Essential Oil in Pharmaceutical Products for the Management of Chronic Diseases

A special issue of Pharmaceutics (ISSN 1999-4923). This special issue belongs to the section "Physical Pharmacy and Formulation".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 November 2023) | Viewed by 7285

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, 40127 Bologna, Italy
Interests: essential oils; inflammation; cancer; chronic disorders

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Pharmaceutics is planning a Special Issue focusing on Essential Oils (EO) and their possible use in pharmaceutical products for the prevention or treatment of chronic disorders, including cancer. There is rising evidence of the efficacy of EOs and/or their single components for the treatment of several human disorders; regardless, scientific knowledge is still lacking about their biological proprieties or their mechanism of action at a cellular level. Moreover, their use on humans at therapeutic doses require to face with issues related to their pharmacokinetics, formulation, and toxicology. The aim of this Special Issue is to identify EOs or their single compounds as possible therapeutic agents, clarifying their biologic proprieties, their molecular and cellular mechanism of action, and the real possibility of their administration on humans, in order to provide a rationale for their use alone or in combination with other standard therapies.

Dr. Maria Chiara Valerii
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • essential oils
  • inflammation
  • cancer
  • chronic disorders

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

19 pages, 3129 KiB  
Article
Nanoemulsion-Based Orodispersible Film Formulation of Guava Leaf Oil for Inhibition of Oral Cancer Cells
by Yotsanan Weerapol, Suwisit Manmuan, Tiraniti Chuenbarn, Sontaya Limmatvapirat and Sukannika Tubtimsri
Pharmaceutics 2023, 15(11), 2631; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics15112631 - 16 Nov 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1486
Abstract
Among natural sources, guava leaf oil (GLO) has emerged as a potential anticancer agent. However, its limited water solubility poses a significant challenge for its use. Oil-in-water nanoemulsions are used to address the limitation of water solubility of GLO prior to its incorporation [...] Read more.
Among natural sources, guava leaf oil (GLO) has emerged as a potential anticancer agent. However, its limited water solubility poses a significant challenge for its use. Oil-in-water nanoemulsions are used to address the limitation of water solubility of GLO prior to its incorporation into orodipersible films. Nanoemulsions containing GLO:virgin coconut oil (VCO) at a ratio of 50:50 to 70:30 presented a small droplet size of approximately 50 nm and a relatively low zeta potential. GLO:VCO at a ratio of 70:30 was selected for incorporation into sodium alginate film at various concentrations ranging from 1% to 30% w/w. Tensile strength and elongation at break relied on the concentration of nanoemulsions as well as the internal structure of films. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy revealed that GLO was compatible with sodium alginate. Film containing 2% w/w of nanoemulsions (2G_ODF) exhibited effective in vitro antioral cancer activity, with an IC50 of 62.49 ± 6.22 mg/mL; furthermore, its anticancer activity showed no significant difference after storage at 25 °C for 1 year. Moreover, 2G_ODF at IC60 arrested colony formation and cell invasion. There is also evidence that cell death occurred via apoptosis, as indicated by nuclear fragmentation and positive Annexin-V staining. These findings highlight the potential of orodispersible films containing GLO nanoemulsions as a prospective oral anticancer agent. Full article
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20 pages, 4967 KiB  
Article
Antibiofilm Effect of Lavandula multifida Essential Oil: A New Approach for Chronic Infections
by Jorge Alves-Silva, Mónica Zuzarte, Carlos Cavaleiro and Lígia Salgueiro
Pharmaceutics 2023, 15(8), 2142; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics15082142 - 15 Aug 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1637
Abstract
Fungal infections are associated with high morbidity and mortality rates, being highly prevalent in patients with underlying health complications such as chronic lung disease, HIV, cancer, and diabetes mellitus. To mitigate these infections, the development of effective antifungals is imperative, with plants standing [...] Read more.
Fungal infections are associated with high morbidity and mortality rates, being highly prevalent in patients with underlying health complications such as chronic lung disease, HIV, cancer, and diabetes mellitus. To mitigate these infections, the development of effective antifungals is imperative, with plants standing out as promising sources of bioactive compounds. In the present study, we focus on the antibiofilm potential of Lavandula multifida essential oil (EO) against dermatophyte strains and Candida albicans. The EO was characterized using GC and GC–MS, and its antifungal effect was assessed on both biofilm formation and disruption. Biofilm mass, extracellular matrix, and viability were quantified using crystal violet, safranin, and XTT assays, respectively, and morphological alterations were confirmed using optical and scanning electron microscopy. L. multifida EO showed very high amounts of carvacrol and was very effective in inhibiting and disrupting fungal biofilms. The EO significantly decreased biofilm mass and viability in all tested fungi. In addition, a reduction in dermatophytes’ extracellular matrix was observed, particularly during biofilm formation. Morphological alterations were evident in mature biofilms, with a clear decrease in hypha diameter. These promising results support the use of L. multifida EO in the development of effective plant-based antifungal products. Full article
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17 pages, 1664 KiB  
Article
Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Essential Oils from the Peels of Citrus Cultivars
by Jiyoon Yang, Su-Yeon Lee, Soo-Kyeong Jang, Ki-Joong Kim and Mi-Jin Park
Pharmaceutics 2023, 15(6), 1595; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics15061595 - 25 May 2023
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3396
Abstract
Citrus cultivars have remarkable health benefits, but only the anti-inflammatory activities of the major varieties have been studied. This study investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of various citrus cultivars and their active anti-inflammatory components. The essential oils of 21 citrus peels were extracted via [...] Read more.
Citrus cultivars have remarkable health benefits, but only the anti-inflammatory activities of the major varieties have been studied. This study investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of various citrus cultivars and their active anti-inflammatory components. The essential oils of 21 citrus peels were extracted via hydrodistillation using a Clevenger-type apparatus, and the chemical compositions of the essential oils were analyzed. D-Limonene was the most abundant constituent. To evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects of the citrus cultivars, the gene expression levels of an inflammatory mediator and proinflammatory cytokines were investigated. Among the 21 essential oils, those extracted from C. japonica and C. maxima exhibited superior anti-inflammatory activities, being able to inhibit the expression of the inflammatory mediators and proinflammatory cytokines in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. The essential oils of C. japonica and C. maxima were distinguished into seven distinct constituents, α-pinene, myrcene, D-limonene, β-ocimene, linalool, linalool oxide, and α-terpineol, compared with other essential oils. The anti-inflammatory activities of the seven single compounds significantly inhibited the levels of inflammation-related factors. In particular, α-terpineol exhibited a superior anti-inflammatory effect. This study showed that the essential oils from C. japonica and C. maxima exhibit high anti-inflammatory activity. In addition, α-terpineol is an active anti-inflammatory compound that contributes to inflammatory responses. Full article
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