Compendium of the most significant studies with reference to properties, intake, effects.

Thalappil MA, Butturini E, Carcereri de Prati A, Bettin I, Antonini L, Sapienza FU, Garzoli S, Ragno R, Mariotto S. Pinus mugo Essential Oil Impairs STAT3 Activation through Oxidative Stress and Induces Apoptosis in Prostate Cancer Cells. Molecules. 2022 Jul 28;27(15):4834. doi: 10.3390/molecules27154834. 

Abstract. Essential oils (EOs) and their components have been reported to possess anticancer properties and to increase the sensitivity of cancer cells to chemotherapy. The aim of this work was to select EOs able to downregulate STAT3 signaling using Western blot and RT-PCR analyses. The molecular mechanism of anti-STAT3 activity was evaluated through spectrophotometric and fluorometric analyses, and the biological effect of STAT3 inhibition was analyzed by flow cytometry and wound healing assay. Herein, Pinus mugo EO (PMEO) is identified as an inhibitor of constitutive STAT3 phosphorylation in human prostate cancer cells, DU145. The down-modulation of the STAT3 signaling cascade decreased the expression of anti-proliferative as well as anti-apoptotic genes and proteins, leading to the inhibition of cell migration and apoptotic cell death. PMEO treatment induced a rapid drop in glutathione (GSH) levels and an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) concentration, resulting in mild oxidative stress. Pretreatment of cells with N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC), a cell-permeable ROS scavenger, reverted the inhibitory action of PMEO on STAT3 phosphorylation. Moreover, combination therapy revealed that PMEO treatment displayed synergism with cisplatin in inducing the cytotoxic effect. Overall, our data highlight the importance of STAT3 signaling in PMEO cytotoxic activity, as well as the possibility of developing adjuvant therapy or sensitizing cancer cells to conventional chemotherapy.

Garzoli S, Masci VL, Caradonna V, Tiezzi A, Giacomello P, Ovidi E. Liquid and Vapor Phase of Four Conifer-Derived Essential Oils: Comparison of Chemical Compositions and Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Properties. Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2021 Feb 8;14(2):134. doi: 10.3390/ph14020134.

Abstract. In this study, the chemical composition of the vapor and liquid phase of Pinus cembra L., Pinus mugo Turra, Picea abies L., and Abies Alba M. needles essential oils (EOs) was investigated by Headspace-Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (HS-GC/MS). In the examined EOs, a total of twenty-eight components were identified, most of which belong to the monoterpenes family. α-Pinene (16.6-44.0%), β-pinene (7.5-44.7%), limonene (9.5-32.5%), and γ-terpinene (0.3-19.7%) were the most abundant components of the liquid phase. Such major compounds were also detected in the vapor phase of all EOs, and α-pinene reached higher relative percentages than in the liquid phase. Then, both the liquid and vapor phases were evaluated in terms of antibacterial activity against three Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas fluorescens, and Acinetobacter bohemicus) and two Gram-positive bacteria (Kocuria marina and Bacillus cereus) using a microwell dilution assay, disc diffusion assay, and vapor phase test. The lowest Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) (13.28 mg/mL) and Minimal Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) (26.56 mg/mL) values, which correspond to the highest antibacterial activities, were reported for P. abies EO against A. bohemicus and for A. alba EO against A. bohemicus and B. cereus. The vapor phase of all the tested EOs was more active than liquid phase, showing the inhibition halos from 41.00 ± 10.15 mm to 80.00 ± 0.00 mm for three bacterial strains (A. bohemicus, K. marina, and B. cereus). Furthermore, antioxidant activities were also investigated by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azinobis (3- ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS) assays, and a concentration-dependent antioxidant capacity for all EOs was found. P. mugo EO showed the best antioxidant activity than the other Pinaceae EOs. The four Pinaceae EOs could be further investigated for their promising antibacterial and antioxidant properties, and, in particular, α-pinene seems to have interesting possibilities for use as a novel natural antibacterial agent.

Bottoni M, Milani F, Colombo L, Nallio K, Colombo PS, Giuliani C, Bruschi P, Fico G. Using Medicinal Plants in Valmalenco (Italian Alps): From Tradition to Scientific Approaches. Molecules. 2020 Sep 10;25(18):4144. doi: 10.3390/molecules25184144. 

Abstract. This ethnobotanical survey was carried out in Caspoggio (Valmalenco, SO, Italy) with the purpose of investigating the traditional uses of medicinal plants. Moreover, a bibliographic research meant to validate or refute the uses, focusing on the potentially responsible compounds, was performed. Fifty-nine species, attributable to 30 families (Asteraceae, Pinaceae, Malvaceae, and Lamiaceae the most cited), were mentioned. Arnica montana, anti-inflammatory for traumas and musculoskeletal pains; Pinus mugo, expectorant; Malva sylvestris, anti-inflammatory and soothing; Achillea moschata, digestive. The compounds, responsible for the therapeutic activities, are often polyphenols and terpenoids: helenanin in A. montana, α-pinene, δ-3-carene, and limonene in P. mugo, gossypin and malvin in M. sylvestris, luteolin and apigenin in A. moschata. Scientific evidence for at least one of the traditional activities described was found for 50 species but only in 26 out of 196 works consulted, it is possible to make a comparison between investigated extracts and traditional preparations. This study is thus a stimulus to new phytochemical investigations, mimicking as much as possible the traditional preparations. This work is part of the European Interreg Italy-Switzerland B-ICE project, aimed at creating a management model for the ongoing climate change and searching for new sources of territory valorization as attractions for tourists.

Felšöciová S, Vukovic N, Jeżowski P, Kačániová M. Antifungal activity of selected volatile essential oils against Penicillium sp. Open Life Sci. 2020 Jul 19;15(1):511-521. doi: 10.1515/biol-2020-0045.

Abstract. Phytopathogenic fungi have been responsible for considerable economic losses in vineyards, and therefore, more attention should be paid to the development and implementation of preventative treatment that is environmentally friendly. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antifungal activity of ten essential oils (EOs) (viz. Lavandula angustifolia Mill., Carum carvi L., Pinus mugo var. pumilio, Mentha piperita L., Foeniculum vulgare L., Pinus sylvestris L., Satureja hortensis L., Origanum vulgare L., Pimpinella anisum L. and Rosmarinus officinalis L.). For the antifungal activity evaluation against Penicillium brevicompactum, P. citrinum, P. crustosum, P. expansum, P. funiculosum, P. glabrum, P. chrysogenum, P. oxalicum, P. polonicum and Talaromyces purpurogenus a disc diffusion method was used. The ten EOs exhibited different antifungal properties. Three tested EOs (Carum carvi L., Satureja hortensis L. and Pimpinella anisum L.) at concentrations of 0.75, 0.50, 0.25 and 0.125 µL/mL showed antifungal activity, inhibiting the mycelial growth. The Origanum vulgare L. EOs exhibited a lower level of inhibition. Overall, Lavandula angustifolia Mill., Pinus mugo var. pumilio, Mentha piperita L., Foeniculum vulgare L., Pinus sylvestris L., Satureja hortensis L., Pimpinella anisum L. and Rosmarinus officinalis L. were effective as fungicidal agents but their efficiency varied between the strains of fungi. Carum carvi L. showed strong antifungal activity against all tested strains at both full strength and reduced concentrations. These EOs could be considered as potential sources of antifungal compounds for treating plant fungal diseases. © 2020 Soňa Felšöciová et al., published by De Gruyter.

Basholli-Salihu M, Schuster R, Hajdari A, Mulla D, Viernstein H, Mustafa B, Mueller M. Phytochemical composition, anti-inflammatory activity and cytotoxic effects of essential oils from three Pinus spp. Pharm Biol. 2017 Dec;55(1):1553-1560. doi: 10.1080/13880209.2017.1309555. 

Abstract. Context: Inflammation and cell differentiation lead to a number of severe diseases. In the recent years, various studies focused on the anti-inflammatory and anticancer activity of essential oils (EOs) of numerous plants, including different Pinus species. Objective: The phytochemical composition, anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic activity of EOs from needles and twigs of Pinus heldreichii Christ (Pinaceae) and P. peuce Griseb., and from needles, twigs and cones of P. mugo Turra were determined....Results: The most prominent members in the oils include: δ-3-carene, α-pinene and linalool-acetate (P. mugo); α-pinene, β-phellandrene and β-pinene (P. peuce); limonene, α-pinene and (E)-caryophyllene (P. heldreichii). EOs showed significant cytotoxic effects on cancer cell lines (IC50 0.007 to >0.1%), with a reduction in cell viability with up to 90% at a concentration of 0.1%, and anti-inflammatory activity (IC50 0.0008–0.02%) with a reduction of IL-6 secretion with up to 60% at a concentration of 0.01%. Discussion and conclusion: The EOs of needles and twigs from P. peuce and P. heldreichii as well as of needles, twigs and cones of P. mugo can be considered as promising agents for anticancer and anti-inflammatory drugs.

Mitić ZS, Nikolić JS, Zlatković BK, Milanovici SJ, Jovanović SČ, Nikolić BM, Stojanović GS, Marin PD. Epicuticular Waxes Provide Insights into Phytochemical Differentiation of Natural Populations of Pinus mugo Turra sensu stricto. Chem Biodivers. 2018 Dec;15(12):e1800378. doi: 10.1002/cbdv.201800378.

Abstract. Phytochemical diversity and differentiation of nine native populations of Pinus mugo sensu stricto from Julian Alps, Southern Carpathians and Balkan Peninsula were analyzed in regard to their epicuticular wax compounds. GC/MS and GC-FID analyses of the hexane extracts of needle samples, collected from 118 individuals of P. mugo, revealed the presence of six diterpenes, three primary alcohols and 10 n-alkanes ranging from C19 to C29 (except n-alkane C21 ). According to simple linear regression, the contents of epicuticular wax compounds showed generally weak correlations with tested bioclimatic, orographic and geographic parameters, leading to assumption about their genetic conditioning. The multivariate statistical analyses suggested the existence of two chemical entities: the Alpine and the South Carpathian, while the Balkan populations appeared heterogeneous as three of them belonged to the Alpine and one to the South Carpathian group. The obtained results are largely consistent to those previously published in reference to morpho-anatomical and molecular characters of P. mugo, supporting the hypothesis of colonization of Balkan Peninsula from two different glacial refugia: from the Alps (across the Dinarides) and from the Southern Carpathians. Extending this study to the entire range of P. mugo complex should provide a clearer picture of its phytochemical diversity and differentiation.