Hyssopus Essential Oil: An Update of Its Phytochemistry, Biological Activities, and Safety Profile

The genus Hyssopus is widespread in central Asia, East Mediterranean, and Mongolian areas. It has six main species which are used as herbal remedies, such as Hyssopus officinalis which is used as a condiment and flavoring agent in food industry. The other five species are H. ambiguus, H. cuspidatus, H. latilabiatus, H. macranthus, and H. seravschanicus. Its species are used in the treatment of various ailments such as cold, cough, loss of appetite, fungal infection, and spasmodic condition. Its constituents especially essential oils are popularly used as an additive in beverages, foods, and cosmetics. The volatile constituents are used for aroma in the food industry, cosmetic industry, and household products. The important active constituents in its essential oils are β-pinene, pinocamphone, isopinocamphone, and other terpenoids. Hyssopus genus is also bundled with other secondary metabolites including flavonoids luteolin, quercetin, apigenin, and their glucosides, as well as phenolic compounds including ferulic, p-hydroxy-benzoic acid, protocatechuic acid, chlorogenic, and caffeic acid. Combinedly, the extracts of Hyssopus are reported to have potential antiviral and antifungal activities proven using in vitro studies, whereas in vivo investigations have reported the crucial role of Hyssopus extracts in plasma membrane relaxation, cytotoxic, and sedative effects. This plant is believed to be relatively safe at levels commonly used in foods; nevertheless, more studies are needed to determine the safety profile.

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One Hundred Faces of Geraniol

Molecules ◽

10.3390/molecules25143303 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 25 (14) ◽

pp. 3303 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Wanda Mączka ◽

Katarzyna Wińska ◽

Małgorzata Grabarczyk

Keyword(s):

Antibacterial Activity ◽

Biological Activities ◽

Chemotherapeutic Agents ◽

In Vivo Studies ◽

Respiratory Pathogens ◽

Important Ingredient ◽

Household Products ◽

Fragrance Compound

Geraniol is a monoterpenic alcohol with a pleasant rose-like aroma, known as an important ingredient in many essential oils, and is used commercially as a fragrance compound in cosmetic and household products. However, geraniol has a number of biological activities, such as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. In addition, numerous in vitro and in vivo studies have shown the activity of geraniol against prostate, bowel, liver, kidney and skin cancer. It can induce apoptosis and increase the expression of proapoptotic proteins. The synergy of this with other drugs may further increase the range of chemotherapeutic agents. The antibacterial activity of this compound was also observed on respiratory pathogens, skin and food-derived strains. This review discusses some of the most important uses of geraniol.

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Exploitation of Cytotoxicity of Some Essential Oils for Translation in Cancer Therapy

Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine ◽

10.1155/2015/397821 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 2015 ◽

pp. 1-9 ◽

Cited By ~ 38

Author(s):

Rossella Russo ◽

Maria Tiziana Corasaniti ◽

Giacinto Bagetta ◽

Luigi Antonio Morrone

Keyword(s):

Multidrug Resistance ◽

Essential Oils ◽

Biological Activities ◽

Complex Mixtures ◽

Antitumor Drugs ◽

Wide Range ◽

Growing Body ◽

Anticancer Treatment

Essential oils are complex mixtures of several components endowed with a wide range of biological activities, including antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, spasmolytic, sedative, analgesic, and anesthetic properties. A growing body of scientific reports has recently focused on the potential of essential oils as anticancer treatment in the attempt to overcome the development of multidrug resistance and important side effects associated with the antitumor drugs currently used. In this review we discuss the literature on the effects of essential oils in in vitroandin vivomodels of cancer, focusing on the studies performed with the whole phytocomplex rather than single constituents.

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Phytochemistry and Pharmacology of Thymus broussonetii Boiss

Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine ◽

10.1155/2021/6350035 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2021 ◽

pp. 1-15

Author(s):

Hanae Naceiri Mrabti ◽

Latifa Doudach ◽

Naoual El Menyiy ◽

Mohammed Bourhia ◽

Ahmad Mohammad Salamatullah ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Secondary Metabolites ◽

Essential Oils ◽

Skin Diseases ◽

Biological Activities ◽

Aerial Parts ◽

Toxicological Studies ◽

Toxicological Investigation ◽

Antioxidant Effects

Thymus broussonetii Boiss (T. broussonetii) is a rare medicinal and aromatic plant. It is widely used in traditional medicine to treat several diseases, including diarrhea, fever, cough, irritation, skin diseases, rheumatism, respiratory ailments, influenza, and digestion problems. In this review, we have critically summarized previous data on T. broussonetii about its phytochemistry, botanical and geographical distribution, toxicological investigation, and pharmacological properties. Using scientific research databases such as Wiley Online, SciFinder, ScienceDirect, PubMed, SpringerLink, Web of Science, Scopus Wiley Online, and Google Scholar, the data on T. broussonetii were collected and discussed. The presented data regrouped bioactive compounds and biological activities of T. broussonetii. The findings of this work showed that essential oils and extracts of T. broussonetii exhibited numerous pharmacological activities (in vitro and in vivo), particularly antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, insecticidal, antipyretic, antinociceptive, and immunological and behavioral effects. While toxicological studies of T. broussonetii essential oils and extracts are lacking, modern scientific tools revealed the presence of different classes of secondary metabolites such as terpenoids, alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, coumarins, quinones, carotenoids, and steroids. T. broussonetii essential oils, especially from the aerial parts, exhibited potent antibacterial, antifungal, and antioxidant effects. An in-depth toxicological investigation is needed to validate the efficacy and safety of T. broussonetii extracts and essential oils and their secondary metabolites. However, further pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies should be performed to validate its bioavailability.

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Toxicological Evaluation of Piceatannol, Pterostilbene, and ε-Viniferin for Their Potential Use in the Food Industry: A Review

Foods ◽

10.3390/foods10030592 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (3) ◽

pp. 592

Author(s):

Concepción Medrano-Padial ◽

Ana Isabel Prieto ◽

María Puerto ◽

Silvia Pichardo

Keyword(s):

Food Industry ◽

Biological Activities ◽

In Vitro Tests ◽

Toxicological Evaluation ◽

Cytotoxic Effects ◽

Cancerous Cell ◽

Toxicological Studies ◽

Genotoxicity Testing

The application of stilbenes in the food industry is being considered because of their biological activities. Piceatannol, pterostilbene and ε-viniferin have awakened the industry’s interest. However, before they can be commercialized, we must first guarantee their safety for consumers. The present work reviews the toxicological studies performed with these stilbenes. A wide variety of studies has demonstrated their cytotoxic effects in both cancer and non-cancerous cell lines. In contrast, although DNA damage was detected by some authors, in vitro genotoxic studies on the effects of piceatannol, pterostilbene, and ε-viniferin remain scarce. None of the three reviewed substances have been evaluated using the in vitro tests required by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) as the first step in genotoxicity testing. We did not find any study on the toxic effects of these stilbenes in vivo. Thus, more studies are needed to confirm their safe use before they can be authorized as additive in the food industry.

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Ethnopharmacology, Phytochemistry, and Pharmacological Properties of Thymus satureioides Coss.

Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine ◽

10.1155/2021/6673838 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2021 ◽

pp. 1-23

Author(s):

Naoufal El Hachlafi ◽

Abderrahim Chebat ◽

Kawtar Fikri-Benbrahim

Keyword(s):

Essential Oils ◽

Bioactive Compounds ◽

Biological Activities ◽

Chemical Characterization ◽

Pharmacokinetic Studies ◽

Pharmacological Studies ◽

Thymus Satureioides

Thymus satureioides Coss. (Lamiaceae) is a Moroccan medicinal plant locally known as “Azkouni” or “Zaitra.” It is widely used in traditional medicine to treat various ailments, including hypertension, diabetes, cold, fever, dermatological and circulatory disorders, immune problems, bronchitis, nociception, cooling, pharyngitis, cough, and influenza. The current review aims to critically summarize the literature on ethnopharmacological uses, chemical profile, and pharmacological investigations of T. satureioides in order to provide data support and scientific evidences for further investigations. Electronic databases such as Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, SciFinder, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, and Medline were used to gather data on T. satureioides. Chemical characterization of T. satureioides essential oils (EOs) and extracts allowed to identify a total of 139 bioactive compounds, mainly belonging to the terpenoids, phenolic acids, and flavonoids classes. T. satureioides especially its essential oils exhibited numerous biological activities such as antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antidiabetic, anticancer, antiparasitic, and hypolipedemic activities. In light of these findings, further studies to transmute the traditional application of T. satureioides into scientific-based information are strongly required. Additional in vivo pharmacological studies are recommended to validate the results of the in vitro studies. Moreover, comprehensive preclinical and clinical trials on the pharmacological mechanisms of action of this plant and its bioactive compounds on molecular targets should be performed. Finally, more efforts must be focused on toxicological assessments and pharmacokinetic studies, in order to ensure the safety and the efficiency of T. satureioides.

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Ethnomedicinal Use, Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, and Toxicology of Salvia verbenaca L. : A Review

Biointerface Research in Applied Chemistry ◽

10.33263/briac122.14371469 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (2) ◽

pp. 1437-1469

Keyword(s):

Essential Oils ◽

Bioactive Compounds ◽

Biological Activities ◽

Traditional Use ◽

Toxicological Effects ◽

Stomach Pain ◽

Toxicological Investigation ◽

Phytochemical Compounds

Salvia verbenaca L. is a Mediterranean medicinal plant used traditionally to treat several diseases such as burns, ocular wounds, contusion, stomach pain, eye diseases, dermal inflammation. This review highlighted previous reports, including the botanical, taxonomical, geographical distribution, traditional use, phytochemical, biological, and toxicological effects of S. verbenaca. The data were gathered from scientific databases PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, SpringerLink. The presented data on S. verbenaca were organized according to ethnomedicinal use, bioactive compounds, pharmacology, and toxicological investigation. Ethnobotanical studies reported that many folk medicines use S. verbenaca, especially against wounds, burns, and cicatrization. The phytochemical compounds in different parts of S. verbenaca belonged to different classes of chemical compounds, including terpenoids, flavonoids, phenolic acids, phenolic diterpenoids, and fatty acids. The extracts and essential oils from S. verbenaca have a wide variety of in vitro and in vivo pharmacological activities, i.e., antioxidant, antifungal, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, antihemolytic, antihypertensive, antileishmanial, and immunomodulatory activities. This research suggests that the biological activities of S. verbenaca prove its traditional uses. However, in-depth investigations are required, such as pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, and toxicological experiments, to prove the efficacy and safety of S. verbenaca extracts and essential oils and their bioactive compounds.

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Antiulcer Agents: From Plant Extracts to Phytochemicals in Healing Promotion

Molecules ◽

10.3390/molecules23071751 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 23 (7) ◽

pp. 1751 ◽

Cited By ~ 46

Author(s):

Mehdi Sharifi-Rad ◽

Patrick Fokou ◽

Farukh Sharopov ◽

Miquel Martorell ◽

Adedayo Ademiluyi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Helicobacter Pylori ◽

Plant Extracts ◽

Safety Profile ◽

Mechanisms Of Action ◽

Herbal Remedies ◽

In Vivo Studies ◽

Antiulcer Agents ◽

Plant Sources

In this narrative review, we have comprehensively reviewed the plant sources used as antiulcer agents. From traditional uses as herbal remedies, we have moved on to preclinical evidence, critically discussing the in vitro and in vivo studies focusing on plant extracts and even isolated phytochemicals with antiulcerogenic potential. A particular emphasis was also paid to Helicobacter pylori activity, with emphasis on involved mechanisms of action. Lastly, the issue of safety profile of these plant products has also been addressed.

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Nutritive Importance and Therapeutics Uses of Three Different Varieties (Murraya koenigii, Micromelum minutum, and Clausena indica) of Curry Leaves: An Updated Review

Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine ◽

10.1155/2021/5523252 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2021 ◽

pp. 1-23

Author(s):

D. T. Abeysinghe ◽

D. D. D. H. Alwis ◽

K. A. H. Kumara ◽

U. G. Chandrika

Keyword(s):

Current Knowledge ◽

Biological Activities ◽

Biological Effects ◽

Herbal Remedies ◽

Murraya Koenigii ◽

In Vivo Models ◽

Treatment And Prevention ◽

Curry Leaves

Murraya koenigii (M. koenigii), Micromelum minutum (M. minutum), and Clausena indica (C. indica) are three varieties of curry leaves in the family Rutaceae. They have been widely used in Ayurvedic medicine worldwide in the treatment and prevention of various diseases. Earlier findings provide strong evidence to support the three curry leaf species’ potent pharmaceutical and biological effects, including antioxidant, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, and antitumor activities. Various parts of these plants, such as leaves, seeds, flowers, and fruit, contain constituents responsible for the modulation of numerous biological processes. Leading constituents of curry leaves play a crucial role in diabetic and anticancer management by regulating various molecular pathways, including Bcl-2, Bax, NF-κB, and TNFα, according to in vitro and in vivo models established. Therefore, this review summarizes the current knowledge on research achievements made in terms of phytoconstituents, their structures, biological activities, and pharmacological actions with clinical studies of curry leaves up to date. The review also emphasizes the necessity for comprehensive research studies on the pharmacological actions and the mechanisms of selected phytochemicals of M. koenigii, M. minutum, and C. indica to validate their efficacy as potent herbal remedies for many ailments.

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Sage, Salvia officinalis L., Constituents, Hepatoprotective Activity, and Cytotoxicity Evaluations of the Essential Oils Obtained from Fresh and Differently Timed Dried Herbs: A Comparative Analysis

Molecules ◽

10.3390/molecules26195757 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 26 (19) ◽

pp. 5757

Author(s):

Hamdoon A. Mohammed ◽

Hussein M. Eldeeb ◽

Riaz A. Khan ◽

Mohsen S. Al-Omar ◽

Salman A. A. Mohammed ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Essential Oil ◽

Essential Oils ◽

Biological Activities ◽

Oil Quality ◽

Hepatoprotective Activity ◽

Salvia Officinalis ◽

Beneficial Effects ◽

Salvia Officinalis L

Sage, Salvia officinalis L., is used worldwide as an aromatic herb for culinary purposes as well as a traditional medicinal agent for various ailments. Current investigations exhibited the effects of extended dryings of the herb on the yields, composition, oil quality, and hepatoprotective as well as anti-cancer biological activities of the hydrodistillation-obtained essential oils from the aerial parts of the plant. The essential oils’ yields, compositions, and biological activities levels of the fresh and differently timed and room-temperature dried herbs differed significantly. The lowest yields of the essential oil were obtained from the fresh herbs (FH, 631 mg, 0.16%), while the highest yield was obtained from the two-week dried herbs (2WDH, 1102 mg, 0.28%). A notable decrease in monoterpenes, with increment in the sesquiterpene constituents, was observed for the FH-based essential oil as compared to all the other batches of the essential oils obtained from the different-timed dried herbs. Additionally, characteristic chemotypic constituents of sage, i.e., α-pinene, camphene, β-pinene, myrcene, 1, 8-cineole, α-thujone, and camphor, were present in significantly higher proportions in all the dried herbs’ essential oils as compared to the FH-based essential oil. The in vivo hepatoprotective activity demonstrated significant reductions in the levels of AST, ALT, and ALP, as well as a significant increase in the total protein (p < 0.05) contents level, as compared to the acetaminophen (AAP) administered experimental group of rats. A significant reduction (p < 0.05) in the ALT level was demonstrated by the 4WDH-based essential oil in comparison to the FH-based essential oil. The levels of creatinine, cholesterol, and triglycerides were reduced (p < 0.05) in the pre-treated rats by the essential oil batches, with non-significant differences found among them as a result of the herbs dryings based oils. A notable increase in the viability of the cells, and total antioxidant capacity (TAOxC) levels, together with the reduction in malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were observed by the essential oils obtained from all the batches as compared with the AAP-treated cell-lines, HepG-2, HeLa, and MCF-7, that indicated the in vitro hepatoprotective effects of the sage essential oils. However, significant improvements in the in vivo and in vitro hepatoprotective activities with the 4WDH-based oil, as compared to all other essential oil-batches and silymarin standard demonstrated the beneficial effects of the drying protocol for the herb for its medicinal purposes.

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Evaluation of the In Vivo Acute Toxicity and In Vitro Hemolytic and Immunomodulatory Activities of the Moringa oleifera Flower Trypsin Inhibitor (MoFTI)

Protein and Peptide Letters ◽

10.2174/0929866527999201113105858 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 27 ◽

Author(s):

Leydianne Leite de Siqueira Patriota ◽

Dayane Kelly Dias do Nascimento Santos ◽

Bárbara Rafaela da Silva Barros ◽

Lethícia Maria de Souza Aguiar ◽

Yasmym Araújo Silva ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Acute Toxicity ◽

Trypsin Inhibitor ◽

Hemolytic Activity ◽

Moringa Oleifera ◽

Biological Activities ◽

Hematological Parameters ◽

Behavioral Alterations ◽

Female Mice

Background: Protease inhibitors have been isolated from plants and present several biological activities, including immunomod-ulatory action. Objective: This work aimed to evaluate a Moringa oleifera flower trypsin inhibitor (MoFTI) for acute toxicity in mice, hemolytic activity on mice erythrocytes and immunomodulatory effects on mice splenocytes. Methods: The acute toxicity was evaluated using Swiss female mice that received a single dose of the vehicle control or MoFTI (300 mg/kg, i.p.). Behavioral alterations were observed 15–240 min after administration, and survival, weight gain, and water and food consumption were analyzed daily. Organ weights and hematological parameters were analyzed after 14 days. Hemolytic activity of MoFTI was tested using Swiss female mice erythrocytes. Splenocytes obtained from BALB/c mice were cultured in the absence or presence of MoFTI for the evaluation of cell viability and proliferation. Mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were also determined. Furthermore, the culture supernatants were analyzed for the presence of cytokines and nitric oxide (NO). Results: MoFTI did not cause death or any adverse effects on the mice except for abdominal contortions at 15–30 min after administration. MoFTI did not exhibit a significant hemolytic effect. In addition, MoFTI did not induce apoptosis or necrosis in splenocytes and had no effect on cell proliferation. Increases in cytosolic and mitochondrial ROS release, as well as ΔΨm reduction, were observed in MoFTI-treated cells. MoFTI was observed to induce TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-6, IL-10, and NO release. Conclusion: These results contribute to the ongoing evaluation of the antitumor potential of MoFTI and its effects on other immunological targets.

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