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The Beneficial Effects of Plant Oil on Human Health

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A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Bioactives and Nutraceuticals".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 October 2017) | Viewed by 251212

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Dr. Gérard Lizard

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Team "Biochemistry of the Peroxisome, Inflammation and Lipid Metabolism", Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté, 21000 Dijon, France
Interests: lipids; oxysterols; fatty acids; polyphenols; oils; oxidation; inflammation; mitochondria; peroxisomes; lysosomes; apoptosis; autophagy; natural products; synthethic molecules; biomarkers; neurodegeneration; neurodegenerative diseases; aging; age-related diseases; nanoparticles; targeted therapy
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Dear Colleagues,

The use of several oils such as argan and olive oils for human health has attracted a great deal of interest. Argan oil has been used in traditional medicine, mainly in Morocco, as a natural remedy for several centuries. Olive oil is a major component of the mediterranean diet, and its benefits on the prevention on numerous diseases is well admitted. The rich composition of these oils in tocopherols, phytosterols, and unsaturated fatty acid makes them very interesting oils with respect to their actions on the risk factors of numerous diseases, mainly cardiovascular diseases, associated with hyperlipidemia, hypercholesterolemia, and hypertension. Argan oil is also traditionally used for the treatment of skin infections and in cosmetics. Beside these two important oils associated with the mediterranean diet, some other oils deriving from different plants are of interest to prevent or treat major human diseases. The objective of this Special Issue is to present different types of papers (research papers and reviews) gathering different topics, in order to provide a wide overview on the beneficial effects of plant oils on human health. The different topics include: oil production, oil composition, cosmetic, aged related diseases (cancer, metabolic diseases, cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, eye diseases, etc.), and nutrition. The cytoprotective effects of the major oil compounds on oxidation, inflammation, and cell death will be also considered.

Dr Gérard Lizard
Guest Editor

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Published Papers (14 papers)

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14 pages, 3260 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Antioxidant Content and Protective Effect of Argan Oil and Syzygium aromaticum Essential Oil in Hydrogen Peroxide-Induced Biochemical and Histological Changes

by Meryem BAKOUR, Najoua SOULO, Nawal HAMMAS, Hinde EL FATEMI, Abderrazak ABOULGHAZI, Amal TAROQ, Abdelfattah ABDELLAOUI, Noori AL-WAILI and Badiaa LYOUSSI

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2018, 19(2), 610; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms19020610 - 18 Feb 2018

Cited by 43 | Viewed by 6669

Abstract

Oxidative stress is an important etiology of chronic diseases and many studies have shown that natural products might alleviate oxidative stress-induced pathogenesis. The study aims to evaluate the effect of Argan oil and Syzygium aromaticum essential oil on hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂)-induced liver, brain and kidney tissue toxicity as well as biochemical changes in wistar rats. The antioxidant content of Argan oil and Syzygium aromaticum essential oil was studied with the use of gas chromatography. The animals received daily by gavage, for 21 days, either distilled water, Syzygium aromaticum essential oil, Argan oil, H₂O₂ alone, H₂O₂ and Syzygium aromaticum essential oil, or H₂O₂ and Argan oil. Blood samples were withdrawn on day 21 for the biochemical blood tests, and the kidney, liver and brain tissue samples were prepared for histopathology examination. The results showed that the content of antioxidant compounds in Syzygium aromaticum essential oil is higher than that found in Argan oil. H₂O₂ increased level of blood urea, liver enzymes, total cholesterol, Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL-C), Triglycerides (TG) and Very Low Density Lipoprotein (VLDL), and decreased the total protein, albumin and High Density Lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C). There was no significant effect on blood electrolyte or serum creatinine. The histopathology examination demonstrated that H₂O₂ induces dilatation in the central vein, inflammation and binucleation in the liver, congestion and hemorrhage in the brain, and congestion in the kidney. The H₂O₂-induced histopathological and biochemical changes have been significantly alleviated by Syzygium aromaticum essential oil or Argan oil. It is concluded that the Argan oil and especially the mixture of Argan oil with Syzygium aromaticum essential oil can reduce the oxidative damage caused by H₂O_2, and this will pave the way to investigate the protective effects of these natural substances in the diseases attributed to the high oxidative stress. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Beneficial Effects of Plant Oil on Human Health)

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17 pages, 1902 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Preventive Effects of Resveratrol on Endocannabinoid System and Synaptic Protein Modifications in Rat Cerebral Cortex Challenged by Bilateral Common Carotid Artery Occlusion and Reperfusion

by Gianfranca Carta, Laura Poddighe, Maria Pina Serra, Marianna Boi, Tiziana Melis, Sara Lisai, Elisabetta Murru, Laura Muredda, Maria Collu, Sebastiano Banni and Marina Quartu

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2018, 19(2), 426; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms19020426 - 31 Jan 2018

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 5417

Abstract

This study aims to evaluate the putative roles of a single acute dose of resveratrol (RVT) in preventing cerebral oxidative stress induced by bilateral common carotid artery occlusion, followed by reperfusion (BCCAO/R) and to investigate RVT’s ability to preserve the neuronal structural integrity. Frontal and temporal-occipital cortices were examined in two groups of adult Wistar rats, sham-operated and submitted to BCCAO/R. In both groups, 6 h before surgery, half the rats were gavage-fed with a single dose of RVT (40 mg/per rat in 300 µL of sunflower oil as the vehicle), while the second half received the vehicle alone. In the frontal cortex, RVT pre-treatment prevented the BCCAO/R-induced increase of lipoperoxides, augmented concentrations of palmitoylethanolamide and docosahexaenoic acid, increased relative levels of the cannabinoid receptors type 1 (CB1) and 2 (CB2), and peroxisome-proliferator-activated-receptor (PPAR)-α proteins. Increased expression of CB1/CB2 receptors mirrored that of synaptophysin and post-synaptic density-95 protein. No BCCAO/R-induced changes occurred in the temporal-occipital cortex. Collectively, our results demonstrate that, in the frontal cortex, RVT pre-treatment prevents the BCCAO/R-induced oxidative stress and modulates the endocannabinoid and PPAR-α systems. The increased expression of synaptic structural proteins further suggests the possible efficacy of RVT as a dietary supplement to preserve the nervous tissue metabolism and control the physiological response to the hypoperfusion/reperfusion challenge. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Beneficial Effects of Plant Oil on Human Health)

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1250 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Tunisian Milk Thistle: An Investigation of the Chemical Composition and the Characterization of Its Cold-Pressed Seed Oils

by Wiem Meddeb, Leila Rezig, Manef Abderrabba, Gérard Lizard and Mondher Mejri

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2017, 18(12), 2582; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms18122582 - 02 Dec 2017

Cited by 41 | Viewed by 6218

Abstract

In this study, milk thistle seeds growing in different areas in Tunisia were cold pressed and the extracted oils were examined for their chemical and antioxidant properties. The major fatty acids were linoleic acid (C18:2) (57.0%, 60.0%, and 60.3% for the milk thistle seed oils native to Bizerte, Zaghouan and Sousse, respectively) and oleic acid (C18:1) (15.5%, 21.5%, and 22.4% for the milk thistle seed oils originating from Bizerte, Zaghouan and Sousse, respectively). High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis showed the richness of the milk thistle seed oils (MTSO) in α-tocopherol. The highest content was recorded for that of the region of Zaghouan (286.22 mg/kg). The total phenolic contents (TPC) of Zaghouan, Bizerte, and Sousse were 1.59, 8.12, and 4.73 Gallic Acid Equivalent (GAE) mg/g, respectively. Three phenolic acids were also identified (vanillic, p-coumaric, and silybine), with a predominance of the vanillic acid. The highest value was recorded for the Zaghouan milk thistle seed oil (83 mg/100 g). Differences in outcomes between regions may be due to climatic differences in areas. Zaghouan’s cold-pressed milk thistle seed oil had a better quality than those of Bizerte and Sousse, and can be considered as a valuable source for new multi-purpose products or by-products for industrial, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical utilization. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Beneficial Effects of Plant Oil on Human Health)

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9998 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Argan Oil as an Effective Nutri-Therapeutic Agent in Metabolic Syndrome: A Preclinical Study

by Adil El Midaoui, Youssef Haddad, Younes Filali-Zegzouti and Réjean Couture

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2017, 18(11), 2492; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms18112492 - 22 Nov 2017

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 6172

Abstract

The present study aims at examining the effects of argan oil on the three main cardiovascular risk factors associated with metabolic syndrome (hypertension, insulin resistance and obesity) and on one of its main complications, neuropathic pain. Male Sprague-Dawley rats had free access to a drinking solution containing 10% d-glucose or tap water for 12 weeks. The effect of argan oil was compared to that of corn oil given daily by gavage during 12 weeks in glucose-fed rats. Glucose-fed rats showed increases in systolic blood pressure, epididymal fat, plasma levels of triglycerides, leptin, glucose and insulin, insulin resistance, tactile and cold allodynia in association with a rise in superoxide anion production and NADPH oxidase activity in the thoracic aorta, epididymal fat and gastrocnemius muscle. Glucose-fed rats also showed rises in B₁ receptor protein expression in aorta and gastrocnemius muscle. Argan oil prevented or significantly reduced all those anomalies with an induction in plasma adiponectin levels. In contrast, the same treatment with corn oil had a positive impact only on triglycerides, leptin, adiponectin and insulin resistance. These data are the first to suggest that argan oil is an effective nutri-therapeutic agent to prevent the cardiovascular risk factors and complications associated with metabolic syndrome. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Beneficial Effects of Plant Oil on Human Health)

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Open AccessArticle

Effects of Red Palm Oil on Myocardial Antioxidant Enzymes, Nitric Oxide Synthase and Heart Function in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats

by Emma Katengua-Thamahane, Barbara Szeiffova Bacova, Iveta Bernatova, Matus Sykora, Vladimir Knezl, Jacques Van Rooyen and Narcis Tribulova

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2017, 18(11), 2476; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms18112476 - 21 Nov 2017

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 4853

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of antioxidants rich red palm oil (RPO) supplementation on cardiac oxidative stress known as crucial factor deteriorating heart function in hypertension. 3-month-old, male spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and normotensive Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY) were fed standard rat chow without or with RPO (0.2 mL/day/5 weeks). General characteristic of rats were registered. Left ventricular tissue (LV) was used to determine expression of superoxide dismutases (SOD1, SOD2) and glutathione peroxidases (Gpx) as well as activity of nitric oxide synthase (NOS). Functional parameters of the heart were examined during basal conditions and at the early-phase of post-ischemic reperfusion using Langendorff-perfused system. RPO intake significantly reduced elevated blood pressure and total NOS activity as well as increased lowered expression of mitochondrial SOD2 in SHR hearts during basal condition. Moreover, RPO supplementation resulted in suppression of elevated heart rate, increase of reduced coronary flow and enhancement of systolic and diastolic heart function at the early-phase of post-ischemic reperfusion. It is concluded that SHR benefit from RPO intake due to decrease of blood pressure, amelioration of oxidative stress and protection of heart function that was deteriorated by post-ischemic reperfusion. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Beneficial Effects of Plant Oil on Human Health)

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949 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Argan Oil-Mediated Attenuation of Organelle Dysfunction, Oxidative Stress and Cell Death Induced by 7-Ketocholesterol in Murine Oligodendrocytes 158N

by Asmaa Badreddine, Amira Zarrouk, El Mostafa Karym, Meryam Debbabi, Thomas Nury, Wiem Meddeb, Randa Sghaier, Maryem Bezine, Anne Vejux, Lucy Martine, Stéphane Grégoire, Lionel Bretillon, Emmanuelle Prost-Camus, Philippe Durand, Michel Prost, Thibault Moreau, Mustapha Cherkaoui-Malki, Boubker Nasser and Gérard Lizard

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2017, 18(10), 2220; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms18102220 - 23 Oct 2017

Cited by 40 | Viewed by 6997

Abstract

Argan oil is widely used in Morocco in traditional medicine. Its ability to treat cardiovascular diseases is well-established. However, nothing is known about its effects on neurodegenerative diseases, which are often associated with increased oxidative stress leading to lipid peroxidation and the formation of 7-ketocholesterol (7KC) resulting from cholesterol auto-oxidation. As 7KC induces oxidative stress, inflammation and cell death, it is important to identify compounds able to impair its harmful effects. These compounds may be either natural or synthetic molecules or mixtures of molecules such as oils. In this context: (i) the lipid profiles of dietary argan oils from Berkane and Agadir (Morocco) in fatty acids, phytosterols, tocopherols and polyphenols were determined by different chromatographic techniques; and (ii) their anti-oxidant and cytoprotective effects in 158N murine oligodendrocytes cultured with 7KC (25–50 µM; 24 h) without and with argan oil (0.1% v/v) or α-tocopherol (400 µM, positive control) were evaluated with complementary techniques of cellular and molecular biology. Among the unsaturated fatty acids present in argan oils, oleate (C18:1 n-9) and linoleate (C18:1 n-6) were the most abundant; the highest quantities of saturated fatty acids were palmitate (C16:0) and stearate (C18:0). Several phytosterols were found, mainly schottenol and spinasterol (specific to argan oil), cycloartenol, β-amyrin and citrostadienol. α- and γ-tocopherols were also present. Tyrosol and protocatechic acid were the only polyphenols detected. Argan and extra virgin olive oils have many compounds in common, principally oleate and linoleate, and tocopherols. Kit Radicaux Libres (KRL) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) tests showed that argan and extra virgin olive oils have anti-oxidant properties. Argan oils were able to attenuate the cytotoxic effects of 7KC on 158N cells: loss of cell adhesion, cell growth inhibition, increased plasma membrane permeability, mitochondrial, peroxisomal and lysosomal dysfunction, and the induction of oxiapoptophagy (OXIdation + APOPTOsis + autoPHAGY). Altogether, our data obtained in 158N oligodendrocytes provide evidence that argan oil is able to counteract the toxic effects of 7KC on nerve cells, thus suggesting that some of its compounds could prevent or mitigate neurodegenerative diseases to the extent that they are able to cross the blood‐brain barrier. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Beneficial Effects of Plant Oil on Human Health)

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6318 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Protective Effects of Red Ginseng Oil against Aβ_25–35-Induced Neuronal Apoptosis and Inflammation in PC12 Cells

by Seonah Lee, Kumju Youn, Woo-Sik Jeong, Chi-Tang Ho and Mira Jun

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2017, 18(10), 2218; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms18102218 - 23 Oct 2017

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 5433

Abstract

One of pathological characteristics of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), aggregation and deposition of β amyloid (Aβ), has been accepted as a potent activator of neuronal cell death. Red ginseng is well-known for various pharmacological activities, but most studies have been focused on red ginseng water extract (RGW), which has resulted in the conception of the present study of red ginseng oil (RGO) against Aβ_25–35-induced neurotoxicity. Cytotoxicity and apoptosis induction by Aβ were verified and the underlying mechanism by which RGO inhibited neuronal cell death, mitochondria dysfunction and NF-κB pathway related protein markers were evaluated. RGO attenuated Aβ_25–35-induced apoptosis, not only by inhibiting calcium influx, but also by reducing mitochondrial membrane potential loss. RGO significantly decreased Bax, whereas increased Bcl-2 and inactivated of caspase-3 and -9 and PARP-1 stimulated by Aβ_25–35. Anti-neuroinflammatory effect of RGO was demonstrated by downregulating c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38, resulting in inhibiting of the NF-κB pathway and thereby suppressing the expressions of pro-inflammatory mediators such as inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂), nitric oxide (NO) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). The present study revealed that RGO is a potential natural resource of the functional foods industry as well as a promising candidate of multi-target neuronal protective agent for the prevention of AD. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Beneficial Effects of Plant Oil on Human Health)

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4018 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Protective Effect of Argan and Olive Oils against LPS-Induced Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in Mice Livers

by Soufiane El Kamouni, Riad El Kebbaj, Pierre Andreoletti, Abderrahim El Ktaibi, Issam Rharrassi, Abdelkhalid Essamadi, M’hammed Saïd El Kebbaj, Stéphane Mandard, Norbert Latruffe, Joseph Vamecq, Boubker Nasser and Mustapha Cherkaoui-Malki

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2017, 18(10), 2181; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms18102181 - 19 Oct 2017

Cited by 41 | Viewed by 6643

Abstract

Sepsis causes severe dysregulation of organ functions, via the development of oxidative stress and inflammation. These pathophysiological mechanisms are mimicked in mice injected with bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Here, protective properties of argan oil against LPS-induced oxidative stress and inflammation are explored in the murine model. Mice received standard chow, supplemented with argan oil (AO) or olive oil (OO) for 25 days, before septic shock was provoked with a single intraperitoneal injection of LPS, 16 hours prior to animal sacrifice. In addition to a rise in oxidative stress and inflammatory markers, injected LPS also caused hepatotoxicity, accompanied by hyperglycemia, hypercholesterolemia and hyperuremia. These LPS-associated toxic effects were blunted by AO pretreatment, as corroborated by normal plasma parameters and cell stress markers (glutathione: GSH) and antioxidant enzymology (catalase, CAT; superoxide dismutase, SOD and glutathione peroxidase, GPx). Hematoxylin–eosin staining revealed that AO can protect against acute liver injury, maintaining a normal status, which is pointed out by absent or reduced LPS-induced hepatic damage markers (i.e., alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST)). Our work also indicated that AO displayed anti-inflammatory activity, due to down-regulations of genes encoding pro-inflammatory cytokines Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α) and in up-regulations of the expression of anti-inflammatory genes encoding Interleukin-4 (IL-4) and Interleukin-10 (IL-10). OO provided animals with similar, though less extensive, protective changes. Collectively our work adds compelling evidence to the protective mechanisms of AO against LPS-induced liver injury and hence therapeutic potentialities, in regard to the management of human sepsis. Activations of IL-4/Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors (IL-4/PPARs) signaling and, under LPS, an anti-inflammatory IL-10/Liver X Receptor (IL-10/LXR) route, obviously indicated the high potency and plasticity of the anti-inflammatory properties of argan oil. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Beneficial Effects of Plant Oil on Human Health)

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829 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Influence of a Virgin Olive Oil versus Butter Plus Cholesterol-Enriched Diet on Testicular Enzymatic Activities in Adult Male Rats

by Germán Domínguez-Vías, Ana Belén Segarra, Magdalena Martínez-Cañamero, Manuel Ramírez-Sánchez and Isabel Prieto

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2017, 18(8), 1701; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms18081701 - 04 Aug 2017

Cited by 24 | Viewed by 6605

Abstract

The aim of the present work was to improve our knowledge on the mechanisms underlying the beneficial or deleterious effects on testicular function of the so-called Mediterranean and Western diet by analyzing glutamyl aminopeptidase (GluAP), gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) and dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP IV) activities in testis, as enzymes involved in testicular function. Male Wistar rats (6 months old) were fed for 24 weeks with three different diets: standard (S), an S diet supplemented with virgin-olive-oil (20%) (VOO), or a S diet enriched with butter (20%) plus cholesterol (0.1%) (Bch). At the end of the experimental period, plasma lipid profiled (total triglycerides, total cholesterol and cholesterol fractions (HDL, LDL and VDL)) were measured. Enzymatic activities were determined by fluorimetric methods in soluble (sol) and membrane-bound (mb) fractions of testicular tissue using arylamide derivatives as substrates. Results indicated an increase in plasmatic triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL and VLDL in Bch. A significant increase of mb GluAP and GGT activities was also found in this diet in comparison with the other two diets. Furthermore, significant and positive correlations were established between these activities and plasma triglycerides and/or total cholesterol. These results support a role for testicular GluAP and GGT activities in the effects of saturated fat (Western diet) on testicular functions. In contrast, VOO increased sol DPP IV activity in comparison with the other two diets, which support a role for this activity in the effects of monounsaturated fat (Mediterranean diet) on testicular function. The present results strongly support the influence of fatty acids and cholesterol on testicular GluAP and GGT activities and also provide support that the reported beneficial influence of the Mediterranean diet in male fertility may be mediated in part by an increase of testicular sol DPP IV activity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Beneficial Effects of Plant Oil on Human Health)

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Review

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2143 KiB

Open AccessReview

Effects of Plant Oil Interesterified Triacylglycerols on Lipemia and Human Health

by Andreina Alfieri, Esther Imperlini, Ersilia Nigro, Daniela Vitucci, Stefania Orrù, Aurora Daniele, Pasqualina Buono and Annamaria Mancini

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2018, 19(1), 104; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms19010104 - 30 Dec 2017

Cited by 35 | Viewed by 9745

Abstract

The position of the fatty acids (sn-1, sn-2 and sn-3) (stereospecific numbering (sn)) in triacylglycerol (TAG) molecules produces a characteristic stereospecificity that defines the physical properties of the fats and influences their absorption, metabolism and uptake into tissues. Fat interesterification is a process that implies a positional distribution of fatty acids (FAs) within the TAG molecules, generating new TAG species, without affecting the FA cis-trans natural balance. The interesterified (IE) fats, frequently used in the food industry comprise fats that are rich in long-chain saturated FAs, such as palmitic acid (16:0) and stearic acid (18:0). Within the interesterified fats, a critical role is played by FA occupying the sn-2 position; in fact, the presence of an unsaturated FA in this specific position influences early metabolic processing and postprandial clearance that in turn could induce atherogenesis and thrombogenesis events. Here, we provide an overview on the role of TAG structures and interesterified palmitic and stearic acid-rich fats on fasting and postprandial lipemia, focusing our attention on their physical properties and their effects on human health. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Beneficial Effects of Plant Oil on Human Health)

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525 KiB

Open AccessReview

Anti-Inflammatory and Skin Barrier Repair Effects of Topical Application of Some Plant Oils

by Tzu-Kai Lin, Lily Zhong and Juan Luis Santiago

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2018, 19(1), 70; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms19010070 - 27 Dec 2017

Cited by 378 | Viewed by 148297

Abstract

Plant oils have been utilized for a variety of purposes throughout history, with their integration into foods, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical products. They are now being increasingly recognized for their effects on both skin diseases and the restoration of cutaneous homeostasis. This article briefly reviews the available data on biological influences of topical skin applications of some plant oils (olive oil, olive pomace oil, sunflower seed oil, coconut oil, safflower seed oil, argan oil, soybean oil, peanut oil, sesame oil, avocado oil, borage oil, jojoba oil, oat oil, pomegranate seed oil, almond oil, bitter apricot oil, rose hip oil, German chamomile oil, and shea butter). Thus, it focuses on the therapeutic benefits of these plant oils according to their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects on the skin, promotion of wound healing and repair of skin barrier. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Beneficial Effects of Plant Oil on Human Health)

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3801 KiB

Open AccessReview

Essential Oils from Neotropical Piper Species and Their Biological Activities

by Joyce Kelly Da Silva, Rafaela Da Trindade, Nayara Sabrina Alves, Pablo Luís Figueiredo, José Guilherme S. Maia and William N. Setzer

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2017, 18(12), 2571; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms18122571 - 14 Dec 2017

Cited by 61 | Viewed by 18893

Abstract

The Piper genus is the most representative of the Piperaceae reaching around 2000 species distributed in the pantropical region. In the Neotropics, its species are represented by herbs, shrubs, and lianas, which are used in traditional medicine to prepare teas and infusions. Its essential oils (EOs) present high yield and are chemically constituted by complex mixtures or the predominance of main volatile constituents. The chemical composition of Piper EOs displays interspecific or intraspecific variations, according to the site of collection or seasonality. The main volatile compounds identified in Piper EOs are monoterpenes hydrocarbons, oxygenated monoterpenoids, sesquiterpene hydrocarbons, oxygenated sesquiterpenoids and large amounts of phenylpropanoids. In this review, we are reporting the biological potential of Piper EOs from the Neotropical region. There are many reports of Piper EOs as antimicrobial agents (fungi and bacteria), antiprotozoal (Leishmania spp., Plasmodium spp., and Trypanosoma spp.), acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic activity against different tumor cells lines (breast, leukemia, melanoma, gastric, among others). These studies can contribute to the rational and economic exploration of Piper species, once they have been identified as potent natural and alternative sources to treat human diseases. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Beneficial Effects of Plant Oil on Human Health)

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2020 KiB

Open AccessReview

Ethnobotanic, Ethnopharmacologic Aspects and New Phytochemical Insights into Moroccan Argan Fruits

by Farid Khallouki, Mohamed Eddouks, Akdad Mourad, Andrea Breuer and Robert Wyn Owen

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2017, 18(11), 2277; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms18112277 - 30 Oct 2017

Cited by 25 | Viewed by 7087

Abstract

This review summarizes available data on argan fruit botany, geographical distribution, traditional uses, environmental interest, socioeconomic role, phytochemistry, as well as health beneficial effects and examination of future prospects. In particular, ethnomedical uses of argan fruits are carried out throughout Morocco where it has been used against various diseases. Different classes of bioactive compounds have been characterized including essential oils, fatty acids, triacylglycerols, flavonoids and their newly reported acylglycosyl derivatives, monophenols, phenolic acids, cinnamic acids, saponins, triterpenes, phytosterols, ubiquinone, melatonin, new aminophenols along with vitamin E among other secondary metabolites. The latter have already shown a wide spectrum of in vitro, and ex vivo biologicalactivities including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, antihypertensive, anti-hypercholesterolemia, analgesic, antimicrobial, molluscicidal anti-nociceptive and anticancer potential. Argan flesh (pulp) contains a broad spectrum of polyphenolic compounds which may have utility for incorporation into nutraceuticals and cosmeceuticals relevant to the food, cosmetic and health industries. Further research is recommended, especially on the health beneficial effects of the aminophenols. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Beneficial Effects of Plant Oil on Human Health)

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Other

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2714 KiB

Open AccessMeeting Report

Benefits of Argan Oil on Human Health—May 4–6 2017, Errachidia, Morocco

by Gérard Lizard, Younes Filali-Zegzouti and Adil El Midaoui

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2017, 18(7), 1383; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms18071383 - 28 Jun 2017

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 10144

Abstract

The First International Symposium “The beneficial effects of argan oil on human health” is part of the dynamics of research and development programs on argan oil, which prompts Morocco to deploy various strategies, programs and plans for the protection and preservation [...] Read more.

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Beneficial Effects of Plant Oil on Human Health)

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