• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.289-303
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• 2021

Covid-19 is an ongoing pandemic as we speak in 2022. This infectious disease is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which infects cells by binding to the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor on the cell surface. Thus, strategies that inhibit the binding of SARS-CoV-2 to the ACE2 receptor can stop this contagion. Hanjeli (Coix lacryma-jobi) essential oil contains many bioactive compounds, including dodecanoic acid; tetradecanoic acid; 7-Amino-8-imino-2-(2-imino-2H-chromen-3-yl); and 1,5,7,10-tetraaza-phen-9-one. These compounds suppress viral replication and may prevent Covid-19. Accordingly, this study assessed whether, these four limonoid compounds can block the ACE2 receptor. To this end, their physicochemical properties were predicted using Lipinski's "rule of five" on the SwissADME website, and their toxicity was assessed using the online tools ProTox and pkCSM. Additionally, their interactions with the ACE2 receptor were predicted via molecular docking using Autodock Vina. All the four compounds satisfied the "rule of five" and tetradecanoic acid was predicted to have a higher affinity than the comparison compound remdesivir and the original ligand of ACE2. Molecular docking results suggested that the compounds from hanjeli essential oil interact with the active site of the ACE2 receptor similarly as the original ligand and remdesivir. In conclusion, hanjeli essential oil contains compounds predicted hinder the interaction of SARS-CoV-2 with the ACE2 receptor. Accordingly, our data may facilitate the development of a phytomedical strategy against SARS-CoV-2 infection.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.160-164
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• 2005

The effects of Cymbopogon citratus essential oil (Lemongrass oil) and its main component, citral (84.30%), on antibiotic-susceptible and -resistant strains of Salmonella enteritidis and S. typhimurium were assessed. C. citratus oil and citral significantly inhibited all strains of the two Salmonella species examined, with minimum inhibiting concentrations (MICs) ranging from 0.5 mg/ml to 8.0 mg/ml. The combined effects of C. citratus oil and citral (84.30%) were evaluated using a checkerboard microtiter assay. Essential oil fractions of C. citratus and citral exhibited strong synergistic or additive effects with streptomycin or kanamycin against S. typhimurium strains with fractional inhibitory concentration (FIC) indices in the range of 0.28 to 1.00. In conclusion, a combination of streptomycin and lemongrass oil or its main component, citral, may be useful for reducing the minimum effective dose of antibiotic required for the treatment of resistant S. typhimurium infections.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.653-659
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• 2014

Surgery remains the preferred treatment for hydatid cyst (cystic echinococcosis, CE). Various scolicidal agents have been used for inactivation of protoscolices during surgery, but most of them are associated with adverse side effects. The present study aimed to evaluate the in vitro scolicidal effect of Nigella sativa (Ranunculaceae) essential oil and also its active principle, thymoquinone, against protoscolices of hydatid cysts. Protoscolices were aseptically aspirated from sheep livers having hydatid cysts. Various concentrations of the essential oil (0.01-10 mg/ml) and thymoquinone (0.125-1.0 mg/ml) were used for 5 to 60 min. Viability of protoscolices was confirmed by 0.1% eosin staining. Furthermore, the components of the N. sativa essential oil were identified by gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy (GC/MS). Our study revealed that the essential oil of N. sativa at the concentration of 10 mg/ml and its main component, thymoquinone, at the concentration of 1 mg/ml had potent scolicidal activities against protoscolices of Echinococcus granulosus after 10 min exposure. Moreover, thymoquinone (42.4%), p-cymene (14.1%), carvacrol (10.3%), and longifolene (6.1%) were found to be the major components of N. sativa essential oil by GC/MS analysis. The results of this study indicated the potential of N. sativa as a natural source for production of a new scolicidal agent for use in hydatid cyst surgery. However, further studies will be needed to confirm these results by checking the essential oil and its active component in in vivo models.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.21-27
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• 2015

Plants used for traditional medicine contain a wide range of substances that can be used to treat various diseases such as infectious diseases. The present study was designed to evaluate the antileishmanial effects of the essential oil and methanolic extract of Myrtus communis against Leishmania tropica on an in vitro model. Antileishmanial effects of essential oil and methanolic extract of M. communis on promastigote forms and their cytotoxic activities against J774 cells were evaluated using MTT assay for 72 hr. In addition, their leishmanicidal activity against amastigote forms was determined in a macrophage model, for 72 hr. Findings showed that the main components of essential oil were ${\alpha}$-pinene (24.7%), 1,8-cineole (19.6%), and linalool (12.6%). Findings demonstrated that M. communis, particularly its essential oil, significantly (P<0.05) inhibited the growth rate of promastigote and amastigote forms of L. tropica based on a dose-dependent response. The $IC_{50}$ values for essential oil and methanolic extract was 8.4 and $28.9{\mu}g/ml$ against promastigotes, respectively. These values were 11.6 and $40.8{\mu}g/ml$ against amastigote forms, respectively. Glucantime as control drug also revealed $IC_{50}$ values of 88.3 and $44.6{\mu}g/ml$ for promastigotes and amastigotes of L. tropica, respectively. The in vitro assay demonstrated no significant cytotoxicity in J774 cells. However, essential oil indicated a more cytotoxic effect as compared with the methanolic extract of M. communis. The findings of the present study demonstrated that M. communis might be a natural source for production of a new leishmanicidal agent.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.18-22
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• 2002

Inhibitory effects of the essential oils obtained from ten herbs were tested on acetaminophen-induced lipid peroxidation in the rat. The oil of Artemisia princeps var. orientalis buds (AP-oil) showed the most significant hepatic malondialdehyde value which was comparable to those of ascorbic acid and methionine. This was warranted by the protective effect on hepatic glutathione depletion. Overview of the data on the activities of hepatic microsomal enzymes, aminopyrine N-demethylase and aniline hydroxylase led to the notice that the suppressed activities of those enzymes are mainly responsible for the anti-lipid peroxidation. The interpretation of GC-MS data on the AP-oil revealed the ingredient of cineol, thujone, carvone, borneol, camphor and terpineol.

• Journal of Mycology and Infection
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.91-98
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• 2018

Background: Malassezia, a lipophilic yeast, is a causative agent for dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis. Many biological agents have been studied for anti-Malassezia effect but further studies are needed for their clinical application. Objective: The study was conducted to evaluate the inhibitory effect of different natural essential oils and a fruit extract on Malassezia species in an in vitro study and a clinical trial. Methods: The antifungal effects of natural essential oils and a fruit extract on Malassezia species (M. furfur and M. sympodialis) were evaluated by measuring the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) and using the disc diffusion method. Natural essential oils of citron seed, lavender, and rosemary and citrus junos fruit extract were used for the in vitro study. The clinical trial was conducted with a shampoo containing four ingredients. A total of 22 subjects used the shampoo every day for 4 weeks and were evaluated using clinical photography, trichoscopy, and sebumeter at baseline, 2 weeks, and 4 weeks after treatment. Results: Antifungal activity of agents was relatively lower in lavender and rosemary essential oils at MIC and MFC. Disc diffusion method revealed same results. In the clinical trial, the amount of sebum decreased statistically significantly and erythema, dandruff, and lesion extent also improved. Conclusion: The natural essential oils and fruit extract are effective for suppressing Malassezia activity, therefore these might be used as an alternative for treatment of dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.48
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• pp.41-48
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• 2003

The number of natural products obtained from plants has now reached over 100,000 and new chemical compounds are being discovered ever year. Medicinal and Aromatic plants and their extracts have been used for centuries to relieve pain, aid healing, kill bacteria and insects are important as the antifungal and anti-herbivore agents with further compounds being involved in the symbiotic associations. Although their functions in plants have not been fully established, it is Known that some substances have growth regulatory properties while others are involved in pollination and seed dispersal. The complex nature of these chemicals are usually produced in various types of secretory structures which is an important character of a plant family and also influenced and controlled by genetic and ecological factors. Detailed anatomical description of these structures ave relevant to the market value of the plants, the verification of authenticity of a given species and for the detection of substitution or adulteration. Volatile oils are used for their therapeutic action for flavoring of lemon, in perfumery of rose or as starting materials for the synthesis of other compounds of turpentine. For therapeutic purposes they are administered as inhalations of eucalyptus oil, peppermint oil, as gargles and mouthwashes of thymol and transdermally many essential oils including those of lavender, etc. With these current trend for using volatile components in essential oil will be increasing in the future in Korea and in the world as well.

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.840-847
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• 2010

In this study, we identified the volatile compounds of Artemisia princeps Pampan. cv. ssajuari (ssajuarissuk) essential oils and analyzed changes in the contents of volatile compounds under four different storage conditions, such as exposure to air at $20^{\circ}C$ and $40^{\circ}C$. Sixty-five volatile compounds consisting of 6 monoterpene hydrocarbons, 23 oxygenated monoterpenes, 16 sesquiterpene hydrocarbons, 6 oxygenated sesquiterpenes, 1 diterpene, 6 benzene derivatives, and 7 non-isoprenoid compounds were identified on the basis of their mass spectra characteristics and retention indices from original ssajuarissuk essential oils. Identified compounds constituted 90.56% of the total peak area. Borneol (10.29%) was the most abundant compound in the original ssajuarissuk essential oils, followed by 1,8-cineole (9.06%), viridiflorol (8.99%), spathulenol (8.73%), $\alpha$-thujone (5.28%), and camphor (4.39%). After six months storage at $40^{\circ}C$ with the cap opened for 3 min everyday, the total amount of volatile compounds in essential oil as determined by the percentage peak area decreased by 84.93%. The total levels of cis-sabinene hydrate, camphor, 4-terpineol, humulene oxide, $\beta$-caryophyllene oxide, and caryophyllene alcohol increased significantly. For ssajuarissuk essential oils stored under experimental conditions, changes in the contents of volatile compounds in essential oils were accelerated by temperature and contact with the atmosphere.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.462-465
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• 2006

In order to extend the shelf life of sliced raw flatfish, the antimicrobial effects of natural essential oil from mustard and a mixture of ginger and mustard essential oils were tested at various temperatures. In addition, volatile components of the mixed essential oils were analyzed using gas chromatography and gas chromatography mass spectrometry. The viable cell counts of Vibrio parahaemolyticus treated with mixed essential oils from ginger and mustard was 0.7-1.3 log CFU/g lower than those of other treatments during storage at $5^{\circ}C$. During storage at $20^{\circ}C$, the viable cell counts of V. parahaemolyticus, V. vulnificus 01, and V. vulnificus 02 treated with the essential oils increased slightly from 6.53-6.64 log CFU/g at initial stages to 6.77-7.72 log CFU/g after 24-hr of storage, however they were 1.38-1.97 log CFU/g lower than those of the control group (8.74-9.10 log CFU/g). These results show that the growth of V. parahaemolyticus and V. vulnificus inoculated on sliced raw flatfish could be inhibited by treatment with natural essential oils from ginger and mustard at $5^{\circ}C$ of storage. However, the antibacterial effects of the essential oils on Vibrio species observed in this study were not sufficient to merit their use in sliced raw flatfish at temperatures exceeding $20^{\circ}C$.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.30 no.7
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• pp.1018-1026
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• 2020

Rosemary essential oil was evaluated for antifungal potentiality against six major ginseng pathogens: Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Sclerotinia nivalis, Cylindrocarpon destructans, Alternaria panax, Botrytis cinerea, and Fusarium oxysporum. The in vitro fungicidal effects of two commonly used fungicides, namely mancozeb and fenhexamid, and the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) of Trichoderma koningiopsis T-403 on the mycelial growth were investigated. The results showed that rosemary essential oil is active against all of the pathogenic strains of ginseng root rot, whereas rosemary oil displayed high ability to inhibit the Sclerotinia spp. growth. The highest sensitivity was S. nivalis, with complete inhibition of growth at 0.1% v/v of rosemary oil, followed by Alternaria panax, which exhibited 100% inhibition at 0.3% v/v of the oil. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of rosemary oil ranged from 0.1 % to 0.5 % (v/v). Chemical analysis using GC-MS showed the presence of thirty-two constituents within rosemary oil from R. officinals L. Camphore type is the most frequent sesquiterpene in rosemary oil composition. Mancozeb and fenhexamid showed their highest inhibition effect (45% and 30%, respectively) against A. panax. T. koningiopsis T-403 showed its highest inhibition effect (84%) against C. destructans isolate. This study may expedite the application of antifungal natural substances from rosemary and Trichoderma in the prevention and control of phytopathogenic strains in ginseng root infections.