The Pinus L. genus comprises around 250 species, being popular worldwide for their medicinal and aromatic properties. The present study aimed to evaluate the P. halepensis Mill. essential oil (PNO) in an Alzheimer’s disease (AD) environment as an anxiolytic and antidepressant agent. The AD-like symptoms were induced in Wistar male rats by intracerebroventricular administration of amyloid beta1-42 (Aβ1-42), and PNO (1% and 3%) was delivered to Aβ1-42 pre-treated rats via inhalation route for 21 consecutive days, 30 min before behavioral assessments. The obtained results indicate PNO’s potential to relieve anxious–depressive features and to restore redox imbalance in the rats exhibiting AD-like neuropsychiatric impairments. Moreover, PNO presented beneficial effects against neuroinflammation and neuroapoptosis in the Aβ1-42 rat AD model.

Some pathogenic microbial species are becoming less sensitive to antibiotics and developing resistance multiples. The use of essential oils is a serious substitute for treatment with antibiotics in infectious diseases. The present study aims to investigate the chemical composition and to evaluate the antibacterial activity of the essential oil of branches of Tetraclinis articulata (Vahl) Masters (Cupressaceae). The extraction of the essential oil was realized by hydrodistillation, and the analysis was carried out by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectroscopy (GC–MS/FID). The antibacterial test was carried out using two different methods: the disc diffusion method and the macrodilution method which aims to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). The yield of essential oil was 0.84%. Chromatographic analysis revealed that the major constituents were α-pinene (38.75%), limonene (13.24%), bornyl acetate (8.78%) and camphor (7.68%). The results of the antibacterial activity show that the essential oil exerts a powerful effect to inhibit some strains tested. The antibacterial activity demonstrated in this study could justify the traditional uses of this plant and could contribute to value its potential in order to develop new bioactive compounds.

Study of The Antibacterial Activity of the Essential Oil of Thymus Pallidus Against Bacteria Isolated from Hospital Infections

Tetraclinis articulata volatile phytocomplexes contain numerous bioactive terpenoids with neuroprotective potential; however, their efficacy in Alzheimer’s disease (AD)-related neuropsychiatric symptoms remain insufficiently explored. This study investigated the therapeutic effects of a Tetraclinis articulata-derived volatile phytocomplex (TLO) administered via inhalation at 1% and 3% concentrations for 21 consecutive days in a rat model of AD induced by intracerebroventricular injection of amyloid-beta 1–42 peptide (Aβ_1–42). Behavioral assessment revealed that both 1% and 3% TLO significantly ameliorated anxiety- and depression-like behaviors, with effects comparable to diazepam (3 mg/kg, i.p.) and imipramine (20 mg/kg, i.p.), respectively. These behavioral improvements coincided with a partial restoration of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression in the amygdala, whereas activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated protein (ARC) levels remained unaffected. TLO also attenuated oxidative stress by reducing malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulation and enhancing superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activities, thereby contributing to the recovery of redox homeostasis. Furthermore, TLO provided significant protection against Aβ_1–42-induced apoptotic DNA fragmentation, although it produced only minimal reductions in IL-1β expression, indicating limited anti-inflammatory effects. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that inhaled TLO, particularly at 1% and 3%, alleviates Aβ_1–42-induced neuropsychiatric disturbances through antioxidant, anti-apoptotic, and BDNF-associated mechanisms, supporting its potential as an adjuvant phytotherapeutic strategy for managing behavioral symptoms in AD.