ANTI-TYROSINASE AND ANTI-OXIDANT POTENTIAL OF METHANOLIC EXTRACTS OF SELECTED CITRUS BERGAMIA AND FICUS CARICA PARTS

Tyrosinase is a key enzyme in melanogenesis and its high activity leads to increasedpigmentations causing skin disorder like freckles, melanosoma and black spot. Therefore to search for new tyrosinase inhibitors is desirable. In present study, methanolic (MeOH) extracts from leaves, fruit peel and pulp of Citrus bergamia (CB) and, leaves and fruitof Ficus carica (FC) were prepared which were further process for fractional ethyl alcohol (EA), n-hexane (n-Hx) and chloroform (CHCl3)extractions (total 20 extracts) aiming to test their anti-tyrosinase potential, in-vitro. Our results confirmed that all MeOH FC and CB extracts showed significant anti-oxidant activity with IC50 range of 461.9 ± 16.1µg/ml to 2324.4 ± 116.1 µg/ml. Moreover, CB and FC all 20 extracts have significant anti-tyrosinase activity with IC50 range of 13.9 ± 0.5 µg/ml to 320.5 ± 3.3 µg/ml. Interestingly, CB MeOH-EA peel and leaf extracts showed tyrosinase inhibition (IC50) 13.9 ± 0.5 µg/ml and 17.2 ± 0.8 µg/ml, respectively) is better than all other tested extracts and positive control kojic acid (IC50=18.75±5.29µg/ml). Thus, CB MeOH-EA peel extract with lowest IC50 value among all the tested extracts and kojic acid is proposed as potent candidate to control tyrosinase rooted hyperpigmentation.

Artichoke and Bergamot Phytosome Alliance: A Randomized Double Blind Clinical Trial in Mild Hypercholesterolemia

Botanicals are natural alternatives to pharmacological therapies that aim at reducing hypercholesterolemia. In this context, despite bergamot being effective in modulating lipid profile, some subjects failed to achieve a satisfactory response to supplementation. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the association of 600 mg of bergamot phytosome® (from Citrus Bergamia Risso) and 100 mg of artichoke leaf standardized dry extract (from Cynara cardunculus L.) can be an alternative in patients with mild hypercholesterolemia who are poor responders to bergamot in a 2-month randomized placebo-controlled trial. Sixty overweight adults were randomized into two groups: 30 were supplemented and 30 received a placebo. The metabolic parameters and DXA body composition were evaluated at the start, after 30 and 60 days. Between the two groups, total and LDL cholesterol in the supplemented group (compared to placebo) showed significant decreases overtime. A significant reduction of waist circumference and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) was recorded in the supplemented group (compared to placebo), even in subjects who did not follow a low-calorie diet. In conclusion, the synergism between Citrus Bergamia polyphenols and Cynara cardunculus extracts may be an effective option and may potentially broaden the therapeutic role of botanicals in dyslipidemic patients.

Defining the Cholesterol Lowering Mechanism of Bergamot (Citrus bergamia) Extract in HepG2 and Caco-2 Cells

Bergamot, a Mediterranean citrus fruit native to southern Italy, has been reported to have cholesterol-lowering properties; however, the mechanism of action is not well understood. Due to structural similarities with 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (HMGCR) inhibitors, it has been proposed that the phenolic compounds in bergamot may also inhibit HMGCR. Statins are widely used for their cholesterol-lowering properties; however, they are not universally well tolerated, suggesting there is a need to identify novel cholesterol-lowering strategies. In the present study, we investigated bergamot fruit extract (BFE) and its principal components (neoeriocitrin, naringin, neohesperidin, melitidin, and brutieridin) for their ability to regulate cholesterol levels in HepG2 and Caco-2 cells. BFE at increasing concentrations decreased the levels of total and free cholesterol in HepG2 cells. BFE and its constituents did not directly inhibit HMGCR activity. However, BFE and neohesperidin decreased HMGCR levels in HepG2 cells, suggesting that neohesperidin and BFE may downregulate HMGCR expression. An increase in AMP-kinase phosphorylation was observed in BFE and neohesperidin-treated cells. In Caco-2 cells, brutieridin exhibited a significant reduction in cholesterol uptake and decreased the level of Niemann-Pick C1 Like 1, an important cholesterol transporter. Taken together, our data suggest that the cholesterol-lowering activity of bergamot is distinct from statins. We hypothesize that BFE and its principal constituents lower cholesterol by inhibiting cholesterol synthesis and absorption.

AROMATERAPIA NA SAÚDE MENTAL EM TEMPOS DE PANDEMIA PELO CORONAVÍRUS SARS-COV2

Introdução: O distanciamento do convívio familiar, amigos e a falta das rotinas diárias, previnem o contágio do novo Corona Vírus Sars- Cov2, mas, por outra vertente há prejuízos na saúde mental. Neste contexto de isolamento há maior probabilidade de ocorrências e sintomas de perturbações depressivas e de estresse pós-traumático, além do medo de contrair a doença. Uma das abordagens, dentro das Práticas Integrativas e Complementares em Saúde (PICS), que tem ganhado espaço mundialmente é a aromaterapia. Assim como as demais PICS, a aromaterapia trata o indivíduo em sua totalidade; mente, corpo e espírito, no seu âmbito biopsicoespiritual. Objetivo: investigar na literatura científica nacional e internacional o uso da aromaterapia como ferramenta terapêutica para a saúde mental. Material e Métodos: Foi realizada uma revisão integrativa da literatura, disponíveis nas bases de dados PUBMED, LILACS e BIREME. Foram utilizados os descritores, saúde mental, coronavírus, depressão, aromaterapia, óleos essenciais e o operador booleano “e”. A pesquisa resultou na seleção de 23 artigos, para a produção do trabalho. Resultados: Ao inalarmos os óleos essenciais, suas moléculas são levadas ao epitélio olfativo; assim, as moléculas aromáticas são captadas e direcionadas para o cérebro, especificamente no sistema límbico, promovendo o relaxamento e a sedação, auxiliando no tratamento de casos de ansiedade, estresse e depressão. Os dois principais constituintes terpenóides do óleo essencial de lavanda, linalol e acetato de linalila, podem produzir um efeito ansiolítico em combinação via inibição dos canais de cálcio voltagem dependentes, redução da atividade do receptor 5HT1A e aumento do tônus parassimpático. Quando o paciente está em um nível elevado de estresse e depressão, a melhor escolha, é optar por um óleo que tenha ação de sedação. Dentre os mais usados encontramos os óleos de bergamota (Citrus bergamia), camomila romana (Anthemis nobilis), gerânio (Pelarganium graveolens), lavanda (Lavandula angustifilia), limão (Citrus limon), melissa (Melissa officinalis), sândalo (Santalum álbum). Conclusão: A aromaterapia atua no equilíbrio biopsicossocial, nas dimensões físicas, mentais e espirituais melhorando a saúde mental afetada em tempos de pandemia pelo Coronavírus.

Bergamottin and 5-Geranyloxy-7-methoxycoumarin Cooperate in the Cytotoxic Effect of Citrus bergamia (Bergamot) Essential Oil in Human Neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y Cell Line

The plant kingdom has always been a treasure trove for valuable bioactive compounds, and Citrus fruits stand out among the others. Bergamottin (BRG) and 5-geranyloxy-7-methoxycoumarin (5-G-7-MOC) are two coumarins found in different Citrus species with well-acknowledged pharmacological properties. Previously, they have been claimed to be relevant in the anti-proliferative effects exerted by bergamot essential oil (BEO) in the SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells. This study was designed to verify this assumption and to assess the mechanisms underlying the anti-proliferative effect of both compounds. Our results demonstrate that BRG and 5-G-7-MOC are able to reduce the proliferation of SH-SY5Y cells, inducing apoptosis and increasing cell population in sub-G0/G1 phase. Moreover, we demonstrated the pro-oxidant activity of the two coumarins that increased reactive oxygen species and impaired mitochondrial membrane potential. From a molecular point of view, BRG and 5-G-7-MOC were able to modulate apoptosis related factors at both protein and gene levels. Lastly, we evaluated the synergistic effect of their combination, finding that the highest synergy was observed at a concentration ratio similar to that occurring in the BEO, supporting our initial hypothesis. Taken together, our results deepen the knowledge regarding the effect of BRG and 5-G-7-MOC in SH-SY5Y cells, emphasizing the relevance of their cooperation in achieving this effect.

Bergamot Oil: Botany, Production, Pharmacology

Bergamot essential oil (BEO) is the result of the mechanical manipulation (cold pressing) of the exocarp (flavedo) of the hesperidium of Citruslimon (L.) Osbeck Bergamot Group (synonym Citrus × bergamia Risso & Poit.), resulting in the bursting of the oil cavities embedded in the flavedo and the release of their contents. It is chemically dominated by monoterpene hydrocarbons (i.e., limonene), but with significant percentages of oxygenated monoterpenes (i.e., linalyl acetate) and of non-volatile oxygen heterocyclic compounds (i.e., bergapten).

Optical Investigation of Essential Oils Using Absorbance and Photoluminescence

Essential oils are complex mixtures of organic substances with large commercial importance in the pharmaceutical, food, fragrance, and cosmetic industries due to their organoleptic and biological properties. Also, these materials are also luminescent what has taken several studies about its potential uses for the detection and quality control of essential oils, imaging, and for the investigation of the synergies of their constituents. Concerning this, the present work is dedicated to studying the optical properties of selected essential oils: citronella ( Cymbopogon winterianus), Japanese mint ( Mentha arvensis), clove bud ( Syzygium aromaticum), and bergamot ( Citrus bergamia). We carried out a comparative study of the photoluminescence and the UV–Vis optical absorption (abs-UV–Vis) of these essential oils with their typical constituents. To inspect the effects of the intermolecular interactions on the optical response of these systems, mixtures between the essential oils constituents following the expected average percent mass fraction were also studied. From these experiments, the main results were bathochromic effects in the abs-UV–Vis spectra; excimer formation in citral, isopulegol, isomenthone, eugenol, and eugenyl acetate; excimer emission enhancing and specific solvent effect in the essential oils photoluminescence spectra. These results contribute to the knowledge of essential oils’ applications, especially in the evaluation of components’ interactions through a simple abs-UV–Vis assay.