Carvacrol ameliorates behavioral disturbances and DNA damage in the brain of rats exposed to propiconazole

Propiconazole (PCZ) is an ergosterol biosynthesis inhibiting fungicide. Carvacrol (CAR) is a monoterpenoid phenol that has various beneficial health effects. The current research was designed to study the impact of PCZ on the behavior of rats and its ability to induce DNA damage in neurons as well as to clarify the ameliorative effect of CAR against these toxic impacts. Sixty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly and equally divided into 4 experimental groups and treated daily by oral gavage for 2 months as follows: Group 1 (control); group 2 treated with PCZ (75 mg/kg); group 3 treated with CAR (50 mg/kg) and group 4 treated with both PCZ and CAR. Behavioral tests demonstrated that exposure to PCZ had a deleterious effect on psychological, motor and cognitive neural functions. Additionally, antioxidant enzyme activities, SOD and GSH-Px, were declined in brain tissue following exposure to PCZ. Moreover, comet assay revealed a high percent of DNA damage in the brain of rats exposed to PCZ. On the other hand, CAR administration ameliorated the harmful effects induced by PCZ through a protective mechanism that involved the improvement of neural functions and attenuation of oxidative stress and DNA damage.     

中药牛至单体体外抗解脲脲原体与人型支原体作用

目的观察唇形科植物牛至(满坡香)单体抗解脲脲原体与人型支原体的作用,揭示牛至单体更广的抗病原微生物的范围,寻找新的抗解脲脲原体与人型支原体药物。方法采用直接液体培养基稀释方法,测定中药牛至单体对60株泌尿生殖道支原体的体外抗菌效应。结果迷迭香酸的半数最低抑菌浓度为1.024 mg/m l,咖啡酸的半数最低抑菌浓度为0.512 mg/m l,香荆芥酚的半数最低抑菌浓度为0.512 mg/m l,百里香酚的半数最低抑菌浓度为0.512 mg/m l。结论中药牛至单体具有较强抗血清型解脲脲原体或人型支原体的作用。     

Impact of gamma-irradiation on the antioxidative properties of sage, thyme, and oregano

Ionizing radiation is known to stimulate the generation of oxygen radicals which destabilize organic molecules resulting in a decrease of the system’s antioxidant potential. The Salmonella typhimurium (TA102) reverse mutation assay, co-incubated with t-BOOH and H₂O₂, was used to assess the effects of gamma-irradiation (dose: 10 kGy) on the antioxidant properties of sage, thyme, and oregano in chloroform and methanol extracts as well as in their mixture. In addition, measurements of the trolox equivalent antioxidative capacity (TEAC), total polyphenol content (TPC), and tocopherol equivalent (TE) were performed. For the methanol and mixed extracts, antioxidative properties in the S. typhimurium reverse mutation assay were only found when using an exogenous metabolic activation system. Generally, the greatest inhibition of mutagenicity was observed in the chloroform fractions of irradiated and of non-irradiated herbs. The relative antioxidant activities for the different herbs were as follows: TA102/t-BOOH, TEAC, TPC: thyme ≈ oregano > sage. TA102/H₂O₂: thyme ≈ oregano ≈ sage. TE: sage > thyme > oregano. For the majority of the investigated samples the impact of irradiation was insignificant. Therefore, gamma-irradiation at the doses tested seems to have little, if any, effect on the antioxidative capacity of the tested herbs.     

Subcritical water extraction of nutraceuticals with antioxidant activity from oregano. Chemical and functional characterization

In the present work, oregano leaves (Origanum vulgare L.) are explored as natural source of nutraceuticals with antioxidant activity. To do this, subcritical water extraction (SWE), a new environmentally friendly technique, is employed as extraction procedure and HPLC coupled to DAD is used for the chemical characterization of the extracts. Moreover, the radical scavenging 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) method and the determination of the total phenolic content (measured with the Folin test) are applied to evaluate the antioxidant activity of the extracts. The extraction of antioxidants from oregano leaves by SWE is studied considering different temperatures (25, 50, 100, 150 and 200 °C) to investigate the selectivity of the process. The highest antioxidant activity is observed for the extract obtained at the highest temperature, 200 °C (EC₅₀ equal to 10 μg/ml). Moreover, the extraction yield was also the highest (54% dry weight) at these extraction conditions. The total phenolic content showed no differences among the different extracts, concluding that the amount of phenolic compounds extracted was similar but the type and structure of the phenolics was different, providing in this way different antioxidant activity. Some compounds could be tentatively identified, proposing some probable chemical structures for some of them, such as flavanones, dihydroflavonols, favonols and flavones.     

Prolongevity effects of a botanical with oregano and cranberry extracts in Mexican fruit flies: examining interactions of diet restriction and age

Botanicals rich with phytochemicals have numerous health benefits. Dietary restriction (DR) extends lifespan in diverse species. We previously demonstrated that an oregano–cranberry (OC) mixture can promote longevity in the Mexican Fruit fly (Mexfly, Anastrepha ludens Loew). However, little is known about the interaction between botanicals and DR, and the age-dependent effect of botanicals on lifespan and reproduction. Here we investigated these issues by feeding Mexflies a full or DR diet supplemented with or without 2% OC. Lifespan and daily egg production of individual flies were recorded. The effect of short-term OC supplementation was evaluated by implementing the supplementation at three age intervals—young, middle, and old age. We found that OC increased lifespan of Mexflies on the full or DR diet when compared to their respective controls. OC increased reproduction of females on the full diet and, to a lesser extent, on the DR diet. Short-term OC supplementation was not sufficient to extend lifespan for males at all three age intervals nor for females at young and old age intervals. However, OC supplementation at the middle age interval was sufficient to extend lifespan in females, while only OC supplementation at the young age interval increased reproduction in females. Our findings suggest that OC extends lifespan and promotes reproduction partly through DR-independent pathways, and short-term supplementation have varied impact on longevity and reproduction. This also suggests a positive interaction between non-genetic interventions in promoting longevity and provides guidance for using botanicals as aging interventions in humans.     

Cytotoxicity and morphological effects induced by carvacrol and thymol on the human cell line Caco-2

Essential oils used as additives in the food industry due to its flavour, antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. Therefore, human can be exposed orally to these compounds through the ingestion of foods. In this sense, the present work aims to assess toxicological effects of oregano essential oil on the digestive tract. In concrete, the cytotoxic effects of two components of the oregano essential oils, carvacrol and thymol, and their mixture, on the intestinal cells line Caco-2 after 24 and 48 h of exposure are studied. The basal cytotoxicity endpoints assayed (total protein content, neutral red uptake and the tetrazolium salt reduction) and the annexin/propidium iodide staining indicated that carvacrol and the mixture carvacrol/thymol induced toxic effects. Moreover, a morphological study was performed in order to determine the ultrastructural cellular damages caused by these substances. The main morphological alterations were vacuolated cytoplasm, altered organelles and finally cell death. In addition, although no cytotoxic effects were recorded for thymol at any concentration and time of exposure, ultrastructural changes evidenced cellular damage such as lipid degeneration, mitochondrial damage, nucleolar segregation and apoptosis.     

埃及产百里香和牛至精油、提取物的抗氧化和抗菌活性研究

[目的]本文对埃及产的百里香(Thymus vulgaris L.)和牛至(Origanum vulgare L.)的化学成分、抗氧化和抗菌活性进行了研究。[方法]本文采用GC-MS法和福林酚方法对样品中的化学成分和多酚物质进行了分析,同时使用DPPH试剂和抑菌圈实验评价样品的抗氧化和抗菌效果。[结果]埃及产百里香精油中主要含有百里香酚(45.19%)、p-伞花烃(13.59%)、香芹酚(7.65%)和松油烯(6.82%),牛至精油中主要有香芹酚(52.46%)、松油烯-4-醇(7.43%)、顺-β-萜品醇(5.64%)和松油烯(4.73%)。百里香和牛至的精油中的多酚含量分别为228.78 mg/g和129.43 mg/g,表现出显著的DPPH自由基清除能力,而残渣中的多酚含量相对较少(123.68 mg/g和138.26 mg/g),但抗氧化能力要更强。在抗菌能力方面,两种提取物均对Klebsiella pneumonia(35.8±0.89)mm和(37±0.47)mm的抑制能力最强,而百里香和牛至的精油则分别对Rhodotorula mucilaginosa(25.7±0.27)mm和Aspergillus flavus(16.5±0.24)mm。[结论]埃及产百里香和牛至均具有明显的抗氧化和抗菌活性。     

中药牛至油、鸦胆子对人芽囊原虫的体外杀灭作用

目的通过观察牛至油、鸦胆子对人芽囊原虫的体外杀灭作用,筛选治疗人芽囊原虫感染有效药物及浓度。方法从腹泻患者新鲜粪便中分离人芽囊原虫,分别用含牛至油和鸦胆子1640培养基培养,药物设200、400、800、1600、3200和6400μg/ml组。于加药24h和72h作虫体计数,评价药物效果,试验设甲硝唑药物对照组和不加药空白对照组。结果牛至油1600、3200μg/ml作用72h、6400μg/ml作用24h,虫体全部死亡,最适杀虫体浓度为800μg/ml;鸦胆子6400μg/ml24h虫体全部死亡,最适杀虫浓度为1600～3200μg/ml;甲硝唑40μg/ml72h、≥80μg/ml24h虫体全部死亡。结论牛至油和鸦胆子具有体外杀灭人芽囊原虫作用。且牛至油的杀虫效果强于鸦胆子。     

牛至油及其主要成分的体外抑菌实验

目的：比较牛至油、香芹酚、百里香酚和对伞花烃对6株标准菌的抑菌效果。方法：采用滤纸片法以及试管二倍稀释法,以头孢曲松钠和氟康唑作为阳性对照,分别采用牛至油、香芹酚、百里香素、对伞花烃对金黄色葡萄球菌、肺炎克雷伯菌、粪肠球菌、大肠埃希菌、铜绿假单胞菌、葡萄牙念珠菌进行体外抑菌实验,测定抑菌圈的大小,最小抑菌浓度（MIC）以及最小杀菌浓度（MBC）。评价各试药的抑菌效果。结果：牛至油、香芹酚、百里香酚对不同标准菌株均有明显抑菌效果;滤纸片法显示牛至油、香芹酚、百里香酚对选定的6株菌株皆高度敏感,对伞花烃对其菌株耐药。试管二倍稀释法结果表明,牛至油、香芹酚抑菌效果稍强于百里香酚,但这3种植物挥发油对铜绿假单胞菌的抑菌效果与其他菌株相比较弱。结论：牛至油、香芹酚和百里香酚对金黄色葡萄球菌、肺炎克雷伯菌、粪肠球菌、大肠埃希菌、铜绿假单胞菌、葡萄牙念珠菌具有显著体外抑菌作用。     

Feeding preferences in lambs influenced by prenatal flavour exposure

The aim of the present study is to highlight and evaluate the role of flavour prenatal exposure in postnatal feeding preferences in sheep after weaning and until the early stages of puberty. 16 lambs were selected from two groups of ewes; the first group was fed with a control diet, consisted of concentrated feed and alfalfa hay and the second group with the same diet, with the only difference that the concentrate was supplemented with oregano essential oil (1 ml/kg), during the period of pregnancy (50th-130th day). Lambs were later individually subjected to feeding preference tests, at the age of 3, 4.5, 6, 7.5 months old. Each test lasted 25 min and it was a free choice situation between 3 different test feeds supplemented with eucalyptus or orange or oregano essential oil (1 ml/kg). Lambs born to oregano-treated ewes ate higher amounts of the oregano supplemented test feed during all feeding preference tests compared to lambs from the control group (P<0.01). Rates for occurrences and duration of eating were also greater in lambs born to oregano-treated ewes than the offspring of the control ewe group (P<0.01). On the other hand, animals without a flavour exposure precedent did not exhibit an evident strong preference for a specific test feed, although orange supplemented feed tended to be more preferable compared to the other offered feeds. Average total intake of lambs were not different between groups during all feeding preference tests at 3, 41/2, 6 and 71/2 months old. As it is concluded, prenatal exposure to oregano essential oil via maternal ingestion drastically influences lamb feeding preferences till adulthood.