Karim Raafat

Objective: The primary aim of this study was to develop and optimize a novel infrared-ultrasound hydrodistillation method coupled with in-line gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (IR–US–HD–GC/MS) for the eco-efficient extraction of Salvia sclarea essential oil (EO). The secondary aim was to evaluate the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and gastroprotective effects of the optimized EO in validated in vivo models. Materials and Methods: A novel IR–US–HD–GC/MS apparatus was assembled and compared with microwave-assisted hydrodistillation (MW-HD) and conventional hydrodistillation (HD). The EOs were chemically characterized, and the most promising extract was tested in two gastric ulcer models (HCl/ethanol and hypothermia). Anti-inflammatory mechanisms were investigated through cytokine assays, NF-κB, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and antioxidant markers. Results: The novel IR–US–HD–GC/MS method significantly improved EO yield (5.8 mL/kg vs. 3.0 mL/kg with HD), reduced extraction time (15 min vs. 5 h), and lowered energy consumption by 90%. The optimized EO (200 mg/kg) produced strong gastroprotection, reducing ulcer area by 74.9% in the HCl/ethanol model and 49.6% in the hypothermia model, comparable to ranitidine. Biochemically, treatment reduced tumor necrosis factor-alpha (72.8%), interleukin-6 (IL-6) (71.2%), NF-κB (IC ₅₀ = 88.7 mg/kg), and COX-2 (IC ₅₀ = 112.2 mg/kg), while increasing IL-10 (1.3-fold) and restoring antioxidant balance (MDA decreased by 46%; GSH increased by ca. 2-fold; CAT increased by 1.25-fold). Conclusions: The IR–US–HD–GC/MS method is a green, time- and energy-efficient technology that enhances both yield and bioactivity of S. sclarea EO. The optimized oil demonstrates significant multi-targeted antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and gastroprotective effects, supporting its potential as a safe phytotherapeutic candidate for inflammatory gastric disorders.

Frankenia hirsuta (FH) is an underexplored halophytic plant used for managing inflammatory and metabolic disorders. However, its phytochemical composition and pharmacological mechanisms remain largely uncharacterized. Thus, this study aimed to comprehensively elucidate the phytochemical profile, molecular mechanisms, and pharmacological efficacy of FH using an integrated approach combining liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) metabolite characterization, in vitro bioassays, in-vivo validation, and computational analyses. Metabolite profiling was performed using LC–MS/MS, followed by molecular docking and network pharmacology analyses to predict potential targets involved in neuropathic, inflammatory, and metabolic pathways. In vitro cytotoxicity and anticoagulant activities of the aerial and root ethanolic extracts were assessed using MTT and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) assays, respectively. The in vivo antidiabetic and neuroprotective effects were evaluated in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice, using behavioral assays (hot plate and von Frey filaments), biochemical markers of oxidative stress and inflammation, and histopathological and immunohistochemical (IHC) examinations. LC–MS/MS analysis revealed a diverse bioactive constituents, including phenolic acids, flavonoid glycosides, and feruloyl derivatives. Network pharmacology and docking studies highlighted strong binding affinities toward key enzymes such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), cyclooxygenase-2, and AKT1, indicating multimodal anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective potential. In vitro, FH extracts exhibited significant cytoprotective effects and prolonged aPTT in a dose-dependent manner, confirming their safety and mild anticoagulant properties. In vivo, FH root extract (75 mg/kg) and its isolated feruloyl glycoside (FG) (5–10 mg/kg) significantly restored nociceptive thresholds, improved glycemic control, normalized oxidative and inflammatory biomarkers, and preserved pancreatic and sciatic nerve histoarchitecture. IHC analyses further demonstrated downregulation of TNF-α and IL-6 and upregulation of IL-10 in treated groups, confirming their anti-inflammatory and regenerative effects. This study provides the first comprehensive evidence that FH exerts potent neuroprotective and antidiabetic effects mediated through antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and cytokine-modulating pathways. The integrated LC–MS/MS, computational, and experimental validation framework highlights FH and its FG as promising candidates for developing safe, plant-derived therapeutics targeting diabetic neuropathy and related metabolic dysfunctions.

Eggs are considered a nutritionally complete food and an excellent source of protein. However, they are prone to bacterial contamination, which can affect their internal quality and safety. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of essential oils (EOs) as natural sanitizers for eggshells to reduce the bacterial load and improve shelf life. Ten EOs—cinnamon, clove, lavender, peppermint, thyme, rosemary, green tea, mustard, basil, and marjoram—were tested for antibacterial activity against three Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, and Listeria monocytogenes) and three Gram-negative bacteria (Salmonella Enteritidis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli) using the well diffusion method. The most effective EOs were assessed in vapor form using a disc volatilization technique. A total of 288 eggs from a local farm in South Lebanon were treated with selected EOs and stored at room temperature for three weeks to evaluate microbial load and quality. The eggs were grouped into six categories: dry control, ultraviolet (UV) treated, and eggs sprayed with EOs, based on the recorded minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values. At each time point, 12 eggs from each group were analyzed for microbiological testing and external and internal quality. Results indicated that nine of the ten EOs showed antibacterial activity, with the highest inhibition zones recorded for cinnamon against S. Enteritidis (14 mm) and E. coli (9 mm), peppermint against P. aeruginosa (10 mm), and rosemary against L. monocytogenes (22 mm), S. aureus (19 mm), and E. faecalis (12 mm). Vapor phase testing showed that rosemary, thyme, clove, and cinnamon EOs had average inhibition zones ranging from 21 to 33 mm against the tested bacteria, and peppermint EO achieved complete inhibition of P. aeruginosa. Clove EO consistently reduced the bacterial load as a sanitizer on eggs, initially achieving complete inhibition. While egg quality parameters such as weight, shell thickness, Haugh unit, and yolk color declined over time, EOs helped maintain better quality compared to dry controls. GC-MS analysis of the tested EOs revealed that monoterpene alcohols are the major constituents of most oils. This study concludes that EOs are effective natural sanitizers for eggs, enhancing safety and preserving quality during storage.

Asthma, a serious global health problem, has been an area of interest due to its increasing prevalence, expanding treatment costs, and rising burden on patients and the community. Since asthma cannot be cured, clinical episodes can be prevented and controlled by adequate management and sufficient knowledge of the disease. Appropriate treatment may relieve asthma symptoms and improve quality of life. However, poor knowledge of asthma disease and medication use, misdiagnoses, misuse of inhalers and inadequate self-management of disease symptoms may have a greater impact on the disease process. Therefore, assessment of the population’s knowledge and attitude toward asthma is essential. To the best of our knowledge, no previous studies has assessed the population’s knowledge and attitude regarding asthma in Beirut, thus this study was conducted to assess the knowledge and attitude of Lebanese adults regarding asthma in Beirut, Lebanon. Additionally, the goal of this study was to determine the incidence from the studied sample of participants with physician-diagnosed and physician-undiagnosed asthma treated by bronchodilators/inhaled corticosteroids (BD/ICS). Furthermore, to identify from the sample studied the participants having the likelihood of asthma disease and to highlight the natural products used by the participants in managing asthma-related symptoms. Four hundred participants were enrolled in a cross-sectional study that was carried out using web-based anonymous questionnaires about asthma disease evaluating their knowledge towards the disease and attitude in Beirut, Lebanon. The study revealed that Lebanese adults had an inadequate level of knowledge regarding asthma, its medications, and asthma triggers. This lack of knowledge was reflected in their attitude towards the disease. Moreover, our study showed that 9.1% of the asthmatic participants who were questioned were undiagnosed yet by the physician and 33.3% of those were using BD/ICS to relieve their asthma symptoms. Furthermore, it is noteworthy that 18.75% of the questioned participants had recurrent respiratory symptoms and had features that associated with asthma, thus increasing the risk of developing chronic airway disease and asthma. However, only 8.25% of questioned participants were asthmatic. In conclusion, there is a need to improve the Lebanese community’s knowledge and attitude by increasing the level of awareness about the disease. Several recommendations were suggested to advance the knowledge of asthma in order to improve future health outcomes.

A huge-amount of citrus by-products is being wasted every-year. There is a high-need to utilize these by-products with high-efficiency. This study focuses on the essential oil (EO) isolation from the zest of Citrus sinensis (CS) by-products, using a novel dual-function gas-chromatography mass-spectrometry optimized ultrasound-assisted hydrodistillation-prototype (DF-GC/MS-HUS). The CS-EO was GC-analyzed by MS-detector (GC/MS) and optimized by flame-ionization detector (GC/FID). Ultrasound-assisted hydrodistillation (HUS) had a dual-function in CS-EO isolation by utilizing an adequate-energy to break-open the oil-containing glands, and by functioning-as a dispersing-agent to emulsify the organic-phase. The most effective DF-GC/MS-HUS optimized-conditions were isolation under 38 °C and 10 min of 28.9 Hz sonication. The main-components of CS-EO were limonene, β-myrcene, and α-pinene (81.32%, 7.55%, and 4.20%) in prototype, compared to (60.23%, 5.33%, and 2.10%) in the conventional-method, respectively. The prototype CS-EO showed natural antibacterial-potentials, and inhibited the bio-film formation by Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes, and E. coli more-potent than the conventional-method. Compared to conventional-method, the prototype-method decreased the isolation-time by 83.3%, lowered energy-consumption, without carbon-dioxide production, by reducing isolation-temperatures by more-than half, which protected the thermolabile-components, and increased the quantity by 2514-folds, and improved the quality of CE-EO composition and its antibacterial-potentials. Therefore, the DF-GC/MS-HUS prototype method is considered a novel green-technique that minimized the energy-utilization with higher-efficiency.