Preparation of resveratrol-loaded nanoporous silica materials with different structures

Solid, nanoporous silica-based spherical mesoporous MCM-41 and KIL-2 with interparticle mesoporosity as well as nanosized zeolite BEA materials differing in morphology and pore size distribution, were used as carriers for the preparation of resveratrol-loaded delivery systems. Two preparation methods have been applied: (i) loading by mixing of resveratrol and mesoporous carrier in solid state and (ii) deposition in ethanol solution. The parent and the resveratrol loaded carriers were characterized by XRD, TEM, N2 physisorption, thermal analysis, and FT-IR spectroscopy. The influence of the support structure on the adsorption capacity and the release kinetics of this poorly soluble compound were investigated. Our results indicated that the chosen nanoporous silica supports are suitable for stabilization of trans-resveratrol and reveal controlled release and ability to protect the supported compound against degradation regardless of loading method. The solid-state dry mixing appears very effective for preparation of drug formulations composed of poorly soluble compound

Chemical composition and comparative analysis of lavender essential oil samples from Bulgaria in relation to the pharmacological effects

Lavender essential oil is economically important and widely used in aromatherapy perfumery, food industry and pharmacy. Bulgaria is a global leader in lavender cultivation overtaking countries such as France, UK, China, India, and Spain during the last few years. The aim of this research is: 1) to characterize a lavender essential oil sample obtained from agricultural plantation near Pomorie, Bulgaria; 2) to perform descriptive statistical test based on a data set of 13 samples available in 4 publications, 3) to compare the varieties regarding the quantity of the most important components such as linalool and linalyl acetate 4) to summarize the pharmacological effects of the main components. As a result of GS/MS analysis of the essential oil sample obtained from agricultural plantation near Pomorie, we identified 44 compounds. The major constituents were linalyl acetate (27.5%) linalool (24.1%), E-β-ocimene (7.0%), terpinen-4-ol (5.1%) caryophyllene (4.5%), carvacrol (4.4%), lavandulyl acetate (3.5%), Z-β-farnesene (3.3%), and -Z-β-ocimene (3.2%). Linalool and linalyl acetate are the main ingredients based on which the quality of the essential oil is evaluated. In the studied samples they fluctuated between varieties depending on the year of extraction and the locations of origin in Bulgaria. Some varieties were characterized by a more stable ratio of linalool – linalyl acetate, compared to others. The main other components of our sample as well as the other examined Bulgarian samples fit the standards according to the requirements of ISO (2002) and the of European Pharmacopoeia (10th edn., Council of Europe 2020) with few exceptions. Lavender oil has numerous pharmacological applications based on its anxiolytic, sedative, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antitumor and antimicrobial activities. Although linalool and linalyl acetate largely contribute to these effects, the overall efficacy of lavender oil is proven to be due synergistic relationships between the components

The invasive alien species Amorpha fruticosa in Bulgaria and its potential as economically prospective source of valuable essential oil

The high tolerance of various habitat conditions and potent propagation ability of Amorpha fruticosa L. (Fabaceae) promote its aggressive invasive behaviour. The aim of this study is to evaluate 1) several populations of this plant by the potential yield of the fruit, 2) the approximate yield of the essential oils, and 3) composition of the essential oil. The potential yield of fruit is evaluated based on extrapolations of weight and number of fruits per infrutescence, number of infrutescences per plant and number of individuals per population. Steam extraction of the essential oil was performed and GS/MS analysis of the composition of the essential oil. The populations on our key plots are big enough for harvesting with fruit/infrutescence 152 ±15 (n = 20) and infrutescences/shrub 436 ±157 (n = 20). The yield is 0.83 ml/100g. We identified 22 components with major constituents caryophyllene (17.64%) α-guaiene (14.70%), naphthalene (6.75%), γ-muurolene + (5.98%)

Ailanthus altissima and Amorpha fruticosa – invasive arboreal alien plants as cheap sources of valuable essential oils

The high tolerance of various habitat conditions and potent propagation ability of Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle (Simaroubaceae) and Amorpha fruticosa L. (Fabaceae) promote their aggressive invasive behaviour. Additionally, they not only over-compete the local vegetation but suppress the seed development. In the newly invaded habitats they might not have suitable herbivores to control their populations. The aim of this review is to evaluate the potential of A. altissima and A. fruticosa, as cheap sources of valuable essential oils. The essential oils yield and compostion of both plant species vary significantly depending on plant parts, origin and time of collection. The main constituents of A. altissima essential oil are α-curcumene, α-gurjunene, γ-cadinene, α-humulene β-caryophyllene caryophyllene oxide, germacrene D etc. The main constituents of A. fruticosa are δ-cadinene, γ-cadinene, β-caryophyllene γ-muurolene +, ar-curcumene, myrcene etc. These essential oils have been reported to possess different activities such as antimicrobial, insect repellent, insecticidal and herbicidal activity. Due to the fact that these are aggressive invasive species, they can provide abundant and cheap resources. Additionally, future industrial exploitation of the biomass of these invasive plants for essential oils’ extraction might contribute to biodiversity conservation by relieving their destructive impact on the natural habitats

Fenugreek galactomannan: High-Performance Thin-Layer Chromatography (HPTLC) method for identification and quantification of galactose and mannose

Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) is a leguminous, medicinal plant that finds applications in traditional medicine and as an agent in pharmaceutical and nutraceutical products. Its seeds contain various compounds to which numerous beneficial effects are attributed, such as soluble polysaccharides, in particular galactomannan. There are limited data reporting the determination of Bulgarian fenugreek galactomannan composition by HPTLC. The analysis was successful in separating galactose and mannose, each demonstrating different Rf values 0.36, 0.48, respectively. After developing the method with the appropriate conditions, it was validated for linearity, accuracy and precision, range, limits of detection (LD) and quantification (LQ), and robustness. The LD of galactose and mannose was found at 91.34 ng/band and 85.26 ng/band, respectively. The method confirmed the composition of hydrolyzed galactomannan from fenugreek, revealing a ratio of galactose to mannose closed to 1:1, and this capability can be of significant value in both the pharmaceutical and food industries

Lavender essential oils–hidden relationships between the samples of origin

Lavender essential oil is an economically important ingredient in perfumery, the food industry, and pharmacy. There is notable diversity in the composition of lavender essential oils. The reasons are the high genetic diversity of lavender cultivars and the variety of ecological specifics in the regions of cultivation. The aim of this research is to check which lavender essential oil variety is best regarding the content of the most important components through comparative statistical tests. We created a data set of 88 lavender essential oil samples from 16 countries. The multivariate statistics (hierarchical and non-hierarchical clustering) and factor analysis reveal hidden relationships between the objects of the study (samples) or between the variables characterizing the objects (chemical descriptors–16 components). The results are discussed in detail. All samples from Bulgaria, together with a few of the Italian, French, Greek, Indian, and Chinese samples, fall into one cluster with the standard maximums. Graphical abstract

Ethnobotany and exploitation of medicinal plants in the Rhodope Mountains – is there a hazard for Clinopodium dalmaticum?

The present work summarises preliminary results of an ethnobotanical study in the Rhodope Mountains. The aim was to assess the traditional home use of medicinal plants for herbal tea by local people and to estimate the threats to the Balkan endemic Clinopodium dalmaticum. Semi-structured interviews with local informants from 15 localities in Central and Eastern Rhodope Mountains were performed in 2015 and 2018. As a result, the most used plant species were listed. The major source of plants was recorded as being gathered from the wild. The plants, known with the local names “wild mint” and “white mint”, were identified as Clinopodium dalmaticum from dried specimens presented by informants in Central Rhodopes. A frequent collection from wild populations of C. dalmaticum in Central Rhodope Mts. (Smoljan region) was revealed along with just a few cases of cultivation close to the studied sites

Comparative Study on Phytochemical Composition, Antioxidant, and Anti-HSV-2 Activities of <i>Sambucus nigra</i> L. and <i>Sambucus ebulus</i> L. Extracts

Sambucus nigra (SN) and Sambucus ebulus (SE) are widely used in folk medicine, primarily as antiviral agents for colds and influenza. In the current study, the antiviral activity of extracts of SN and SE fruits, flowers, and leaves were tested against herpes simplex virus type-2 (HSV-2). The HPLC analysis of the investigated extracts revealed the presence of phenolic acids, flavonoids, and anthocyanins. Rutin and chlorogenic acid were the main polyphenol constituents in flower and leaf extracts, whereas anthocyanins were predominant in fruit extracts. The flower extract of SN was characterized by the highest content of rutin and chlorogenic acid—14,232.1 mg/100 g dry weight (DW) and 7086.7 mg/100 g DW, respectively. SN fruit extract revealed the highest antioxidant activity measured using ORAC and HORAC methods—11,443.1 μmol TE/g and 8198.9 μmol GAE/g, respectively. To evaluate cytotoxicity, antiviral, and virucidal activities against HSV-2, the MTT assay and method of Reed and Muench were used. The least toxic extracts were PSNFrE and PSEFrE. The maximum tolerable concentration (MTC) of PSNFrE was 2000 μg/mL and the calculated CC50 value for that extract was 3570 μg/mL. The inhibitory activity against virus replication was established for three of the extracts—PSNFlE, PSNLE, and PSNFrE. PSEFrE showed neither activity against virus replication, nor virucidal activity. The data suggest a significant inactivation of more than 98% after 60 min of contact of HSV-2 virions with the PSNFrE applied in MTC. The current study provides evidence that Sambucus nigra reveals anti-HSV-2 activity; however, the most active parts of the species were fruits. Therefore, SN fruits and their extracts can be used as an attendant therapy for HSV-2 viral infections