This study evaluated the antifungal activity of essential oils (EOs) against Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. ciceris Padwick (FOC) and their effects in inducing systemic resistance in chickpeas. The EOs chemical composition was analysed by GC-MS. Carvacrol, geraniol and 1,8-cineole were the major constituents in thyme, lemongrass and laurel EOs. The latter showed effective antifungal activity against FOC. In vivo tests revealed that thyme and lemongrass EOs were also very effective in reducing the severity in chickpeas and reached an inhibition rate of 99.3 and 88.9%, respectively. Chickpea resistance is mostly attributed to phenolic compounds accumulation. The highest content of polyphenols was obtained with thyme (22.7 to 57.5 mg/g). The studied EOs could be used as promising antifungal agents in preventing the occurrence of Fusarium wilt in chickpeas.
The aqueous infusions of the aerial parts of Artemisia herba-alba Asso and Ajuga iva Schreber, prepared in accordance with the traditional procedure used in the local folk medicine, have been analysed for their composition and content of phytochemical constituents and examined for their antidiabetic effectiveness in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Oral administration of A. herba-alba and A. iva infusions was studied in normal and alloxan-induced diabetic rats, which were randomly divided into nine groups, each group consisting of six animals. The drug preparations (100, 200, and 300 mg/kg b. w.) of each plant were given orally to the rats of each group twice daily for 15 days. Compositional analysis of the aqueous infusions revealed the presence of several polyphenols as main components. A. herba-alba infusion was characterised by mono- and di-cinnamoylquinic acids, with 5-caffeoylquinic (chlorogenic) acid being the main compound, followed by 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid. Vicenin-2 (apigenin 6,8-di-C-glucoside) appeared to be the most abundant among flavonoids. On the other hand, A. iva showed the exclusive presence of flavonoids, with the flavanone naringin present in relatively high levels together with several apigenin (flavone) derivatives. Oral administration of 300 mg/kg b. w. of the aqueous infusions of A. herba-alba and A. iva exhibited a significant reduction in blood glucose content, showing a much more efficient antidiabetic activity compared to glibenclamide, the oral hypoglycaemic agent used as a positive control in this study. These results suggest that A. herba-alba and A. iva possess significant antidiabetic activity, as they were able to improve the biochemical damage in alloxan-induced diabetes in rats.
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