Propolis is known for its biological properties and its preparations have been continuously investigated in an attempt to solve the problem of their standardization, an issue that limits the use of propolis in food and pharmaceutical industries. The aim of this study was to evaluate in vitro antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiparasitic, and cytotoxic effects of extracts of red, green, and brown propolis from different regions of Brazil, obtained by ethanolic and supercritical extraction methods. We found that propolis extracts obtained by both these methods showed concentration-dependent antioxidant activity. The extracts obtained by ethanolic extraction showed higher antioxidant activity than that shown by the extracts obtained by supercritical extraction. Ethanolic extracts of red propolis exhibited up to 98% of the maximum antioxidant activity at the highest extract concentration. Red propolis extracts obtained by ethanolic and supercritical methods showed the highest levels of antimicrobial activity against several bacteria. Most extracts demonstrated antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus. None of the extracts analyzed showed activity against Escherichia coli or Candida albicans. An inhibitory effect of all tested ethanolic extracts on the growth of Trypanosoma cruzi Y strain epimastigotes was observed in the first 24 h. However, after 96 h, a persistent inhibitory effect was detected only for red propolis samples. Only ethanolic extracts of red propolis samples R01Et.B2 and R02Et.B2 showed a cytotoxic effect against all four cancer cell lines tested (HL-60, HCT-116, OVCAR-8, and SF-295), indicating that red propolis extracts have great cytotoxic potential. The biological effects of ethanolic extracts of red propolis revealed in the present study suggest that red propolis can be a potential alternative therapeutic treatment against Chagas disease and some types of cancer, although high activity of red propolis in vitro needs to be confirmed by future in vivo investigations.

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Antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiparasitic, and cytotoxic properties of various Brazilian propolis extracts.

Coatings comprising chitosan and Mentha piperita L. or Mentha × villosa Huds essential oils to prevent common postharvest mold infections and maintain the quality of cherry tomato fruit.

•Coatings comprising chitosan and Mentha spp. essential oil inhibited mold occurrence.•Test coatings delayed the appearance of postharvest mold infection in table grapes.•Test coatings did not negatively affect the quality of table grapes.

The effects of composite coatings containing chitosan and Mentha (piperita L. or x villosa Huds) essential oil on postharvest mold occurrence and quality of table grape cv. Isabella

Since herbal medicines play an important role in the treatment of a wide range of diseases, there is a growing need for their quality control and standardization Mentha suaveolens Ehrh (MS) is an aromatic herb with fruit and a spearmint flavor, used in the Mediterranean areas as a traditional medicine It has an extensive range of biological activities, including cytotoxic, antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, hypotensive and insecticidal properties, among others This study aims to review the scientific findings and research reported to date on MS that prove many of the remarkable various biological actions, effects and some uses of this species as a source of bioactive natural compounds On the other hand, piperitenone oxide (PO), the major chemical constituent of the carvone pathway MS essential oil, has been reported to exhibit numerous bioactivities in cells and animals Thus, this integrated overview also surveys and interprets the present knowledge of chemistry and analysis of this oxygenated monoterpene, as well as its beneﬁcial bioactivities Areas for future research are suggested

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Mentha suaveolens Ehrh. (Lamiaceae) Essential Oil and Its Main Constituent Piperitenone Oxide: Biological Activities and Chemistry.

Spent hops is a waste produced in large amount by the brewing industry. Rhyzopertha dominica and Sitophilus granarius are insects that cause important eco- nomic losses of stored foods. In this study, for the first time, spent hops has been evaluated as a source of essential oil (EO) and chemicals with repellent activity against R. dominica and S. granarius. Spent hops EO yield was 0.11 %. The terpenes myrcene, a-humulene, and b-caryophyllene were its main components (47 %). Spent hops EO RD50 values were 0.01 and 0.19 l Lc m -2 for R. dominica and S. granarius, respectively. Among the chemicals, myrcene was able to exert the highest repel- lency against R. dominica (RD50 = 0.27 l Mc m -2 ), while limonene was the most effective compound against S. granarius (RD50 = 0.89 l Mc m -2 ). These results indi- cate spent hops as an excellent source of EO and chemicals to be utilized as low-cost, eco-friendly insect pests repel- lents in the protection of stored food.

/pdf/not-just-for-beer-evaluation-of-spent-hops-humulus-lupulus-l-25i81vjkbk.pdf

Not just for beer: evaluation of spent hops (Humulus lupulus L.) as a source of eco-friendly repellents for insect pests of stored foods

Larvicidal activity of Mentha x villosa Hudson essential oil, rotundifolone and derivatives

Objectives

The aim of this study was to investigate the cytotoxic and antitumour effects of the essential oil from the leaves of Mentha x villosa (EOMV) and its main component (rotundifolone).



Methods

In-vitro cytotoxic activity of the EOMV and rotundifolone was determined on cultured tumour cells. In-vivo antitumour activity of the EOMV was assessed in sarcoma 180-bearing mice.



Key findings

The EOMV displayed cytotoxicity against human tumour cell lines, showing IC50 values in the range of 0.57–1.02 μg/ml in the HCT-116 and SF-295 cell lines, respectively. Rotundifolone showed weak cytotoxicity against HCT-116, SF-295 and OVCAR-8 cell lines (IC50 > 25.00 μg/ml). Tumour growth inhibition rates were 29.4–40.5% and 25.0–45.2% for the EOMV treatment by intraperitoneal (50–100 mg/kg/day) and oral (100–200 mg/kg/day) administration, respectively. The EOMV did not significantly affect body mass and macroscopy of the organs.



Conclusions

The EOMV possesses significant antitumour activity with low systemic toxicity, possibly due to the synergistic action of its minor constituents.

Tayane Kayne Mariano da Silva

Papers

Larvicidal activity of Mentha x villosa Hudson essential oil, rotundifolone and derivatives

Evaluation of the cytotoxic and antitumour effects of the essential oil from Mentha x villosa and its main compound, rotundifolone.