Satureja khuzistanica Jamzad essential oil and its anti-candidal activities against clinical isolates of Candida albicans isolated from women with candidiasis / Actividad anti-Candida de los aceites esenciales del Jamzad Satureja khuzistanica contra aislados clínicos de Candida albicans obtenidos de mujeres con candidiasis

Satureja khuzistanica Jamzad is known as antiseptic and analgesic agent in folk medicine. The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the anti-candidal activity of S. khuzistanica aerial parts essential oil against clinical isolates of Candida albicans, which were isolated from women with chronic recurrent candidiasis. For this purpose, the chemical composition of hydro-distilled essential oil was determined by GC and GC-MS analysis. Then, the anti-candidal activity of essential oil and its main component (carvacrol) were determined. Carvacrol (94.1%) was the main component of essential oil, followed by β-bisabolene, p-cymene and γ-terpinene. S. khuzistanica essential oil had strong anti-candidal activity against clinical isolates of C. albicans via inhibition of germ tube formation and induction the huge punctures in the cytoplasmic structures. The cell membranes were intact in presence of essential oil or carvacrol. S. khuzistanica essential oil as the main source of carvacrol can be used for treatment of C. albicans related infections.

Satureja khuzistanica Jamzad es conocido como analgésico y antiséptico en la medicina tradicional. El objetivo de esta investigación fue evaluar el efecto anti- Candida de los aceites esenciales obtenidos de las partes aéreas de S. khuzistanica sobre aislados clínicos de Candida albicans, obtenidos de mujeres con candida diasis crónica recurrente. Para este propósito la composición química de aceites esenciales hidrodestilados fueron determinados por análisis GC y GC-MS. Luego la actividad anti-candidasica de los aceites esenciales y de su componente principal (carvacrol) fue determiando. Carvacrol (94.1%) fue el principal compuesto del aceite esencial seguido por β-bisaboleno, p-cimeno and γ-terpineno. El aceite esencial de S. khuzistanica tuvo fuerte actividad anti-candida contra aislados clínicos de C. albicans via la inhibicion de tubo germinal y la inducción de estructuras puntiformes en la membrana citoplásmatica. Las membranas celulares quedaron intactas en presencia del aceite esencial o del carvacrol. El aceite esencial de S. khuzistanica como fuente principal de carvacrol podría ser usado como tratamiento de infecciones relacionadas con Candida albicans.

Amelioration of altered antioxidant enzyme activity by Satureja khuzistanica essential oil in alloxan-induced diabetic rats / 中国天然药物

AIM@#To examine the possible protective effect of Satureja khuzistanica essential oil (SKE) on antioxidant enzyme activity in alloxan-induced Type 1 diabetic rats.@*METHOD@#Thirty Sprague-Dawley male rats were divided into three groups randomly; group one as control, group two diabetic, with no treatment, and group three treatment with SKE at 500 ppm in drinking water, respectively. Diabetes was induced in the second and third groups by alloxan injection subcutaneously. After eight weeks, animals were anaesthetized. Blood samples were also collected before killing to measure antioxidant enzymes activity.@*RESULTS@#SKE significantly increased the serum level of glutathione and the serum activity of glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase in the treated group compared with the diabetic untreated group.@*CONCLUSION@#The findings showed that SKE exerts beneficial effects on the antioxidant enzymes activity in alloxan-induced Type 1 diabetic rats.

In vitro scolicidal effect of Satureja khuzistanica (Jamzad) essential oil

Objective: To investigate the scolicidal effect of the Satureja khuzistanica (S. khuzistanica) essential oil from aerial parts of this herbal plant. Methods: The essential oil was obtained by hydrodistillation method. Gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) were employed to determine the chemical composition of the essential oil. Protoscolices were collected aseptically from sheep livers containing hydatid cyst. Protoscolices were exposed to various concentrations of the oil (3, 5 and 10 mg/mL) for 10, 20, 30, and 60 min. Viability of protoscolices was confirmed by 0.1% eosin staining. Results: A total of 19 compounds representing 97.6% of the total oil, were identified. Carvacrol (94.9%) was found to be the major essential oil constituent. Scolicidal activity of S. khuzistanica essential oil at concentration of 3 mg/mL was 28.58, 32.71, 37.20 and 42.02%, respectively. This essential oil at concentration of 5 mg/mL killed 51.33, 66.68, 81.12, and 100% of protoscolices after 10, 20, 30 and 60 min, respectively. One hundred scolicidal effect was observed with S. khuzistanica essential oil at the concentration of 10 mg/mL after 10 min (comparing with 7.19% for control group). Conclusions: The essential oil of S. khuzistanica is rich in carvacrol and may be used as a natural scolicidal agent.