| In the context of return to nature, with scientific and technological progress and improved living standards, people began to search for solutions to reduce environmental pollution. Antibiotics, anti-oxidants have become the medicine, food industry indispensable product. Increasingly adverse drug reactions to the synthetic antibiotics and the increasing resistance of some pathogens to synthetic antibiotics, has been another argument against the use of these chemicals as therapeutics. Synthetic antioxidants such as butylated hydroxylanisole (BHA) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) are widely used as potential inhibitors of lipid peroxidation and thereby stabilizing fat-containing food-stuffs. However, due to their unstable and highly volatile nature, they have frequently brought some questions about their safety and efficiency ever since their first introduction to the food industry. Herbs and spices are known for their antimicrobial and antioxidative properties. Due to an increasing demand for natural food additives, herbs and spices have emerged as popular ingredients and have a tendency of replacing synthetic antimicrobial and antioxidant agents.Anethum graveolens L.(dill), a biennial or annual herb of the parsley family (Apiaceae) cultivated since ancient times, is native to Southwest Asia or Southeast Europe. The leafy tops are used to season food, particularly in Eastern Europe. A. graveolens seeds are extensively applied in the spice and food industry, especially for their pleasant and spicy aroma. Its pharmacological properties, such as its antibacterial activity as well as antihyperlipidemic and antihypercholesterolemic effects have been reported. The Coptis chinensis inflorescence has become popular as an ingredient of antioxidant beverages as well as tea bags in China. However, to the best of our knowledge, the antioxidant and antimicrobial effects of C. chinensis inflorescence have not been demonstrated.In this study, we tested the antimicrobial and antioxidant properties of extracts from the A. graveolens seeds and C. chinensis inflorescence. The main results are as following: The essential oil was obtained by hydrodistillation from A. graveolens seeds. GC-MS analyses of the A. graveolens seeds oil led to the identification of23different components, representing99.4%of the total oil. The major components detected in oil were carvone (41.5%), limonene (32.6%), and apiol (16.8%). The results showed essential oil was active in vitro against S. sclerotiorum, with MIC0.938μl/ml. Mycelial growth of S. sclerotiorum was significantly reduced in response to various concentrations of A. graveolens seeds essential oil ranging from0.25-1.0μl/ml for the contact phase and0.05-0.125μl/ml air for the vapor phase. A. graveolens seeds essential oil totally inhibited sclerotial germination at a concentration of1μl/ml. Sclerotial viability was completely inhibited by essential oils at a concentration of0.125μl/ml air. Treatment of detached oilseed rape leaves with different concentrations of essential oil from A. graveolens seeds, both before and after inoculation with mycelial agar plug of S. sclerotiorum, results in significant differences among essential oils in suppressing lesion development. Based on the above results in vitro, A. graveolens seeds essential oil were tested for their curative effects on sclerotinia stem rot of oilseed rape in vivo in the greenhouse. The essential oil showed strong inhibition against S. sclerotiorum A10μl/ml essential oil could completely inhibit the growth of fungus.The correlation analysis between disease incidence and climatic factors (daily average temperature, daily average humidity and daily rainfall) during the blooming period showed that there was a significant correlation between disease incidence and daily average temperature (P<0.01). In field trials, disease index of A.graveolens seeds essential oil in suppression of sclerotinia stem rot of rapeseed has been reduced at the concentration of20μl/ml.The effects of A.graveolens seeds essential oil on mycelial and sclerotia of S. sclerotiorum were examined by SEM. Hyphal structure, as well as the cell shape, after undergoing several morphological changes. Shriveled hyphal aggregates and lyses of the hyphal wall were observed after essential oil application. Significant changes were also observed in the sclerotial morphology compared to the control. The ergosterol biosynthesis was inhibited and the activities of MDH, SDH of S. sclerotiorum were reduced by A.graveolens seeds essential oil. It means that A.graveolens seeds essential oil against S. sclerotiorum through mitochondrial and membrance dysfunction.Extracts of A.graveolens seeds was studied for its antioxidant in vitro and in vivo. EAE of A.graveolens seeds showed similar radical scavenging activity to that of the synthetic antioxidant BHT. EAE of A.graveolens seeds strong reducing power. EAE of A.graveolens seeds also showed strong activity against lipid peroxidation. The results of antioxidant activity in vivo showed that A.graveolens seeds treatment reduced elevated MDA and increased SOD, CAT, and GSH levels back to their control levels indicated that EAE may prevent the peroxidation of lipids by CCl4.The antimicrobial activity of the various extracts of C. chinensis inflorescence were also investigated on several microorganisms, and the chloroform extract (CE) showed high activity against C. tropicalis, while the n-hexane extract (HE) did not show antimicrobial activity against the studied microorganisms. The antioxidant activities of Coptis chinensis inflorescence extracts prepared by various solvents were investigated by using several established in vitro systems:ABTS, DPPH and superoxide radical scavenging assays, reducing power assay, and ferrothiocyanate (FTC) and thiobarbituric acid (TBA) assays. The results showed that the70%ethanol extract (EE) had the strongest antioxidant activity in vitro among the various extracts. Based on the in vitro results, EE was used to evaluate the antioxidant activity of C. chinensis inflorescence in vivo. The liver and kidney of intoxicated animals showed a significant decrease in SOD, CAT and GSH levels, while the MDA level showed a significant increase. These changes were significantly reversed after treatment with EE and the standard Vitamin E. Thus, the C. chinensis inflorescence may be a valuable natural source that can be applicable to both the medical and food industries. |
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