springer, and Wiley), electronic resources and traditional books by key word of caraway or Carum carvi. The results of traditional studies exhibited that the galactagogue and carminative effects of caraway fruits are superior to other effects. Although, the traditional scholars used it as appetizer, while caraway was the main ingredient of anti-obesity drugs in traditional medicine, which has been confirmed in two modern clinical trials of human studies. Caraway oil in combination with peppermint oil or menthol is used for treatment of functional dyspepsia in clinical studies. Caraway oil topically on abdomen relieves the IBS symptoms in patient. Although, the use of caraway oil is not recommended in adults under 18 years due to insufficient data, but it can topically use as anti-colic and carminative agent in children or infants. The anti-aflatoxigenic, antioxidant and antimicrobial effects of caraway oil along with its reputation as spice help the industries to use it as natural preservatives and antioxidant agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, there has been a great deal of interest in the use of the medicinal plants with high antioxidant compounds for curing liver injuries induced by hepatoxcitic agents. This study was to assess the protective effect of Carum carvi L. essential oil (E.O) on the hepatoxitic rats induced by overdose of iron oxide nanoparticles (NPs). The rats were distributed to 4 groups. In negative control group (NC), the rats received normal saline and DMSO daily for 3 days. In control group (C), iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe2O3) (200 mg/kg b.w) was injected daily for 3 days. In the treatment groups, iron oxide nanoparticles plus E.O at 100 & 200 mg/kg b.w were injected daily for 3 days. In following, cytochrome P450 (CYP450), glutathione S-transferase (GST), glutathione (GSH), aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and alanine transaminase (ALT) were estimated at 72 h after NP-treatment. The administration of the E.O could return considerably the decrease of the GST and GSH levels as well as the increase of the level of AST induced by iron oxide NPs. These results are in agreement with histopathological results. The data indicated that E.O provided an efficient prevention against iron oxide NPs-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To stimulate the production of Cumin aldehyde as an odorant with application in food sciences via co-cultures of cells, two medicinal plants, Bunium persicum and Carum carvi, were chosen. The cell cultures of both plants were established separately. In this study some basic experiments were also done due to the fact that no research reports were found on C. carvi in case of seed germination, callus induction and establishment of cell suspension cultures. The cells of B. persicum and C. carvi were combined together in different ratios (100:0, 25:75, 50:50 and 75:25) to study their interaction on cumin aldehyde production in a co-culture system. For Gas chromatography (GC) analysis of cumin aldehyde, the cells and medium were homogenized and then extracted with ethyle acetate at room temperature and then analyzed by GC. The results revealed that in contrast to black zira for seed germination process, Caravie seeds do not need chilling. It has also been found that sucrose at the level of 3% is suitable for increasing the biomass of Caravie cells in MS medium. The results of co-culture of B. persicum and C. carvi cells demonstrated that at the combination of B. persicum (25%) and C. carvi (75%) the production of cumin aldehyde could be increased to the level of 23.1 mg/100 g extract after five weeks which is higher than B. persicum (100%) at similar period with 17.5 mg/100 g extract. It is also found that the production of cumin aldehyde has an increasing trend till 5th week and then decreased to the minimum level in the 7th week.

In this study, we investigated the effects of herbal supplements of Carum carvi and Trigonella foenum graecum on soluble protein and antibacterial activity of mucus in common carp (Cyprinus carpio) fingerlings. Fish with a mean weight of 2.457±0.057 g were divided randomly into 7 treatments (one control group and the experimental groups treated with diets that contained different percents of caraway and fenugreek (0.5, 1 and 1.5%) with 3 replicates and a density of 15 fish per replicate. After 8 weeks feeding, the epidermal mucus protein level and antimicrobial activity against two gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli and Seratia marcescens) were measured. Results showed that protein levels of mucus significantly increased in fish fed diets that contained 1% herbal supplements compared to the control and other treatments (P>0.05). In addition, we observed significant differences in antibacterial activity of mucus in fish fed with caraway and fenugreek compared with the control group (p

Abstract Despite studies on umbelliferous fruits flavor makeup, nothing is known regarding roasting impact on their fruit aroma. Five major umbelliferous crops viz. , anise, caraway, coriander, cumin and fennel were analyzed via headspace solid-phase microextraction to reveal for 117 volatile constituents. Oxygenated monoterpenes amounted for the major volatile class in raw fruits at 75% with (E)-anethole, carvone, β -linalool, cuminaldehyde and estragole as major components in anise, caraway, coriander, cumin, and fennel, respectively. Difference was observed in fennel fruit "estragole" levels derived from different origins. Upon roasting, several novel volatiles were detected viz. pyrazines and flavored Milliard type volatiles. Major flavor intensified response was detected in cumin with an increase in its "cuminaldehyde" levels versus a decrease of estragole levels in fennel. Roasted cumin exhibited highest peroxide value 14.2 mEq O 2 /Kg, whereas the least was detected in fennel at 6.1 mEq O 2 /Kg, though with both values not representing a health hazard. Highlights • SPME was adopted for volatiles profiling in 5 umbelliferous fruits. • Effect of roasting on fruits volatile composition was assessed. • Multivariate data analyses were used for samples classification. • Peroxide levels were measured in roasted fruits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To investigate the protective effects of aqueous seed extracts of fennel “ Foeniculum vulgare ” (FVE) and caraway “ Carum carvi ” (CCE) on liver, kidney and reproductive organs in female rats against cadmium chloride (CC) intoxication. Methods A total of 36 adult female rats were divided into six groups, six in each group. Control group (fed normal diet), CC-treated group (50 mg CC/kg diet), CCE-treated group (150 mg CCE/kg diet), CCE + CC group, FVE (150 mg/kg diet) and FVE + CC. One month later, all rats were sacrificed and all samples were collected at proestrus phase. Results The toxic effects of CC were confirmed biochemically by significant increase of serum concentration of liver enzymes ( P < 0.05), and creatinine ( P < 0.001). Moreover, CC increased significantly the serum level of malondialdehyde (MDA) and decreased the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) ( P < 0.001). In addition, serum concentrations of estrogen, progesterone, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) were significantly decreased ( P < 0.01). Histopathologically, CC-treated group revealed marked pathological changes in renal, hepatic, ovarian and uterine tissues. All toxic findings observed in liver and kidney with CC treatment were found to be ameliorated markedly after co-treatments with FVE or CCE. Furthermore, co-treatment of FVE with CC improved significantly all studied reproductive parameters ( P < 0.01). Conclusions Both FVE and CCE could be used as efficient treatments for liver and kidney against CC intoxication. Moreover, FVE could be utilized as a potent treatment to protect and improve female fertility from cadmium intoxication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim and Objectives: The present study was undertaken in 20 healthy human volunteers to evaluate the effect of a herbal bioenhancer, Carum carvi on pharmacokinetics of rifampicin, isoniazid, and pyrazinamide in fixed dose combination (FDC). Materials and Methods: It was a prospective, two-period, open-label, cross-over experiment on 20 healthy human male volunteers. The volunteers were administered a single dose of FDC containing rifampicin (450 mg), isoniazid (300 mg), and pyrazinamide (1000 mg) and after 10 days washout period the same FDC along with C. carvi extract (100 mg) was administered. Blood samples were collected at different time-points and analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Detailed pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated, which included Cmax , area under curve (AUC), time to reach maximum plasma concentration (Tmax ), clearance (Cl), volume of distribution (Vd ), and half-life (t ½ ). Results: Additions of C. carvi extract lead to increase in plasma levels of rifampicin, isoniazid, and pyrazinamide. The bioavailability indices Cmax of rifampicin increased from 4.57 ± 0.19 to 5.95 ± 0.19 (P = 0.000) and AUC increased from 40.11 ± 1.69 to 53.01 ± 1.88 (P = 0.000). Similarly, Cmax of isoniazid increased from 2.66 ± 0.16 to 3.62 ± 0.16 (P = 0.000) and AUC from 17.72 ± 0.78 to 22.87 ± 0.94 (P = 0.000). The bioavailability indices of pyrazinamide also revealed an increase in Cmax from 18.81 ± 0.79 to 25.06 ± 1.14 (P = 0.000) and AUC from 107.65 ± 4.42 to 137.71 ± 5.92 (P = 0.000), respectively. Conclusion: C. carvi acts as a bioenhancer and modifies the kinetics of antitubercular treatment (ATT) favorably.

Time series data on crop yields for two main wind-pollinated crops (barley and wheat) and for three crops benefitting from insect pollination (turnip rapeseed, caraway, and black currant), were compiled from official agricultural statistics. In Finland, these statistics are available at aggregate national level, and at the level of each of the 15 provinces of the country. Yields of wind-pollinated crops have steadily increased in Finland, while yields of insect-pollinated crops have been highly variable. The largest crop benefitting from insect pollination is turnip rapeseed, which shows first a clear tendency to increased yields from 1980 to 1993, after which there has been a continuous decline in yields at the national average level. Regionally, the trends in turnip rapeseed yield show large variation, so that in six provinces of Finland, the trend has been significantly decreasing; in five provinces, there has been no significant trend; and in two provinces, there has been a significant linear increase in yields. Yield trends in the two other insect-pollinated crops, caraway and black currants, show similar trend variations. However, at the national average level, caraway yields show no significant trend, while black currant yields have increased during the past 6 years. The possible impact on the trends of insect-pollinated crops of three explanatory variables was analyzed. Significant linear correlation was found between the yield trends (slope of the trends) in rapeseed, and the extent of using neonicotinoid seed dressing in the provinces; the magnitude of yield decline in turnip rapeseed increased, as the use of neonicotinoid seed dressing increased. Similar significant linear correlation was found for the magnitude of yield decline in turnip rapeseed and the complexity of the agricultural landscape in each province; yield trend changed from negative to positive as the proportion of agricultural land of the total terrestrial land area declined from 28% to below 10%. The availability of honey bee colonies with respect to the growing area of crops benefitting from insect pollination also had a linear, significant impact on turnip rapeseed yield trends: yields tended to decline in provinces, where the supply of managed pollinators with respect to demand was low, but tended to increase in provinces, where the number of honey bee colonies were over 30% of the estimated demand. As neither the landscape complexity (proportion of arable land of total terrestrial land area), nor the number of honey bee colonies for pollination have changed significantly over the past 10-20 years, these factors cannot explain the observed differences in the yield trends of the examined insect-pollinated crops. It appears that only the uptake of neonicotinoid insecticide seed dressing about 15 years ago can explain the crop yield declines in several provinces, and at the national level for turnip rapeseed, most likely via disruption of pollination services by wild pollinators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aromatic plants are among the most important sources of biologically active secondary metabolites, with high antimicrobal potential. This study was carried out to examine in vitro antifungal activity of Foeniculum vulgare (Apiaceae), Carum carvi (Apiaceae) and Eucalyptus sp.(Myrtaceae) essential oils against three Candida albicans strains of different origin (laboratory-CAL, human pulmonary-CAH and ATCC10231-CAR). The essential oils were screened on C. albicans using disc and well-diffusion and microdilution method, and compared to Nystatine and Fluconazole as standard anti-mycotics. The activity of tested oils was expressed by inhibition zone diameter (mm), minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) (mg/ml). The results indicated that studied essential oils show antifungal activity against all three isolates of C. albicans. It was observed that each oil exhibits different degree of antifungal activity depending on the oil concentration applied as well as on analyzed strain of C. albicans. Carum carvi demonstrated the strongest antifungal effect to all tested strains, showing the lowest MIC values (0.03mg/ml for CAL, 0.06mg/ml for CAH, and 0.11mg/ml for CAR, respectively). Eucalyptus sp. exhibited the lowest antifungal activity, with MIC values ranging from 0.11 mg/ml for CAL to 0.45 mg/ml for both CAH and CAR. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. 172058]