Search Results (29)

This study evaluated the acute and developmental toxicity of selected hydrotropes, co-solvents, and surfactants commonly used in pharmaceutical and cosmetic formulations, using Artemia salina as a model organism. Two bioassays were employed: a lethality test and a hatching inhibition test. Compounds such as sodium lauryl sulfate (LC₅₀ < 0.05%), sodium xylenesulfonate (LC₅₀ = 0.79%), sodium p-toluensulfonate (LC₅₀ = 0.21%), N,N-dimethylbenzamide (LC₅₀ < 0.05%), and N,N-diethylnicotinamide (LC₅₀ = 0.05%) exhibited high toxicity at 48 h, inducing significant mortality and strong inhibition of hatching. Glycerin, propylene glycol, and dimethyl sulfoxide showed low toxicity across all concentrations. Lethal concentration values confirmed the high toxicity of sodium xylenesulfonate and N,N-dimethylbenzamide, with moderate effects observed for other compounds. The hatching inhibition test proved more sensitive than the lethality test, enabling the detection of embryotoxicity and developmental delays. Although more laborious, it provided detailed information into how the tested substances influenced developmental stage progression. Hierarchical clustering analysis grouped the substances based on toxicity patterns and clearly discriminated highly toxic surfactants from low-toxicity solvents. The results demonstrated that combining both bioassays offers a more comprehensive evaluation of toxicity, with the hatching test being particularly useful for identifying early developmental effects not evident in lethality testing alone. Full article

The whitening potential of natural products is commonly assessed through spectrophotometric assays that colorimetrically measure the inhibitory effects on tyrosinase, a key enzyme in pigment formation. However, these assays fail to provide evidence about the input of individual components into the total activity of a mixture like plant extracts. This study introduced chromatographic methods to identify active natural products without isolating them from their mixtures. In this study, various plant extracts of differing polarities (EtOH, 50% EtOH, and HOH) from species growing in the Lubelskie region of Poland were evaluated for their ability to inhibit tyrosinase. The most active extract identified through spectrophotometric assays was a 50% EtOH extract from Matricaria recutita L. (Chamomilla recutita (L.) Rauschert). Subsequent HPLC-MS analysis allowed for the identification of several active compounds from different classes, including organic acids, glycosylated phenolics, and phenolic acids that interacted with the enzyme. The bioactivity of individual components was confirmed through classical spectrophotometric assays, highlighting ferulic acid (IC₅₀ = 0.484 µM), quinic acid (IC₅₀ = 22.90 µM), and citric acid (IC₅₀ = 24.18 µM) as three representatives of different classes of molecules with inhibitory potential. Furthermore, the whitening capacity of the chamomile extract was investigated in a zebrafish model, demonstrating effective pigmentation inhibition in Danio rerio larvae and validating the proposed chromatographic approach. Full article

Microplastics (MPs), defined as plastic particles of less than 5 mm, pose a significant global environmental threat, particularly in aquatic ecosystems, due to their persistence and potential harmful effects on wildlife and human health. They can absorb persistent organic pollutants (POPs), like polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), raising concerns about their impact on biota. To elucidate this impact, the present study employed attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) to analyse the characteristics of MPs sourced from commercial cosmetics. We investigated the toxicity of MPs on Caenorhabditis elegans and two entomopathogenic nematode species, Steinernema feltiae (the enviroCORE strain SB12(1)) and Steinernema carpocapsae (a commercial strain from e-NEMA) in laboratory bioassays. Nematodes were exposed to various concentrations of MPs and other pollutants, including atrazine, 1,3-dichloropropene, naphthalene, and fluorene, in controlled settings over 72 to 96 h. Additionally, high-throughput 18S rDNA sequencing was used to analyse nematode biodiversity in sediments from the River Barrow (RB) in SE Ireland. Our findings revealed that MPs increased nematode mortality and adversely affected community structure, as indicated by nematode maturity and sigma maturity indices, suggesting a potential disruption of the ecological balance in river sediments. This highlighted the ecological risks posed by MP pollution and emphasised the urgent need for further research into the health of benthic ecosystems in Ireland, particularly in relation to how MPs may influence nematode community dynamics and biodiversity. Full article

Carissa carandas L. (Apocynaceae) is widely distributed in tropical and subtropical regions of Asia including Pakistan, India, Afghanistan, and Sri Lanka. C. carandas is considered as an integral component of traditional medicinal systems to combat several health ailments. The present study aimed to assess this plant’s phytochemical contents and biological potential by performing sequential extraction, adopting a bioassay-guided approach. C. carandas powder was extracted with n-hexane to remove fatty substances and then residues were sequentially extracted with dichloromethane, methanol, and 50% methanol. All the sequential crude extracts were evaluated for phytochemical contents (total phenolics, flavonoids, and anthocyanins), in vitro antioxidant activity (FRAP, DPPH), in vitro anti-inflammatory activity (serum and egg albumin denaturation), in vivo anti-inflammatory activity (carrageenan- and formaldehyde-induced paw edema), and in vitro antimicrobial activity. Active crude extract was then partitioned using the liquid-liquid separation method followed by further separation of the active fraction by RP-HPLC. The active fraction was then subjected to LC-ESI-MS/MS analysis for tentative identification of bioactive metabolites responsible for its bioactive properties, followed by HPLC quantification. The analysis revealed methanol extract to have more phytochemical contents, radical scavenging properties, reduced inflammation in both models (in vitro and in vivo), and antimicrobial properties against urinary tract infection-causing agents as compared to dichloromethane and 50% methanol extracts. The ethyl acetate fraction obtained after liquid-liquid partitioning (LLP) of the active methanol extract exhibited more activity as compared to C. carandas methanol extract. RP-HPLC sub-fractionation yielded seven sub-fractions, but a slight decrease in biological potential was recorded. Therefore, LLP fraction B was subjected to further analysis. LC-ESI-MS/MS analysis led to the tentative identification of phenolic acids (chlorogenic acid, quinic acid), flavonoids (quercetin), and anthocyanins (peonidin-3-arabinoside, delphinidin-3-galactoside, delphinidin-3-rutinoside) in the active LLP ethyl acetate fraction. Chlorogenic acid, ellagic acid, and quinic acid were quantified as 17.6 µg/mg, 5.90 µg/mg, and 3.30 µg/mg, respectively, on a dry weight basis by HPLC. C. carandas may be considered a promising therapeutic plant, and the results of the current study provide more evidence to support the assertions made in ancient medical traditions. These findings highlight its promising applications in health, medicine, cosmetics, preservatives, and as a natural coloring agent. Full article

The endocrine activity and endocrine disruptor (ED) chemical profiles of eleven plastic packaging materials covering five major polymer types (3PET, 1HDPE, 4LDPE, 2 PP, and 1SAN) were investigated using in vitro cell-based reporter-gene assays and a non-targeted chemical analysis using gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS). To mimic cosmetic contact, six simulants (acidic, alkaline, neutral water, ethanol 30%, glycerin, and paraffin) were used in migration assays performed by filling the packaging with simulant. After 1 month at 50 °C, simulants were concentrated by Solid Phase Extraction (SPE) or Liquid-Liquid Extraction (LLE). The migration profiles of seven major endocrine disrupting chemicals detected from GC-MS in the different materials and simulants were compared with Estrogen Receptor (ER) and Androgen Receptor (AR) activities. With low extraction of ED chemicals in aqueous simulants, no endocrine activities were recorded in the leachates. Paraffin was shown to be the most extracting simulant of antiandrogenic chemicals, while glycerin has estrogenic activities. Overall, ED chemical migration in paraffin was correlated with hormonal activity. The NIAS 2,4-di-tert-butyl phenol and 7,9-di-tert-butyl1-oxaspiro (4,5) deca-6,9-diene-2,8-dione were two major ED chemicals present in all polymers (principally in PP and PE) and in the highest quantity in paraffin simulant. The use of glycerin and liquid paraffin as cosmetic product simulants was demonstrated to be relevant and complementary for the safety assessment of released compounds with endocrine activities in this integrated strategy combining bioassays and analytical chemistry approaches. Full article

Bio-insecticidal research has focused on long-term vector control using essential oils (EOs). This study examined the larvicidal, oviposition-deterrent, and repellent properties of five medicinal herb-based EO formulations (EOFs) on mosquitoes that are vectors of dengue, filariasis, and malaria. EOFs were significantly more toxic to the larvae and pupae of Culex quinquefasciatus, Anopheles stephensi, and Aedes aegypti with LC₅₀ = 9.23, 12.85, and 14.46 ppm, as well with 10.22, 11.39, and 12.81 ppm, with oviposition active indexes of −0.84, −0.95, and −0.92, respectively. Oviposition-deterrent repellence was found in 91.39%, 94.83%, and 96.09%. EOs and N, N-Diethyl-3-methylbenzamide (DEET) were prepared at various concentrations for time duration repellent bioassays (6.25–100 ppm). Ae. aegypti, An. stephensi, and Cx. quinquefasciatus were monitored for 300, 270, and 180 min, respectively. At 100 ppm, EOs and DEET had comparable repellence in terms of test durations. EOF’s primary components d-limonene (12.9%), 2,6-octadienal, 3,7-dimethyl, (Z) (12.2%), acetic acid, phenylmethyl ester (19.6%), verbenol (7.6%), and benzyl benzoate (17.4%) may be combined to make a mosquito larvicidal and repellant equivalent to synthetic repellent lotions. In the molecular dynamics simulations, limonene (−6.1 kcal/mol) and benzyl benzoate (−7.5 kcal/mol) had a positive chemical association with DEET (−6.3 kcal/mol) and interacted with the OBP binding pocket with high affinity and stability. This research will help local herbal product manufacturers and the cosmetics industry in developing 100% herbal insect repellent products to combat mosquito-borne diseases, including dengue, malaria, and filariasis. Full article

Plants have been a source of medicine since ancient times, and such traditional medications are widely practiced nowadays. Saussurea heteromalla is widely used in traditional medicine in the Himalayan region for the treatment of different ailments. However, despite its traditional uses, it is not widely explored for its free radical scavenging abilities and other biological activities. Thus, the current study is aimed at exploring the free radical scavenging ability of S. heteromalla extracts, along with the isolation and evaluation of its compound through bioassay-guided purification. From different solvent fractions, an n-hexane extract of a whole plant is found to be most active; thus, it is processed for large-scale extraction and column chromatography. Further, the purification of an active fraction is performed using HPLC–DAD, which led to the isolation of an active peak, identified by GC/MS, as 2-ethylhexyl 2-cyano-3, 3-diphenylprop-2-enoate. This compound, commonly known as octocrylene, is widely recommended for UV-B filter, to be used in the cosmetic industry as photoprotection products. The presence of free radical scavenging activity enhances the sun protection factor of octocrylene. The present study presents the first report on the isolation of this compound from the family Asteraceae. The compound has good free radical scavenging activity and is widely used in the cosmetic industry as a sun protectant and is much less reported from botanical sources. Full article

As an alternative to fossil volatile hydrocarbon solvents used nowadays in perfumery, investigation on essential oil of Commiphora wildii Merxm. oleo gum resin as a source of heptane is reported here. Heptane, representing up to 30 wt-% of this oleo gum resin, was successfully isolated from the C. wildii essential oil, using an innovative double distillation process. Isolated heptane was then used as a solvent in order to extract some noble plants of perfumery. It was found that extracts obtained with this solvent were more promising in terms of sensory analysis than those obtained from fossil-based heptane. In addition, in order to valorize the essential oil depleted from heptane, chemical composition of this oil was found to obtain, and potential biological activity properties were studied. A total of 172 different compounds were identified by GC-MS in the remaining oil. In vitro tests—including hyaluronidase, tyrosinase, antioxidant, elastase and lipoxygenase, as well as inhibitory tests against two yeasts and 21 bacterial strains commonly found on the skin—were carried out. Overall, bioassays results suggest this heptane-depleted essential oil is a promising active ingredient for cosmetic applications. Full article

Industrial hemp leaves have raised much interest in nutraceuticals and functional foods areas. To expand its application ranges, the antibacterial activities of industrial hemp leaf extract on Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Bacillus cereus were evaluated and the active components were screened. As a result, the industrial hemp leaf extract was found to have strong bacteriostatic effects on E. coli and S. aureus. Bioassay-guided fractionation and isolation from fractions active against E. coli were conducted. Two compounds, cannabidivarinic acid and cannabidiolic acid, were firstly recognized by analytical HPLC by comparing the retention times and UV spectra with standards and later isolated using preparative HPLC. Moreover, the antibacterial mechanisms of cannabidivarinic acid and cannabidiolic acid were investigated by testing the alkaline phosphatase activity, β-galactosidase activity, conductivity, proteins leakage, nucleic acid leakage, and scanning electron microscope observation. The results demonstrated that cannabidivarinic acid and cannabidiolic acid could destroy the cell wall and membrane of E. coli, resulting in the inhibition of enzyme activity and leakage of contents. They could damage the bacteria cell envelope as well. Presented results pointed out cannabidivarinic acid and cannabidiolic acid as promising natural bacteriostatic agents for the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industry. Full article

Switchgrass is a bioenergy feedstock that potentially possesses multiple health benefits. However, the biological properties and associated bioactive compounds of switchgrass have not been adequately investigated. In the current study, we assessed the anti-inflammatory properties of switchgrass. Results from in vitro bioassays indicated that the methanolic extracts of switchgrass contained compounds exerting inhibitory effects on the expression of inflammatory mediators (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10) induced in the U-937 model system. The extracts derived from four switchgrass cultivars (Alamo, Kanlow, Liberty, and Show Me) inhibited the secretion of all inflammatory mediators examined, with the only exception of the Liberty extract, which showed no significant effect on IL-10 expression. The degree of cytokine inhibition was variable, depending on the particular cultivar, the concentrations tested, and the cytokines examined. A global metabolomics approach was utilized to putatively identify possible molecules with known anti-inflammatory capacities in different switchgrass cultivars using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography with high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS). The content of multiple bioactive anti-inflammatory compounds in switchgrass was determined by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC–MS/MS) analyses. Our results suggest that switchgrass, particularly the Alamo and Kanlow cultivars, may represent a promising natural anti-inflammatory source for the cosmetic, nutraceutical, and pharmaceutical industries. Full article

Phlorotannins have been proven to contain numerous bioactive compounds that have potential to be applied in variety industries, including cosmetics, functional foods, nutraceuticals, environmental management, and medicine. The larvicidal and growth-inhibiting properties of phlorotannins have been extensively studied in various organisms. However, the toxicity of the phloroglucinol oligomer of phlorotannin is unclear, especially in Artemia salina, Daphnia magna, Lactuca sativa, and Chlorella vulgaris, which are commonly used in many bioassays. Therefore, research using these four organisms should be designed to provide basic information about the toxic effects of phlorotannins and phloroglucinol. This study aimed to evaluate the larvicidal and inhibitory properties of phlorotannins and phloroglucinol on A. salina, D. magna, L. sativa, and C. vulgaris. Phlorotannin extract and phloroglucinol were administered at various concentrations to each test organism. The survival rate of A. salina nauplii and D. magna neonates was observed every 24 h to 72 h, whereas the L. sativa seed germination and inhibition rate of C. vulgaris were observed up to 96 h. The results showed that the 24 h LC50 of phlorotannin on A. salina and D. magna were 10.67 and 1.32 mg/mL, respectively. The germination inhibition of L. sativa was 53.3% with a seed growth of less than 4 mm after 96 h upon exposure to 1 mg/mL of phlorotannin. Freshwater and seawater C. vulgaris experienced yield inhibition of 39.47 and 43.46%, respectively, when 2 mg/mL of phlorotanin was added. These results indicate that phlorotannin affects the survival and growth of the test organisms, so its use as a pesticide, herbicide, and algaecide agent for environmental and aquaculture applications can be further studied. Full article

The problems of the environment and human health related to the use of synthetic and broad-spectrum insecticides have increasingly motivated scientific research on different alternatives and among these, the use of green systems, such as essential oils, have been explored. Several species of the Apiaceae and Asteraceae families, aromatic herbs rich in secondary bioactive metabolites, are used in the industrial field for pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food purposes. Different essential oils extracted from some species of these families have shown acute toxicity and attractive and/or repellent effects towards different insects. In our work, we investigated the toxic potential of Calendula incana subsp. maritima and Laserpitium siler subsp. siculum essential oils against four insect species, Sitophilus oryzae, Lasioderma serricorne, Necrobia rufipes, and Rhyzoperta dominica, which are common pests of stored products. The composition of both oils, extracted by hydrodistillation from the aerial parts of the two plants, was evaluated by GC×GC-MS. Calendula incana subsp. maritima essential oil was rich in oxygenated sesquiterpenoids, such as cubebol (35.39%), 4-epi-cubebol (22.99%), and cubenol (12.77%), while the Laserpitium siler subsp. siculum essential oil was composed mainly of monoterpene hydrocarbons, such as β-phellandrene (42.16%), limonene (23.87%), and β-terpinene (11.80%). The toxicity Petri dish bioassays indicated that C. maritima oil killed a mean of 65.50% of S. oryzae and 44.00% of R. dominica adults, indicating a higher biocidal activity in comparison with L. siculum oil, while toward the other species, no significant differences in mortality were recorded. Calendula maritima oil could be, then, considered a promising candidate for further tests as an alternative biocide toward S. oryzae and R. dominica. The possibility that the relatively high content of oxygenated sesquiterpenoids in C. maritima essential oil determines its higher biocidal activity is discussed. Full article

Nowadays, the combination of molecules influences their biological effects, and interesting outcomes can be obtained from different component interactions. Using a mixture design method, this research seeks to simulate the efficacy of essential oil combinations against various bacteria and forecast the ideal combination. The chemical compositions of Myrtus communis, Artemisia herba-alba and Thymus serpyllum essential oils were analyzed using CG/MS. Then, the combined antibacterial effects were evaluated by testing mixture design formulations using the microdilution bioassay. The main compounds detected for M. communis essential oil were myrtenyl acetate (33.67%), linalool (19.77%) and 1,8-cineole (10.65%). A. herba-alba had piperitone as a chemotype, representing 85%. By contrast, the T. serpyllum oil contained thymol (17.29%), γ-terpinene (18.31%) and p-cymene (36.15%). The antibacterial effect of the essential oils studied, and the optimum mixtures obtained were target strain-dependent. T. serpyllum alone ensured the optimal inhibition against S. aureus and E. coli, while a ternary mixture consisting of 17.1%, 39.6% and 43.1% of M. communis, A. herba-alba and T. serpyllum respectively, was associated with optimal inhibitory activity against B. subtilis. The outcome of this research supports the idea of the boosting effect of essential oil combinations toward better activities, giving better understanding of the usefulness of mixture designs for food, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical applications. Full article

Lipids are one of the primary metabolites of microalgae and cyanobacteria, which enrich their utility in the pharmaceutical, feed, cosmetic, and chemistry sectors. This work describes the isolation, structural elucidation, and the antibiotic and antibiofilm activities of diverse lipids produced by different microalgae and cyanobacteria strains from two European collections (ACOI and LEGE-CC). Three microalgae strains and one cyanobacteria strain were selected for their antibacterial and/or antibiofilm activity after the screening of about 600 strains carried out under the NoMorFilm European project. The total organic extracts were firstly fractionated using solid phase extraction methods, and the minimum inhibitory concentration and minimal biofilm inhibitory concentration against an array of human pathogens were determined. The isolation was carried out by bioassay-guided HPLC-DAD purification, and the structure of the isolated molecules responsible for the observed activities was determined by HPLC-HRESIMS and NMR methods. Sulfoquinovosyldiacylglycerol, monogalactosylmonoacylglycerol, sulfoquinovosylmonoacylglycerol, α-linolenic acid, hexadeca-4,7,10,13-tetraenoic acid (HDTA), palmitoleic acid, and lysophosphatidylcholine were found among the different active sub-fractions selected. In conclusion, cyanobacteria and microalgae produce a great variety of lipids with antibiotic and antibiofilm activity against the most important pathogens causing severe infections in humans. The use of these lipids in clinical treatments alone or in combination with antibiotics may provide an alternative to the current treatments. Full article

A fast and automated approach has been developed for the tentative identification and risk assessment of unknown substances in plastic food contact materials (FCM) by GC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS. The proposed approach combines GC-HRMS full scan data acquisition coupled to Compound Discoverer™ 3.2 software for automated data processing and compound identification. To perform the tentative identification of the detected features, a restrictive set of identification criteria was used, including matching with the NIST Mass Spectral Library, exact mass of annotated fragments, and retention index calculation. After the tentative identification, a risk assessment of the identified substances was performed by using the threshold of toxicological concern (TTC) approach. This strategy has been applied to recycled low-density polyethylene (LDPE), which could be used as FCM, as a proof-of-concept demonstration. In the analyzed sample, 374 features were detected, of which 83 were tentatively identified after examination of the identification criteria. Most of these were additives, such as plasticizers, used in a wide variety of plastic applications, oligomers of LDPE, and substances with chemical, industrial, or cosmetic applications. The risk assessment was performed and, according to the TTC approach, the obtained results showed that there was no risk associated with the release of the identified substances. However, complementary studies related to the toxicity of the unidentified substances and the potential mixture toxicity (cocktail effects) should be conducted in parallel using bioassays. Full article