Chemical Composition, Repellent, and Phytotoxic Potentials of the Fractionated Resin Essential Oil from Araucaria heterophylla Growing in Tunisia.

The resin essential oil (REO) of the Tunisian Araucaria heterophylla trunk bark was investigated for its chemical composition. Then, it was evaluated for its insecticidal and allelopathic activities. The REO was obtained by hydrodistillation for 9 h (yield of 4.2 % w/w). Moreover, fractional hydrodistillation was carried out at 3-hour intervals, resulting in 3 fractions (R1-R3), to facilitate chemical identification and localization of the aforementioned biological activities. GC/MS analysis of the obtained samples allowed the identification of 25 compounds, representing between 91.2 and 96.3 % of their total constituents, which consisted predominantly of sesquiterpene hydrocarbons, oxygenated sesquiterpenes and diterpene hydrocarbons. α-Copaene (10.8 %), γ-muurolene (5.8 %), α-copaen-11-ol (7.8 %), spathulenol (10.5 %), 15-copaenol (8.2 %), ylangenal (10.3 %), dehydrosaussurea lactone (7.7 %), and sandaracopimaradiene (11.4 %) were identified as major compounds. The second part aimed to assess the impact of the A. heterophylla EO and its three fractions for their insecticidal and repellent activity against Tribolium castaneum (Herbst), a stored grain pest, of which a strong repellent activity was noted. In addition, the studied samples showed high phytotoxic effects against Lactuca sativa. The third fraction (R3) performed a total inhibitory potential on seed germination and seedling growth of the target plant. Furthermore, alongside this discovery, an estimation was conducted through molecular docking analysis. Wherein the main compounds of the studied samples were docked into the active pocket of protoporphyrinogen IX oxidase (PDB: 1SEZ), a key enzyme in chlorophyll biosynthesis. Thus, it is recommended to use the REO of A. heterophylla as a natural herbicide.

Chemical Composition and Insecticidal Activity against Tribolium Castaneum of Thapsia garganica L. Seed Essential Oil.

Due to the several side effects of synthetic pesticides, including environmental pollution, threats to human health, and the development of pest resistance to insecticides, the use of alternative healthy, available and efficient agents in pest management strategies is necessary. Recently, the use of essential oil obtained from aromatic plants has shown significant potential for insect pest management. For this reason, the essential oil isolated from seeds of Thapsia garganica L. was investigated for the first time for its chemical profile, and its toxicity and repellency effects against Tribolium castaneum adults. Qualitative and quantitative analyses of the chemical composition by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC/MS) revealed the presence of 18 organic volatiles representing 96.8 % of the total constituents. The main compounds were 1,4-dimethylazulene (51.3 %) followed by methyl palmitate (8.2 %), methyl linoleate (6.2 %) and costol (5.1 %). Concerning the repellent effect, results revealed that SEO (Seed Essential Oil) was very repellent towards T. castaneum adults, with 100 % repellency after 2 h of exposure. Furthermore, the essential oil exhibited remarkable contact toxicity against T. castaneum (93.3 % of mortality) at the concentration of 10 % (v/v). The median lethal dose (LD50 ) of the topical application of the seed essential oil was 4.4 %. These encouraging outcomes suggested that the essential oil from T. garganica seeds could be considered a potent natural alternative to residual persistent and toxic insecticides.

Resilience of Stevia rebaudiana (Bertoni) Bertoni in the Underwater Biospheres of Nemo's Garden®: Adaptation to New Cultivation Systems.

The Nemo's Garden® project is an alternative production system for areas with scarce cultivable land but significant presence of water; thus, it is an interesting intervention to address the climate crisis. This work aimed to evaluate the micromorphological, biochemical, and phytochemical characteristics of Stevia rebaudiana (Bertoni) Bertoni grown underwater compared to the terrestrial specimens. The micromorphological analyses, performed on the leaves using light microscopy, fluorescence microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy, evidenced a general uniformity of the trichome morphotype and distribution pattern. The histochemical investigation indicated the simultaneous presence of terpenes and polyphenols in the trichome secreted material from the underwater samples and a prevailing polyphenolic content in the terrestrial specimens; this was also confirmed by biochemical analyses (26.6 mg GAE/g DW). The characterization of non-volatile components, performed using HPLC-MS, showed similar chemical profiles in all the samples, which were characterized by phenolic compounds and steviol glycosides. The volatile compounds, evaluated using HS-SPME coupled with GC-MS, showed sesquiterpene hydrocarbons as the main class in all the analyzed samples (80.1-93.9%). However, the control plants were characterized by a higher content of monoterpene hydrocarbons (12.1%). The underwater biosphere environment did not alter S. rebaudiana micro-morphological characters, although slight qualitative changes were evidenced for the compounds produced as a response to the growth conditions.

Comparing Metabolomic and Essential Oil Fingerprints of Citrus australasica F. Muell (Finger Lime) Varieties and Their In Vitro Antioxidant Activity.

Comparative chemical analyses among peel and pulp essential oils (EOs) and methanolic extracts of four Citrus australasica varieties (Red, Collette, Pink Ice, and Yellow Sunshine), and the hybrid Faustrime, were performed using GC-MS and UHPLC-DAD-HR-Orbitrap/ESI-MS. Peel and pulp extracts were also analysed for their in vitro antioxidant activity on a Balb/3T3 clone A31 mouse embryo fibroblast cell line. The results of peel and pulp EOs were mainly characterised by monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes, respectively. All peels displayed a higher total phenol content (TPC) than pulps, and consequently a greater antioxidant activity. Collette peels and Pink Ice pulps showed the highest amount of identified flavonoids (e.g., luteolin, isosakuranetin, and poncirin derivatives). Collette and Red peels were rich in anthocyanins (delphinidin and petunidin glycosides), exhibiting the maximum protective activity against induced oxidative damage. In conclusion, finger lime fruits are good sources of health-promoting phytocomplexes, with the Red, Collette, and Pink Ice varieties being the most promising.

Essential Oil Biodiversity of Achillea ligustica All. Obtained from Mainland and Island Populations.

BACKGROUND: The genus Achillea is rich in essential oil (EO) with high chemical diversity. In this study, eight EO samples obtained from flowers and leaves of Achillea ligustica All. collected on the Mediterranean mainland and island locations were analyzed to evaluate their possible chemical diversity. METHODS: Sixteen samples of EO were analyzed by GC-MS, leading to the identification of 95 compounds in the leaves and 86 compounds in the flowers; a statistical analysis was performed to determine the chemical polymorphism. RESULTS: Monoterpenes, such as ß-pinene, borneol, ɑ-terpineol and isobornyl acetate, were more abundant in the continental samples, while the insular samples were richer in 1,8-cineole. Fragranyl acetate and fragranol were detected in remarkable concentrations in sample 8. The fruits of sample 8 were then cultivated under controlled agronomic conditions, providing plants rich in these compounds (sample 9). The geographical variability influenced the EO compositions, with unique observed chemotypes and a high degree of diversity among samples collected in various areas (mainland or island). Statistical analyses did not reveal any pattern between the geographical provenience and the compositions. CONCLUSION: Samples were distributed based on the plant organ, confirming the already reported high degree of chemical polymorphism of this species. Sample 8 could be used as a source of fragranol and fragranyl acetate, with potential applications in the insecticidal and pheromone industries.

Chemical Composition and Cytotoxic Activity of Eucalyptus torquata Luehm. and Eucalyptus salmonophloia F.†Muell. Trunk Bark Essential Oils against Human SW620 and MDA-MB-231 Cancer Cell Lines.

In recent years, there has been a growing interest in the screening of natural active ingredients from Eucalyptus essential oils because of their evident importance in practical utility and their undeniable therapeutic properties. Based on this, the aim of the present study was to investigate the chemical profile of the essential oils of the trunk bark of Eucalyptus torquata Luehm. (ETEO), and E. salmonophloia F. Muell. (ESEO), growing in Tunisia. The in vitro cytotoxic properties of the extracted EOs were also evaluated against two human cancer cell lines: breast carcinoma cell lines MDA-MB-231 and colorectal cancer cell lines SW620. The analysis by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC/MS) led to the identification of 32 compounds from the ETEO, with the dominant constituents being the monoterpenes trans-myrtanol (73.4 %) and myrtenol (4.7 %), and the apocarotene (E)-ß-ionone (3.9 %). In the case of ESEO, 29 compounds were identified with trans-myrtanol (25.0 %), decanoic acid (22.1 %), nonanoic acid (9.8 %), γ-elemene (6.5 %), γ-maaliene (5.5 %), and α-terpineol (5.3 %) as the main components. The cytotoxicity of EOs against the two chosen cell lines was tested using Crystal Violet Staining (CVS) assay and 5-fluorouracil as a reference drug. The two EOs exhibited a significant dose-dependent inhibition against the viability of the used cell lines. Their inhibitory effects were particularly observed towards SW620 colon carcinoma cells with IC50 values of 26.71±1.22 and 22.21±0.85 µg/mL, respectively, indicating that both oils were more cytotoxic for SW620 cells compared to MDA-MB-231 one.

Influence of the Use of an Ionic Liquid as Pre-Hydrodistillation Maceration Medium on the Composition and Yield of Cannabis sativa L. Essential Oil.

Cannabis sativa L. is a multi-purpose crop, whose resilience, adaptability and soil-enriching properties make it a low-impact production. In the last years, the cultivation of the "industrial" hemp varieties (THC < 0.2%) has been promoted by many Countries, opening a whole new market of hemp-derived products, such as its essential oil (EO). Its distillation might represent an effective method to exploit a residue of the hemp fiber production (flowers), complying with the guidelines of the circular economy. In the present work, different concentrations of an ionic liquid (IL; 1,3-dimethyl-1H-imidazol-3-ium dimethylphosphate) have been studied as a pre-hydrodistillation maceration medium. The EO yields have been evaluated, and their compositions have been analyzed by GC-EIMS. The use of 100% and 90% IL concentrations gave a hydrodistillation yield increment of 250% and 200%, respectively. The 200% yield increase was maintained when the 100% IL was recycled after the hydrodistillation. The lower IL concentrations incremented the cannabinoid and oxygenated sesquiterpene contents, while the opposite was true for sesquiterpene hydrocarbons. The proposed IL-enhanced hydrodistillation medium applied to hemp, studied for the first time in the present work, might be used to both (i) noteworthy increment the hydrodistillation yield and (ii) modulate the obtained EO composition based on the desired final product.

Ulva intestinalis Extract Acts as Biostimulant and Modulates Metabolites and Hormone Balance in Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) and Parsley (Petroselinum crispum L.).

Natural elicitors from macroalgae may affect plant secondary metabolites. Ulvan is a sulfated heteropolysaccharide extracted from green seaweed, acting as both a plant biotic protecting agent, and a plant elicitor, leading to the synthesis of signal molecules. In this work, the aqueous extract of Ulva intestinalis L., mainly composed of ulvan, was used as foliar-spraying treatment and its eliciting effect was investigated in basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) and parsley (Petroselinum crispum L.). Antioxidant metabolites (polyphenols and carotenoids), volatile compounds (both in headspace emissions and hydrodistilled essential oils), and hormones (jasmonic acid, salicylic acid, salicylic acid 2-O-ß-D-glucoside, abscisic acid, and azelaic acid) were quantified. The foliar-spraying treatment with U. intestinalis extract increased salicylic acid and its ß-glucoside in parsley; in basil, it induced the accumulation of jasmonic and abscisic acids, indicating the presence of a priming effect. In basil, the elicitation caused a change of the essential oil (EO) chemotype from methyl eugenol/eugenol to epi-α-cadinol and increased sesquiterpenes. In parsley EO it caused a significant accumulation of 1,3,8-p-menthatriene, responsible of the typical "parsley-like" smell. In both species, the phenylpropanoids decreased in headspace and EO compositions, while the salicylic acid concentration increased; this could indicate a primarily defensive response to U. intestinalis extract. Due to the evidenced significant biological activity, U. intestinalis extract used as an elicitor may represent a suitable tool to obtain higher amounts of metabolites for optimizing plant flavor metabolites.

Essential Oil of Cannabis sativa L: Comparison of Yield and Chemical Composition of 11 Hemp Genotypes.

Cannabis sativa L. is an annual species cultivated since antiquity for different purposes. While, in the past, hemp inflorescences were considered crop residues, at present, they are regarded as valuable raw materials with different applications, among which extraction of the essential oil (EO) has gained increasing interest in many fields. The aim of the present study is the evaluation of the yield and the chemical composition of the EO obtained by hydrodistillation from eleven hemp genotypes, cultivated in the same location for two consecutive growing seasons. The composition of the EOs was analyzed by GC-MS, and then subjected to multivariate statistical analysis. Sesquiterpenes represented the main class of compounds in all the EOs, both in their hydrocarbon and oxygenated forms, with relative abundances ranging from 47.1 to 78.5%; the only exception was the Felina 32 sample collected in 2019, in which cannabinoids predominated. Cannabinoids were the second most abundant class of compounds, of which cannabidiol was the main one, with relative abundances between 11.8 and 51.5%. The statistical distribution of the samples, performed on the complete chemical composition of the EOs, evidenced a partition based on the year of cultivation, rather than on the genotype, with the exception of Uso-31. Regarding the extraction yield, a significant variation was evidenced among both the genotypes and the years of cultivation.

Chemical Composition and Cytotoxic Activity of the Fractionated Trunk Bark Essential Oil from Tetraclinis articulata (Vahl) Mast. Growing in Tunisia.

The aim of the present research was to determine the chemical composition and the cytotoxic effects of Tetraclinis articulata trunk bark essential oil (HEE) obtained by steam distillation and five fractions obtained by normal phase silica chromatographic separation. Chemical analysis allowed the identification of 54 known compounds. Relatively high amounts of oxygenated sesquiterpenes (44.4-70.2%) were detected, mainly consisting of caryophyllene oxide (13.1-26.6%), carotol (9.2-21.2%),14-hydroxy-9-epi-(E)-caryophyllene (3.2-15.5%) and humulene epoxide II (2.6-7.2%). The cytotoxic activity against human mammary carcinoma cell lines (MDA-MB-231) and colorectal carcinoma cell lines (SW620) of the essential oil and its fractions were assessed. All the samples displayed moderate to weak activity compared to 5-fluorouracil. The colorectal carcinoma cell line was relatively more sensitive to the essential oil and its fractions compared to the breast cancer cell line, showing IC50 values from 25.7 to 96.5 µg/mL. In addition, the essential oil and its fraction E.2 revealed a cytotoxic activity against colorectal carcinoma cell line, with IC50 values lower than 30 µg/mL. This is the first report on the chemical composition and cytotoxic activity of the trunk bark essential oil of T. articulata.

Small Functional Foods: Comparative Phytochemical and Nutritional Analyses of Five Microgreens of the Brassicaceae Family.

Microgreens are the seedlings of herbs and vegetables which are harvested at the development stage of their two cotyledonary leaves, or sometimes at the emergence of their rudimentary first pair of true leaves. They are functional foods, the consumption of which is steadily increasing due to their high nutritional value. The species of the Brassicaceae family are good sources of bioactive compounds, with a favorable nutritional profile. The present study analyzed some phytochemical compounds with nutritional values, such as chlorophylls, polyphenols, carotenoids, anthocyanins, ascorbic acid, total and reducing sugars, and the antioxidant activity of five Brassicaceae species: broccoli (Brassica oleracea L.), daikon (Raphanus raphanistrum subsp. sativus (L.) Domin), mustard (Brassica juncea (L.) Czern.), rocket salad (Eruca vesicaria (L.) Cav.), and watercress (Nasturtium officinale R.Br.). Broccoli had the highest polyphenol, carotenoid and chlorophyll contents, as well as a good antioxidant ability. Mustard was characterized by high ascorbic acid and total sugar contents. By contrast, rocket salad exhibited the lowest antioxidant content and activity. The essential oil (EO) composition of all of these species was determined in order to identify their profile and isothiocyanates content, which are compounds with many reported health benefits. Isothiocyanates were the most abundant group in broccoli (4-pentenyl isothiocyanate), mustard (allyl isothiocyanate), and watercress (benzyl isothiocyanate) EOs, while rocket salad and daikon exhibited higher contents of monoterpene hydrocarbons (myrcene) and oxygenated diterpenes (phytol), respectively. Broccoli microgreens exhibited the overall best nutritional profile, appearing as the most promising species to be consumed as a functional food among those analyzed.

Essential Oil Analysis and Antimicrobial Evaluation of Three Aromatic Plant Species Growing in Saudi Arabia.

Arabian flora is a rich source of bioactive compounds. In this study, we investigated three aromatic plant species with the aim of finding valuable sources of antimicrobial agents against common pathogenic microorganisms. We focused especially on microorganisms, which cause outbreaks of infectious disease during mass gatherings and pilgrimages season in Saudi Arabia. The essential oils of three aromatic plant species were hydrodistilled from flowering aerial parts of Lavandula pubescens Decne. and Pulicaria incisa subsp. candolleana E.Gamal-Eldin, and from leaves, stems, ripe and unripe fruits of Juniperus procera Hochst. Ex Endl. They were subsequently analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The main constituents of L. pubescens were found to be carvacrol (55.7%), methyl carvacrol (13.4%), and ß-bisabolene (9.1%). P. incisa subsp. Candolleana essential oil was rich in linalool (33.0%), chrysanthenone (10.3%), eugenol (8.9%), and cis-chrysanthenol (8.0%); the major components of J. procera essential oil were α-pinene (31.3-62.5%) and δ-3-carene (7.3-30.3%). These essential oils were tested against thirteen American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) strains of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria using the agar diffusion assay. The only effective essential oil was that of L. pubescens and the most sensitive strains were Acinetobacter baumannii, Salmonella typhimurium, Shigella sonnei, Enterococcus faecalis and Staphylococcus epidermidis. Carvacrol, the major constituent of L. pubescens, was tested on these strains and was compared with vancomycin, amikacin, and ciprofloxacin. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) assays of L. pubescens essential oil and carvacrol revealed that Gram-negative strains were more susceptible than the Gram-positive ones.

Bioactivity of Different Chemotypes of Oregano Essential Oil against the Blowfly Calliphora vomitoria Vector of Foodborne Pathogens.

Blowflies play a substantial role as vectors of microorganisms, including human pathogens. The control of these insect pests is an important aspect of the prevention of foodborne diseases, which represent a significant public health threat worldwide. Among aromatic plants, spices essential oils (EOs) are the most suitable to protect food from insect pests. In this study, we determined the chemical composition of three oregano EOs and assessed their toxicity and deterrence to oviposition against the blowfly Calliphora vomitoria L. The chemical analyses showed that the EOs belonged to three chemotypes: one with a prevalence of carvacrol, the carvacrol chemotype (CC; carvacrol, 81.5%), and two with a prevalence of thymol, the thymol/p-cymene and thymol/γ-terpinene chemotypes (TCC and TTC; thymol, 43.8, and 36.7%, respectively). The bioassays showed that although all the three EOs chemotypes are able to exert a toxic activity against C. vomitoria adults (LD50 from 0.14 to 0.31 µL insect-1) and eggs (LC50 from 0.008 to 0.038 µL cm-2) as well as deter the oviposition (Oviposition Activity Index, OAI, from 0.40 ± 0.04 to 0.87 ± 0.02), the bioactivity of oregano EOs significantly varies among the chemotypes, with the thymol-rich EOs (TCC and TTC) overall demonstrating more effectiveness than the carvacrol-rich (CC) EO.

Chemical Composition, Antioxidant, Anti-Tyrosinase, Anti-Cholinesterase and Cytotoxic Activities of Essential Oils of Six Algerian Plants.

In this study, the essential oils (EOs) of six Algerian plants (Artemisia campestris L., Artemisia herba-alba Asso, Juniperus phoenicea L., Juniperus oxycedrus L., Mentha pulegium L. and Lavandula officinalis Chaix) were obtained by hydrodistillation, and their compositions determined by GC-MS and GC-FID. The antioxidant activity of the EOS was evaluated via 2,2'-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), ferric-reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP) and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS) assays. Moreover, their cytotoxic effect was evaluated-as well as their tyrosinase, acetyl- and butyryl-cholinesterase (AChE and BuChE) inhibitory activities. The chemical analyses detected 44, 45, 51, 53, 26 and 40 compounds in EOs of A. campestris, A. herba-alba, J. phoenicea, J. oxycedrus, M. pulegium and L. officinalis, respectively. A. campestris EO was mainly composed of ß-pinene (20.7%), while A. herba-alba EO contained davanone D (49.5%) as the main component. α-Pinene (41.8%) was detected as the major constituent in both J. phoenicea (41.8%) and J. oxycedrus (37.8%) EOs. M. pulegium EO was characterized by pulegone as the most abundant (76.9%) compound, while linalool (35.8%) was detected as a major constituent in L. officinalis EO. The antioxidant power evaluation revealed IC50 values ranging from 2.61 to 91.25 mg/mL for DPPH scavenging activity, while the FRAP values ranged from 0.97-8.17 µmol Trolox equivalents (TX)/g sample. In the ABTS assay, the values ranged from 7.01 to 2.40 µmol TX/g sample. In the presence of 1 mg/mL of the samples, tyrosinase inhibition rates ranged from 11.35% to 39.65%, AChE inhibition rates ranged from 40.57% to 73.60% and BuChE inhibition rates ranged from 6.47% to 72.03%. A significant cytotoxic effect was found for A. herba-alba EO. The obtained results support some of the traditional uses of these species in food preservation and for protection against several diseases.

Proapoptotic Activity of Achillea membranacea Essential Oil and Its Major Constituent 1,8-Cineole against A2780 Ovarian Cancer Cells.

Among the hundreds of reported Achillea species, A. membranacea (Labill.) DC. is one of the six that grow in Jordan. Many species of this genus are used in folk medicine to treat a variety of ailments and several biological and pharmacological activities have been ascribed to their essential oil (EO). For this study, the EO obtained from a specimen of A. membranacea grown in Jordan was analyzed by GC-MS. Ninety-six compounds were detected, of which oxygenated monoterpenes was the predominant class (47.9%), followed by non-terpene derivatives (27.9%), while sesquiterpenes represented 14.2% of the total composition. The most abundant compound in the EO was 1,8-cineole (21.7%). The cytotoxic activity of the EO was evaluated against three cancer cell lines (MCF7, A2780 and HT29), and one normal fibroblast cell line (MRC5) by MTT assay. Significant growth inhibition was observed in EO-exposed A2780 and HT29 cells (IC50 = 12.99 and 14.02 µg/mL, respectively), while MCF7 and MRC5 were less susceptible. The EO induced apoptosis and increased the preG1 events in A2780 cells. 1,8-Cineole, the major constituent of the EO, exhibited submicromolar cytotoxicity against A2780 cells, and was 42 times more selective against MRC5 cells. Its cytotoxicity against A2780 cells was comparable with that of doxorubicin, but 1,8-cineole was more selective for MRC5 normal cells. Interestingly, 1,8-cineole enhanced apoptosis in A2780, and caused a remarkable dose-dependent increase in preG1 events. Thus, 1,8-cineole has demonstrated promising cytotoxic and proapoptotic properties.

Chemical Composition and Insecticidal Activity of Crithmum Maritimum L. Essential Oil against Stored-Product Beetle Tribolium Castaneum.

Several plant essential oils have been used against diverse insect pests since, unlike conventional pesticides, they pose almost no risk to humans and the environment. For this reason, the essential oil (EO) isolated from the fresh leaves of Crithmum maritimum L. and its fractions (F1 -F5 ) obtained by chromatographic simplification were investigated for their chemical profile, as well as for their toxicity and repellency effects against Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) adults. The analysis by GC/MS allowed the identification of 92.8-99.1 % of the compositions of the total oil (EO) and of its fractions (F1 -F5 ). The EO and its fractions F3 -F5 were characterized by the presence of a high amount of phenylpropanoids (94.4, 94.8, 93.6, and 88.7 %, respectively): in all the samples, dill apiole was the most abundant component (EO: 94.1 %, F3 : 94.6 %, F4 : 93.4 %, and F5 : 83.3 %). In addition, the repellency assay results showed that the volatile fraction F5 and the complete EO exhibited a higher repellency towards T. castaneum (97 % and 93 %, respectively) after 2 h of exposure at the dose of 0.04 µL/cm2 . The median lethal dose of the topical application of the EO was 9 %. Furthermore, the fraction F1 possessed interesting contact toxicity against T. castaneum (80 % of mortality) at the concentration of 10 %. These results suggested that the essential oil of C. maritimum leaves might be used as an alternative to synthetic insecticides in order to prevent insects from damaging the stored products.

Correction: Effect of Iodine treatments on Ocimum basilicum L.: Biofortification, phenolics production and essential oil composition.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0226559.].

Effect of Iodine treatments on Ocimum basilicum L.: Biofortification, phenolics production and essential oil composition.

Iodine biofortification has been gaining interest in recent years as a sustainable and innovative approach to eradicate iodine deficiency disorders. Studying the impact of iodine biofortification on plant phenotype, biochemical and physiological parameters is crucial to leverage the expertise and best practices for the agro-food industry and human health. The aim of this study was to evaluate iodine biofortification on the main quantitative and qualitative traits of basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) plants cultivated both in open field and in growth chamber. The impact of KI and KIO3 treatments was evaluated on biomass production, as well as on the synthesis of phenolic compounds, especially rosmarinic acid and other caffeic acid derivatives, and on the essential oil (EO) composition. These compounds are typically accumulated in basil leaves and strongly contribute to the plant nutraceutical value and aroma. In open field, the use of increasing concentrations of both iodine salts gradually enhanced iodine accumulation in leaves, also determining an increase of the antioxidant power, total phenolics, rosmarinic acid and cinnamic acid accumulation. The composition of EO was only slightly affected by the treatments, as all the samples were characterized by a linalool chemotype and a minor alteration in their relative content was observed. A growth chamber experiment was performed to test EO variation in controlled conditions, broadening the range of iodine concentrations. In this case, plant chemotype was significantly affected by the treatments and large EO variability was observed, suggesting that iodine form and concentration can potentially influence the EO composition but that in open field this effect is overcome by environmental factors.

Anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive activities of essential oil of Waltheria indica / Actividades antiinflamatorias y nociceptivas del aceite esencial de Waltheria indica

This paper reports for the first time volatile compounds, anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of essential oils from the leaves of Waltheria indica L. (Stericullaceae) growing in Nigeria. The essential oil was hydro-distilled and characterized by gas chromatography-flame ionization detection (GC-FID) and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analyses. The anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated on carrageenan induced rat paw edema while the anti-nociceptive test was based on hot plate model. The hydro-distillation afforded 0.41% (dry weight basis) of light green oil. Forty compounds representing 99.8% were identified in the oil. The main constituents of the oil were limonene (34.7%), sabinene (21.2%) and citronellal (9.7%). The anti-nociceptive property of the essential oils statically inhibited edema development (p<0.001) at a dose of 200 and 400 mg/kg independent of time of exposure. However, the 100 mg/kg Waltheria indica essential oils (WIEO) displayed a relatively low inhibition (p<0.01-p>0.5) which declines as exposure time increases. The anti-inflammatory activities shows a steady rate and non-dose dependent activity (p<0.001) up to the 3rd h of inflammation study. Conversely, a sharp reduction at the rate of p<0.5, 0.1 and 0.01 for the 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg WIEO doses respectively. Overall, the results presented sustain and establish the anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory properties and justifies the need for further evaluation and development of the essential oils from this plant.

Este artículo informa por primera vez de compuestos volátiles, actividades anti-nociceptivas y antiinflamatorias de aceites esenciales de las hojas de Waltheria indica L. (Stericullaceae) que crecen en Nigeria. El aceite esencial fue hidro-destilado y se caracterizó por cromatografía de gases-detección de ionización de llama (GC-FID) y cromatografía de gases junto con análisis de espectrometría de masas (GC-MS). La actividad antiinflamatoria se evaluó en el edema de pata de rata inducido por carragenano, mientras que la prueba antinociceptiva se basó en el modelo de placa caliente. La destilación hidráulica proporcionó 0,41% (en peso seco) de aceite verde claro. Cuarenta compuestos que representan el 99.8% fueron identificados en el aceite. Los principales componentes del aceite fueron el limoneno (34,7%), el sabineno (21,2%) y el citronelal (9,7%). La propiedad anti-nociceptiva de los aceites esenciales inhibió estáticamente el desarrollo del edema (p<0.001) a una dosis de 200 y 400 mg/kg independientemente del tiempo de exposición. Sin embargo, los aceites esenciales de Waltheria indica de 100 mg/kg (WIEO) mostraron una inhibición relativamente baja (p<0.01-p>0.5) que disminuye a medida que aumenta el tiempo de exposición. Las actividades antiinflamatorias muestran una tasa constante y una actividad no dependiente de la dosis (p<0.001) hasta la tercera hora del estudio de inflamación. Por el contrario, una fuerte reducción a una tasa de p<0.5, 0.1 y 0.01 para las dosis de 100, 200 y 400 mg/kg de WIEO respectivamente. En general, los resultados presentados sostienen y establecen las propiedades anti-nociceptivas y antiinflamatorias y justifican la necesidad de una mayor evaluación y desarrollo de los aceites esenciales de esta planta.

Cold-Pressing Olive Oil in the Presence of Cryomacerated Leaves of Olea or Citrus: Nutraceutical and Sensorial Features.

The nutraceutical properties of extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO) can be further improved by the addition of olive leaves during olive pressing. However, while Citrus leaves are rich sources of bioactive substances, no data are available in the literature about the effect of Citrus leaf addition on the nutraceutical and sensorial profiles of olive oil. This study aimed at comparing the chemical and sensorial qualities of olive oils obtained from ripe olives pressed together with either Olea or Citrus spp. (lemon or orange) cryomacerated leaves. General composition parameters as well as major antioxidants and antioxidant activity were measured. A panel test evaluation, as well as headspace volatile characterization (headspace solid phase microextraction, HS-SPME), were also performed. All data were compared with an EVOO extracted from the same olive batch used as control. It was possible to obtain Leaf Olive Oils (LOOs) characterized by a higher (p < 0.05) content of antioxidants, compared to the control sample, and the highest oleuropein concentration was detected in the olive oil extracted in presence of olive leaf (+50% in comparison with the control). All the LOOs showed a higher smell complexity and the scent of ripe fruit was generally mitigated. Lemon and olive LOOs showed the best smell profile.