Towards Valorization of Food-Waste-Derived Pectin: Recent Advances on Their Characterization and Application.

Pectin, a natural biopolymer, can be extracted from food waste biomass, adding value to raw materials. Currently, commercial pectin is mostly extracted from citrus peels (85.5%) and apple pomace (14.0%), with a small segment from sugar beet pulp (0.5%). However, driven by high market demand (expected to reach 2.12 billion by 2030), alternative agro-industrial waste is gaining attention as potential pectin sources. This review summarizes the recent advances in characterizing pectin from both conventional and emerging food waste sources. The focus is the chemical properties that affect their applications, such as the degree of esterification, the neutral sugars' composition, the molecular weight, the galacturonic acid content, and technological-functional properties. The review also highlights recent updates in nutraceutical and food applications, considering the potential use of pectin as an encapsulating agent for intestinal targeting, a sustainable biopolymer for food packaging, and a functional and emulsifying agent in low-calorie products. It is clear from the considered literature that further studies are needed concerning the complexity of the pectin structure extracted from emerging food waste raw materials, in order to elucidate their most suitable commercial application.

Antioxidant, antibacterial, and antileishmanial potential of Micromeria nervosa extracts and molecular mechanism of action of the bioactive compound.

AIMS: This study aimed to determine the antibacterial and antileishmanial potential of Micromeria nervosa extracts. The identification of the antileishmanial compound and the study of its molecular mechanism of action have also been undertaken. METHODS AND RESULTS: Ethanol extract showed high polyphenol content and diethyl ether extract exhibited high DPPH scavenging and low beta-carotene bleaching activity (IC50 = 13.04 ± 0.99 and 200.18 ± 3.32 µg mL-1, respectively). However, diethyl ether extract displayed high antibacterial activity against Gram-positive strains including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MIC = 31.25 µg mL-1), Staph. aureus ATCC6538 (MIC = 62.5 µg mL-1), and Listeria monocytogenes ATCC 19115 (MIC = 125 µg mL-1), as well as high antileishmanial activity against the promastigote forms of L. infantum and L. major (IC50 = 11.45 and 14.53 µg mL-1, respectively). The active compound was purified using bioassay-guided fractionation and thin layer chromatography, and identified as ursolic acid using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with a photodiode array and mass spectrometry. The purified compound was strongly inhibitory against the promastigote and amastigote forms of L. infantum and L. major (IC50 = 5.87 and 6.95 µg mL-1 versus 9.56 and 10. 68 µg mL-1, respectively) without overt cytotoxicity against Raw 264.7 macrophage cells (SI = 13.53 and 11.43, respectively). The commercial compound (ursolic acid) showed similar activity against amastigotes and promastigotes forms of L. infantum and L. major. Moreover, its molecular mode of action against leishmaniasis seems to involve the expression of the ODC and SPS genes involved in thiol pathway. CONCLUSION: Extracts of M. nervosa can be considered as a potential alternative to antimicrobial and antileishmanial drugs.

Effect of the simulated digestion process on the chlorogenic acid trapping activity against methylglyoxal.

Chlorogenic acids are hydroxycinnamic derivatives widespread in food or food by-products, known for their antioxidant effects and ability to interfere with the formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs). AGEs are potential glycotoxins involved in age-related disorders, such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and neurological disorders. The ability of chlorogenic acids to inhibit AGE formation under physiological conditions needs further investigation other than the in vitro assays. Therefore, in this study, the capacity of 5-caffeoylquinic acid (5-CQA) to effectively trap methylglyoxal (MGO), an AGE precursor compound also present in daily consumed food, was investigated by evaluating 5-CQA and MGO metabolic fate when subjected to digestion. Two different in vitro digestion approaches (static based on the Infogest protocol and dynamic based on a novel millifluidic gastrointestinal model) were set up and the samples collected at different steps of the static and dynamic processes were analyzed by a validated RP-HPLC-DAD method. The obtained results indicated that the gastrointestinal process strongly affected the 5-CQA capacity to trap MGO and its resulting antiglycation activity. Therefore, preliminary investigation using advanced in vitro tests, particularly dynamic approaches, should always be performed to predict the effect of the digestion process on the potential bioactives present in food, food by-products, or plant extracts.

Phytochemical Analysis, Antioxidant, Antimicrobial, and Anti-Swarming Properties of Hibiscus sabdariffa L. Calyx Extracts: In Vitro and In Silico Modelling Approaches.

The aim of this study was to investigate the phytochemical composition of dried Roselle calyx (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) using both ethanolic and aqueous extracts. We report the antimicrobial activities against a wide range of bacteria, yeast, and fungi. The antioxidant activities were tested using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), hydroxyl, and 2-2'-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radical scavenging assays. We report also for the first time the effect of the swarming motility in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1. Our results showed that the tested two extracts were a rich source of phenols, flavonoids, and tannins with different degrees. Additionally, eleven phytoconstituents were identified by LC/MS technique (Hibiscus acid: 3-caffeoylquinic acid, 5-caffeoylquinic acid, 5-feruloylquinic acid, cyanidin 3-o-glucoside, myricetin, quercetin 7-o-rutinoside, quercetin 3-o-glucoside, delphinidin 3-o-sambubioside, and kaempferol 3-o-p-coumaroyl-glucoside). Also, it was shown that the calyx extract can scavenge 86% of the DPPH radical, while the rate of 53% and 23% of inhibition of the DPPH was obtained only at the concentration of 125 and 50 µg/mL, and a small inhibition was made at a concentration of 5 µg/mL. Roselle extracts inhibited the growth of the selected microorganisms at low concentrations, while higher concentrations are needed to completely kill them. However, no activity against CVB-3 was recorded for both extracts. In addition, the obtained extracts reduced the swarming motility of P. aeruginosa at 2.5 mg/ml. The docking simulation showed acceptable binding affinities (up to -9.6 kcal/mol) and interaction with key residues of 1JIJ, 2QZW, and 2UVO. The obtained results highlighted the potential use of Roselle extract as a source of phytoconstituents with promising antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-quorum sensing activities.

In vitro bioactivity evaluation of mulberry leaf extracts as nutraceuticals for the management of diabetes mellitus.

There is an increasing need for new options to treat diabetes mellitus at its early stage and natural remedies have been recently reassessed as potential candidates owing to their low-cost and effectiveness. Genus Morus plants contain many active compounds with hypoglycaemic, hypolipidemic, and antioxidant effects. Current research on mulberry chemical composition and bioactivity has been generally carried out only on Asian cultivation, where this plant has been traditionally used in the form of leaf infusion for decades. In this work, twelve Italian mulberry cultivars were fully characterised to fill this gap of knowledge, since a strong correlation among composition, genetics and growing area was proven. Antiglycative and hypoglycaemic effects of leaf extracts were evaluated using different in vitro models. The results indicate that the inhibitory effect on carbohydrate digestive enzymes was likely mediated by 1-deoxynojirimycin, kaempferol, quercetin, and chlorogenic acid, acting in a synergistic way. Besides, the combined antiglycative and carbonyl trapping capacities, tested here for the first time, may help in preventing long-term complications related to AGEs in diabetic patients.

Phytochemical profiling of aqeous methanolic leaf extract of Triclisia gilletii by gas chromatography (GC/MS) and liquid chromatography (HPLC-PDA-ESI/MSn) tandem mass spectroscopy (MS): a pointer to its nephroprotection.

The phytochemical constituents in the aqueous methanolic leaf extract of Triclisia gilletii responsible for its nephroprotective potentials against ethane-1,2-diol induced nephrolithiasis as previously investigated in our laboratory were elucidated. The extract was prepared using 80% aqueous methanol in 72 h, Phytochemical contents of aqueous methanolic extract of Triclisia gilletii (TGME) was identified using both a Thermo Scientific DSQII single quadrupole gas chromatography (GC) and a Thermo Scientific liquid chromatography (LCQ Fleet system) tandem mass spectroscopy. The chromatogram acquisition, detection of mass spectral peaks and their waveform processing were performed using Xcalibur MS Software (Thermo Scientific Inc.). GC-MS analysis revealed the presence of phenols, fatty acids, vitamins and steroids. Likewise, for LC-MS analysis kaempferol and dihydrovomifoliol-O-glucoside were detected. The identified constituents have possible contributively effect on the acclaimed pharmacological potential of Triclisia gilletii against ethane-1,2-diol induced nephrolithiasis.

Bioactivities and in silico study of Pergularia tomentosa L. phytochemicals as potent antimicrobial agents targeting type IIA topoisomerase, TyrRS, and Sap1 virulence proteins.

Pergularia tomentosa L. (P. tomentosa) has been largely used in Tunisian folk medicine as remedies against skin diseases, asthma, and bronchitis. The main objectives of this study were to identify phytochemical compounds that have antioxidant and antimicrobial properties from the stem, leaves, and fruit crude methanolic extracts of P. tomentosa, and to search for tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase (TyrRS), topoisomerase type IIA, and Candidapepsin-1 (SAP1) enzyme inhibitors through molecular docking study. Phytochemical quantification revealed that fruit and leaves extracts displayed the highest total flavonoids (582 mg QE/g Ex; 219 mg QE/g Ex) and tannins content (375 mg TAE/g Ex; 216 mg TAE/g Ex), also exhibiting significant scavenging activity to decrease free radicals for ABTS, DPPH, ß-carotene, and FRAP assay with IC50 values (> 1 mg/mL). Additionally, promising antimicrobial activities towards different organs have been observed against several bacteria and Candida strains. From the liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis, five polyphenolic compounds, namely digitoxigenin, digitonin glycoside and calactina in the leaves, kaempferol in the fruit, and calotropagenin in the stems, were identified. They were also analyzed for their drug likeliness, based on computational methods. Molecular docking study affirmed that the binding affinity of calactin and actodigin to the active site of TyrRS, topoisomerase type IIA, and SAP1 target virulence proteins was the highest among the examined dominant compounds. Therefore, this study indicated that P. tomentosa methanolic extracts displayed great potential to become a potent antimicrobial agent and might be a promising source for therapeutic and nutritional functions. These phytocompounds could be further promoted as a candidate for drug discovery and development.

Colored Corn: An Up-Date on Metabolites Extraction, Health Implication, and Potential Use.

Colored (orange, pink, red, purple, and blue) corn strongly attracted attention on its healthy properties mainly due to its anthocyanin and carotenoid composition which is also responsible for its pigmentation. The present review summarized the recent updates on the extraction and chemical characterization of the main plant secondary metabolites present in colored seeds, kernel, cob, husk, and silk. The main approaches used to stabilize the extracts have been discussed as well as their food and non-food uses. Both in vitro and in vivo (animal models) studies on the different effects (antibacterial, antimutagenic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities, effects on metabolic syndrome, diabetes, glucose and lipidic metabolism, and neuroprotection) of pigmented extracts on animal and human health have been summarized.

Decaffeinated coffee and its benefits on health: focus on systemic disorders.

The current literature has mainly focused on benefits and risks deriving from the consumption of caffeinated coffee and its implications for inflammation, cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative disorders, and cancer. Today, data about the role of caffeine in many disorders are controversial and the attention has increasingly focused on decaffeinated coffee and its non-caffeine compounds, which could have mainly beneficial effects. In fact, coffee phenolic compounds not only exhibit well-known antioxidant properties, but they can also antagonize some negative effects of caffeine, for example in inflammatory pathway and in glucose metabolism and homeostasis. In this review, we consider the literature of the last two decades and critically discuss the effects of decaffeinated coffee compounds on systemic disorders, mainly inflammation, cardiovascular diseases, hepatic dysfunctions, and cancer.

Identification of an antiviral compound isolated from Pistacia lentiscus.

This study screened mastic gum (Pistacia lentiscus L.) for antiviral activity against herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), coxsackievirus type B3, and adenovirus type 5. The organs of this plant (leaves, stem, and seed) were macerated sequentially using solvents of increasing polarity (hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, and methanol). Only the methanol extract of stem exhibited significant activity against HSV-2. This extract showed anti-HSV-2 activity with a selectivity index of 51 (50% cytotoxic concentration = 186 µg/mL; 50% inhibitory concentration = 3.63 µg/mL), and demonstrated direct inhibition against this virus with a virucidal selectivity index of 620 (50% virucidal concentration = 0.30 µg/mL). A bio-guided assay involving thin-layer chromatography led to the isolation of two active compounds, which have been identified as dammaradienone and dammaradienol using high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection coupled with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. P. lentiscus has been widely studied for other biological activities. However, to our knowledge, this is the first report of P. lentiscus L. exhibiting antiviral activity.

A New Italian Purple Corn Variety (Moradyn) Byproduct Extract: Antiglycative and Hypoglycemic In Vitro Activities and Preliminary Bioaccessibility Studies.

The reuse of byproducts from agricultural and food industries represents the key factor in a circular economy, whose interest has grown in the last two decades. Thus, the extraction of bioactives from agro-industrial byproducts is a potential source of valuable molecules. The aim of this work was to investigate the in vitro capacity of byproducts from a new Italian corn variety, named Moradyn, to inhibit the accumulation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) involved in several chronic age-related disorders. In addition, the hypoglycemic effect of Moradyn was tested by in vitro enzymatic systems. A Moradyn phytocomplex and its purified anthocyanin fraction were able to inhibit fructosamine formation and exhibited antiglycative properties when tested using BSA-sugars and BSA-methylglyoxal assays. These properties could be attributed to the polyphenols, mainly anthocyanins and flavonols, detected by RP-HPLC-DAD-ESI-MSn. Finally, a Moradyn phytocomplex was submitted to a simulated in vitro digestion process to study its bioaccessibility. Moradyn could be considered as a promising food ingredient in the context of typical type 2 diabetes risk factors and the study will continue in the optimization of the ideal formulation to preserve its bioactivities from digestion.

An outlook on the role of decaffeinated coffee in neurodegenerative diseases.

Coffee is reported to be among the most widely consumed beverages in the world and coffee consumption has been associated with reductions in the risk of several chronic diseases. Among its constituents, caffeine represents the most investigated component. The main impact of caffeine on health is associated with the central nervous system, the cardiovascular system, the inflammatory mechanisms, the metabolism of carbohydrates, and the cancer. Current research is devoted to the role of this compound and its analogs or derivatives on neuroinflammation and neurodegenerative disorders, mainly Alzheimer's Disease and Parkinson's Disease. However, coffee is also rich in polyphenols, mainly phenolic acids (chlorogenic acids, caffeic acid, ferulic acid), quinic acid, and quercetin. Many aspects still require greater clarification, including the effect of coffee compounds different from caffeine, on several pathologies. This review aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of the potential benefits of decaffeinated coffee constituents, focusing the attention on neurological processes and pathologies, such as mainly memories disorders, Parkinson's Disease, neurophatic pain disorders, and cerebral ischemia.

Virucidal Effect of Guggulsterone Isolated from Commiphora gileadensis.

Commiphora gileadensis, locally known as becham, is a plant used in traditional Arabian medicine for treating headache, constipation, stomach, joint pain, and inflammatory disorders. Several studies have reported its antibacterial properties; however, no study has demonstrated its antiviral activity. This study aimed to evaluate the antiviral activity of C. gileadensis as well as to isolate its active compound and investigate its mode of action. This activity was evaluated using 4 viruses, herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), respiratory syncytial virus type B (RSV-B), coxsackie virus B type 3, and adenovirus type 5 by performing the plaque reduction assay and the 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assays for enveloped and nonenveloped viruses, respectively. The methanol extract of C. gileadensis leaves only showed antiviral activity against enveloped viruses with a selectivity index of 11.19 and 10.25 for HSV-2 and RSV-B, respectively. The study of the mechanism underlying antiviral activity demonstrated a virucidal effect by direct contact with these target viruses. The active compound, isolated using bio-guided assays involving TLC, was identified as guggulsterone by HPLC-diode array detection coupled with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. Guggulsterone is an antagonist of the bile acid receptor and a modulator of cholesterol metabolism; however, its antimicrobial properties have been reported for the first time in this study.

Nutraceutical Value of Pantelleria Capers (Capparis spinosa L.).

Unopened flower buds of Capparis spinosa L. (capers), generally used in the Mediterranean area as food flavoring, are known to be a good source of bioactive compounds. The aim of this work was to evaluate the nutraceutical value of salt-fermented capers collected from different areas of Pantelleria Island (Italy), testing their methylglyoxal and glyoxal trapping capacity and antioxidant activity by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH), [2,2-azinobis(3-ethylben- zothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)] diammonium salt (ABTS), and oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) assays. Hydrophilic extracts were also characterized by high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization/mass spectrometry. Among 24 detected compounds, several flavonol derivatives and glucosinolates were identified. The levels of kaempferol and quercetin derivatives varied considerably among the five accessions considered (6.46 to 267.93 and 22.39 to 367.14 mg kaempferol and quercetin equivalent /g fresh weight, respectively), with kaempferol derivatives more representative than quercetin ones. Person's coefficient indicated a high correlation between total phenolic content and anti-DPPH radical capacity (R2 = 0.665), as well as between total flavonoid content and antioxidant capacity (by ORAC assay; R2 = 0.888) and between total flavonoid content and glyoxal and methylglyoxal trapping capacity (R2 = 0.918). Results indicate that capers from Pantelleria Island represent a rich source of bioactive compounds with potential nutraceutical relevance. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: The findings of this study highlight the health benefits of Pantelleria capers consumption due to their composition in antioxidants and their biological properties (antiradical and alpha-dicarbonyls trapping) correlated with the development of a high number of chronic-degenerative diseases. These results are also important for the agricultural and commercial sectors involved in the production of capers from Pantelleria, which received the Protected Geographical Indications recognition.

Components in Lentinus edodes mushroom with anti-biofilm activity directed against bacteria involved in caries and gingivitis.

The present study investigated the compounds present in the low molecular mass fraction of Lentinus edodes mushroom (shiitake) extract and their anti-virulence activity against oral pathogens (reference and clinical Streptococcus mutans, Actinomyces naeslundii, and Prevotella intermedia strains). Oxalic, succinic, and quinic acids, and adenine, inosine, and uridine were identified by HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS/MS. Their anti-biofilm production and preformed biofilm disaggregation activities were studied using commercial standard compounds at different concentrations. As regards S. mutans, the highest activity was shown by adenine at 5 mg mL-1 both in the biofilm inhibition (BI 50%) and biofilm disaggregation tests (BD 20%). Considering A. naeslundii, BI values close to 80% were registered for oxalic acid at 1 mg mL-1 and 2 mg mL-1 and BD 50% for quinic acid at 3 mg mL-1. A weaker activity was found against P. intermedia. Furthermore, different mixtures of the commercial standards were tested showing that the activity of a compound can be strongly and sometimes negatively affected by the presence of the other compounds.

Cretan tea (Origanum dictamnus L.) as a functional beverage: an investigation on antiglycative and carbonyl trapping activities.

Accumulation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) in vivo is associated with many chronic disorders such as diabetes, renal failure, aging, and Alzheimer's disease. The aim of this study was to expand the knowledge about the functional properties of Origanum dictamnus L. beverage (Cretan tea) by an investigation about the inhibitory effects on the formation of AGEs and the capacity to trap dicarbonyl compounds. Dittany infusion was characterized for its polyphenolic composition by RP-HPLC-DAD-ESI/MSn and twenty compounds were detected. Its antiglycative property was evaluated by in vitro BSA-sugar (glucose, fructose, and ribose) and BSA-methylglyoxal (MGO) assays, tests for the formation of Amadori products and dicarbonyl compounds, and the direct glyoxal (GO) and MGO trapping capacity. The infusion showed the highest inhibitory effect on the formation of dicarbonyl compounds and AGEs (activity values range from 72-100%) and only a weak effect on the formation of Amadori products, indicating that the antiglycative action occurred primarily during the last two phases of the non-enzymatic glycation reaction. These activities are partially correlated with the antioxidant/antiradical activity, as demonstrated by the scavenger capacity against the ABTS cation and DPPH stable radicals, and the reducing power. The registered high anti-AGE capacity could probably be ascribed to the dittany polyphenolic composition particularly rich in flavone derivatives. These findings support further investigations to study the feasibility of dittany as an antiglycative agent in food or cosmetic preparation.

Anti HSV-2 activity of Peganum harmala (L.) and isolation of the active compound.

Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted disease caused by herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2). Nucleoside analogues such as acyclovir (ACV) are the usual therapy for treating HSV infection. However, the overuse of this drug has led to the emergence of resistant strains. Therefore, the search for new alternative or complementary molecules to overcome this obstacle is needed. In this objective, Peganum harmala was investigated for its HSV-2 activity. The organic extracts of the different plant organs were evaluated for their cytotoxicity on Vero cells by the MTT test and anti HSV-2 activity by plaque reduction assay. Only the methanol seeds extract was active with a 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) and a selectivity index (SI) of 161 and 13.2 µg/mL, respectively. In addition, the study of the antiviral mode of action revealed that this extract exerts a virucidal action both during the entry of viruses and the release of the newly formed virions, whereas no cell protection effect was observed. The active compound was isolated by bio-guided purification using thin layer chromatography (TLC) and identified by GC-MS and HPLC-DAD-ESI-MSn as harmine. The combination of harmine standard compound with ACV showed a combination index (CI) of 0.5 indicating that these two compounds have a synergic effect. This data suggests that harmine could be associated to ACV to improve the treatment of genital herpes essentially for the immunocompromised patients.

Artichoke (Cynara cardunculus L. var. scolymus) waste as a natural source of carbonyl trapping and antiglycative agents.

The role of polyphenolic compounds extractable from artichoke solid wastes in the formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) was studied. Outer bracts and stems were extracted using different water-ethanol mixtures and HPLC-DAD analyses indicated aqueous and hydro-alcoholic 20:80 stem extracts as the richest in polyphenols. The samples were characterized in their phenolic composition (using mass spectrometry) and antioxidant capacity. Antiglycative capacity was evaluated by in vitro BSA-sugars (glucose, fructose, and ribose) and BSA-methylglyoxal (MGO) tests, formation of Amadori products assay, direct glyoxal (GO) and MGO trapping capacity. Results indicated both extracts as effective inhibitors of fructosamine formation and antiglycative agents. In particular, aqueous extract showed the best activity in the systems containing glucose and fructose, differently from ethanolic extract, that was demonstrated able to better inhibit AGEs formation when ribose or MGO act as precursors. Ethanolic extract was also shown to be able to trap MGO and GO, with efficiency increasing after 24hours of incubation time. These activities are partially correlated with the antioxidant effect of the extract, as demonstrated by the scavenger capacity against ABTS cation and DPPH stable radicals; this relationship is evident when the model system, containing protein incubated with ribose or MGO, is considered. The different activities of the tested extracts could probably be ascribed to the different composition in chlorogenic acids (CQAs), being aqueous extract richer in 1-CQA, 3-CQA, and 1,3-di-CQA, and ethanolic extract in 5-CQA, caffeic acid, 1,5-di-CQA. These findings support further investigations to study the stability of the different CQAs in simil-physiological conditions and the feasibility of artichoke waste as antiglycative agents in food or pharmacological preparations. CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS: 5-caffeoylquinic acid (PubChem CID 5280633); 3-caffeoylquinic acid (PubChem CID 1794427); 1-caffeoylquinic acid (PubChem CID 10155076); 1,3-di-caffeoylquinic acid (PubChem CID 24720973); 1,5 - di-caffeoylquinic acid (PubChem CID 122685); caffeic acid (PubChem CID 689043); apigenin-7-glucuronide (PubChem CID 5319484); methylglyoxal PubChem CID (880); aminoguanidine hydrochloride (PubChem CID 2734687).

Chemical composition and antibiofilm activity of Petroselinum crispum and Ocimum basilicum essential oils against Vibrio spp. strains.

In this study, we evaluated the antibacterial activity of parsley and basilic essential oils tested against Vibrio strains and their abilities to inhibit and eradicate the mature biofilm using the XTT assay. Petroselinum crispum essential oil was characterized by 1,3,8-p-menthatriene (24.2%), ß-phellandrene (22.8%), apiol (13.2%), myristicin (12.6%) and terpinolene (10.3%) as a major constituents. While, in the basilic oil, linalool (42.1%), (E)-methylcinnamate (16.9%) and 1-8 cineole (7.6%) were the main ones. These two essential oils exhibit high anti-Vibrio spp. activity with varying magnitudes. All microorganisms were strongly affected indicating an appreciable antimicrobial potential of basilic with a diameter of inhibition zones growth ranging from 8.67 to 23.33 mm and MIC and MBC values ranging from (0.023-0.047 mg/ml) and (>3->24 mg/ml), respectively. The two essential oils can inhibit and eradicate the mature biofilm formed on polystyrene surface even at low concentrations, with high magnitude for Ocimum basilicum essential oil. This study gives a better insight into the anti-Vibrio activity of parsley and basilc oils and the possibility of their use to prevent and eradicate contamination of sea products by these strains.

Mentha spicata Essential Oil: Chemical Composition, Antioxidant and Antibacterial Activities against Planktonic and Biofilm Cultures of Vibrio spp. Strains.

Chemical composition, antioxidant and anti-Vibrio spp. activities of the essential oil isolated from the aerial parts of Mentha spicata L. (spearmint) are investigated in the present study. The effect of the essential oil on Vibrio spp. biofilm inhibition and eradication was tested using the XTT assay. A total of 63 chemical constituents were identified in spearmint oil using GC/MS, constituting 99.9% of the total identified compounds. The main components were carvone (40.8% ± 1.23%) and limonene (20.8% ± 1.12%). The antimicrobial activity against 30 Vibrio spp. strains (16 species) was evaluated by disc diffusion and microdilution assays. All microorganisms were strongly affected, indicating an appreciable antimicrobial potential of the oil. Moreover, the investigated oil exhibited high antioxidant potency, as assessed by four different tests in comparison with BHT. The ability of the oil, belonging to the carvone chemotype, to inhibit or reduce Vibrio spp. biofilm warrants further investigation to explore the use of natural products in antibiofilm adhesion and reinforce the possibility of its use in the pharmaceutical or food industry as a natural antibiotic and seafood preservative against Vibrio contamination.