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Chemical Analysis, Bioactivity, and Application of Essential Oils
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Chemical Analysis, Bioactivity, and Application of Essential Oils

A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Phytochemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2025 | Viewed by 5638

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Lhou Majidi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Chemistry Department, Faculty of Sciences and Techniques, Moulay Ismail University, Errachidia 52000, Morocco
Interests: phytochemistry; organic chemistry; biochemistry; analytical chemistry; environmental engineering; materials engineering; chemical engineering
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Secondary metabolites found in aromatic plants form intricate combinations that are increasingly capturing attention. These mixtures are intricate due to their composition, comprising tens or even hundreds of molecules with similar carbon structures, often present in trace amounts. The utilization of these intricate natural blends involves several stages: (i) characterizing their chemical makeup through dependable analytical techniques, (ii) assessing their biological effects, and (iii) exploring their applications across different domains. However, adapting sample preparation procedures is essential, considering the constituents' nature and the matrix under study. Notably, extracting active compounds from essential oils demands the development of reliable and consistent experimental protocols.

In light of this, the primary aim of this special issue, titled "Chemical Analysis, Bioactivity, and Application of Essential Oils," is to compile recent research advancements in this field. It seeks to broaden our understanding of essential oils and provides an interdisciplinary platform for researchers to share their latest scientific endeavors regarding the isolation, characterization, bioactivity, and application of essential oils and their pure components.

Prof. Dr. Lhou Majidi
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Plants is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • aromatic plants
  • extraction
  • essential oils
  • analytical techniques
  • characterization
  • bioactivity

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

19 pages, 3620 KiB  
Article
Phytochemical Profiling, Bioactivity, and Insecticidal Effectiveness of Mammea americana L. Leaf Extracts Against Ferrisia sp.
by Mike Vázquez-Torres, Nilka Rivera-Portalatín and Irma Cabrera-Asencio
Plants 2025, 14(1), 21; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14010021 - 25 Dec 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 914
Abstract
Plant botanical extracts are recognized for being a source of biologically active phytochemicals that potentially have diverse applications. The phytochemical composition, potential cytotoxicity, and insecticidal effectiveness of three leaf extracts from the folkloric medicinal plant Mammea americana L. (Calophyllaceae) were investigated. Micro-Soxhlet extraction [...] Read more.
Plant botanical extracts are recognized for being a source of biologically active phytochemicals that potentially have diverse applications. The phytochemical composition, potential cytotoxicity, and insecticidal effectiveness of three leaf extracts from the folkloric medicinal plant Mammea americana L. (Calophyllaceae) were investigated. Micro-Soxhlet extraction with chloroform, dichloromethane, and methanol was used, and key phytochemicals were identified via Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). The extracts were mainly composed of sesquiterpenes, carboxylic acids, coumarins, esters, diterpenes, and other bioactive compounds. Potential cytotoxicity was assessed using brine shrimp lethality tests, where all extracts displayed high toxicity to Artemia salina. The dichloromethane extract (MAD) had the lowest LC50 value (8.39 μg/mL), followed by methanol extract (MAM, 11.66 μg/mL) and chloroform extract (MAC, 12.67 μg/mL). Insecticidal activity was tested against Ferrisia sp. (Hemiptera:Pseudococcidae), demonstrating the highest efficacy with the methanolic extract (LC50 = 5.90 mg/mL after 48 h). These findings provide a basis for further research into the bioactive components of Mammea americana leaves, particularly their antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties. It also highlights the potential of Mammea americana L. leaf extracts as botanical insecticides due to their high bioactivity against agricultural pests of economic significance. This is the first study that evaluates the insecticidal activity of Mammea americana leaf extracts against Ferrisia sp. insects, offering valuable insights into using plant-based natural products in pest control. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Chemical Analysis, Bioactivity, and Application of Essential Oils)
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25 pages, 14281 KiB  
Article
In Vitro and In Silico Evaluation of Syzygium aromaticum Essential Oil: Effects on Mitochondrial Function and Cytotoxic Potential Against Cancer Cells
by Andreea Munteanu, Armand Gogulescu, Codruța Șoica, Alexandra Mioc, Marius Mioc, Andreea Milan, Alexandra Teodora Lukinich-Gruia, Maria-Alexandra Pricop, Calin Jianu, Christian Banciu and Roxana Racoviceanu
Plants 2024, 13(23), 3443; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13233443 - 8 Dec 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1387
Abstract
The current study proposes the in vitro and in silico anticancer evaluation of clove (Syzygium aromaticum L.) essential oil (CEO). The steam hydrodistillation method used yielded 10.7% (wt) CEO. GC-MS analysis revealed that the obtained oil is rich in eugenol (75%), β-caryophyllene [...] Read more.
The current study proposes the in vitro and in silico anticancer evaluation of clove (Syzygium aromaticum L.) essential oil (CEO). The steam hydrodistillation method used yielded 10.7% (wt) CEO. GC-MS analysis revealed that the obtained oil is rich in eugenol (75%), β-caryophyllene (20%), and α- caryophyllene (2.8%) and also contains several other minor components accounting for approximately 1.5%. The DPPH-based scavenging antioxidant activity was assessed for the obtained CEO, exhibiting an IC50 value of 158 μg/mL. The cytotoxic effects of CEO, its major component eugenol, and CEO solubilized with Tween-20 and PEG-400 were tested against both noncancerous HaCaT cells and HT-29 human colorectal adenocarcinoma, RPMI-7951 melanoma, A431 skin carcinoma, and NCI-H460 non-small lung cancer cells, using the Alamar Blue and LDH assay after 48 h treatment. The Tween-20 and PEG-400 CEO formulations, at 200 μg/mL, recorded the highest cytotoxic and selective effects against RPMI-7951 (72.75% and 71.56%), HT-29 (71.51% and 45.43%), and A431 cells (61.62% and 59.65%). Furthermore, CEO disrupted mitochondrial function and uncoupled oxidative phosphorylation. This effect was more potent for the CEO against the RPMI-7951 and HT-29 cells, whereas for the other two tested cell lines, a more potent inhibition of mitochondrial function was attributed to eugenol. The present study is the first to specifically investigate the effects of CEO and Tween-20 and PEG-400 CEO formulations on the mitochondrial function of RPMI-7951, HT-29, A431, and NCI-H460 cancer cell lines using high-resolution respirometry, providing novel insights into their impact on mitochondrial respiration and bioenergetics in cancer cells. The results obtained may explain the increased ROS production observed in cancer cell lines treated with eugenol and CEO. Molecular docking identified potential protein targets, related to the CEO anticancer activity, in the form of PI3Kα, where the highest active theoretical inhibitor was calamenene (−7.5 kcal/mol). Docking results also showed that calamenene was the overall most active theoretical inhibitor for all docked proteins and indicated a potential presence of synergistic effects among all CEO constituents. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Chemical Analysis, Bioactivity, and Application of Essential Oils)
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23 pages, 2539 KiB  
Article
Chemical and Biological Properties of Different Romanian Populations of Hyssopus officinalis Correlated via Molecular Docking
by Ilinca Merima Imbrea, Magdalena Osiceanu, Anca Hulea, Mukhtar Adeiza Suleiman, Iuliana Popescu, Doris Floares (Oarga), Emilian Onisan, Alina-Georgeta Neacșu, Cosmin Alin Popescu, Calin Hulea, Georgeta Pop, Simona Niță, Florin Imbrea and Diana Obistioiu
Plants 2024, 13(22), 3259; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13223259 - 20 Nov 2024
Viewed by 963
Abstract
This study compares three Romanian Hyssopus officinalis species—H. officinalis f. ruber (HOR), H. officinalis f. albus (HOA), and H. officinalis f. cyaneus (HOC)—evaluating their chemical composition and biological activities, specifically protein denaturation, haemolysis inhibition, and antibacterial effects. Chemical profiles were determined using [...] Read more.
This study compares three Romanian Hyssopus officinalis species—H. officinalis f. ruber (HOR), H. officinalis f. albus (HOA), and H. officinalis f. cyaneus (HOC)—evaluating their chemical composition and biological activities, specifically protein denaturation, haemolysis inhibition, and antibacterial effects. Chemical profiles were determined using Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). The species were cultivated at two distinct locations: the Didactic and Experimental Station DESUSVT and the Agricultural Research and Development Station Lovrin (ARDSL). This study investigates the correlation between chemical composition, biological activities, and local climate data at each site. The results show significant variations in chemical profiles, with species and cultivation location influencing the biological activities. H. officinalis f. albus (HOA) exhibited the strongest antimicrobial activity, particularly against Gram-positive bacteria. The molecular docking analysis highlighted key compounds, such as cyclohexene,4-isopropenyl-1-methoxymethoxymethyl and elemol, with binding solid affinities to microbial and inflammatory proteins. This study provides valuable insights into the chemical and biological properties of Hyssopus officinalis, emphasising its potential in combating microbial infections, protein denaturation, and haemolysis inhibition. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Chemical Analysis, Bioactivity, and Application of Essential Oils)
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18 pages, 590 KiB  
Article
Chemical Composition, Antioxidant and Anti-Enzymatic Activities, and In Vitro Insecticidal Potential of Origanum compactum (Benth.) Essential Oils
by Mohamed Ouknin, Hassan Alahyane, Jean Costa and Lhou Majidi
Plants 2024, 13(17), 2424; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13172424 - 30 Aug 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1491
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the variation in the chemical composition of Origanum compactum essential oils (EOs) from four geographically distinct locations. Additionally, we evaluated their antioxidant properties and potential inhibitory effects on acetylcholinesterase (AChE), tyrosinase, and α-glucosidase enzymes and their insecticidal proprieties. [...] Read more.
This study aimed to investigate the variation in the chemical composition of Origanum compactum essential oils (EOs) from four geographically distinct locations. Additionally, we evaluated their antioxidant properties and potential inhibitory effects on acetylcholinesterase (AChE), tyrosinase, and α-glucosidase enzymes and their insecticidal proprieties. Notably, this research also marks the first examination of the mineral composition of O. compactum. The chemical composition was determined using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS), which identified thymol (28.72–80.39%), carvacrol (6.54–61.84%), p-cymene (0.27–8.64%), linalool (1.44–1.96%), and caryophyllene oxide (1.34–1.56%) as the major constituents. Concurrently, inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES) revealed significant levels of macro and microelements, including calcium (295.50–512.20 mg/kg), potassium (195.99–398.45 mg/kg), magnesium (59.70–98.45 mg/kg), and iron (43.55–112.60 mg/kg). The EOs demonstrated notable antiradical activities through DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl), FRAP (ferric reducing antioxidant power), and β-carotene bleaching assays. Regarding the insecticidal effect, all studied essential oils showed a significant toxicity against C. capitata adults, and the toxicity was dose and time dependent. The highest insecticidal effect was observed for O. compactum essential oils collected from Gouman (LC50 = 2.515 µL/mL, LC90 = 5.502 µL/mL) after 48 h of treatment. Furthermore, at a concentration of 1 mg/mL, the EOs exhibited strong inhibitory effects against AChE (84.75–94.01%), tyrosinase (84.75–94.01%), and α-glucosidase (79.90–87.80%), highlighting their potential as natural inhibitors of these enzymes. The essential oils of O. compactum contain components that could be used as a basis for synthetizing derivatives or analogs with potential medicinal applications and pest control properties. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Chemical Analysis, Bioactivity, and Application of Essential Oils)
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