Antioxidant and Anticancer Activities of Anethum graveolens L., Citrus limon (L.) Osbeck and Zingiber officinale Roscoe Essential Oils

Since synthetic chemotherapeutic drugs produce a certain degree of drug resistance and due to their common side effects, such as damage to hematopoietic cells and hair loss, it is necessary to use herbal medicine as a substrate to develop new anticancer drugs. The ingredients of three essential oils (EO) were identified using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. Their anticancer activities have been investigated on four human breast cancer cell lines, including MCF-7, MDA-MB-175, MDA-MB-231, and MDA-MB-468. In addition, their antioxidant activity was evaluated using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay. The three plants were investigated for identifications of the ingredients of their EOs, and major ingredients were identified in each plant as alpha-phellandrene (26.75 %) in Anethum graveolens L., limonene (61.83 %) in Citrus limon (L.) Osbeck, and zingiberene (30.28 %) in Zingiber officinale Roscoe. Among the EOs, C. limon was significantly more effective than others; its half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) on MCF-7 was obtained at 201 µg.mL-1. Furthermore, Z. officinale EO showed a higher antioxidant activities in comparison to the two other EOs. Considering the antioxidant and anticancer effects of the EOs, they could be further investigated as a possible complementary medicine in cancer.

Growing season climate affects phenological development, seed yield and seed quality of dill (Anethum graveolens)

Dill seed production was investigated over two seasons, comprising a spring growing cycle (SGC) and an autumn growing cycle (AGC). The effects of growing cycle on phenological traits, yield and quality of dill seeds formed on different umbels of the mother plant were investigated. Significant differences were noted in the flowering period, seed yield and quality parameters. The SGC resulted in a shorter time from sowing to bolting and flowering initiation compared with the AGC. Plant height, number of umbels/plant, number of umbelets/umbel, umbel diameter, umbel length and seed weight/plant increased in the AGC. In contrast, decreased germination at 20/30°C and at 13°C, and increased mean germination time at 20/30°C in AGC indicated lower seed quality compared with SGC. Primary umbels produced the best yield and higher quality seeds, followed by the secondary umbels while tertiary umbels gave poor yield and quality seeds in both SGC and AGC. In conclusion, AGC was advisable for higher seed yield, but SGC resulted in higher seed quality compared with the AGC. This highlights the need to select a suitable growing cycle to guarantee high seed yield and quality for each seed production environment.

nxiolytic Effect of the Hydro-alcoholic Extract of Anethum Graveolens Seed in Adult Female Wistar Rats: Modulation of GABA Receptors

Background: Along with industrial development and the increasing social complexity of societies, anxiety is one of the most prevalent psychological disorders. Medicinal plants are considered as an enrichment source of ingredients with biological activity. Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the anxiolytic effect of Anethum Graveolens seed (AGS) and the possible involvement of Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA)-ergic system in the AGS effect. Materials & Methods: In the present experimental study, 64 female Wistar rats were divided into eight groups and received various concentrations of hydroalcoholic extract of AGS. To measure the level of anxiety, an elevated plus maze was used in a way that the animal’s head turned to an open arm. Prior to the injections of AGS extract, the GABA receptor antagonist was used. The results were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance using IBM SPSS v. 16. Results: Dose-response experiments showed that the AGS extract significantly decreased the anxiety indices compared to the control group (P<0.05). To analyze locomotor activity, our data showed that AGS extract at 0.1, 1, and 10 mg/kg could significantly increase locomotor activity compared to the control group (P<0.001). Pentylenetetrazol (PTZ (+extract significantly decreased the anxiolytic effect of AGS extract (P<0.01). Conclusion: Considering the anti-anxiety effects of AGS extract and a reduction in this effect caused by PTZ, part of the anti-anxiety effect of extract might be assumed via its interaction with GABA-ergic receptors. Further experimental trials; however, are required for the establishment of the anti-anxiety impact of AGS.

Molecular Docking Studies on Phenolic Constituents of Anethum graveolens L. Seed Extracts

Background: There are studies indicating that aqueous or hydroalcoholic dill extracts showed higher antioxidant activity compared to other fractions. Molecular docking studies would be relevant to get information on the mechanism of action of the phenolic constituents of Anethum graveolens seed extracts as bioactive compounds. Methodology: In order to perform the docking studies of antioxidant activity of phenolic constituents of Anethum graveolens seed extracts, BIOVIA Discovery Studio and AutoDock Vina software were used. Results: The orientation of flavonoids within Hck and CYP2C9 binding sites has been shown to be the main reason for their inhibitory potency. Conclusion: Molecular docking studies indicate that the compounds identified interact with the target enzymes Hck and CYP2C9 at molecular level through their condensed ring systems and hydroxyl substituents and therefore support the antioxidant capacity of the studied phenolic compounds.

Phenolic Constituents of Anethum graveolens Seed Extracts: Chemical Profile and Antioxidant Effect Studies

The Aim of the Research: Anethum graveolens (dill) is a common herb used in traditional Romanian cuisine, as well as in phytotherapy. Dill seeds have been reported to be rich in antioxidants. As interest in food additives of natural origin has increased in recent years, the purpose of this paper was to study the composition and antioxidant potential of Romanian dill seeds. Methodology: In this study, the total phenolics contents, the phenolic profile, and the antioxidant properties of the methanolic and hydromethanolic extracts of Romanian dill seeds were investigated. Folin-Ciocalteu assay, DPPH spectrophotometrically method and reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography RP-HPLC, respectively were applied. Results: The highest content of total phenolics was found in acidified methanol samples (46.5 - 46.8 mg GAE/g dry seeds). RP-HPLC analysis highlights important content of quercetin, kaempferol, caffeic acid, sinapic acid, gallic acid, vanillic acid, (±) - catechin and umbelliferone. Antioxidant activity, measured via DPPH free radical scavenging ability, showed very high values (93.5 - 95.6% for the crude extracts and 67.5 - 93.2% for extracts at a concentration of 0.25 mg/mL). Methanolic extract exhibited the best IC50 value (88.7 ± 0.01 μg/mL). Conclusion: All experiments proved the antioxidant activity of dill seed extracts.

PHYSICO-CHEMICAL BASES OF THE USE OF DIELECTRIC SEPARATION TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF PROCESSING OF SEEDS OF SPICY-AROMATIC PLANTS

Исследованы биологические особенности (морфология поверхности, а также качественный и количественный состав белков) семян (плодов) пряно-ароматических растений: кориандра (Coriandrum sativumL.), тмина (Carum carvi L.) и укропа (Anethum graveolens L.). Методами сканирующей электронной микроскопии установлена нерегулярная поверхность семян кориандра, тмина и укропа. На их поверхности идентифицировано большое количество бороздок, углублений, бугорков. Поверхность шероховатая и содержит много волосков. Особенно много волосков имеется на поверхности семян тмина. Определено, что в 100 г семян кориандра, тмина и укропа содержится: общего белка – 12,37; 19,77 и 15,98 г соответственно, свободных аминокислот – 1,42; 18,46 и 8,39 г соответственно. Сумма положительно заряженных незаменимых аминокислот (аргинина, гистидина и лизина) в 100 г кориандра, тмина и укропа составляет соответственно 0,149; 2,833 и 2,621 г, сумма отрицательно заряженных аминокислот (аспарагиновой и глутаминовой) – 0,71; 5,253 и 0,633 г соответственно. Результаты исследований будут способствовать совершенствованию технологии глубокой переработки растительного сырья для получения семян высокого качества с заданными свойствами путем отделения примесей органической и неорганической природы. The biological features (surface morphology, as well as the qualitative and quantitative composition of proteins) of seeds of spicy-aromatic plants: coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.), cumin (Carum carvi L.) and dill (Anethum graveolens L.) were studied. The irregular surface of coriander, cumin and dill seeds was established by scanning electron microscopy. A large number of grooves, depressions, and bumps have been identified on their surface. The surface is rough and contains a lot of hairs. There are especially many hairs on the surface of cumin seeds. It was determined that 100 g of coriander, cumin and dill seeds contain: total protein – 12,37; 19,77 and 15,98 g respectively, free amino acids – 1,42; 18,46 and 8,39 g respectively. The sum of positively charged essential amino acids (arginine, histidine and lysine) in 100 g of coriander, cumin and dill is 0,149, 2,833 and 2,621 g respectively, the sum of negatively charged amino acids (aspartic and glutamic) is 0,71; 5,253 and 0,633 g respectively. The results of the research will contribute to the improvement of the technology of deep processing of plant raw materials to obtain high-quality seeds with desired properties by separating impurities of organic and inorganic nature.

Antispasmodic Potential of Medicinal Plants: A Comprehensive Review

Numerous medicinal plants have been utilized for the treatment of different types of diseases and disorders including gastrointestinal (GI) diseases. GI diseases are the most common complaints that normally affects the largest proportion of children and adolescents with overlapping clinical manifestation in diagnosis and medical needs. Drugs with antispasmodic effects are normally applied for the symptomatic treatment of contraction and cramping of smooth muscles in gastrointestinal diseases as well as in other critical clinical situations. In alternative system of medicines, the antispasmodic herbs played a significant role in the cure of GI diseases. These medicinal plants and their herbal products are used from generation to generation because of multiple nutritional and therapeutic benefits. The multiple uses might be attributed to the presence on biologically active chemical constitutes. The main aim of this review is to focus on the medicinal potential of plants possessing antispasmodic activities with their proposed mechanism of action. Several databases such as Google Scholar, Cochrane database, Scopus, and PubMed were used to search the relevant literature regarding “plants with antispasmodic activities.” This present study highlights the updated and quantified information on several medicinal plants with antispasmodic activity like Zanthoxylum armatum, Matricaria chamomilla, Foeniculum vulgare, Pycnocycla spinosa, Atropa belladonna, Lavandula angustifolia, Mentha pulegium, Glycyrrhiza ularensis, Anethum graveolens, and Origanum majorana. Moreover, recent studies on other medicinal plant species also have been included in this review article. Additionally, the study also revealed that the active compounds of all these plants possess significant spasmolytic effect which is safest, efficacious, and cost effective as compared to the available synthetic drugs.