Design of three-component essential oil extract mixture from Cymbopogon flexuosus, Carum carvi, and Acorus calamus with enhanced antioxidant activity.

The development of novel antioxidant compounds with high efficacy and low toxicity is of utmost importance in the medicine and food industries. Moreover, with increasing concerns about the safety of synthetic components, scientists are beginning to search for natural sources of antioxidants, especially essential oils (EOs). The combination of EOs may produce a higher scavenging profile than a single oil due to better chemical diversity in the mixture. Therefore, this exploratory study aims to assess the antioxidant activity of three EOs extracted from Cymbopogon flexuosus, Carum carvi, and Acorus calamus in individual and combined forms using the augmented-simplex design methodology. The in vitro antioxidant assays were performed using DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging approaches. The results of the Chromatography Gas-Mass spectrometry (CG-MS) characterization showed that citral (29.62%) and niral (27.32%) are the main components for C. flexuosus, while D-carvone (62.09%) and D-limonene (29.58%) are the most dominant substances in C. carvi. By contrast, ß-asarone (69.11%) was identified as the principal component of A. calamus (30.2%). The individual EO exhibits variable scavenging activities against ABTS and DPPH radicals. These effects were enhanced through the mixture of the three EOs. The optimal antioxidant formulation consisted of 20% C. flexuosus, 53% C. carvi, and 27% A. calamus for DPPHIC50. Whereas 17% C. flexuosus, 43% C. carvi, and 40% A. calamus is the best combination leading to the highest scavenging activity against ABTS radical. These findings suggest a new research avenue for EOs combinations to be developed as novel natural formulations useful in food and biopharmaceutical products.

The effect of caraway oil-loaded bio-nanoemulsions on the growth and performance of barnyard grass and maize.

A proper formulation is crucial to improve the herbicidal effects of essential oils and their selectivity. In this study, we investigated the physicochemical properties of bio-based nanoemulsions (CNs) containing several concentrations of caraway (Carum carvi) essential oil stabilized with Eco Tween 80, as a surfactant, maintaining 1:1 proportions. Detailed physicochemical characteristics of the CNs revealed that their properties were most desired at 2% of the oil and surfactant, i.e., the smallest droplet size, polydispersity index, and viscosity. The CNs caused biochemical changes in maize and barnyard grass (Echinochloa crus-galli) seedlings, however, to a different extent. Barnyard grass has overall metabolism (measured as a thermal power) decreased by 39-82% when exposed to the CNs. The CNs triggered changes in the content and composition of carbohydrates in the endosperm of both species' seedlings in a dose-response manner. The foliar application of CNs caused significant damage to tissues of young maize and barnyard grass plants. The effective dose of the CN (ED50, causing a 50% damage) was 5% and 17.5% oil in CN for barnyard grass and maize tissues, respectively. Spraying CNs also decreased relative water content in leaves and affected the efficiency of photosynthesis by disturbing the electron transport chain. We found that barnyard grass was significantly more susceptible to the foliar application of CNs than maize, which could be used to selectively control this species in maize crops. However, further studies are needed to verify this hypothesis under field conditions.

Chemical profiles and efficacy of essential oils obtained from three spices against Helicobacter pylori

Introduction: the medicinal herbs constitute one of the most preferred alternative solutions as antimicrobial agents due to their availability, biodegradability, fewer side effects. Unfortunately, rare are the studies focused on the efficacy of plant extracts against Helicobacter pylori to either confirm or refute their effectiveness. Objective: determinate the chemical profiles and evaluate the antibacterial activity against Helicobacter pylori of the essential oils obtained from Eugenia caryophyllata, Foeniculum vulgare and Carum carvi. Methods: the essential oils obtained from flower buds of Eugenia caryophyllata and seeds of Foeniculum vulgare and Carum carvi were extracted by hydrodistillation. The antibacterial potency against local clinical isolate of Helicobacter pylori was tested using agar disc diffusion and minimum inhibitory concentration techniques and the chemical composition was determined via gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Results: the phytochemical analysis identified trans-anethole (43.01%), estragole (27.04%) and fenchone (06.63%) as main compounds in F. vulgare oil. Carvone and α -pinene were defined as major components of C. carvi oil with 63.92% and 8.43% respectively, whereas the abundant constituents of E. caryophyllata were eugenol (65.22%), eugenyl acetate (18.77%) and trans-caryophyllene (9.92%). The strongest anti H. pylori activity was exhibited by F. vulgare oil reaching similar action of Clarithromycin (p < 0.05) used as positive control. Conclusion: this is the first report showing the potency of essential oils from spices against H. pylori, the results indicated that these resources can constitute potential natural treatment.

Introducción: las hierbas medicinales constituyen una de las soluciones alternativas preferidas para desempeñar el papel de agentes antimicrobianos debido a su disponibilidad, biodegradabilidad y pocos efectos secundarios. Desafortunadamente, son raros los estudios centrados en la eficacia de los extractos de las plantas contra Helicobacter pylori que confirman o refutan su eficacia. Objetivo: evaluar la actividad antibacteriana contra Helicobacter pylori de los aceites esenciales de Eugenia caryophyllata, Foeniculum vulgare y Carum carvi. Métodos: los aceites esenciales obtenidos de los brotes de la flor del E. caryophyllatay, de semillas del F. vulgare y del C. carvi fueron extraídos por el hydrodistillation. La potencia antibacteriana contra el aislante clínico local Helicobacter pylori fue probada usando la difusión del disco del agar. Las técnicas de concentración inhibitoria mínima y la composición química fueron determinadas vía cromatografía del gas, espectrometría de masas. Resultados: los análisis fitoquímicas de los aceites esenciales identificado trans-anethole (43,01 %), estragole (27,04 %) y fenchone (6,63 %) como compuestos mayoritarios en F. vulgare. El aceite extraído del C. carvi reveló la presencia del carvone y α -pinene con los compuestos abundantes a 63,92 % y 8,43 % respectivamente, mientras que los componentes principales para E. caryophyllata eran el eugenol (65,22 %), eugenyl acetate (18,77 %) y trans-caryophyllene (9,92 %). De los aceites esenciales obtenidos, el de F. vulgare presentó mayor actividad anti-H. pylori, con la acción similar al del Clarithromycin (p < 0,05) usada como control positivo. Conclusión: los aceites esenciales de Eugenia caryophyllata, Foeniculum vulgare y Carum carvi pueden constituir un potencial tratamiento natural contra H. pylori.

A smart approach for delivery of aripiprazole via oro-soft palatal mucosal route for improved therapeutic efficacy

Effective management of schizophrenia, acute mania, mixed episodes associated with bipolar disorders, and depression can be managed with aripiprazole moiety. In the present research work an attempt was made to minimize the dose related side effects thus improving the quality life of the patients. A novel biopolymer was isolated from the fruits of Trachyspermum ammi. Ten optimized nanosized aripiprazole loaded formulations were prepared in 1-5% concentration of biopolymer (FA1-FA5) and sodium CMC (FM1-FM5) by solvent casting technique. The formulated flexy films were evaluated for thickness, folding endurance, weight uniformity, surface pH, mucoadhesivity, In-vitro drug release studies, In-vivo pharmacodynamic study and stability studies. The isolated biopolymer showed inbuilt fimability and mucoadhesivity and consists of carbonyl, hydroxyl and thiocarbonyl functional groups. All formulations showed folding endurance from 153 to 170, mucoadhesion time in the range of 24-48hrs., and in-vitro drug release was performed using dynamic Franz Diffusion cell and analyzed using BIT-SOFTWARE. The experimental animals showed improved activity score on actophotometer. The formulated nanosized aripiprazole loaded bio-flexy films showed pharmacotherapeutic response. Conclusion can be drawn that optimized formulation showed effective Pharmacodynamic activity and can be used as for improving therapeutic efficacy of aripiprazole through this platform.

Carum copticum and Thymus vulgaris oils inhibit virulence in Trichophyton rubrum and Aspergillus spp

Emergence of drug-resistant strains has demanded for alternative means of combating fungal infections. Oils of Carum copticum and Thymus vulgaris have long been used in ethnomedicine for ailments of various fungal infections. Since their activity has not been reported in particular against drug-resistant fungi, this study was aimed to evaluate the effects of oils of C. copticum and T. vulgaris on the growth and virulence of drug-resistant strains of Aspergillus spp. and Trichophyton rubrum. The gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis revealed thymol constituting 44.71% and 22.82% of T. vulgaris and C. copticum, respectively. Inhibition of mycelial growth by essential oils was recorded in the order of thymol > T. vulgaris > C. copticum against the tested strains. RBC lysis assay showed no tested oils to be toxic even up to concentration two folds higher than their respective MFCs. Thymol exhibited highest synergy in combination with fluconazole against Aspergillus fumigatus MTCC2550 (FICI value 0.187) and T. rubrum IOA9 (0.156) as determined by checkerboard method. Thymol and T. vulgaris essential oil were equally effective against both the macro and arthroconidia growth (MIC 72 µg/mL). A > 80% reduction in elastase activity was recorded for A. fumigatus MTCC2550 by C. copticum, T. vulgaris oils and thymol. The effectiveness of these oils against arthroconidia and synergistic interaction of thymol and T. vulgaris with fluconazole can be exploited to potentiate the antifungal effects of fluconazole against drug-resistant strains of T. rubrum and Aspergillus spp.