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The cycloaddition of nitrile oxides and nitrilimines to one or both of the C=C double bonds of caryophyllene is described. The possibility of introducing five-membered fused and spiro-linked heterocycles into the structure of sesquiterpenes by the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions of nitrile oxides and nitrilimines to caryophyllene was demonstrated. As a result of these reactions, pharmacophore fragments of isoxazoline and pyrazoline are introduced into the structure of caryophyllene, which leads to an increase in the conformational rigidity of the molecule. A complete stereochemical assignment of 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition adducts to caryophyllene was carried out. The study of antiviral and cytotoxic activity for some heterocyclic derivatives synthesized in this work revealed relatively high biological activity of previously little-studied cycloaddition adducts at the exocyclic C=CH2 bond of caryophyllene. The effect of substituents in the synthesized heterocycles on biological activity was demonstrated. Compounds with a good inhibitory effect on the H1N1 influenza virus were revealed. The activity of the compound was demonstrated up to 6 h post infection, and this could be due to slight inhibiting activity against viral neuraminidase, necessary at the stage of progeny virion budding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThis study is aimed to evaluate the impact of methanolic extract of Artemisia vulgaris and isolated plant compound, β-Caryophyllene oxide against carrageenan-induced paw edema in rat model and its therapeutic potential compared with reference drug, Indometacin. Methanolic extract of A. vulgaris was characterized using FTIR, LC-MS, NMR spectral studies. Paw edema was induced by sub-plantar injection of 100 µl of 1% carrageenan. Oxidative enzymes, such as super oxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and glutathione reductase (GR), lipid peroxidation and C-reactive protein levels were measured in paw tissue. In silico evaluation of anti-inflammatory activity of plant compounds was evaluated against the molecular targets of inflammation. C-reactive protein and lipid-peroxidation levels were significantly increased whereas the activity levels of oxidative enzymes were significantly decreased in inflammation-induced rats. The recovery of oxidative enzyme levels was seen in treated groups in a dose dependent manner. C-reactive protein and lipid-peroxidation levels were significantly decreased in treated groups, indicating the anti-inflammatory activity of the plant extract and the plant compound. Computational analysis rationalizes the inhibitory ability of plant derived compound possibly by altering the inflammatory signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Montanoa bipinnatifida is a perennial shrub belonging to family Asteraceae and geographically distributed in Mexico, Central America and Northern South America. This study aimed to investigate the chemical composition of the essential oil isolated from M. bipinnatifida leaves through GC-MS analysis accompanied by in-depth investigation of antimicrobial properties against wide arrays of microbial strains via agar diffusion method and disk diffusion method. The GC-MS analysis of the tested oil revealed presence of sixteen components (∼99.99%), predominated by germacrene D (37.22%), β-caryophyllene (30.73%), α-pinene (4.56%) and β-germacrene (4.48%). The undiluted oil exhibits varying levels of activity against different microbes. The leaf oil showed a significant inhibition against Proteus mirabilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis (both vegetative and spores), Mycobacterium phlei, and Candida albicans. However, its activity against Sarcina lutea, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae appears to be less pronounced. Thus, the leaf oil of M. bipinnatifida demonstrates broadspectrum antimicrobial activity and is recommended in the pharmaceutical industry to overcome the current problem related to the microbial resistance to antibiotics. Further experimental studies are warranted to investigate the underlying mechanism of action and the responsible individual components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, the clinical treatment of bone cancer pain (BCP) is mainly related to its pathogenesis. The aim of the present study was to elucidate the potential role of N6‐methyladenosine (m6A) in BCP in the spinal cord dorsal root ganglia (DRG) of BCP rats and its specific regulatory mechanism in N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate receptor subunit 2B (NR2B). A rat model of BCP was constructed by tibial injection of Walker256 cells, and ALKBH5 and NR2B expression in the spinal cord DRG was detected. ALKBH5 was silenced or overexpressed in PC12 cells to verify the regulatory effect of ALKBH5 on NR2B. The specific mechanism underlying the interaction between ALKBH5 and NR2B was investigated using methylated RNA immunoprecipitation and dual‐luciferase reporter gene assays. The results showed increased expression of m6A, decreased expression of ALKBH5, and increased expression of NR2B in the DRG of the BCP rat model. Overexpression of ALKBH5 inhibited NR2B expression, whereas interference with ALKBH5 caused an increase in NR2B expression. In NR2B, interference with ALKBH5 caused an increase in m6A modification, which caused an increase in NR2B. Taken together, ALKBH5 affected the expression of NR2B by influencing the stability of the m6A modification site of central NR2B, revealing that ALKBH5 is a therapeutic target for BCP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eugenia flavescens is a species cultivated in Brazil for food purposes. Given the potential application of essential oils from plants of the genus Eugenia, this study was carried out to investigate the chemical composition, acute toxicity, antioxidant, antinociceptive, gastroprotective activities, and possible mechanisms of action of the essential oil from the leaves of E. flavescens (EOEf). The EOEf was extracted by hydrodistillation, and the chemical composition was obtained using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The antioxidant activity was evaluated, as well as the acute toxicity and the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects in mice. In addition, the gastroprotective effect was investigated using an acute gastric lesion model, considering possible mechanisms of action. The major components found in the EOEf were guaiol (19.97%), germacrene B (12.53%), bicyclogermacrene (11.11%), and E-caryophyllene (7.53%). The EOEf did not cause signs of toxicity in the acute oral toxicity test and showed in vitro antioxidant activity with IC50 ranging from 247.29 to 472.39 µg/mL in the tests ABTS and DPPH. In the nociceptive test, EOEf showed a 72.05% reduction in nociception at a dose of 100 mg/kg. In evaluating the anti-inflammatory effect, the essential oil inhibited paw edema by 95.50% and 97.69% at doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg. The results showed that EOEf has a gastroprotective effect, acting through the sulfhydryl compounds (–SH), nitric oxide (NO), and synthesis PGE2 pathways. The results suggested that EOEf is a promising source of constituents with antioxidant, antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory, and gastroprotective properties with application in the food and pharmaceutical industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Essential oils extracted from Syzygium species are known for various pharmacological purposes. Syzygium fluviatile (Hemsl.) Merr. & L.M.Perry is a flowering plant found in China and Vietnam. The current study aims to offer a comparison of chemical compositions in essential oils of S. fluviatile fruits and leaves, collected from five regions of Vietnam. The obtained oils were also taken into antimicrobial consideration, which was further aided by in silico approaches. Methods: Phytochemical analysis of essential oils was carried out using GC-FID/MS (gas chromatography-flame ionization detection/mass spectrometry) analysis. An antimicrobial assay was performed using broth micro-dilution for in vitro screening. In silico considerations are mainly based on docking studies and toxicity assessments using the AutoDock Vina v1.2.3 program and the ProTox 3.0 web server, respectively. Results: Hydro-distillation of S. fluviatile fresh fruits and leaves can lead to the production of yellow essential oil with yields of 0.21–0.32% v/w. In general, the obtained oils were dominated by monoterpene and sesquiterpene derivatives, as well as (E)-caryophyllene (8.40-47.12%) being the principal compound. The oil samples showed strong antimicrobial activity against the Gram (+) bacteria Enterococcus faecalis ATCC51299, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC29213, and Bacillus cereus ATCC11778, and the yeast Candida albicans ATCC 60193 with the MIC and IC50 values 16–64 µg/mL and 5.12–24.68 µg/mL. Docking results indicated that (E)-caryophyllene exhibited binding affinities from −6.728 kcal/mol to −5.729 kcal/mol with important amino acid residues in the DNA gyrase, PBP3, and SAP2 targets. The toxicity profile of (E)-caryophyllene is also discussed. Conclusion: The isolation of (E)-caryophyllene from Vietnamese Syzygium essential oils as a purified compound is necessary. In vivo antimicrobial studies and molecular mechanisms of action are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Naturally occurring and structurally diverse alkene-containing substrates, terpenes, provided a platform for establishing chemo-, regio-, and diastereoselective reactivity in tantalum catalysed hydroaminoalkylation. Naturally derived 1,3-butadienes revealed the unique regio- and diastereoselective (Z)-1,4-addition products accessible from isoprene and β-myrcene by hydroaminoalkylation. Selective terpene functionalisation, within an industrially produced turpentine mixture, demonstrates functionalisation specificity of β-pinene and limonene. Lastly, sesquiterpene functionalisation using β-caryophyllene and humulene provide rare examples of trisubstituted alkene reactivity in hydroaminoalkylation, by leveraging strainrelease and stereoelectronic effects to control chemoselectivity. As a result of these reactivity studies using natural substrates, new tools for understanding alkene electronic, strain, and stereoelectronic effects on chemo- and diastereoselectivity outcomes have revealed new mechanistic insights into hydroaminoalkylation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, headspace–bar adsorptive microextraction (HS-BAµE) combined with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was employed to screen the major biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) emitted by six different Portuguese shrub species (Erica scoparia L., Cistus ladanifer L., Cistus monspeliensis L., Lavandula stoechas L., Thymus villosus L., and Thymus camphoratus). The HS-BAµE/GC-MS methodology was developed, optimized, and validated using five common monoterpenoids (α-pinene, β-pinene, limonene, 1,8-cineole, and thymol) and one sesquiterpenoid (caryophyllene oxide). Under optimized experimental conditions (microextraction-sorbent phase: activated carbon (CN1), 3 h (35 °C); back-extraction: n-C6 (1 h)), good efficiencies (>45%), low analytical thresholds (5.0–15.0 µg/L) and suitable linear dynamic ranges (20.0–120.0 µg/L, r2 > 0.9872) were achieved, as well as acceptable intra and inter-day precisions (RSD ≤ 30.1%). Benchmarking the proposed methodology, HS-BAµE(CN1), against the reference methodology, HS-SPME(PDMS/DVB), revealed comparable analytical responses and demonstrated excellent reproducibility. Among the six shrub species studied, Thymus camphoratus exhibited the highest emissions of BVOCs from its leaves, notably, 1,8-cineole (4136.9 ± 6.3 µg/g), α-pinene (763.9 ± 0.5 µg/g), and β-pinene (259.3 ± 0.5 µg/g). It was also the only species found to release caryophyllene oxide (411.4 ± 0.3 µg/g). The observed levels suggest that these shrub species could potentially serve as fuel sources in the event of forest fires occurring under extreme conditions. In summary, the proposed methodology proved to be a favorable analytical alternative for screening BVOCs in plants. It not only exhibited remarkable performance but also demonstrated user- and eco-friendliness, cost-effectiveness, and ease of implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the first time, this work reports the seasonal influence on the chemical composition and antiradical capacity of Acmella oleracea floral essential oil, produced from a perennial herb of great nutritional and pharmacological importance in the Amazon region. The species was cultivated and the plantation was monitored from May to September 2022 between the rainy and dry seasons. The essential oils were obtained by hydrodistillation, analyzed by gas chromatography coupled with a mass spectrometer, and subjected to the free radical inhibition assay using the DPPH method. The highest oil yield (1.61%) occurred in May (rainy season), and the lowest (0.68%) occurred in September (dry season). Despite the difference in the oil yield between the rainy and dry seasons, no significant correlation with weather conditions (p > 0.05) occurred. During the collection period, the class of sesquiterpene hydrocarbons was predominant (16.35–46.01%). The main constituents of A. oleracea were E-caryophyllene (13.57–25.74%), caryophyllene oxide (0.88–31.72%), 1-pentadecene (5.42–16.58%), germacrene D (0.14–15.17%), and myrcene (1.08–11.99%), and a low concentration of its main bioactive spilanthol (0.66–5.2%) was also observed. The antiradical capacity was considered low, with inhibition of 7.96 to 7.53% of free radicals and a Trolox equivalence of 68.4 to 64.7 mg·ET/g. Although there were some changes in the levels of chemical components in A. oleracea essential oils, the species can be considered an alternative source of pharmacologically active compounds such as E-caryophyllene and caryophyllene oxide, in addition to presenting amounts of other bioactive molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study investigates the chemical constituents and antioxidant potential of essential oils extracted from Ficus elastica. The essential oils were obtained through steam distillation and were subjected to gas chromatographymass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis to determine their constituents representing 100% of the total peak areas. The analysis revealed the presence of 34 compounds. Among these compounds, Caryophyllene was found to be the major constituent, accounting for 50.57% of the total percentage area. Among other identified major compounds include γ-Muurolene (8.19%), camphene (5.69%), Heptacosane (2.61%), and Heneicosane (2.60%). Furthermore, the antioxidant potential of Ficus elastica essential oil was evaluated using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and hydrogen peroxide radical scavenging methods. The results indicated that F. elastica's essential oil exhibited significant radical scavenging activity when compared to the standard antioxidant, Ascorbic acid. For the highest concentration tested (10 µL/mL), the DPPH scavenging inhibition percentage was 45.26% for F. elastica and 90.40% for Ascorbic acid. Similarly, the hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity at 10 µL/mL was found to be 74.90% for F. elastica and 90.12% for Ascorbic acid. Additionally, the essential oils demonstrated high radical scavenging and chelating activity. The quantitative DPPH and hydrogen peroxide assays indicate the potent antioxidant activity of F. elastica essential oil, making it a promising candidate for further biological and chemical analysis. The isolation of therapeutically active compounds from these essential oils can be pursued, considering their potential role in the management and treatment of various diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The aerial parts essential oils of six Nepeta species (N. prostrata, N. saturejoides, N. sessilifolia, N. fissa, N. betonicifolia and N. ucranica) were analyzed by GC-FID and GC/MS. In the oils of two populations of N. prostrata, 1,8-cineole (49.8%–51.1%) was main constituent. Epoxy-alloaromadendrene (42.5%) was major compound in the oil of one population of N. saturejoides and α-humulene (25.4%), and caryophyllene oxide (19.7) were major components of the second population. In the oils of two populations of N. sessilifolia, n-octadecanol (17%–19%) and caryophyllene oxide (5.8%–16%) were main constituents, while α-pinene (32.5%) and spathulenol were major components of the third population. In the essential oils of three populations of N. fissa, caryophyllene oxide (16.1%–33.5%) was major compound, but each population had particular compound such as carvacrol, (E)-caryophyllene or spathulenol with remarkable amount. Tetradecanal (55.5%) and trans-muurola-4(14),5-diene (46.2%.) were main components in the oils of N. betonicifolia and N. ucranica, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cervical cancer arises due to the progressive dysplasia of cervical epithelial cells, characterized pathologically as cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). Given the urgency for effective treatments against CIN, exploring novel pharmaceutical candidates is of paramount importance. Beta-Caryophyllene (BCP), derived from various plants, has shown promise in impeding the progression of various malignancies. However, its potential efficacy in CIN treatment remains unexplored. In this study, we investigate the impact of BCP on CIN progression and elucidate its mechanism of action. An immortalized cervical epithelial cell line (H8) infected with HPV16 was used as a model for CIN. The results revealed that BCP significantly inhibited the proliferation of H8 cells and induced apoptosis. Moreover, BCP demonstrated the ability to suppress autophagy in H8 cells. Mechanistically, our findings indicate that BCP exerts its effects by modulating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Specifically, BCP was found to block this pathway, thereby impeding cell growth and autophagy in H8 cells. These results suggest that BCP holds promise as a therapeutic agent for CIN, potentially through its regulatory effects on the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The essential oil obtained from the dry leaves of Gynoxys szyszylowiczii Hieron. was described in this study for the first time. The chemical analysis, conducted on two stationary phases of different polarity, permitted to identify sixty-four compounds, that were quantified with at least one column. The main components, on a non-polar and polar stationary phase respectively, were germacrene D (21.6–19.2%), α-pinene (4.4–4.9%), n-tricosane (4.3% on both columns), (E)-β-caryophyllene (3.3–4.3%), 1-docosene (3.2–2.8%), α-cadinol (2.8–3.1%), and cis-β-guaiene (2.6–3.0%). This investigation was complemented by the enantioselective analysis of some major chiral compounds, carried out on two chiral selectors based on β-cyclodextrines. As a result, (S)-(+)-α-phellandrene, (S)-(+)-β-phellandrene, and (1S,2R,6R,7R,8R)-(+)-α-copaene appeared enantiomerically pure, whereas α-pinene, β-pinene, terpinen-4-ol, and germacrene D were detected as scalemic mixtures. Finally, linalool was practically racemic. The distillation yield, analytically calculated by weight of dry plant material, was 0.03%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Functional nanoparticles (NPs) have gained significant attention as promising applications in various fields, including sensor, smart coating, drug delivery, and more. Here, a novel mechanism assisted by machine‐learning workflow is proposed to accurately predict phase diagram of NPs, which elegantly achieves tunability of shapes and internal structures of NPs using self‐assembly of block‐copolymers (BCP). Unlike most of previous studies, onion‐like and mesoporous NPs in neutral environment and hamburger‐like NPs in selective environment are obtained. Such novel phenomena are obtained only by tailoring the topology of a miktoarm star BCP chain architecture without the need for any further treatment. Moreover, it is demonstrated that the BCP chain architecture can be used as a new strategy for tuning the lamellar asymmetry of NPs. It is shown that the asymmetry between A and B lamellae in striped ellipsoidal and onion‐like particles increases as the volume fraction of the A‐block increases, beyond the level reached by linear BCPs. In addition, an extended region of onion‐like structure is found in the phase diagram of A‐selective environment, as well as the emergence of an inverse onion‐like structure in the B‐selective one. The findings provide a valuable insight into the design and fabrication of nanoscale materials with customized properties, opening up new possibilities for advanced applications in sensing, materials science, and beyond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The scent of Anacamptis species has been analyzed by using HS-SPME-GC–MS. The sample was collected in Basilicata (Southern Italy). Every species showed a different composition of the scent in the analyses we performed. 1,2,4-Trimethoxybenzene and methyl 4-mehoxybenzoate were the main components of that of Anacamptis coriophora subsp. fragrans. The scent of Anacamptis laxiflora was due to the presence of caryophyllene. Linear hydrocarbons but also decanal were components of the scent of Anacamptis pyramidalis. Eucalyptol was found in the scent of Anacamptis papilonacea. Finally, β-sesquiphellandrene was the main component of the scent of Anacamptis morio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An efficient in situ condensation of citronellal, the main constituent of Eucalyptus citriodora essential oil (51%), with different amine derivatives of 2,3-diaminomaleonitrile and 3-[(2-aminoaryl)amino]dimedone has led to novel chiral benzodiazepine structures. All reactions were precipitated in ethanol and pure products were obtained in good yields (58–75%) without any purification. The synthesized benezodiazepines were characterized by spectroscopic techniques, namely 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, 2D NMR and FTIR. Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and HPLC were used to confirm the formation diastereomeric mixtures of benzodiazepine derivatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Species belonging to the genus Salvia, Lamiaceae, have been deeply involved in the folk medicine of different nations since ancient times. Lilac sage, or Salvia verticillata L. (S. verticillata) is a less studied species from the genus. However, it seems to have a prominent potential for the future drug discovery strategies of novel phytopharmaceuticals. This review aims to summarise the data on the biological activity and the phytochemical profile of extracts and essential oils derived from S. verticillata. This review is based on data from 57 in vitro and in vivo studies. The chemical profile of S. verticillata includes different synergic compounds like phenolic acids, flavonoids, terpenes, and salvianolic acids. Although some small amounts of salvianolic acid B were found in S. verticillata extracts, the major compound among the salvianolic acids is salvianolic acid C, a compound associated with the potential for improving liver fibrosis, cardio- and hepatoprotection, and the inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 infection. The cannabinoid type 2 receptor agonist β-caryophyllene is one of the major compounds in S. verticillata essential oils. It is a compound with a prominent potential in regenerative medicine, neurology, immunology, and other medical fields. The in vivo and the in vitro studies, regarding S. verticillata highlighted good antioxidant potential, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antifungal activity. S.verticillata was also reported as a potential source of drug candidates for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, because of the inhibitory activity on the acetylcholinesterase. However, the number of studies in this direction is limited. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

DNA in bacterial chromosomes is organized into higher‐order structures by DNA‐binding proteins called nucleoid‐associated proteins (NAPs) or bacterial chromatin proteins (BCPs). BCPs often bind to or near DNA loci transcribed by RNA polymerase (RNAP) and can either increase or decrease gene expression. To understand the mechanisms by which BCPs alter transcription, one must consider both steric effects and the topological forces that arise when DNA deviates from its fully relaxed double‐helical structure. Transcribing RNAP creates DNA negative (−) supercoils upstream and positive (+) supercoils downstream whenever RNAP and DNA are unable to rotate freely. This (−) and (+) supercoiling generates topological forces that resist forward translocation of DNA through RNAP unless the supercoiling is constrained by BCPs or relieved by topoisomerases. BCPs also may enhance topological stress and overall can either inhibit or aid transcription. Here, we review current understanding of how RNAP, BCPs, and DNA topology interplay to control gene expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Echinochloa crus-galli is a serious weed species in rice paddies. To obtain a new potential bioherbicide, we evaluated the inhibitory activities of 13 essential oils and their active substances against E. crus-galli. Essential oil from Syzygium aromaticum (L.) Merr. & L. M. Perry (SAEO) exhibited the highest herbicidal activity (EC50 = 3.87 mg mL-1) among the 13 essential oils evaluated. The SAEO was isolated at six different temperatures by vacuum fractional distillation, including 164°C, 165°C (SAEO—165), 169°C, 170°C 175°C and 180°C. The SAEO—165 had the highest inhibitory rate against E. crus-galli. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and high phase liquid chromatography identified eugenol (EC50 = 4.07 mg mL-1), α-caryophyllene (EC50 = 17.34 mg mL-1) and β-caryophyllene (EC50 = 96.66 mg mL-1) as the three compounds in SAEO. Results from a safety bioassay showed that the tolerance of rice seedling (~ 20% inhibition) was higher than that of E. crus-galli (~ 70% inhibition) under SAEO stress. SAEO induced excessive generation of reactive oxygen species leading to oxidative stress and ultimately tissue damage in E. crus-galli. Our results indicate that SAEO has a potential for development into a new selective bio-herbicide. They also provide an example of a sustainable management strategy for E. crus-galli in rice paddies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the synthesis of two novel halogenated nitro-arylhimachalene derivatives: 2-bromo-3,5,5,9-tetramethyl-1-nitro-6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-5H-benzo[7]annulene (bromo-nitro-arylhimachalene) and 2-chloro-3,5,5,9-tetramethyl-1,4-dinitro-6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-5H-benzo[7]annulene (chloro-dinitro-arylhimachalene). These compounds were derived from arylhimachalene, an important sesquiterpene component of Atlas cedar essential oil, via a two-step halogenation and nitration process. Characterization was performed using 1H and 13C NMR spectrometry, complemented by X-ray structural analysis. Quantum chemical calculations employing density functional theory (DFT) with the Becke3-Lee-Yang-parr (B3LYP) functional and a 6-31++G(d,p) basis set were conducted. The optimized geometries of the synthesized compounds were consistent with X-ray structure data. Frontier molecular orbitals and molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) profiles were identified and discussed. DFT reactivity indices provided insights into the compounds' behaviors. Moreover, Hirshfeld surface and 2D fingerprint analyses revealed significant intermolecular interactions within the crystal structures, predominantly H–H and H–O contacts. Molecular docking studies demonstrate strong binding affinities of the synthesized compounds to the active site of protein 7B2W, suggesting potential therapeutic applications against various isolated smooth muscles and neurotransmitters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study is the first to investigate the chemical composition and antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and cytotoxic activities of Peperomia leptostachya leaf oil. A yellow oil was obtained through hydro-distillation, with a yield of 0.1% (w/w). The GC-MS analysis revealed 66 compounds, constituting 99.6% of the oil. Sesquiterpene hydrocarbons predominated (70.4%), followed by monoterpene hydrocarbons (13.2%), oxygenated sesquiterpenes (12.4%), non-terpenic compounds (2.0%), and oxygenated monoterpenes (1.6%). Major constituents included germacrene D (25.1%), (E)-caryophyllene (17.4%), bicyclogermacrene (6.6%), α-pinene (6.2%), and β-pinene (4.7%). The assessment of antioxidant capacity via 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging assay yielded a weak effect, with an IC50 value > 100 µg/mL. The inhibition of lipopolysaccharide-induced nitric oxide production in RAW 264.7 cells was quantified using the MTT assay, showing an IC50 value of 15.15 ± 0.68 µg/mL. Furthermore, cytotoxic effects on SK-LU-1 cell line growth were evaluated using the sulforhodamine B assay, resulting in an IC50 value of 37.45 ± 2.43 μg/mL. The anti-inflammatory activity was notable among the analyzed bioactivities of this oil. By employing a computational model, the predominant secondary metabolites in the essential oil were selected as candidates for interaction analysis with cyclooxygenase-2, an enzyme implicated in the inflammatory response. Our findings suggest that P. leptostachya leaf oil could serve as a potential source of natural compounds with prospective therapeutic effects in treating inflammatory conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sonchus oleraceus L. is a leafy vegetable that is usually consumed in the area of the Mediterranean and is a frequently used traditional herb to treat a variety of ailments. Previous studies deduced the potent antioxidant and cytotoxic functions of the different extracts and isolated compounds from S. oleraceus. The current study represents the first instance of chemical profiling and bioactivities of the extracted essential oil (EO) of S. oleraceus. The present investigation set out to identify the chemical components of this EO by means of Gas Chromatography with Flame Ionization Detector (GC-FID) and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (G004-MS) techniques; assess the oil's antioxidant potencies through 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2′-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate (ABTS) assays; and evaluate the oil's cytotoxic impact against HepG2 cancer cell lines. The GC-MS chemical profiling revealed the identification of 23 components representing 97.43% of the total oil mass within abundant cyclic ketones (20.15%), nonterpenoidial hydrocarbons (28.77%), and sesquiterpenes (42.19%). The main components were n-nonadecane (28.77%), trans-caryophyllene (23.73%), trans-methyl dihydrojasmonate (19.55%), and cis-cadina-1,4-diene (9.44%). In a dose-dependent manner, this EO demonstrated antioxidant capacities on DPPH and ABTS, with IC50 values of 609.35 and 804.16 µg/mL, respectively, compared to ascorbic acid. Using doxorubicin as a reference therapy, the MTT assay findings revealed that this oil had remarkable inhibitory effects on the proliferation of HepG2 cancer cell lines, with an IC50 of 136.02 µg/mL. More studies were recommended for further investigation of new biological roles for this oil and its main components, along with the construction of action mechanisms based on chemical components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lemon essential oil, derived from Citrus limon, possesses diverse health-promoting properties, including antioxidant, antimicrobial, and mood-enhancing effects. Despite its traditional use in aromatherapy and complementary medicine, there is a need for comprehensive investigations into its therapeutic potential, particularly in mitigating DNA damage and supporting health in palliative care settings. This study aimed to evaluate the antigenotoxic effects of lemon essential oil in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells and to explore its potential applications in palliative care. Treatment with lemon essential oil significantly reduced DNA damage, with 1% w/v with 3.13% DNA in tail demonstrating greater efficacy. Furthermore, lemon essential oil attenuated streptonigrin-induced DNA damage, suggesting a potential protective effect against oxidative stress, especially at 3% w/v, with 11.81% DNA in tail. Compared to olive oil treatment, the DNA damage was significantly lower with streptonigrin treatment alone, which had 47.06% DNA in tail, while the olive oil treatment resulted in 36.88% DNA in tail. These results can be attributed to the main constituents: limonene in lemon essential oil and oleic acid in olive oil. These results suggest a potential role in mitigating oxidative stress and supporting genomic stability. Further research is warranted to elucidate the mechanisms of action and clinical applications in palliative care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Featured Application: The cross-disciplinary investigation conducted here utilized natural green products (essential oils and plant extracts) as effective eco-friendly antifungal agents for the preservation of archaeological wooden artifacts. The biodeterioration of wooden cultural heritage is a severe problem worldwide and fungi are the main deteriorating agents. The identification of effective natural products, safer for humans and the environment, is a current challenge. Ten deteriorated archaeological objects (a wooden statue of a seated man, an anthropoid wooden coffin with a cartonnage mummy of Nespathettawi, and a wooden box of Padimen's son), stored at the Egyptian museum in Cairo, were considered here. The wood species of the three most deteriorated objects were previously identified as Acacia nilotica, Ficus sycomorus, and Tamarix gennessarensis. Twenty-six fungal species were isolated and identified from the wooden objects and the four most frequent species belonged to the genus Aspergillus. Fourteen fungal species among those isolated showed the greatest biodeterioration activity on the experimental wood blocks of the archaeological objects. The antifungal activities of several eco-friendly plant essential oils (from cinnamon, eucalyptus, frankincense, geranium, lavender, lemongrass, menthe, rosemary, tea tree, and thyme) and plant extracts (from basil, eucalyptus, henna, melia, and teak) were tested against the fungal species with the greatest biodeterioration activity. The essential oils (Eos) were more effective than the plant extracts. Thyme EO, followed by geranium and cinnamon ones, was the most active (minimum inhibitory concentrations: 0.25–1 µL/mL). These EO; also showed inhibitory effects on the enzymatic activities (cellulase, amylase, and protease) of the four most dominant fungal species. Thymol and p-cymene were the two main components of thyme oil, while geraniol and beta-citronellol were those of geranium oil; eugenol and caryophyllene were those of the cinnamon EO. Thyme oil applied to the most deteriorated experimental aged A. nilotica wooden cubes inoculated with the four highly frequent fungal species was effective in wood preservation. Moreover, no significant interference was observed in the wood before and after thyme treatment. Thyme oil seems to be a promising eco-friendly antifungal agent for the preservation of archaeological wooden artefacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The strong aromatic characteristics of the tender leaves of Toona sinensis determine their quality and economic value. Methods and results: Here, GC-MS analysis revealed that caryophyllene is a key volatile compound in the tender leaves of two different T. sinensis varieties, however, the transcriptional mechanisms controlling its gene expression are unknown. Comparative transcriptome analysis revealed significant enrichment of terpenoid synthesis pathway genes, suggesting that the regulation of terpenoid synthesis-related gene expression is an important factor leading to differences in aroma between the two varieties. Further analysis of expression levels and genetic evolution revealed that TsTPS18 is a caryophyllene synthase, which was confirmed by transient overexpression in T. sinensis and Nicotiana benthamiana leaves. Furthermore, we screened an AP2/ERF transcriptional factor ERF-IX member, TsERF66, for the potential regulation of caryophyllene synthesis. The TsERF66 had a similar expression trend to that of TsTPS18 and was highly expressed in high-aroma varieties and tender leaves. Exogenous spraying of MeJA also induced the expression of TsERF66 and TsTPS18 and promoted the biosynthesis of caryophyllene. Transient overexpression of TsERF66 in T. sinensis significantly promoted TsTPS18 expression and caryophyllene biosynthesis. Discussion: Our results showed that TsERF66 promoted the expression of TsTPS18 and the biosynthesis of caryophyllene in T. sinensis leaves, providing a strategy for improving the aroma of tender leaves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a chronic disease with an increasing incidence, which can further develop into liver fibrosis and hepatocellular carcinoma at the end stage. Alantolactone (Ala), a sesquiterpene lactone isolated from Asteraceae, has shown anti-inflammatory effects in different models. However, the therapeutic effect of Ala on NAFLD is not clear. Methods: C57BL/6 mice were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) to induce NAFLD. After 16 weeks, Ala was administered by gavage to observe its effect on NAFLD. RNA sequencing of liver tissues was performed to investigate the mechanism. In vitro, mouse cell line AML-12 was pretreated with Ala to resist palmitic acid (PA)-induced inflammation, oxidative stress and fibrosis. Results: Ala significantly inhibited inflammation, fibrosis and oxidative stress in HFD-induced mice, as well as PA-induced AML-12 cells. Mechanistic studies showed that the effect of Ala was related to the induction of Nrf2 and the inhibition of NF-κB. Taken together, these findings suggested that Ala exerted a liver protective effect on NAFLD by blocking inflammation and oxidative stress. Conclusions: The study found that Ala exerted a liver protective effect on NAFLD by blocking inflammation and oxidative stress, suggesting that Ala is an effective therapy for NAFLD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The young and old leaves of bitter orange (Citrus aurantium) were examined for their essential oil (EO) compositions, anticancer, antimicrobial, and antiviral activities. The EO yields were 0.77% in young leaves and 0.26% in old leaves. The EO composition showed the predominance of sabinene (37.17%), E-β-ocimene (8.21%), δ-3-carene (7.71%), linalool (7.35%), and limonene (5.43%) in young leaves while of sabinene (47.47%), β-sinensal (5.71%), E-β-ocimene (4.98%), δ-3-carene (4.11%), and β-caryophyllene (4.06%) in old leaves. The EOs of both young and old leaves showed potent cytotoxic activities against human lung carcinoma (A549) and colon adenocarcinoma (DLD-1) cells with IC50 < 0.1 µg/mL. The young leaf EO had higher antibacterial activity than the old leaf EO for all bacterial strains with inhibition zones (IZ) varying from 17 to 45 and 8 to 36 mm, respectively. The EOs of both young and old leaves had strong antifungal activity against all fungal strains with IZ = 90 mm. The young leaf EO was found to be the most active in protecting cells against Herpes simplex virus type-1 (HSV-1) infection during the protection, absorption, and direct periods as compared to the untreated and treated Vero cells except the replication phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pr1A a subtilisin-like protease was generated by Metarhizium is known to involved in the early stages of fungal invasion of arthropod hosts. Current intended to establish a link between cotton bollworm mortality H. armigera expression on levels of the conidial pr1A gene in Metarhizium. Intriguingly, subtilisin-like proteases were emitted by defensive metabolism on volatile organic compounds in H. armigera products. Fifth day after treatment, conidial of M. anisopliae, M. robertsii, M. majus (6.59, 4.65, and 4.65 × 105 conidia/ml) respectively, resulted in greater than 95% mortality rates. We used particular primers were existence of pr1A genes in M. anisopliae, M. robertsii, M. majus through the pr1A expression was confirmed. Subsequently, investigated Pr1A expression using RT-qPCR and discovered that the Pr1A gene was strongly expressed for conidiogenesis or pathogenesis at 72 h, showing that gene expression is time-dependent. The time pr1A gene expression is critical to understanding its role in disease or fungal development. Finally, secondary metabolic were playing a significant role in VOCs compounds by beta-caryophyllene, octanonene, 1-octadecene, benzene, 1,2-dimethoxy, methylheptenone, benzaldehyde, 9-octadecenoic acid (E), and methyl salicylate though the microbe defence signals by H. armigera interactions Therefore, our research haven been showed, it can be helpful to examine the expression of genes related to conidiogenesis or pathogenesis in M. anisopliae, M. robertsii, M. majus their pathogenic with saprophytic life phases. In the creation techniques to detecting and deploying pathogenic biological control agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

The Eryngium L. genus belongs to the Apiaceae family and, with about 250 species, has a cosmopolitan distribution. Only fourteen of the twenty-six species described in Flora Europaea grow in the Iberian Peninsula. One of these is Eryngium galioides Lam., a small annual plant (2–30 cm) that grows in open dry places in the mid-west of the Iberian Peninsula. For this study, the whole plant (aerial parts and roots) of this species was gathered in Guadalajara (Spain). The essential oil of this population was extracted by hydro-distillation and analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS). It is worth noting that this species gave rise to a relatively high essential oil yield (0.48%) in comparison with other species of this genus. E. galioides oil consisted of a complex mixture of more than 70 compounds. The main constituents of this oil were identified as valencene (49.7%) and a phyllocladene isomer (23.7%), both representing more than the 70% of the total oil. Other representative compounds of this oil were found to be β-chamigrene (6.0%), γ-muurolene (3.4%), (E)-caryophyllene (3.0%) and β-elemene (1.6%). As far as we know, this is the first report about the chemical composition of E. galioides essential oils. With this work, we contribute to the knowledge of this genus and provide a chemical and botanical basis to promote the in vitro cultivation of E. galioides as a source of essential oils rich in bio-actives for application in different fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of this work was to investigate the chemical composition of Aloysia citriodora essential oil and its biological activities as antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal and anti-inflammatory potentials depending on the collection region. The highest essential oil yields were in Gabes and Kairouan at the Arid bioclimatic zone. Sixty volatile compounds were identified by GC-FID-MS. The major compounds were limonene and spathulenol in Gabes at the Middle Arid. However, (E)-citral (known as geranial) was the major compound of Belli and Kairouan belonging to the Upper Semi-Arid and Upper Arid areas, respectively. The essential oil extracted from the inferior sub-humid bioclimatic zone (Boussalem) had spathulenol and caryophyllene oxide as predominant components. Inversely to DPPH and ABTS, the antioxidant activities using reducing power assay of A. citriodora essential oils significantly increased from the inferior sub-humid (Boussalem) to the Upper Arid (Kairouan) bioclimatic areas. Independently of region, A. citriodora essential oil exhibited an interesting antibacterial, antifungal and anti-inflammatory potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, essential oils were extracted from rosemary leaves (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) from the eastern region of Morocco using hydrodistillation (Hd) and steam distillation (Sd). The yield, chemical composition, thermal stability, and antioxidant activity of the essential oils obtained by the two methods were compared. Determining the chemical composition of rosemary essential oil, with GC-MS, showed a significant qualitative and quantitative difference in certain components. The Sd method improved the extraction of sesquiterpene compounds with high molecular weight and low vapour pressure. The findings reveal that sesquiterpene and oxygenated monoterpenes in essential oils improved the antioxidant activity and thermal stability. Determining antioxidant activity using DPPH and the β-carotene bleaching assay showed that the Sd and Hd oils presented good radical scavenging activity (IC50 = 4960 μg/mL for Hd oil and 4570 μg/mL for Sd oil), capable of delaying β-carotene discolouration with 16.3 and 9.71% inhibition for Sd and Hd respectively. Thermal stability analysis of the oil products was performed using TGA/DTG analysis, and the results showed that the decomposition points of Hd oil and Sd oil were 362 and 368 K respectively. Furthermore, to identify intermolecular interactions and develop better knowledge of phenomena occurring during the extraction of the family of sesquiterpene compounds by water, quantum chemical calculation and molecular simulation by molecular dynamics (MD) were performed. The results suggested the relative stability of caryophyllene-water and the development of intermolecular bonding interactions of van der Walls and steric effect, improving extraction of the substance studied under steam distillation conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plants synthesize aromatic components during their secondary metabolism, these components are known as volatile oils or essential oils. Oils extracted from medicinal and aromatic plants have been investigated and applied due to their ethnomedicinal properties and the presence of abundant bioactive compounds. Many research studies examined the variations in the yield and composition of essential oil depending on the season and duration of the day-night period. The aim of the present study is twofold, we have performed a bibliometric analysis by using the Scopus database (data collection) and VOSviewer software (analysis) along with a comprehensive review of the literature published to date on the essential oils extracted from aromatic and medicinal plants, with an emphasis on their chemical profiles based on climatic and circadian periods. Extensive research on this relationship between abiotic factors (climatic and circadian) and chemical constituents, has identified significant variability among them. Phyto medicines and preparations with well-defined and verified bioactive volatile components, action mechanisms, and therapeutic potential of essential oils, have been utilized as pharmacological means. During this study, it was observed that this field is under-explored, and only limited data is available so far, therefore it has a lot of scope for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Schinopsis lorentzii (Griseb.) Engler is an aromatic plant belonging to Anacardiaceae family, and grown in Argentina, Paraguay, Brazil, and Bolivia. It is a rich source of essential oils and tannins as well as commercially available as vegetable-processed leather tanning and antiparasitic agent. This study was designed to explore the chemical composition of essential oil isolated from S. lorentzii leaves and elaborate on their significance as natural anti-diabetic, combined with molecular-docking studies. The leaf oil was chemically analysed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) method and investigated for inhibitory effects against α-amylase and α-glucosidase. Molecular-modelling study via Molecular Operating Environment-Docking (MOE-Dock) program was used to evaluate binding interactions of major components with the above-mentioned targets. The GC-MS analysis of the leaf oil revealed the predominance of β-caryophyllene (21.63±0.36%), γ-terpinene (13.53±0.74%), α-pinene (13.38±0.65%), and terpinen-4-ol (12.55±1.56%). The tested oil expressed a remarkable inhibitory effect against α-amylase with IC50 value of 2.27±0.19 μg/mL, comparable to acarbose (IC50 = 0.52±0.18 μg/mL) used as standard drug. Similarly, it significantly inhibited α-glucosidase (IC50 = 0.84±0.03 μg/mL), compared to acarbose (IC50 = 0.38±0.02μg/mL). The in-silico molecular docking study revealed favorable binding affinities of β-caryophyllene, terpinen-4-ol and sabinene with variable degrees with α-amylase and α-glucosidase. Thus, this study demonstrated valuable scientific data on the leaf oil of S. lorentzii as a potential candidate for the development of natural antidiabetic formulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Murraya koenigii (L.) Spreng., is a renowned medicinal and aromatic plant having antimicrobial and broad biological activities. In the present study, the essential oil chemical profile of the leaf and floral part were analysed using GC-FID and GC-MS, and the antimicrobial activities were determined by disk diffusion assay. The scientific analysis revealed α-pinene (40.41%) was the major compound of leaf essential oil (MKL) followed by sabinene (29.66%), β-pinene (7.92%), caryophyllene (4.24%), limonene (3.39%), terpinen-4-ol (3.25%), γ-terpinene (2.63%), terpinolene (1.58%), linalool (1.32%), along with other trace components. The floral part (MKF) contains the compounds α-pinene (74.02%) as the major compound followed by β-pinene (7.17%), sabinene (5.72%), limonene (4.19%), β-myrcene (1.98%), γ-terpinene (1.47%) and terpinen-4-ol (1.41%) along with other trace compounds. The MIC result revealed essential oil showed effectiveness against Escherichia coli (40 μg/mL), Micrococcus luteus (80 μg/mL), Aspergillus fumigatus (60 μg/mL) and Aspergillus brasiliensis (80 μg/mL) for MKL while MKF did not exhibit potent antimicrobial activities. The essential oils revealed potent antioxidant potential as determined by DPPH method with IC50 values of 14.02 μL/mL (MKL) and 5.45 μL/mL (MKF) and the ABTS method with IC50 values of 5.07 μL/mL and 8.38 μL/mL in MKL and MKF respectively as compared to that of the standards. The essential oils revealed potent antidiabetic activity with 6.02 μL/mL (MKL) and 8.18 μL/mL (MKF) as that of the standard. However, both MKL and MKF were not much effective in protease inhibitory activity and anti-tyrosinase activity. The study results exhibited a potent bioactivity profile and revealed many new utilization aspects of this essential oil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cladanthus is a small genus of the Asteraceae family comprising just five species that, apart from Cladanthus mixtus (L.) Chevall., has a large distribution in all the Mediterranean countries, mainly in the North Africa area. Several ethnopharmacological uses have been reported for species of this genus. Notably, Cladanthus scariosus (Ball) Oberpr. & Vogt is endemic to Morocco. Seeking to delve deeper into the phytochemistry and pharmacological aspects of this species, in this work, we investigated the essential oil (EO) obtained from the aerial parts of a locally sourced accession, hitherto unexplored, growing wild near Tizi n'Ticha, Morocco. The chemical composition of the EO, obtained by the hydrodistillation method, was evaluated by GC and GC-MS. The most abundant EO constituent was germacrene D (13.2%), the principal representative of the sesquiterpene hydrocarbons class (27.2%). However, the major class of constituents was monoterpene hydrocarbons (43.0%), with α-pinene (11.9%), sabinene (10.2%), p-cymene (8.5%), and α-phellandrene (5.2%) as the most abundant. The EO and its main constituents have been tested for their possible cytotoxic activity against three human tumor cell lines (MDA-MB 231, A375, and CaCo2) using the MTT assay, with corresponding IC50 values of 13.69, 13.21, and 22.71 µg/mL, respectively. Germacrene D and terpinen-4-ol were found to be the most active constituents with IC50 values between 3.21 and 9.53 µg/mL. The results demonstrate remarkable cytotoxic activity against the three human tumor cell lines studied, and in the future, further analyses could demonstrate the excellent potential of C. scariosus EO as an antitumor agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phlomis olivieri Benth is a valuable medicinal plant in the flora of Iran and can be collected in different parts of the country. To date, no comprehensive phytochemical research has been done on it in different parts of Iran. In this research, the essential oils of this medicinal plant were investigated in eight locations of western provinces of Iran. For this, aerial parts of the plant were collected in its natural habitats, dried under the shade condition (approximately 25°C), and then powdered. The essential oil was isolated by Clevenger apparatus and chemically analyzed by a Gas Chromatography (6890N)-Mass Spectroscopy (5973N) device in Payame Noor University (PNU), Hamedan, Iran. Except for some cases (EC, TNV, and K) there were no significant differences in the characteristics of the soil of the investigated areas. In the chemical structure of this plant, 17 and 11 constituents were identified in A1 and A2, 17 and 18 in B1 and B2, 17 and 15 in C1 and C2, and 21 and 15 in D1 and D2 locations of four western provinces in Iran. The results showed that caryophyllene (A1, A2, B1 and B2), 1Hcyclopenta [1, 3] cyclopropa [1, 2] benzene (C1), naphthalene, decahydro-4a– methyl (C2), estra-1, 3, 5(10)-trian-17a-ol (D1), and n-hexadecanoic acid (D2) were dominant constituents. Therefore, this valuable medicinal plant has diverse chemical constituents in the studied locations in Iran which should be considered from different aspects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New essential oils (EOs) extracted from different parts of two Luvunga species (L. scandens and L. hongiaoensis) from Vietnam were investigated for their chemical composition, anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic activity. Sixty-nine total compounds were identified in the EOs by GC/MS. The major constituent of the leaf, fruit, and root EOs from L. scandens was β-caryophyllene (71.5%, 63.0%, and 31.5% respectively). The main compounds in L. hongiaoensis EOs were β-elemene (34.3% in leaf oil) and caryophyllene oxide (21.2% in root oil, 19.4% in stem oil). The EO from L. scandens fruits significantly inhibited nitric oxide production on LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells (IC50 = 37.95 ± 2.76 µg/mL). The EOs from L. hongiaoensis roots and L. scandens leaves and fruits exhibited cytotoxic activity against MCF-7, SK-LU-1, and HepG2 (IC50 from 49.74 ± 3.36 to 97.82 ± 8.61 µg/mL). This is the first report on L. hongiaoensis EOs and significantly complements the composition and bioactivity of L. scandens EOs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article provides information on the essential oil and fatty acids found in the roots of Ferula kyzylkumica Korovin, a plant native to Uzbekistan. The roots contain more essential oil and fewer lipophilic compounds compared to the aerial part of the plant. The dominant acid in the roots' lipids is linoleic acid. The lipid fractions in the roots consist of free fatty acids, fatty alcohol and sterol esters, and various essential oil constituents. The essential oil from the roots is mainly composed of sesquiterpenes and has shown antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria. This study offers valuable insights into the lipid profile and potential medicinal properties of the essential oil from Ferula kyzylkumica roots. [Extracted from the article]

This article presents a study on the genome assembly of Syringa pinnatifolia, a shrub valued in traditional Chinese medicine for its volatile chemical constituents. The researchers aimed to elucidate the biosynthesis pathway of zerumbone, a compound found in S. pinnatifolia with various medicinal properties. Through genome sequencing and analysis, they identified the genes responsible for the production of key compounds in the pathway, including a terpene synthase (TPS) gene and a cytochrome P450 (CYP450) gene. The study provides insights into the biosynthesis of zerumbone in eudicots and expands our understanding of the functions of TPS and CYP450 enzymes. [Extracted from the article]

Hedychium flavum is an edible, medicinal, and aromatic plant widely cultivated for its essential oil. So far, little studies have been done on its phytoconstituents and bioactivities. Hence, the research aimed to determine the chemical constituents of leaf essential oil (L-EO) and stem essential oil (S-EO) of H. flavum and first estimate their antibacterial, antioxidant, cytotoxic, and enzyme inhibitory activities. According to gas chromatography-flame ionization detector/mass spectrometer (GC-FID/MS) assay, L-EO was mainly composed of β-pinene (33.4%), α-pinene (10.4%), humulene (6.8%), β-caryophyllene (6.0%), eucalyptol (6.0%), caryophyllene oxide (5.5%), endo-borneol (3.8%), humulene epoxide II (3.7%), and D-limonene (3.2%). The predominant components of S-EO were β-pinene (17.2%), eucalyptol (9.7%), nerolidol (7.8%), α-phellandrene (6.7%), α-pinene (5.8%), β-caryophyllene (5.4%), terpinen-4-ol (4.5%), D-limonene (4.4%), p-cymene (3.7%), endo-borneol (3.5%), and α-terpineol (3.5%). For the bioactivities, L-EO and S-EO showed strong antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis, and Bacillus subtilis with the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 9.77–625.00 µg/mL and the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of 9.77–1250.00 µg/mL. Both L-EO and S-EO exhibited moderate antioxidant activity in the DPPH (14.52 ± 0.93 mg/mL and 4.73 ± 0.15 mg/mL, respectively) and ABTS (4.05 ± 0.75 mg/mL and 2.38 ± 0.14 mg/mL, respectively) free radical scavenging capacity. S-EO showed selective cytotoxicity on human leukemic K562 cell line (IC50 = 93.94 ± 0.91 µg/mL), which was nearly three times that of noncancer L929 cell line (IC50 = 294.49 ± 9.40 µg/mL). In enzyme inhibitory properties, L-EO exerted a potent inhibition on α-glucosidase (IC50 = 1.03 ± 0.02 mg/mL), and both essential oils had weak inhibition against cholinesterase and tyrosinase. Thus, H. flavum L-EO and S-EO possess antibacterial, antioxidant, cytotoxic, and enzyme inhibitory activities with potential for exploitation in the food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hagenia abyssinica and Artemisia absinthium are widely distributed tree species in Ethiopia and known for their traditional medicinal uses. The present study was conducted to determine the essential oil and smoke constituents of H. abyssinica and A. absinthium leaves using GC-MS. The main components of the A. absinthium essential oil were valencene (5.48%), bornyl acetate (5.15%), and trans-cinnamic acid (4.34%). 2-Bornanone (18.54%), o-cymene (12.80%), and nerolidol (7.04%) were the dominant components of the MeOH fraction of the smoke derived from the leaves of A. absinthium, while 2-propenoic acid butyl ester (46.49%), heptadecane (10.66%), and 9-octylheptadecane (7.78%) were the major components of the n-hexane fraction. The main components of the H. abyssinica essential oil were cis-davanone (14.73%), Aristolediene (9.31%), and cryptone (6.50%). β-Myrcene (12.59%), neophytadiene (11.54%), and limonene (11.27%) were the dominant components of the MeOH fraction of the smoke derived from the leaves of H. abyssinica. 1,3,5,7-Cyclooctatetraene (33.58%), prehnitene (7.01%), and heptadecane (5.46%) were the dominant components of the n-hexane fraction of the smoke derived from the leaves of H. abyssinica. The smoke components of A. absinthium and H. abyssinica were reported here for the first time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

Amblyomma sculptum is a species of tick in the family Ixodidae, with equids and capybaras among its preferred hosts. In this study, the acaricidal activity of the essential oil (EO) from Piper aduncum and its main component, Dillapiole, were evaluated against larvae of A. sculptum to establish lethal concentration values and assess the effects of these compounds on tick enzymes. Dillapiole exhibited slightly greater activity (LC50 = 3.38 mg/mL; 95% CI = 3.24 to 3.54) than P. aduncum EO (LC50 = 3.49 mg/mL; 95% CI = 3.36 to 3.62) against ticks. The activities of α-esterase (α-EST), β-esterase (β-EST), and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) enzymes in A. sculptum larvae treated with Dillapiole showed a significant increase compared to the control at all concentrations (LC5, LC25, LC50 and LC75), similar results were obtained with P. aduncum EO, except for α-EST, which did not differ from the control at the highest concentration (LC75). The results of the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity show an increase in enzyme activity at the two lower concentrations (LC5 and LC25) and a reduction in activity at the two higher, lethal concentrations (LC50 and LC75) compared to the control. These results suggest potential mechanisms of action for these natural acaricides and can provide guidance for the future development of potential plant-derived formulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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