Objective: High glucose (HG)-induced oxidative stress is a metabolic stimulus for hepatic impairment in diabetes. Natural phytochemicals may alleviate HG-induced complications. We aimed to examine the impact of CITRONELLOL (CT) on oxidative stress and inflammation in the human hepatocellular liver carcinoma (HepG2) cell line under HG conditions.Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, the HepG2 cells were exposed to HG concentrations of 50 mM and co-treated with or without CT at concentrations of 10, 20, and 40 μg/ml for 48 hours. The impact of treatments on the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), and the enzyme’s activity of glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) was explored. We used quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRTPCR) to evaluate the gene expression of nuclear factor-κβ (NF-κB), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4).Results: Co-treatment with CT (20 and 40 μg/ml) significantly reduced (P<0.05) HG-induced cell death (9.73 and 10.56%, respectively) and MDA production (16 and 26.78%, respectively) compared to untreated HG control group. Meanwhile, CT (10, 20, and 40 μg/ml) substantially increased (P<0.05) GSH content (35.61, 55.24, and 69.75%, respectively), GPx (48.32, 61.75, and 75.10%, respectively), and CAT activity (20.25, 25.09, 30.16%, respectively) dose-dependently comparison to untreated ones. TNF-α and IL-6 gene expression were also modulated significantly (P<0.05) by 40 μg/ml CT (47.75 and 32.44%, respectively) as compared to the HG control group. Moreover, CT at 20 and 40 μg/ml attenuated (P<0.05) NF-κB gene expression (30.41 and 39.93%, respectively), and at all doses, made a considerable reduction (P<0.05) in DPP-4 gene expression (18.77, 18.78, and 44.61%, respectively) dose-dependently comparison to untreated ones.Conclusion: Our research suggested that CT with greater effectiveness at 40 μg/ml might shield hepatocytes exposed to HG by lowering oxidative stress and inhibiting inflammatory reactions; however, more research is needed.

Flower of Rosa damascena Mill is widely used in Iran for gastrointestinal (GI) disorders. However, its pharmacological action on ileum contraction has not been studied. In this research we have investigated ileum motility effect of essential oil of flower petals of R. damascena growing in Kashan, Iran, and two of its constituents. The essential oils obtained by hydrodistillation were investigated by a combination of GC and GC/MS. More than 34 compounds have been identified. The main constituents of the essential oil were b-CITRONELLOL (23%), nonadecane (16%), geraniol (16%) and heneicosane (5%). A portion of rat isolated ileum was suspended under 1g tension in Tyrode’s solution at 37oC and gassed with O2. Effect of the R. damascena essential oil (2.5-160 mg/ml), geraniol (0.2-3.2 mg/ml) and CITRONELLOL (0.8-6.4 µg/ml) were studied on ileum contractions induced by KCl, acetylcholine (ACh) and electrical field stimulation (EFS) and compared with standard drugs atropine and loperamide. The contractile response of EFS was mediated mainly through the intramural nerve plexuses, because its response was inhibited by loperamide and partially reduced by atropine. The essential oil concentration dependently inhibited the response to KCl (IC50=67±8.4mg/ml) and EFS (IC50=47±10.6 mg/ml). Geraniol (IC50=1.7±0.15 mg/ml for KCl) and CITRONELLOL (IC50=2.9±0.3 mg/ml for KCl) also had inhibitory effect of ileum contraction and both were more potent than the essential oil. It was concluded that R. damascena essential oil mainly had an inhibitory effect on ileum contractions and geraniol and CITRONELLOL had a major role in inhibitory effect of the essential.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Insects are the cause of excessive spread of parasites and pathogens. Insect population control faces the challenges of increasing resistance to chemical pesticides and the environmental hazards posed by them. Therefore, the use of natural insecticides is important. The aim of this study was to investigate the synergistic effect of geraniol and betaCITRONELLOL on the larvae of Culex Pippins complex. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, samples were taken from the Insectarium of Babol University of Medical Sciences. Yield of geraniol, betaCITRONELLOL and their combination in ratios of 4: 1, 3: 2, 2: 3 and 1: 4 in a total of 6 groups on the larvae of the third stage of the mosquito culex Pippins complex at concentrations of 0. 5, 1, 2, 5, 10 and 20 μ g/ml were evaluated with 5 replications. Needle test was used to determine whether the larvae were dead or alive. The LC50 of each group was then recorded after 24 hours. FINDINGS: The highest mortality of larvae belonged to the geraniol group with LC50 equal to 48. 1 μ g/ml. While betaCITRONELLOL with LC50 equal to 49. 10 μ g/ml had the lowest toxic dose. Among the four combined ratios of geraniol-betaCITRONELLOL, the highest toxicity was related to the ratio of 1: 4 and the lowest toxicity was related to the ratio of 4: 1 with LC50 of 3. 32 and 7. 71 μ g/ml, respectively, and antagonistic effect was observed in all ratios (p<0. 05). CONCLUSION: The results of the present study showed the antagonistic effects of the combination of geraniol with betaCITRONELLOL on mosquito larvae of Culex Pippins complex.

Panonychus citri (McGregor) (Acari: Tetranychidae) is an important pest species in the citrus growing world. Due to broad spectrum chemical pesticides applied on citrus orchards pests, P. citri became an important citrus orchard pest in the north of Iran. In this study, lethal and sub-lethal effects of two biocompatible compounds, CITRONELLOL and neem extract, were investigated on different developmental stages of citrus red mite using the potter spray tower method. The results showed that CITRONELLOL and neem had high toxicity on egg and larval mite stages with LC50 values of 245. 55 and 666. 94 mg/L, respectively. The sub-lethal effects of CITRONELLOL and neem extract on adult citrus red mite in comparison control significantly reduced fecundity (0. 1, 1. 5 and 18. 03 eggs/female, respectively), fertility (0. 066, 1. 07 and 17 hatched eggs/female, respectively) and longevity (5. 43, 5. 86 and 11. 83 days, respectively). The results showed appropriate control effects of biomite® and neem extract against early growth stages of the citrus red mite with an environmental protection approach. Therefore, these compounds could be recommended in the program of resistance management of this pest.

Rosa damascena Mill., (Rosaceae), produces one of the most expensive essential oils globally, widely used in the perfume industry. Harvest timing is a critical factor influencing the quantity and quality of its essential oil. This study aimed to evaluate the quantitative and qualitative performance of essential oil extracted from fresh and dried flowers at four harvest times (May 10, May 17, May 24 and June 1) in SaadatShahr, Fars Province. The experiment was conducted in a factorial layout based on a completely randomized design with eight treatments and three replications. Petals were collected from a 4-year-old R. damascena plantation during peak flowering. Fresh flowers were immediately distilled, while dried flowers were prepared by shade-drying. Essential oil extraction was performed using hydrodistillation, and the chemical composition was analyzed via GC and GC-MS. The results indicated that flower type and harvest timing significantly affected essential oil yield and composition. The highest essential oil yield (0.094%) was obtained from fresh flowers in the first week, while the lowest yield (0.036%) was from dried flowers in the fourth week. The highest CITRONELLOL + geraniol content (60.24%) was observed in fresh flowers harvested during the first week, whereas the lowest (3.53%) was in dried flowers in the fourth week. The highest levels of n-nonadecane and n-heneicosane were recorded in dried flowers in the fourth week. The findings demonstrated that essential oil quality and quantity decreased with increasing temperature and decreasing relative humidity, making fresh flowers more suitable for essential oil extraction than dried ones.

Rosa damascena Mill. from rosaceae family is cultivated in different parts of Iran, and its essential oil and rose water in large scales are produced. In this study, essential oils were extracted by hydrodistillation method. Nine genotypes samples from Isfahan province collected and cultivated in experiment field of Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands. Samples were analyzed by GC and GC/MS. The main constituents in Kamoo (with for samples) were phenylethyl alcohol (8.5 - 20.3%), CITRONELLOL (15.5 - 21.2%), geraniol (5.6 - 20.3%) and n- nonadecane (18.7 - 27.9%) and in Ghahrood (with one sample) were phenylethyl alcohol (15.2%), CITRONELLOL (12.8%), geraniol (12.7%) and n- nonadecane (25.5%) and in Ghamsar (with two samples) were phenylethyl alcohol (7.1 - 17.5%), CITRONELLOL( 99.5 - 17.7%), geraniol (6 - 13.3%) and n- nonadecane (25.5- 31%)and in Mashhad Ardehal (withtwo samples) were phenylethylalcohol(4.5- 10.3%), CITRONELLOL (13.9- 20.7%), geraniol (10.9- 18.4%) and n- nonadecane(23.6 - 25.5%).