Anticancer activity of essential oils: a review

Natural essential oil constituents play an important role in cancer prevention and treatment. Essential oil constituents from aromatic herbs and dietary plants include monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, oxygenated monoterpenes, oxygenated sesquiterpenes and phenolics among others. Various mechanisms such antioxidant, antimutagenic and antiproliferative, enhancement of immune function and surveillance, enzyme induction and enhancing detoxification, modulation of multidrug resistance and synergistic mechanism of volatile constituents are responsible for their chemopreventive properties. This review covers the most recent literature to summarize structural categories and molecular anticancer mechanisms of constituents from aromatic herbs and dietary plants. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry     

Antivirulence properties and related mechanisms of spice essential oils: A comprehensive review

In recent decades, reduced antimicrobial effectiveness, increased bacterial infection, and newly emerged microbial resistance have become global public issues, leading to an urgent need to find effective strategies to counteract these problems. Strategies targeting bacterial virulence factors rather than bacterial survival have attracted increasing interest, since the modulation of virulence factors may prevent the development of drug resistance in bacteria. Spices are promising natural sources of antivirulence compounds owing to their wide availability, diverse antivirulence phytochemical constituents, and generally favorable safety profiles. Essential oils are the predominant and most important antivirulence components of spices. This review addresses the recent efforts of using spice essential oils to inhibit main bacterial virulence traits, including the quorum sensing system, biofilm formation, motility, and toxin production, with an intensive discussion of related mechanisms. We hope that this review can provide a better understanding of the antivirulence properties of spice essential oils, which have the potential to be used as antibiotic alternatives by targeting bacterial virulence.     

Citrus essential oils: Extraction,authentication and application in food preservation

Citrus EOs is an economic, eco-friendly and natural alternatives to chemical preservatives and other synthetic antioxidants, such as sodium nitrites, nitrates or benzoates, commonly utilized in food preservation. Citrus based EOs is obtained mainly from the peels of citrus fruits which are largely discarded as wastes and cause environmental problems. The extraction of citrus oils from the waste peels not only saves environment but can be used in various applications including food preservation. The present article presents elaborated viewpoints on the nature and chemical composition of different EOs present in main citrus varieties widely grown across the globe; extraction, characterization and authentication techniques/methods of the citrus EOs; and reviews the recent advances in the application of citrus EOs for the preservation of fruits, vegetables, meat, fish and processed food stuffs. The probable reaction mechanism of the EOs based thin films formation with biodegradable polymers is presented. Other formulation, viz., EOs microencapsulation incorporating biodegradable polymers, nanoemulsion coatings, spray applications and antibacterial action mechanism of the active compounds present in the EOs have been elaborated. Extensive research is required on overcoming the challenges regarding allergies and obtaining safer dosage limits. Shift towards greener technologies indicate optimistic future towards safer utilization of citrus based EOs in food preservation.     

植物精油在可食性抗菌膜中的应用

本文简要介绍了可食性抗菌膜的种类和抑菌机理,综述了近年来国内外植物精油的提取技术、化学成分、抑菌机理、植物精油对可食性抗菌膜性能的影响及其在食品保鲜上的应用的研究进展,并分析了植物精油应用在可食性抗菌膜上可能存在的问题,对其未来发展前景进行了展望。      

辛香料精油在食品保藏中的应用研究进展

文章综述了近年来国内外对于辛香料精油在抑菌方面的研究,以及在果蔬采后保藏及肉品保藏方面的应用性研究进展。辛香料精油对多种食源性致病细菌和真菌均具有很好的抑菌效果,是一种高效、安全的食品防腐剂来源。     

植物精油在食品保鲜中的研究进展

植物精油是重要的植物次生代谢产物,由分子量相对较小的简单化合物组成,具有一定芳香气味。由于植物精油具有多种生物活性,作为一种天然保鲜剂在食品保鲜领域的应用越来越广泛。本文介绍了其在水果、蔬菜、肉及肉制品、鱼类产品、乳制品等保鲜领域的应用,并探讨了植物精油在食品保鲜方面存在的问题,并对其发展方向和应用前景作了展望,为植物精油的进一步开发研究及应用提供了依据。      

植物精油对真菌微生物抑制作用的研究进展

随着消费者对绿色产品的要求越来越高,人们开始考虑用天然植物精油作为抑菌剂代替化学合成杀菌剂.精油是从植物中分离的天然杀菌剂,具有对抗多种病原微生物的活性,在抑制真菌病害和减少真菌毒素积累方面具有较好的功效,逐渐被广泛应用于食品防腐保鲜、化妆品、医药等领域.该文综述了不同植物精油的化学组成和抑菌作用,分析了植物精油的抑菌...     

Enteric methane production in lactating dairy cows with continuous feeding of essential oils or rotational feeding of essential oils and lauric acid

Rumen microbes can adapt to feed additives, which may make the decrease in enteric CH₄ production upon feeding an additive a transient response only. This study investigated alternate feeding of 2 CH₄ mitigating feed additives with a different mode of action on persistency of lowering CH₄ production compared with feeding a single additive over a period of 10 wk. Four pairs of cows were selected, and within pairs, cows were randomly assigned to either the control (AR-AR) or the alternating (AR-LA) concentrate treatment. The AR concentrate contained a blend of essential oils (Agolin Ruminant, Agolin SA, Bière, Switzerland; 0.17 g/kg of dry matter) and the LA concentrate contained lauric acid (C12:0; 65 g/kg of dry matter). A basal concentrate without Agolin Ruminant and lauric acid was fed during the pretreatment period (2 wk). Thereafter, the cows assigned to the AR-AR treatment received the AR concentrate during all 10 treatment weeks (5 periods of 2 wk each), whereas cows assigned to the AR-LA treatment received AR and LA concentrates rotated on a weekly basis. Methane emission was measured in climate respiration chambers during periods 1, 3, and 5. From period 3 onward, dry matter intake and milk protein concentration were reduced with the AR-LA treatment. Milk fat concentration was not affected, but the proportion of C12:0 in milk fat increased upon feeding C12:0. Molar proportions of acetate and propionate in rumen fluid were lower and higher, respectively, with the AR-LA than with the AR-AR treatment. Methane yield (g/kg of dry matter intake) and intensity (g/kg of fat- and protein-corrected milk yield) were not affected by treatment. Methane yield and intensity were significantly lower (12 and 11%, respectively) in period 1 compared with the pretreatment period, but no significant difference relative to pretreatment period was observed in period 3 (numerically 9 and 7% lower, respectively) and in period 5 (numerically 8 and 4% lower, respectively). Results indicate a transient decrease in CH₄ yield and intensity in time, but no improvement in extent or persistency of the decline in CH₄ due to rotational feeding of essential oils and C12:0 in lactating dairy cows.     

山苍子油应用研究进展

山苍子油(皮油)的主要成分是柠檬醛,除了食用外,还具有其它重要的应用价值。本文总结了自2007年以来国内外学者在山苍子油应用方面的研究成果,主要包括柠檬醛提取、抗菌、驱蚊驱(杀)虫、抗氧化、保鲜、抗癌、制备抗菌材料等方面。山苍子在我国分布广泛,是具有重大经济价值的植物资源,加强山苍子油的应用研究,促进相关产品开发,具有重大意义。     

植物精油应用研究进展

植物精油是植物体内的次生代谢物质,化学组成较为复杂。在医学领域,植物精油在去痛、降压、消炎、提高免疫力、抗菌、保健等方面得到了广泛的应用。在害虫防治方面,植物精油具有对害虫生物活性很高,又不易产生抗药性,且对人畜毒性很小,不污染环境等优点,是一种很好的生物农药原料。在化妆品方面,植物精油被广泛的应用于香水、香皂、洗面奶、护肤露等各种化妆品。此外,植物精油在饲料和食品添加剂、胶黏剂、生态旅游等方面也有广泛的应用价值。     

Application of microencapsulated essential oils in cosmetic and personal healthcare products – a review

Nowadays, the consumers around the world are increasingly focused on health and beauty. The renewed consumer interest in natural cosmetic products creates the demand for new products and reformulated others with botanical and functional ingredients. In cosmetic products, essential oils (EOs) play a major role as fragrance ingredients. They can optimize its proprieties and preservation, as well as the marketing image of the final product. Microencapsulation of EOs can protect and prevent the loss of volatile aromatic ingredients and improve the controlled release and stability of this core materials. The importance of EOs for cosmetic industry and its microencapsulation was reviewed in this study. Also a briefly introduction about the preparation of microparticles was presented. Some of the most important and usual microencapsulation techniques of EOs, as well as the conventional encapsulating agents, were discussed. Despite the fact that microencapsulation of EOs is a very promising and extremely attractive application area for cosmetic industry, further basic research needs to be carried out, for a better understanding of the biofunctional activities of microencapsulated EOs and its release modulation, as well as the effects of others cosmetic ingredients and the storage time in the microparticles properties.     

A review of the preparation and application of flavour and essential oils microcapsules based on complex coacervation technology

This paper briefly introduces the preparation and application of flavour and essential oils microcapsules based on complex coacervation technology. The conventional encapsulating agents of oppositely charged proteins and polysaccharides that are used for microencapsulation of flavours and essential oils are reviewed along with the recent advances in complex coacervation methods. Proteins extracted from animal‐derived products (gelatin, whey proteins, silk fibroin) and from vegetables (soy proteins, pea proteins), and polysaccharides such as gum Arabic, pectin, chitosan, agar, alginate, carrageenan and sodium carboxymethyl cellulose are described in depth. In recent decades, flavour and essential oils microcapsules have found numerous potential practical applications in food, textiles, agriculturals and pharmaceuticals. In this paper, the different coating materials and their application are discussed in detail. Consequently, the information obtained allows criteria to be established for selecting a method for the preparation of microcapsules according to their advantages, limitations and behaviours as carriers of flavours and essential oils. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry     

天竺桂挥发油对小鼠的体外抗氧化作用研究

目的:通过提取天竺桂挥发油,对小鼠进行体外的抗氧化的实验,研究天竺桂挥发油的抗氧化作用。方法:使用ROS测定试剂盒测定挥发油的抗活性氧能力;使用丙二醛(MDA)测定试剂盒和GSH-Px活力测定试剂盒测定天竺桂挥发油对小鼠体外MDA含量的影响;用分光光度法来测定天竺桂挥发油对H2O2所诱导的小鼠红细胞溶血和Fe2+-Vc诱导的肝线粒体肿胀度的抑制效果;通过化学方法考查了天竺桂挥发油清除DPPH自由基以及羟自由基的能力。结果:挥发油在浓度为0.25%～1.00%的范围内,有较强的体外抗氧化性,且能减少小鼠肝匀浆和心脏匀浆MDA的含量,对H2O2诱导的小鼠红细胞溶血和由Fe2+-Vc诱导的肝线粒体肿胀度均具有显著的抑制作用,具有较强的清除DPPH自由基以及羟自由基的能力。     

The effects of food essential oils on cardiovascular diseases: A review

Essential oils (EO) are complex secondary metabolites, which are produced by aromatic plants and identified by their powerful odors. Present studies on EO and their isolated ingredients have drawn the attention of researchers to screen these natural products and evaluate their effect on the cardiovascular system. Some EO, and their active ingredients, have been reported to improve the cardiovascular system significantly by affecting vaso-relaxation, and decreasing the heart rate and exert a hypotension activity. Several mechanisms have been proposed for the role of EO and their main active components in promoting the health of the cardiovascular system. The objective of this review is to highlight the current state of knowledge on the functional role of EO extracted from plants for reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases and their mechanisms of action. Research on EO has the potential to identify new bioactive compounds and formulate new functional products for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases such as arterial hypertension, angina pectoris, heart failure, and myocardial infarction.     

Analysis of essential oils from chemotypes of Thymus vulgaris in Catalonia

Essential oils from aerial parts of Thymus vulgaris have been obtained by hydrodistillation. Their components have been identified by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Samples were collected in Catalonia (northeastern Iberian peninsula), specifically in four locations along the Llobregat river basin. Such locations have different altitudes with respect to sea level (1500 m; 700 m; 300 m; 100 m), and have differences in pluvial regime and mean temperature. At 700 m, samples were collected from a transplanted specimen from 1500 m, in order to check the influence of the change in environmental conditions. Two different chemotypes have been characterized. Samples collected at 300 m have a dominant chemotype 1,8‐cineole, with 20% (approx.) essential oil content. The other samples have linalool as dominant chemotype with a 40–70% content, according to vegetative stage. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry     

Mycotoxicogenic fungal inhibition by innovative cheese cover with aromatic plants

BACKGROUND: The use of aromatic plants and their extracts with antimicrobial properties may be compromised in the case of cheese, as some type of fungal starter is needed during its production. Penicillium verrucosum is considered a common cheese spoiler. The aim of this study was to evaluate the innovative use of certain aromatic plants as natural cheese covers in order to prevent mycotoxicogenic fungal growth (P. verrucosum). A collection of 12 essential oils (EOs) was obtained from various aromatic plants by solvent‐free microwave extraction technology, and volatile characterisation of the EOs was carried out by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. RESULTS: The most effective EOs against P. verrucosum were obtained from Anethum graveolens, Hyssopus officinalis and Chamaemelum nobile, yielding 50% inhibition of fungal growth at concentration values lower than 0.02 µL mL^?1. All EOs showed high volatile heterogeneity, with α‐phellandrene, pinocamphone, isopinocamphone, α‐pinene, camphene, 1,8‐cineole, carvacrol and trans‐anethole being found to be statistically significant in the antifungal model. CONCLUSION: The use of these aromatic plants as natural covers on cheese can satisfactorily inhibit the growth of some mycotoxicogenic fungal spoilers. Among the volatile compounds present, α‐ and β‐phellandrene were confirmed as the most relevant in the inhibition. © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry     

Determination of phenolic compounds in aromatic plants by RP-HPLC and GC-MS

It is well known that phenolic compounds are constituents of many plants and herbs, and they have attracted a great deal of public and scientific interest because of their health-promoting effects as antioxidants. Five plants, Vitex agnus-castus (Verbenaceae), Origanum dictamnus (Lamiaceae), Teucrium polium (Lamiaceae), Lavandula vera (Lamiaceae) and Lippia triphylla (Verbenaceae), were examined in order to determine their phenolic composition. Reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography was employed for the identification and quantification of phenolic compounds. Gas chromatography–mass spectometry(GC-MS) was also used for identification of phenolic compounds after silylation. Analysis of the non-volatile and thermolabile phenolic compounds by GC-MS presupposes their conversion into volatile and thermotolerant derivatives. The derivatization process was optimized against reagents, temperature and reaction time. A large excess of N,O-bis(trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide containing trimethylchlorosilane proved to be the best derivatization reagent to convert analytes into volatile trimethylsilyl derivatives. The most abundant phenolic compounds detected were caffeic acid (0.12–0.93 mg 100 g⁻¹ dry sample), ferulic acid (0.34–1.52 mg 100 g⁻¹ dry sample), and (+)-catechin (0.22–0.43 mg 100 g⁻¹ dry sample).     

柑橘精油对致草莓腐烂的菌种的抑菌效果研究

从自然腐烂的草莓中分离纯化得到两株革兰氏阳性细菌（标记为B1和B2）及一株青霉菌,研究了柑橘精油对这三种菌株的抑制效果,并分析了三种菌株的最低抑菌浓度,以及不同贮存时间和pH对柑橘精油的抑菌效果影响。结果表明,柑橘精油对细菌B1、B2和青霉菌均有抑制作用;柑橘精油对三种菌株的最低抑菌浓度为1.25%;贮存时间对柑橘精油的抑菌效果有一定影响,在贮存6 d后柑橘精油的抑菌作用趋于稳定;pH对柑橘精油的抑菌效果影响较大,最佳的作用pH值为5。     

三种植物精油对霉菌的抑制效果测定及其在大米储藏中应用研究

天然植物精油具有良好的抑菌能力,在粮食天然保鲜剂的开发应用中具有良好的前景。采用水蒸气蒸馏的方法从天然植物丁香、肉桂、小茴香中提取精油,并将它们对大米2种主要霉菌的菌丝生长抑制率、最低抑菌浓度和最低杀菌浓度进行测定。结果表明:肉桂精油效果最好,0.03%时抑菌率达100%,最低抑菌浓度和最低杀菌浓度均为0.02%。同时也对3种植物精油在大米储藏中的应用进行了初步研究。     

Preservative systems containing essential oils in cosmetic products

The aim of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of selected essential oils ( Laurus nobilis , Eucalyptus globulus and Salvia officinalis ), both alone and in combination, in cosmetic preparations characterized by an increasing risk of microbial contamination, i.e. an O/W skin cream, a hydrogel and a non-alcoholic hydrolyte. Their potential synergistic effect in combination with the usual cosmetic preservatives at low concentrations (up to 200-fold less than usual) was also investigated.