Chemical profile, in vitro pharmacological activity and Satureja cuneifolia Ten. evaluation of essential oil based on distillation time.

The medicinal plant Satureja cuneifolia Ten. was widely utilized as spice, tea and traditional medicine. The objective of the current study was to examine the chemical composition and in vitro biological activities (LOX, MMP-1, and MMP-12 enzyme inhibition activity and cytotoxicity on A549 cell line) of Satureja cuneifolia extracts and essential oils. The essential oils of the flowering aerial parts were hydro-distilled at four different distillation times (5, 30, 60, and 180 min) using the Clevenger apparatus. The total essential oil and four fragments were compared in terms of the major component, yield, and distillation time. Volatile compounds of the infusion were extracted by using HS-SPME. Ethanolic extract had the strongest inhibition activity on the LOX enzyme (84.50%), while the essential oils exhibited more cytotoxic activity on the A549 cell line than the extracts. The oils and the infusion were analyzed using GC-MS and the primary chemicals identified by LC-MS/MS.

Rhanterium epapposum Oliv. essential oil: Chemical composition and antimicrobial, insect-repellent and anticholinesterase activities.

The essential oil (EO) of the aerial parts of Rhanterium epapposum Oliv. (Asteraceae), was obtained by hydrodistillation. The oil was subsequently analyzed by both GC-FID and GC-MS, simultaneously. Forty-five components representing 99.2% of the oil composition were identified. The most abundant compounds were camphene (38.5%), myrcene (17.5%), limonene (10.1%) and α-pinene (8.7%). Referring to the ethnobotanical utilization, an insecticidal assay was performed, where the oil repelled the yellow fever mosquito Aedes aegypti L. at a minimum effective dose (MED of 0.035 ± 0.010 mg/cm2) compared to the positive control DEET (MED of 0.015 ± 0.004 mg/cm2). Additionally, the in vitro antimicrobial activity against a panel of pathogens was determined using a microdilution method. The acetyl- and butyrylcholine esterase inhibitory activities were measured using the colorimetric Ellman method. The bioassay results showed that the oil was rather moderate in antimicrobial and cholinesterase inhibitions when compared to the standard compounds.

Supplemental carvacrol can reduce the severity of inflammation by influencing the production of mediators of inflammation.

Carvacrol (CVC) is a monoterpenic phenol, which is present in the essential oil of various plants. It has been widely used both as antibacterial feed additive and food preservative. Therefore, our objective was to evaluate the prophylactic effects of carvacrol on inflammatory mediators of sepsis. Serum tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin 6 levels as proinflammatory markers were evaluated using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique. Malondialdehyde (MDA) was determined in the sample by using thiobarbituric acid test. Nitric oxide (NO) levels and arginase activity and also all measurements were evaluated after 24 h from lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injections done (1 mg/kg i.p.). All carvacrol doses (20, 40, and 80 mg/kg) were given by intra gastric gavage during six days before LPS injection (7th day). Proinflammatory cytokines, MDA, NO levels, and arginase activity were decreased by carvacrol according to the carvacrol doses. These results indicate that carvacrol may have a potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects in a dose-dependent manner. Subchronic use of CVC can be assisted to pre-treat of sepsis as a prophylactic.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of some thiazole derivatives as new cholinesterase inhibitors.

In the present study, some thiazole derivatives were synthesized via the ring closure reaction of 1-[2-(2-oxobenzo[d]thiazol-3(2H)-yl)acetyl]thiosemicarbazide with various phenacyl bromides. The chemical structures of the compounds were elucidated by (1)H NMR, (13)C NMR and mass spectral data and elemental analyses. Each derivative was evaluated for its ability to inhibit acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) using a modification of Ellman's spectrophotometric method. The compounds were also investigated for their cytotoxic properties using MTT assay. The most potent AChE inhibitor was found as compound 4e (IC(50) = 25.5 ± 2.12 µg/mL) followed by compounds 4i (IC(50) = 38.50 ± 2.12 µg/mL), 4c (IC(50) = 58.42 ± 3.14 µg/mL) and 4g (IC(50) = 68 ± 2.12 µg/mL) when compared with eserine (IC(50) = 0.025 ± 0.01 µg/mL). Effective compounds on AChE exhibited weak inhibition on BuChE (IC(50) > 80 µg/mL). MTT assay indicated that the cytotoxic dose (IC(50) = 71.67 ± 7.63 µg/mL) of compound 4e was higher than its effective dose.