Origanum vulgare (oregano) and Leptospermum scoparium (manuka) were traditionally employed as natural remedies for infected wounds and skin injuries where Staphylococcus aureus is mainly involved. The first aim of this study was to investigate oregano and manuka essential oils (EOs) chemical compositions and evaluate their antibacterial activity (MIC, Minimum Inhibitory Concentration) against fourteen S. aureus wild strains. The second aim was to evaluate the antibacterial activities of oregano and manuka EOs mixed in different combination (FIC, Fractional Inhibitory Concentration) with an improved chequerboard technique. This allowed to avoid the usual uncertainty in the determination of MIC and FIC values and to obtain a more precise interpretation of FIC indexes (FICIs). Moreover, FICIs were discussed on the basis of a novel interpretation method to evaluate the synergistic/antagonistic effect of EOs mixtures. The most representative compounds in oregano EO were Carvacrol (65.93%), p-Cymene (9.33%) and γ-Terpinene (5.25%), while in manuka EO were Leptospermone (31.65%), cis-Calamenene (15.93%) and Flavesone (6.92%). EOs presented MIC values ranging from 1:2048 to 1:4096 v/v and FIC values ranging from 0.125 to 1. According to our interpretation, a synergistic effect (34.68%), a commutative effect (15.32%) and an indifferent effect (50.00%) and no antagonistic effect were observed. Conversely, according to two previously proposed FICI interpretation models, 1.80% synergistic effect could be observed and, respectively, 98.20% indifferent effect or 48.20% additive effect and 50.00% indifferent effect. As practical results, oregano and manuka EOs may be an effective alternative to chemotherapic drugs in staphylococcal infections and useful tools to enhance food security.

No abstract

The routine use of cerebral velocimetry in high-risk pregnancies adds little information beyond that obtained from umbilical velocimetry; however, it is useful in predicting SGA infants with adverse perinatal outcome when umbilical velocimetry is abnormal.

We analyzed the spontaneous volatile emission of different aerial parts of the caper (Capparis spinosa L.) by HS-SPME-GC/MS. We identified 178 different compounds of which, in different proportions based on the sample type, the main ones were (E)-β-ocimene, methyl benzoate, linalool, β-caryophyllene, α-guaiene, germacrene D, bicyclogermacrene, germacrene B, (E)-nerolidol, isopropyl tetradecanoate, and hexahydrofarnesyl acetone. The multivariate statistical analyses seem to point out that the parameter leading the emission patterns is the function of the analyzed sample; the flower samples showed differences in the emission profile between their fertile and sterile portions and between the other parts of the plant. The green parts emission profiles group together in a cluster and are different from those of seeds and fruits. We also hydrodistilled fully bloomed caper flowers, whose volatile oil showed significant differences in the composition from those of other parts of the plant reported.

Citrus Essential Oils (CEOs) from the peel of six minor Citrus fruits (C. bergamia 'Castagnaro,' 'Fantastico,' and 'Femminello,' C. × myrtifolia, C. mitis, and C. japonica) were obtained by hydrodistillation and cold hand pressing of the flavedo to investigate their volatile constituents and antimycotic activities. The volatile compounds present in the juices of the same fruits, obtained by manual squeezing of the endocarps, were evaluated by direct immersion and Solid Phase Micro Extraction. Monoterpenes were identified as the main class of components in all the six CEOs. Limonene was the most abundant compound, while BEOs (Bergamot Essential Oils) changed its composition according to the different extraction method and the fruit varieties. Non-metric Multidimensional Scaling (NMDS) of the matrix taxa x chemical compounds showed that five chemical compounds had a significant discriminative function among the samples: high amounts of limonene characterized the cluster of C japonica, C. × myrtifolia, and C mitis, while the group of three cultivars of C bergamia differed in its predominance of linalool and linalyl acetate. Furfural and 4-terpineol were identified in the highest amounts in the Citrus juices analyzed by direct immersion. BEO obtained by hydrodistillation of C bergamia 'Fantastico' was the most active in the antifungal tests. The antimycotic activity of C japonica EOs against dermatophytic species was also demonstrated. Based on our results, the use of these products would appear an interesting alternative in producing topical herbal products for the treatment of affected animals or for the purpose of environmental fungal control.