Search Results (30)

Despite its value as a culinary, medicinal, and essential oil crop, caraway struggles to grow and develop its biochemical quality in drought-prone sandy soils. To tackle this challenge, we conducted two field trials under drip irrigation, testing four rates of organic manure (0, 5, 10, and 15 ton/hectare (ha) and three foliar biostimulants: vitamin B₁ (50 and 100 mg L⁻¹), vitamin E (50 and 100 mg L⁻¹), and active yeast (100 and 150 mL L⁻¹). We used a randomized split-plot design with three replicates, assigning manure rates to main plots and biostimulants to subplots. We measured plant height, stem diameter, branch number, dry biomass, umbels per plant, 1000-seed weight, seed yield (per plant and per ha), essential oil content, chlorophyll a and b, carotenoids, and leaf N, P, and K. All treatments outperformed the unfertilized control. Applying 15 ton/ha of manure alone increased mean plant height by 185.3 cm, stem diameter by 2.93 mm, branch number by 14.5, and herbal weight by 91.97 g across both seasons—a gain of about 11–15%. Foliar application of vitamin B₁ at 100 mg L⁻¹ (without manure) achieved even larger gains: mean plant height improved by 176.5 cm, stem diameter by 2.6 mm, branches number by 15.1, and herbal biomass by 103.95 g (20–36% growth increases). It also boosted essential oil yield by 1.89 mL per plant (16–50%) and enhanced nutrient uptake. The most pronounced synergy emerged when combining 15 ton/ha of manure with 100 mg L⁻¹ vitamin B₁, raising seed yield to 1698.8 kg/ha (35%), plant height to 184.7 cm (52%), number of branches to 17.4 per plant (56%), umbels to 38.1 per plant (42%), 1000-seed weight to 16.9 g (48%), and essential oil yield to 2.3 mL per plant (115%), compared to the control. Chlorophyll a increased by 50%, chlorophyll b by 33%, carotenoids by 35%, and leaf N, P, and K by 43%, 90%, and 76%, respectively. Manure combined with vitamin E or yeast delivered moderate improvements. These findings demonstrate that integrating organic manure with targeted foliar biostimulants—especially vitamin B₁—under drip irrigation, is a sustainable strategy to maximize caraway yield, oil content, and nutritional quality on marginal sandy soils. Full article

White brined cheeses, particularly Bulgarian white brined cheese, are emblematic of the Balkans and northeastern Mediterranean culinary traditions, characterized by aging in brine to ensure microbial safety and distinctive sensory qualities. Carum carvi L. (caraway), a plant renowned for its aromatic profile, is gaining recognition for its antimicrobial properties. This study evaluated the efficacy of caraway essential oil (rich in carvone, 69.8%, and limonene, 28.19%) as a natural preservative in brine and white brined cheese, focusing on its antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The results demonstrated that at a concentration of 0.12% (v/v), caraway essential oil effectively inhibited microbial growth, completely suppressing E. coli even under high contamination loads and significantly reducing S. aureus within 24 h. The minimum bactericidal concentration was identified as 0.25% (v/v) in both cheese and brine. Importantly, organoleptic assessments confirmed that the essential oil did not compromise sensory qualities, with the cheese maintaining a perfect score of 100 points. These findings underscore the potential of caraway essential oil as a natural preservative for cheese production and storage, offering dual benefits of microbial safety and sensory integrity. Its incorporation aligns with growing consumer demand for natural and sustainable food preservation methods, supporting its application in the dairy industry. Full article

Chronic inflammatory bowel disorders (IBDs) are characterized by altered intestinal permeability, prompting inflammatory, oxidative stress, and immunological factors. Gut microbiota disorders impact brain function via the bidirectional gut–brain axis, influencing behavior through inflammatory cascades, oxidative stress, and neurotransmitter levels. This study highlights the potential effect of integrating lyophilized milk kefir alone and lyophilized milk kefir as solid carriers loaded with a self-nanoemulsifying self-nanosuspension (SNESNS) of licorice extract on an induced chronic IBD-like model in rats. Licorice-SNESNS was prepared by the homogenization of 30 mg of licorice extract in 1 g of the selected SNEDDS (30% Caraway oil, 60% Tween 20, and 10% propylene glycol (w/w)). Licorice-SNESNS was mixed with milk kefir and then freeze-dried. Dynamic TEM images and the bimodal particle size curve confirmed the formation of the biphasic nanosystems after dilution (nanoemulsion and nanosuspension). Daily oral administration of lyophilized milk kefir (100 mg/kg) loaded with SNESNS (10 mg/kg Caraway oil and 1 mg/kg licorice) restored normal body weight and intestinal mucosa while significantly reducing submucosal inflammatory cell infiltration in induced rats. Importantly, this treatment demonstrated superior efficacy compared to lyophilized milk kefir alone by leading to a more significant alleviation of neurotransmitter levels and improved memory functions, thereby addressing gut–brain axis disorders. Additionally, it normalized fecal microbiome constituents, inflammatory cytokine levels, and oxidative stress in examined tissues and serum. Moreover, daily administration of kefir-loaded SNESNS normalized the disease activity index, alleviated histopathological changes induced by IBD induction, and partially restored the normal gut microbiota. These alterations are associated with improved cognitive functions, attributed to the maintenance of normal neurotransmitter levels and the alleviation of triggered inflammatory factors and oxidative stress levels. Full article

This study investigated the impact of climate conditions on the quality of essential oils extracted from Apiaceae fruits, specifically coriander (Coriandrum sativum var. microcarpum), aniseed (Pimpinella anisum), and annual caraway (Carum carvi var. annuum) grown at three distinct locations in Serbia over three consecutive years. Field experiments were conducted, and essential oils were extracted using a Clevenger-type apparatus followed by gas chromatographic–mass spectrometric analysis for compound identification. Weather conditions during the vegetation periods were recorded, and statistical analyses, including principal component analysis (PCA) and correlation analysis, were performed to assess the volatile compound compositions. Results indicate significant correlations among various compounds within each fruit type, with distinct patterns observed across different years. PCA further elucidates the influence of both year and sampling location on the chemical profiles of essential oils. Cluster analysis reveals clustering primarily based on the year of cultivation rather than geographical location, emphasizing the dominant role of weather conditions in shaping essential oil compositions. This study highlights the intricate relationship between climate conditions and the quality of essential oils in Apiaceae fruits, providing valuable insights for optimizing cultivation practices and enhancing essential oil production. In general, climate conditions strongly influence the coriander, anise, and annual caraway cultivation, and also essential oil quality. Full article

Petroselinic fatty acid (PeFA) is considered a rare fatty acid and one of the most important fatty acids in the Apiaceae family. Its content varies depending on plant species, geographical origin, extraction method, ripeness, etc. Indeed, reported levels of petroselinic fatty acid range from 10.4 to 75.6% (in anise seed oil), 1 to 81.9% (in coriander seed oil), 28.5 to 57.6% (in caraway seed oil), 49.4 to 75.6% (in celery seed oil), 41.3 to 61.8% (in caraway seed oil), 79.9 to 87.2% (in dill seed oil), 43.1 to 81.9% (in fennel seed oil), and 35 to 75.1% (parsley seed oil). In this review, we also show current knowledge about genes encoding biosynthesis, from the desaturation of 16:0-ACP to petroselinic acid stored in triacylglycerol in the seeds. Furthermore, petroselinic acid is not related to the synthesis of ABA. PeFA was successfully isolated from Apiaceae family plant seeds in order to study their reactivity and biological activities. Several investigations showed that this fatty acid has a wide range of biological potentials, including antidiabetic, antibacterial, and antifungal activities. In cosmetics, PeFA alone or in association with other active compounds has interesting applications as an anti-inflammatory agent for the treatment of skin, hair, and nail disorders. Full article

An in vivo dual choice bioassay with white cabbage as a host plant was used to determine the repellent effect of three different accessions of caraway (Carum carvi L.) essential oils (EOs) against the green peach aphid Myzus persicae (Sulzer). The dominant components of the EO were D-Carvone (47.3–74.4%) and D-limonene (25.2–51.9%), which accounted for 99.2–99.5% of the EOs determined by GC/MS. The EO with the highest D-limonene content (51.9%) showed the highest repellence (Repellency Index (RI) = +41%), which was stable up to 330 min. The incorporation of several surfactants with different hydrophilic-lipophilic balance values (from 12.4 to 16.7) with caraway EO caused a general inhibition of the repellent effect during the testing period (RI from +41% to −19%). Overall, the findings indicate that caraway EO could be used as a green peach aphid repellent, but more work is needed to formulate the EO into a ready-to-use product. Full article

Herbal nutraceuticals are foods derived from plants and/or their derivatives, such as oils, roots, seeds, berries, or flowers, that support wellness and combat acute and chronic ailments induced by unhealthful dietary habits. The current review enlists various traditional as well as unexplored herbs including angelica, burnet, caraway, laurel, parsley, yarrow, and zedoary, which are rich sources of bioactive components, such as aloesin, angelicin, trans-anethole, and cholesteric-7-en-3β-ol. The review further compares some of the extraction and purification techniques, namely, Soxhlet extraction, ultrasound assisted extraction, microwave assisted extraction, supercritical fluid extraction, accelerated solvent extraction, hydro-distillation extraction, ultra-high-pressure extraction, enzyme assisted extraction, pulsed electric field extraction, bio affinity chromatography, cell membrane chromatography, and ligand fishing. Herbal nutraceuticals can be purchased in varied formulations, such as capsules, pills, powders, liquids, and gels. Some of the formulations currently available on the market are discussed here. Further, the significance of herbal nutraceuticals in prevention and cure of diseases, such as diabetes, obesity, dementia, hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia; and as immunomodulators and antimicrobial agents has been discussed. Noteworthy, the inappropriate use of these herbal nutraceuticals can lead to hepatotoxicity, pulmonary toxicity, cytotoxicity, carcinogenicity, nephrotoxicity, hematotoxicity, and cardiac toxicity. Hence, this review concludes with a discussion of various regulatory aspects undertaken by the government agencies in order to minimize the adverse effects associated with herbal nutraceuticals. Full article

Novel antibiotics are needed due to the rise of antibiotic-resistant pathogens. Traditional antibiotics are ineffective due to antibiotic-resistant microorganisms, and finding alternative therapies is expensive. Hence, plant-derived caraway (Carum carvi) essential oils and antibacterial compounds have been selected as alternatives. In this, caraway essential oil as an antibacterial treatment was investigated using a nanoemulsion gel. Using the emulsification technique, a nanoemulsion gel was developed and characterized in terms of particle size, polydispersity index, pH, and viscosity. The results showed that the nanoemulsion had a mean particle size of 137 nm and an encapsulation efficiency of 92%. Afterward, the nanoemulsion gel was incorporated into the carbopol gel and was found to be transparent and uniform. The gel had in vitro cell viability and antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). The gel safely delivered a transdermal drug with a cell survival rate of over 90%. With a minimal inhibitor concentration (MIC) of 0.78 mg/mL and 0.78 mg/mL, respectively, the gel demonstrated substantial inhibition for E. coli and S. aureus. Lastly, the study demonstrated that caraway essential oil nanoemulsion gels can be efficient in treating E. coli and S. aureus, laying the groundwork for the use of caraway essential oil as an alternative to synthetic antibiotics in the treatment of bacterial infections. Full article

Using food additives (e.g., preservatives, antioxidants) is one of the main methods for preserving meat and meat product quality (edible, sensory, and technological) during processing and storage. Conversely, they show negative health implications, so meat technology scientists are focusing on finding alternatives for these compounds. Terpenoid-rich extracts, including essential oils (EOs), are remarkable since they are generally marked as GRAS (generally recognized as safe) and have a wide ranging acceptance from consumers. EOs obtained by conventional or non-conventional methods possess different preservative potentials. Hence, the first goal of this review is to summarize the technical-technology characteristics of different procedures for terpenoid-rich extract recovery and their effects on the environment in order to obtain safe, highly valuable extracts for further application in the meat industry. Isolation and purification of terpenoids, as the main constituents of EOs, are essential due to their wide range of bioactivity and potential for utilization as natural food additives. Therefore, the second goal of this review is to summarize the antioxidant and antimicrobial potential of EOs and terpenoid-rich extracts obtained from different plant materials in meat and various meat products. The results of these investigations suggest that terpenoid-rich extracts, including EOs obtained from several spices and medicinal herbs (black pepper, caraway, Coreopsis tinctoria Nutt., coriander, garlic, oregano, sage, sweet basil, thyme, and winter savory) can be successfully used as natural antioxidants and antimicrobials in order to prolong the shelf-life of meat and processed meat products. These results could be encouraged for higher exploitation of EOs and terpenoid-rich extracts in the meat industry. Full article

Neuropathic pain, a prevalent concern associated with various pathological conditions, poses a significant public health risk due to its poorly understood pathophysiology and treatment complexities. Multimodal therapy is often the most efficacious approach to managing neuropathic pain, yet it is also highly labour intensive. The exact underlying causes of neuropathic pain are unclear; evidence suggests that cytokines, neuropeptides, and neurotrophic factors may play a role in its pathogenesis. The current study aimed to investigate the anti-neuropathic pain activity of caraway oil and the molecular mechanisms underlying its actions in rats with CCI, a model of neuropathic pain. Behavioural evaluations of cold allodynia, heat hyperalgesia, mechanical allodynia, and mechanical hyperalgesia were conducted using the acetone spray test, hot plate test, Von Frey hair test, and pinprick test, respectively. Additionally, the level of TNF-α in the sciatic nerve was examined as an indicator of inflammation, and NGF and substance P levels were determined in the DRG to identify mechanistic processes. Rats were administered caraway oil orally at doses of 25 and 50 mg/kg for 21 days. Results indicated that caraway oil administration significantly reduced behaviour associated with injury-related pain and elevated TNF levels. After an anti-NGF injection on the 21st day, significant attenuated behavioural effects were observed. Furthermore, caraway oil administration was able to inhibit the upregulation of NGF in DRG caused by CCI and minimize the increase in substance P in DRG. These findings suggest that caraway oil has promising therapeutic potential for managing neuropathic pain by targeting peripheral and secondary sensitization mechanisms. Full article

The emergence of resistant microbes threatens public health on our planet, and the emergence of resistant bacteria against the most commonly used antibiotics necessitates urgent alternative therapeutic options. One way to fight resistant microbes is to design new antimicrobial agents, however, this approach takes decades of research. An alternative or parallel approach is to target the virulence of bacteria with natural or synthetic agents. Active constituents from medicinal plants represent a wide library to screen for natural anti-virulence agents. Caraway is used as a traditional spice and in some medicinal applications such as carminative, antispasmodic, appetizer, and expectorant. Caraway essential oil is rich in terpenes that were previously reported to have antimicrobial activities. In our study, we tested the caraway essential oil in sub-inhibitory concentration as a virulence agent against the Gram-negative bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Caraway essential oil in sub-inhibitory concentration dramatically blocked protease activity, pyocyanin production, biofilm formation, and quorum sensing activity of P. aeruginosa. The gas chromatography–mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) profile of caraway fruit oil identified 13 compounds representing 85.4% of the total oil components with carvone and sylvestrene as the main constituents. In conclusion, caraway essential oil is a promising virulence-attenuating agent that can be used against topical infections caused by P. aeruginosa. Full article

Essential oils exhibit strong antimicrobial effects that can serve as a substitute for synthetic pesticides. However, many reports mention the use of essential oils in protecting above-ground plant organs and storing raw materials and seeds, but only a few address the effects of treatments on soil microbiota. Regarding this, it is necessary to find a solution that will prevent the rapid degradation of oils in soil and extend the period of their action on the soil microbiota. The solution to this problem can be microencapsulation, where the choice of carrier plays a key role. In our experiment, maltodextrin was studied, often used in the microencapsulation of essential oils. It was examined independently in two doses (M1 and M2, with 50 and 200 g kg⁻¹, respectively) and a combination with two essential oils known for their antimicrobial activity. We hypothesized that the selected microbial communities would react differently to the stress caused by maltodextrin-encapsulated essential oils. The serial dilution method assessed the number of colony-forming units (CFU) of bacteria, fungi, and actinomycetes. As the goal of microencapsulation was to prolong the effect of essential oils, their reaction was observed over a longer period. The soil microbial populations were examined in sandy and loamy soil at 1, 7, 14, and 78 days after encapsulated essential oils were mixed with the soil samples. In both types of soil, a significant increase in bacteria and actinomycetes was observed with maltodextrin in both doses. Encapsulated peppermint and caraway oils had different effects on microbes, both inhibitory and stimulatory. It is also important to note that peppermint with a smaller dose of maltodextrin significantly inhibited the growth of fungi in sandy soil in all measurements, as well as that caraway oil with a higher dose of maltodextrin significantly stimulated the growth of bacteria and actinomycetes in sandy soil. The higher dose of maltodextrin could explain this stimulation. Further research is recommended to test different doses of essential oils and maltodextrin, which would lead to the optimal dose of both wall and core materials. Full article

The current study explored the effects of natural compounds, berbamine, bergapten, and carveol on paclitaxel-associated neuroinflammatory pain. Berbamine, an alkaloid obtained from BerberisamurensisRuprhas been previously researched for anticancer and anti-inflammatory potential. Bergapten is 5-methoxsalenpsoralen previously investigated in cancer, vitiligo, and psoriasis. Carveol obtained from caraway is a component of essential oil. The neuropathic pain model was induced by administering 2 mg/kg of paclitaxel (PTX) every other day for a week. After the final PTX injection, a behavioral analysis was conducted, and subsequently, tissue was collected for molecular analysis. Berbamine, bergapten, and carveol treatment attenuated thermal hypersensitivity, improved latency of falling, normalized the changes in body weight, and increased the threshold for pain sensation. The drugs increased the protective glutathione (GSH) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) levels in the sciatic nerve and spinal cord while lowering inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and lipid peroxidase (LPO). Hematoxylin and eosin (H and E) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) examinations confirmed that the medication reversed the abnormal alterations. The aforementioned natural substances inhibited cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κb) overexpression, as evidenced by enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA) and Western blot and hence provide neuroprotection in chronic constriction damage. Full article

Bioherbicides are naturally originated products posing alternatives to synthetic herbicides for weed control. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of pelargonic acid and microencapsulated caraway essential oil on barnyardgrass (Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) P.Beauv.) and johnsongrass (Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers.). Two separate pot experiments were conducted at the Agricultural University of Athens (spring 2021), arranged in a completely randomized design (CRD) with six weed control treatments replicated four times. Treatments included the applications of: microencapsulated caraway essential oil at 50 g L⁻¹ (CAR), CAR plus a commercial adjuvant (CAR + adj), i.e., alcohol ethoxylate at 1.8 g L⁻¹, pelargonic acid at 36.3 g L⁻¹ (PA), PA plus a commercial adjuvant (PA + adj), i.e., alcohol ethoxylate at 1.8 g L⁻¹, and a tank mixture of pelargonic acid at 64 g L⁻¹ plus microencapsulated caraway essential oil at 50 g L⁻¹ (PA + CAR). An untreated control (CON) was also included. The results of the current research confirmed the knock-down effect of pelargonic acid against both barnyardgrass and johnsongrass and demonstrated the low efficacy of caraway microcapsules. The addition of a commercial adjuvant improved the efficacy of caraway essential oil but did not appear to affect the performance of pelargonic acid. No synergistic effects were observed between pelargonic acid and microencapsulated caraway essential oil. Further research is needed to optimize the use of these and other natural herbicides for weed control in agriculture and as components of sustainable integrated weed management (IWM) systems. Full article

The main objectives of the present study were to investigate anti-Vibrio spp., antibiofilms, and anti-quorum-sensing (anti-QS) properties of caraway essential oil in relation to their phytochemical composition. The results obtained show the identification of twelve compounds, with carvone (58.2%) and limonene (38.5%) being the main ones. The obtained essential oil (EO) is particularly active against all Vibrio spp. species, with bacteriostatic action against all tested strains (MBC/MIC ratio ≥ 4) and with inhibition zones with high diameters of growth, ranging from 8.66 ± 0.58 mm for V. furnisii ATCC 35016 to 37.33 ± 0.58 mm for V. alginolyticus ATCC 17749. Caraway essential oil (Carvone/limonene chemotype) exhibits antioxidant activities by using four tests (DPPH = 15 ± 0.23 mg/mL; reducing power = 7.8 ± 0.01 mg/mL; β-carotene = 3.9 ± 0.025 mg/mL; chelating power = 6.8 ± 0.05 mg/mL). This oil is particularly able to prevent cell-to-cell communication by inhibiting swarming motility, production of elastase and protease in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1, and violacein production in C. violaceum in a concentration-dependent manner. A molecular docking approach shows good interaction of the identified bioactive molecules in caraway EO, with known target enzymes involved in antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-QS activities having high binding energy. Overall, the obtained results highlight the possible use of caraway essential oil against pathogenic Vibrio species and to attenuate the secretion of virulence-related factors controlled by QS systems in Gram-negative bacteria. Therefore, this oil can be used by food industries to prevent biofilm formation on abiotic surfaces by Vibrio strains. Full article