Search Results (166)

In order to find green fungicides derived from natural products, 22 unreported anethole-based thiazolinone-hydrazone compounds were designed and synthesized, and their structures were characterized by FT-IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, and HRMS. At a concentration of 50 mg/L, the preliminary antifungal activity of the target compounds against eight plant pathogens was evaluated. The results showed that 5q (R = m-OH C₆H₄) exhibited the best inhibitory activity against most of the tested plant pathogenic fungi, demonstrating that this compound had certain broad-spectrum antifungal activity. In addition, a reasonable and effective 3D-QSAR model (r² = 0.994, q² = 0.529) was established using the comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA) method to study the relationship between the structures of the target compounds and their antifungal activity against Physalospora piricola. Meanwhile, the results of electrostatic potential calculation of the compounds indicated that the electronic effect caused by different substituents on the benzene ring might be one of the factors affecting antifungal activity. In addition, frontier molecular orbital calculations implied that the anethole moiety and the thiazolinone-hydrazone-benzene structure in the target compounds might play an important role in antifungal activity. The potential binding mode between the target compound 5q (R = m-OH C₆H₄) and the homology-modeled succinic dehydrogenase was explored by molecular docking. Full article

The hydroformylation of alkenylbenzenes remains insufficiently defined, despite the relevance of these substrates as biomass-derived aromatic feedstocks within sustainable chemical transformations. In this work, we present an experimental (catalytic and kinetic) study of their conversion into aldehydes under rhodium-phosphine catalysis, using complexes bearing mono-, bi- and tridentate phosphine ligands, [Rh(H)(CO)₂(PPh₃)₂], [Rh(H)(CO)(triphos)] and [Rh(H)(CO)₂(dppe)], under mild reaction conditions (80 °C and 2–30 bar of syngas for eugenol; 80 °C and 20–50 bar of syngas for estragole and trans-anethole). The catalytic activity order of the complexes was Rh (PPh₃) > Rh(triphos) > Rh(dppe), while the substrate reactivity followed the trend eugenol > estragole >> trans-anethole. Reaction rates were measured across a wide CO and H₂ pressure range, revealing redistribution between the active monocarbonyl species and an off-cycle (acyl)dicarbonyl complex that becomes dominant at elevated p(CO). The kinetic behavior observed for eugenol hydroformylation with Rh(PPh₃) was consistent with the established hydroformylation sequence involving alkene coordination, hydride migration to substrate and the CO-dependent re-coordination steps that determine catalyst speciation; the subsequent transfer of the alkyl group to the carbonyl ligand and hydrogenolysis complete the catalytic cycle; the H₂ addition or the hydride transfer to the alkene was identified as the rate-determining step, depending on whether low or high p(H₂) values were employed. To obtain statistically reliable kinetic parameters- often challenging in hydroformylation because of parameter covariance and restricted identifiability- we complemented conventional nonlinear regression with Bayesian inference based on the Markov Chain Monte Carlo approach. The resulting posterior distributions were well centered, exhibited realistic variance and provided parameter sets that are sufficiently robust to support mechanistic interpretation and subsequent kinetic modeling. Full article

Tartary buckwheat (Fagopyrum tataricum), a medicinal and edible crop, is valued for its richness in flavonoids and polyphenols, which confer antioxidant and hypoglycemic activities. Eurotium cristatum, a dominant fungus crucial for the quality of Fuzhuan tea, produces unique aromas and metabolites. This study developed cookies by replacing 20% of low-gluten flour with Tartary buckwheat flour that had undergone solid-state fermentation with E. cristatum followed by baking. Compared to cookies containing non-inoculated buckwheat flour, the fermented cookies contained significantly higher levels of total flavonoids (4.97 mg/g) and polyphenols (2.31 mg/g), and exhibited markedly enhanced antioxidant activity, as evidenced by a 16.4% higher ABTS radical scavenging rate and a 42.5% greater ferric reducing power. The fermented cookies also exhibited improved textural and sensory properties, a unique aroma profile characterized by pleasant floral notes, and a more homogeneous microstructure. HS-SPME-GC-MS analysis indicated that the optimized flavor resulted from the upregulation of key pleasant aroma compounds (e.g., (E)-2-nonenal, anethole) and the suppression of specific off-odor compounds (e.g., 2-ethyl-3,5-dimethylpyrazine, p-cresol). In conclusion, solid-state fermentation with E. cristatum followed by baking, effectively improves both the nutritional and sensory characteristics of Tartary buckwheat cookies, providing a viable strategy for developing novel, health-promoting bakery products with an appealing compelling flavor profile. Full article

Essential oils (EOs) have emerged as promising natural antimicrobials for food safety applications. However, their direct use on food-contact surfaces—such as wood and plastic, commonly employed in artisanal cheese production—has been scarcely explored. This study aimed to evaluate the antibacterial effects of dill (Anethum graveolens) and nettle (Urtica dioica) essential oils against Listeria monocytogenes and Escherichia coli, both in culture media and on inert surfaces. EOs were extracted via steam distillation and characterized by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Antimicrobial activity was assessed using agar diffusion and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) assays. In addition, bacterial reduction was quantified following EO application to contaminated wooden and plastic surfaces for 40 min. Dill EO exhibited a high anethole content (63.66%), while nettle EO was dominated by limonene (38.73%). Dill EO produced larger inhibition zones against E. coli (13.7 ± 1.5 mm) and L. monocytogenes (12.3 ± 1.5 mm) compared to nettle EO (6.3 ± 0.6 mm and 8.0 ± 1.7 mm, respectively). On plastic, both EOs achieved complete inhibition of E. coli (100%) and greater than 92% reduction in L. monocytogenes. On wood, dill EO maintained high efficacy (up to 87.9%), whereas nettle EO showed limited reduction (29.3%) against L. monocytogenes. These results demonstrate that EO efficacy is influenced by both surface type and target microorganism, supporting the potential of dill EO as a natural antimicrobial agent for surface sanitation in artisanal cheese production. Full article

Anise (Pimpinella anisum L.) is one of the most important annual herbs of the Apiaceae family, widely cultivated in southern Spain. Their seeds are highly valued for culinary uses and for producing quality essential oils widely used in food and beverage products, as well as for industry, medicinal, and cosmetics applications. This study investigates the seed yield and essential oil content within a set of 50 anise accessions from worldwide origin, as well as their composition by GC–MS and GC–FID analysis. Accessions showed significant differences in the agronomic parameters measured, including plant height (cm), seed yield (kg ha⁻¹), and the Harvest Index (%), with accessions PA_87 (Spain), PA_47 (Greece), and PA_21 (unknown origin) being the most performant. Essential oil (EO) content varied between 0.8% and 5.7% across different genotypes, resulting in EO production values ranging from 0.1 to 300 kg ha⁻¹. Trans-anethole was identified as the dominant terpene, comprising 84.4% to 94.4% of the content, followed by eugenol (1.4% to 5.5%) and α-muurolene (1.4% to 7.2%). PCA analysis identified five distinct groups and one outlier, influenced by minor terpenes. Indeed, there was a strong negative correlation between estragole and pseudoisoeugenyl 2-methylbutyrate. This study underscores the significance of minor terpenes, which play crucial roles in defining unique aniseed chemotypes, allowing for the selection of cultivars optimized for specific uses in food, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. Additionally, these findings emphasize the impact of cultivar genetics on agronomic traits and EO profiles, suggesting the need for further research to optimize plant growth and yield and EO quality. Full article

This study develops a comprehensive workflow integrating Headspace Solid-Phase Microextraction Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS) with advanced supervised machine learning to authenticate the botanical origin of honeys from five distinct floral sources—coriander, orange blossom, astragalus, rosemary, and chehelgiah. While HS-SPME-GC-MS combined with traditional chemometrics (e.g., PCA, LDA, OPLS-DA) is well-established for honey discrimination, the application and direct comparison of Random Forest (RF), eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), and Neural Network (NN) models represent a significant advancement in multiclass prediction accuracy and model robustness. A total of 57 honey samples were analyzed to generate detailed volatile organic compound (VOC) profiles. Key chemotaxonomic markers were identified: anethole in coriander and chehelgiah, thymoquinone in astragalus, p-menth-8-en-1-ol in orange blossom, and dill ester (3,6-dimethyl-2,3,3a,4,5,7a-hexahydrobenzofuran) in rosemary. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed clear separation across botanical classes (PC1: 49.8%; PC2: 22.6%). Three classification models—RF, XGBoost, and NN—were trained on standardized, stratified data. The NN model achieved the highest accuracy (90.32%), followed by XGBoost (86.69%) and RF (83.47%), with superior per-class F1-scores and near-perfect specificity (>0.95). Confusion matrices confirmed minimal misclassification, particularly in the NN model. This work establishes HS-SPME-GC-MS coupled with deep learning as a rapid, sensitive, and reliable tool for multiclass honey botanical authentication, offering strong potential for real-time quality control, fraud detection, and premium market certification. Full article

The repellent activities (Periplaneta americana) of lone and binary mixtures of terpenoids—geranial, trans-anethole, and trans-cinnamaldehyde—against adult American cockroaches were evaluated in this study. The respective efficacies of these mixtures were compared with that of 12% (w/w) DEET. Safety bioassays for all formulations on non-target species, namely, earthworms (Eudrilus eugeniae) and guppy fish (Poecilia reticulata), were conducted to identify natural compounds with repellent efficacy equal to or surpassing that of DEET while ensuring ecological safety for non-target organisms such as fish and earthworms. All mixtures (RC₅₀ of 0.3 to 1.6 µL/cm³) were more effective than all lone terpenoids (RC₅₀ of 6.2 to 9.1 µL/cm³) and DEET (RC₅₀ of 3.0 µL/cm³), demonstrating strong synergy, with an increased repellent value (IV) of 79 to 96%. The strongest repellency, 98.0% at 72 h and an RC₅₀ of 0.3 µL/cm³, was achieved using geranial + trans-cinnamaldehyde (1:1). This mixture was 5.9 to 10 times more effective as a repellent than DEET. The toxicity of every lone terpenoid and terpenoid mixture to non-target species was low; hence, these mixtures can be considered safe, whereas DEET was highly toxic to non-target species (100% mortality). The terpenoid mixture geranial + trans-cinnamaldehyde showed strong repellency against P. americana. Full article

Plant essential oils (EOs) are attracting interest as ecofriendly alternatives to antibiotics and copper-based control of kiwifruit bacterial canker (KBC), caused by Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae (Psa). This study chemically profiled six EOs (anise, basil, cardamom, cumin, fennel, and laurel) and evaluated their antimicrobial activity both in vitro and in planta. The in vitro assay targeted four strains, two of Psa and two of the low-virulent P. syringae pv. actinidifoliorum (Pfm), whereas the in planta assay focused on the highly virulent Psa7286 strain, assessed under preventive and curative application regimes (i.e., 14 days pre- or post-inoculation, respectively). Cumin, with cuminaldehyde as its major component (48%), was the most effective EO in vitro, significantly inhibiting growth at 5–10% concentration, whereas anise, rich in anethole (89%), was consistently the least effective one. However, the in planta application of the EOs produced antimicrobial effects that differed markedly from in vitro results and showed strong dependence on the timing of application. Preventive treatment significantly reduced Psa endophytic populations in basil (70%), anise (54%), laurel (42%), and cumin (35%) compared to untreated plants. In contrast, when the EOs were applied post-inoculation (curative treatment), a significant decrease in Psa colonization was observed in laurel (81%), cardamon (70%), cumin (31%) and fennel (29%). Although plant EOs are gaining momentum in the control of Psa and other diseases, translation from in vitro to in planta efficacy is not direct and is strongly timing-dependent, which underscores the need to perform validation trials in planta and to fine-tune application schedules for the integrated management of KBC. Full article

Termites are destructive structural pests causing significant economic losses worldwide. Although synthetic termiticides are effective, their extensive use raises environmental and health concerns, highlighting the need for safer, sustainable alternatives. This study evaluated the contact toxicity and repellency in a closed system of essential oils (EOs) from clove (Syzygium aromaticum), cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum), and star anise (Illicium verum) against Microcerotermes crassus workers. Chemical constituents (eugenol and anethole) were characterized by GC–MS/MS, and their activities were compared with those commercial termiticides (fipronil and cypermethrin). Clove and cinnamon oils exhibited strong toxicity, with LC₅₀ values decreasing from 208.6 to 70.6 µL/L and from 362.6 to 130.5 µL/L, respectively, over 24 h. Both achieved LT₅₀ values below 10 h at 250 µL/L and over 80% repellency at 100–500 µL/L within 3–12 h. Eugenol, the major constituent, showed comparable activity. In contrast, star anise oil, dominated by anethole, displayed weaker repellency but measurable termiticidal effects with a slower onset. These findings indicate that eugenol-rich oils may provide rapid-contact activity. In contrast, anethole-rich oils may offer slower but measurable termiticidal effects, suggesting distinct potential roles in future formulation development. The findings provide a foundation for developing nanoemulsion-based botanical termiticides with improved stability and field performance. Full article

Background/Objectives: Baihe Dihuang Tang (BDT), a classical herbal formula from Zhang Zhongjing’s Han Dynasty work Jin Gui Yao Lue, is widely used to treat depressive disorder by nourishing Yin, clearing heat, and tonifying the heart and lungs. However, its pharmacological mechanisms remain unclear. This study aims to explore BDT’s antidepressant effects via MAOA-regulated serotonin (5-HT) metabolism and synaptic plasticity, supported by experimental validation, while using network pharmacology to predict MAOA-targeting active components. Methods: Active components and targets of BDT were screened using TCMSP, TCMID, and other databases, and then a component-target-pathway network was constructed. A chronic restraint stress (CRS)-induced depressive mouse model was established. Behavioral tests, including open field test (OFT), elevated plus maze (EPM), forced swimming test (FST) and tail suspension test (TST), were conducted to evaluate antidepressant effects. ELISA, qRT-PCR, and Western blot were employed to assess hippocampal 5-HT metabolism (MAOA, 5-HT/5-HIAA ratio) neurotrophic signaling (BDNF, TrkB) and synaptic plasticity-related proteins (PSD-95, SYN1). Results: BDT significantly reduced FST/TST immobility time and improved anxiety-like behaviors in OFT/EPM. BDT treatment downregulated MAOA expression, elevated hippocampal 5-HT/5-HIAA ratio, activated BDNF/TrkB pathway, and upregulated PSD-95/SYN1. Network pharmacology confirmed MAOA’s central role, identifying MAOA/serotonergic synapse modulation as BDT’s main mechanism and pinpointing Ferulic acid, Caffeate, Stigmasterol, (−)-nopinene, Eugenol, and cis-Anethol as MAOA-targeting bioactive components. Conclusions: BDT ameliorates depressive-like behaviors. This effect is mechanistically linked to suppression of MAOA-mediated 5-HT catabolism—a key validated target. This suppression elevates hippocampal 5-HT bioavailability, thereby activating BDNF/TrkB signaling and promoting synaptic plasticity. Network pharmacology confirmed MAOA as a primary target and identified specific modulatory bioactive components. Full article

Background/Objectives: Cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of mortality worldwide. According to the World Heart Federation, more than 500 million people were living with cardiovascular diseases in 2021. In this context, the use of medicinal plants has become increasingly widespread in populations as a preventive strategy against cardiovascular disorders. Foeniculum vulgare Mill., commonly known as fennel, is an aromatic and medicinal plant recognized for its beneficial properties in the treatment of various ailments, due to its richness in bioactive compounds. This review aims to summarize and analyze the cardiovascular activities of this plant, based on experimental evidence, and to provide an updated overview of its phytochemical composition and safety profile. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted using databases including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, encompassing all publications available up to 2024. This search included research articles, reviews, mini-reviews, and clinical studies published in English. Exclusion criteria comprised publication types such as letters, conference abstracts, unpublished theses, and non-peer-reviewed reports. Studies were also excluded if they did not specifically address Foeniculum vulgare Mill. or its cardiovascular activities. All studies were screened according to predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, and relevant data were systematically extracted and analyzed to synthesize current knowledge on the cardiovascular activities, mechanisms of action, phytochemical composition, safety, and potential drug interactions of Foeniculum vulgare Mill. Results: Numerous in vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated that Foeniculum vulgare Mill. exhibits a wide range of activities beneficial for cardiovascular health. These include antihypertensive, cardioprotective, vasorelaxant, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, diuretic, hypotensive, hypolipidemic, antiplatelet, and anticoagulant effects. Such pharmacological actions are largely attributed to its rich phytochemical composition, particularly its volatile oils (e.g., trans-anethole, fenchone), flavonoids (e.g., quercetin, kaempferol), and phenolic acids (e.g., p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid). Most studies report no significant signs of toxicity. Conclusions: Foeniculum vulgare Mill. emerges as a promising medicinal plant for the prevention and management of cardiovascular diseases, owing to its multifaceted beneficial effects and its favorable safety profile. However, potential interactions with cardiovascular drugs and the current limitations of existing studies highlight the need for further clinical research to fully establish its therapeutic potential. Full article

Hyperthyroidism features excess thyroid hormone and a hypermetabolic state; although drugs and definitive therapies exist, mechanism-anchored options are still needed. We built a multiscale interactome and applied a biased random-walk diffusion model to prioritize herbal candidates, active ingredients, and mechanisms. Herb–compound records came from OASIS; targets from DrugBank, TTD, and STITCH; and disease genes from DisGeNET. For each herb and compound, we simulated diffusion profiles, computed the correlation with the hyperthyroidism profile, and assessed target overlap ratio. Herbs were ranked by correlation and p < 0.05 overlap, retaining those with ≥5 active compounds linked to disease targets. Top signals included Geranii Herba (0.021), Gastrodiae Rhizoma (0.012), and Veratri Rhizoma Et Radix (0.011), plus seven herbs at 0.010. Herb–disease relationships were strongly enriched. Enrichment analyses highlighted MAPK, PI3K–AKT, p53, HIF-1, and thyroid hormone signaling, with Gene Ontology terms for apoptosis/anoikis, inflammation, and RNA polymerase II-dependent transcription. Compound-level analysis recovered evidence-supported ellagic acid and diosgenin and proposed resveratrol, cardamomin, 20-hydroxyecdysone, and (Z)-anethole as novel candidates. Subnetwork mapping linked these compounds to phosphorylation, GPCR–cAMP/TSH signaling, and transcriptional control. This framework recapitulates known thyroid-modulating herbs and elevates underappreciated leads with testable mechanisms, supporting the discovery of multi-target therapeutics for hyperthyroidism. Full article

Natural deep eutectic solvents (NADESs) are emerging green solvents widely applied to improve the extraction of essential oil (EO) through plant tissue pretreatment. Various NADESs, formulated from polyalcohols, sugars, and organic acids, were employed as pretreatment solvents prior to microwave-assisted hydrodistillation (MAHD) to facilitate plant cell wall breakdown and improve the efficiency of EO extraction. The findings revealed that the most effective pretreatment conditions for enhancing EO extraction involved using a NADES composed of choline chloride and glycerol (in a 1:2 molar ratio), applied to fennel seed powder at a solid-to-NADES ratio of 1:6 g/mL. Optimal performance was achieved with 20% water content in the NADES, microwave irradiation at 400 W for 6 min, followed by 96 min of MAHD. Under these conditions, the NADESs-based MAHD achieved the highest EO yield, increasing it from 1.33% with water-based MAHD to 2.70%. Fennel EO demonstrated the strongest antimicrobial activity against S. pyogenes and C. albicans., while the EO obtained from NADES-MAHD using Ch:Gly (1:2) showed the highest antioxidant activity, with 72.41% inhibition. Finally, GC-MS phytochemical analysis of the extracted EOs revealed anethole as the major compound. Notably, the application of NADES, particularly Ch:Gly (1:2), enhanced the relative content of monoterpene hydrocarbons. These findings highlight the superior effectiveness of deep eutectic solvents during the pretreatment stage in enhancing EO production. Full article

The present study evaluated the larvicidal and pupicidal activities of pure and mixed monoterpene formulations—eucalyptol, geranial, trans-anethole, and trans-cinnamaldehyde—against Aedes aegypti and compared them with 1% (w/w) temephos. Safety bioassays of all formulations on non-target species confirmed their safety. The combined mixture of eucalyptol + trans-anethole at 400 µg/mL exhibited stronger larvicidal activity, with an LC₅₀ of 176 µg/mL, while the combination of trans-anethole + geranial at 400 µg/mL exhibited stronger pupicidal activity with an LC₅₀ of 167 µg/mL. Both formulations were more effective than a 1% temephos. All the mixture formulations were more strongly synergistic compared to pure formulations, with an increased mortality value (IMV) of 25% to 95%. External morphological aberrations observed at death included swelling of the respiratory system. Importantly, all the formulations were safe for two non-target species: guppies (Poecilia reticulata) and honeybees (Apis mellifera). The combination formulations are strong larvicides and pupicides for controlling Ae. Aegypti, which will help reduce the spread of viruses carried by this vector. Full article

The development of sensitive, non-invasive methods is essential for the preservation and study of heritage books, allowing insights into their historical production processes and conservation needs. Volatile organic compound (VOC) analysis provides a valuable, non-destructive approach to assess paper composition and degradation in historical volumes. In this study, we analyzed VOC emissions from two books preserved at the Biblioteca Capitolare of Busto Arsizio, Italy: a 16th-century Latin grammar book and a 19th-century mathematics handbook for measurement conversions. Using headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS), VOCs were sampled after 24 h of storage at room temperature. The results revealed distinct degradation markers: Straight-chain aldehydes, indicative of lipid oxidation, were more prevalent in the 16th-century book, reflecting the higher quality and durability of its rag-based paper. In contrast, elevated furfural levels in the 19th-century book suggest accelerated cellulose hydrolysis typical of wood pulp paper. Additionally, the presence of menthol and anethole in both volumes points to the use of bacteriostatic agents for preservation. These findings not only highlight differences in material composition but also underscore the importance of tailored conservation approaches for historical documents from different eras. Full article