Biological effects of essential oils and extracts
S. Najafi Dorcheh; S. Rahgozar; D. Talei; E.S. Ghodousi
Abstract
Chemotherapy, as the most common way of cancer treatment, has many side effects that make it difficult to continue the treatment process. The studies show that the use of medicinal plants alone or in combination with the chemotherapy drugs can reduce the harmful effects of chemotherapy. This study aimed ...
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Chemotherapy, as the most common way of cancer treatment, has many side effects that make it difficult to continue the treatment process. The studies show that the use of medicinal plants alone or in combination with the chemotherapy drugs can reduce the harmful effects of chemotherapy. This study aimed at investigating the effect of 10-gingerol, as one of the major derivatives of ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe), on the acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell lines. The acute lymphoblastic cell lines (CCRF-CEM, R-CCRF-CEM, Nalm-6, and RN95) were treated with increasing concentrations of 10-gingerol after drawing their growth curves. The survival percentage was evaluated by the MTT assay. In addition, the trypan blue staining method was used to evaluate the rate of cell death and confirm the results of MTT assay. To explore the biological processes, molecular function, and cellular components related to the 10-gingerol target genes, a functional annotation analysis was performed using the gene ontology (GO) and Enrichr (a comprehensive gene set enrichment analysis tool) database. The Graph Pad Prism 6 software was also used for statistical analyses. The results of this study indicated that 10-gingerol had a cytotoxic effect on R-CCRF-CEM, Nalm-6, and RN95 cell lines significantly (p < /em> ˂ 0.05). This effect was stronger in R-CCRF-CEM and Nalm-6 than in CCRF-CEM at the higher concentrations. The GO analyses also recognized the apoptosis as the most important biological process associated with 10-gingerol. In the present study, for the first time, the cytotoxic effect of 10-gingerol on the acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell lines was demonstrated.
Biological effects of essential oils and extracts
M. Karami; F. Ghassemi
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the effects of aqueous-alcoholic extract of Ducrosia anethifolia (DC.) Boiss. leaves on the fetal heart tissue changes in the diabetic rats. Forty-eight female rats weighing 200-220 g were fertilized with eight male rats weighing 230-250 g. After ensuring the pregnancy, ...
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This study aimed to investigate the effects of aqueous-alcoholic extract of Ducrosia anethifolia (DC.) Boiss. leaves on the fetal heart tissue changes in the diabetic rats. Forty-eight female rats weighing 200-220 g were fertilized with eight male rats weighing 230-250 g. After ensuring the pregnancy, the females became diabetic by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (80 mg kg-1 body weight) on the first day of pregnancy, and were randomly grouped. Groups included Control (healthy rats without treatment), Sham 1 (healthy rats receiving 1 ml D. anethifolia extract), Sham 2 (diabetic rats without treatment), and three groups of treatments which respectively received 1 ml D. anethifolia extract at the doses of 250, 500, and 1000 kg kg-1 body weight of the diabetic rats from 6th to 20th day of the pregnancy by gavage. On the 20th day of pregnancy, after anesthetizing the rats and taking 2 ml of blood from their hearts, the fetuses were removed from their uterus. The fetal hearts were isolated and fixed in the 5% solution of formalin. After the tissue processing, the five-micron sections were prepared by the stereological method and stained with hematoxylin and eosin. The heart circumference and its wall thickness were measured by the image analysis software, and the number of heart cells was counted by the Grids-stero lite software. The data were analyzed by the ANOVA and the means were compared by the Tukey test (p < /em>≤0.05). The findings showed an increase in the blood glucose, density and length of cardiocytes, and heart circumference in all the diabetic groups compared to the control, which were significantly reduced in the diabetic rats treated with D. anethifolia extract compared to the diabetic group without treatment. According to the results, the aqueous-alcoholic extract of D. anethifolia leaves could slightly compensate the destructive changes caused by diabetes in the fetal cardiovascular tissue by reducing the blood glucose in the diabetic rats.
Biological effects of essential oils and extracts
M. Mahmoodi; M. Khodaei Motlagh; H.A. Ghasemi; A.H. Kheltabadi Farahani
Abstract
To investigate the effects of different levels of powder and essential oil of Boswellia sacra (BS) leaves on the intestinal microflora and some blood parameters in Japanese quail chicks, an experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with six treatments and three replications. The experimental ...
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To investigate the effects of different levels of powder and essential oil of Boswellia sacra (BS) leaves on the intestinal microflora and some blood parameters in Japanese quail chicks, an experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with six treatments and three replications. The experimental treatments included T1: base diet without additives (control), T2: base diet+ antibiotic bacitracin, T3: base diet+ 1 g of BS powder per kg of diet, T4: base diet+ 2 g of BS powder per kg of diet, T5: base diet+ 20 mg of BS essential oil per kg of diet, and T6: base diet+ 40 mg of BS essential oil per kg of diet. The results showed that the blood glucose concentration in T5 was significantly higher than T3 and T4 (p < /em><0.05). The highest concentration of high-density lipoproteins was observed in the blood of birds in T4 (p < /em><0.05). The population of Bifidobacterium spp. showed a significant increase (p < /em><0.05) in T2, T3, T5, and T6 compared to the control and T4. Treatments T3 and T6 exhibited a higher population of Lactobacillus spp. compared to the control, T2, T4, and T5 (p < /em><0.05). A higher population of Streptococcus spp. was also observed in T3 and T6 compared to T4 (p < /em><0.05). Overall, the results showed that the use of additive essential oil extracted from BS leaves in the concentration of 40 mg per kg of diet could improve the intestinal microbial population.
Biological effects of essential oils and extracts
F. Pourasghar; H.R. Aliakbarpour; Gh. Maliji
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the effects of Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench extract and its usage schedule on the immune system, biochemical parameters, and growth yield of male broilers. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with three treatments and four replications. The ...
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This study aimed to investigate the effects of Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench extract and its usage schedule on the immune system, biochemical parameters, and growth yield of male broilers. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with three treatments and four replications. The treatments included 1: without purple coneflower extract (control), 2: daily usage, and 3: every-other-day usage of purple coneflower extract (1.5 ml of the extract per liter of water). Records of the broilers body weight, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio were investigated in the starter, grower and finisher nutritional stages. The blood biochemical parameters (glucose, triglyceride, cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, albumin, and total protein), bronchitis virus titer, heterophile-to-lymphocyte ratio, and immune organs weight were determined at the end of the experiment (42-day-old age). The results showed that the yield characteristics, heterophile-to-lymphocyte ratio, and immune organs weight did not differ significantly between the experimental groups. The highest bronchitis virus titer was observed in the daily extract usage treatment (p < 0.05). The blood glucose level in the daily extract usage treatment was lower than the control (p < 0.05), but the other blood biochemical parameters did not differ significantly between the experimental treatments. The results of the present study revealed that the daily usage of purple coneflower extract (1.5 ml of the extract per liter of water) could decrease the blood glucose level and increase the bronchitis virus titer.
Biological effects of essential oils and extracts
S. Moslemi; N. Kashef
Abstract
Bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic human pathogen and one of the most important causes of nosocomial infections in a wide range of immunocompromised patients including those with malignancies, cystic fibrosis, and burns. This bacterium produces many virulence factors and is highly resistant ...
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Bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic human pathogen and one of the most important causes of nosocomial infections in a wide range of immunocompromised patients including those with malignancies, cystic fibrosis, and burns. This bacterium produces many virulence factors and is highly resistant to lots of common antibiotics due to its biofilm formation. The production of many virulence factors in this bacterium is under the control of quorum sensing systems (QS). The QS is an attractive target for the development of novel therapeutics. Eugenol is the major component of clove (Eugenia caryophylata) oil. The previous studies have shown its antibacterial activities. This study aimed to determine the in vitro anti-QS activity of eugenol on QS-regulatedbiofilm formation and virulence factors production in P. aeruginosa strains. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of eugenol was determined against two strains of this bacterium ATCC 27853 and PAO1, and three clinical isolates. Then the effect of eugenol on bacterial proliferation was determined by monitoring the growth curve. The biofilm formation, the production of exopolysaccharide (EPS), pyocyanins, rhamnolipids, the motility of swimming, swarming, and twitching were evaluated after the eugenol treatment. The MICs against two strains of the bacterium ATCC 27853 and PAO1 were obtained 0.3% and 0.6% (v/v), respectively. Different concentrations of eugenol (≤0.15%) significantly reduced the production of virulence factors including pyocyanin and rhamnolipid. The biofilm formation, EPS production, and swarming, swimming, and twitching motility were also reduced after the eugenol treatment. In general, according to the results of this study, the use of eugenol, as a potent QS inhibitor and anti-biofilm agent, could be an effective therapeutic strategy against P. aeruginosa infections.
Biological effects of essential oils and extracts
Z. Ahmadi; D. Khademi Shurmasti
Abstract
Today, the tendency has increased to the use of bio-preservatives, including plant extracts, as an alternative to synthetic antioxidants and antimicrobials. On the other hand, the addition of lipids, such as oleic acid to biopolymers in active packaging reduces their permeability to water vapor. To investigate ...
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Today, the tendency has increased to the use of bio-preservatives, including plant extracts, as an alternative to synthetic antioxidants and antimicrobials. On the other hand, the addition of lipids, such as oleic acid to biopolymers in active packaging reduces their permeability to water vapor. To investigate the antioxidant and antimicrobial effect of Mentha spicataL. extract in bio-composite carboxymethyl cellulose-based coating on the shelf life of common carp fillets in cold conditions, an experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with six treatments including carboxymethyl cellulose coating (CMS, 2.5%), CMS combined with oleic acid (OA, 1.5%), CMS combined with OA and enriched with 0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2% Mentha spicataextract, and three replications for 9 days. The results showed that OA improved the protective effect of CMS. The use of Mentha spicata extract in the bio-composite coating, especially at the highest concentrations, significantly (p < /em> <0.05) reduced the number of psychrotrophic bacteria, the index of thiobarbituric acid, free fatty acids, total volatile nitrogen compounds, and pH of common carp fillets during cold storage. The antioxidant and antimicrobial effect of Mentha spicataextract was dose-dependent. Therefore, Mentha spicata extract, with its antioxidant and antimicrobial properties in combination with the composite coating of CMS-OA, can be used as a bio-preservative in active packaging, to maintain quality and increase the shelf life of fish fillets during short-term storage in refrigeration.
Biological effects of essential oils and extracts
J. Mazinani; J. Vatandoost; M.R. Vaezi Kakhki; Fereshteh Ghorat
Abstract
Amla (Phyllanthus emblica L.) is a member of the Phyllanthaceae family and grows widely in the tropics of China, India, Indonesia, and the Malay Peninsula and is used in many traditional medicinal systems such as Chinese medicine and Indian Ayurveda. Its fruit is one of the richest natural sources of ...
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Amla (Phyllanthus emblica L.) is a member of the Phyllanthaceae family and grows widely in the tropics of China, India, Indonesia, and the Malay Peninsula and is used in many traditional medicinal systems such as Chinese medicine and Indian Ayurveda. Its fruit is one of the richest natural sources of vitamin C and is a bleeding stopper and also very useful in the treatment of hemorrhoids. Different parts of this plant show anti-diabetic, antibacterial, antioxidant, and hepatoprotective properties. Chemical researches on Amla fruit indicate its high nutritional value. This study aimed at in vitro evaluating the effect of ethanolic extract of this plant on human coagulation indices. Different concentrations of the whole Amla plant extract were prepared, and its effect on coagulation indices including prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), and clotting time (CT) were evaluated, and the results were analyzed by t-test. The results showed that Amla ethanolic extract reduced aPTT and CT, but it had no significant effect on PT indices. The findings of this study indicate the coagulant effect of Amla ethanolic extract; however, further studies on animal and human models seem necessary.
Biological effects of essential oils and extracts
M.A. Zarei; Z. Nezarat
Abstract
Controlling post-meal hyperglycemia with α-glucosidase inhibitors is an important strategy in the management of diabetes and the reduction of chronic complications associated with this disease. Based on the results of previous studies, the methanolic extracts of the shoots of Salvia suffruticosa ...
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Controlling post-meal hyperglycemia with α-glucosidase inhibitors is an important strategy in the management of diabetes and the reduction of chronic complications associated with this disease. Based on the results of previous studies, the methanolic extracts of the shoots of Salvia suffruticosa Montbr. & Auch. ex Benth. and Hypericum scabrum L. have significant inhibitory effects on α-glucosidase activity. In this study, to determine the plant parts of S. suffruticosa and H. scabrum with the highest α-glucosidase inhibitory effect, after preparing the methanolic extract from different organs of the plants, the inhibitory effect of all extracts in different concentrations was investigated at 405 nm wavelength using a microplate reader. The highest α-glucosidase inhibitory activity in S. suffruticosa was related to the concentration 160 mg.mL-1 of the flower extract (100% inhibition and IC50 = 8.91 mg.mL-1), and the highest inhibitory activity of H. scabrum was related to the concentration 10 mg.mL-1 of the flower (96.49% inhibition and IC50 = 1.04 mg.mL-1) and leaf extracts (86% inhibition and IC50 = 3.98 mg.mL-1). According to the results of the kinetic study of enzymatic inhibition, S. suffruticosa flower and leaf extracts follow a noncompetitive-uncompetitive mixed pattern of inhibition and H. scabrum flower extract follows the competitive-noncompetitive one. Methanolic extract of flowers in S. suffruticosa and H. scabrum had a significant inhibitory effect on the activity of α-glucosidase. So, the flowers of these species are good natural sources for extracting compounds with potent medicinal properties to control postprandial blood sugar levels.
