Chemical composition and Antimicrobial Activity of the Algerian Laurus nobilis Essential oil

The aim of this research is to determine the chemical composition and the antimicrobial activity of Algerian Laurus nobilis essential oil. The chromatographic analyses (CG/MS) have shown that the major components of Laurus nobilis essential oil are the 1.8 cineol (24,658%) and the linalol (18,563%). The Laurus nobilis essential oil has shown an antimicrobial activity against all the tested strains except the Pseudomonas aeruginosa which shown a strong resistance. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations (MIC), Minimum Bactericidal Concentrations (MBC) and Minimum Fungicidal Concentrations (MFC) have been determined by the agar dilution method, some micro-organisms were susceptible to the essential oils that have the MBC values between 1% and 0.03%. A fungicidal action has been obtained regarding the Candida albicans, a fungistatic one regarding the Saccharomyces cerevisiae, these results promise to get a scientific validation to the massive use of this species

Peppermint (Mentha piperita L.) essential oil as a potent anti-inflammatory, wound healing and anti-nociceptive drug

The present investigation was designed to study the chemical composition of Algerian peppermint essential oil (PEO) as well as the in vitro and in vivo anti-inflammatory, wound-healing and anti-nociceptive properties. Twenty-three compounds were identified in the PEO with the main chemical component as menthol (53.29%). Also, PEO showed a high content of oxygenated monoterpene compounds (92.75%). Topical application of PEO at doses of 200 and 20 µL/kg significantly reduced the acute ear edema in 38.09% and 36.50, respectively. Histological observation confirmed that PEO inhibited the skin inflammatory response. In-vivo wound healing activity of the cream prepared from PEO (0.5% w/w) was assessed by circular excision wound model followed by histological examination. The topical administration of PEO cream showed a significant decrease of unhealed wound area rate between the 6th (1.67±0.14 mm2) and the 9th (0.49±0.22 mm2) days of treatment when compared with the vehicle (2.32±0.77 mm2; p<0.05) and Madecassol® 0.1% creams (2.23±0.35 mm2; p<0.05). The PEO reduced nociceptive behavior at all doses tested in the acetic acid-induced nociception test (p<0.05). These findings support the anti-inflammatory, wound-healing and analgesic properties of PEO. We suggest that PEO is a promising candidate for use in skin care products with anti-inflammatory and wound-healing properties. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.383104

Understanding the phenomena of extraction of essential oils by the microwave accelerated distillation process: case of the Washington Navel variety

In this study, two techniques Hydrodistillation (HD) and Microwave-accelerated distillation (MAD), was used to extract essential oils (EOs), from the peels of citrus fruits Washington Navel (Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck) collected from Tipaza province, north Algeria during April 2018. The extraction yield and time of EOs were (0.28% and 180 min) using HD extraction and (0.27% versus 30 min) using MAD extraction. After using gas chromatography analyses (GC-FID) and (GC-MS), 21 aromatic compounds obtained and identified for both extraction approaches. On the other hand, and in order to better comprehension the extraction phenomena, two models of extraction processes were applied, The first one considers the existence of a single site with a constant speed ruled by the equation of the quasi-stationary state, whereas, the second assumes that there are two distinct sites: The first is part of the fraction easily accessible with a very high desorption rate k1 (fast fraction), the second contains the fraction that is difficult to extract, with a low desorption speed k2 (slow fraction). The results showed that, the application of the two sites model can describe accurately the used extraction methods in this study. The data from HD extraction modeling indicate that this method extraction is fast fraction (f equal 0.79), then MAD method (f equal 0.40). DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.388185

Spearmint (Mentha spicata L.) essential oil from tipaza (Algeria): in vivo anti-infl ammatory and analgesic activities in experimental animal models

Introduction: Although analgesic and nonsteroidal anti-infl ammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are usually used to treat a diversity of illnesses, their administration is linked with acute kidney injury and gastrointestinal side eff ects. The research of new biomolecules and natural products is still needed such as medicinal plants. Aims: The present research was aimed to investigate, for the fi rst time, the anti-infl ammatory and anti-nociceptive eff ects of spearmint essential oil (SEO) in mouse models of acute infl ammation and pain. Materials and Method: Chemical analysis of SEO was done by gas chromatography. The anti-infl ammatory activity was tested using two models of acute infl ammation namely carrageenan-induced paw edema and xylene-induced ear edema. Histological examination of both non-infl amed and infl amed tissues was evaluated. The anti-nociceptive activity was tested using the pain model induced by acetic acid. Results: The main constituent of the SEO was found to be carvone (52.60%). The SEO exhibited a promising anti-infl ammatory eff ect as demonstrated by statistically signifi cant (p<0.05) inhibition of paw volume by 77.24% at the dose of 20 μL/kg and 65.87% at the dose of 200 μL/kg. Furthermore, topical administration of the SEO inhibited xylene-induced ear edema in comparison with the control group (p<0.05). The higher dose (200 μL /kg) signifi cantly (p<0.001) reduced xylene-induced ear edema which was similar to that observed with positive control (ketoprofen). The pathological analysis of the paws and ears revealed that SEO was capable of reducing cellular infi ltration and subcutaneous edema. Else, the SEO produced signifi cant anti-nociceptive activity (p<0.001) at higher dose by inhibiting spontaneous nociception. Conclusion: These results support the use of SEO in the development of pharmaceuticals for the management of infl ammation and pain

Aromatic Herbs, Medicinal Plant-Derived Essential Oils, and Phytochemical Extracts as Potential Therapies for Coronaviruses: Future Perspectives

After its recent discovery in patients with serious pneumonia in Wuhan (China), the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), named also Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has spread quickly. Unfortunately, no drug or vaccine for treating human this coronavirus infection is available yet. Numerous options for controlling or preventing emerging 2019-nCoV infections may be predicted, including vaccines, interferon therapies, and small-molecule drugs. However, new interventions are likely to require months to years to develop. In addition, most of the existing antiviral treatments frequently lead to the development of viral resistance combined with the problem of side effects, viral re-emergence, and viral dormancy. The pharmaceutical industry is progressively targeting phytochemical extracts, medicinal plants, and aromatic herbs with the aim of identifying lead compounds, focusing principally on appropriate alternative antiviral drugs. Spices, herbal medicines, essential oils (EOs), and distilled natural products provide a rich source of compounds for the discovery and production of novel antiviral drugs. The determination of the antiviral mechanisms of these natural products has revealed how they interfere with the viral life cycle, i.e., during viral entry, replication, assembly, or discharge, as well as virus-specific host targets. Presently, there are no appropriate or approved drugs against CoVs, but some potential natural treatments and cures have been proposed. Given the perseverance of the 2019-nCoV outbreak, this review paper will illustrate several of the potent antiviral chemical constituents extracted from medicinal and aromatic plants, natural products, and herbal medicines with recognized in vitro and in vivo effects, along with their structure&ndash;effect relationships. As this review shows, numerous potentially valuable aromatic herbs and phytochemicals are awaiting assessment and exploitation for therapeutic use against genetically and functionally different virus families, including coronaviruses

Cold Pressing, Hydrodistillation and Microwave Dry Distillation of Citrus Essential Oil from Algeria: A Comparative Study

International audienceHydro-Distillation (HD), Cold Pressing (CP) and Microwave Clevenger or microwave Accelerated Distillation (MAD) methods have been compared and evaluated for their efficiency in the extraction of essential oil (EO) from fresh Citrus peels. EO from peel of 4 varieties of Algerian sweet orange (C. sinensis), Lemons (C. limon), Citrons (C. medica), sour orange (C. aurantium), grapefruits (C. paradisi) and tangelos (C. deliciosa Ten C. tangerina Hort. ex Tan.) × (C. paradisi Macf.) were analysed by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). The EO chemical constituents were identified according to their mass spectra and Kováts retention indices determined on polar and non-polar stationary phase capillary columns. Citrus peel oils contained from 86.69 to 99.31% of monoterpenes with limonene reported to be the major component. The Principal Components Analysis (PCA) and the Canonical Discriminant Analysis (CDA) have been undertaken in order to make a comparison between the three processes of extraction (MAD, HD and CP). The MAD offers significant advantages over traditional alternatives, namely; shorter distillation times (30 min. against 3 h for HD and 1 h for CP); improved yields; environmental impact (energy cost is fairly superior to perform HD and for mechanical motor (CP) than that required for rapid MAD extraction); cleaner features (as no residue generation and no water or solvent used) and provides a more valuable EO (with elevated quantities of oxygenated compounds). Hence, it provides also the ability for enhanced reproduction of natural fragrance of the EO from Citrus fruit

Cold Pressing, Hydrodistillation and Microwave Dry Distillation of Citrus Essential Oil from Algeria: A Comparative Study

International audienceHydro-Distillation (HD), Cold Pressing (CP) and Microwave Clevenger or microwave Accelerated Distillation (MAD) methods have been compared and evaluated for their efficiency in the extraction of essential oil (EO) from fresh Citrus peels. EO from peel of 4 varieties of Algerian sweet orange (C. sinensis), Lemons (C. limon), Citrons (C. medica), sour orange (C. aurantium), grapefruits (C. paradisi) and tangelos (C. deliciosa Ten C. tangerina Hort. ex Tan.) × (C. paradisi Macf.) were analysed by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). The EO chemical constituents were identified according to their mass spectra and Kováts retention indices determined on polar and non-polar stationary phase capillary columns. Citrus peel oils contained from 86.69 to 99.31% of monoterpenes with limonene reported to be the major component. The Principal Components Analysis (PCA) and the Canonical Discriminant Analysis (CDA) have been undertaken in order to make a comparison between the three processes of extraction (MAD, HD and CP). The MAD offers significant advantages over traditional alternatives, namely; shorter distillation times (30 min. against 3 h for HD and 1 h for CP); improved yields; environmental impact (energy cost is fairly superior to perform HD and for mechanical motor (CP) than that required for rapid MAD extraction); cleaner features (as no residue generation and no water or solvent used) and provides a more valuable EO (with elevated quantities of oxygenated compounds). Hence, it provides also the ability for enhanced reproduction of natural fragrance of the EO from Citrus fruit

Peppermint (Mentha piperita L.) essential oil as a potent anti-inflammatory, wound healing and anti-nociceptive drug

The present investigation was designed to study the chemical composition of Algerian peppermint essential oil (PEO) as well as the in vitro and in vivo anti-inflammatory, wound-healing and anti-nociceptive properties. Twenty-three compounds were identified in the PEO with the main chemical component as menthol (53.29%). Also, PEO showed a high content of oxygenated monoterpene compounds (92.75%). Topical application of PEO at doses of 200 and 20 µL/kg significantly reduced the acute ear edema in 38.09% and 36.50, respectively. Histological observation confirmed that PEO inhibited the skin inflammatory response. In-vivo wound healing activity of the cream prepared from PEO (0.5% w/w) was assessed by circular excision wound model followed by histological examination. The topical administration of PEO cream showed a significant decrease of unhealed wound area rate between the 6th (1.67±0.14 mm2) and the 9th (0.49±0.22 mm2) days of treatment when compared with the vehicle (2.32±0.77 mm2; p<0.05) and Madecassol® 0.1% creams (2.23±0.35 mm2; p<0.05). The PEO reduced nociceptive behavior at all doses tested in the acetic acid-induced nociception test (p<0.05). These findings support the anti-inflammatory, wound-healing and analgesic properties of PEO. We suggest that PEO is a promising candidate for use in skin care products with anti-inflammatory and wound-healing properties. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.383104

Topical Emulsion Containing Lavandula stoechas Essential Oil as a Therapeutic Agent for Cutaneous Wound Healing

Background and objectives: The present research was designed to evaluate the chemical composition of Lavandula stoechas essential oil (EOLS) as well as the in vivo wound-healing property. The chemical composition of EOLS was identified by gas chromatography mass spectrometry. Nineteen compounds of EOLS were reported. Linalool was identified as the major chemical compound (24.87%), followed by linalyl acetate (19.10%). EOLS showed a high content of oxygenated compounds (63.54%). In vivo wound healing activity of the topical cream prepared from EOLS (0.5% w/w) was assessed using a circular excision wound model. The wound area (mm2) in all animal groups was estimated and measured on day 0, 4, 8, 11, and 16. Results: The EOLS formulation cream (0.5% v/w) showed the highest effect on wound models when compared to reference Madecassol® (Asiaticoside). On days 4, 11, and 16, wound contractions were 26.4%, 78%, and 96.3% for the EOLS-treated group, and 8.5%, 64.1%, and 86.1% for the vehicle cream-treated group. Animals treated with EOLS cream showed a significant decrease in the epithelization period, wound area, and scar thickness, whereas the rate of wound contraction significantly increased. This is the first such report to be published. Histological analyses were also consistent with the results of the excision experimental method. Treatment with EOLS cream formulation resulted in decreased inflammation and an increased rate of tissue perfusion and proliferation as well as remodeling, along with re-epithelization. Conclusions: Our results support the use of EOLS in the development of pharmaceuticals for the management of wounds, and/or inflammatory-related diseases. Additional studies are needed to elucidate and explain the exact mechanism of its pharmacological activity