Essential oil versus supercritical fluid extracts of winter savory (Satureja montana L.) - Assessment of the oxidative, microbiological and sensory quality of fresh pork sausages.

The effect of winter savory (Satureja montana L.) essential oil (SEO) and supercritical extracts (SE1; SE2) at concentrations of 0.075 and 0.150 µL/g on pH, lipid oxidation (TBARS), microbial growth and sensory quality of fresh pork sausages during storage were investigated. SEO, SE1 and SE2 improved oxidative and microbial stability of fresh pork sausages. The addition of SEO and SE1 at concentration of 0.150 µL/g affected the reduction of total Enterobacteriaeceae count to under 3 log cfu/g. Sausages produced with SE1 and SE2 had a higher scores for odor, flavor and overall acceptance compared to sausages treated with SEO and control sample. Therefore, the results of this paper revealed significant antioxidative and antimicrobial activity of SE1 and SE2, and consequently its high potential of utilization in processing of fresh pork sausages.

Bioassays against pinewood nematode: assessment of a suitable dilution agent and screening for bioactive essential oils.

Acetone was investigated and found to be an appropriate alternative to Triton X-100 as a solvent of essential oils in bioassays aimed to investigate their effects on pinewood nematode (Bursaphelenchus xylophilus) mortality. Therefore it was used as dilution agent to screen the effectiveness of fifty two essential oils against this pest. Thirteen essential oils were highly effective, resulting in more than 90% pinewood nematode mortality at 2 mg/mL, with six of them resulting in 100% mortality. LC100 values ranged between 0.50 mg/mL and 0.83 mg/mL for the essential oils of Origanum vulgare and Satureja montana, respectively. Essential oils were submitted to gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis and their chemical composition established. Data from essential oils with 100% mortality at 2 mg/mL and other essential oils previously found to have LC100 ≤ 2 mg/mL was combined, their chemical profiles investigated by correspondences analysis plus automatic classification.

[Saturin - effective vegetative remedy in treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus].

A chemical investigation of plant Satureja hortensis L. - garden savory (GS) has been carried out. It is established that the GS is rich in phenolic compounds. Flavonoids apigenin, luteolin, cinaroside, luteolin-glucuronide, luteolin-rutinoside, isoroifolin and phenylcarbonic acids - chlorogenic acid and rosmarinic acid were isolated from the leaves of the plant. The total content of flavonoids and phenylcarbonic acids in GS is 1,6-1,7%. The leaves of GS contain up to 1% essential oil consisting mainly of thymol and methyl carvacrol. Dry aqueous extract of GS leaves, which retains the full range of substances of raw plant material has been obtained. Pharmacological investigation of the GS extract was carried out on intact animals and animals with experimental alloxan diabetes. Antidiabetic Arfasetine was chosen as a reference drug. The study revealed that the GS extract exhibits hypoglycemic activity significantly reducing blood sugar levels and is safe in the long run. Drug dosage form named saturin - capsules containing 0,33 g of dried aqueous extract of GS leaves, has been developed. Clinical trials of Saturin confirmed its effiacy in diabetes mellitus type 2. The drug is registered by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Social Welfare of Georgia (Registration Certificate №003658) and approved for use in type 2 diabetes either independently or in combination with other hypoglycemic agents. Saturin is manufactured at the Experimental and Production Facility of the Institute of Pharmacochemistry.