Essential oil and furanosesquiterpenes from myrrh oleo-gum resin: a breakthrough in mosquito vector management.

Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) are vectors of various pathogens of public health concern and replacing conventional insecticides remains a challenge. In this regard, natural products represent valuable sources of potential insecticidal compounds, thus increasingly attracting research interest. Commiphora myrrha (T.

Ultrasound-assisted extraction versus traditional Soxhlet apparatus for the obtention of polyphenols, carotenoids and tocopherols from Tagetes erecta L. flowers.

Background: Tagetes erecta L., commonly known as American marigold, serves as a food plant used for the extraction of carotenoids such as lutein, employed both as culinary ingredient in certain dishes and for its ornamental and medicinal applications. Two extraction techniques, Soxhlet and ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), were used on two cultivars (yellow and orange) of T.

Tuning the nanostructure and tribological properties of a non-ionic deep eutectic solvent with water addition.

Hypothesis: The addition of water to a non-ionic N-oxide deep eutectic solvent(DES) composed of phenylacetic acid (PhAA) and N-dodecylmorpholine-N-oxide(MO-12) in a 1:1 M ratio(PhAA/MO-12) will promote interfacial nanostructure formation due to increased proton transfer and solvophobic interactions, leading to reduced friction.

Experiments: The interfacial structure and friction of PhAA/MO-12 with water content up to 41.9 wt% were investigated at mica surfaces.

Investigation of the Chemical Composition and Biological Activities of Eremurus spectabilis M. Bieb through Antioxidant, Enzyme Inhibition, COX-2and iNOS Assessment.

Eremurus spectabilis is widespread and used primarily for medicinal and culinary purposes. This study aimed to evaluate the chemical composition, antiradical and antioxidant activities, enzyme inhibitory activities, and anti-inflammatory properties of various extracts from the aerial parts of E. spectabilis.

Effects of Micronutrients on the Growth and Phytochemical Composition of Basil ( L.) in the Field and Greenhouse (Hydroponics and Soil Culture).

The current research was conducted to compare the growth, yield, and phytochemical composition of basil () in the open field and the soil and hydroponic cultivation in a greenhouse. Furthermore, the effect of foliar spraying of micronutrients on this crop was also evaluated. In each of the cultivation systems, foliar spraying of one micronutrient, either iron sulfate (Fe), zinc sulfate (Zn), copper sulfate (Cu), manganese sulfate (Mn), or boric acid (B), at a concentration of 0.

Pyrazolone-Based Zn(II) Complexes Display Antitumor Effects in Mutant p53-Carrying Cancer Cells.

The synthesis and characterization of nine Schiff bases of pyrazolone ligands ( = 1-9) and the corresponding zinc(II) complexes - of composition [Zn(L)] ( = 1-9) are reported. The molecular structures of complexes , , , , and were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, highlighting in all cases a distorted tetrahedral geometry around the Zn(II) ion. Density functional theory studies are performed on both the ligands and the derived complexes.

Black Mulberries ( L.) Modulate Oxidative Stress and Beta-Amyloid-Induced Toxicity, Becoming a Potential Neuroprotective Functional Food.

Black mulberry ( L.) is a common edible fruit from the Moraceae family with a wide variety of nutritional and medicinal applications, mainly due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The purpose of this work was to investigate the cytoprotective and neuroprotective capacity of a hydrophilic black mulberry solvent-free extract rich in polyphenols, including the antioxidant, antiradical, and enzymatic mechanisms that would explain these effects.

Biological Properties of Oleanolic Acid Derivatives Bearing Functionalized Side Chains at C-3.

Triterpene acids are a class of pentacyclic natural carboxylic compounds endowed with a variety of biological activities including antitumor, antimicrobial, and hepatoprotective effects. In this work, several oleanolic acid derivatives were synthesized by structurally modifying them on the C-3 position. All synthesized derivatives were evaluated for possible antibacterial and antiviral activity, and among all the epimers, and demonstrated the best biological activities.

Amlou inspired spread: Formulation and characterization of new spread based on L. fruit, argan oil, and honey.

This study explores novel applications of combining natural products by integrating L. (), honey, and argan oil to create a product similar to traditional Moroccan Amlou (a mixture of almonds, honey, and argan oil). Five formulations were developed with varying percentages of these three ingredients, alongside two formulations of traditional Amlou.

Silver nanoparticles from orange peel extract: Colorimetric detection of Pb and Cd ions with a chemometric approach.

Green silver nanoparticles (AgNPs@OPE) were obtained by using orange (citrus sinensis) peel water extract (OPE) that acts as a reducing and capping agent. This procedure permits the valorisation of waste as orange peel, and lowers the environmental impact of the process, with respect to the conventional synthetic procedure. The OPE extract reduced Ag(I) to Ag(0) in alkaline conditions, and stabilised the produced nanoparticles as a capping agent.

Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory, Anti-Diabetic, and Pro-Osteogenic Activities of Polyphenols for the Treatment of Two Different Chronic Diseases: Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Osteoporosis.

Polyphenols are natural bioactives occurring in medicinal and aromatic plants and food and beverages of plant origin. Compared with conventional therapies, plant-derived phytochemicals are more affordable and accessible and have no toxic side effects. Thus, pharmaceutical research is increasingly inclined to discover and study new and innovative natural molecules for the treatment of several chronic human diseases, like type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and osteoporosis.

Essential Oil and Its Principal Constituents with Cytotoxic Effects on Human Tumor Cell Lines.

is a small genus of the Asteraceae family comprising just five species that, apart from (L.) Chevall., has a large distribution in all the Mediterranean countries, mainly in the North Africa area.

Synthesis of 3,5-disubstituted isoxazoles by domino reductive Nef reaction/cyclization of β-nitroenones.

β-Nitroenones can be efficiently converted into 3,5-disubstituted isoxazoles by using tin(II)chloride dihydrate and ethyl acetate as a reducing agent and solvent, respectively. Products are obtained in good yields and several functional groups are tolerated thanks to the mild reaction conditions.

Microwave-assisted hydrodiffusion and gravity extraction: An efficient method to produce pomegranate juice.

Green technologies based on microwaves have been developed by the food industry to produce organoleptically acceptable fruit juices without preliminary processing. Microwave irradiation coupled with hydrodiffusion and gravity (MHG) combines microwave heating with the earth's gravity, allowing the collection of hydrophilic substances released from the irradiated matrix. To the best of our knowledge, MHG extraction has never been experimented to produce pomegranate juice.

Multifunctionality of cyclodextrin-based polymeric nanoparticulate delivery systems for chemotherapeutics, combination therapy, and theranostics.

As cancer being the most difficult disease to treat, different kinds of medications and therapeutic approaches have been prominently developed by scientists. For certain families of drugs, such as immuno-therapeutics or antibody-drug conjugates, efficient delivery systems are required during administration to protect the drugs from chemical degradation or biological inactivation. Delivery systems with the ability to carry different therapeutics or diagnostic agents or both, hold promising potential to tackle the abnormalities behind cancer.

Anti-breast cancer activity of the essential oil from grapefruit mint (Mentha suaveolens × piperita).

Grapefruit mint (Mentha suaveolens × piperita) is a hybrid, perennial, and aromatic plant widely cultivated all over the world and used in the food, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical industries mostly for its valuable essential oil. Herein, we evaluated the anticancer activity of the grapefruit mint essential oil, cultivated in Iran. For the chemical composition analysis of essential oil, GC-MS was used.

Fighting Microbial Infections from O157:H7: The Combined Use of Three Essential Oils of the Genus and a Derivative of Esculentin-1a Peptide.

The absence of effective therapy against O157:H7 infections has led to the need to develop new antimicrobial agents. As the use of synergistic combinations of natural antimicrobial compounds is growing as a new weapon in the fight against multidrug-resistant bacteria, here, we have tested new synergistic combinations of natural agents. Notably, we investigated a possible synergistic effect of combinations of essential oils and natural peptides to counteract the formation of biofilm.

Editorial for the Special Issue "Antiprotozoal Activity of Natural Products".

Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), a diverse group of infectious diseases, represent the leading cause of morbidity and mortality among the world's low-income populations [...

Essential oil of (L.) Lag. growing in Ksob River, Algeria.

The essential oil from the aerial parts of (L.) Lag. (Apiaceae), collected in Ksob River (Algeria) and obtained by hydrodistillation, was analysed by GC-MS.

Identification of Anti-Neuroinflammatory Bioactive Compounds in Essential Oils and Aqueous Distillation Residues Obtained from Commercial Varieties of L.

Neuroinflammation, which is mainly triggered by microglia, is a key contributor to multiple neurodegenerative diseases. Natural products, and in particular L., due to its richness in phytochemical components, represent ideal candidates to counteract neuroinflammation.

Analgesic effect of and molecular docking investigation of the major component swertiamarin.

Rafn is employed in Algerian traditional medicine for treating pain. The analgesic activity of the ethanolic extract (EE) from the flowering aerial parts of this plant was examined, and molecular docking of the main bioactive compound was performed. The EE, characterised by the iridoid swertiamarin, was administered to Wistar albino rats in pain models.

Lethal and sublethal effects of carlina oxide on Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae) and Neoseiulus californicus (Acari: Phytoseiidae).

Background: Tetranychus urticae Koch, is a polyphagous and damaging pest, presenting several resistant populations worldwide. Among new and more environmentally friendly control tools, botanical pesticides represent a valuable alternative to synthetic ones within integrated pest management strategies. Accordingly, we investigated the lethal and sublethal effects of carlina oxide isolated from Carlina acaulis (Asteraceae) roots on T.

Effect of Polyplex Size on Penetration into Tumor Spheroids.

Ovarian cancer is one of the most lethal gynecological cancers in the world. In recent years, nucleic acid (NA)-based formulations have been shown to be promising treatments for ovarian cancer, including tumor nodules. However, gene therapy is not that far advanced in clinical reality due to unfavorable physicochemical properties of the NAs, such as high molecular weight, poor cellular uptake, rapid degradation by nucleases, etc.