Genome-wide identification of tea plant (Camellia sinensis) BAHD acyltransferases reveals their role in response to herbivorous pests.

BACKGROUND: BAHD acyltransferases are among the largest metabolic protein domain families in the genomes of terrestrial plants and play important roles in plant growth and development, aroma formation, and biotic and abiotic stress responses. Little is known about the BAHDs in the tea plant, a cash crop rich in secondary metabolites. RESULTS: In this study, 112 BAHD genes (CsBAHD01-CsBAHD112) were identified from the tea plant genome, with 85% (98/112) unevenly distributed across the 15 chromosomes. The number of BAHD gene family members has significantly expanded from wild tea plants to the assamica type to the sinensis type. Phylogenetic analysis showed that they could be classified into seven subgroups. Promoter cis-acting element analysis revealed that they contain a large number of light, phytohormones, and stress-responsive elements. Many members displayed tissue-specific expression patterns. CsBAHD05 was expressed at more than 500-fold higher levels in purple tea leaves than in green tea leaves. The genes exhibiting the most significant response to MeJA treatment and feeding by herbivorous pests were primarily concentrated in subgroups 5 and 6. The expression of 23 members of these two subgroups at different time points after feeding by tea green leafhoppers and tea geometrids was examined via qPCR, and the results revealed that the expression of CsBAHD93, CsBAHD94 and CsBAHD95 was significantly induced after the tea plants were subjected to feeding by both pricking and chewing pests. Moreover, based on the transcriptome data for tea plants being fed on by these two pests, a transcriptional regulatory network of different transcription factor genes coexpressed with these 23 members was constructed. CONCLUSIONS: Our study provides new insights into the role of BAHDs in the defense response of tea plants, and will facilitate in-depth studies of the molecular function of BAHDs in resistance to herbivorous pests.

Chronic California herbal tea use causing biopsy-proven Melanosis coli.

Melanosis coli is a dark to brown pigmentation of the colon due to lipofuscin deposition within the cytoplasm of cells. It is a benign condition associated with excessive use of laxatives, particularly those that are anthracene derivatives and common herbal remedies like Cassia Angustifolla (senna). It is usually asymptomatic and diagnosed incidentally during colonoscopy or histopathologic evaluation. We present a case of a 56-year-old male patient who presented with diarrhea of 3 months duration, which started after he began to use California herbal tea for his constipation. Colonoscopic evaluation revealed an intense pigmentation throughout the colon suggestive of Melanosis coli, which was confirmed on histopathology. In patients with prolonged use of California herbal tea and dark to brown pigmentations of colonic mucosa on colonoscopy, there should be a high index of suspicion for Melanosis coli. And patients should be aware of the risk of developing Melanosis coli following prolonged herbal tea use. The findings presented in our case are in support of few previous literature that showed relations between chronic herbal tea use and Melanosis coli.

Tea-Derived Polyphenols Enhance Drought Resistance of Tea Plants (Camellia sinensis) by Alleviating Jasmonate-Isoleucine Pathway and Flavonoid Metabolism Flow.

Extreme drought weather has occurred frequently in recent years, resulting in serious yield loss in tea plantations. The study of drought in tea plantations is becoming more and more intensive, but there are fewer studies on drought-resistant measures applied in actual production. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the effect of exogenous tea polyphenols on the drought resistance of tea plant by pouring 100 mg·L-1 of exogenous tea polyphenols into the root under drought. The exogenous tea polyphenols were able to promote the closure of stomata and reduce water loss from leaves under drought stress. Drought-induced malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulation in tea leaves and roots was also significantly reduced by exogenous tea polyphenols. Combined transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses showed that exogenous tea polyphenols regulated the abnormal responses of photosynthetic and energy metabolism in leaves under drought conditions and alleviated sphingolipid metabolism, arginine metabolism, and glutathione metabolism in the root system, which enhanced the drought resistance of tea seedlings. Exogenous tea polyphenols induced jasmonic acid-isoleucine (JA-ILE) accumulation in the root system, and the jasmonic acid-isoleucine synthetase gene (TEA028623), jasmonic acid ZIM structural domain proteins (JAMs) synthesis genes (novel.22237, TEA001821), and the transcription factor MYC2 (TEA014288, TEA005840) were significantly up-regulated. Meanwhile, the flavonoid metabolic flow was significantly altered in the root; for example, the content of EGCG, ECG, and EGC was significantly increased. Thus, exogenous tea polyphenols enhance the drought resistance of tea plants through multiple pathways.

Microbial Fermentation Enhances the Effect of Black Tea on Hyperlipidemia by Mediating Bile Acid Metabolism and Remodeling Intestinal Microbes.

Black tea (BT), the most consumed tea worldwide, can alleviate hyperlipidemia which is a serious threat to human health. However, the quality of summer BT is poor. It was improved by microbial fermentation in a previous study, but whether it affects hypolipidemic activity is unknown. Therefore, we compared the hypolipidemic activity of BT and microbially fermented black tea (EFT). The results demonstrated that BT inhibited weight gain and improved lipid and total bile acid (TBA) levels, and microbial fermentation reinforced this activity. Mechanistically, both BT and EFT mediate bile acid circulation to relieve hyperlipidemia. In addition, BT and EFT improve dyslipidemia by modifying the gut microbiota. Specifically, the increase in Lactobacillus johnsonii by BT, and the increase in Mucispirillum and Colidextribacter by EFT may also be potential causes for alleviation of hyperlipidemia. In summary, we demonstrated that microbial fermentation strengthened the hypolipidemic activity of BT and increased the added value of BT.

Exploring tea and herbal infusions consumption patterns and behaviours: The case of Portuguese consumers.

Consumption of tea and herbal infusions (THIs) have a long history in traditional medicine and cultural practices. The health-promoting benefits attributed to THIs are considered influential factors in consumer choices. However, there is limited data on consumer choices and attitudes that might interfere with the positive effects associated with THIs consumption. The aim of this study was to investigate the consumption pattern and behavior of THIs consumers in Portugal, assessing the influence of socio-demographic factors on the selection of THIs products and consumer practices related to these beverages. An online survey was conducted, and from the collected data, 720 responses met the aim of the study and were further analyzed. Most of the respondents were female, 74.4%, belonging to the 40-60 age group (40.6%) and were medium consumers of THIs (47.2%). Green tea was the most consumed type among participants, and its consumption was associated not only with age but also with the pattern of THIs consumption. Despite that, participants preferred herbal infusions, with citronella, chamomile, and lemon verbena being the most consumed types. For certain types of herbal infusions, consumption was associated with age, while other types were preferred by moderate or heavy consumers. Most participants purchased THIs in supermarkets, registered trademark and brand stores, in the form of THIs bag. Light consumers use only bag, while medium/heavy consumers indicated the use of other forms. Almost half of the respondents admitted to not reading the information on product labels before consumption and using THIs after the expiry date, while only one-third of them declared paying attention to the label instructions. This study revealed the impact of socio-demographic factors as age on the consumption patterns and preferences of THIs of consumers. Of concern is the neglect of label usage among Portuguese consumers. This emphasizes the urgency of implementing interventions to guide proper label use and promote good consumption practices to ensure the quality of THIs products.

Potential therapeutic effects of green tea (Camellia sinensis) in eye diseases, a review.

This review aims to evaluate the therapeutic potential of green tea (GT), scientifically named Camellia sinensis, in treating eye diseases. We provide an overview of the ingredients and traditional use of Camellia sinensis, followed by a detailed discussion of its therapeutic uses in various eye diseases, including ocular surface diseases (allergic diseases, dry eye, pterygium, and infections), cataract, glaucoma, uveitis, retinal diseases, and optic nerve diseases. The pharmacologic activities related to ocular diseases, such as anti-vascular endothelial growth factor, aldose reductase inhibitor activity, anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects are also explored in this review. The dose and route of administration of GT in various studies are discussed. Safety issues related to the use of GT, such as the side effects associated with high doses and long-term use, are also addressed. The review highlights the potential of GT as a natural therapeutic agent for a variety of ocular diseases. Its various pharmacologic activities make it a promising treatment option. However, more well-designed studies are needed to determine the optimal dose and route of administration and to assess its long-term safety and efficacy. Overall, GT appears to be a promising adjunct therapy for various ocular diseases.

Identifying the temporal contributors and their interactions during dynamic formation of black tea cream.

Tea cream formed in hot and strong tea infusion while cooling deteriorates quality and health benefits of tea. However, the interactions among temporal contributors during dynamic formation of tea cream are still elusive. Here, by deletional recombination experiments and molecular dynamics simulation, it was found that proteins, caffeine (CAF), and phenolics played a dominant role throughout the cream formation, and the contribution of amino acids was highlighted in the early stage. Furthermore, CAF was prominent due to its extensive binding capacity and the filling complex voids property, and caffeine-theaflavins (TFs) complexation may be the core skeleton of the growing particles in black tea infusion. In addition to TFs, the unidentified phenolic oxidation-derived products (PODP) were confirmed to contribute greatly to the cream formation.

Simple and sensitive determination of Cr (III), Cu (II) and Pb (II) in tea infusions using AgNPs-modified resin combined with laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy.

The detection of heavy metals in tea infusions is important because of the potential health risks associated with their consumption. Existing highly sensitive detection methods pose challenges because they are complicated and time-consuming. In this study, we developed an innovative and simple method using Ag nanoparticles-modified resin (AgNPs-MR) for pre-enrichment prior to laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy for the simultaneous analysis of Cr (III), Cu (II), and Pb (II) in tea infusions. Signal enhancement using AgNPs-MR resulted in amplification with limits of detection of 0.22 µg L-1 for Cr (III), 0.33 µg L-1 for Cu (II), and 1.25 µg L-1 for Pb (II). Quantitative analyses of these ions in infusions of black tea from various brands yielded recoveries ranging from 83.3% to 114.5%. This method is effective as a direct and highly sensitive technique for precisely quantifying trace concentrations of heavy metals in tea infusions.

Formation, physicochemical properties, and biological activities of theabrownins.

Theabrownins (TBs) are heterogeneous mixtures of water-soluble brown tea pigments, and important constituents to evaluate the quality of dark tea. TBs have numerous hydroxyl and carboxyl groups and are formed by the oxidative polymerization of tea polyphenols. Many biological activities attributed to TBs, including antioxidant, anti-obesity, and lipid-regulating, have been demonstrated. This review summarizes the research progress made on the formation mechanism and physicochemical properties of TBs. It also discusses their protective effects against various diseases and associated potential molecular mechanisms. Additionally, it examines the signaling pathways mediating the bioactivities of TBs and highlights the difficulties and challenges of TBs research as well as their research prospects and applications.

Differences of Typical Wuyi Rock Tea in Taste and Nonvolatiles Profile Revealed by Multisensory Analysis and LC-MS-Based Metabolomics.

Wuyi Rock tea, specifically Shuixian and Rougui, exhibits distinct sensory characteristics. In this study, we investigated the sensory and metabolite differences between Shuixian and Rougui. Quantitative description analysis revealed that Rougui exhibited higher intensity in bitter, thick, harsh, and numb tastes, while Shuixian had stronger salty and umami tastes. Nontargeted metabolomics identified 151 compounds with 66 compounds identified as key differential metabolites responsible for metabolic discrimination. Most of the catechins and flavonoids were enriched in Rougui tea, while epigallocatechin-3,3'-di-O-gallate, epigallocatechin-3,5-di-O-gallate, gallocatechin-3,5-di-O-gallate, isovitexin, and theaflavanoside I were enriched in Shuixian tea. Catechins, kaempferol, quercetin, and myricetin derivatives were positively correlated with bitter taste and numb sensation. Sour taste was positively correlated to organic acids. Amino acids potentially contributed to salty and umami tastes. These results provide further insights into the taste characteristics and the relationship between taste attributes and specific metabolites in Wuyi Rock tea.

Comparison of Approaches for Authentication of Commercial Terpinen-4-ol-type Tea Tree Oils Using Chiral GC/MS.

A global demand for tea tree oil (TTO) has resulted in increased adulteration in commercial products. In this study, we use a novel enantiomeric gas chromatography mass spectrometry method for chiral analysis of key terpenes ((±)-terpinen-4-ol, (±)-α-terpineol, and (±)-limonene) and quantification of components present at >0.01% to test different methods of identifying adulterated TTO. Data from authentic Australian (n = 88) and oxidized (n = 12) TTO samples of known provenance were consistent with recommended ranges in ISO 4730:2017 and previously published enantiomeric ratios, with p-cymene identified as the major marker of TTO oxidation. The 15 ISO 4730:2017 constituents comprised between 84.5 and 89.8% of the total ion chromatogram (TIC) peak area. An additional 53 peaks were detected in all samples (7.3-11.0% of TIC peak area), while an additional 43 peaks were detected in between 0 and 99% (0.15-2.0% of the TIC peak area). Analysis of nine commercial samples demonstrated that comparison to the ISO 4730:2017 standard does not always identify adulterated TTO samples. While statistical analysis of minor components in TTO did identify two commercial samples that differed from authentic TTO, the (+)-enantiomer percentages for limonene, terpinen-4-ol, and α-terpineol provided clearer evidence that these samples were adulterated. Thus, straightforward identification of unadulterated and unoxidized TTO could be based on analysis of appropriate enantiomeric ratios and quantitation of the p-cymene percentage.

[Association between habitual tea consumption and 10-year cardiovascular risk among Chinese mid-aged and elderly].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the association between habitual tea consumption and 10-year cardiovascular disease risk among middle-aged and elderly Chinese. METHODS: China Nutrition and Health Surveillance 2015 applied a stratified, multistage, and random sampling method. The current study selected middle-aged and elderly participants aged 45 and older, and they were investigated by basic information survey, dietary survey based on the food frequency questionnaire, physical measurements including height, weight, and blood pressure, and a laboratory examination with fasting blood samples. Habitual tea consumption was defined by asking about the number of cups of tea usually consumed per day in the past 12 months, and the risk of cardiovascular disease incidence was calculated using the Framingham risk score over a 10-year period. The association between tea consumption and 10-year risk of cardiovascular disease in this population was analyzed using multiple logistic regression, and further analyzed using gender as a stratification factor. RESULTS: A total of 42 704 Chinese middle-aged and elderly were included in this study, with an average age of(59.4±9.4) years, 20 104 males and 22 600 females, 17 194 in urban areas and 25 510 in rural areas. For tea drinking, there were 12 519(29.32%) tea drinkers in the included sample, of which 4153(9.73%) consumed 1-2 cups/d, 3336(7.81%) 3-4 cups/d, and 5030(11.78%) ≥5 cups/d. For 10-year cardiovascular risk, 28 267 participants(66.19%) were estimated to be low risk, while 14 437(33.81%) were in the high risk. After adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, place of residence, education, income, marital status, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, physical activity, sedentary behavior, sleep, participation in medical examination within one year, DASH dietary score, energy intake and chronic disease status, the result showed a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease over a 10-year period among those who consumed 3-4 cups/d compared with those who did not consume tea(OR=0.820, 95%CI 0.719-0.934, P_(trend)=0.03). When stratified by gender, both gender showed participants who consumed 3-4 cups/d had a lower risk for cardiovascular disease than those who did not consume tea(males: OR=0.849, 95%CI 0.722-0.997; females: OR=0.697, 95%CI 0.527-0.922). And the result was more pronounced among females. CONCLUSION: Moderate habitual tea consumption could reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease among middle-aged and elderly Chinese people, and its protective effect is more pronounced among females.

Potential Benefits of Green Tea in Prostate Cancer Prevention and Treatment: A Comprehensive Review.

Prostate cancer is a prevalent and debilitating disease that necessitates effective prevention and treatment strategies. Green tea, a well-known beverage derived from the Camellia sinensis plant, contains bioactive compounds with potential health benefits, including catechins and polyphenols. This comprehensive review aims to explore the potential benefits of green tea in prostate cancer prevention and treatment by examining existing literature. Green tea possesses antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-carcinogenic properties attributed to its catechins, particularly epigallocatechin gallate. Epidemiological studies have reported an inverse association between green tea consumption and prostate cancer risk, with potential protection against aggressive forms of the disease. Laboratory studies demonstrate that green tea components inhibit tumor growth, induce apoptosis, and modulate signaling pathways critical to prostate cancer development and progression. Clinical trials and human studies further support the potential benefits of green tea. Green tea consumption has been found to be associated with a reduction in prostate-specific antigen levels, tumor markers, and played a potential role in slowing disease progression. However, challenges remain, including optimal dosage determination, formulation standardization, and conducting large-scale, long-term clinical trials. The review suggests future research should focus on combinatorial approaches with conventional therapies and personalized medicine strategies to identify patient subgroups most likely to benefit from green tea interventions.

Sustained oxidation of Tea-Fe(III)/H2O2 simultaneously achieves sludge reduction and carbamazepine removal: The crucial role of EPS regulation.

Establishing an economic and sustained Fenton oxidation system to enhance sludge dewaterability and carbamazepine (CBZ) removal rate is a crucial path to simultaneously achieve sludge reduction and harmless. Leveraging the principles akin to "tea making", we harnessed tea waste to continually release tea polyphenols (TP), thus effectively maintaining high level of oxidation efficiency through the sustained Fenton reaction. The results illustrated that the incorporation of tea waste yielded more favorable outcomes in terms of water content reduction and CBZ removal compared to direct TP addition within the Fe(III)/hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) system. Concomitantly, this process mainly generated hydroxyl radical (•OH) via three oxidation pathways, effectively altering the properties of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and promoting the degradation of CBZ from the sludge mixture. The interval addition of Fe(III) and H2O2 heightened extracellular oxidation efficacy, promoting the desorption and removal of CBZ. The degradation of EPS prompted the transformation of bound water to free water, while the formation of larger channels drove the discharge of water. This work achieved the concept of treating waste with waste through using tea waste to treat sludge, meanwhile, can provide ideas for subsequent sludge harmless disposal.

The Potential of Integrative Cancer Treatment Using Melatonin and the Challenge of Heterogeneity in Population-Based Studies: A Case Report of Colon Cancer and a Literature Review.

Melatonin is a multifunctional hormone regulator that maintains homeostasis through circadian rhythms, and desynchronization of these rhythms can lead to gastrointestinal disorders and increase the risk of cancer. Preliminary clinical studies have shown that exogenous melatonin alleviates the harmful effects of anticancer therapy and improves quality of life, but the results are still inconclusive due to the heterogeneity of the studies. A personalized approach to testing clinical parameters and response to integrative treatment with nontoxic and bioavailable melatonin in patient-centered N-of-1 studies deserves greater attention. This clinical case of colon cancer analyzes and discusses the tumor pathology, the adverse effects of chemotherapy, and the dynamics of markers of inflammation (NLR, LMR, and PLR ratios), tumors (CEA, CA 19-9, and PSA), and hemostasis (D-dimer and activated partial thromboplastin time). The patient took melatonin during and after chemotherapy, nutrients (zinc, selenium, vitamin D, green tea, and taxifolin), and aspirin after chemotherapy. The patient's PSA levels decreased during CT combined with melatonin (19 mg/day), and melatonin normalized inflammatory markers and alleviated symptoms of polyneuropathy but did not help with thrombocytopenia. The results are analyzed and discussed in the context of the literature on oncostatic and systemic effects, alleviating therapy-mediated adverse effects, association with survival, and N-of-1 studies.

Decaffeinated green tea polyphenols supplementation had no adverse health effects in girls with obesity: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: While the health promoting effects of green tea polyphenols have been identi-fied among adult, research on children is scarce probably due to safety concerns about caffeine. This study aims to evaluate the safety of decaffeinated green tea polyphenols (DGTP) supplementation in girls with obesity and lay the foundation for its application in children population. METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN: This 12-week randomized, double-blinded, parallel-controlled trial was performed among 62 girls with obesity aged 6 to 10 years old. Participants were allocated to take 400 mg/d DGTP (DGTP group, n = 31) or isodose placebo (Control group, n = 31) at random. Anthropometric measurements and biochemical parameters including hepatic and renal function indicators, serum minerals concentrations, and routine blood parameters, were measured at baseline and the end of this trial. DGTP intake diary was required for each participant to record any abnormal reactions. RESULTS: After the 12-week supplementation, compared to Control group, the uric acid concentration in DGTP group showed a significant decrease (-48.0 ± 83.2 vs -0.01 ± 69.1, µmol/L), within the normal range. Regarding other biochemical indicators, there were no significant differences in changed values between the two groups. Throughout the trial, no adverse effects were reported in either group. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicated that the supplementation of 400 mg/d DGTP for 12 weeks had no adverse health effects in girls with obesity, providing evidence for the DGTP adoption in children research.

Effects of coffee and tea on postprandial cardiometabolic risk factors in healthy individuals: a randomized crossover trial.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The effect of different coffee and tea consumption on postprandial glucose and lipid metabolism has never been reported previously. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of different coffee or tea consumption at breakfast on postprandial cardiometabolic risk factors in healthy individuals. METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN: Eighteen healthy young subjects completed the trial. After 8-hour overnight fast, volunteers either ingested water, freeze-dried coffee, spray-dried coffee, green tea, black tea or oolong tea together with a breakfast consisting of an egg and 180g deep-fried dough sticks. Blood was drawn at 0h, 0.5h, 1h, 2h, and 3h. RESULTS: The differences in triglyceride (TG) values relative to the baseline levels at 2h and 3h of green tea was significantly decreased compared with black tea and oolong tea (p<0.05). Compared with black tea, green tea and oolong tea significantly reduced postprandial total cholesterol (TC) levels (p<0.05, p<0.01), respectively. Furthermore, the serum concentrations of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were substantially decreased after oolong tea consumption compared with black tea (p<0.05, p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Green tea ingestion can lower the elevation of serum TG and TC levels after high-fat or high-cholesterol diets. Our findings have far-reaching implications given the widespread use of coffee and tea and the current concern over cardiometabolic risk factors.

Effects of instant controlled pressure drop treatment combined with refractance window drying on infusion quality of made green tea.

BACKGROUND: The study aimed to determine the effects of instant controlled decompression of steam pressure, termed as ICPD (instant controlled pressure drop) on fresh tea leaves, when combined with refractance window drying (RWD) of rolled green teas during green tea manufacturing. The ICPD steam treatment pressure (TP; 0.1-0.3 MPa), treatment time (TT; 10-20 s) and refractance window drying temperature (RWDT; 70-90 °C) were used as the processing parameters for manufacturing of green tea. RESULT: Response surface methodology was employed to enumerate the effects of ICPD process conditions and temperature of RWD on total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC) and DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging activity of the green tea infusion. An optimum condition for green tea processing was found at TP 0.2 MPa, TT 20 s with RWDT at 70 °C. In comparison to made green tea manufactured without ICPD treatment, the ICPD treated green tea showed enhanced TPC, TFC and DPPH radical scavenging activity along with better colour and sensory attributes. The microstructural study of ICPD treated green tea samples showed more deformed cell surface integrity, larger stomatal pore size and cracks at the leaf surface in comparison with non-treated green tea sample. CONCLUSION: Present study reveals that an ICPD treatment at 0.2 MPa for 20 s can be used as an alternative to the traditional enzyme inactivation step of hot water treatment, for green tea leaves to improve the infusion quality in terms of increased levels of TPC and TFC and DPPH radical scavenging activity. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Kombucha as a Potential Active Ingredient in Cosmetics-An Ex Vivo Skin Permeation Study.

Kombucha is a non-alcoholic beverage, that is increasingly used in the cosmetic industry. The available literature reports the positive effects of kombucha on the skin, in particular its antioxidant action. However, there is a lack of information on skin permeation and the accumulation of active ingredients showing such effects. Skin aging is largely dependent on oxidative stress, therefore in our study we assessed the ex vivo permeation of two types of kombucha (green and black tea) through porcine skin. The antioxidant activity (DPPH, ABTS, FRAP methods) and total polyphenol content of these extracts were determined before and after permeation testing. Moreover, the content of selected phenolic acids as well as caffeine was assessed. Skin permeation was determined using a Franz diffusion cell. The antioxidant activity of both Kombuchas was found to be high. In addition, gallic acid, chlorogenic acid, protocatechuic acid, coumaric acid, m-hydroxybenzoic acid, and caffeine were identified. A 24-h ex vivo study showed the permeation of some phenolic acids and caffeine and their accumulation in the skin. Our results confirm the importance of studying the skin permeation of what are still little known ingredients in cosmetic preparations. Evaluation of the accumulation of these ingredients can guarantee the efficacy of such preparations.

Ovicidal, larvicidal and adulticidal activity of black pepper (Piper nigrum L.) essential oil and tea tree oil (Melaleuca alternifolia) against Haemonchus contortus.

Haemonchosis is a worldwide helminthic disease affecting ruminants. The anthelminthic resistance has become raised. Medicinal plants are safely used as synthetic anthelmintics. Currently, the efficacy of black pepper essential oil (BPO) and tea tree oil (TTO) were in vitro evaluated against Haemonchus contortus adults, eggs and larvae at concentrations of 1.25, 2.5 and 5 mg/ml in addition to the commercially used albendazole at a concentration of 10 µg/ml. Oils were used in both normal and nanoparticles-loaded forms. Oxidative stress enzymes of worms were estimated. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for treated worms was done. Both normal and nanoemulsion forms of both BPO and TTO stopped the adult motility [BPO 2.5 h (hrs), NBPO 1.5 h, TTO 3 h, NTTO 1.5 h] and induced a marked decrease in the oviposition. Post treatment, the egg development and hatching were significantly (P ≤ 0.05) reduced. The damage of the egg shell, embryonal cessation and destruction of larvae occurred. Noticeable elevated antioxidant enzymes (catalase CAT, glutathione transferase GST and glutathione GSH) were found, while oxidative enzymes (lipid peroxidation LPO and nitric oxide synthase NOS) decreased. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for both oil-treated worms revealed anterior ends damage and several cuts associated with cuticular pores. The use of albendazole induced more or less anthelmintic and enzymatic activities with less morphological alterations of adults revealed by SEM. This study proved the marked anthelmintic potency of the BPO and TTO and their nanoemulsion forms against H. contortus rather than the widely used anthelmintic drugs.