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The current evaluation was conducted to investigate the chemical composition and functional properties of protein hydrolysates from different Satureja species. The major amino acids (mg/100 g protein) in the protein from different Satureja species were arginine (6.06–14.37), asparagine (1.39–17.06), glutamine (2.42–11.60), glutamic acid (6.34–9.32), beta‐aminoisobutyric acid (3.31–10.29), alanine (4.64–9.59), aspartic acid (5.73–9.54), proline (4.25–8.14), leucine (3.63–5.69), serine (2.64–4.83), lysine (1.89–4.56), glycine (0.96–5.27), valine (2.76–4.83), and phenylalanine (2.86–3.75). Protein hydrolysates from Satureja species exhibited comparable antioxidant activity (IC50 = 0.270–0.328 mg/mL), anti‐linoleic acid oxidation (IC50 = 0.231–0.301 mg/mL), anti‐lecithin oxidation (IC50 = 0.198–0.258 mg/mL), anti‐starch oxidation (IC50 = 0.201–0.277 mg/mL), anti‐amylase activity (IC50 = 0.314–0.337 mg/mL), and anti‐lipase activity (IC50 = 0.309–0.369 mg/mL). The physico‐chemical properties of gelatin dispersion were electrical conductivity (1197 microsiemens/cm), osmolarity (190 milliosmol/kg), surface tension (45 mN/m), particle size (179 nm), zeta potential (−48 mV), and viscosity (4.92 mPa.s). Techno‐functional characteristics of freeze‐dried gelatin particles were as follows: water content (7.68%), water solubility (84.57%), water swelling (151.33%), hygroscopicity (38.20%), hydrophobicity (6.50 μg/g), emulsification activity (68.54%), emulsification stability (57.86%), foam expansion activity (56.08%), foam stability (41.84%), oil‐holding capacity (1.96 g/g), and water‐holding capacity (4.45 g/g). Protein hydrolysate causes minor changes in the physico‐chemical and techno‐functional properties of gelatin. The current investigation introduces Satureja protein hydrolysate as a possible functional and techno‐functional ingredient for bioactive food products for treating diabetes and oxidative stress and as a natural preservative for the food industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Satureja zarkosii (Lamiaceae) is described as a new species endemic to Greece, and illustrated by photographs. It was found on a river bank in a restricted locality in north central Peloponnese, and has its closest affinities with S. montana from North and Central Greece. The latter occupies a different habitat and has so far, not been found in the Peloponnese. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Satureja sp. belonging to the Lamiaceae family, has a wide variety and distribution in the world. In this research, essential oil content and components, phenol and antioxidant potential of five native Satureja species of Iran, including Satureja bachtiarica Bunge Bunge, S. sahendica Bornm., Satureja spicigera (K.Koch) Boiss., S. macrantha C.A.Mey. and S. mutica Fisch & C.A.Mey. were evaluated in the same conditions. The experiment was conducted based on randomized complete block design with three replications. The highest and the lowest essential oil content were obtained from S. mutica (2.05%) and S. sahendica (0.96%), respectively. Thymol was identified as the dominant component of essential oil in S. spicigera and S. macrantha, but in the other species, carvacrol was the dominant constituent in essential oil. In S. sahendica, monoterpene hydrocarbons, but in the other species, oxygenated monoterpenes were as the major constituents of the essential oil. Total phenols of the studied species were not significantly different, but the antioxidant potential of their extracts was significantly different. Cluster analysis based on phytochemical properties, divided the species to two groups: S. spicigera and S. macrantha in one group and the other species in a separate group. Results showed considerable phytochemical diversity among species and therefore the superior species will vary depending on the desired phytochemical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objective: Mayonnaise sauce is an oil in water emulsion that has numerous consumptions in worldwide. As there is no heating process during production of mayonnaise sauce, using preservatives is necessary. On the side of this, concern about chemical preservatives caused a development in formulation with natural preservatives. Traditional plants are one of the antimicrobial component sources that extraction and use of them in foods could be step for achieving above goal. The objective of this study was using natural preserving properties of Satureja and Tarragon extracts as substitute of chemical preservatives in mayonnaise sauce and investigating its changes. Materials and methods: In this study, alcoholic method was used for extracting. After investigating antimicrobial effect of extracts in culture, selected extracts according with experimental design were added to mayonnaise. In order to determination of experimental treats, mixture design with 3 variables (chemical preservative, Satureja and Tarragon extract) was used. Combination of these variables led to an experimental design with 16 runs. Intended extracts were added to mayonnaise sauce formulation and physicochemical experiments such as pH, acidity, colorimetery and sensory evaluation were done. Also, antimicrobial effect of extracts against important microorganisms in mayonnaise sauce (Lactobacillus, Salmonella and yeast and molds) was evaluated. Relation of each dependent variable with independent variables was showed via proper equation and their contour graph was drawn by design expert software. Results: Results of antimicrobial test showed that using Satureja and Tarragon extracts decreased the population of yeast, Lactobacillus and Salmonella during 3 months of storage. In all samples, pH and acidity range was according to ISIRI standard of mayonnaise sauce. Colorimetric assay showed using Satureja and Tarragon increased a* and decreased L*. In terms of sensory evaluation, it was shown that samples containing Satureja and Tarragon extracts had lower score than sample containing chemical preservative. Conclusion: to determination of optimum formulation of mayonnaise sauce, range or goal of intended properties was specified and considering them, optimum formulation was presented by software. In this formulation, 18.88% chemical preservative (136.41ppm), 34.49 % Satureja extract (27595 ppm) and 47.31% Tarragon extract (37855 ppm) led to mayonnaise sauce formula with capability of using natural preservative and acceptable physicochemical and sensory characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to determine the impact of three abiotic factors (Temperature, pH, and salinity) on the metabolic activities (macromolecules) and germination rate of Acinos alpinus subsp. Meridionalis (Satureja) seeds. In vitro, seed germination tests were performed in an aqueous medium. They were monitored as a function of time at different levels of temperature, NaCl concentration, and pH. The best germination rate (85.3%) was achieved at 15 °C and pH = 7. However, the germination was nil at a higher temperature (more than 25 °C), acidic pH (pH < 3.5), and higher NaCl concentration (more than >7.5 g L−1). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis showed an important variability of the chemical composition of germinated seeds. Indeed, the comparison of the absorbance peaks of chemical compounds in the treatments versus the control revealed significant differences in their concentrations and structures, which may justify why seeds fail to germinate under some extreme abiotic conditions. The results of this study are expected to serve as a guide for the protocols to be adopted in the ex situ conservation of this species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species, Satureja hasturkii, is described using morphological characters and molecular studies in this study. The new species is closely related to S. hortensis but differs from it by very lax thyrsoid inflorescence, longer pedicels, shorter calyx, upper and lower calyx teeth, and corolla. In order to support the morphological data, molecular studies are also done using nrITS and cptrnL-F gene regions. nrITS data gives better results in phylogenetic analysis. It is pointed out that the closest relatives of S. hasturkii are S. hortensis and S. laxiflora. The fact that having annual life forms of these three species also explain their molecular closeness. With this new species, the number of Satureja species in Turkey increased to 17. Moreover, lectotypes were determined for Satureja macrantha and S. wiedemanniana here. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In the past decades, problems in treating infections caused by resistant pathogenic bacteria were coupled with an increased focus on herbal active ingredients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-biofilm, antibacterial and antioxidant effects of S. khuzestanica and to determine its chemical composition.Methods: Satureja khuzestanika leaf was prepared from the Natural Resources Center of Isfahan Province. The antibacterial effect of extracts and essential oils was determined by well diffusion method and their minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) were determined by microdilution method on Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains. The antioxidant activity was also investigated by measuring the reduction of radical capacity. The chemical composition of the plant was determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.Findings: The MIC of methanolic extract and essential oil of S. khuzestanica were 12.5 and 31.25 mg/ml for S. aureus, respectively. In all cases, there was a direct relationship between the diameter of the growth inhibition zone and the concentrations of the plant extracts. The essential oil of the plant at a concentration of 50 mg/ml inhibited 100% of the biofilm production of both bacteria. Essential oil also had the highest antioxidant activity with 86% inhibition of DPPH. The level of antioxidant activity of extracts showed a significant increase with increasing the concentrations (P < 0.001). Carvacrol with 32.61% was the main compound of S. khuzestanica and then Cymene, Terpinene and Bisabolone was more than other compounds.Conclusion: The results showed that S. khuzestanika essential oil and extracts have antibacterial effect against S. aureus and antibiofilm effect on S. aureus and P. aeruginosa. This plant contains compounds with antimicrobial activity and antioxidant properties.

Background: Phenolic compounds are one of the main groups of secondary metabolites responsible for multiple biological and pharmacological properties that play a vital role in improving human health quality. Encapsulation by spray dryer creates protection toward the phenolic compounds as an efficient way for increasing product performance. Method: The phenolic compounds of Satureja khuzistanica Jamzad (SKH) and S. rechingeri Jamzad (SRH) were enriched based on adsorbent resin column chromatography and the enrichment index was confirmed by HPLC-UV analysis. Gum Arabic, carboxylated chitosan, and pectin with the optimum percentage of 1% w/w used to encapsulate SKH and SRH by the spray drying technique. Result: Encapsulation yield was 38.18 – 59.00 %, particle size ranged 2.278 - 4.689 µm, and release time was between 4.08 - 82.08 min. The gum Arabic-based capsules showed the fastest and pectin-based revealed the slowest release time. The best statistical model explained a release mechanism was Korsmeyer model. Anomalous transport was observed from all formulas except SKH-gum Arabic (case-I transport), SKH-pectin, and SRH-carboxylated-chitosan (super case-II transport). The cytotoxic activity of encapsulate SKH’s revealed reducing the viability of AGS evaluated by the MTT compared with SRH’s. Conclusion: Encapsulation by spray drying has proven to be a promising technique to improve the bioavailability, release time, and mechanism of functional polyphenolic compounds as medicines, food supplements, and food additives.

The genus Satureja belonging to the Lamiaceae family includes about 200 species, generally aromatic, distributed in the Mediterranean basin. In genus Satureja, the chromosomal data were reported from only 26 species. In this study, it is aimed to eliminate the deficiencies in the chromosomal data of Satureja species, which are distributed in Turkey, which is an important center of the genus. A basic number of x = 15 dominated in reported Satureja species excluding S. hortensis. However, different basic numbers were reported. The basic number variations were probably caused by descending or ascending dysploidy and dibasic polyploidy. Nine species were diploid with 2x = 30 and two species were polyploid with 4x = 44, 48, and 60. Polyploidy was probably one of the important mechanisms in the karyotype evolution of the genus. As a result, it was reported only one chromosome number (2n = 30), the first report for chromosome numbers of three taxa, the same chromosome count (excluding B-chromosomes) from previous report in only one species, and the correction of the chromosome number of previous report in only one species. The results contributed to some missing data in Satureja cytotaxonomy.

The endometritis form of uterine infection is considered as a common reproductive disorder deleterious to the reproductive performance of dairy herds. A wide variety of treatments with controversial results have been reported for endometritis, including local or systemic administration of antibiotics or disinfectants as well as hormone application. These treatments have side effects on endometrium, and antibiotic residues are found in milk following intrauterine and systemic antibiotic therapies. The aim of this study is to evaluate the possible effects of the mixed essential oil of Satureja bachtiarica Bunge, Artemisia Aucheri Boiss and Syzygium aromaticum (L.) Merr. & L.M.Perry on treatment of clinical endometritis in dairy cattle. One hundred and twenty cows with clinical endometritis were selected and randomly assigned to one of the following three groups: the HM group received mixed herbal essential oils, the OX group received 2.5 g oxytetracycline HCl, and the EX group received 1 g of ceftiofur sodium, all by intrauterine injection. The cleaning and first service conception rate was significantly higher in HM group than the EX, whereas the mean open days were lower in HM than the EX group. The number of service per conception was also significantly lower in HM group than OX and EX groups. In general, reproductive performance after herbal treatment was quite comparable to chemical antibiotic therapy and even better in some other reproductive indices. The mixed essential oils treatment represents an effective potential alternative to postpartum therapy for cows with clinical endometritis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lamiaceae comprises widely distributed medicinal and aromatic plants, many of which are traditionally used in European countries. The current study aimed to document Lamiaceae taxa used in rural Bulgaria (Southeast Europe) and to explore the related local knowledge and cultural practices that influence their utilization for various purposes. Field work included inventory of Lamiaceae diversity in home gardens and semi-structured interviews focused on the cultivation, collection, and utilization practices common among elderly inhabitants of 34 settlements in rural Bulgaria. We report the utilization of 27 Lamiaceae taxa, 9 of which were collected from the wild. Traditional and contemporary ways of utilizing Lamiaceae taxa as culinary and medicinal plants, in herbal teas, as repellents, ritual plants, etc., are presented. Recent knowledge on medicinal properties contributed to the introduction of new taxa in gardens (wild and cultivated), while traditional culinary practices were found to sustain the diversity of local forms (landraces). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Oral candidiasis is an opportunistic fungal infection in the oral cavity caused by an overgrowth of Candida species, especially Candida albicans. Various herbal agents have been designed to target Candida albicans. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antifungal activity of Jaftex mouthwash and nystatin suspension on the growth of Candida albicans. Methods and materials: In the present in vitro study, a standard strain of Candida albicans was prepared in the form of lyophilized ampoules. Jaftex mouthwash was prepared with an active ingredient (10 g per 100 cc) of aqueous extract of oak fruit hull (Jaft), Zataria multiflora and Satureja bachtiarica. Nystatin oral suspension (100,000 IU/mL) was also prepared. Both mouthwashes were serially diluted using the two-fold serial dilution method (Jaftex: eight-fold dilutions; nystatin suspension: nine-fold dilutions). A volume of 10 µL of each dilution of Jaftex mouthwash and nystatin suspension was placed on the discs that were linearly inoculated on culture medium and stored in an incubator for 24 hours at 37 °C. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the two antifungal agents was determined using the modified E-test. Data were analyzed using SPSS Version 26.0. A p-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The mean MIC values of Jaftex mouthwash and nystatin suspension were 0.0625 (mg/mL) and 0.0015 (mg/mL), respectively. There was a significant difference between the antifungal effect of Jaftex mouthwash and nystatin suspension on the growth of Candida albicans. Nystatin showed the lowest MIC and greater antifungal activity compared with Jaftex mouthwash. Conclusion: Nystatin increasingly suppressed the growth of Candida albicans. Jaftex mouthwash inhibited the growth of Candida albicans. Since nystatin may show allergic reactions, Jaftex mouthwash can be used as an alternative to nystatin. Due to the synergistic effect of nystatin with thymol, Jaftex mouthwash can be prescribed with nystatin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Satureja Khuzestanica (S. Khuzestanica) is one of the native plants of Iran that grows in areas such as Khuzestan and Lorestan. The current study was designed to evaluate the effects of S. Khuzestanica on lipid profile, especially on decreasing serum cholesterol, liver enzymes, and lipid peroxidation in male hamsters with high fat diet. Methods: 26 male hamsters were randomly divided into control, high fat diet (HFD), and high fat diet treated with S. Khuzestanica (HFD+S) groups. After 10 days of beginning the study, the two latter groups were fed with high fat diet for 30 days. During the last 10 days, the HFD+S group was treated with 100mg/kg/day S. Khuzestanica through the gavage. Results: Data showed that administration of S. Khuzestanica for 10 days resulted in a significant reduction of total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, liver enzymes, and malondialdehyde in the HFD+S group. Conclusion: These results support the potential effects of the use of Satureia Khuzestanica in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases.

Satureja pilosa and S. kitaibelii (Lamiaceae) are Balkan endemic plant species, and the composition of their essential oil (EO) is highly variable. The aim of the present study was to establish: (1) the EO variability in two populations of S. pilosa (the intrapopulation), and (2) the EO variation in S. kitaibelii between nine populations (interpopulation) from Bulgaria and two from Serbia. The EOs of two Satureja species were obtained from aboveground plant parts by hydrodistillation and were analyzed by GC/MS/FID. Overall, the EO yield on the intrapopulation level of S. pilosa varied from 0.54% to 2.15%, while the EO of S. kitaibelii varied from 0.04% to 0.43% (interpopulation). The EO of S. pilosa was found to contain thymol and carvacrol as the main constituents, with other major constituents being p-cymene and γ-terpinene. S. pilosa samples in both studied populations formed six chemical groups. The major constituents (p-cymene, terpinen-4-ol, bornyl acetate, γ-muurolene, endo-borneol, cis-β-ocimene, trans-β-ocimene, carvacrol, α-pinene, thymoquinone, geranial, geranyl acetate, spathulenol, and caryophyllene oxide) of S. kitaibelii EO were considered for grouping the populations into ten chemotypes. The present study is the first report on the interpopulation diversity of S. kitaibelii EOs in Bulgaria. It demonstrated variability of the EOs between and within the populations of S. kitaibelii from Bulgaria. This study identified promising genetic material that could be further propagated and developed into cultivars for commercial production of S. kitaibelii and S. pilosa, thereby reducing the impact of collection on wild populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Escherichia coli and some Salmonella serovars cause various disease manifestations in poultry leading to significant economic losses. The widespread and imprudent use of antibacterial agents in poultry flocks have increased resistant to many antibacterial agents which has become a major public health concern. Some medicinal plants may be alternative to antibacterial agents. The purpose of this study was to investigate the antibacterial and anti-biofilm activity of summer savory essential oil against E. coli and Salmonella isolated from poultry. Materials and Methods: The essential oil was extracted using a Clevenger apparatus and subsequently its compounds were determined using GC-MS. Antibacterial properties of essential oil were determined by disc diffusion method, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC). To evaluate the anti-biofilm properties the Microtiter plate test was used. Herbal essential oil was extracted and its compounds were identified correctly. Results: The major components of Satureja hortensis essential oil were thymol (41.28%), γ-terpinene (37.63%), p-cymene (12.2%) and α-terpinene (3.52%). The inhibition zone diameter in the disc diffusion test for E. coli and Salmonella were 32 ± 3 and 38 ± 4 mm, respectively, which was confirmed by MIC and MBC values. Regarding anti-biofilm activity, the MIC/2 concentration of S. hortensis significantly inhibited biofilm formation of E. coli. However, inhibition of biofilm formation of Salmonella was shown at concentration of MIC/2 and MIC/4. Conclusion: Based on our results, S. hortensis essential oil showed the growth inhibition and bactericidal activity against E. coli and Salmonella. Moreover, this study demonstrated anti-biofilm activity of S. hortensis essential against both tested bacteria.

Background: Increased resistance of Candida albicans to standard antifungal agents has caused special attention to medicinal plants. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Jaftex mouthwash on the growth of C. albicans and Candida tropicalis. Methods and Material: In this in vitro study, standard strains of C. albicans and C. tropicalis were used. Jaftex mouthwash was prepared with the active ingredient (10g/100cc) of aqueous extract of oak fruit hull (Jaft), Zataria multiflora, and Satureja bachtiarica. The mouthwash was diluted in half, 8 different concentrations were obtained. 10 μl volume of each dilution was poured on discs mounted linearly on the culture medium inoculated with the target fungus. After 24 h, due to the slow growth rate of these fungi, the Petri dishes were incubated at 37°C and the mean minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined for each fungus. The modified E. test method was used to measure the MIC of Jaftex mouthwash for the two fungi. The experiment was repeated three times for each fungus and the mean value was measured. Results: The mean value of MIC for C. albicans and C. tropicalis was 0.0625 (mg/mL) and 0.0833 (mg/mL), respectively. Candida albicans appeared to be more sensitive to Jaftex, but no statistically significant difference was observed. Conclusion: Jaftex mouthwash inhibits the growth of C. albicans and C. tropicalis. The use of this mouthwash is recommended for treatment of oral candidiasis.

Abstract Background Several agricultural or environmental factors affect plants’ chemical and pharmacological properties. Methods In this study, the essential oil of Libyan Satureja thymbra was isolated from plants collected during two successive years at two different altitudes; Wasita (WEO) and Safsaf (SEO), 156 and 661 m above sea level, respectively. Results GC/MS allowed the identification of 21 and 23 compounds, respectively. Thymol prevailed in WEO (26.69%), while carvacrol prevailed in SEO (14.30%). Antimicrobial activity was tested by agar-well diffusion method, and MIC/MLC values were determined by broth dilution method. Values of MIC/MLC were 0.125/0.25 μg/ml for SEO against S. aureus, P. mirabilis and K. pneumonia and for WEO against B. subtilus. It was observed that plants growing at lower altitude in Wasita locality had better antifungal activity, while those growing at higher altitude at Safsaf locality had better antibacterial activity. Both essential oils had a better anthelmintic activity than the standard piperazine citrate against a tested earthworm. However, SEO oil had a significantly higher anthelmintic activity than WEO. Cytotoxicity of the oils tested using SRB assay on human breast cancer (MCF-7) and colon cancer cell lines (HCT-116) showed better activity for SEO, especially against HCT-116 with IC50 2.45 ± 0.21 μg/ml. Conclusions Thus, altitude is an important factor that should be considered as it affected the yield, composition and biology of the plant extracts.

Background: Klebsiella pneumoniae is one of the most important bacteria that cause nosocomial infections. This opportunistic pathogen has a high potential for antibiotic resistance and can generate a thick layer of biofilm. Nowadays, antibiotic resistant strains are emerging and widely spreading worldwide. Thus, it is necessary to combat drug-resistant strains through the use of novel drugs (such as medicinal plants). Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the in vitro antibacterial activity of Satureja rechingeri Jamzad, S. khuzestanica Jamzad, S. bachtiarica Bunge, and S. mutica Fisch. & C.A.Mey. essential oils against K. pneumonia ATCC 700603. Methods: For evaluation of the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of essential oils, broth microdilution method was used. The microtiter plate assay method was used for the assessment of anti-biofilm activities of sub-MIC value of essential oils. Colorimetric and Iodometric assays were used for determination of urease and beta-lactamase activity. Results: According to data collected, the MIC value of essential oils was 4096 µg/mL. sub-MIC value of essential oils inhibited biofilm formation and urease activity of K. pneumoniae. However, S. khuzestanica had more activity. None of the essential oils caused a significant decrease in beta-lactamase activity of K. pneumoniae. Conclusion: Based on our analysis S. khuzestanica had a good antibacterial, anti-biofilm activities and urease inhibitory effects against K. pneumoniae, but additional studies are required to investigate the exact mechanisms of the antibacterial action and functions of this phytocompound.

Essential oils from Monarda fistulosa L., Satureja pilosa Vel., Origanum vulgare subsp. hirtum Ietswaart. (Greek oregano), Micromeria dalmatica Benth., Thymus longedentatus (Degen Urum.) Ronniger, and Artemisa campestris L. were evaluated as inhibitors of seed germination in target plants Lolium perenne L. and Trifolium pratense L. using in vitro assays. The essential oils were applied on the seeds as aqueous solutions at concentrations ranging from 0.5–3.0 µL/mL. Complete inhibition was established at a concentration of 1.5 µL/mL with the most effective essential oils. Oregano oil was evaluated for its inhibitory activity on seed germination under field conditions; the essential oil was applied as an aqueous solution at concentrations of 3, 5, and 10 µL/mL on superabsorbent Terawet. The mass obtained was mixed with the seeds of the target plants and planted in a field. After 1 month, the results were evaluated based on the weight of the aerial parts of the plants from control and experimental areas. At the highest concentration studied, the weight of the plants was 77% lower in the experimental areas than in the controls. The chemical composition of the essential oils was analyzed using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The results showed that carvacrol-rich essential oils had a strong inhibitory effect on seed germination. The inclusion of the essential oil on a superabsorbent was a good way to preserve its herbicidal activity under field conditions as this prevented its rapid evaporation.

Background: Increased resistance of Candida albicans to standard antifungal agents has caused special attention to medicinal plants. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Jaftex mouthwash on the growth of C. albicans and Candida tropicalis. Methods and Material: In this in vitro study, standard strains of C. albicans and C. tropicalis were used. Jaftex mouthwash was prepared with the active ingredient (10g/100cc) of aqueous extract of oak fruit hull (Jaft), Zataria multiflora, and Satureja bachtiarica. The mouthwash was diluted in half, 8 different concentrations were obtained. 10 μl volume of each dilution was poured on discs mounted linearly on the culture medium inoculated with the target fungus. After 24 h, due to the slow growth rate of these fungi, the Petri dishes were incubated at 37°C and the mean minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined for each fungus. The modified E. test method was used to measure the MIC of Jaftex mouthwash for the two fungi. The experiment was repeated three times for each fungus and the mean value was measured. Results: The mean value of MIC for C. albicans and C. tropicalis was 0.0625 (mg/mL) and 0.0833 (mg/mL), respectively. Candida albicans appeared to be more sensitive to Jaftex, but no statistically significant difference was observed. Conclusion: Jaftex mouthwash inhibits the growth of C. albicans and C. tropicalis. The use of this mouthwash is recommended for treatment of oral candidiasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Savory (Satureja spp.) with different species and valuable compounds such as thymol and carvacrol, has special importance among medicinal plants. In this study, the seeds of eight populations of three different species of Satureja (S. hortensis, S. mutica, and S. boissieri), as well as the seeds of two improved German savory cultivars (S. hortensis cv. Aromag) and (S. hortensis cv. Saturn), were evaluated cytogenetically. Karyotypic results showed that eight populations of S. hortensis (S1P1-S1P8) were diploid (2n=2x=48) and two populations of S. boissieri and S. mutica (S2P1 and S3P1) were tetraploid (2n=4x=60) with different basic chromosome numbers of 24 and 15, respectively. The average chromosome length in all the populations was 1.46 μm (ranged from 1.19 to 1.71 μm). Propidium iodide (PI) flourochrome and standard parsley plant (Petroselinum crispum, 2C DNA = 4.45 pg) were used to measure genome size using flow cytometry. Data were statistically analyzed in a completely randomized design with five and three replications for chromosome length and genome size, respectively. The results showed a significant difference among the populations based on the two statistics methods (p<0.01). The mean value of 2C DNA for all the diploids was 3.52 pg (ranged from 3.29 to 3.78 pg) and for the two tetraploid populations was 2.38 pg (ranged from 2.25 to 2.51 pg). In the present study, the amount of genome size was reported for the first time for the mentioned species, which along with other measured traits can contribute to the richness of karyological knowledge in Satureja. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research was carried out to investigate the effect of liquid vermicompost treatment on herb yield and essential oil content of Satureja hortensis’ in Isparta conditions in 2019 and 2020 years. The experiment was set up in three replications according to the randomized complete block design by applying conventional production (C.P), alone vermicompost (V) and C.P+V together. The differences between the first and second harvests of Satureja hortensis, except for the essential oil content of fresh herb, were statistically significant, and the means of the first harvest were significantly higher. The plant height, fresh herb, dried herb, drug leaf yield and essential oil content values obtained from the application of alone vermicompost were lower than conventional production and the application of C.P+V together. The highest values of the examined characteristics were determined in the combination of C.P+V. The drug leaf yield obtained from the combined treatment of conventional production + vermicompost was 62.8% higher in the first year, 35.7% in the second year according to vermicompost fertilizer, and 30.4% in the first year and 21.5% in the second year compared to the conventional production. As a result, according to the producer preferer, alone liquid vermicompost should be applied with aim to grow organic crops, but combination of C.P+V is recommended due to higher fresh/dried herb and drug leaf yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction In recent years, the properties of Satureja plant have been proven as an antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, antispasmodic, stomach enhancer, pain relief as well as a cure for infectious diseases and digestive aids. Materials and Methods In this study, the effect of adding Satureja extract on three levels (0.1, 0.09 and 0.08 %) in three replications was investigated on antioxidant activity, phenolic compounds and survival of Bifidobacterium bifidum bacteria and Lactobacillus acidophilus in the probiotic low calorie yogurt. We also evaluated these changes during 21 days of storage and compared with the control sample. Results The results showed that the number of lactobacillus acidophilus increased in all samples of yoghurt during the first to the fourteenth day after production. However, from 14th to 21st days after production, it was significantly lower than the first day of production. The highest number of lactobacillus acidophilus was found in probiotic yogurt containing 0.09 of satureja extract and also in 0.1, 0.08 as well as probiotic control cases. The results of antioxidant activity were indicated during the storage period. The highest antioxidant activity was observed in the yoghurt sample containing 0.1 satureja extracts. The phenolic compounds did not significantly decrease with increasing storage time until the 14th day. However, the difference was significant until the 21st day of storage. Conclusion The results showed Satureja extract can be used as a functional extract in probiotic yogurt

Introduction: Recently, there have been some reports about the antifungal and antimicrobial effects of Satureja bachtiarica. This study aimed to determine the effects of Clotrimazole-Satureja bachtiarica vaginal cream and compare with those of Clotrimazole vaginal cream in patients with vaginal candidiasis. Methods: This randomized double-blind clinical trial was carried out on 80 women of childbearing age that referred to Hajar Hospital in Shahrekord, Iran. The cases in the first group received Clotrimazole-Satureja bachtiarica vaginal cream and in the second group, the patients received Clotrimazole vaginal cream. Clinical and laboratory signs and symptoms were recorded at baseline and after the treatment by questionnaires and forms. Both groups were treated for 7 days. The data were analyzed in SPSS software (version 21) using paired t-test, Chi-square test, repeated measures, and independent t-test. P-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The results of the present study showed that the amount of vaginal discharge (P=0.0001), dysuria (P=0.014), and vaginal itching (P=0.048) in the Clotrimazole-Satureja group were significantly less than those of the Clotrimazole group. There was no significant differences in the erythema of the vulva and vagina (P=0.108), as well as dyspareunia (P=0.118), between the Clotrimazole-Satureja group and the Clotrimazole group. No significant correlation was observed between the recarturrent and the studied groups (P=0.130). Conclusion: The results of this study showed that the therapeutic effects of Clotrimazole-Satureja bachtiarica vaginal cream were not only similar to those of Clotrimazole vaginal cream but also more effective at improving the symptoms of vaginal candidiasis. Therefore, the use of this cream is suggested for the treatment of vaginal candidiasis infection.

Background: Recently, there has been an increasing growth in research on medical plant's effect on dental plaque bacteria. The aim of this study was to determine the antibacterial effects of Satureja hortensis extract and its essential oil (EO) on Streptococcus salivarius, Streptococcus sanguis, and Streptococcus mutans as important bacteria in early supragingival dental plaque formation. Materials and Methods: In this in vitro study, different concentrations of S. hortensis extract and its EO were prepared using double dilution method. The disc diffusion method was used to determine antibacterial activity. Based on these measurements, the minimal inhibitory concentration value was reported for each bacterium. Antibiotics used as positive controls in this study were erythromycin (15 μg) and tetracycline (30 μg). t-test and ANOVA were used for statistical analysis (P < 0.05). Results: Aqueous and methanolic extract did not show significant antibacterial activity, but the EO significantly inhibited the growth of the test bacteria compared to positive control (P < 0.05). High concentrations of EO processed greater antimicrobial effects against three oral bacteria than other low concentrations (P < 0.0001). For S. mutans, the inhibition effect of tetracycline 30 μg was similar with 50% (P = 0.789) and 25% (P = 0.158) dosages of the EO. For S. salivarius, the effect of tetracycline 30 μg was similar to 50% dosages of the EO (P = 0.122). For S. sanguis, the effect of erythromycin 15 μg was lower than 50% (P = 0.0006) and 25% (P = 0.003) dosages of the EO. The inhibition effects of all concentrations of EO were higher for S. sanguis. S. salivarius and S. sanguis are more sensitive than S. mutans to S. hortensis EO. Conclusion: Due to the strong antibacterial effect of S. hortensis EO on the oral bacteria growth, it can be served as herbal mouth rinse, while to confirm this antibacterial effect, further clinical studies are necessary.

Lamiaceae comprises widely distributed medicinal and aromatic plants, many of which are traditionally used in European countries. The current study aimed to document Lamiaceae taxa used in rural Bulgaria (Southeast Europe) and to explore the related local knowledge and cultural practices that influence their utilization for various purposes. Field work included inventory of Lamiaceae diversity in home gardens and semi-structured interviews focused on the cultivation, collection, and utilization practices common among elderly inhabitants of 34 settlements in rural Bulgaria. We report the utilization of 27 Lamiaceae taxa, 9 of which were collected from the wild. Traditional and contemporary ways of utilizing Lamiaceae taxa as culinary and medicinal plants, in herbal teas, as repellents, ritual plants, etc., are presented. Recent knowledge on medicinal properties contributed to the introduction of new taxa in gardens (wild and cultivated), while traditional culinary practices were found to sustain the diversity of local forms (landraces).

Satureja is one of the important medicinal and aromatic genus of the Lamiaceae family due to the high valuable phenolic compounds, such as carvacrol and thymol, which is produced by the plants. It is considered as an important potential source of nutrient and valuable components thus, can serve to control some diseases such as antioxidant, antifungal, antibacterial, antiparasitic, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, hepatoprotective, anticancer and cytotoxic effects. Essential oil and their constituents obtained from Satureja, have several applications as natural agents in maintaining the proper qualifications of food. The present review discusses on the ethnobotany, essential oil, aroma profile, agronomy, molecular studies and pharmacological activities accomplished so far. This assessment is mostly focusing to be responsible for related data on the phytochemical of Satureja species, with highlighting on aroma profile of the essential oil, providing information aimed at choosing the powerful accessions with the greatest aroma profiles and pharmacological activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Essential oils from Monarda fistulosa L., Satureja pilosa Vel., Origanum vulgare subsp. hirtum Ietswaart. (Greek oregano), Micromeria dalmatica Benth., Thymus longedentatus (Degen & Urum.) Ronniger, and Artemisa campestris L. were evaluated as inhibitors of seed germination in target plants Lolium perenne L. and Trifolium pratense L. using in vitro assays. The essential oils were applied on the seeds as aqueous solutions at concentrations ranging from 0.5–3.0 μL/mL. Complete inhibition was established at a concentration of 1.5 μL/mL with the most effective essential oils. Oregano oil was evaluated for its inhibitory activity on seed germination under field conditions; the essential oil was applied as an aqueous solution at concentrations of 3, 5, and 10 μL/mL on superabsorbent Terawet. The mass obtained was mixed with the seeds of the target plants and planted in a field. After 1 month, the results were evaluated based on the weight of the aerial parts of the plants from control and experimental areas. At the highest concentration studied, the weight of the plants was 77% lower in the experimental areas than in the controls. The chemical composition of the essential oils was analyzed using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The results showed that carvacrol-rich essential oils had a strong inhibitory effect on seed germination. The inclusion of the essential oil on a superabsorbent was a good way to preserve its herbicidal activity under field conditions as this prevented its rapid evaporation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Satureja pilosa and S. kitaibelii (Lamiaceae) are Balkan endemic plant species, and the composition of their essential oil (EO) is highly variable. The aim of the present study was to establish: (1) the EO variability in two populations of S. pilosa (the intrapopulation), and (2) the EO variation in S. kitaibelii between nine populations (interpopulation) from Bulgaria and two from Serbia. The EOs of two Satureja species were obtained from aboveground plant parts by hydrodistillation and were analyzed by GC/MS/FID. Overall, the EO yield on the intrapopulation level of S. pilosa varied from 0.54% to 2.15%, while the EO of S. kitaibelii varied from 0.04% to 0.43% (interpopulation). The EO of S. pilosa was found to contain thymol and carvacrol as the main constituents, with other major constituents being p-cymene and γ-terpinene. S. pilosa samples in both studied populations formed six chemical groups. The major constituents (p-cymene, terpinen-4-ol, bornyl acetate, γ-muurolene, endo-borneol, cis-β-ocimene, trans-β-ocimene, carvacrol, α-pinene, thymoquinone, geranial, geranyl acetate, spathulenol, and caryophyllene oxide) of S. kitaibelii EO were considered for grouping the populations into ten chemotypes. The present study is the first report on the interpopulation diversity of S. kitaibelii EOs in Bulgaria. It demonstrated variability of the EOs between and within the populations of S. kitaibelii from Bulgaria. This study identified promising genetic material that could be further propagated and developed into cultivars for commercial production of S. kitaibelii and S. pilosa, thereby reducing the impact of collection on wild populations.

Background and Objectives: Escherichia coli and some Salmonella serovars cause various disease manifestations in poultry leading to significant economic losses. The widespread and imprudent use of antibacterial agents in poultry flocks have increased resistant to many antibacterial agents which has become a major public health concern. Some medicinal plants may be alternative to antibacterial agents. The purpose of this study was to investigate the antibacterial and anti-biofilm activity of summer savory essential oil against E. coli and Salmonella isolated from poultry. Materials and Methods: The essential oil was extracted using a Clevenger apparatus and subsequently its compounds were determined using GC-MS. Antibacterial properties of essential oil were determined by disc diffusion method, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC). To evaluate the anti-biofilm properties the Microtiter plate test was used. Herbal essential oil was extracted and its compounds were identified correctly. Results: The major components of Satureja hortensis essential oil were thymol (41.28%), γ-terpinene (37.63%), p-cymene (12.2%) and α-terpinene (3.52%). The inhibition zone diameter in the disc diffusion test for E. coli and Salmonella were 32 ± 3 and 38 ± 4 mm, respectively, which was confirmed by MIC and MBC values. Regarding anti-biofilm activity, the MIC/2 concentration of S. hortensis significantly inhibited biofilm formation of E. coli. However, inhibition of biofilm formation of Salmonella was shown at concentration of MIC/2 and MIC/4. Conclusion: Based on our results, S. hortensis essential oil showed the growth inhibition and bactericidal activity against E. coli and Salmonella. Moreover, this study demonstrated anti-biofilm activity of S. hortensis essential against both tested bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phylogenetic study of savory (Satureja spp.), which has different species and valuable compounds such as thymol and carvacrol, is of special importance among medicinal plants. In this study, 21 accessions belonged to nine Satureja species were identified and collected from main habitats in eight provinces of Iran, including East Azarbaijan, Kurdistan, Gilan, North Khorasan, Yazd, Lorestan, Ilam, and Kermanshah. Genomic DNA extraction was performed using the modified CTAB method. In the phylogenetic study, in addition to the nine collected species, the sequences of ITS and matK genes of Satureja species registered with the NCBI were also added to the phylogeny tree as part of the group. In addition to Satureja genus, the sequences of Thymus, Ziziphora, Clinopodium genera were also used NCBI as an outgroup to root the phylogenetic tree. The results showed that in the study of Satureja. spp kinship relationships, the ITS nuclear gene was more appropriate than the matK chloroplast gene. In the native species of Iran, the maximum genetic distance was between S.mutica and S.atropatana and the minimum genetic distance was between S.rechingeri and S.khuzistanica. In the phylogenetic tree, five species of S.macrantha, S.atropatana, S.sahendica, S.edmondi, and S.bachtiarica with %100 bootstrap value, two species of S.mutica and S.spicigera with %96 bootstrap value, and two species of S.khuzistanica and S.rechingeri with %100 bootstrap value were close relatives. The results showed a significant consistency with Flora Iran and Flora Iranica in terms of morphological traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Several studies showed the hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects of Satureja Khuzestanica (SK) in animal models. This study aimed to determine the effect of SK supplementation on glycemic and lipid outcomes of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM)., Methods: The study was designed as a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial using block randomization. Seventy-eight T2DM patients were randomly assigned to intervention (n = 39) or placebo (n = 39) groups. They received SK or placebo in 500 mg capsules daily for 12 weeks. Anthropometric, blood pressure, liver enzymes, glycemic, and lipid outcomes were measured before and after the intervention., Results: At baseline, there were no significant differences in age, sex, or glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels between the groups. SK supplementation led to a significant decrease in FBS (-12.6 ± 20.7 mg/dl in the intervention group versus 3.5 ± 31.9 mg/dl; p = 0.007), HbA1c (-0.28 ± 0.45 in the intervention group versus 0.11 ± 0.54% in the placebo group; p = < 0.001), insulin (-1.65 ± 6.18 in the intervention group versus 2.09 ± 5.90 mIU/L in the placebo group; p = 0.03), total cholesterol (-14.6 ± 21.1 mg/dl in the intervention group versus 8.2 ± 30.9 mg/dl in the placebo group; p < 0.001), LDL-cholesterol (-4.6 ± 15.2 mg/dl in the intervention group versus 5.8 ± 14.6 mg/dl in placebo group; p < 0.001) levels, and significant increase in HDL-cholesterol (3.9 ± 4.9 mg/dl in the intervention group versus 0.9 ± 5.2 mg/dl in placebo group; p = 0.005)., Conclusion: Based on the study results, SK supplementation may improve glycemic indices and lipid profile of patients with T2DM. Our findings may provide novel complementary treatments without adverse effects for diabetes complications. These results need to be further confirmed in clinical trials., Registration: This trial has been registered in the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT ID: IRCT20190715044214N1, registration date: 21/02/2021)., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The antioxidant activity and the anti-α-amylase and anti-acetylcholinesterase capacities of secondary metabolites from different organs (roots, stems, leaves and flowers) of Tunisian Satureja barceloi were determined. The variation in the distribution of phenolic metabolites among roots, stems, leaves and flowers extracts of S. barceloi with various solvent systems (methanol, ethyl acetate, hexane and distilled water) has not been characterized before. Significant variation of phenolic compounds was observed according to organs rather than to extracting solvents. The analyzed organs show a high level of phenolic compounds although the stems contains the highest total polyphenols (132.53±0.48 mg AGE/g Ex), flavonoids (48.99±0.65 mg RE/g Ex) and flavonols (34.93±0.29 mg QE/g Ex) contents. The phenolic fraction was dominated by sagerinic acid, caffeic acid glucoside and epigallocatechin, detected using HPLC-PDA/ESI-MS. The antioxidant activity of all extracts, evaluated by four in vitro tests, was high and varied significantly according to the type of solvent used and the plant organ. The aqueous extracts of leaves exhibited the greatest inhibitory effect on alpha-amylase while the methanolic extract of leaves and stems revealed the most important acetylcholinesterase inhibitory effect. Hence, S. barceloi extracts could be used as a source of various bioactive molecules in pharmaceutical industry., (© 2024 Wiley‐VHCA AG, Zurich, Switzerland.)

Purpose: A lot of plants are available which can produce nanoparticles used in medicine, life sciences, and the pharmaceutical industry. The present study aims to introduce safe biological and eco-friendly methods for synthesizing silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) by using Saturaja rechengri Jamzad extract, which can replace traditional chemical methods. In addition, the chemical nature and antimicrobial activities were identified and accordingly the anticancer effects of AgNPs was successfully reported on colon cancer cells (HT-29). Methods: Light and ultrasound, as two green chemistry techniques were first used for AgNPs synthesis. Then, morphological and crystalline structure of AgNPs was evaluated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, respectively. In addition, functional groups were determined by using the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) spectrum. Further, a maximum adsorption of AgNPs was observed in UV-visible spectrum. In the next stage, antibacterial activity of green synthesized AgNPs was evaluated against two pathogenic bacteria including Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Finally, the cytotoxicity of AgNPs on HT-29 at different concentrations and times of AgNPs was determined by MTT assay. Results: The findings indicated that the synthesis of AgNPs by ultrasonic technique leads to smaller particle size and more distribution. Based on the results of MTT test for calculating the IC50%, the anti-proliferative effects of the light and ultrasound AgNPs were observed on HT-29 cell lines depending on the dose and time. Finally, the AgNPs had the most cytotoxicity HT-29 cell lines at 100 μg/ml concentration although the lowest toxicity effect was reported on HEK-293 cell lines at the same conditions. Conclusion: The change in the concentration, physical and chemical properties of AgNPs including the form and size of particles, and their type of covering and fields can influence the induction of cytotoxicity and morphological change in the treated cells. The present research opens a new horizon on the development of new biological and cytotoxicity agents.

Background: Several agricultural or environmental factors affect plants' chemical and pharmacological properties. Methods: In this study, the essential oil of Libyan Satureja thymbra was isolated from plants collected during two successive years at two different altitudes; Wasita (WEO) and Safsaf (SEO), 156 and 661 m above sea level, respectively. Results: GC/MS allowed the identification of 21 and 23 compounds, respectively. Thymol prevailed in WEO (26.69%), while carvacrol prevailed in SEO (14.30%). Antimicrobial activity was tested by agar-well diffusion method, and MIC/MLC values were determined by broth dilution method. Values of MIC/MLC were 0.125/0.25 μg/ml for SEO against S. aureus, P. mirabilis and K. pneumonia and for WEO against B. subtilus. It was observed that plants growing at lower altitude in Wasita locality had better antifungal activity, while those growing at higher altitude at Safsaf locality had better antibacterial activity. Both essential oils had a better anthelmintic activity than the standard piperazine citrate against a tested earthworm. However, SEO oil had a significantly higher anthelmintic activity than WEO. Cytotoxicity of the oils tested using SRB assay on human breast cancer (MCF-7) and colon cancer cell lines (HCT-116) showed better activity for SEO, especially against HCT-116 with IC50 2.45 ± 0.21 μg/ml. Conclusions: Thus, altitude is an important factor that should be considered as it affected the yield, composition and biology of the plant extracts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Many chronic somatic and psychiatric diseases are associated with oxidative stress and inflammation, both of which have detrimental effects on human health., (This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Essential oils are well known for their biological properties, making them useful for the treatment of various diseases. However, because of their poor stability and high volatility, their potential cannot be fully exploited. The use of nanoformulations to deliver essential oils can solve these critical issues and amplify their biological activities. We characterized an essential oil from Satureja thymbra via GC-MS and HPLC-DAD to provide qualitative and quantitative data. The essential oil was formulated in phospholipid vesicles which were characterized for size, surface charge, and storage stability. The entrapment efficiency was evaluated as the quantification of the major monoterpenoid phenols via HPLC-DAD. The morphological characterization of the vesicles was carried out via cryo-TEM and SAXS analyses. The essential oil's antioxidant potential was assayed via two colorimetric tests (DPPH • and FRAP) and its cytocompatibility was evaluated in HaCaT skin cell cultures. The results showed that the nanoformulations developed for the loading of S. thymbra essential oil were below 100 nm in size, predominantly unilamellar, stable in storage, and had high entrapment efficiencies. The vesicles also displayed antioxidant properties and high cytocompatibility. These promising findings pave the way for further investigation of the therapeutic potential of S. thymbra nanoformulations upon skin application.

The objective of the present study was to assess the difference in antimicrobial activity of Satureja kitaibelii Wierzb. ex Heuff. essential oil at three growth stages. In addition, using statistical and chemometric tools, we tried to explain why the essential oil from a certain vegetation stage shows the highest antimicrobial activity. S. kitaibelii essential oils demonstrated minimum inhibitory concentration values from 160 to 10000 μg mL -1 , and minimum microbicidal concentration values from 630 to 20000 μg mL -1 . Geraniol, borneol, limonene and p-cymene are the dominant compounds of S. kitaibelii essential oil. The most abundant compound, geraniol, possesses antimicrobial activity in a range of MIC values from 40 to 5000 μg mL -1 and MMC values from 80 to 10000 μg mL -1 . The highest activity of essential oil for all tested strains of microorganisms was recorded in November. Results of statistical analysis indicate that the percentage of dominant compounds of essential oils does not affect the antibacterial activity of essential oils. Chemometric analyses leads to the conclusion that borneol, spathulenol, caryophyllene oxide and limonene can be the main contributors to the antibacterial activity of essential oil from November and that their mutual ratio is important. These results may represent a new methodological approach for future research on essential oils., (© 2023 Wiley-VHCA AG, Zurich, Switzerland.)

Satureja hortensis L. (SH) is a medicinal and aromatic herb utilized markedly in the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries because of its specific secondary metabolites (SMs), especially monoterpenoids. However, the impact of elicitors on the expression of monoterpene synthase genes in SH remains unexplored. Therefore, the supreme objective of this research was to elucidate the phyto-biochemical and targeted genes expression responses of SH to the exogenous application of methyl jasmonate (MeJA). Accordingly, having chosen four concentrations of MeJA, they sprayed at the five-leaf stage for two weeks, and then leaves were harvested at two exposure times of 24 and 48 hrs for further analysis, using spectrophotometric, real time-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), and gas chromatography-mass spectrometric (GC-MS) methods. The results highlight that not only were the highest contents of phenolic, flavonoids, peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, proline, and malondialdehyde in the elicited SHs but also the highest expression of β-farnesene synthase (BFS) and 1-deoxy-D-xylulose 5-phosphate reductase (DXR) genes together with the highest amount of carvacrol were up-regulated in them compared to their respective control. In conclusion, these findings demonstrate the great industrial potential of MeJA in improving the production of phytochemicals in medicinal plants, particularly in SH., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

This study aimed to investigate how the types and order of modifications influence the structure and physicochemical characteristics of modified porous starch. The work focuses on the encapsulation of essential oil in hydrophobic microcapsules embedded in sodium alginate hydrogels. FTIR spectra indicated successful esterification of starch with OSA. 1047:1022 cm -1 and 1022:995 cm -1 band ratios of FTIR spectra revealed increased crystallinity due to enzymatic modification, supported by XRD patterns. Porous-OSA (PO) starch had 1.5 times higher degree of substitution (DS) than OSA-porous (OP) starch, confirmed by the intense peak at 0.85 ppm in 1 H NMR spectra. SEM images displayed larger particles and smaller pore diameter in OP compared to PO and porous starch, indicating amylolytic enzyme inhibition by OSA. Loading efficiency (LE) showed no significant difference between OP and PO microcapsules (≈70 %), both significantly higher other starch microcapsules. OP and PO microcapsules exhibited sustained release, with enhanced antibacterial activity. Alginate hydrogels preserved about 60 % antioxidant and 90 % antibacterial activities of SEO against 2 h of UV radiation. These findings suggest that the order of modification could not affect the functional properties of final microcapsules. Additionally, the importance of alginate hydrogels as the protective and second wall material was disclosed., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae (Psa) is responsible for the kiwifruit bacterial canker, the most severe disease of Actinidia spp. The use in agriculture of antibiotics and cooper-based compounds is increasingly being restricted, demanding for new sustainable alternatives to current agrochemicals. We aimed to characterize the anti-Psa potential of essential oils (EOs) of Mentha pulegium and Satureja montana and investigate if they elicit the plant-host hormonal defenses. The EOs were characterized through gas-chromatography with flame ionization detector (GC-FID) and mass spectrometry (MS). Pulegone (78.6%) and carvacrol (43.5%) were the major constituents of M. pulegium and S. montana EO, respectively. Only S. montana EO showed relevant anti-Psa activity in vitro. To evaluate if the EOs also elicited host defenses, in vitro shoots were treated with 2 mg shoot -1 of EO-solution and subsequently inoculated with Psa three days later. Shoots were analyzed 10 min, three days (and 10 min after Psa-inoculation), four and ten days after EO application. The up/down regulation of RNA-transcripts for hormone biosynthesis, Psa biofilm production and virulence genes were quantified by real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). Phytohormones were quantified by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). S. montana EO showed the most promising results as a defense elicitor, increasing 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) by 131.07% and reducing indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) levels by 49.19%. Decreases of salicylic acid (SA), and gibberellic acid 3 (GA3) levels by 32.55% and 33.09% respectively and an increase of abscisic acid (ABA) by 85.03%, in M. pulegium EO-treated shoots, revealed some protective post-infection effect. This is the most comprehensive research on the Psa's impact on phytohormones. It also unveils the protective influence of prior EO exposure, clarifying the plant hormonal response to subsequent infections. The results reinforce the hypothesis that carvacrol-rich S. montana EO can be a suitable disease control agent against Psa infection. Its dual action against pathogens and elicitation of host plant defenses make it a promising candidate for incorporation into environmentally friendly disease management approaches. Nonetheless, to fully leverage these promising results, further research is imperative to elucidate the EO mode of action and evaluate the long-term efficacy of this approach., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)

The antifungal effects of essential oils from Satureja species (Satureja cilicica, S. cuneifolia, S. hortensis, S. montana, S. spicigera and S. thymbra) tested for their efficacy against eight Fusarium species (Fusarium avenaceaum, F. culmorum, F. equiseti, F. graminearum, F. oxysporum, F. sam-bucinum, F. semitectum and F. solani). The oils of Satureja species at three levels of concentrations (10, 20 and 30 pi of each 20 ml PDA medium) mixed with the medium and then, the mediums were inoculated with fungal isolates. To evaluate the efficacy of oils against the colony growth, the diameter of colonies measured every 24 hours and compared with their controls. The results showed that essential oils have antifungal activity at 0.5, 1, 2, and 5 μ/20mL concentrations and higher levels of oils (10, 20, and 30 μ/20 ml). Some fungal isolates (Fusarium avenaceaum, F. graminearum, F. oxysporum, F. sambucinum and F. solani) could grow in the low oils concentration (0.5-5 μ/20 ml) especially when the fungal isolates treated with the 5. cuneifolia oil. The higher concentrations of oil (10, 20, and 30 μ/20 ml) prevents the colony growth of Fusarium in the medium. The oils showed effective control of the plant pathogenic fungi growth in the medium with 100% inhibitory rates. According to the results of this experiment, the oil of Satureja species has the potential to inhibit the growth of Fusarium species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Recently, there has been an increasing growth in research on medical plant's effect on dental plaque bacteria. The aim of this study was to determine the antibacterial effects of Satureja hortensis extract and its essential oil (EO) on Streptococcus salivarius, Streptococcus sanguis, and Streptococcus mutans as important bacteria in early supragingival dental plaque formation. Materials and Methods: In this in vitro study, different concentrations of S. hortensis extract and its EO were prepared using double dilution method. The disc diffusion method was used to determine antibacterial activity. Based on these measurements, the minimal inhibitory concentration value was reported for each bacterium. Antibiotics used as positive controls in this study were erythromycin (15 μg) and tetracycline (30 μg). t-test and ANOVA were used for statistical analysis (P < 0.05). Results: Aqueous and methanolic extract did not show significant antibacterial activity, but the EO significantly inhibited the growth of the test bacteria compared to positive control (P < 0.05). High concentrations of EO processed greater antimicrobial effects against three oral bacteria than other low concentrations (P < 0.0001). For S. mutans, the inhibition effect of tetracycline 30 μg was similar with 50% (P = 0.789) and 25% (P = 0.158) dosages of the EO. For S. salivarius, the effect of tetracycline 30 μg was similar to 50% dosages of the EO (P = 0.122). For S. sanguis, the effect of erythromycin 15 μg was lower than 50% (P = 0.0006) and 25% (P = 0.003) dosages of the EO. The inhibition effects of all concentrations of EO were higher for S. sanguis. S. salivarius and S. sanguis are more sensitive than S. mutans to S. hortensis EO. Conclusion: Due to the strong antibacterial effect of S. hortensis EO on the oral bacteria growth, it can be served as herbal mouth rinse, while to confirm this antibacterial effect, further clinical studies are necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Essential oil can be extracted from various plants. In this present study, the essential oil and leaf fatty acid compositions of some plants taxa: Saturej amacrantha C.A.Mey., Nepeta transcaucasica Grossh., Nepeta betonicifolia C.A.Mey., Scutellaria orientalis L. subsp. orientalis and Salvia euphratica Montbret & Aucher ex Benth. var. lejocalycina were analyzed by GC-MS. Carvacrol (20.2%) and thymol (11.3%) were detected as the main compounds of S. macrantha; caryophyllene oxide (18.5%), camphor (14.9%) and β-pinene (14.7%) were detected as the major constituents of S. euphratica; nepetalactone (18.5%) and 1,8-cineole (14.4%) were detected as the main compounds of N. transcaucasica; 1,8-cineole (13.7%) and nepetalactone (12.2%) were found to be the main compounds of N. betonicifolia; β-caryophyllene (14.3%) and 1,8-cineole (10.3%) were found to be the main compounds of S. orientalis subsp. orientalis. The fatty acid composition of the studied samples were found to be palmitic (21.76-60.00%), steraic (17.21-38.53%) and linoleic acid (5.66-27.35%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Croatia, there are three Satureja species groups (tSsg) within the Satureja L. genus that are most widely used as medicinal and melliferous plants: the Satureja montana complex, S. subspicata complex and S. cuneifolia. Due to the high melliferous and medicinal potential of these taxa, our objective was to comparatively assess the habitat suitability of the tSsg to estimate their cultivation potential in the eastern Adriatic region. In addition, we assessed their overlaps in geographic and environmental space and investigated the occurrence of the putative hybrid taxon S. × karstiana in the areas of overlap between the two parental taxa (S. montana and S. subspicata). Finally, the differences in the environmental preferences of these three related species groups were investigated. The species distribution models were built using the maximum entropy method (MaxEnt) based on the occurrences of the tSsg, obtained from our field research in 2018–2021 and partly from the Flora Croatica Database. Six environmental variables (three bioclimatic and three topographic) were selected as predictors. The potential habitat suitability of the tSsg under current conditions showed high predictive model performance, with AUC values ranging from 0.890 to 0.910 ± 0.025. The environmental predictors with the highest mean percent contributions to the models were annual temperature range (Bio 7) for S. montana (74.3%) and S. subspicata (65.9%) and downwards surface solar radiation (Srad) for S. cuneifolia (40%). Majority (>90%) of the known S. × karstiana hybrid occurrences were found within the areas of habitat suitability overlap between the two parental taxa, confirming the model accuracy and efficiency in the discovery of putative hybrids. Finally, the niche overlap in environmental space between the investigated taxa pairs was the highest between S. montana and S. subspicata, enabling their hybridization, and lowest between S. cuneifolia and S. subspicata. Due to the widest potential distribution and broadest environmental niche, our results suggest that S. montana has the highest potential for cultivation for medicinal and melliferous purposes in the eastern Adriatic, particularly in light of ongoing climate change. • Niche model of three Satureja sp. was built based on six environmental variables. • Most locations of S. montana and S. subspicata hybrid were found in niche overlap areas. • Based on results, S. montana has the highest potential for cultivation in Croatia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]