Development of Pectin Particles as a Colon-Targeted Marjoram Phenolic Compound Delivery System.

Marjoram is a culinary herb that has been widely employed in folk medicine and presents a high content in phenolics. Thus, the aim of this project was to design formulations to encapsulate phenolic compounds from marjoram to allow their release in the colon. For this purpose, pectin was used as an encapsulating agent, applying two different encapsulation techniques (ionic gelation and spray-drying), followed by a CaCl2 bath. The ionic gelation technique showed a higher yield (77%) compared to spray-drying (31%), and the particles obtained were smaller (267 nm). However, the microparticles obtained by spray-drying presented a higher encapsulation efficiency (93%). Moreover, spray-dried microparticles protected a higher percentage of the encapsulated phenolics from the action of gastrointestinal pHs and enzymes. Hence, the results showed that spray-drying was a more appropriate technique than ionic gelation for the encapsulation of marjoram phenolics in order to protect them during the gastrointestinal step, facilitating their arrival in the colon. These microparticles would also be suitable for inclusion in food matrices for the development of phenolic colon delivery systems.

Designing ultra-stable linseed oil-in-water Mickering emulsions using whey protein isolate cold-set microgels containing marjoram aqueous extract: Effect of pH and extract on rheological, physical, and chemical properties.

In this study, whey protein isolate (WPI) cold-set microgels containing marjoram (Origanum majorana) aqueous extract (MAE) were prepared at different pHs (4.0, 5.0, and 6.0). After characterization, the microgel dispersion was used to stabilize linseed oil-in-water Mickering emulsions (MEs). The resultant MEs were then characterized in terms of physicochemical and rheological properties under the effect of pH and MAE addition. The morphology, particle size, zeta potential, and interfacial tension of microgels were affected by pH and MAE. XRD patterns showed the amorphous structure. Microgel-stabilized MEs did not reveal any significant sign of instability under gravity during 6 months of storage. All MEs had dominant elastic character. Despite the lowest zeta potential values, MEs prepared at pH 4 showed the highest physical stability against gravity but the lowest centrifugal stability against oiling off, which indicated that both viscous and elastic components are required for MEs stability. This sample had the highest apparent viscosity and the strongest viscoelastic properties. Rheological data were best fitted with Herschel-Bulkley and Power Law models. An increase in pH and presence of MAE improved the oxidative stability of MEs. The results of this study showed that WPI microgels are appropriate candidate for long-term stabilization of linseed oil-in-water MEs. The presence of MAE is useful in designing special emulsions in which the aqueous phase is partially replaced by the aqueous extract of medicinal plants.

The comparison of the effect of Origanum vulgare L. extract and vitamin C on the gentamycin-induced nephrotoxicity in rats.

The gentamicin renal toxicity has been the focal point for much discussion. The objective of this study was to investigate the impacts of Origanum vulgare L. extract and vitamin C on gentamicin dose-dependent toxicity in rats' kidney. The present study was conducted on 60 male Wistar rats divided into ten experimental groups: control (untreated), G1, G2, G3 (100, 200, 300 mg/kg gentamicin), M1, M2 and M3 (500 mg/kg marjoram extract) + 100, 200 and 300 gentamicin, V1, V2 and V3 (Vitamin C 500 mg/kg) + 100, 200 and 300 of gentamicin. On the last day, the serum was separated from heart blood and the kidney tissues were extracted to measure the biochemical and oxidative stress parameters and histological changes. Kidney damage was confirmed as dose-dependent gentamicin by biochemical and pathological parameters. Urea, Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN), and creatinine showed a significant increase in the G3 group compared to the control, M1, and V1 groups (p < 0.01). Catalase (CAT), Glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and Superoxide dismutase (SOD) showed a significant reduction in renal tissue in the G3 group compared to the other groups (p < 0.001). Malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration in the kidney tissue of the G3 group also showed a significant increase compared to other groups (p < 0.001). Furthermore, TNFα and IL-1 levels were the highest in the G3 group, and serum total antioxidant capacity (TAC) concentration had the lowest amount compared to other groups. Moreover, histopathological lesions of the kidney showed significant statistical differences among the groups that received gentamicin with the control and M1 group. Marjoram extract at the dose of 500 mg/kg had a desirable effect on controlling gentamicin damage in the kidneys compared with vitamin C. In particular, controlling gentamicin-induced oxidative stress and inflammation by the consumption of marjoram extract and vitamin C plays an important role in protecting the kidneys.

Origanum majorana L. Extract Protects Against Isoproterenol-Induced Cardiotoxicity in Rats.

Coronary artery diseases are the major causes of disabilities and death worldwide. Evidence from the literature has demonstrated that Origanum majorana L. (marjoram) acts as an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiplatelet, and assists in hormonal regulation. However, there is limited scientific evidence describing the signaling pathways associated with the marjoram's positive effect on cardiac injury. Therefore, we aimed to understand the mechanistic protective effects of marjoram on isoproterenol (ISO)-induced myocardial injury in rats. Sprague Dawley rats were randomly assigned into six groups. Marjoram was administrated by oral gavage and isoproterenol was administrated subcutaneously (ISO; 85 mg/kg). Heart weight, cardiac enzymes, inflammatory, and oxidative stress biomarkers were measured. The ISO-induced cardiac injury was confirmed by the significant increase in the levels of cardiac enzymes (P value < 0.05), whereas pre-treatment with marjoram normalized these cardiac injury parameters. We also determined that marjoram had a protective effect against ISO-induced increase in C-reactive protein (CRP), IL-6, IL-13, and TNF-α. Additionally, marjoram significantly decreased cardiac thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) levels (P value < 0.05) and protected against ISO-induced oxidative stress. We have demonstrated that marjoram decreased both cardiac oxidative stress and inflammation, thus establishing the beneficial effects of marjoram on ISO-induced cardiac injury in rats.

Marjoram extract down-regulates the expression of Pasteurella multocida adhesion, colonization and toxin genes: A potential mechanism for its antimicrobial activity.

Due to the emergence of virulent and antibiotic-resistant microbes, natural antimicrobials from herbal origins have been given more attention as an alternative therapy. This study provides an in vitro research framework to investigate the antibacterial activities of 5 herbal (marjoram, garlic, onion, cinnamon and black seed) oil extracts against 16 multidrug-resistant (MDR) and virulent P. multocida serogroup A isolates recovered from dead and clinically diseased rabbits. Pathogenicity of the screened isolates was further proven experimentally and was verified by PCR analyses of 5 randomly selected virulence genes encoding attachment and colonization proteins (ptfA, pfhA, and omp87), sialidases (nanB) and dermonecrotoxin (toxA). A total of 12 P. multocida isolates were highly pathogenic with the possession of all examined virulence genes, while the other 4 isolates were of lower pathogenicity with expression of the target genes except toxA. In vitro anti-P. multocida activities of the 5 extracts and their synergism rates with 4 antibiotic drugs revealed that marjoram and cinnamon extracts had the highest antibacterial activities and the highest synergism rates against the screened isolates. Pasteurella multocida virulence gene expression profiles were assessed via real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) in response to marjoram extract. The quantitative analyses showed less than five-fold reduction in the targeted virulence genes expression in presence of marjoram extract compared with the control. The findings from this study document a novel molecular inhibitory activity of marjoram against P. multocida multiple virulence genes and provide a proof of concept for its implementation as an alternative candidate for the treatment of pasteurellosis in farm animals in future.