Salvia spp. plants-from farm to food applications and phytopharmacotherapy

Salvia is one of the largest genera of the family Lamiaceae. It is widely distributed in the temperate, subtropical, and tropical regions all over the world. Besides its ethnobotanical importance, some species such as S. officinalis (sage, common sage), S. sclarea (clary sage), S. lavandulifolia (Spanish sage), S. miltiorrhiza (danshen), and S. hispanica (chia) are traded on the market as a food and because of the interest in their essential oils and/or popularity in traditional medicine. The high diversity of the Salvia genus and phytochemical richness generate great interest for discovering new biological active compounds, including those found in essential oils. Salvia plant essential oils exhibit broad-spectrum pharmacological activities and represent great interest for food preservation as potential natural products. Thus, this review describes the phytochemical composition of essential oils from different Salvia spp. according to the geographic regions, plant organ, and phenological stage. Moreover, the cultivation and growing conditions of Salvia plants have been also revised. Finally, the interest on Salvia plants for food and pharmaceutical applications has been covered, through reporting their biological properties, including as antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-alzheimer, hypotensive, anti-hyperglycemia, anti-hyperlipidemia, anti-cancer, and skin curative agents.     

Correlative metabolite profiling approach to understand antioxidant and antimicrobial activities from citrus essential oils

The objective of this study was to investigate the chemical composition of the essential oils from citrus species, as well as their antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. By gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, we identified thirty-seven metabolites and a range of unique compounds, contributing to the discrimination of the species. Different biological potentialities were detected depending on the species supported the significant effect of the genetic factor. C. aurantium and C. limon exhibited the highest antioxidant activities which make them a potential source of natural preservative. C. limon exhibited the highest antibacterial activities and C. reticulata the highest antifungal activities. Essential oils extracted from these agro-wastes could serve as natural food preservatives to prevent food pathogens and then extending the shelf life. A set of potential metabolites could be implicated in the observed biological activity, underlying that the antimicrobial activity is a complex trait.     

Biological,medicinal and toxicological significance of Eucalyptus leaf essential oil: a review

The genus Eucalyptus L'Heritier comprises about 900 species, of which more than 300 species contain volatile essential oil in their leaves. About 20 species, within these, have a high content of 1,8‐cineole (more than 70%), commercially used for the production of essential oils in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. However, Eucalyptus is extensively planted for pulp, plywood and solid wood production, but its leaf aromatic oil has astounding widespread biological activities, including antimicrobial, antiseptic, antioxidant, chemotherapeutic, respiratory and gastrointestinal disorder treatment, wound healing, and insecticidal/insect repellent, herbicidal, acaricidal, nematicidal, and perfumes, soap making and grease remover. In the present review, we have made an attempt to congregate the biological ingredients of leaf essential oil, leaf oil as a natural medicine, and pharmacological and toxicological values of the leaf oil of different Eucalyptus species worldwide. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry     

Pharmacological evidences for the extracts and secondary metabolites from plants of the genus Hibiscus

The scientific basis for the statement that plants and their active constituents play an important role in the prevention of chronic and degenerative diseases is continuously advancing. In fact, the origin of many therapeutic substances is due to secondary metabolism in the plant. The genus Hibiscus contains 220 species distributed around the world. It is an interesting source of potential bioactive molecules, as phenolic compounds, triterpene derivatives, phytosteroids, with antioxidant, cardioprotective, antihypertensive and antiproliferative activities. This work reviews the pharmacological evidence of extracts of plants from the genus Hibiscus, giving an overview of the most studied biological effects and the known phytochemical composition. Although more studies are necessary, Hibiscus spp. exhibits proven potential to become of important pharmacological interest.     

Chemical constituents and biological research on plants in the genus Curcuma

Curcuma, a valuable genus in the family Zingiberaceae, includes approximately 110 species. These plants are native to Southeast Asia and are extensively cultivated in India, China, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Peru, Australia, and the West Indies. The plants have long been used in folk medicine to treat stomach ailments, stimulate digestion, and protect the digestive organs, including the intestines, stomach, and liver. In recent years, substantial progress has been achieved in investigations regarding the chemical and pharmacological properties, as well as in clinical trials of certain Curcuma species. This review comprehensively summarizes the current knowledge on the chemistry and briefly discusses the biological activities of Curcuma species. A total of 720 compounds, including 102 diphenylalkanoids, 19 phenylpropene derivatives, 529 terpenoids, 15 flavonoids, 7 steroids, 3 alkaloids, and 44 compounds of other types isolated or identified from 32 species, have been phytochemically investigated. The biological activities of plant extracts and pure compounds are classified into 15 groups in detail, with emphasis on anti-inflammatory and antitumor activities.     

Research advances in traditional and modern use of Nelumbo nucifera: phytochemicals,health promoting activities and beyond

Abstract

Nelumbo nucifera, or sacred lotus, has been valuable for us to use as vegetable, functional food, and herb medicine for over 2,000?years. The purpose of this article is to systematically review the traditional/modern uses, chemical compositions and pharmacological activities on different parts of N. nucifera. Traditionally, this plant has been used to treat chronic dyspepsia, hematuria, insomnia, nervous disorders, cardiovascular diseases, and hyperlipidemia. Now, phytochemical investigations on different parts of N. nucifera have indicated a wide spectrum of at least 255 constituents belonging to different chemical groups, including proteins, amino acids, polysaccharides, starch, flavonoids, alkaloids, essential oils, triterpenoids, steroids, and glycosides. Meanwhile, its pharmacological activities, including anti-obesity, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, cardiovascular, hepatoprotective, hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, antitumor, memory-improving and antiviral activities, have also been reviewed, together with its applications in health food industry and clinic uses of its single plant or herbal formulae. Herein, this review will provide state-of-the-art overview on its traditional and modern uses in food industry and medicines, together with the comprehensive profiles of phytochemicals, and health promoting bioactivities of this valuable plant. In addition, the new perspectives and future challenges in the research on lotus are also outlined.     

Biological activities of Agave by‐products and their possible applications in food and pharmaceuticals

Agave leaves are considered a by‐product of alcoholic beverage production (tequila, mezcal and bacanora) because they are discarded during the production process, despite accounting for approximately 50% of the total plant weight. These by‐products constitute a potential source of Agave extracts rich in bioactive compounds, such as saponins, phenolic compounds and terpenes, and possess different biological effects, as demonstrated by in vitro and in vivo tests (e.g. antimicrobial, antifungal, antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory, antihypertensive, immunomodulatory, antiparasitic and anticancer activity). Despite their positive results in biological assays, Agave extracts have not been widely evaluated in food systems and pharmaceutical areas, and these fields represent a potential route to improve the usage of Agave plants as food additives and agents for treating medical diseases. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry     

Chemical composition,antioxidant activity and anti‐lipase activity of Origanum vulgare and Lippia turbinata essential oils

This study reported the chemical composition, phenolic content, antioxidant and anti‐lipase activity of oregano and Lippia essential oils. The major compounds found in oregano essential oil were γ‐terpinene (32.10%), α‐terpinene (15.10%), p‐cymene (8.00%) and thymol (8.00%). In Lippia essential oil, α‐limonene (76.80%) and 1,8‐cineole (4.95%) represented the major compounds. Oregano essential oil had higher phenolic content (12.47 mg gallic acid mL^?1) and DPPH scavenging activity (IC₅₀ 0.357 μg mL^?1) than Lippia essential oil (7.94 mg gallic acid mL^?1 and IC₅₀ 0.400 μg mL^?1, respectively). Both essential oils had similar antioxidant indexes (about 1.2) determined by Rancimat. Moreover, oregano essential oil had also higher anti‐lipase activity (IC₅₀ 5.09 and 7.26 μg mL^?1). Higher phenolic content in the essential oils was related with higher scavenging and anti‐lipase activities. Oregano and Lippia essential oils could be used as natural antioxidants on food products.     

Nutritional and medicinal properties of underexploited legume trees from West Africa

Abstract

This review concerns three legume trees (family Fabaceae, subfamily Caesalpinioideae) from West Africa, namely Detarium microcarpum, Parkia biglobosa and Dialium guineense, and illustrates their nutritional value and therapeutic properties. These species are an important source of nutrition for West African populations, but their agricultural exploitation is still incomplete. The survey was conducted on Scopus, Web of Science, and Medline, using scientific and common English names of the species as keywords and then selecting papers related to nutritional and medicinal properties. Main food products are fruit pulp and seeds, though leaves can also be used. Most relevant dietary features are high protein, vitamin, and micronutrient contents. Various therapeutic and nutritional benefits of these plants have been documented by ethnobotanical and experimental studies, stimulating an interest for their possible use as functional food or drug sources. Most studied medicinal properties include antidiabetic and antimicrobial activities of D. microcarpum, cardiovascular protective and antidiabetic activities of P. biglobosa, and bilharzia-preventing molluscicidal activity of D. guineense. Phytochemical characterizations have revealed potential sources of active drugs, such as D. guineense saponins and D. microcarpum diterpenes. Scientific results support popular uses of these legume trees, indicating a prominent nutritional and health value.     

p‐Coumaric acid and its conjugates: dietary sources,pharmacokinetic properties and biological activities

p‐Coumaric acid (4‐hydroxycinnamic acid) is a phenolic acid that has low toxicity in mice (LD₅₀ = 2850 mg kg^?1 body weight), serves as a precursor of other phenolic compounds, and exists either in free or conjugated form in plants. Conjugates of p‐coumaric acid have been extensively studied in recent years due to their bioactivities. In this review, the occurrence, bioavailability and bioaccessibility of p‐coumaric acid and its conjugates with mono‐, oligo‐ and polysaccharides, alkyl alcohols, organic acids, amine and lignin are discussed. Their biological activities, including antioxidant, anti‐cancer, antimicrobial, antivirus, anti‐inflammatory, antiplatelet aggregation, anxiolytic, antipyretic, analgesic, and anti‐arthritis activities, and their mitigatory effects against diabetes, obesity, hyperlipaemia and gout are compared. Cumulative evidence from multiple studies indicates that conjugation of p‐coumaric acid greatly strengthens its biological activities; however, the high biological activity but low absorption of its conjugates remains a puzzle. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry     

Chemical Composition and Antioxidant, Antimicrobial Activities of the Essential Oils of Thymus marschallianus Will. and Thymus proximus Serg.

ABSTRACT: Chemical composition and antioxidant, antimicrobial activities of the essential oils from Thymus marschallianus Will. and Thymus proximus Serg. growing in the wild in Xinjiang were studied. Samples were collected from the aerial parts of the plants with simultaneous distillation-extraction apparatus. The yields ranged between 1.22%± 0.01 and 0.16%± 0.01 (weight/dry weight), respectively, 53 and 60 kinds of volatiles, representing 99.6% and 99.7% of the essential oils, respectively, were identified in extracts from T. marschallianus and T. proximus by GC/MS analysis. The main components were Thymol (28.0% to 32.9%), p-Cymene (7.7% to 25.4%), and γ-Terpinene (18.0% to 22.4%). Antioxidant activities of the oils were evaluated using metal chelating, reductive potential, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, hydroxyl radical, and modified thiobarbituric acid reactive substances assay. Antimicrobial activities of the oils were investigated on Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, yeast, Rhizopus, and Penicillium. The inhibition zones (IZ) and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values were 5.0 to 35.7 mm in diameter and 1.81 to 4.52 μL/mL, respectively. Practical Application: Due to the economical impacts of spoiled foods and the consumer's concerns over the safety of foods, a lot of attention has been paid to naturally derived compounds. Fresh and dried Thymus species as well as their processed products have been widely used as flavorings since ancient times; however, during the last few decades, they also have become a subject for a search of natural antioxidants and antimicrobial agents. Biological activities of Thymus essential oils depend on their chemical composition, which is determined by the genotype and influenced by environmental conditions. Recent studies have showed that Thymus species have strong antimicrobial and antioxidant activities. To the best of our knowledge, the properties of Thymus species growing wild in the Xinjiang have not been reported before.     

Ferulic acid: pharmaceutical functions,preparation and applications in foods

Ferulic acid (4‐hydroxy‐3‐methoxycinnamic acid), an effective component of Chinese medicine herbs such as Angelica sinensis, Cimicifuga heracleifolia and Lignsticum chuangxiong, is a ubiquitous phenolic acid in the plant kingdom. It is mainly conjugated with mono‐ and oligosaccharides, polyamines, lipids and polysaccharides and seldom occurs in a free state in plants. Ferulic acid is a phenolic acid of low toxicity; it can be absorbed and easily metabolized in the human body. Ferulic acid has been reported to have many physiological functions, including antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti‐inflammatory, anti‐thrombosis, and anti‐cancer activities. It also protects against coronary disease, lowers cholesterol and increases sperm viability. Because of these properties and its low toxicity, ferulic acid is now widely used in the food and cosmetic industries. It is used as the raw material for the production of vanillin and preservatives, as a cross‐linking agent for the preparation of food gels and edible films, and as an ingredient in sports foods and skin protection agents. Ferulic acid can be prepared by chemical synthesis and through biological transformation. As polysaccharide ferulate is a natural and abundant source of ferulic acid, preparation of ferulic acid from plant cell wall materials will be a prospective pathway. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

Traditional uses,chemical composition and biological activities of Sideritis raeseri Boiss. & Heldr.

Sideritis species have been used in folk medicine for their antimicrobial, antiulcerogenic, digestive and anti‐inflammatory properties. Over the years, the phytochemistry of the genus Sideritis has been studied, and various terpenoids, sterols, coumarins and especially flavonoid aglycones and glycosides have been identified. In particular, species from the Balkan Peninsula have been studied and were found to be rich in flavonoids, with valuable antioxidant activity. In the folk medicine of the Balkan countries, Sideritis raeseri is used as a herbal tea in the treatment of inflammation, gastrointestinal disorders and coughs, and also as a tonic, whereas extracts are used as a component of dietary supplements for anaemia. Its dried inflorescences are used to prepare a beverage called ‘mountain tea’. In light of the considerable interest generated in the chemistry, pharmacological properties and commercial value of S. raeseri Boiss. & Heldr., we review and summarise the available literature on these plants. The review details the chemical composition of the essential oil, its mineral and polyphenol contents, the naming of these plants and their physicochemical characterisation, and the nuclear magnetic resonance spectral data and biological properties associated with the plant extracts, with a focus on their potential chemotherapeutic applications. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry     

Phytochemistry Profile,Nutritional Properties and Pharmacological Activities of Mauritia flexuosa

Mauritia flexuosa L. (Arecaceae) is a popular Brazilian fruit known as “buriti” and belonging to the category of functional foods. This work reviewed the phytochemistry profile, nutritional and pharmacological activities of M. flexuosa. The main bioactive compounds reported to buriti were carotenoids, tocopherols, ascorbic acid, phenolic compounds, fiber, phytosterols, and mono‐ and poly‐unsaturated fatty acids. These compounds were mainly related to antioxidant, hypolipemiant, photoprotector, antiaggregant, antithrombotic, anti‐inflammatory, hypoglycemiant, antimicrobial, and antitumor activities. Furthermore, some compounds present in buriti fruit and its properties were tested in vitro and in vivo and showed biotechnology applications, especially for extraction of fiber, polysaccharides, pigments, antioxidants, and oil. Howerer, the buriti fruit shows great relevance to the development of new products in food, pharmaceutical and chemical industry, this fruit is still underexploited and it has need to expand its production chain and processing to encourage their consumption and utilization.     

Comparative study of the essential oil composition of Salvia urmiensis and its enzyme inhibitory activities linked to diabetes mellitus and Alzheimer’s disease

The genus Salvia has economic importance due to its broad uses in traditional medicine, perfume, food, and pharmaceutical industries. In the present work, various extracts and essential oils of Salvia urmiensis Bunge., were screened for their inhibitory activity against acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase, the enzymes linked to neurodegeneration, and against α-amylase and α-glucosidase (involved in diabetes mellitus; DM). Chemical compositions of the essential oils of leaves and flowers of the plant were also determined. The tested samples exhibited moderate to high anti-diabetic potential (IC₅₀ = 8–145 µg/mL) and moderate anticholinesterase activity (IC₅₀ = 44–892 µg/mL). Essential oil of leaves was rich in ester compounds such as ethyl linoleate (19%), methyl hexadecanoate (17%), and methyl linoleate (7.5%). The major compound of essential oil of flowers was 6,10,14-trimethyl-2-pentadecanone (55.7%). This is the first report on the enzyme inhibitory activity of S. urmiensis and also the chemical composition of its leaves and flowers in essential oils. The results indicated that S. urmiensis could be considered a valuable source for functional foods and pharmaceuticals.     

Arbutus species (Ericaceae) as source of valuable bioactive products

Abstract

In addition to nutrients, plant foods contain compounds that may provide additional health benefits improving the quality of life. Species from Arbutus genus (Ericaceae) represent a promising source of healthy phytochemicals. Bioactive compounds including such as anthocyanins, iridoids, phenols, triterpenes, sterols, and fatty acids are reported from Arbutus species. Some Arbutus species revealed promising biological activities including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative, anti-diabetic, and antimicrobial activities, and deserve for that reason further consideration for new drug discovery. However, only few species are investigated scientifically for their chemical profile and biological activities. The aim of this article is to summarize the current knowledge of the components and biological properties of Arbutus species common in Mediterranean area, as well as the future prospects on their applications as potentially valuable products.     

Essential oils of four Rwandese hepatoprotective herbs: Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis and antioxidant activities

Following an ethnobotanical survey in Southern Rwanda for hepatoprotective remedies, four food and medicinal plants, Crassocephalum vitellinum, Guizotia scabra, Microglossa pyrifolia and Ocimum lamiifolium, were selected for pharmacological and chemical investigations aiming to validate their reported properties. The chemical compositions of essential oils obtained from leaves were investigated by GC–MS; essential oils and methanolic extracts were evaluated for antioxidant activity by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryhydrazyl (DPPH) and linoleic acid peroxidation assays. C. vitellinum [limonene (34.8%), (E)-β-ocimene (21.8%), β-pinene (8.5%), α-pinene (6.6%), myrcene (6.3%)], G. scabra [germacrene-d (25.5%), limonene (9.7%), (E)-β-ocimene (6.6%)], M. pyrifolia [germacrene-d (58.3%)] and O. lamiifolium [sabinene (12.2%), alpha phellandrene (11.6%)] volatile oils scavenge DPPH (10%, 39%, 27%, and 11% quercetin equivalents) and inhibit linoleic acid peroxidation (13%, 23%, 20%, and 13% Trolox® equivalents). The four methanolic extracts were quite active on the lipid peroxidation model (93%, 93%, 70%, and 67% Trolox equivalents) with modest activity on DPPH (5%, 10%, 8%, and 11% quercetin equivalents). These properties most probably participate in the four plants hepatoprotective activities reported in ethnopharmacological and/or pharmacological studies.     

Exploring the anticancer properties of essential oils from family Lamiaceae

Lamiaceae is among the largest families of flowering plants with about 250 genera and over 7,000 species distributed around the world. It is considered as the important source of essential oils, for example, menthol, geraniol, eucalyptol, camphor and thymol. Therefore, it is imperative to study these economically important compounds under in vitro conditions for their sustainable and enhanced production. In addition to proven biological activities, essential oils from this family have recently been evaluated for anticancer activities and considered as a source of anticancer drugs. Mechanisms involved in the essential oils-mediated antiproliferative activity include cell cycle arrest, apoptosis and DNA repair mechanisms. Essential oils also act in the reduction of tumors, inhibiting metastasis and as anti-multidrug resistance molecules. The aim of this review is to assess the anticancer properties of essential oils obtained from different members of family Lamiaceae. The available reports on active components of essential oils and their effect on cancer type and cell line have been discussed. Biotechnological studies to improve the production of essential oils have also been highlighted. Various methods have been adopted to obtain essential oils under in vitro conditions from different plant species of family Lamiaceae, and their production is affected by culture conditions, cultivation mode, utilization of nutrient media and plant growth regulators. The literature survey suggests that essential oils obtained from family Lamiaceae have perspective for the development of new alternatives for disease treatment and prevention.     

Research progress of Sonchus species

Sonchus species (Asteraceae) is a class of edible wild plant, with 50 known species widely distributed in Europe, Asia, and Africa. In recent years, researchers worldwide have studied the potential of this species as a crop for humans and animals. Sonchus species also has many pharmacological activities. Studies have been conducted to understand the applications of the genus, and their results indicated the potential utilization of Sonchus species. This review aimed to compile the scientific information in the literature on Sonchus species, including its potential nutrient, medicinal and feed uses, and to identify possible future applications of this plant.