The essential oils from Mentha viridis L. and Mentha pulegium L. were characterized by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS). These oils were obtained by hydrodistillation and presented linalool (40.70%), carvone (13.52%) and α-terpinene (8.56%) as the principal constituents in the essential oil from Mentha viridis L. Pulegone (50.01%), menthol (31.90%) and menthone (16.56%) were the principal constituents in the essential oil from Mentha pulegium L. These essential oils (in concentrations ranging from 3.91 to 500 μL·mL −1 ) showed satisfactory activities against Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella choleraesuis and Staphylococcus aureus. The antioxidant activities with 2-deoxyribose and phosphomolybdenum and the reducing power (in concentrations ranging from 0.78 to 1000 μL·mL −1 ) were determined. The antioxidant activity was observed for the two oils evaluated by the phosphomolybdenum and 2-deoxyribose methods, whereas the essential oil from M. viridis presented low antioxidant activity in the reducing power assay.
The objective of this study was to characterize and verify the in vitro antitumor activity of essential oils (EOs) extracted from the leaves and flowers of Callistemon viminalis. The EOs were extracted by hydrodistillation using a modified Clevenger apparatus. The identification and quantification of constituents were performed on a gas chromatograph coupled to a mass spectrometer and a gas chromatograph with a flame ionization detector. The antitumoral activity was evaluated by a colorimetric assay (MTS) using different cell lines derived from human tumors (breast, lung, glioblastoma, and melanoma). The major constituents of the EOs of leaves and flowers were similar, only quantitative differences being observed. The compounds 1,8-cineole, α-pinene and α-terpineol were found in concentrations of 50.4%, 25.8% and 8.7% in the EOs obtained from the leaves and 48.8%, 24.5% and 3.9% in the EOs obtained from the flowers, respectively. The cytotoxic activity of the EOs was observed only in melanoma cultures (HT144). Cultures treated for 48 h with EOs from leaves and flowers (200 µg·mL −1 ) reduced the viability by 40% and 25%, respectively. Thus, the antiproliferative activity of the EO from leaves was more pronounced than the EO from flowers in cells derived from melanoma.
Essential oils have been increasingly studied as preservatives for the food industries because of their biological properties. However, there are few studies on the antibacterial potential of the essential oil of the species Cantinoa carpinifolia Benth. Thus, the aim of this study was to extract and chemically characterize the essential oil from Cantinoa carpinifolia Benth. and evaluate its antibacterial potential against strains of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The essential oil was extracted by hydrodistillation and analyzed by gas chromatography using mass spectrometer and flame ionization detectors. The antibacterial potential against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus was evaluated by macrodilution, through cell viability tests, membrane permeability tests and electronic microscopy (SEM). The essential oil is composed principally of the α‐ thujone e β‐ thujone monoterpenes, and the minimum bactericidal and bacteriostatic concentrations of the essential oil were 6.25 and 0.39 μL mL−1 for E coli and S aureus, respectively. Bacterial strains were completely inactivated after 135 minutes (E coli) and 200 minutes (S aureus), respectively. Intracellular biological activity was observed for the essential oil because the harmful effects on both species of bacteria could be observed in the electromicrographs.
The possibility of commercialization of Moro blood oranges in tropical countries such as Brazil was evaluated to verify whether post-harvest management through storage at low temperatures for a period of 60 days can improve the bioactive properties and quality parameters. Moro blood oranges cultivated in Brazil did not contain significant amounts of anthocyanins at the time of harvesting, but these compounds were activated by post-harvest management through storage at low temperatures (4˚C and 8˚C) for a period of 60 days. The emergence of the anthocyanins in the juices occurred within a few weeks of storage, but the maximum levels were attained after 60 days and at the temperature of 8˚C. Cold storage positively influenced other bioactive compounds such as total phenolic compounds, individual phenolic compounds, β-carotene and the antioxidant activity determined by the sequestration of DPPH free radicals. It did not influence the vitamin C content. In addition, storage significantly altered the color, total acidity and pH of the fruits, but it did not prevent its commercial use. The remaining quality parameters were not influenced. It is possible to commercialize these oranges in Brazil through post-harvest management.
The results obtained in this work amplify the pharmacological characterization of the essential oil from L. origanoides. However, new studies are fundamental to define the action mechanisms and determine pharmaceutical applications.
Essential oils, also known as volatile oils, are substances produced through the secondary metabolism of plants. In this study, we determined the chemical composition and the in vitro and in vivo antifungal activity of the essential oils from four species of Eucalyptus, Eucalyptus citriodora, Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Eucalyptus grandis and Eucalyptus microcorys, against the Hemileia vastatrix fungus. The essential oils from these four species of Eucalyptus were extracted from their leaves by the hydrodistillation technique using a modified Clevenger apparatus. The chemical characterization was performed by gas chromatography coupled with a mass spectrometer detector and by gas chromatography using a flame ionization detector. The antifungal activities of the essential oils against H. vastatrix were studied by evaluating the percentage of spore germination using the microdilution test for in vitro assays. The curative and preventive effects were evaluated in in vivo tests. The principal constituents of the essential oil from E. citriodora were citronellal, citronellol and isopulegol, while E. camaldulensis produced 1,8-cineole, α-terpineol and α-pinene. 1,8-cineole, α-pinene and α-terpineol were obtained from E. grandis and 1,8-cineole, α-pinene and trans-pinocarveol were the principal components in the essential oil of E. microcorys. In vitro and in vivo antifungal activities against the fungus under study were observed for most of the essential oils, except the essential oil from E. microcorys, for which no preventive antifungal activity was observed. Only the curing of infection by the H. vastatrix fungus was observed with this oil.
Citrus essential oils have become the focus of several researches, because they have broad biological activity, due to their chemical composition. However, there are few studies covering Moro orange essential oil. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of fresh Moro orange peel essential oil on antifungal, antioxidant, cytotoxic, and genotoxic activities in normal and tumor cells. The essential oil was extracted by hydrodistillation and characterized by GC/MS and GC/FID. Cytotoxicity was evaluated by MTS assay in normal cells (CCD‐1059Sk) and tumor cells (CCD‐1059Sk), and the genotoxicity was determined in normal cells by the comet assay. Antifungal activity was evaluated by the disk diffusion test against Aspergillus carbonarius and Aspergillus flavus filamentous fungi. The antioxidant activity was determined in DPPH, ABTS, and β‐carotene assay. The essential oil was mainly composed of monoterpenes such as limonene (95.12%), α‐pinene (0.35%), sabinene (0.54%), and myrcene (1.07%). The essential oil did not cause cell death after 48 hours of treatment in normal cells, but the cell viability of tumor cells decreased by 50% in the presence of the essential oil at a concentration of 272.6 μg/mL. Although no antioxidant effect was observed, the growth of all evaluated fungi was inhibited with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 125 μL/mL. The essential oil from the Moro orange is promising for cancer treatment, and it can be used as a natural preservative in food systems.
The essential oils from Mentha piperita, Cymbopogon citratus, Rosmarinus officinalis, Peumus boldus and Foeniculum vulgare were extracted by hydrodistillation and characterized and quantified by GC-MS and GC-DIC. The oils induced hemolysis with all the doses evaluated (0.6 to 1.8 μL), and the diameters of the halos varied between 9 and 15 mm. Pre-incubation of P. boldus oil with Bothrops jararacussu venom resulted in potentiation of venom-induced hemolysis (30%) (proteases and phospholipases A 2 ). The essential oil from M. piperita (0.6 μL) inhibited venom-induced hemolysis by 45%, whereas 0.6 μL of R. officinalis oil increased the hemolysis by 20%. For the essential oil from F. vulgare, 100% inhibition of activity (0.6 and 1.2 μL) was observed. The application of C. citratus oil induced hemolysis with all the volumes evaluated.Phospholipase activity induced by the venom was only inhibited (10%) with the 0.6 μL volume of R. officinalis oil. The oils from M. piperita and F. vulgare (1.8 μL) and C. citratus oil (0.6 μL) potentiated the phospholipase activity.The results highlight the need for a broad characterization and regulation of the use of natural products, because they can have therapeutic or toxic actions.
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