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Inflammation is a temporary response of the immune system that can be treated using common anti-inflammatory drugs. However, prolonged use of these drugs increases the risk of adverse side effects. Accordingly, there is an increasing need for alternative treatments for inflammation with fewer side effects. Exosomes are extracellular vesicles secreted by most eukaryotic cells and have been studied as a candidate for cell-free therapy for inflammatory diseases due to their immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties. In recent years, the focus of exosome research has shifted from animal cell-derived exosomes to plant-derived exosome-like nanoparticles (PDENs). Plant-derived exosome-like nanoparticles (PDENs) are easier to obtain, have minimal safety concerns, and can be produced in higher quantities and lower cost than exosomes derived from animal cells. In this study, the isolation and analysis of the anti-inflammatory potential of PDENs from black nightshade berries ( Solanum nigrum L.) were carried out. The results of isolation and characterization showed that PDENs had a spherical morphology, measuring around 107 nm with zeta potential of -0.6 mV, and had a protein concentration of 275.38 μg/mL. PDENs were also shown to be internalized by RAW264.7 macrophage cell line after 2 hours of incubation and had no cytotoxicity effect up to the concentration of 2.5 μg/mL. Furthermore, exposure to several doses of PDENs to the LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cell significantly decreased the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokine gene IL-6, as well as the expression of IL-6 protein up to 97,28%. GC-MS analysis showed the presence of neral, a monoterpene compound with known anti-inflammatory properties, which may contribute to the anti-inflammatory activity of PDENs isolated from Solanum nigrum L. berries. Taken together, the present study was the first to isolate and characterize PDENs from Solanum nigrum L. berries. The results of this study also demonstrated the anti-inflammatory activity of PDEN by suppressing the production of IL-6 in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells.

The prominent cultivation of lemongrass (Cymbopogon spp.) relies on the pharmacological incentives of its essential oil. Lemongrass essential oil (LEO) carries a significant amount of numerous bioactive compounds, such as citral (mixture of geranial and neral), isoneral, isogeranial, geraniol, geranyl acetate, citronellal, citronellol, germacrene-D, and elemol, in addition to other bioactive compounds. These components confer various pharmacological actions to LEO, including antifungal, antibacterial, antiviral, anticancer, and antioxidant properties. These LEO attributes are commercially exploited in the pharmaceutical, cosmetics, and food preservations industries. Furthermore, the application of LEO in the treatment of cancer opens a new vista in the field of therapeutics. Although different LEO components have shown promising anticancer activities in vitro, their effects have not yet been assessed in the human system. Hence, further studies on the anticancer mechanisms conferred by LEO components are required. The present review intends to provide a timely discussion on the relevance of LEO in combating cancer and sustaining human healthcare, as well as in food industry applications.

The selective conversion of natural or synthetic neral to (1 R ,6 S )- trans -isopiperitenol would enable and expedite sustainable routes to menthol 1 , 2 and cannabinoids 3 – 5 . However, this reaction has been considered impossible because its product is more reactive to the required acid catalysts than its starting material, resulting in several side products 6 – 9 . We now show that an unsymmetric, strong and confined chiral acid, a highly fluorinated imino-imidodiphosphate, catalyses this process with excellent efficiency and selectivity. Expanding the method to other α,β-unsaturated aldehydes could enable access to new cannabinoids and menthol derivatives not readily accessible previously. Mechanistic studies suggest that the confined catalyst accomplishes this reaction by binding the product in an unreactive conformation, thereby preventing its decomposition. We also show how (1 R ,6 S )- trans -isopiperitenol can be readily converted to pharmaceutically useful cannabinoids and menthol, each in the shortest and most atom-economic routes so far. An unsymmetric, strong and confined chiral acid, a highly fluorinated imino-imidodiphosphate, catalyses the selective conversion of neral to (1 R ,6 S )- trans -isopiperitenol, enabling sustainable routes to menthol and cannabinoids.

Trichophyton rubrum causes ringworm worldwide. Citral (CIT), extracted from Pectis plants, is a monoterpene and naturally composed of geometric isomers neral (cis-citral) and geranial (trans-citral). CIT has promising antifungal activities and ergosterol biosynthesis inhibition effects against several pathogenic fungi. However, no study has focused on neral and geranial against T. rubrum, which hinders the clinical application of CIT. This study aimed to compare antifungal activities of neral and geranial and preliminarily elucidate their ergosterol biosynthesis inhibition mechanism against T. rubrum. Herein, the disc diffusion assays, cellular leakage measurement, flow cytometry, SEM/TEM observation, sterol quantification, and sterol pattern change analyses were employed. The results showed geranial exhibited larger inhibition zones (p < 0.01 or 0.05), higher cellular leakage rates (p < 0.01), increased conidia with damaged membranes (p < 0.01) within 24 h, more distinct shriveled mycelium in SEM, prominent cellular material leakage, membrane damage, and morphological changes in TEM. Furthermore, geranial possessed more promising ergosterol biosynthesis inhibition effects than neral, and both induced the synthesis of 7-Dehydrodesmosterol and Cholesta-5,7,22,24-tetraen-3β-ol, which represented marker sterols when ERG6 was affected. These results suggest geranial is more potent than neral against T. rubrum, and both inhibit ergosterol biosynthesis by affecting ERG6.

Dracocephalum kotschyi Boiss., an endemic and endangered medicinal and aromatic plant in Iran, showcases distinct botanical characteristics and therapeutic promise. According to the IUCN grouping criteria, this plant is facing challenges due to overcollection from its natural habitats. To address this issue, there is an increasing inclination towards cultivating this species within agricultural systems. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of applying Fe 2 O 3 nanoparticles (NPs) at varying concentrations (50, 100, and 200 mg L -1 ), as well as bulk Fe 2 O 3 at the same concentrations, on the growth, essential oil production, antioxidant capacity, total phenol, and flavonoid content of D. kotschyi . The foliar application of 100 and/or 200 mg L -1 of Fe 2 O 3 NPs resulted in the greatest leaf length and dry weight, while Fe 2 O 3 NPs at the level of 100 mg L -1 led to the highest leaf/stem ratio. Additionally, spraying 200 mg L -1 of Fe 2 O 3 NPs and all concentrations of bulk Fe 2 O 3 positively impacted chlorophyll and carotenoid levels. Both nano and bulk Fe 2 O 3 supplements stimulated H 2 O 2 production and subsequently enhanced enzymatic antioxidant activity. The use of 50 mg L -1 of Fe 2 O 3 NPs resulted in the highest flavonoid content and non-enzymatic antioxidant activity. Meanwhile, the highest essential oil content and yield was achieved by the application of 50 and/or 100 mg L -1 Fe 2 O 3 NPs. The addition of low concentration of Fe 2 O 3 NPs (50 mg L -1 ) resulted in a significant increase in the concentration of geranial, while a higher supply of Fe 2 O 3 NPs (200 mg L -1 ) significantly decreased the percentage of neral in the essential oil. Overall, the application of Fe 2 O 3 NPs demonstrated significant potential for increased biomass, enhanced yield, essential oil production, and phytochemical attributes. The findings highlight the versatility of Fe 2 O 3 NPs at optimal concentrations, acting as both a nano-fertilizer and a nano-inducer, promoting the production and accumulation of valuable secondary metabolites in plants.

Citral is a monoterpene constituted by two isomers known as neral and geranial. It is present in different plant sources and recognized as safe (GRAS) by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In recent years, investigations have demonstrated that this compound exhibited several biological activities, such as antibacterial, antifungal, antibiofilm, antiparasitic, antiproliferative, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties, by in vitro and in vivo assays. Additionally, when incorporated into different food matrices, citral can reduce the microbial load of pathogenic microorganisms and extend the shelf life. This compound has acceptable drug-likeness properties and does not present any violations of Lipinski’s rules, which could be used for drug development. The above shows that citral could be a compound of interest for developing food additives to extend the shelf life of animal and vegetable origin foods and develop pharmaceutical products.

Podisus nigrispinus Dallas (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae), released in biological control programs, is a predator of Lepidopteran and Coleopteran species. Lemongrass essential oil and its constituents can be toxic to this natural enemy. The major constituents of lemongrass essential oil are neral (31.5%), citral (26.1%), and geranyl acetate (2.27%). Six concentrations of lemongrass essential oil and of its citral and geranyl acetate constituents were applied to the thorax of P . nigrispinus nymphs and adults. The walking and respiratory behavior of the P . nigrispinus third-instar nymphs, treated with citral and geranyl acetate at the LD 50 and LD 90 doses, were analyzed with video and respirometer. The lemongrass essential oil toxicity increased from first- to fifth-instar P . nigrispinus nymphs. The P . nigrispinus respiration rates (μL de CO 2 h −1 /insect) with citral and geranyl acetate in the LD 50 and LD 90 differed. Nymphs exposed to the lemongrass essential oil and its constituents on treated surfaces presented irritability or were repelled. Podisus nigrispinus adults were tolerant to the lemongrass essential oil and its constituents, geranyl acetate and citral. The altered respiratory activity with geranyl acetate and the fact that they were irritated and repelled by citral suggest caution with regard to the use of the lemongrass essential oil and its constituents in integrated pest management incorporating this predator, in order to avoid diminishing its efficiency against the pests.

Candida albicans is a common opportunistic pathogen, causing infections ranging from superficial to bloodstream infections. The limited antifungal options and rising drug resistance challenge clinical treatment. We screened 98 essential oils and identified 48 with antifungal activity against Candida albicans at 1% concentration, determining their minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC). Of these, 14 maintained fungicidal activity at lower concentrations (0.25% and 0.125%). 5 essential oils (Cinnamon, Satureja montana, Palmarosa, Lemon eucalyptus, and Honey myrtle) showed the highest inhibitory effects on stationary-phase Candida albicans and inhibited hyphae elongation. Synergistic effects were observed when combining Palmarosa with amphotericin B (AmB) against growing-phase Candida albicans , while Cinnamon and Satureja montana with AmB showed superior efficacy against stationary-phase infections. We identified the active components of 5 essential oils using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and found the following main constituents: Cinnamon primarily contains benzyl benzoate and eugenol, Satureja montana is dominated by carvacrol and cymene, Palmarosa features geraniol and geranyl acetate, Lemon eucalyptus includes dl-Isopulegol and citronellal, and Honey myrtle is characterized by citral and neral. Our results may aid in developing more effective antifungal treatments.

Melissa officinalis L., a well-known herb with diverse industrial and ethnopharmacological properties. Although, there has been a significant lack in the breeding attempts of this invaluable herb. This study aimed to enhance the agronomical traits of M. officinalis through in vitro polyploidization. Nodal segments were micropropagated and subjected to oryzalin treatment at concentrations of 20, 40, and 60 mM for 24 and 48 hours. Flow cytometry, chromosome counting, and stomatal characteristics were employed to confirm the ploidy level of the surviving plants. The survival rate of the treated explants decreased exponentially with increasing oryzalin concentration and duration. The highest polyploid induction rate (8%) was achieved with 40 mM oryzalin treatment for 24 hours. The induced tetraploid plants exhibited vigorous growth, characterized by longer shoots, larger leaves, and a higher leaf count. Chlorophyll content and fluorescence parameters elucidated disparities in photosynthetic performance between diploid and tetraploid genotypes. Tetraploid plants demonstrated a 75% increase in average essential oil yield, attributed to the significantly larger size of peltate trichomes. Analysis of essential oil composition in diploid and tetraploid plants indicated the presence of three major components: geranial, neral, and citronellal. While citronellal remained consistent, geranial and neral increased by 11.06% and 9.49%, respectively, in the tetraploid population. This effective methodology, utilizing oryzalin as an anti-mitotic agent for polyploid induction in M. officinalis , resulted in a polyploid genotype with superior morpho-physiological traits. The polyploid lemon balm generated through this method has the potential to meet commercial demands and contribute significantly to the improvement of lemon balm cultivation.

Lemongrass essential oil comes from the lemongrass plant (Cymbopogon citratus), which grows mainly in tropical and subtropical parts of the world. The prefix ‘lemon’ indicates its typical lemon-like odour, which is caused mainly by the presence of citral. Citral is a combination of two stereoisomeric monoterpene aldehydes; the trans isomer geranial is in predominance to the cis isomer neral. Lemongrass essential oil has been used since ancient times in folk medicine as a remedy to improve circulation, stabilise menstrual cycles, promote digestion or increase immunity. It is also used to produce perfumes, flavours, detergents, and pharmaceuticals. The method found to be the most suitable for the extraction of lemongrass essential oil is steam distillation, since it allows obtaining the oil without altering product quality. The chemical composition of the essential oil of C. citratus varies according to the geographical origin, farming practices, plant age, photoperiod, harvest period, genetic differences, and extraction methods. The chemical constituents of the essential oil which have constantly been detected and determine its biological activity are aldehydes, hydrocarbon terpenes, alcohols, ketones, and esters. The lemongrass essential oil shows a wide spectrum of biological activities. High antibacterial and remarkable antifungal activities make the lemongrass oil a potential food preservative. This paper reviews recent information on extraction methods of lemongrass essential oil, its chemical composition depending on the origin of the plant, bioactivity of the oil constituents as well as potential application as a food preservative.