Biological and Toxicological Activities of Plant Extracts and Their Extraction Methods

A special issue of Separations (ISSN 2297-8739). This special issue belongs to the section "Analysis of Natural Products and Pharmaceuticals".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (28 February 2024) | Viewed by 4974

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Biology (DB), University of Azores, 9500-321 Ponta Delgada, Portugal
Interests: natural products; essential oils; toxicological and biological activities of plant extracts; insect toxicity and anti-feeding properties

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Guest Editor
Department of Physics, Chemistry and Engineering (DPCE) and Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Research and Technology (IITAA), University of Azores, 9500-321 Ponta Delgada, São Miguel, Azores, Portugal
Interests: organic chemistry; natural products; phytochemistry; essential oils; biological activities
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Biological species, from prokaryotes to higher plants, that inhabit all kinds of terrestrial, freshwater, marine and extreme environments have been, for thousands of years, the main source of natural compounds.

Nowadays, natural products are increasingly receiving more attention from the scientific community, not only because they may pose less risks than their synthetic equivalents, but also because they are a part of the vast majority of agro-industrial wastes (food processing, agricultural residues, forestry logging operations, etc.). Thus, their valorization is seen as a stepping stone toward a more sustainable approach for the further development of scientific progress, industry and economic growth.

With that in mind, this Special Issue is dedicated to toxicological activities (contact toxicity, anti-feeding, repellency, fumigation, molluscicidal, etc.) and biological activities (antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antiobesity, anti-acetylcholinesterase, etc.) of extracts derived from all kinds of terrestrial or marine species, as well as agro-industrial wastes.

We will accept works employing innovative and green extraction/isolation methodologies; bioassay-guided approaches are much appreciated, but classical extraction methods may be included.

We look forward to your contributions.

Dr. José Silvino Santos Da Rosa
Prof. Dr. Elisabete Maria de Castro Lima
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • plants
  • algae
  • cyanobacteria
  • natural products
  • essential oils
  • biological activities
  • toxicological activities
  • food products
  • extraction methods
  • waste valorization

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

37 pages, 2331 KiB  
Article
An In-Depth Stability Study of the Essential Oils from Mentha × piperita, Mentha spicata, Origanum vulgare, and Thymus vulgaris: The Impact of Thermal and Storage Conditions
by Eugenia Ganosi, Christina Barda, Maria-Eleni Grafakou, Michael Ch. Rallis and Helen Skaltsa
Separations 2023, 10(9), 488; https://doi.org/10.3390/separations10090488 - 7 Sep 2023
Viewed by 2137
Abstract
In recent years, there has been a growing scientific interest in essential oils due to their therapeutic and aromatic properties and as potential alternative natural additives for use as preservatives or antibiotics. However, the literature lacks a comprehensive understanding of their stability and [...] Read more.
In recent years, there has been a growing scientific interest in essential oils due to their therapeutic and aromatic properties and as potential alternative natural additives for use as preservatives or antibiotics. However, the literature lacks a comprehensive understanding of their stability and how their composition and properties change over time under various conditions. Through this paper, we aim to enhance the existing literature by providing deeper insights into the stability of essential oils and the sustainability of chemical composition in a time-based approach under various conditions. Therefore, four essential oils of the Lamiaceae family (Origanum vulgare, Thymus vulgaris, Mentha spicata, and M. x piperita) were evaluated with respect to their chemical variation influenced by several factors, such as thermal and storage conditions. Three types of containers were utilized to store the essential oils, i.e., glass ampoules, glass tubes, and metallic containers with plastic caps, for up to six months in −20 °C, 4 °C, 23 °C (with or without light exposure), 35 °C, and 45 °C. Samples were routinely analyzed by GC-MS and components were subjected to principal component analysis to ascertain whether the identified constituents may be useful in reflecting the stability of the analyzed samples. The main compounds appeared to be more stable, while the degradation of minor constituents (<1.0%) occurred in all four essential oils despite the storage conditions. Overall, apart from a slight variation in the chemical load, essential oils can be considered stable for various applications, especially those stored under low oxygen availability conditions. Full article
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12 pages, 1092 KiB  
Article
Essential Oil Variability of Azorean Cryptomeria japonica Leaves under Different Distillation Methods, Part 2: Molluscicidal Activity and Brine Shrimp Lethality
by Filipe Arruda, Ana Lima, Luísa Oliveira, Tânia Rodrigues, Alexandre Janeiro, José S. Rosa and Elisabete Lima
Separations 2023, 10(4), 241; https://doi.org/10.3390/separations10040241 - 5 Apr 2023
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1946
Abstract
This study reports on the in vivo molluscicidal activity and Artemia salina lethality of Azorean Cryptomeria japonica leaf (CJL) essential oils (EOs) obtained by hydrodistillation (HD) and water-steam distillation (WSD) techniques, especially in light of the recent focus on the use of forestry [...] Read more.
This study reports on the in vivo molluscicidal activity and Artemia salina lethality of Azorean Cryptomeria japonica leaf (CJL) essential oils (EOs) obtained by hydrodistillation (HD) and water-steam distillation (WSD) techniques, especially in light of the recent focus on the use of forestry and wood industry residues in a sustainable world economy. Molluscicidal activity was performed during several life stages of Radix peregra by the immersion method, under laboratory conditions. A first screening through a single-dose bioassay revealed that both EOs were highly active towards eggs, juveniles and adult snails (ca. 100% mortality). Concentration- and time-toxicity assays were carried out only on adult snails to determine the lethal parameters (LC50;90 and LT50;90). The LC50 values were 33 and 62 µg/mL for EO–WSD and EO–HD, respectively, after 48 h. The LT50 of EO–WSD required only 21 h for both 16 h and continous exposure periods, while that of EO–HD was slighty superior (21.8–25.6 h). Although not significant, EO–WSD was also slightly more toxic against A. salina than EO–HD (LC50 = 98 and 115 µg/mL after 24 h, respectively). In conclusion, Azorean CJL EOs, which are rich in α-pinene (mostly EO–WSD), have huge potential to be used as safe raw materials for the development of natural molluscicide products to control snails responsible for transmitting fascioliasis. Full article
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