Background: Gramineae damping-off disease is a growing problem worldwide, which affects a large range of seedlings in nurseries, glasshouses, gardens, crops, forests and untimely generates a heavy economic impact on the agriculture and related sectors. Objectives: The present study was conducted to evaluate the preventive potential of carvacrol on germination of Fusarium oxysporum, Neocosmospora solani, and Microdochium nivale spores as responsible agents for Lolium perenne seeds damping-off disease. Material and methods: Macrodilution method in agar medium, spore germination, spore destruction, and preventive treatment bioassays were used to achieve this goal. Results: The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of carvacrol vs. tested strains existed in the range of 0.25–0.5 mg/mL. Carvacrol used in concentrations ranging from 0.2 to 0.4 mg/mL inhibited the germination of all fungal spores in a dose-dependent manner. Carvacrol showed a very strong sporicidal effect against all studied fungal strains, and this effect was well confirmed by microscopic observations. The percentage of growth inhibition was found to be strictly correlated to carvacrol dose up vs. all strains. Carvacrol increased the emergence of L. perenne seeds when compared to both uninfested and infested seeds. Conclusion: Based on the results obtained, carvacrol fulfills the requirement for being a natural alternative agent to fight Gramineae seedlings’ damping-off caused by fungal species without adverse effects on the plants.

During the postharvest period, citrus fruits are exposed to Penicillium italicum, Penicillium digitatum, and Geotrichum candidum. Pesticides such as imazalil (IMZ), thiabendazole (TBZ), orthophenylphenol (OPP), and guazatine (GUA) are commonly used as antifungals. Glyphosate (GP) is also used in citrus fields to eliminate weed growth. The sensitivity of fungal pathogens of citrus fruit to these pesticides and 1,8-cineole was evaluated, and the effect of GP on the development of cross-resistance to other chemicals was monitored over a period of 3 weeks. IMZ most effectively inhibited the mycelial growth and spore germination of P. digitatum and P. italicum, with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 0.01 and 0.05 mg/mL, respectively, followed by 1,8-cineole, GP, and TBZ. 1,8-Cineole and GP more effectively inhibited the mycelial growth and spore germination of G. candidum, with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 0.2 and 1.0 mg/mL, respectively, than OPP or GUA. For the spore germination assay, all substances tested showed a total inhibitory effect. Subculturing the fungal strains in culture media containing increasing concentrations of GP induced fungal tolerance to GP as well as to the fungicides. In soil, experiments confirmed that GP induced the tolerance of P. digitatum to TBZ and GP and the tolerance of P. italicum to IMZ, TBZ, and GP. However, no tolerance was recorded against 1,8-cineole. In conclusion, it can be said that 1,8-cineole may be recommended as an alternative to conventional fungicides. In addition, these results indicate that caution should be taken when using GP in citrus fields.

Aromatic and medicinal plants have been integral to human civilization for thousands of years, serving not only as vital components in traditional and modern medicine but also as sources of captivating fragrances that enhance our sensory experiences. The main objective of this study was to explore the chemical composition, antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, and in silico molecular docking attributes of Gardenia jasminoides essential oil (GJEO). The chemical compositions were determined using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. The antioxidant activity was determined by 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) test. The antimicrobial activity was tested in vitro using three microbial strains (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus), and two fungal strains (Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger). In silico analysis by molecular docking was used to determine the interaction types of topoisomerase II receptors and the most important antioxidant and antimicrobial compounds (Eugenol, Methyleugenol, and α-Terpineol ligands). The obtained results highlight the presence of 25 volatile compounds including 5 new detected compounds: Methyleugenol (15.41%), 1-Undecyne (3.4%), 2,6,10-Dodecatrien-1-ol, 3,7,11-trimethyl- (1.11%), 2,5-Cyclohexadiene-1,4-dione, 2,6-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl)- (0.4%), and 5,9-Tetradecadiyne (0.32%). The antioxidant capacity of GJEO is around 1.25 µg equivalent of ascorbic acid/mL for TAC assay and IC50 = 19.05 µL/mL for DPPH test. GJEO exhibited significant antimicrobial activity, particularly against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 16.67 µL/mL. In silico molecular docking analysis revealed strong interactions between ethyleugenol characterized by multiple bonding interactions, including Pi–Alkyl and carbon–hydrogen bonds, while α-Terpineol formed hydrogen and alkyl interactions. These results underline the potential of Gardenia jasminoides essential oil as a promising source of bioactive compounds with antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, highlighting its possible applications in pharmaceuticals and natural therapies.

As it might be known, organic products are increasingly in demand. Indeed, one of the most environmentally and friendly innovations are the bio stimulants. Their effect is exposed on the flowering, the plant growth, the fruits and the crop productivity and nutrient use efficiency. In this study...

The main weaknesses of this article include gaps in scientific evidence and presented results. While the article mentions the potential antibacterial activity of Ganoderma species, it does not provide sufficient details on the methods and protocols u...

Diuretic medications are widely used and can come with negative effects. Because they are effective and have fewer adverse effects than other treatments for renal illness, medicinal plants have become increasingly important. This study aimed to investigate the antioxidant ability and the impact of Laurus nobilis extract (flower) on diuresis in rats. Two doses of 200 mg and 400 mg of Laurus nobilis extract were used to treat rats for thirty days. Then, we assessed all changes induced in urine and plasma parameters of rats, using furosemide as a standard drug. Further, we evaluated the total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and antioxidant ability (DPPH and FRAP) of the tested extract. The results obtained show that the administration of a single dose of Laurus nobilis extract improved the urine flow significantly after 4 h of treatment. Similarly, both doses of the tested extract enhanced sodium, potassium, and chloride excretion without inducing hypokalemia. A similar tendency was recorded for both urine and creatinine, while the results of the furosemide group revealed a significant hypokalemia effect of the standard drug. Laurus nobilis demonstrated superior antioxidant and diuretic effects without inducing hypokalemia due to the higher content of phenolic and flavonoid content. However, more advanced studies are required to explore the constituents of Laurus nobilis extracts and essential oils, as well as to test their pertinent biological activities.