Search Results (32)

The common bed bug (Cimex lectularius L.) is an obligate blood-feeding insect that spreads easily through human activity. Catnip (Nepeta cataria L.) oil has emerged as a promising natural repellent for bed bugs, but previous studies have been limited to laboratory conditions. In this study, we assessed the effectiveness of a catnip-based formulation (20% catnip CCC oil: 10% catnip oil cultivar CR9, 5% carvacrol, 5% citronellol) applied to fabric against bed bugs using simulated field tests, a human finger stimulus test, and field trials. N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET) was included as a benchmark in the simulated field test. In these tests, both 20% catnip CCC oil and 20% DEET achieved > 94% repellency within 24 h, with comparable performance after 2–3 d of aging. After 5 d, 20% catnip CCC oil showed significantly reduced repellency compared to DEET. In the human finger stimulus test, 20% catnip CCC oil remained effective for up to 6 d, whereas in infested apartments, significant repellency lasted only one day. These findings suggest that 20% catnip CCC oil applied to fabric can provide short-term protection against bed bug introductions under natural conditions. Future work should explore optimized barrier dimensions and slow-release formulations to extend efficacy. Full article

Several species of saprophytic filamentous fungi are able of disrupting the life cycle of certain soil-born parasites that are of veterinary and agronomy importance, offering a promising sustainable control alternative. This study consisted of designing an experimental model, using catnip (Nepeta cataria) trays to simulate a vegetated environment for evaluating the parasiticidal activity of Mucor circinelloides, Trichoderma atrobrunneum, and Duddingtonia flagrans. Fungal spores were added to treated trays before adding feces with protozoan (Eimeria spp.), and gastrointestinal nematodes (roundworms, strongyles), and untreated-control water. No differences in plant growth or vigor, regardless of fungal presence, were observed, confirming the safety of these biological agents for vegetation. In the control trays, the viability of parasites ranged from 50% to 85%. In the treated trays, the viability of Eimeria and roundworms decreased by 40–100%, and the strongyle egg counts were reduced by 74% within 15 days. It is concluded that the vegetated tray model effectively simulates field conditions and provides a reliable platform for evaluating fungal efficacy against the free-living stages of parasites, offering a versatile tool for future research on soil-borne pathogens affecting animals and plants. Full article

The effects of progressive drought stress were examined in four economically important plant species belonging to the Lamiaceae family: catnip (Nepeta cataria L.), lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.), holy basil (Ocimum tenuiflorum L.), and perilla mint (Perilla frutescens (L.) Britton). Plants were grown in a controlled pot experiment under three soil water capacity levels: 70% (control), 50% (moderate stress), and 30% (severe stress), and the drought stress lasted for 30 days. The study evaluated a comprehensive set of leaf micromorphological parameters, including the density and diameter of glandular trichomes, stomatal density and size, and the thickness of the lamina, mesophyll, epidermis, cuticle, and parenchymal layers. In addition, essential oil (EO) content, total flavonoid content (TFC), and elemental composition were analyzed. Drought responses were strongly species-specific. O. tenuiflorum, P. frutescens, and N. cataria showed high sensitivity characterized by reduced biomass and thinning of leaf tissues. These changes were accompanied by typical xeromorphic adaptations, such as increased stomatal and glandular trichome density, and reduced stomatal size. L. angustifolia exhibited pronounced cuticle thickening, suggesting an effective structural mechanism to minimize water loss. Secondary metabolism also responded differently among species. In some cases, drought shifted metabolic allocation toward flavonoid accumulation at the expense of essential oils, whereas in others, moderate stress promoted the co-accumulation of both compounds. These patterns indicate distinct adaptive strategies linking anatomical plasticity with metabolic regulation. Overall, moderate drought supported adaptive responses, while severe water limitation impaired growth and metabolic production. From a practical perspective, maintaining moderate soil water availability appears critical to optimize both plant performance and the accumulation of valuable secondary metabolites in Lamiaceae species. Full article

The reliance on synthetic repellents such as N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET) has raised health and environmental concerns, prompting the search for safer, plant-based alternatives. Catnip (Nepeta cataria L.), a rich source of iridoid monoterpenes, particularly nepetalactones, known for strong insect-repellent activity. However, their efficient extraction and molecular mechanisms in insect inhibition remains challenging. This study examined the chemical composition, protein–ligand interactions, and safety profiles of nepetalactones in comparison with DEET, with particular focus on mosquito odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) from Anopheles gambiae (AgamOBP), Culex quinquefasciatus (CquiOBP), and Aedes aegypti (AaegOBP). GC–MS/MS analysis identified nepetalactone isomers as the predominant constituents in catnip extracts obtained via steam distillation and olive oil extraction from dried leaves. Molecular docking results indicated that cis,cis-, cis,trans-, and nepetalactone isomers exhibited higher binding affinities toward the target OBPs than DEET. Furthermore, molecular dynamics simulations confirmed that all nepetalactone–OBP complexes exhibited stable conformations characterized by low average RMSD values and persistent hydrogen bond formation. Notably, cis,trans-NL–AaegOBP, NL–AaegOBP, and cis,cis-NL–AgamOBP complexes displayed lower binding free energies (ΔG_MM-PBSA) compared to DEET. These findings suggest that nepetalactones stabilize OBP–ligand interactions while inducing subtle conformational flexibility, potentially disrupting mosquito odorant recognition in a manner distinct from DEET. ADMET predictions indicated that nepetalactones exhibit favorable absorption, distribution, and safety profiles with reduced predicted toxicity compared to DEET. Collectively, these results establish nepetalactones as promising candidates for the development of effective, safe, and sustainable plant-based repellents. Full article

Mosquito-borne diseases, including dengue fever, chikungunya, and Zika, continue to pose a substantial global public health challenge. This is largely attributable to the absence of effective vaccines and the expanding distribution of vectors such as Aedes albopictus (Ae. albopictus). Repellents, therefore, remain a critical component of prevention strategies for disease prevention. However, existing formulations have notable limitations. Synthetic repellents such as DEET provide broad-spectrum efficacy but may raise safety concerns, especially at high concentrations. In contrast, botanical repellents, such as citronella and camphor oils, offer more favorable safety profiles but are restricted by short protection durations due to their high volatility. To overcome these drawbacks, this research developed a composite mosquito repellent through the strategic combination of DEET (5–15%), citronella oil (10–20%), and camphor oil (5–15%). This formulation leverages interactions across multiple olfactory pathways to simultaneously enhance efficacy and reduce the DEET concentration. Orthogonal experimental optimization identified an optimized formulation, Mix-3 (consisting of 15% DEET, 15% citronella oil, and 10% camphor oil in 75% ethanol), which achieved a mean complete protection time of 9.45 h. Mix-3 provided longer protection than 7% DEET (mean difference = 5.50 h, p < 0.001), 4.5% IR3535 (2.83 h, p < 0.001), 10% citronella oil (3.58 h, p < 0.001), and 15% DEET (6.50 h, p < 0.001). Catnip oil did not contribute significantly to repellency (p = 0.895). This study demonstrates that the rational combination of synthetic and botanical repellents effectively overcomes the limitations of single-agent formulations, providing a long-lasting and scalable approach for vector control. Full article

The development of plant-based synbiotic beverages is gaining increasing attention as consumers seek sustainable, functional alternatives to dairy products. This preliminary study investigated the fortification of tibicos (water kefir) with lemon catnip (Nepeta cataria var. citriodora) hydrolate, an aromatic distillation byproduct rich in bioactive terpenoids. After 72 h-fermentation of tibicos, physicochemical, microbiological, health-promoting and sensory parameters were evaluated. Both control and fortified beverages exhibited typical fermentation kinetics, including a decrease in pH, reduction of soluble solids, and accumulation of organic acids. Lactic acid bacteria count remained stable, while yeast proliferation was slightly reduced in the hydrolate-fortified sample, consistent with the known yeast-sensitive nature of certain hydrolate-derived terpenoids. Importantly, hydrolate fortification significantly enhanced antioxidant capacity (DPPH: +34%; ABTS: +39%; RP: +38%). Enzyme-inhibitory activities also increased significantly in the hydrolate-fortified samples (α-Amylase and α-Glucosidase inhibition rates increased by 9% and 11%, respectively). ACE inhibition similarly increased from 32% to 44%, indicating an enhanced antihypertensive potential. HMG-CoA reductase inhibition increased from 31% to 42%, showing improved hypolipidemic activity. Sensory evaluation indicated improved sensory acceptability, imparting citrus–floral notes that balanced the acidic profile of tibicos. These findings highlight the potential of valorizing lemon catnip hydrolate as a functional fortifier in non-dairy synbiotic beverages. Full article

This study evaluated the performance and energy and nutrient utilization of broiler chickens fed corn-soybean meal-based diets supplemented with a naturally fermented enzyme complex containing xylanase and phytase. This was evaluated using 300 one-day-old male Cobb broiler chicks in a randomized complete block design with five dietary treatments replicated 10 times with 6 chicks per replicate. The treatments consisted of a positive control (PC) group containing commercially recommended energy and nutrient levels, a negative control (NC) group with reduced metabolizable energy, calcium, and available phosphorus, and three levels of exogenous enzyme supplementation to the NC diet at 150, 200, 250 mg/kg, respectively. At the end of the trial, ileal digesta and excreta were collected for nutrient and energy digestibility and utilization determination, while tibia bones were collected for bone ash determination. The data was analyzed using Proc GLM of SAS 9.4 v 4. Enzyme supplementation quadratically increased (p < 0.05) average daily gain, average daily feed intake (ADFI), and feed efficiency during days 9–21. There was also a linear increase (p < 0.01) between enzyme level and ADFI during days 0–21. Compared with birds fed the PC diet, chickens fed the NC diet had lower (p < 0.01) utilization of DM, N, Ca, P, and energy, as well as lower (p < 0.01) apparent ileal digestibility of essential and non-essential amino acids (AA). Enzyme supplementation level showed a quadratic relation (p < 0.01) with the utilization of DM, N, Ca, P, and AMEn, as well as with the apparent ileal digestibility of essential and non-essential AA. A quadratic relationship was also observed for apparent ileal digestibility of DM, N, P, and digestible energy, except for Ca, where the relationship was linear (p < 0.001). Bone breaking strength and bone ash quadratically correlated (p < 0.05) with the level of enzyme supplementation. The results from this study indicated that the supplementation of exogenous enzyme to a corn–soybean meal-based diet resulted in benefits to performance, nutrient digestibility and utilization, and bone mineralization of broiler chicks compared to birds on the NC diet. Full article

Lemon catnip (Nepeta cataria var. citriodora) is an underutilized aromatic and medicinal plant known for its high essential oil yield and distinctive lemon-like scent, and is widely used in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, food, and biopesticide industries. Unlike typical catnip, it lacks nepetalactones and is rich in terpene alcohols, such as nerol and geraniol, making it a promising substitute for lemon balm. Despite its diverse applications, little attention has been paid to the valorization of byproducts from essential oil distillation, such as hydrolates and their secondary recovery oils. This study aimed to thoroughly analyze the volatile compound profiles of the essential oil from Lemon catnip and the recovery oil derived from its hydrolate over three consecutive growing seasons, with particular emphasis on how temperature and precipitation influence the major volatile constituents. The essential oil was obtained via semi-industrial steam distillation, producing hydrolate as a byproduct, which was then further processed using a Likens–Nickerson apparatus to extract the recovery oil, also known as secondary oil. Both essential and recovery oils were predominantly composed of terpene alcohols, with nerol (47.5–52.3% in essential oils; 43.5–54.3% in recovery oils) and geraniol (25.2–27.9% in essential oils; 29.4–32.6% in recovery oils) as the primary components. While sesquiterpene hydrocarbons were mostly confined to the essential oil, the recovery oil was distinguished by a higher presence of monooxygenated and more hydrophilic terpenes. Over the three-year period, elevated temperatures led to increased levels of geraniol, geranial, neral, and citronellal in both oils, whereas cooler conditions favored the accumulation of nerol and linalool, especially in the recovery oils. Higher precipitation was associated with elevated concentrations of nerol and linalool but decreased levels of geraniol, geranial, and neral, possibly due to dilution or degradation processes. Full article

In recent years, with the increasing awareness of environmental protection and food safety, essential oils (EOs) have gained significant attention as safer and more environmentally friendly alternatives. This study investigated the insecticidal activity of four Lamiaceae EOs (patchouli oil, catnip oil, lavender oil, and mint oil) against Thrips flavus and their effects on crops and weeds. The results show that patchouli oil, catnip oil, and lavender oil exhibited better insecticidal activity, with patchouli oil having the strongest toxicity, with an LC₅₀ value of 0.31 mg/mL. Additionally, catnip oil and lavender oil had significant attractive effects on T. flavus, where lavender oil only had a significant attractive effect on male T. flavus, with an attraction rate of 71.88% (p = 0.03), suggesting that it could be a potential alternative to insect lures. In pot experiments, these EOs demonstrated sustained insecticidal effects and varied impacts on crops. Lavender oil only significantly affected the shoot length of soybeans (Glycine max), while mint oil did not significantly affect the growth of G. max. Finally, we preliminarily analyzed the chemical composition of the EOs to provide insights into their active components. These findings indicate that EOs have potential applications as natural agrochemicals, but further research on their mechanisms and application conditions is required. Full article

The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of harvesting stages (turning-color fruit and light red color) and postharvest treatments (distilled water, hot water at 35 °C, 10% Aloe vera, 2% CaCl₂, 5% Mint, and 5% Catnip) for 5 min on the quality and storability of tomato fruits cv. Sangaw stored at 10 ± 1 °C and a relative humidity of 90%–95% for 20 days. Fruit harvested at the turning-color fruit stage presented significantly lower weight loss, greater firmness, and higher amounts of vitamin C, total phenol, and calcium (3.22%, 1118.31 g mm/s, 15.83 mg 100 g⁻¹, 95.49 mg 100 mL⁻¹ FW, and 0.14%, respectively). However, the tomatoes harvested from the light red color fruit stage presented the highest contents of total soluble sugars, total sugars, and lycopene (4.36%, 3.99%, and 41.49 mg kg⁻¹, respectively). Notably, the postharvest treatment of tomato fruits with 2% CaCl₂ significantly decreased weight loss and resulted in greater firmness, pH, total sugar, total phenol, and calcium contents (3.90%, 1212.39 g mm/s, 4.83, 3.85%, 95.60 mg 100 mL⁻¹ FW, and 0.18%, respectively) than the control. Hence, coating with 10% Aloe vera resulted in the highest amount of total soluble solids and the highest amount of vitamin C. Tomato picked at the turning-color fruit stage and immersed in 5% Mint significantly lowered the loss of fruit weight, increased the total titratable acidity, and had the lowest content of lycopene. Additionally, the fruits harvested at the same stage and immersed in 2% CaCl₂ retained greater firmness, total phenol content, and calcium content. On the other hand, fruits harvested in the light red stage and dipped in 5% Mint presented the highest total soluble sugars and total sugar contents. Finally, the harvested tomato fruits coated with 10% Aloe vera retained a relatively high level of vitamin C, indicating the storage life and quality of the tomato fruits. Full article

Catnip (Nepeta cataria L.) plants produce a wide array of specialized metabolites with multiple applications for human health. The productivity of such metabolites, including nepetalactones, and natural insect repellents is influenced by the conditions under which the plants are cultivated. In this study, we assessed how field-grown catnip plants, transplanted after being propagated via either single-node stem cuttings or seeds, varied regarding their phytochemical composition throughout a growing season in two distinct environmental conditions (Pittstown and Upper Deerfield) in the state of New Jersey, United States. Iridoid terpenes were quantified in plant tissues via ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography with triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QqQ-MS), and phenolic compounds (phenolic acids and flavonoids) were analyzed via UHPLC with diode-array detection (UHPLC-DAD). The highest contents of total nepetalactones in Pittstown were found at 6 weeks after transplanting (WAT) for both seedlings and cuttings (1305.4 and 1223.3 mg/100 g, respectively), while in Upper Deerfield, the highest contents for both propagules were at 11 WAT (1247.7 and 997.1 mg/100 g, respectively) for seed-propagated and stem cuttings). The highest concentration of nepetalactones was associated with floral-bud to partial-flowering stages. Because plants in Pittstown accumulated considerably more biomass than plants grown in Upper Deerfield, the difference in nepetalactone production per plant was striking, with peak productivity reaching only 598.9 mg per plant in Upper Deerfield and 1833.1 mg per plant in Pittstown. Phenolic acids accumulated in higher contents towards the end of the season in both locations, after a period of low precipitation, and flavone glycosides had similar accumulation patterns to nepetalactones. In both locations, rooted stem cuttings reached their maximum nepetalactone productivity, on average, four weeks later than seed-propagated plants, suggesting that seedlings have, overall, better agronomic performance. Full article

A random-effects meta-analysis was conducted to investigate the effect of mycotoxins (MT) without or with the inclusion of yeast cell wall extract (YCWE, Mycosorb^®, Alltech, Inc., Nicholasville, KY, USA) on laying hen performance. A total of 25 trials were collected from a literature search, and data were extracted from 8 of these that met inclusion criteria, for a total of 12 treatments and 1774 birds. Laying hens fed MT had lower (p < 0.05) body weight (BW) by −50 g, egg production by −6.3 percentage points, and egg weight by −1.95 g than control fed hens (CTRL). Inclusion of YCWE during the mycotoxin challenges (YCWE + MT) resulted in numerically greater (p = 0.441) BW by 12.5 g, while egg production and egg weight were significantly (p < 0.0001) higher by 4.2 percentage points and 1.37 g, respectively. Furthermore, economic assessment calculations indicated that YCWE may not only support hen performance but also resulted in a positive return on investment. In conclusion, mycotoxins can play a role in negatively impacting laying hen performance and profitability. Inclusion of YCWE in feed with mycotoxin challenges provided benefits to egg production and egg weight and may support profitability. As such, the inclusion of YCWE could play an important role in minimizing mycotoxin effects and in turn aid farm efficiency and profitability. Full article

The sand fly, Phlebotomus papatasi (Scopoli, 1786), is a major vector for Leishmania major in the Middle East, which has impacted human health and US military operations in the area, demonstrating the need to develop effective sand fly control and repellent options. Here, we report the results of spatial repellency and avoidance experiments in a static air olfactometer using the female P. papatasi testing essential oils of Lippia graveolens (Mexican oregano), Pimenta dioica (allspice), Amyris balsamifera (amyris), Nepeta cataria (catnip), Mentha piperita (peppermint), and Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree); the 9–12 carbon saturated fatty acids (nonanoic acid, decanoic acid, undecanoic acid, and dodecanoic acid); and the synthetic repellents DEET and IR3535. The materials applied at 1% exhibited varying activity levels but were not significantly different in mean repellency and avoidance from DEET and IR3535, except in regards to nonanoic acid. Some materials, particularly nonanoic and undecanoic acids, produced sand fly mortality. The observed trends in mean repellency over exposure time included the following: (1) P. dioica oil, M. alternifolia oil, decanoic acid, undecanoic acid, DEET, and IR3535 exhibited increasing mean repellency over time; (2) oils of N. cataria, A. balsamifera, M. piperita, and dodecanoic acid exhibited relatively constant mean repellency over time; and (3) L. graveolens oil and nonanoic acid exhibited a general decrease in mean repellent activity over time. These studies identified the essential oils of N. cataria and A. balsamifera as effective spatial repellents at reduced concentrations compared to those of DEET. Additional research is required to elucidate the modes of action and potential synergism of repellents and essential oil components for enhanced repellency activity. Full article

The characteristic alkaloid component of the leaves of the catnip shrub (Catha edulis) is cathinone, and its synthetic analogs form a major group of recreational drugs. Cathinone derivatives are chiral compounds. In the literature, several chiral methods using cyclodextrins (CDs) have been achieved so far for diverse sets of analogs; however, a comprehensive investigation of the stability of their CD complexes has not been performed yet. To characterize the enantioselective complex formation, a systematic experimental design was developed in which a total number of 40 neutral, positively, and negatively charged CD derivatives were screened by affinity capillary electrophoresis and compared according to their cavity size, substituent type, and location. The functional groups responsible for the favorable interactions were identified in the case of para-substituted cathinone analog mephedrone, flephedrone, and 4-methylethcathinone (4-MEC) and in the case of 3,4-methylendioxy derivative butylone and methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV). The succinylated-β-CD and subetadex exhibited the highest complex stabilities among the studied drugs. The complex stoichiometry was determined using the Job’s plot method, and the complex structures were further studied using ROESY NMR measurements. The results of our enantioselective complex formation study can facilitate chiral method development and may lead to evaluate potential CD-based antidotes for cathinone analogs. Full article

Using a random-effects meta-analysis, the performance of growing pigs under a mycotoxin challenge (MT) with or without supplementation of yeast cell wall extract (YCWE, Mycosorb^®, Alltech Inc.) was evaluated. Both MT and YCWE were also compared to animal controls not receiving mycotoxins (CTRL). Meta-regression was used to further explore the impacts of MT at/below (category 1) or above (category 2) global regulatory guidelines. Following the screening, 23 suitable references (30 mycotoxin treatments) were used. Overall, MT lowered average daily gain (ADG, p < 0.001) and average daily feed intake (ADFI, p < 0.0001) from CTRL by −84 and −165 g, respectively. Inclusion of YCWE during mycotoxin challenges (YCWE+MT, average 2.1 kg/ton) tended to result in greater ADG (+17 g, p = 0.068) compared to MT treatments. The gain-to-feed ratio (G:F) was not impacted by MT or YCWE+MT. Further investigation by meta-regression revealed that pigs fed MT in category 1 had lower ADG (−78.5 g, p < 0.001) versus CTRL, while YCWE+MT had higher ADG (+48 g, p < 0.001) over MT and was similar to CTRL. The ADFI was not impacted, although YCWE+MT had ADFI values similar to the CTRL. In category 2, ADG and ADFI of pigs fed MT were lower than CTRL (−85.1 and −166 g, respectively, p < 0.0001), with a tendency for YCWE+MT to result in higher ADFI (+25.3 g, p = 0.062). In summary, the inclusion of YCWE provided benefits to performance during common mycotoxin challenge levels (at or below regulatory guidelines). Full article