The article describes the nutmeg of a nutmeg tree (Myristica), which is used as a spice and traditional medicine but is also abused as an illicit drug. The main chemical components, namely myristicin, are described.
The article describes the nutmeg of a nutmeg tree (Myristica), which is used as a spice and traditional medicine but is also abused as an illicit drug. The main chemical components, namely myristicin, are described.
Essential oils (EOs) of culinary herbs and spices are used to flavor, color and preserve foods and drinks. Dietary intake of EOs is significant, deserving an attention of toxicologists. We examined the effects of 31 EOs of culinary herbs and spices on the transcriptional activity of human aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), which is a pivotal xenobiotic sensor, having also multiple roles in human physiology. Tested EOs were sorted out into AhR-inactive ones (14 EOs) and AhR-active ones, including full agonists (cumin, jasmine, vanilla, bay leaf), partial agonists (cloves, dill, thyme, nutmeg, oregano) and antagonists (tarragon, caraway, turmeric, lovage, fennel, spearmint, star anise, anise). Major constituents (>10%) of AhR-active EOs were studied in more detail. We identified AhR partial agonists (carvacrol, ligustilide, eugenol, eugenyl acetate, thymol, ar-turmerone) and antagonists (trans-anethole, butylidine phtalide, R/S-carvones, p-cymene), which account for AhR-mediated activities of EOs of fennel, anise, star anise, caraway, spearmint, tarragon, cloves, dill, turmeric, lovage, thyme and oregano. We also show that AhR-mediated effects of some individual constituents of EOs differ from those manifested in mixtures. In conclusion, EOs of culinary herbs and spices are agonists and antagonists of human AhR, implying a potential for food-drug interactions and interference with endocrine pathways.
- MeSH
- cytochrom P-450 CYP1A1 genetika metabolismus MeSH
- dobromysl (rod) MeSH
- interakce mezi potravou a léky MeSH
- koření analýza MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- messenger RNA genetika metabolismus MeSH
- Myristica MeSH
- nádorové buněčné linie MeSH
- oleje prchavé farmakologie MeSH
- oleje rostlin farmakologie MeSH
- receptory aromatických uhlovodíků agonisté antagonisté a inhibitory MeSH
- regulace genové exprese účinky léků MeSH
- Thymus (rostlina) MeSH
- transkripční faktory bHLH agonisté antagonisté a inhibitory MeSH
- vaření MeSH
- vavřín MeSH
- viabilita buněk účinky léků MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
Conventional chemical antiseptics used for treatment of oral infections often produce side-effects, which restrict their long-term use. Plants are considered as perspective sources of novel natural antiseptics. However, little is still known about their inhibitory properties against oral pathogens. The objective of this study was to test in vitro antimicrobial activities of generally recognized as safe (GRAS) species against planktonic cultures of cariogenic, periodontal and candidal microorganisms and identify active compounds of the most active extracts. Growth-inhibitory effects of ethanol extracts from 109 GRAS plant species, six Humulus lupulus cultivars and two hop supercritical CO2 extracts were evaluated using broth microdilution method. The chemical analysis was done through high-performance liquid chromatography. Best results were obtained for supercritical CO2 and ethanol extracts of H. lupulus with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) ≥8 μg/mL and ≥16 μg/mL, respectively. The chemical analysis of supercritical CO2H. lupulus extracts revealed that α- and β-acids were their main constituents. Capsicum annuum and Capsicum frutescens showed antibacterial effect against Streptococcus sobrinus and Streptococcus salivarius (MIC=64-128 μg/mL). These strains were further inhibited by Zanthoxylum clava-herculis (MIC=64-128 μg/mL) and Myristica fragrans (both MIC≥128 μg/mL). The latter also exhibited antimicrobial activity against Fusobacterium nucleatum (MIC=64 μg/mL). Punica granatum possessed inhibitory effects against Candida albicans (MIC=128 μg/mL) and F. nucleatum (MIC=64 μg/mL). The results indicate that supercritical CO2H. lupulus extracts together with ethanol extracts of C. annuum, C. frutescens, M. fragrans, P. granatum and Z. clava-herculis are promising materials for further investigation on new antiseptic agents of oral care products.
- MeSH
- antibakteriální látky chemie MeSH
- Candida albicans účinky léků MeSH
- Capsicum chemie MeSH
- ethanol MeSH
- Fusobacterium nucleatum účinky léků MeSH
- Humulus chemie MeSH
- mikrobiální testy citlivosti MeSH
- Myristica chemie MeSH
- rostlinné extrakty chemie MeSH
- Streptococcus sobrinus účinky léků MeSH
- Zanthoxylum chemie MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
In general, a type two diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patient suffers for hyperglycaemia and insulin resistance. Nowadays, there is an anti diabetes drug working as a PPAR/ agonist and has a significant effect to improve the hyperglycemia and insulin resistance condition. However, this drug gives a negative effect on lipid circulation parameters. In this investigation, nutmeg (Myristica fragrans) extracts (NuSE) was tested against PPARγ using cell-based GAL4/PPAR chimera transactivation and trancient transvection assay with three PPAR response element (PPREs) containing reporters. The results demonstrate that the NuSE has significant PPARγ agonist activity, although their potency was less than the standard PPARγ full agonist. An investigation of antidiabetic activity of the NuSE has been carried out on rats. Rats were treated orally every day for six days with the ethanol of NuSE in several doses. The result of the experiment showed that each dose of NuSE gave hypoglycemic activity (p= 0.01 and p=0.05). The experiment also showed that an increase in dosage caused an increased in the hypoglycemic activity. Therefore, nutmeg (Myristica fragrans) seeds might be potential against antidiabetic agent for the treatment of type two diabetes with a PPAR /. agonistic mechanism.
- MeSH
- diabetes mellitus 2. typu farmakoterapie MeSH
- krysa rodu rattus MeSH
- modely nemocí na zvířatech MeSH
- Myristica * MeSH
- PPAR alfa * agonisté aplikace a dávkování terapeutické užití MeSH
- PPAR gama * agonisté aplikace a dávkování terapeutické užití MeSH
- rostlinné extrakty * aplikace a dávkování terapeutické užití MeSH
- techniky in vitro MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- krysa rodu rattus MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
