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.

Novel landmarks on the journey from natural products to pharmaceutical formulations: Phytochemical, biological, toxicological and computational activities of Satureja hortensis L.

This study examined the ethanolic extract of the Satureja hortensis L. plant's aerial parts to describe its phytochemical makeup, biological functions, toxicity tests, and in-silico molecular docking tests. The GC-MS analysis was used to evaluate the phytochemical composition of the tested extract, and the ABTS and hydrogen peroxide antioxidant assays were used to measure antioxidant activity. Aspergillus fumigatus, Candida albicans, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, and Proteus vulgaris were tested for antimicrobial potential. On cell lines such as HepG-2, MCF-7, A-549, and Panc-1, the in-vitro toxicity was also examined. The A-549 cell line was also used for flow cytometry analysis of apoptosis and cell cycle. Additionally, the compounds discovered by the GC-MS analysis were used in silico tests against biological targets. Eight different phytocompounds were tentatively identified as a result of the GC-MS analysis. The compounds also demonstrated significant antioxidant potential for the ABTS and H2O2 assays (IC50: 2.44 and 28.04 µg/ml, respectively). The tested extract was found to have a range of inhibition zones and to be significantly active against the tested bacterial and fungal strains. Apoptosis and cell cycle analysis for the A-549 cell line showed that the cell cycle was arrested at S-phase, and the extract was also found to be most active against this cell line with an IC50 value of 113.05 µg/ml. The docking studies have emphasized the compounds' interactions and binding scores with the EGFR-TK target as determined by the GC-MS.

Chemical Composition, Antioxidant Properties, and Antibacterial Activity of Essential Oils of Satureja macrostema (Moc. and Sessé ex Benth.) Briq.

Satureja macrostema is a plant that is located in various regions of Mexico and is used in a traditional way against illness. Essential oils (EOs) were obtained from leaves Satureja macrostema and the chemical composition was evaluated by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The antioxidant effect of the oil was assayed by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and by Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity (TEAC). In vitro antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus was determined using a broth microdilution assay and thin layer chromatography-direct bioautography (TLC-DB) to identify active antibacterial compounds. The EOs analysis showed 21 compounds, 99% terpenes, and 96% oxygenated monoterpenes, with trans-piperitone epoxide (46%), cis-piperitone epoxide (22%), and piperitenone oxide (11%) as more abundant compounds. Likewise, S. macrostema EOs showed an antioxidant activity of DPPH = 82%, with 50% free radical scavenging (IC50) = 7 mg/mL and TEAC = 0.005, an antibacterial effect against E. coli of 73% inhibition, and 81% over S. aureus at dose of 100 µL of undiluted crude oil. The TLC-DB assay showed that the most active compounds were derived from piperitone. The comparison with other studies on S. macrostema shows variability in the compounds and their abundances, which can be attributed to climatic factors and the maturity of plants with similar antioxidant and antibacterial activities.

Phytochemical profile, comparative evaluation of Satureja montana alcoholic extract for antioxidants, anti-inflammatory and molecular docking studies.

BACKGROUND: The most common species in the Satureja genus is Satureja montana (family Lamiaceae). The present work aims to use the molecular docking study to predict the isolated constituents against an immune system immunomodulator and tested alcoholic extract as an in-vitro immunomodulatory agent. METHODS: All isolated compound's structures were determined using various chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques. Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant profiles were studied for an alcoholic extract of the plant; the molecular docking study was performed for the isolated compounds (1-4). RESULTS: In this work, four recognized compounds were extracted from the ethyl acetate fraction of S. montana (Sm) methanolic extract and identified as two triterpenes ursolic acid (1) and oleanolic acid (2), one phenolic acid as ellagic acid (3), and one flavonoidal compound as isoscutellarein (4). The total alcoholic extract exhibited good in vitro anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and apoptotic activity. Its IC50 was 10.12 compared to 15.1 µg/ml of standard celecoxib. It also showed potent antioxidant activity with IC50 10.4, 11.3, 14.6, and 22.3 IU/ml for SOD, MDA, catalase, and TAC, respectively. According to the drug similarity and ADMET tests, their ligands may have favorable pharmacokinetic characteristics with minimal carcinogenic influence. The molecular docking study was performed for the isolated compounds (1-4). CONCLUSIONS: The alcoholic extract of the plant showed promising anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antiapoptotic properties. The theoretical studies for the isolated compounds showed promising binding affinity against all the examined enzymes.

Effects of summer savory (Satureja hortensis L.) and sweet corn (Zea mays L. saccharata) intercropping on crop production and essential oil profiles of summer savory.

A 2-year field experiment evaluated the effects of sweet corn-summer savory intercropping on crop productivity and essential oil (EO) composition of summer savory. Five cropping patterns of Corn 100%:Savory 0%, C75:S25, C50:S50, C25:S75, and C0:S100 were tested. The highest corn yield (2,440 kg ha-1) was obtained in a corn monoculture, but was not significantly different from C75:S25 or C50:S50. However, in both years the highest savory yield was obtained in S100 (793.3 g m-2 and 816.6 g m-2, respectively). Savory yields decreased as the proportion of corn increased. The land equivalent ratios in C25:S75, C50:S50, and C75:S25 were 1.54 ± 0.07, 1.56 ± 0.03, and 1.35 ± 0.1, respectively. Monocropped savory had the highest EO value followed by C25:S75 and C50:C50. However, no significant differences were found among these three treatments. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis showed that the major components were carvacrol (35.88%-42.96%), γ-terpinene (18.45%-20.03%), ρ-cymene (11.77%-12.24%), and α-terpinene (2.75%-3.96%). The highest amount of carvacrol was recorded in C25:S75 (42.96%). This study suggests that intercropping of corn and savory represents an effective sustainable strategy, especially for smallholders, as a way to increase their overall land productivity and to improve the quality of savory's EO.

In vitro antitrichomonal activity of Satureja khuzestanica and main essential oil components carvacrol, thymol, and eugenol.

INTRODUCTION: Human trichomoniasis is a widespread sexually transmitted disease and the concern of drug resistance in the parasite is growing. Hence, this study was performed to evaluate in vitro antitrichomonal activity of Satureja khuzestanica, carvacrol, thymol, eugenol, and phytochemical evaluation of the S. khuzestanica oil. METHODOLOGY: Extracts and essential oil of S. khuzestanica, and the components were prepared. Then, susceptibility testing was performed using the microtiter plate method and Trichomonas vaginalis isolates. The minimum lethal concentration (MLC) of the agents was determined in comparison with metronidazole. Also, the essential oil was investigated by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and gas chromatography-flame ionization detector. RESULTS: After 48 hours of incubation, carvacrol and thymol were the most effective antitrichomonal agents with MLC of 100 µg/mL, followed by the essential oil and hexanic extract (MLC = 200 µg/mL), then eugenol and methanolic extract (MLC = 400 µg/mL), in comparison with the metronidazole MLC of 6.8 µg/mL. Overall, 33 identified compounds accounted for 98.72% of the total essential oil composition with carvacrol, thymol, and p-cymene being the major constituents. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggested the potency of S. khuzestanica and its bioactive ingredients against T. vaginalis. Thus, further in vivo studies are required to evaluate the efficacies of the agents.

Chitosan nanocomposite incorporated Satureja kermanica essential oil and extract: Synthesis, characterization and antifungal assay.

The present study reports the design, synthesis, and characterization of nanoencapsulated Satureja kermanica essential oil/extract by chitosan biopolymer (SKEO-CSN)/(SKEX-CSN) for the antifungal efficacy against Fusarium oxysporum, Alternaria alternata, Botrytis cinerea, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Rhizoctonia solani, and Pythium aphanidermatum. The prepared SKEO-CSN and SKEX-CSN were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD). GC-Mass analysis was done to identify Satureja kermanica essential oil chemical compounds (SKEO). Thirty-five different components were detected from GC-MS analysis. Thymol (46.54 %), and Carvacrol (30.54 %) were demonstrated as major compounds. Antifungal studies showed that the SKEO-CSN and SKEX-CSN formulation effectively inhibit fungal growth more than free SKEO and SKEX. According to the results, SKEO-CSN and SKEX-CSN provide a wide range of promising antifungal effects and can be applied as an efficient green strategy to protect plants from fungus infections.

Antimicrobial Effects of Basil, Summer Savory and Tarragon Lyophilized Extracts in Cold Storage Sausages.

The problem of functional foods with bioactive components of natural origin is current for the food industry. Plant extracts rich in polyphenols with antioxidant and antimicrobial activity are a promising source for use in improving the quality and characteristics of fresh meat and meat products. In this context, the purpose of the present study was to evaluate the physico-chemical, microbiological, sensory properties of sausages prepared with the addition of lyophilized extract of basil, thyme or tarragon. For the beginning, the total amount of polyphenols, the antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of the extracts obtained from three spices were evaluated. In the sausages previously infected with Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli it was observed that there is a much larger number of colonies of microorganisms in the control sample compared to the other samples within 24 and 48 h. Moreover, following the addition of sausage extracts, no changes were found regarding their sensory acceptability.

Antimicrobial biodegradable film based on corn starch/Satureja khuzestanicaessential oil/Ag-TiO2nanocomposites.

Biosynthesis of nanoparticles (NPs) using plant extract is an eco-friendly method, in which natural materials are used and is a simple, non-toxic, and environmentally friendly green synthesis. In this study, corn starch (CS) film containingSatureja khuzestanicaessential oil (SEO) and Ag-TiO2nanocomposites (size: nearly 30-60 nm) were prepared and its antimicrobial, morphological, physical, and mechanical characteristics were investigated. Ag-TiO2nanocomposites with different molar percentages were synthesized byS. khuzestanicaextract and based on the best antibacterial results against Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coliATCC 25922 andSalmonella typhimuriumATCC 14028) and Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureusATCC 25923), were chosen to prepare the films. Four types of biodegradable films were provided: simple CS film, the film incorporated with SEO (essence film), the film incorporated with Ag-TiO2nanocomposites (nanofilm), and nano/essence film. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was employed for investigating the morphology of the films. The combined energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy with SEM was applied to analyze the near-surface elements. Physical characteristics of the films containing water vapor permeability (%) and their moisture content, mechanical tests, and antibacterial properties were examined. Antimicrobial evaluation of the films revealed a 3-4 log and 6-7 log (CFU ml-1) reduction inS. aureusandE. colispecies respectively, compared to the control group. The bio-polymer film incorporated with extracted essential oil ofS. khuzestanicaand Ag-TiO2nanocomposites are effective to package foods and can delay chemical, physical, and microbial spoilage.

Comparison of the effectiveness of Satureja khuzestanica and clotrimazole vaginal creams for the treatment of vulvovaginal candidiasis.

Candidal vaginitis has a relatively high prevalence, and its resistance to treatment is on the rise. Considering the complications of chemical drugs, the use of herbal medicines has now been favored due to the lack of changes in the normal vaginal flora. The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of Satureja khuzestanica and clotrimazole vaginal creams for the treatment of candidal vulvovaginitis. A randomized clinical trial was conducted on 84 reproductive-aged women in the city of Ahvaz, Iran. Individuals were randomly divided into two treatment groups: 1% Satureja khuzestanica vaginal creams (n=42) and 1% clotrimazole vaginal cream (n=42) who used a one-full applicator daily for one week. About 4-7 days after the end of treatment, a clinical examination and laboratory re-tests were performed to determine the level of treatment. The data were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U, t-test and Chi-square tests, with SPSS version 22. After the treatment, no significant difference was observed between the two groups in terms of vaginal discharge (p = 0.32), vaginal itching (p = 0.26), dysuria (p = 0.99) and dyspareunia (p = 0.60). Moreover, the results of culture (p = 0.62) and smear (p = 0.58) were not statistically significant in the two groups. Also, there was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of complete recovery after the treatment (p = 0.35). Satureja khuzestanica seems to have the same effect as clotrimazole in improving the symptoms of vaginal candidiasis, the negative results of culture and smear, as well as complete treatment.

Green Synthesis of Magnetic Nanoparticles Using Satureja hortensis Essential Oil toward Superior Antibacterial/Fungal and Anticancer Performance.

The biological synthesis of nanoparticles, due to their environmental and biomedical properties, has been of particular interest to scientists and physicians. Here, iron nanoparticles (FeNPs) were synthesized using Satureja hortensis essential oil. Then, the chemical, functional, and morphological properties of these nanoparticles were characterized by typical experiments such as Uv-Vis, FTIR, XRD, FE-SEM, PSA, zeta potential, EDX, and EDX mapping. The results indicated Fe nanoparticles' formation with a cubic morphological structure and a particle size in the range of 9.3-27 nm. The antimicrobial effects of these nanoparticles were further evaluated using disc diffusion, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC), and minimum fungal concentration (MFC) against two gram-positive bacterial strains (Staphylococcus aureus and Corynebacterium glutamicum), two gram-negative bacterial strains (Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli), and one fungus species Candida albicans. The results showed that green-synthesized Fe nanoparticles possessed higher antimicrobial properties than Satureja hortensis essential oil against selected pathogenic microorganisms, especially Gram-negative bacteria. Finally, the anticancer effect of these Fe nanoparticles was investigated on human cancer cells, K-562, and MCF-7, by the MTT assay. The results showed the anticancer effect of these nanoparticles against selected cell lines.

Phytochemical Profile, Antimicrobial, Cytotoxic, and Antioxidant Activities of Fresh and Air-Dried Satureja nabateorum Essential Oils.

Satureja nabateorum (Danin and Hedge) Bräuchler is a perennial herb in the Lamiaceae family that was discovered and classified in 1998. This green herb is restricted to the mountains overlooking the Dead Sea, specifically in Jordan's southwest, the Edom mountains, and the Tubas mountains in Palestine. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of essential oil (EO) of air-dried and fresh S. nabateorum resulted in the identification of 30 and 42 phytochemicals accounting for 99.56 and 98.64% of the EO, respectively. Thymol (46.07 ± 1.1 and 40.64 ± 1.21%) was the major compound, followed by its biosynthetic precursors γ-terpinene (21.15 ± 1.05% and 20.65 ± 1.12%), and p-cymene (15.02 ± 1.02% and 11.51 ± 0.97%), respectively. Microdilution assay was used to evaluate the antimicrobial property of EOs against Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923), clinical isolate Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Enterococcus faecium (ATCC 700221) Klebsiella pneumoniae (ATCC 13883), Proteus vulgaris (ATCC 700221), Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853) and Candida albicans (ATCC-90028). With a MIC of 0.135 µg/mL, the EOs has the most potent antibacterial action against K. pneumonia. Both EOs display good antifungal efficacy against C. albicans, with a MIC value of 0.75 µg/mL, which was better than that of Fluconazole's (positive control, MIC = 1.56 µg/mL). The antioxidant capacity of EOs extracted from air-dried and fresh S. nabateorum was determined using the DPPH assay, with IC50 values of 4.78 ± 0.41 and 5.37 ± 0.40 µg/mL, respectively. The tested EOs showed significant cytotoxicity against Hela, HepG2, and COLO-205 cells, with IC50 values ranging from 82 ± 0.98 to 256 ± 1.95 µg/mL. The current work shows there is a possibility to use the S. nabateorum EOs for various applications.

Effect of a winter savory leaf extract obtained using high hydrostatic pressure on the quality of carrot juice.

BACKGROUND: The consumption of vegetable juices has increased due to their characteristics such as freshness/naturalness, high nutritional value, low in calories, and for being a convenient way of consuming bioactive compounds. High hydrostatic pressure (HPP), which has been mainly used to replace thermal processing, is now also being successfully applied as extraction technology to recover bioactive compounds from herbs. The present work aimed to evaluate the effect of supplementation of carrot juice with winter savory leaf aqueous extract on the final juice characteristics. RESULTS: The extract was added to raw carrot juice (1.0 mg mL-1 ), which was then submitted to HPP and stored for 15 days under refrigeration. Microbial analyses were performed during storage time, as also were analyzed the physicochemical properties such as pH, colour, bioactive compound concentration and antioxidant activity. Supplemented juices presented lower microbial counts than the non-supplemented ones, and, generally, did not present significant changes (P > 0.05) in pH or colour. Concerning the total phenolics and total flavonoids, as well as antioxidant activity, the values were generally higher (P < 0.05) in supplemented juices, which was proven by the high correlation found between total phenolics and ABTS●+ and FRAP assays. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that the addition of winter savory leaf extract in carrot juice treated with HPP can effectively improve microbial safety throughout refrigerated storage as well as antioxidant activity, without risking other characteristics of the juice, such as the colour or the acidity. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

Antimicrobial Activities of Satureja khuzestanica Jamzad; A Review.

Satureja khuzestanica Jamzad is a species native to Iran and is highly important in Southwestern regions. It belongs to the Lamiaceae family and grows in different climates. A number of pharmacological properties such as analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, anti-thyroid, antioxidant, and diuretic have been attributed to this plant. In recent years, a wide range of biological properties, extract, and essential oil of Satureja khuzestanica has been studied by researchers. In the present study, Scopus, SID, ISI, Google Scholar, and PubMed indices were used to extract research articles. No publication time constraint was considered, and the keyword "Satureja khuzestanica" was used to search articles. All extracted articles were examined by two expert researchers and those on the biologic and fundamental science properties of this plan entered the study. Results showed that S. khuzestanica has extensive research and medicinal applications. Considering the economic and medical importance of S. khuzestanica, it is hoped that more extensive studies can be conducted in the future on the use of compounds and derivatives of this plant in order to obtain herbal medications to treat pathogens in human and animal.

Shelf-life extension of pomegranate arils using chitosan nanoparticles loaded with Satureja hortensis essential oil.

BACKGROUND: This study was conducted in two parts to improve the antimicrobial activity and stability of Satureja hortensis essential oil (SEO) and its impacts on the quality of pomegranate arils. In the first part, SEO was encapsulated by an ionic gelation technique into 142.2-267.7 nm chitosan nanoparticles (CSNPs). In the second part of the experiment, the CSNPs and CSNPs-SEO were applied to improve storability of pomegranate arils. Arils were dipped in water (control), CSNPs and CSNPs-SEO for 5 min. After superficial water removal, arils were packed into polystyrene boxes and stored at 5 °C for 18 days. RESULTS: Based on spectrophotometry analysis, the encapsulation efficiency (EE) of SEO-loaded CSNPs (CSNPs-SEO) decreased from 26.57% to 7.41% and their loading capacity (LC) increased from 4.72% to 6.17%, respectively, upon increasing the initial SEO content from 0.125 to 0.5 g g-1 of chitosan. Phytochemicals and water content were maintained, and microbial counts were reduced in the coated arils during storage. Total phenol and antioxidant activity decreased during storage. At the end of storage, the highest total phenol content (2980.0 mg gallic acid equivalents L-1 ) was found in arils treated with CSNPs-SEO, whereas ascorbic acid content was maximal (6.32 mg L-1 ) in arils treated with CSNPs. The encapsulation of savory essential oil in chitosan nanoparticles did not have undesirable effects in pomegranate arils. CONCLUSION: Pre-storage treatment of pomegranate arils with CSNPs-SEO could be considered a beneficial treatment to better maintain the biochemical and sensorial quality during storage. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

Phytochemical Evaluation of Tinctures and Essential Oil Obtained from Satureja montana Herb.

Winter Savory (Satureja montana L.) has been used in traditional medicine and as a spice or natural food preservative in the Mediterranean region for centuries. In this paper, some technological and analytical aspects of the S. montana tinctures development and an evaluation of the essential oil composition are provided. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents and phenolic compounds profile analyzed spectrophotometrically and by high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC), respectively, were evaluated in the developed tinctures. The results showed that the tinctures prepared from the S. montana herb by maceration or remaceration are rich in polyphenols, and there is an influence of the technological factors (particle size and extraction mode) on the total phenolic and flavonoid contents. Caffeic, rosmarinic, and chlorogenic acids, (-)-catechin and rutin were identified in the tinctures using the HPTLC method. p-Thymol (81.79%) revealed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was the predominant compound of the essential oil of this plant. Thus, the high contents of polyphenols and flavonoids in the developed tinctures and p-thymol among the volatile components of the S. montana essential oil could indicate the promising antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of these herbal preparations. The obtained results are a ground for the organization of the manufacture of the S. montana tincture and essential oil with the purpose of performing preclinical studies.

Composition of the essential oil of Satureja metastasiantha: a new species for the flora of Turkey.

The aerial parts of Satureja metastasiantha were hydrodistilled for 3 h using a Clevenger-type apparatus. The essential oils were analyzed by gas chromatography/flame ionization detector and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, simultaneously, the main compounds of which were characterized as p-cymene (22.3%), thymol (21.0%), carvacrol (18.4%), and γ-terpinene (12.1%). Antioxidant capacity, acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase inhibition effects, and antimicrobial and antifungal properties of the species were evaluated. The anticholinesterase activity of the essential oil of S. metastasiantha was observed with 30% inhibition at 200 µg/mL. The essential oil of the species showed activity against Staphylococcus aureus with 128 µg/mL minimum inhibitory concentration value.

Development of Satureja cuneifolia-loaded sodium alginate/polyethylene glycol scaffolds produced by 3D-printing technology as a diabetic wound dressing material.

Acute wounds are a common health problem, with millions of people affected and decreased granulation tissue formation and vascularization, it is also a big challenge for wound care researchers to promote acute wound healing around the globe. This study aims to produce and characterize Satureja cuneifolia plant extract (SC)-blended with sodium alginate (SA) /polyethylene glycol (PEG) scaffolds for the potential treatment of diabetic ulcer. SA/PEG scaffolds were prepared by adding different concentrations (1, 3, and 5 wt%) of PEG to 9 wt% SA. The morphological and chemical composition of the resulting 3D printed composite scaffolds was determined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), respectively. Mechanical and thermal properties, swelling, and degradation behaviours were also investigated. The release kinetics of SC were performed. The antimicrobial analysis was evaluated against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus strains. 3D printed scaffolds have shown an excellent antibacterial effect, especially against gram-positive bacteria due to the antibacterial SC extract they contain. Furthermore, the cell viability of fibroblast (L929) cells on/within scaffolds were determined by the colourimetric MTT assay. The SA/PEG/SC scaffolds show a great promising potential candidate for diabetic wound healing and against bacterial infections.

Altitude impact on the chemical profile and biological activities of Satureja thymbra L. essential oil.

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.

Independent and combined effects of Satureja khuzistanica essential oils and dietary acetic acid on fatty acid profile in thigh meat in male broiler chicken.

A 2 × 6 factorial experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of Satureja khuzistanica essential oils (SkEO; 0, 200, 300, 400, 500, and 600 mg/bird/day) administered via oral gavage and dietary acetic acid (AA; 0 and 20 g/1 kg) on fatty acids (FA) composition in thigh meat of Ross 308 broiler chickens at days 34, 38, and 42 of age. Dietary AA reduced DWG, DFI, and European economic efficiency index, and increased FCR compared with the nonacidified diet. In day 34 of age, saturated FA (SFA) percentage reduced and polyunsaturated FA (PUFA), n-3, and n-6 percentages increased in the birds that received 400 mg SkEO. Mean monounsaturated FA (MUFA) percentage was greater, whereas PUFA, n-3, n-6, and total FA (TFA) percentages were lesser in the birds fed on the acidified diet. In day 38 of age, mean PUFA, TFA, n-3, and n-6 percentages were greater while MUFA and cis FA (CFA) concentrations were lesser in the thigh muscle of the birds that received 400 mg SkEO. Mean MUFA, PUFA, n-3, n-6, CFA, and TFA percentages were lower in the birds maintained on the acidified diet. In day 42 of age, mean SFA percentage reduced in the birds given 300 mg SkEO, while TFA percentage lowered in the birds that received 200 and 600 mg SkEO. The acidified diet decreased MUFA, TFA, and CFA percentage and increased SFA and the n-6 to n-3 fatty acids ratio of thigh meat in chicken. The results led to the conclusion that the daily enteral administration of SkEO through oral gavage may feasibly modify the fatty acids profile of thigh meat in favor of increased PUFA. Dietary AA and its interaction with SkEO inconsistently modified concentration of certain classes of fatty acids in broiler thigh meat, particularly in advanced ages. Almost all alterations induced by AA-involving treatments in fatty acids composition of thigh meat were on the contrary to the SkEO influences as they were in favor of an increased SFA proportion.