Fungicidal Activity of Essential Oils from Cinnamomum cassia against the Pathogenic Fungi of Panax notoginseng Diseases

The frequent disease of Panax notoginseng caused by the pathogenic fungi in field cultivation has become the major threaten to the sustainable development of it. The present study was conducted to find natural agent with potential inhibition against pathogen. Therefore, the inhibitory effects of Cinnamomum cassia (L.) J.Presl essential oils (EOs) against P. notoginseng associated pathogenic fungi were conducted both in vitro and in vivo experiments. The results of the Oxford cup test revealed that C. cassia dry bark EO (50 mg/mL) had significant inhibitory activity on the growth of all tested fungi, and the growth of various pathogens was completely inhibited, except for that of Fusarium solani. Therefore, the constituents of C. cassia EOs were analyzed by GC/MS, and the research demonstrated that the main constituents of C. cassia dry bark EO were trans‐cinnamaldehyde (75.65 %), (E)‐2‐methoxycinnamaldehyde (6.08 %), cinnamaldehyde (3.47 %) and cinnamyl acetate (1.02 %). The MIC results showed that C. cassia dry bark EO and the main compounds had good antifungal effect on the tested strains, and the inhibitory effect was similar to that of hymexazol (chemical pesticide). By analyzing the value of the fraction inhibitory concentration index (FICI), additive effects, irrelevant effects and synergistic effects were observed after the mixture of hymexazol against various pathogens. Moreover, in vivo model showed that C. cassia dry bark EO could reduce the occurrence of anthrax in P. notoginseng. To widen the resources of C. cassia available, the compositions of both C. cassia fresh bark and leaf EOs were also tested and many common compositions existed among them. Taken together, it was concluded that C. cassia EO had the potential use in the field to reduce the pathogenic disease.     

The species-specific mode of action of the antimicrobial peptide subtilosin against Listeria monocytogenes Scott A

Aims: To elucidate the molecular mechanism of action of the antimicrobial peptide subtilosin against the foodborne pathogen Listeria monocytogenes Scott A. Methods and Results: Subtilosin was purified from a culture of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens. The minimal inhibitory concentration of subtilosin against L. monocytogenes Scott A was determined by broth microdilution method. The effect of subtilosin on the transmembrane electrical potential (ΔΨ) and pH gradient (ΔpH), and its ability to induce efflux of intracellular ATP, was investigated. Subtilosin fully inhibited L. monocytogenes growth at a concentration of 19 μg ml^?1. Subtilosin caused a partial depletion of the ΔΨ and had a similar minor effect on the ΔpH. There was no significant efflux of intracellular ATP. Conclusion: Subtilosin likely acts upon L. monocytogenes Scott A by perturbing the lipid bilayer of the cellular membrane and causing intracellular damage, leading to eventual cell death. Subtilosin’s mode of action against L. monocytogenes Scott A differs from the one previously described for another human pathogen, Gardnerella vaginalis. Significance and Impact of the Study: This is the first report on the specific mode of action of subtilosin against L. monocytogenes and the first report of a bacteriocin with a species‐specific mode of action.     

Electronic paramagnetic resonance investigation of the activity of Origanum vulgare L. essential oil on the Listeria monocytogenes membrane

Aims: To evaluate the effect of oregano essential oil on Listeria monocytogenes cytoplasmic membrane. Methods and Results: Nitroxide free‐radical Electron Paramagnetic Resonance was applied on L. monocytogenes after 30 min exposure to oregano essential oil concentrations ranging from 0 to 1·25%. The impact of essential oil on the number of viable cells was evaluated by plate count. Growth dynamics of survivors in BHI and TSB were evaluated by turbidometry. After exposure to essential oil concentrations up to 0·50%, the membrane fluidity was changed and its order increased. When L. monocytogenes was exposed to higher concentrations, membrane order parameters slightly returned to the values of untreated cells. However, when the cells were exposed to EO in the presence of sodium azide, which impairs energy metabolism, the membrane fluidity was progressively enhanced, even at the lowest EO concentration (0·25%). Microbiological analyses confirmed a progressive reduction of viable count, at increasing essential oil concentrations. Both in BHI and TSB, the Lag phase length increased in treated cells with respect to controls, suggesting a cell damage recovery. Conclusions: The combined approach including microbiological and EPR analyses provided relevant information on membrane modification and cell response to essential oils. Significance and Impact of the Study: EPR approach was demonstrated to be an effective and helpful tool to comprehend the modifications exerted by essential oil on the bacterial membrane.     

The elimination effects of lavender essential oil on Listeria monocytogenes biofilms developed at different temperatures and the induction of VBNC state

Listeria monocytogenes is a typical foodborne pathogen that causes hard-to-treat bacterial infections, mainly due to its ability to form biofilm and enter into a viable but non-culturable state (VBNC). In this study, we investigated the removal effects of four antimicrobial agents on L. monocytogenes biofilms formed at 32°C and 10°C, analysed the resistances of the mature biofilms to antimicrobial agents, and explored the VBNC state of cells in mature biofilms induced by lavender essential oil (LEO). The results showed that the growth of L. monocytogenes was completely inhibited when 1·6% (v/v) of the LEO was added. Meanwhile, the results of the crystal violet staining and XTT reduction method indicated that different concentrations of LEO significantly reduced L. monocytogenes biofilms biomass and metabolic activities, followed by sodium hypochlorite, lactic acid, and hydrogen peroxide. Moreover, the confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) images confirmed that the treated biofilms became thinner, the structure was sparse, and the appearance was blurry. More interestingly, L. monocytogenes biofilms developed at 10°C were less susceptible to the sanitizers than those formed at 32°C. In addition, LEO presented a more significant dispersing effect on the biofilm cells, and 1/2 MIC to 4 MIC of LEO could induce fewer VBNC state cells in biofilm and plankton compared with sodium hypochlorite. This study indicated that the LEO could be considered as an ideal antibiofilm agent for controlling L. monocytogenes. But we should pay attention to the resistance of the biofilms developed at low temperatures.     

福建省樟树叶精油的主成分分析及其化学型

对来源于福建省28个县（市）的329份樟树[Cinnamomum camphora（L．）Presl]叶精油的21个主要化学成分（占总化学成分含量的90．735％）进行了主成分分析和聚类分析。提取出12个主成分因子,累计贡献率达到84．342％,可基本描述樟树叶精油21个主要化学成分的变异情况。取λ=5．5,329份叶精油样品可被分为5个化学型：芳樟型（主要成分为芳樟醇）、脑樟型（主要成分为樟脑）、桉樟型（主要成分为1,8-桉叶油素）、黄樟型（主要成分为黄樟油素）和杂樟型（无明显主要成分）。除杂樟型外,其他化学型樟树叶精油的主要化学成分均较一致。     

红豆树叶挥发油化学成分及其抗氧化和抑菌活性研究

为探究红豆树叶挥发油的化学组成及其生物活性,本研究首次采用水蒸气蒸馏法提取红豆树叶挥发油,并通过气相色谱-质谱联用技术(GC-MS)分析其化学成分,结合DPPH和ABTS法及抑菌圈法,评价其体外抗氧化和抑菌活性。结果表明,从红豆树叶挥发油中共检测出化合物36个,占挥发油总量的90.50%;挥发油主要成分为1,4-二十烷二烯(25.72%)、1,19-二十烷二烯(10.85%)、2,6-二叔丁基对甲酚(10.14%)、邻苯二甲酸正丁基异丁基酯(9.75%)、(Z,Z)-6,9-二十烷二烯(7.60%)、(E,E)-α-金合欢烯(7.51%)、叶醇(4.74%)和2-异丙烯基-5-甲基-6-庚烯-1-醇(4.04%)。红豆树叶挥发油对DPPH自由基和ABTS自由基清除作用的半数有效量(ED₅₀)分别为0.27、0.14 mg/mL,且抗氧化活性与挥发油浓度呈量效相关。红豆树叶挥发油浓度为7.1 mg/mL时,其对枯草芽孢杆菌(Bacillus subtilis)、金黄色葡萄球菌(Staphylococcus aureus)、绿脓杆菌(Pseudomonas aeruginosa)和大肠杆菌(Escherichia coli)的抑菌圈分别为11.29、9.88、10.85和11.03 mm。本研究为红豆树叶资源的综合开发利用提供了理论基础。     

石荠苧精油的GC-MS分析及其抑菌活性的研究

利用水蒸汽蒸馏法提取石荠芋（Mosla scabra（Thunb．）C．Y．Wu et H．W．Li]精油,得油率为1．2％。采用GC—MS方法分析了该挥发油的化学组成,检测到125个峰,共鉴定出其中67个化学成分并测定其相对含量。占总含量的95．25％。其中,（R）侧柏酮（26．11％）、（M）侧柏酮（13．66％）、石竹烯（8．89％）、桉叶油素（7．99％）、（R）-α-石竹烯（6．45％）、芹菜脑（5．43％）和β-荜澄茄油烯（4．51％）为主要成分。体外抑菌实验表明,该精油对7种供试细菌均有抑制作用,对金黄色葡萄球菌（Staphylococcus aureus Roenbach）、普通变形杆菌（Proteasv ulgarisHauser）、甘薯青枯假单胞菌（Ralstonia soanacearum E．F．Smith）、大肠杆菌（Esckrichia coli Castellani et Chalmers）和短小芽孢杆菌（Bacillus pumilus Meyer et Gottheil）的最低抑菌浓度（MIC）为2％,对枯草芽孢杆菌（Bacillus subtilis Cohn）和藤黄八叠球菌（Sarcina lutea Schroeter）的MIC为1％。     

肾叶天胡荽精油的超临界CO2萃取、成分分析及杀虫活性初探

采用正交实验设计,对肾叶天胡荽（Hydrocotyle wigordi Maxim．）精油超临界CO2萃取条件进行了优化,并用GC—MS分析技术对精油的化学成分进行了鉴定,初步探讨了肾叶天胡荽精油对小菜蛾2龄幼虫的触杀活性。结果表明,肾叶天胡荽精油超临界CO2萃取的最佳条件为萃取压力35MPa、萃取温度50℃、解析压力5MPa、解析温度40℃、萃取时间75min、CO2流量34—36L·h^-1,精油得率最高可达5．32％。从精油中共鉴定出19种成分,总相对含量达到89．266％,主要成分为邻苯二甲酸二辛酯（64．302％）。用超临界CO2萃取技术提取的肾叶天胡荽精油对小菜蛾2龄幼虫有一定的触杀作用,20g·L^-1精油对小菜蛾2龄幼虫的24h校正死亡率高达90．00％。     

Repellent action and contact toxicity mechanisms of the essential oil extracted from Chinese chive against Plutella xylostella larvae

Botanical pesticides play increasingly important roles in the control of agricultural pests. In this study, the insecticidal effects, specifically the repellent action and contact toxicity, of the essential oil extracted from Chinese chive (EOC) against Plutella xylostella larvae were confirmed. The mechanisms of repellent’s action were studied using electroantennograms (EAGs), and the effects on glutathione S‐transferase (GST), carboxylesterase (CarE), and acetyl cholinesterase were investigated after EOC treatments. The EOC affected the EAG results and inhibited the activities of GST and CarE in treated P. xylostella larvae, which could explain its insecticidal effects. And, four pyrazines showed greater repellent activities than that of the EOC, which was confirmed as the main active compounds of EOC.     

Achillea ligustica: composition and antimicrobial activity of essential oils from the leaves, flowers and some pure constituents

The composition of the essential oils obtained from the leaves and the flowers of Achillea ligustica (Asteraceae) growing in Sicily has been studied. The main constituents of the leaves were 4-terpineol (19.3%), carvone (8.9%), γ-terpinene (7.2%) and β-phellandrene (6.8%). 4-terpineol (12.0%), carvone (10.0%), and β-phellandrene (5.4%), along with linalool (20.4%) and cedrol (4.3%) were detected in the flower’s oil. Furthermore, the antimicrobial activity of the essential oils and of some of the main constituents were assayed on bacteria and fungi. In memory of Prof. Ivano Morelli (1940–2005)     

Analysis of the chemical composition of root essential oil from Indian sarsaparilla (Hemidesmus indicus) and its application as an ecofriendly insecticide and pharmacological agent

The Indian sarsaparilla (Hemidesmus indicus) is a commonly used plant in Indian traditional medicine of Ayurveda for the preparation of various non-alcoholic beverages. However, limited studies are available on the essential oil of H. indicus roots (HRO); therefore, the study evaluated the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antidiabetic activities of H. indicus root essential oil as well as insecticide potential against the common pests of stored food materials (Sitophilus oryzae, Callosobruchus maculatus and Tribolium castaneum). The repellant efficacy of HRO was found to be high against S. oryzae (8.21 ± 0.55 μg/mL). Likewise, the fumigant potential was also observed for HRO against these pests; the higher activities were observed against S. oryzae and C. maculatus (32.46 ± 1.42 and 35.18 ± 1.62 μg/L). Besides, the essential oil was also found to be active as a contact poison, however, against all the three pests, the toxicity was above 100 μg/mm³, being the highest against C. maculatus (122.8 ± 3.57 μg/mm³). To analyze the possible effect of the essential oil on grains, the different grains were allowed to germinate and compared to that of normal; thus, the non-toxic nature of HRO against the stored products is also confirmed. The essential oil shown to have DPPH hydrogen peroxide and ABTS radical scavenging, nitric oxide scavenging potential, and inhibition of lipoxgenase, alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase. Overall, the present study concludes that the H. indicus may be a suitable repellant and fumigant agent against different pests of stored products and a possible antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-diabetic agent.     

小蓬草精油对两种蚊虫的毒杀活性和成分分析

【目的】明确小蓬草Conyza canadensis ( L.) Cronq.精油的杀虫潜力及其活性成分。【方法】通过浸虫法和密闭熏蒸法测试了小蓬草精油对白纹伊蚊Aedes albopictus和致倦库蚊Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus幼虫及成蚊的毒杀活性, 并利用气相色谱 质谱联用仪（GC-MS）对精油的挥发性成分进行了定性分析。【结果】 小蓬草精油对白纹伊蚊1-4龄期幼虫及蛹的24 h LC50值分别为25.01, 45.88, 56.94, 64.60和346.23 μg/mL; 对致倦库蚊幼虫1-4龄期幼虫及蛹的24 h LC₅₀值分别为9.16, 8.65, 32.12, 43.68和197.83 μg/mL。在剂量分别为48, 64, 80, 96, 112和128 μg/cm3时, 小蓬草精油对白纹伊蚊成蚊的KT₅₀值分别为28.81, 22.31, 20.38, 17.05, 13.92和9.74 min; 对致倦库蚊的KT50值分别为34.90, 32.97, 23.97, 19.60, 15.20和10.34 min。 24 h熏蒸对白纹伊蚊和致倦库蚊成蚊的LC50值分别是75.46和99.19 μg/cm³。小蓬草精油的GC MS定性分析共分离鉴定出31种化合物, 其中单萜类物质6种, 倍半萜烯类物质17种, 含氧萜烯类6种。【结论】结果表明小蓬草精油对这两种蚊虫的毒杀活性较高, 具有深开发潜力。