Search Results (9)

Background/Objectives: Carrot seed essential oil (CSEO) from Daucus carota is rich in sesquiterpenoids and oxygenated sesquiterpenoids known for anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. This study evaluated the wound-healing potential of chemically validated CSEO in albino rats and examined its effects on oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis. Methods: CSEO was chemically characterized using GC–MS with retention-index validation. Eighteen constituents (>1% peak area) were identified. An excision wound model in albino rats was used to assess wound closure, physiological parameters, inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, TNF-α), antioxidant status (SOD, GSH, ROS, MDA), and histological markers of tissue repair. Apoptosis was evaluated through caspase-3 immunohistochemistry to determine its role in tissue remodeling. Results: CSEO exhibited an oxygenated sesquiterpene–rich chemotype with oxygenated sesquiterpenes (~36%) and sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (~29%) as major groups. In vivo, CSEO significantly accelerated wound closure, achieving closure on Day 16 (p < 0.01) and complete closure by Day 21 (p < 0.001), compared with the Reference and Control groups. CSEO significantly improved body weight from Day 4 to Day 21 (p < 0.001) and showed consistently higher feed intake (p < 0.001) relative to other groups. Inflammatory markers were markedly reduced, with TNF-α and IL-1β significantly lower than in the Control group (p < 0.001). CD68 levels were also significantly decreased (p < 0.001). CSEO significantly lowered ROS and MDA (p < 0.001) while enhancing GSH and SOD levels (p < 0.001). Caspase-3 IHC revealed restored physiological apoptotic activity, supporting regulated tissue remodeling. Conclusions: CSEO modulates inflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis to promote efficient wound healing, supporting its relevance as a promising therapeutic candidate for wound management. Full article

Carotol, the major sesquiterpene alcohol in carrot essential oil, possesses notable cytotoxic activity against various cancer cell lines, yet its metabolic fate remains poorly understood. This study explored microbial biotransformation as a tool for generating novel carotol derivatives with potential pharmacological value. Seventeen microbial strains were screened, with Absidia coerulea ATCC 6647 identified as the most effective biocatalyst. Preparative-scale fermentation with this strain afforded three new metabolites, CM1, CM2, and CM3, in yields of 30%, 9.96%, and 3.28%, respectively, which were structurally characterized by 1D and 2D NMR, HRMS, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. These were identified as 9α-hydroxydaucol (CM1), 9α,13-dihydroxydaucol (CM2), and a diol derivative of daucol (CM3). Cytotoxicity evaluation against human carcinoma cell lines (HepG-2, HCT-116, MCF-7, A-549) and normal lung fibroblasts (MRC-5) revealed that carotol exhibited notable activity with IC₅₀ values of 25.68 and 28.65 µM against HCT-116 and A-549 cell lines, respectively. Among the metabolites, CM2 showed selective cytotoxicity with IC₅₀ values of 180.64 (HCT-116) and 138.21 µM (A-549), indicating that microbial transformation modulates the cytotoxic profile of carotol and yields metabolites with distinct bioactivity patterns. Molecular docking studies further revealed that carotol and CM2 demonstrated higher binding affinities and more stable interactions with human NADPH oxidase, suggesting that inhibition of this enzyme may underlie their cytotoxic effects. This work provides the first detailed microbial biotransformation pathway of carotol, highlighting A. coerulea as a promising source of new hydroxylated metabolites. The results underscore the potential of carotol derivatives in anticancer drug development and warrant further pharmacokinetic studies. Full article

Plant oils are currently not only an essential element of the healthy eating pyramid, but also a valuable cosmetic material, which, in line with the eco-friendly trends of recent years, is effectively replacing petroleum-derived fatty ingredients. The fatty acids, phenolic compounds, pigments, and vitamins (e.g., A and E) present in plant oils contribute to their health-promoting properties, including antioxidant activity. This study assessed the contents of carotenoids and chlorophylls, as well as the antioxidant properties of 10 selected plant oils. Fenugreek seed oil was shown to have the highest total content of carotenoids, and the most β-carotene. Chokeberry and rosehip oils also contained large amounts of provitamin A, in comparison to the other oils tested. Lycopene was the dominant compound in black currant and rosehip seed oils. Among chlorophyll pigments, elderberry oil had the highest content of chlorophyll a, while black currant oil had large amounts of both chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b. The antioxidant properties of the cold pressed oils obtained from selected seeds and fruit stones, assessed by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy as the ability to interact with the DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) free radical, can be ranked as follows: pomegranate > fenugreek > poppy > black currant > chokeberry > rosehip > perilla > elderberry > carrot > fig. The results of this study showed that these plant oils are valuable natural materials with antioxidant properties, which can be an important complement to synthetic antioxidants due to their additional skin care properties. Full article

The fatty acid (FA) compositions of thirty-nine vegetable oils and fats, including nangai nut, pili nut, shea butter, tamanu oil, baobab, sea buckthorn berry, Brazil nut, grape seed, black seed, evening primrose, passion fruit, milk thistle, sunflower, pumpkin seed, sesame, soybean, flax seed, kukui, red raspberry seed, walnut, chia seed, hemp seed, rosehip, almond, avocado, carrot seed, moringa, apricot kernel, camellia seed, macadamia, olive, marula, argan, castor, jojoba, pomegranate seed, medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) coconut, roasted coconut, canola, and mustard oil, were analyzed using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Vegetable oils and fats have different profiles in terms of their fatty acid composition, and their major constituents vary significantly. However, we categorized them into different classes based on the percentages of different fatty acids they contain. The saturated fatty acids, such as palmitic acid and stearic acid, and the unsaturated fatty acids, including oleic acid, linoleic acid, and linolenic acid, are the main categories. Among them, roasted coconut oil contained the greatest amount of saturated fatty acids followed by nangai nut (45.61%). Passion fruit oil contained the largest amount of linoleic acid (66.23%), while chia seed oil had the highest content of linolenic acid (58.25%). Oleic acid was exclusively present in camellia seed oil, constituting 78.57% of its composition. Notably, mustard oil had a significant presence of erucic acid (54.32%), while pomegranate seed oil exclusively contained punicic acid (74.77%). Jojoba oil primarily consisted of (Z)-11-eicosenoic acid (29.55%) and (Z)-docos-13-en-1-ol (27.96%). The major constituent in castor oil was ricinoleic acid (89.89%). Compared with other vegetable oils and fats, pili nut oil contained a significant amount of (E)-FA (20.62%), followed by sea buckthorn berry oil with a content of 9.60%. FA compositions from sources may be problematic in the human diet due to no labeling or the absence of essential components. Therefore, consumers must cast an eye over some essential components consumed in their dietary intake. Full article

Pakistan is primarily an agricultural nation. Agriculture is the backbone of Pakistan economy and accounts for around 19.3% of its total gross domestic product. Pakistan ranks among the world’s top 10 producers of wheat, maize, rice, cotton, and sugarcane, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). It also cultivates edible oil seed crops. Water is the most important element for the cultivation of various crops. Pakistan is a country where irrigation water is extremely valuable. The irrigation schedule affects a crop’s agronomic and economic viability. For the sake of water conservation as well as enhanced crop yields, a correct irrigation schedule is essential. Based on monitoring the soil water levels and crop water requirements, irrigation scheduling can be used to apply water for cultivation in accordance with predefined programs. How much water to apply to a particular crop and when depends heavily on the kind of soil and on the weather circumstances and is an important practical component of irrigation. Crop water requirements and crop coefficients are the most significant parameters that must be determined precisely locally to determine how much water is required for crop growth at various stages. There are many approaches for determining a crop water requirements, but lysimeters are the most effective devices. Lysimeters are devices that are routinely used to determine agricultural water requirements all around the world. The water required by different crops such as wheat, oat, carrot, and maize at different growth stages was determined using non-weighing-type lysimeters in this study. To compute the crop coefficient, the Penman–Monteith equation was used, which takes into account the daily mean temperature, wind speed, humidity, and solar radiation as inputs to the equation. The reference values for evapotranspiration during this period were obtained from a metrology station. The water requirement of the wheat varieties Fakhre Bhakhar and Anaj-17 were 361.8 mm and 379.5 mm, and their crop coefficient (Kc) values were between 0.79 and 1.19 and 0.27 and 1.27, respectively. The water required by carrot was 94.42 mm, and its crop coefficient was between 0.82 and 1.16. The water requirement of a maize hybrid variety was found to be 403.07 mm, and its crop coefficient was between 0.62 and 1.07. The water required by oat throughout its growth season including three harvests was 331.89 mm, and its crop coefficient was between 0.66 and 1.13. The water requirements of each crop and the crop coefficients calculated in this study are close to those recommend by FAO. Full article

The purpose of this study was to determine essential oil yield, composition, and antioxidant activity during two different maturation stages of umbels with seeds(I stage: premature–waxy; and II stage: mature–fully ripening) of wild carrot (Daucus carrota var. carota) from the Montenegrin coast. A higher yield of carrot essential oil (CEO) was determined in mature, fully ripening umbels (1.96 mL/100 g p.m) than in premature umbels at the waxy stage (mL/100 g p.m). Thirty-three components were identified in premature umbels, with β-bisabolene (32.3%), 11-α-(H)-himachal-4-en-1-β-ol (27.9%), elemicin (10.1%), and α-longipipene (7.7%) being the main components. They were followed by α-pinene (3.7%), (E)-asarone (3.4%), (E)-anethole (3.2%), and β-himachalene (2.0%). Thirty-two components were identified in CEO from mature umbels, with β-bisabolene (41.0%), 11-α-(H)-himachal-4-en-1-β-ol(21.1%), elemicin (14.8%), andα-longipipene (5.7%) being the most abundant. These components were followed by (E)-asarone (3.9%), cis-α-bisabolene (2.4%), and β-himachalene (2.0%). The CEO isolated from mature umbelsshowed better antioxidant activity (EC₅₀ value of 31.80 mg/mL) in comparison to the CEO isolated from premature umbels (EC₅₀ value of 49.18 mg/mL) during the incubation time of 60 min. The degree of DPPH radical neutralization increased as the incubation time increased from 20 to 60 min. Therefore, our findings recommend that wild carrot could be harvested in the fully ripening stage when the umbel improves CEO yield and antioxidant activity, without the risk of seed shedding from the umbel and seed losses. Full article

Seed-borne pathogens reduce the quality and cause infections at various growth stages of horticultural crops. Some of the best-known are fungi of genus Alternaria, that cause destructive vegetable and other crop diseases, resulting in significant yield losses. Over several years, much attention has been paid to environmentally-friendly solutions for horticultural disease management regarding the environmental damage caused by chemicals. For example, plant extracts and essential oils could be alternative sources for biopesticides and help to control vegetable seed-borne pathogens. This study aimed to evaluate essential oils’ influence on the growth of seed-borne fungi Alternaria spp. The microbiological contamination of vegetable seeds (carrot, tomato, onion) was determined by the agar-plate method. The essential oils’ impact on the growth of fungi was evaluated by mixing them with PDA medium at different amounts. The hydrodistillation was used for extraction of thyme and hyssop essential oils, and common juniper essential oil was purchased. The investigation revealed that the highest contamination of carrot and tomato seeds was by Alternaria spp. fungi. Furthermore, the highest antifungal effect on Alternaria spp. growth was achieved using 200–1000 μL L⁻¹ of thyme essential oil. Meanwhile, the antifungal effect of other investigated essential oils differed from low to moderate. Overall, essential oils expressed a high potential for fungal pathogens biocontrol and application in biopesticides formulations. Full article

Optimal combinations of essential oils (EOs) can enhance performance and maintain poultry productivity. The effects of EOs with black pepper oil (BPO) or radish seed oil (RSO) on performance and the expression of digestive enzymes, lipogenesis, immunity, and autophagy-related genes in broiler chickens were explored. Six dietary treatments for 300 one-day-old chicks were allocated as follows: controls were fed a basal diet, one group was fed an EO-supplemented diet (1.5 g/kg diet of parsley, mint, and carrot seed oils (1:1:1)), and other groups received Eos + BPO0.25, Eos + BPO0.5, Eos + RSO0.25, and Eos + RSO0.5 treatments, with a basal diet containing EOs plus BPO or RSO at the level of 0.25 or 0.5 g/kg, respectively. Supplementation with 0.5 g/kg of EOs plus BPO or RSO resulted in the most improved maximum BWG and FCR in broiler chickens. The lactobacilli population was increased in Eos + BPO0.5, followed by EOs + RSO0.5, unlike in the control. The highest expression of the CCK and PNLIP genes was identified in the Eos + BPO group. The FAS and ACC genes were upregulated, while the IgA and IL-10 genes were downregulated, with EOs plus RSO or BPO. The group that received Eos + BPO0.5, followed by Eos + RSO0.5, displayed patterns of higher expression for atg5, atg7, and atg12, with lower expression of mTOR. In summary, a new combination of EOs with 0.5 g/kg BPO had potential growth-promoting and immune-boosting effects in broiler chickens. Full article

Global warming, pollution problems, and the demand for sustainable food production forced farmers and scientists to search for new solutions in biological plant protection. The usage of natural renewable sources around us seems to be an alternative. Compounds isolated from plants and distinguished with antifungal properties can be used to protect vegetables from the seed-borne pathogens. The study aimed to elucidate the ability of Juniperus communis L., Hyssopus officinalis L. and Thymus vulgaris L. essential oils to control the carrot seed-borne pathogen Alternaria spp. The agar-plate method was used for carrot seed infestation with micromycetes. Essential oils extracted from common juniper, hyssop and thyme were then separately mixed with potato dextrose agar media at different concentrations and the antifungal activity of each oil tested in vitro. The results revealed that the T. vulgaris essential oil (200–1000 μL L⁻¹) significantly inhibited Alternaria spp. growth. The H. officinalis essential oil promoted seed-borne pathogens growth on the second and fifth days of the evaluation compared to the control; however, the concentration of 400 μL L⁻¹ showed little suppression of micromycete development 7 days after inoculation. The in vitro experiments indicated that 600 μL L⁻¹ of J. communis essential oil could control seed-borne pathogen viability. Overall, thyme essential oil expressed a high potential for application in biofungicide formulations. Full article