The inhibitory effect of Plectranthus barbatus and Plectranthus ecklonii leaves on the viability,glucosyltransferase activity and biofilm formation of Streptococcus sobrinus and Streptococcus mutans

Aqueous extracts of Plectranthus barbatus and Plectranthus ecklonii are traditionally used as anti-inflammatory and anti-fungal agents. The effect of these extracts and of its main component, rosmarinic acid, on the viability of the cariogenic bacteria, Streptococcus sobrinus and Streptococcus mutans, was determined by MIC and MBC. The influence of these extracts on the biofilm formation as well as on the inhibition of glucosyltransferase enzyme, produced by these species, was also analysed. Aqueous extracts of P. barbatus and P. ecklonii were stronger inhibitors than rosmarinic acid. MIC values of 3.8 and 4.7 mg/ml for S. sobrinus and 2.9 and 5.0 for S. mutans were obtained, while rosmarinic acid presented MIC values of 8.4 and 7.3 mg/ml. P. barbartus, P. ecklonii and rosmarinic acid presented MBC values of 9.5, 9.0 and 12.0 mg/ml for S. sobrinus, and 9.5, 10.0 and 12.5 mg/ml for S. mutans. The inhibition of biofilm formation by P. barbatus, P. ecklonii and rosmarinic acid presented IC₅₀ values of, respectively, 0.6, 1.0 and 3.1 mg/ml for S. sobrinus and 1.4 and 2.7 and 1.3 mg/ml for S. mutans. The glucosyltransferase inhibition activity by theses extracts and rosmarinic acid was calculated and IC₅₀ values presented were, respectively, 1.1, ca 1.2 and 2.1 mg/ml for S. sobrinus and 3.1, 1.6 and 3.9 mg/ml for S. mutans were obtained. These extracts may be useful in the prevention of dental carie.     

Species,roasting degree and decaffeination influence the antibacterial activity of coffee against Streptococcus mutans

Coffee beverage has been associated with antibacterial activity against Streptococcus mutans, a cariogenic bacterium. This study aimed at identifying natural compounds in coffee that contribute to such activity and investigate the influence of species, roasting and decaffeination on it. Coffee chemical compounds and aqueous extracts of green and roasted regular and decaffeinated Coffea arabica and Coffea canephora beans were tested. MIC, biofilm inhibition and biofilm reduction results were correlated with the concentration of coffee compounds in the extracts. 5-Caffeoylquinic acid, trigonelline and caffeic acid solutions showed bacteriostatic activity (MIC = 0.8 mg/mL). Lighter and regular extracts showed higher inhibitory activity than darker and decaffeinated extracts, with an inverse correlation between bacterial colony-forming units and roasting degree. Only regular C. canephora extracts showed biofilm formation inhibition. The joint effect of chlorogenic acids, trigonelline and caffeine or other compounds removed by decaffeination seems to be one of the causes for coffee antibacterial activity against S. mutans.     

Comparative chemical composition,free radical-scavenging and cytotoxic properties of essential oils of six Stachys species from different regions of the Mediterranean Area

The chemical composition of essential oils of six Stachys species, S. cretica L. ssp. vacillans Rech. fil., S. germanica L., S. hydrophila Boiss., S. nivea Labill., S. palustris L. and S. spinosa L., obtained by hydrodistillation, was studied by GC and GC–MS. All the oils have in common a great percentage of fatty acids and esters (24.2–58.5%) and a high amount of sesquiterpenes (16–35.9%), with the exception of the oil from S. palustris, which consisted mainly of carbonylic compounds (25.4%). The antioxidant activity by DPPH test and the antiproliferative activity on a series of human cancer cell lines (C32, amelanotic melanoma and ACHN, renal cell adenocarcinoma) were investigated for all the oils. S. palustris,S. cretica and S. hydrophila showed the highest antiradical effect, with IC₅₀ values of 0.482, 0.652 and 0.664 mg/ml, respectively. The most antiproliferative essential oil against C32 cell line was the oil of S. germanica with a 77% of inhibition at a concentration of 100 μg/ml. S. germanica, S. palustris and S. spinosa showed the most antiproliferative activity on ACHN cell line, at a concentration of 100 μg/ml,with 81%, 77% and 73% inhibition, respectively.     

Essential oil composition,antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of Satureja cuneifolia Ten.

Satureja cuneifolia Ten. is a well-known aromatic plant which is frequently used as a spice and herbal tea in Anatolia. S. cuneifolia oil was analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The major components of S. cuneifolia oil were carvacrol (44.99%) and p-cymene (21.61%). The essential oil of S. cuneifolia exhibited antimicrobial activity against all of the tested foodborne and spoilage bacteria. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values for test bacteria which were sensitive to the essential oil of S. cuneifolia were in the range of 600–1400 μg/ml. Antioxidant activities of the essential oil and the methanolic extract from S. cuneifolia were evaluated by using DPPH radical scavenging, β-carotene–linoleic acid bleaching and metal chelating activity assays. In addition, the amounts of total phenol components in the plant methanolic extract (222.5 ± 0.5 μg/mg) and the oil (185.5 ± 0.5 μg/mg) were determined.     

Isolation and identification of pentagalloylglucose with broad-spectrum antibacterial activity from Rhus trichocarpa Miquel

Rhus trichocarpa Miquel has been utilised both as a food and for medicinal purposes. In this study, we determined that the methanol extracts of the stem and leaf portions of R. trichocarpa inhibited the growth of both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. The active constituent was isolated, and identified via mass spectrometry and NMR as 1,2,3,4,6-penta-O-galloyl-β-d-glucose. The compound also evidenced a broad spectrum of antibacterial activity against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria including Staphylococcus aureus (both methicillin-resistant S. aureus and quinolone-resistant S. aureus), Bacillus subtilis, Streptococcus mutans, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa with MRC values of 16–32 μg/ml, whereas gallate failed to inhibit the growth of Gram-negative bacteria, even at a concentration of 128 μg/ml. The antibacterial activity of penta-O-galloylglucose was restored by the addition of Fe²⁺, whereas gallate was not, thereby indicating that its antibacterial activity could be attributable to the chelation of iron. The results of the time-kill study against S. aureus and E. coli revealed that penta-O-galloylglucose exhibited bacteriostatic activity. These findings indicate that the extracts of R. trichocarpa as well as its active component, penta-O-galloylglucose, may have profound potential for the control of both Gram-positive and negative pathogens.     

The in vitro antioxidative properties of the essential oils and methanol extracts of Satureja spicigera (K. Koch.) Boiss. and Satureja cuneifolia ten

This study was designed to examine the in vitro antioxidant activities of the essential oil and methanol extracts of Satureja spicigera and S. cuneifolia from Turkish flora. GC and GC/MS analysis of the essential oils resulted in the identification of 40 and 29 compounds, representing the 99.4% and 99.5% of the oils, respectively. Major constituents of the oils were carvacrol (42.5% and 67.1%), γ-terpinene (21.5% and 15.2%) and p-cymene (20.9% and 6.7%), respectively. Methanol extracts were also obtained from the aerial parts of the plants. The samples were subjected to a screening for their possible antioxidant activities by using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and β-carotene–linoleic acid assays. In general, samples obtained from S. cuneifolia exerted greater antioxidant activities than did those obtained from S. spicigera. In the DPPH test system, free radical-scavenging activity of S. spicigera oil was determined to be 127 ± 1.63 μg/ml, whereas IC₅₀ value of S. cuneifolia was 89.1 ± 2.29 μg/ml. In the β-carotene–linoleic acid test system, antioxidant activities of the oil were 81.7 ± 1.14% and 93.7 ± 1.83%, respectively. Antioxidant activities of the synthetic antioxidant, BHT, ascorbic acid, curcumin and α-tocopherol were also determined in parallel experiments.     

Antibacterial activity of Thai edible plants against gastrointestinal pathogenic bacteria and isolation of a new broad spectrum antibacterial polyisoprenylated benzophenone,chamuangone

Twenty-two edible plant extracts were subjected to evaluation of their antibacterial activity against some gastrointestinal pathogenic bacteria, including Escherichiacoli, Salmonella typhimurium, Salmonella typhi, Shigella sonnei and Helicobacter pylori using the disc diffusion and broth microdilution methods. Sixteen of the plant extracts exhibited antibacterial activity against one or more tested bacteria. Only Garcinia cowa leaf extracts exhibited antibacterial activity against all tested bacteria. Purification of the ethyl acetate extract of G. cowa leaves using an antimicrobial assay-guided isolation afforded a new polyprenylated benzophenone, chamuangone, that exhibited satisfactory antibacterial activity against Streptococcus pyogenes (minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) 7.8 μg/ml), Streptococcus viridans and H. pylori (MICs 15.6 μg/ml), and Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis and Enterococcus sp. (MICs 31.2 μg/ml).     

The effect of untreated and enzyme-treated commercial dairy powders on the growth and adhesion of Streptococcus mutans

Dental caries is a common bacterial infection, but the progression of this disease can be delayed by preventing initial attachment of cariogenic bacteria such as Streptococcus mutans to tooth surfaces. This study firstly compares the effect of untreated (UT) and enzyme-treated (ET) dairy powders on the adherence of S. mutans to hydroxylapatite (HA), an analogue of tooth enamel. A fluorescence-based method was used to quantify adherence of S. mutans to HA both in the presence (S-HA) and absence (PBS-HA) of saliva. Secondly, binding of proteins present in the test materials to HA was quantified using bicinchonic acid assays and SDS-PAGE. In addition, the effect of UT and ET dairy powders on growth of S. mutans was examined using an optical-density based assay. UT acid whey protein concentrate (WPC) 80, sweet WPC80, buttermilk powder (BMP) and cream powder (CP) significantly (P < 0.05) inhibited adhesion of S. mutans at ≥31.25 μg mL⁻¹ in the presence and absence of saliva. ET dairy powders were less effective inhibitors of adhesion, but ET sweet WPC80 significantly (P < 0.05) inhibited growth of S. mutans at ≥0.6 mg mL⁻¹. Therefore, due to their adherence- and growth-inhibitory properties, dairy powders may be beneficial in the treatment of dental caries.     

Separation of an effective fraction from turmeric against Streptococcus mutans biofilms by the comparison of curcuminoid content and anti-acidogenic activity

Turmeric has long been used as a colouring and flavouring agent for foods. Curcuminoids are the main component of turmeric and have a range of pharmacological activities. In this study, a fraction that could show anti-biofilm activity was separated from turmeric, based on a comparison of curcuminoid content and anti-acidogenic activity against Streptococcus mutans, and the effects of the separated fraction and curcuminoids on the adherence ability of S. mutans and the physiological ability of S. mutans biofilms were examined at sub-minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) levels. The separated fraction and curcuminoids had inhibitory effects on the sucrose-dependant adherence of S. mutans to saliva-coated hydroxyapatite (sHA) discs and the acidogenicity and aciduricity of S. mutans biofilms. These results suggest that the separated turmeric fraction and its components, curcuminoids, may be useful for controlling dental biofilms and subsequent dental caries formation.     

Antioxidant and antibacterial activities of exopolysaccharides from Bifidobacterium bifidum WBIN03 and Lactobacillus plantarum R315

The objective of this study was to investigate the antioxidant and antibacterial activities of exopolysaccharide (EPS) from Bifidobacterium bifidum WBIN03 (B-EPS) and Lactobacillus plantarum R315 (L-EPS). The 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH)-radical scavenging, hydroxyl radical-scavenging, and superoxide radical-scavenging abilities were measured to evaluate antioxidant activity. Inhibition of erythrocyte hemolysis and lipid peroxidation was also measured. Both B-EPS and L-EPS had strong scavenging ability against DPPH and superoxide radicals at high concentration. The inhibitory effect of B-EPS on erythrocyte hemolysis was stronger than that of L-EPS in a concentration range from 0.30 to 1.00 mg/mL, whereas the hydroxyl scavenging ability of L-EPS (39.15 ± 0.58%) was significantly higher than that of 0.15 mg/mL ascorbic acid (24.33 ± 1.17%) and B-EPS (17.89 ± 3.30%) at 0.10 mg/mL. The inhibition of lipid peroxidation of 0.50 mg/mL B-EPS and L-EPS was 13.48 ± 1.74% and 12.43 ± 0.51%, respectively, values lower than that of ascorbic acid at the same concentration (23.20 ± 1.41%). Furthermore, all these abilities were enhanced in a concentration-dependent manner. Agar diffusion assay showed that both EPS exhibited antibacterial activities against tested pathogens such as Cronobacter sakazakii, Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, Staphyloccocus aureus, Candida albicans, Bacillus cereus, Salmonella typhimurium, and Shigella sonnei at 300 μg/mL. In conclusion, both EPS have antimicrobial and antioxidant activities and could have applications in the food industry.     

Antioxidant, antiacetylcholinesterase and antimicrobial activities of Cymbopogon schoenanthus L. Spreng (lemon grass) from Tunisia

Aqueous extract, proanthocyanidin rich extract, and organic extracts of Cymbopogon schoenanthus L. Spreng (lemon grass) shoots from three different locations in South Tunisia were screened for their antioxidant, acetylcholinesterase and antimicrobial activities. In addition to the evaluation of these activities, the contents of flavonoids and total phenolic compounds were determined.Antioxidant activity measured by DPPH assay showed that the proanthocyanidin extract exhibited higher antioxidant activity than the aqueous extract. Extract concentration providing 50% inhibition (IC₅₀) ranged from 16.4 ± 6.8 μg/mL to 26.4 ± 6.8 μg/mL. The antioxidant activity was also determined using the β-carotene/linoleic acid bleaching test. The best results (IC₅₀ = 0.11 ± 0.10 mg/mL) were obtained with the proanthocyanidin extract of the plants collected from the desert region (Dhibat).The greatest acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity (IC₅₀ = 0.23 ± 0.04 mg/mL) was exhibited by the ethyl acetate and methanol extracts of the plants collected from the mountainous region. It seems that extracts obtained with more polar solvents gave better results.The proanthocyanidin extracts showed a good antimicrobial activity against Streptococcus sobrinus at low concentration (MIC = 4 mg/mL). Therefore, these extracts could be used to prevent carious lesions by inhibiting S. sobrinus growth.     

Essential oil composition,antimicrobial and antioxidant properties of Mosla chinensis Maxim

The essential oil of Mosla chinensis Maxim was analysed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, and its main components are carvacrol (57.08%), p-cymene (13.61%), thymol acetate (12.68%), thymol (6.67%), and γ-terpinene (2.46%). The essential oil exhibited great potential antimicrobial activity against all eight bacterial and nine fungal strains. Antioxidant activity was also tested, the essential oil showing significantly higher antioxidant activity than that of the methanol extract. In addition, the amounts of total phenol components in the plant methanol extract (47.3 ± 0.4 μg/mg) and the oil (80.7 ± 0.5 μg/mg) were determined. The results presented here indicate that the essential oil of M. chinensis has antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, and is therefore a potential source of antimicrobial and antioxidant agents for the food and pharmaceutical industries.     

Chemical and biological characteristics of Cuminum cyminum and Rosmarinus officinalis essential oils

Essential oils extracted by hydrodistillation from Cuminum cyminum and Rosmarinus officinalis were characterized by means of GC and GC–MS. C. cyminum and R. officinalis contained α-pinene (29.1%, 14.9%), 1,8-cineole (17.9%, 7.43%) and linalool (10.4%, 14.9%), respectively, as the major compounds. C. cyminum oil exhibited stronger antimicrobial activity than did R. officinalis oil against E. coli, S. aureus and L. monocytogenes. Complete death time on exposure to Cuminum cyminum L. and Rosmarinus officinalis L. oils were 20 and 25 min 180 and 240 min and 90 and 120 min for E. coli, S. aureus and L. monocytogenes, respectively. Radical-scavenging and antioxidant properties were tested by means of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay and the β-carotene bleaching test. These properties were compared to those of Thymus x-porlock essential oil, used as a reference ingredient. The radical scavenging performance of the rosemary oil was better than that of C. cyminum. Results from the antioxidant test were better than those provided by the radical-scavenging activity. C. cyminum and R. officinalis essential oils may be considered as potent agents in food preservation.     

Isolation of red wine components with anti-adhesion and anti-biofilm activity against Streptococcus mutans

Red wine is a widely consumed beverage with multiple beneficial effects on human health. In the present paper, the anticaries properties of red wine were studied in vitro and ex vivo. Our in vitro findings shows that dealcoholised red wine, besides exerting antibacterial activity, strongly interferes with Streptococcus mutans adhesion to saliva-coated hydroxyapatite (sHA) beads, promotes its detachment from sHA, and powerfully inhibits in vitro biofilm formation. The main components responsible for such activities were found to be proanthocyanidins. The ability of red wine to inhibit ex vivoS. mutans biofilm formation on the occlusal surface of natural human teeth also was demonstrated.     

Antioxidant,anticholinesterase and antimicrobial constituents from the essential oil and ethanol extract of Salvia potentillifolia

The essential oil of Salvia potentillifolia was analysed by GC and GC–MS. Totally, 123 components were detected in both hydrodistilled and steam-distilled oils, α- and β-pinenes being major compounds. The antioxidant activities were determined by using complementary tests, namely, DPPH radical-scavenging, β-carotene-linoleic acid and reducing power assays. The ethanol extract also showed better activity (IC₅₀ = 69.4 ± 0.99 μg/ml) than that of BHT in the DPPH system, and showed great lipid peroxidation inhibition in the β-carotene-linoleic acid system (IC₅₀ = 30.4 ± 0.50 μg/ml). The essential oil showed meaningful butyrylcholinesterase activity (65.7 ± 0.21%), and α-pinene showed high acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity (IC₅₀ = 86.2 ± 0.96 μM) while β-pinene was inactive. Antimicrobial activity was also investigated on several microorganisms, and the essential oil showed high activity against Bacillus subtilis and B. cereus. It also exhibited remarkable anticandidal activity against Candida albicans and C. tropicalis with MIC values of 18.5 and 15.5 μg/ml, respectively, while α- and β-pinenes showed moderate activity.     

Chemical composition,antimicrobial, cytotoxic and antioxidant activities of the essential oil of Artemisia indica Willd

Essential oil from the aerial parts of Artemisia indica was analysed by GC-FID and GC–MS. A total of 43 compounds representing 96.8% of the oil were identified and the major components were found to be artemisia ketone (42.1%), germacrene B (8.6%), borneol (6.1%) and cis-chrysanthenyl acetate (4.8%). Antimicrobial activity of the oil was evaluated against seven clinically significant bacterial and two fungal strains. The essential oil and its major constituents exhibited moderate to potent, broad-spectrum antibacterial and antifungal activities targeting both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. In vitro cytotoxicity evaluation against four human cancer cell lines THP-1 (leukemia), A-549 (lung), HEP-2 (liver) and Caco-2 (colon) showed that the essential oil exhibited concentration dependant growth inhibition in the 10–100 μg/ml dilution range, with IC₅₀ values of 10 μg/ml (THP-1), 25 μg/ml (A-549), 15.5 μg/ml (HEP-2) and 19.5 μg/ml (Caco-2). It was interesting to note that the essential oil also exhibited potent antioxidant activity.     

Antioxidant activity of the essential oil and various extracts of Nepeta flavida Hub.-Mor. from Turkey

This study was designed to examine the chemical composition and in vitro antioxidant activity of the essential oil and various extracts (hexane, dichloromethane and methanol sub-fractions) of Nepeta flavida. GC and GC–MS analyses of the essential oil resulted in the identification of 68 compounds, representing 96.4% of the oil; 1,8-cineole (38.9%) and linalool (25.1%) were the main components, comprising 64.0% of the total oil. The samples were subjected to a screening for their possible antioxidant activities by using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and β-carotene-linoleic acid assays. In the first case, the IC₅₀ value of the N. flavida essential oil was determined to be 42.8 ± 2.19 μg/ml. Among the extracts, the strongest activity was exhibited by the polar sub-fraction of the methanol extract with an IC₅₀ value of 63.2 ± 1.75 μg/ml. In the β-carotene-linoleic acid system, N. flavida essential oil exhibited 86.3% ± 1.69 inhibition against linoleic acid oxidation. Among the extracts prepared with various solvents, a correlation was observed between the polarity and antioxidant activity. The extracts exhibited the same activity pattern in this system the most active one is the polar sub-fraction, 79.7% ± 0.89. On the other hand, 1,8-cineole, a major compound of the essential oil, exhibited marked antioxidant activity in both systems, whereas the other compound, linalool, did not show any activity. The amount of total phenolics was highest in the polar and non-polar sub-fractions. Particularly, a positive correlation was observed between the total phenolic content and the antioxidant activity of the extracts. As estimated from the results, amounts of phenolic compounds were less in hexane and dichloromethane extracts than in the others. In conclusion, antioxidant potentials of polar and non-polar methanol sub-fractions could be attributed to their high phenolic contents. In both systems, antioxidant capacities of BHT, ascorbic acid, curcumin and α-tocopherol were also determined in parallel experiments.     

Chemical composition and antioxidant activity of the essential oil of Clinopodium vulgare L.

This study was designed to examine the chemical composition and in vitro antioxidant activity of the essential oil of Clinopodium vulgare. GC–MS analysis of the oil resulted in the identification of 40 compounds, representing 99.4% of the oil; thymol (38.9%), γ-terpinene (29.6%) and p-cymene (9.1%) were the main components. The samples were subjected to a screening for their possible antioxidant activity by using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and β-carotene-linoleic acid assays. In the first case, IC₅₀ value of the C. vulgare essential oil was determined as 63.0 ± 2.71 μg/ml. IC₅₀ value of thymol and γ-terpinene, the major compounds of the oil, was determined as 161 ± 1.3 μg/ml and 122 ± 2.5 μg/ml, respectively, whereas p-cymene did not show antioxidant activity. In β-carotene-linoleic acid system, C. vulgare essential oil exhibited 52.3 ± 1.19% inhibition against linoleic acid oxidation. In both systems, antioxidant capacities of BHT, curcumine and ascorbic acid were also determined in parallel experiments.     

Composition,antimicrobial, antiradical and spasmolytic activity of Ferula heuffelii Griseb. ex Heuffel (Apiaceae) essential oil

The essential oil from underground parts of Ferula heuffelii from N.E. Serbia, was analysed using GC and GC–MS. The main compounds of the essential oil were elemicin (35.4%) and myristicin (20.6%). The essential oil exhibited the best antimicrobial activity against two strains of Candida albicans (MIC = 7.0 and 13.7 μg/ml), as well as against Micrococcus luteus (MIC = 13.7 μg/ml), Staphylococcus epidermidis (MIC = 17.6 μg/ml), Bacillus subtilis (MIC = 21.1 μg/ml) and Micrococcus flavus (MIC = 28.2 μg/ml). In the DPPH radical scavenging assay, essential oil showed substantial activity with SC₅₀ = 22.43 μl/ml. The essential oil was also tested for antispasmodic activity. It inhibited spontaneous contraction of isolated rat ileum dose-dependently, and at the concentration of 86.64 μg/ml exhibited 50% of the maximum effect of atropine. After incubation with 75.00 μg/ml of essential oil, acetylcholine did not induce contractions of ileum, and at 250.00 μg/ml, the essential oil almost completely abolished the spasmodic effect of potassium chloride (80 mM).     

Toxic compounds in essential oils of coriander, caraway and basil active against stored rice pests

Essential oils, distilled from seeds of Coriander sativum and Carum carvii and from leaves of five different varieties of Ocimum basilicum, were fractionated by column chromatography and tested in the laboratory for volatile toxicity against three stored rice pests (Sitophilus oryzae, Rhyzopertha dominica and Cryptolestes pusillus). The active fractions were analyzed by GC-MS. Coriander contained linalool (1617 ppm of the oil) as the main product active against the three pests. Camphor-rich fractions (over 400 ppm) were very toxic to R. dominica and C. pusillus. The caraway profile included carvone and limonene as expected but (E)-anethole, generally regarded as a minor product in the essential oil of this species, was also a major component, being present at 365 ppm. Carvone was the most effective (972 ppm) monoterpenoid against S. oryzae. In addition, (E)-anethole at 880 ppm was toxic to R. dominica while vapors of limonene (1416 ppm) and fenchone-rich (554 ppm) fractions killed adults of C. pusillus only. Three major essential oil profiles were present in the five varieties of O. basilicum analyzed: methyl eugenol/estragole, estragole and estragole/linalool chemotypes. The abundance of components had a strong influence on the outcome of the bioassays. Fractions, where combinations of products occurred with or without other minor compounds, were often more toxic than any one compound alone.