Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) and health outcomes: a meta-research review of meta-analyses and an evidence mapping study.

Background: Although a number of systematic reviews and meta-analyses of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) have been published, no study has comprehensively summarized the clinical evidence from meta-analyses, or assessed the reporting or methodological quality of these reviews.

Purpose: The present meta-research study was designed to fill the gaps in knowledge to inform future studies and allow enhanced clinical decision-making on saffron.

Saffron for COVID-19-related cytokine storm: Hype or hope? A mini-review of current evidence.

Aim: To assess the potential role of saffron in downregulating inflammation and cytokine storm during COVID-19.

Main Findings: Three main compounds of saffron, i.e.

Encapsulation of Mentha pulegium Essential Oil in Yeast Cell Microcarriers: An Approach to Environmentally Friendly Pesticides.

A green approach for the encapsulation of Mentha pulegium essential oil in commercial baker's yeast and its evaluation as a pesticide against the insect pest Myzus persicae are presented. Upon treating aqueous yeast cell dispersion with the essential oil, the formation of essential-oil-loaded microparticles of about 9 μm is observed, with a loading capacity ranging from 29 to 36%, depending upon the encapsulation conditions. The thermal properties of the microparticles were characterized using differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis, confirming the protection of the essential oil from the cells.

Chemical composition and assessment of larvicidal and repellent capacity of 14 Lamiaceae essential oils against Aedes albopictus.

In the current laboratory study, 14 essential oils (EOs) derived from 12 Lamiaceae plant species and their major components were screened for their larvicidal and repellent properties against Aedes albopictus, an invasive mosquito species of great medical importance. The results of toxicity bioassays revealed that the EOs from Thymus vulgaris, Ocimum basilicum, Origanum dictamnus, Origanum majorana, and Origanum vulgare, as well as their major components (terpenes), namely thymol, carvacrol, p-cymene, and γ-terpinene exerted the highest larvicidal effect. Essential oils from Mellisa officinalis, Origanum dictamus, Mentha spicata (chem.

Integrated analytical methodology to investigate bioactive compounds in Crocus sativus L. flowers.

Introduction: The increasing interest on Crocus sativus L. over the last decades is caused by its potential employment as a source of biologically active molecules, endowed with antioxidant and nutraceutical properties. These molecules are present mainly in stigmas and tepals, these last generally considered as byproducts.

Comparative evaluation of an ISO 3632 method and an HPLC-DAD method for safranal quantity determination in saffron.

The aim of this work was a comparison of the ISO 3632 (2011) method and an HPLC-DAD method for safranal quantity determination in saffron. Samples from different origins were analysed by UV-vis according to ISO 3632 (2011) and by HPLC-DAD. Both methods were compared, and there was no correlation between the safranal content obtained by UV-vis and HPLC-DAD.

Assessing saffron (Crocus sativus L.) adulteration with plant-derived adulterants by diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy coupled with chemometrics.

Saffron, the dried red stigmas of the plant Crocus sativus L., is well-known as one of the most important and expensive spices worldwide. It is thus highly susceptible to fraudulent practices that employ, among others, plant-derived adulterants.

Biocidal Compounds from Mentha sp. Essential Oils and Their Structure-Activity Relationships.

Essential oils from Greek Mentha species showed different chemical compositions for two populations of M. pulegium, characterized by piperitone and pulegone. Mentha spicata essential oil was characterized by endocyclic piperitenone epoxide, piperitone epoxide, and carvone.

Sudan dyes in adulterated saffron (Crocus sativus L.): Identification and quantification by (1)H NMR.

Saffron, the dried red stigmas of Crocus sativus L., is considered as one of the most expensive spices worldwide, and as such, it is prone to adulteration. This study introduces an NMR-based approach to identify and determine the adulteration of saffron with Sudan I-IV dyes.

Genetic and Epigenetic Approaches for the Possible Detection of Adulteration and Auto-Adulteration in Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) Spice.

Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) is very expensive and, because of this, often subject to adulteration. Modern genetic fingerprinting techniques are an alternative low cost technology to the existing chemical techniques, which are used to control the purity of food products.

Evaluation of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) adulteration with plant adulterants by (1)H NMR metabolite fingerprinting.

In the present work, a preliminary study for the detection of adulterated saffron and the identification of the adulterant used by means of (1)H NMR and chemometrics is reported. Authentic Greek saffron and four typical plant-derived materials utilised as bulking agents in saffron, i.e.

Insecticidal activity of plant essential oils against the vine mealybug, Planococcus ficus.

The vine mealybug, Planococcus ficus (Signoret) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), is a pest in grape vine growing areas worldwide. The essential oils from the following aromatic plants were tested for their insecticidal activity against P. ficus: peppermint, Mentha piperita L.

FTIR spectroscopic evaluation of changes in the cellular biochemical composition of the phytopathogenic fungus Alternaria alternata induced by extracts of some Greek medicinal and aromatic plants.

In this study, the biological activity of aquatic extracts of selected Greek medicinal and aromatic plants to the phytopathogenic fungus Alternaria alternata was investigated. Lamiaceae species (Hyssopus officinalis L., Melissa officinalis L.

Geographical differentiation of dried lentil seed (Lens culinaris) samples using diffuse reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (DRIFTS) and discriminant analysis.

Diffuse reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (DRIFTS) and discriminant analysis were used for the geographical differentiation of dried lentil seed (Lens culinaris) samples. Specifically, 18 Greek samples and nine samples imported from other countries were distinguished using the 2250-1720 and 1275-955 cm⁻¹ spectral regions. The differentiation is complete.

Bioefficacy of acyclic monoterpenes and their saturated derivatives against the West Nile vector Culex pipiens.

Twenty acyclic monoterpenes with different functional groups (acetoxy, hydroxyl, carbonyl and carboxyl) bearing a variable number of carbon double bonds were assayed as repellent and larvicidal agents against the West Nile vector Culex pipiens. Seven of them were derivatives that were synthesized through either hydrogenation or oxidation procedures. All repellent compounds were tested at the dose of 1mgcm(-2) and only neral and geranial were also tested at a 4-fold lower dose (0.

Herbal infusions; their phenolic profile, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in HT29 and PC3 cells.

In this survey, we analyzed the phenolic profile of six herbal infusions namely Cretan marjoram, pink savory, oregano, mountain tea, pennyroyal and chamomile by LCDAD-MS and by GC-MS. Further, we investigated their anticarcinogenic effect as to their ability to (a) scavenge free radicals (b) inhibit proliferation (c) decrease IL-8 levels and (d) regulate nuclear factor-kappa B in epithelial colon cancer (HT29) and prostate (PC3) cancer cells. All herbal infusions exhibited antiradical activity correlated positevely with total phenolic content.

Direct determination of rosmarinic acid in Lamiaceae herbs using diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) and chemometrics.

For the determination of rosmarinic acid (RA) directly in pulverized plant material, a method is developed using diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) without any physicochemical pretreatment of samples. The RA content of 11 samples of eight different Lamiaceae herbs, as determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), varied between 86 ± 1 mg/g (in lemon balm) and 12.0 ± 0.

Incidence of Bacteriocins Produced by Food-Related Lactic Acid Bacteria Active towards Oral Pathogens.

In the present study we investigated the incidence of bacteriocins produced by 236 lactic acid bacteria (LAB) food isolates against pathogenic or opportunistic pathogenic oral bacteria. This set of LAB contained several strains (≥17%) producing bacteriocins active against food-related bacteria. Interestingly only Streptococcus macedonicus ACA-DC 198 was able to inhibit the growth of Streptococcus oralis, Streptococcus sanguinis and Streptococcus gordonii, while Lactobacillus fermentum ACA-DC 179 and Lactobacillus plantarun ACA-DC 269 produced bacteriocins solely against Streptococcus oralis.

Probing the binding sites of resveratrol, genistein, and curcumin with milk β-lactoglobulin.

We determined the binding sites of curcumin (cur), resveratrol (res), and genistein (gen) with milk β-lactoglobulin (β-LG) at physiological conditions. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, circular dichroism, and fluorescence spectroscopic methods as well as molecular modeling were used to determine the binding of polyphenol-protein complexes. Structural analysis showed that polyphenols bind β-LG via both hydrophilic and hydrophobic contacts with overall binding constants of Kcurcumin-β-LG = 4.

Evaluation of bioefficacy of three Citrus essential oils against the dengue vector Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) in correlation to their components enantiomeric distribution.

Laboratory experiments were conducted to study the bioefficacy against Ae. albopictus of three Citrus essential oils, derived from peels of Citrus sinensis, Citrus limon, and Citrus paradise and of their components. Chiral gas chromatography analysis revealed the dominant occurrence of R-(+)-limonene and (-)-β-pinene in all three essential oils while in the case of lemon oil γ-terpinene, neral, and geranial detected also among other components.

Effects of Americium-241 and humic substances on Photobacterium phosphoreum: bioluminescence and diffuse reflectance FTIR spectroscopic studies.

The integral bioluminescence (BL) intensity of live Photobacterium phosphoreum cells (strain 1883 IBSO), sampled at the stationary growth stage (20 h), was monitored for further 300 h in the absence (control) and presence of (241)Am (an α-emitting radionuclide of a high specific activity) in the growth medium. The activity concentration of (241)Am was 2 kBq l(-1); [(241)Am]=6.5×10(-11) M.

Locating the binding sites of retinol and retinoic acid with milk β-lactoglobulin.

β-lactoglobulin (β-LG) is a member of lipocalin superfamily of transporters for small hydrophobic molecules such as retinoids. We located the binding sites of retinol and retinoic acid on β-LG in aqueous solution at physiological conditions, using FTIR, CD, fluorescence spectroscopic methods, and molecular modeling. The retinoid-binding sites and the binding constants as well as the effect of retinol and retinoic acid complexation on protein stability and secondary structure were determined.

Milk β-lactoglobulin complexes with tea polyphenols.

The effect of milk on the antioxidant capacity of tea polyphenols is not fully understood. The complexation of tea polyphenols with milk proteins can alter the antioxidant activity of tea compounds and the protein secondary structure. This study was designed to examine the interaction of β-lactogolobulin (β-LG) with tea polyphenols (+)-catechin (C), (-)-epicatechin (EC), (-)-epicatechin gallate (ECG) and (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) at molecular level, using FTIR, CD and fluorescence spectroscopic methods as well as molecular modelling.

Classification of Greek Mentha pulegium L. (Pennyroyal) samples, according to geographical location by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy.

Introduction: Mentha pulegium L. (pennyroyal) is one of the four most commercially important Mentha species, even it is not a cultivated plant. It can be abundantly located in the Iberian Peninsula and North African countries.