Resumen La presente investigación tuvo como objetivo determinar la composición química del aceite esencial de las hojas de Lippia alba (Asteraceae) y evaluar su efecto sobre los niveles de estrés académico de estudiantes universitarios. Las hojas fueron colectadas del Jardín Botánico Rosa Elena de los Ríos Martínez y fueron sometidas a hidrodestilación para la extracción del aceite esencial, y la composición química fue realizada por cromatografía de gases con detector de llama ionizante (GC-FID) y cromatografía de gases acoplada a espectrometría de masas (GC-MS). Para determinar el efecto del aceite esencial en los niveles de estrés académico, se llevó a cabo un estudio experimental con mediciones pretest y postest, en una muestra de 38 participantes, divididos en un grupo control y un grupo experimental. El análisis químico mostró que el componente mayoritario del aceite esencial fue carvona (54,1 %). Los niveles de estrés académico fueron evaluados mediante el inventario de estrés académico (IEA). Los niveles de estrés mostraron una reducción en la fase postest del grupo experimental, con diferencias estadísticamente significativas (p < 0.05). La puntuación D de Cohen fue 0,92 y el porcentaje de cambio mostró una reducción de estrés académico de 12,96 %. Palabras clave: aceite esencial, Lippia alba, estrés académico. Abstract The aim of this investigation was to determine the chemical composition of the essential oil of the leaves of Lippia alba (Asteraceae) and to evaluate its effect on the academic stress levels of university students. The leaves were collected from the Rosa Elena de los Ríos Martínez Botanical Garden and were subjected to hydrodistillation for the extraction of the essential oil, and the chemical composition was carried out by gas chromatography with flame ionization detector (GC-FID) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). To determine the effect of the essential oil on the levels of academic stress, an experimental study was carried out with pretest and posttest measurements, in a sample of 38 participants, divided into a control group and an experimental group. The levels of academic stress were evaluated through the academic stress inventory (IEA). The chemical analysis showed that carvone was the main component (54.1 %). Stress levels showed a reduction in the posttest phase of the experimental group, with statistically significant differences (p < 0.05). Cohen’s D score was 0.92 and the percentage of change showed a 12.96 % reduction in academic stress. Keywords: essential oil, Lippia alba, academic stress.

Lippia alba (Mill.) N.E. Br. ex Britton & P. Wilson is an aromatic medicinal plant widely used in traditional medicine for the management of digestive, inflammatory, and infectious disorders. The present study aimed to investigate the ethnobotanical relevance, chemical composition, antioxidant, antifungal, antibacterial, and molecular docking properties of L. alba essential oil (EOLA). Ethnobotanical information was collected through semi-structured interviews with herbal vendors. The essential oil was obtained by hydrodistillation and chemically characterized by GC–MS and GC–FID, leading to the identification of 27 volatile constituents. The chemical profile was dominated by oxygenated monoterpenes (83.83%), with (−)-carvone (63.79%) and dihydrocarvyl acetate (17.74%) as the major compounds, confirming a carvone chemotype. EOLA exhibited moderate antioxidant activity, with values of 24.1 mg TE/100 g and 34.5 mg TE/100 g in the DPPH and ABTS assays, respectively. Furthermore, the essential oil demonstrated significant concentration-dependent antifungal and antibacterial activities against Candida albicans and Staphylococcus aureus. At the highest concentration tested, the antimicrobial activity approached that of the reference drugs. In silico ADMET analysis predicted favorable pharmacokinetic and drug-likeness properties for the major volatile constituents. Molecular docking studies revealed relevant interactions between several compounds, particularly α-gurjunene, alloaromadendrene, trans-α-bisabolene, and (−)-β-bourbonene, and molecular targets associated with oxidative stress and microbial inhibition, providing mechanistic insights into the biological activities observed experimentally. Overall, these findings support the ethnopharmacological use of L. alba and highlight its essential oil as a promising natural source of bioactive compounds with antioxidant and antimicrobial potential for future phytopharmaceutical applications.

(1) Background: Clinopodium pulchellum (Kunth) Govaerts (Panizara) is an aromatic Andean medicinal plant traditionally used in Peru to manage nervous disorders, insomnia, and digestive complaints; however, its neuropharmacological properties remain poorly validated. This study aimed to evaluate the anxiolytic- and antidepressant-like effects of C. pulchellum and to characterize its phytochemical profile as supportive evidence. (2) Methods: The essential oil was obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed using GC–MS and GC–FID. (3) Results: Fifteen volatile compounds were identified based on retention indices and mass spectral data, with β-caryophyllene (22.9%) and linalool (19.1%) as the most representative constituents, while other compounds were tentatively identified. The aqueous extract showed total phenolic and flavonoid contents of 34.15 mg GAE/g and 29.44 mg QE/g, respectively, and moderate antioxidant activity (DPPH = 2.36 mg TE/g; ABTS = 3.33 mg TE/g). In vivo assays revealed that EOCP at 200 mg·kg⁻¹ significantly increased open-arm exploration in the elevated plus maze and reduced immobility time in the CUMS–forced swim test by 37% compared with the stress group, although the effect was lower than that of reference drugs. Molecular docking analysis indicated favorable binding affinities of β-caryophyllene, humulene, and aromandendrene with serotonergic and ion channel targets, while ADMET predictions suggested suitable pharmacokinetic properties. (4) Conclusions: These findings indicate that the observed neuropharmacological effects may be associated with the presence of bioactive terpenoids typical of Lamiaceae, supporting the traditional use of C. pulchellum. However, further studies are required to confirm the identity of uncommon constituents and to elucidate the mechanisms underlying its biological activity.

Blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) are cultivated worldwide and are among the best dietary sources of bioactive compounds with beneficial health effects. This study aimed to investigate the components of Peruvian blueberry using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray ionization and quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (HPLC–ESI–QTOF–MS/MS), identifying 11 compounds. Furthermore, we assessed in vitro the antioxidant activity and in vivo the antidepressant effect using a rat model and protective effect on lipid peroxidation (in the serum, brain, liver, and stomach). We also conducted molecular docking simulations with proteins involved in oxidative stress and depression for the identified compounds. Antioxidant activity was assessed by measuring total phenolic and flavonoid contents, as well as using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazin (DPPH), 2,2′-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic) acid (ABTS^•+), and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. Peruvian blueberries demonstrated higher antioxidant activity than Vaccinium corymbosum fruits from Chile, Brazil, the United States, Turkey, Portugal, and China. The results showed that oral administration of Peruvian blueberries (10 and 20 mg/kg) for 28 days significantly (p < 0.001) increased swimming and reduced immobility in the forced swimming test (FST). Additionally, at doses of 40 and 80 mg/kg, oxidative stress was reduced in vivo (p < 0.001) by decreasing lipid peroxidation in brain, liver, stomach, and serum. Molecular docking and absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET) predictions were performed. In the molecular docking studies, quercitrin and 3,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid showed the best docking scores for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase, superoxide dismutase, and xanthine oxidase; while 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid methyl ester and caffeoyl coumaroylquinic acid had the best docking scores for monoamine oxidase and serotonin receptor 5-HT₂. In summary, our results suggest that the antidepressant and protective effects against lipid peroxidation might be related to the antioxidant activity of Peruvian Vaccinium corymbosum L.