Essential oils are volatile fragrance liquids extracted from plants, and their compound annual growth rate is expected to expand to 8.6% from 2019 to 2025, according to Grand View Research. Essential oils have several domains of application, such as in the food and beverage industry, in cosmetics, as well as for medicinal use. In this study, Michelia alba essential oil was extracted from leaves and was rich in linalool components as found in lavender and jasmine oil. The effects of inhaling michelia oil on human brainwaves still need to be elucidated. Ten male and ten female subjects were recruited. Thirty-two-channel electroencephalography was recorded. The raw data were spectrally analyzed for slow alpha, fast alpha, low beta, mid beta, and high beta activities. The results demonstrate that michelia leaf oil could reduce the alertness level observed by beta wave decrease and fast alpha wave activity increase. The inhalation of pure linalool showed virtually identical responses as the michelia oil inhalation. In conclusion, the sedative effects of michelia oil inhalation might originate from its major linalool component.

Background: Kheaw Hom remedy is a traditional Thai medicine used to treat fever. Some plants used in the Kheaw Hom remedy show promising in vitro antimalarial activity. This study prepared novel formulations of plants from the Kheaw Hom remedy and evaluated their antimalarial and toxicological activities.Methods: Seven new formulations were prepared by combining at least three herbs of six selected plants from the Kheaw Hom remedy, namelyMammea siamensisKosterm.,Mesua ferreaL.,Dracaena loureiroiGagnep.,Pogostemon cablin(Blanco) Benth.,Kaempferia galangaL, andEupatorium stoechadosmumHance. In vitro antimalarial activities of each formulation’s aqueous and ethanolic extracts were evaluated using the parasite lactate dehydrogenase (pLDH) assay. Cytotoxicity in Vero and HepG2 cells was assessed using the MTT assay. An extract with good antimalarial potency and selectivity index (SI) was selected for in vivo antimalarial activity using Peter’s 4-day suppressive test and acute oral toxicity test in mice. In addition, bioactive compounds were identified using Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis.Results: Among the seven new formulations, ethanolic extracts of CPF-1 (Formulation 1) showed the highest activity with an IC₅₀value of 1.32 ± 0.66 µg/ml, followed by ethanolic extracts of Formulation 4 and Formulation 6 with an IC₅₀value of 1.52 ± 0.28 µg/ml and 2.48 ± 0.34 µg/ml, respectively. The highest SI values were obtained for the ethanolic extract of CPF-1 that was selected to confirm its in vivo antimalarial activity and toxicity. The results demonstrated a significant dose-dependent reduction in parasitemia. Maximum suppressive effect of the extract (72.01%) was observed at the highest dose administered (600 mg/kg). No significant toxicity was observed after the administration of 2000 mg/kg. Using GC-MS analysis, the most abundant compound in the ethanolic extract of CPF-1 was ethylp-methoxycinnamate (14.32%), followed by 2-propenoic acid, 3-phenyl-, ethyl ester, (E)- (2.50%), and pentadecane (1.85%).Conclusion: The ethanolic extract of CPF-1 showed promising in vitro and in vivo antimalarial efficacy, with no toxic effects at a dose of 2000 mg/kg, suggesting that the ethanolic extract of CPF-1 may serves as a new herbal formulation for the treatment of malaria. Additional research is required for safety and clinical pharmacology studies.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is one of the most serious complications of severe Plasmodium falciparum malaria, but the exact pathogenic mechanisms of AKI in P. falciparum infection have not been clearly elucidated. We hypothesized that oxidative stress is a potential mediator of acute tubular necrosis in P. falciparum-infected kidneys. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the histopathological changes and markers of oxidative stress in kidney tissues from mice with experimental malaria. DBA/2 mice were divided into two groups: the mice in the malaria-infected group (n = 10) were intraperitoneally injected with 1 × 10⁶P. berghei ANKA-infected red blood cells, and the mice in the control group (n = 10) were intraperitoneally injected with a single dose of 0.85% normal saline. Kidney sections were collected and used for histopathological examination and the investigation of 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression through immunohistochemistry staining. The histopathology study revealed that the P. berghei-infected kidneys exhibited a greater area of tubular necrosis than those of the control group ( ). The positive staining scores for 4-HNE and HO-1 expression in tubular epithelial cells of the P. berghei-infected group were significantly higher than those found for the control group ( ). In addition, significant positive correlations were found between the tubular necrosis score and the positive staining scores for 4-HNE and HO-1 in the kidneys from the P. berghei-infected group. In conclusion, this finding demonstrates that increased expression of 4-HNE and HO-1 might be involved in the pathogenesis of acute tubular damage in the kidneys during malaria infection. Our results provide new insights into the pathogenesis of malaria-associated AKI and might provide guidelines for the future development of a therapeutic intervention for malaria.

Soil-transmitted helminth infections are most prevalent in rural populations. Village health volunteers (VHVs) are the key individuals for Thai primary healthcare. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding soil-transmitted helminthiasis in VHVs. A questionnaire survey was conducted among 552 VHVs randomly selected from four subdistricts in a southern province of Thailand. Sociodemographic variables and information regarding the knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to soil-transmitted helminthiasis were collected using a structured questionnaire. The results demonstrated that VHVs had poor knowledge (70.47%) and practices (66.49%); however, 69.57% had good attitudes. Most VHVs had inadequate knowledge and practices regarding soil-transmitted helminthiasis. VHVs who had been trained in parasitic infection control measures were 2.18 times more likely to have good knowledge. VHVs with a monthly family income of more than 307 USD were 1.58 times more likely to have a good attitude. VHVs with good knowledge were more likely to have good practices. In conclusion, the development of training programs and health promotion should be considered to enhance the knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to soil-transmitted helminthiasis in VHVs, who are the key individuals for providing health education to community members.

Soil‐transmitted helminth (STH) infections are the most common parasitic infections worldwide, particularly in tropical regions. There are currently no reports on the prevalence of STH infections among children in Koh Yao District of Phang Nga Province, Thailand. Therefore, this study aims to assess the prevalence of STH infections and associated risk factors among primary schoolchildren. A school‐based cross‐sectional study was conducted among 243 schoolchildren aged 7 to 12 years from 12 rural primary schools across three subdistricts. Demographic data and associated risk factors were collected and analyzed. Stool samples were collected and examined for parasites using the formalin‐ethyl acetate sedimentation concentration and the modified Kato‐Katz methods. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine the strength of the relationship between risk variables and STH infections. Of the 243 participants (mean age: 8.99 ± 1.57 years), 12 (4.94%, 95% CI: 2.60%–8.50%) were infected with STH. The most common STH infection was hookworm (4.11%), followed by Trichuris trichiura (1.65%). More than 80% ( n = 10, 83.33%) had a single intestinal parasite, while two (16.67%) were coinfected with two parasitic species. Infections were more prevalent among males (66.67%) compared to females (33.33%). Multiple regression analyses revealed that children above Grade 3 had a significantly higher prevalence of STH infections compared to those below Grade 3 (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 10.54; 95% CI: 1.24–89.14, p = 0.031). Open defecation was also statistically associated with STH infections (AOR = 22.66; 95% CI: 1.18–433.58, p = 0.038). This study highlights a low prevalence of STH infections in the study area, with hookworm being the most common. The potential risk factors identified were linked to educational level and open defecation practices. Improving sanitation and enhancing health education to raise public awareness about hygiene are essential strategies for controlling STH infections among primary schoolchildren in remote areas.

: In regions with prolonged rainy seasons where hookworm and Strongyloides stercoralis (S. stercoralis) are co-endemic, the prevalence of hookworm infection frequently exceeds that of strongyloidiasis, despite both parasites sharing a similar route of infection via skin penetration by third-stage larvae (L3). Climate factors may contribute because rainwater can dilute stool, reducing bacterial abundance and stool-soluble component concentrations that may affect first-stage larvae (L1) development. In this study, we aimed to compare the stool-soluble component requirements of S. stercoralis and hookworm L1 in water-diluted stool and soil. Four sets of stool suspensions at 1:20, 1:480, and 1:30,720 dilutions, each containing 30–40 hookworm or S. stercoralis L1, were prepared. Two sets were adjusted to a minimal volume for soil addition, with and without bacteria, while the other two remained unadjusted. All suspensions were incubated at room temperature for 6 days, and the L3 were counted. In 1:20 suspensions, both hookworm and S. stercoralis L1 developed into or produced L3. However, in 1:480 suspensions, only hookworm L1 progressed to L3, regardless of bacterial addition. Neither species developed into L3 in 1:30,720 suspensions without bacteria, although hookworm L1 successfully developed into L3 when bacteria were added. Additionally, hookworm L1 developed into L3 in soil, whereas S. stercoralis L1 did not. These findings indicate that hookworm L1 require only bacteria, whereas S. stercoralis L1 depend on both bacteria and sufficient stool-soluble components. Water-diluting stool suppresses S. stercoralis L1 growth and development but not hookworm L1, which explains the higher prevalence of hookworm infection in regions with long rainy seasons.