115 research outputs found
Chemical Composition and Free Radical Scavenging Activity of the Essential Oil of Achillea ligustica All. Wild Growing in Lipari (Aeolian Islands, Sicily)
No full textThe chemical composition of the essential oils from aerial parts and flowers of Achillea ligustica All., collected in Lipari (Aeolian Islands) was evaluated by GC and GC-MS. (Z)-Chrysanthenyl acetate was the most abundant component of both oils (29.6% in A1 and 27.8% in F1) followed by viridiflorol (16.8% in A1 and 21.6% in F1), bornyl acetate (8.7% in A1 and 11.6% in F1) and 1,8-cineole (7.4% in A1 and 9.3% in F1). A comparison with the composition of the different populations studied so far has been done. Futhermore the free radical scavenging activity of the oil (A1) was determined by DPPH and ABTS methods
Chemical composition and larvicidal activity of several essential oils from Hypericum species from Tunisia
No full textThe chemical composition of the essential oils extracted from some Tunisian Hypericum species and their larvicidal activity against Culex pipiens larvae were evaluated.
The chemical compositions of the essential oils from the aerial plant parts were analyzed using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. One hundred and thirty-four compounds were identified, ranging between 85.1 and 95.4 % of the oil composition.
The components were monoterpene hydrocarbons, oxygenated monoterpenes, sesquiterpene hydrocarbons, oxygenated sesquiterpenes, non-terpenic hydrocarbons, and others.
The larvicidal activity of the essential oils was evaluated using a method recommended by WHO. Larvicidal tests revealed that essential oils from the Hypericum species have a significant larvicidal activity against C. pipiens, with LC50 ranging between 102.82 and 194.70 ppm. The most powerful essential oils against these larvae were Hypericum tomentosum and Hypericum humifusum samples, followed by the essential oil of Hypericum perforatu
Volatile components of Hypericum humifusum, Hypericum perforatum and Hypericum ericoides by HS-SPME-GC and HS-SPME-GCMS using nano scale injection techniques
No full textSeveral products were developed, which contain Hypericum herb or its extracts as additives and several brands of food, beverages and yoghurts include this herb. Some Tunisian Hypericum species considered rare plants in Tunisia and their sampling need in the most of cases authorization from the authorities. The study of their essential oils in Tunisia was sometimes limited by operational analysis. The analysis of full dry aerial parts of these plants from Tunisia has been carried out by headspace solid phase microextraction (HS–SPME) coupled with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). The obtained results showed that the non-terpene hydrocarbon fraction dominated the chemical composition of volatiles from the three Hypericum species with clear abundance of n-undecane, accounting 44.4%, 36.2%, and 20.2% for H. humifusum, H. perfoliatum and H. ericoides, respectively. This fraction was followed by terpenic hydrocarbons, and oxygenated terpene
Chemical composition and intraspecific variability of the essential oil of five populations of Hypericum triquetrifolium Turra growing in North Tunisia
No full textThe chemical composition of the essential oils of five populations of Hypericum triquetrifolium Turra from Tunisia and their intraspecific variability were analyzed in detail by GC/MS. One hundred seventy-four compounds were identified, representing averages of 87.9 to 98.7% of the oil composition. The components are represented here by homologous series of monoterpene hydrocarbons, oxygenated monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes hydrocarbons, oxygenated sesquiterpenes, non-terpenic hydrocarbons, and others. Sesquiterpene hydrocarbons were the most abundant chemical compounds. Multivariate chemometric techniques, such as cluster analysis (CA) and principal component analysis (PCA), were used to characterize the samples according to the geographical origin. By statistical analysis, the analyzed populations were classified into four chemotype groups
Voucher funds in transitional economies : the Czech and Slovak experience
No full textVoucher funds have arisen in the transitional economies of Eastern and Central Europe that have used voucher privatization. These funds collect vouchers from citizens and use them to buy shares in enterprises. In the Czech and Slovak Republics, voucher funds are typically organized as corporations owned by the citizens who contributed their vouchers. Recently, they have also been organized as unit trusts (either open-ended or closed). A management company manages the funds under a contract that specifies the management fee. The management company is typically owned by the initial sponsor of the fund - for example, a bank. Voucher funds can give owners a diversified and professionally managed portfolio. More important, the funds select who sits on an enterprise's governance boards (which oversee management and profitability). Although experience is limited, the funds in these two countries have probably stopped most fraud and self-serving by enterprise mangers and are beginning to encourage the restructuring needed for profitability. A few funds have replaced poorly performing or dishonest managers; more often, because qualified replacements are few, they encourage managers to improve performance. There have been complaints about funds'performance. Some have made unrealistic promises to voucher holders and have appointed poorly qualified members to management boards. There is concern about conflicts of interest in the bank-sponsored funds and excessive control of enterprises. Funds typically lack capital or expertise to undertake restructuring - but few other potential owners are likely to be better qualified. The author examines 27 regulations that have been proposed for funds. Regulations in transitional economies, unlike regulations in most western countries, should encourage funds to play a strong role in corporate governance, he contends, as few potential owners have this ability. Most important, regulations should require that funds disclose information about their operations so their owners can monitor and control fund managers. The regulatory regime, the author says, should discourage monopolies and anticompetitive behavior; create incentives for fund managers to improve fund performance; discourage self-serving or fraudulent behavior by fund managers, and conflicts of interest; and eliminate high-risk investments unacceptable to fund owners. Because there is so little experience with these funds, the regulatory regime should not be unduly restrictive. As problems arise, regulations to deal with them can be added.International Terrorism&Counterterrorism,Economic Adjustment and Lending,Economic Theory&Research,Agricultural Knowledge&Information Systems,Payment Systems&Infrastructure
Evaluation of the cytotoxic effect and antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral activities of Hypericum triquetrifolium Turra essential oils from Tunisia
No full textBackground: A number of bio-active secondary metabolites have been identified and reported for several Hypericum species. Many studies have reported the potential use of the plant extracts against several pathogens. However, Hypericum triquetrifolium is one of the least studied species for its antimicrobial activity. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the cytotoxic effect of the essential oils of Hypericum triquetrifolium as well as their antimicrobial potential against coxsakievirus B3 and a range of bacterial and fungal strains.
Methods: The essential oils of Hypericum triquetrifolium harvested from five different Tunisian localities (Fondouk DJedid, Bou Arada, Bahra, Fernana and Dhrea Ben Jouder) were evaluated for their antimicrobial activities by micro-broth dilution methods against bacterial and fungal strains. In addition, the cytotoxic effect and the antiviral activity of these oils were carried out using Vero cell lines and coxsakievirus B3.
Results: The results showed a good antibacterial activities against a wide range of bacterial strains, MIC values ranging between 0.39-12.50 mg/ml and MBC values between 1.56-25.0 mg/ml. In addition, the essential oils showed promising antifungal activity with MIC values ranging between 0.39 mu g/mL and 12.50 mu g/mL; MFC values ranged between 3.12 mu g/mL and 25.00 mu g/mL; a significant anticandidal activity was noted (MIC values comprised between 0.39 mu g/mL and 12.50 mu g/mL). Although their low cytotoxic effect (CC50 ranged between 0.58 mg/mL and 12.00 mg/mL), the essential oils did not show antiviral activity against coxsakievirus B3.
Conclusion: The essential oils obtained from Hypericum triquetrifolium can be used as antimicrobial agents and could be safe at non cytotoxic doses. As shown for the tested essential oils, comparative analysis need to be undertaken to better characterize also the antimicrobial activities of Hypericum triquetrifolium extracts with different solvents as well as their purified fractions and their pure secondary metabolites
The Difficult Decision of Using Biopesticides: A Comparative Case-Study Analysis Concerning the Adoption of Biopesticides in the Mediterranean Region
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Open AccessArticle
The Difficult Decision of Using Biopesticides: A Comparative Case-Study Analysis Concerning the Adoption of Biopesticides in the Mediterranean Region
by Elena Fusar Poli 1,Juan Miguel Campos 2ORCID,Maria Teresa Martinez Ferrer 2ORCID,Ridha Rahmouni 3,Souad Rouis 4ORCID,Zeynep Yurtkuran 5 andMichele Filippo Fontefrancesco 1,6,7,*ORCID
1
University of Gastronomic Sciences, 12042 Bra, Italy
2
Institute of Agrifood Research and Technology, 43870 Amposta, Spain
3
Citrus Technical Center, Nabeul 8099, Tunisia
4
Center of Biotechnology of Sfax, Sfax 3018, Tunisia
5
Biyans Biological Products, 06690 Çankaya, Turkey
6
Department of Sociology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 20123 Milan, Italy
7
Department of Anthropology, Durham University, Durham DH1 3HP, UK
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Agriculture 2025, 15(6), 640; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15060640
Submission received: 30 January 2025 / Revised: 3 March 2025 / Accepted: 14 March 2025 / Published: 18 March 2025
(This article belongs to the Section Agricultural Economics, Policies and Rural Management)
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Abstract
The adoption of biopesticides in Mediterranean agriculture is shaped by environmental, economic, and socio-cultural factors. This study explores the push and pull factors influencing farmers’ decisions in Spain’s Ebro Delta, Tunisia’s Nabeul region, and Turkey’s Adana province. Through qualitative fieldwork and comparative analysis, key barriers to adoption are identified, including high costs, limited market availability, skepticism about efficacy, and reliance on conventional pesticides. However, this study also highlights opportunities driven by regulatory changes, increasing market demand for sustainable products, and the potential of biopesticides to improve ecological sustainability. The research follows a comparative case-study approach and was conducted between January and November 2024. The methodology included a literature review, two rounds of qualitative interviews with farmers, and thematic analysis to identify barriers and enabling factors, ensuring methodological rigor and cross-validation. Findings indicate that farmers’ professional ethos and economic conditions significantly limit biopesticide adoption. Perceived inefficacy, high production costs, and low profit margins reinforce reluctance. Spain struggles with skepticism, Tunisia faces economic and informational barriers, and Turkey’s reliance on traditional practices slows innovation. Despite these obstacles, key drivers facilitate adoption, including improved agricultural education, cooperative support, and increasing consumer demand for sustainable products. Legal frameworks, particularly the EU’s “Farm to Fork” strategy, play a crucial role, though top-down policies risk local resistance. This study outlines a model for biopesticide adoption based on seven key factors, with legal frameworks and farm structure emerging as primary drivers. Addressing economic and educational barriers is crucial for widespread adoption. By implementing targeted policies, Mediterranean agriculture can become a model for sustainable practices, balancing productivity and environmental stewardship
Fruit characteristics and fatty acid composition in advanced olive breeding selections along the ripening period
No full textChanges in olive growing techniques in the last years have shown the need for new bred cultivars able to replace the traditional ones today cultivated. In this work, seven new advanced selections recently obtained in the olive breeding program of Córdoba, Spain, and coming from crosses between 'Arbequina' and 'Picual' were evaluated for fruit traits and oil quality parameters. Fruit weight, oil and moisture content, ripening index, fruit removal force and fatty acid composition were analyzed once a month over the ripening season from September to December over two consecutive years. Analysis of variance showed that the genotype effect was the main contributor to the total sums of squares for most of the traits evaluated. However, high influence of year, harvest date and interactions was also observed in some cases. Significant differences between cultivars were observed for all the evaluated characters. Ranking correlations indicate that the evaluation in a single common harvest date could be a reliable indicator for a correct classification of advanced olive selections for the traits considered. This would avoid the need for repeated measurements throughout the season or for collection of samples at a common ripening index for comparison. The correlations observed among fruit characteristics and fatty acids could be of interest in future breeding programs for those traits and some of them confirm previous results with seedling progenies and other breeding selections. Among all the selections evaluated, UC-I-42-48 seems promising for its good fruit size, oil content and low fruit removal force. Additionally UC-I-2-35 could be highlighted for its high oleic acid content, although further evaluation will be carried out in the future to obtain a complete commercial evaluation under different environmental conditions. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd.Nassima Talhaoui had an M. Sc. fellowship from the International Olive Council. Houssem Rouis had an M. Sc. fellowship from Instituto Agronómico Mediterráneo de Zaragoza (CIHEAM).International Olive CouncilInstituto Agronómico Mediterráneo de Zaragoza (CIHEAM)Peer reviewedPeer Reviewe
Chemical composition and free radical scavenging activity of the essential oil of Achillea ligustica All. wild growing in Lipari (Aeolian Islands, Sicily)
No full textIn the present study the chemical composition of the essential oils from aerial parts and flowers of Achillea ligustica All., collected in Lipari (Aeolian Islands) was evaluated by GC and GC-MS. (Z)-Chrysanthenyl acetate was the most abundant component of both oils (29.6% in A1 and 27.8% in F1), followed by viridiflorol (16.8% in A1 and 21.6% in F1), bornyl acetate (8.7% in A1 and 11.6% in F1) and 1,8-cineole (7.4% in A1 and 9.3% in F1). A comparison was made of the composition of the different populations studied so far. Futhermore, the free radical scavenging activity of the oil was determined by DPPH and ABTS method
Variability of chemical composition and biological activities of Allium triquetrum L. essential oils
No full textThe present work describes the chemical composition and evaluates the antimicrobial properties of the essential oils
from the Tunisian Allium triquetrum L. It is particularly interesting study because there are no reports on of this species in
any sector and with specific chemical composition. The chemical composition of four essential oil samples (flowers, stems,
leaves and bulbs) of A. triquetrum, obtained separately by hydrodistillation were analyzed by combination of GC-FID and GCMS.
Altogether, 45 compounds were identified representing 90.5-95.3% of the total oil content. The chemical composition
of bulbs oil was characterized by a high proportion of sulfurous compounds (81.9%) among which dipropyl trisulfide (11.7%)
and di-2-propenyl trisulfide (10.0%) were the predominant compounds. The oxygenated sesquiterpenes represent the major
fraction (79.2%) in stem oil giving T-cadinol (26.8%), α-eudesmol (11.4%) and β-eudesmol (16.8%) as the main components;
they were present also in leaf oil. We also noted the presence of some alkane compounds such n-nonadecane (13.3%) in
flower oil. Some compounds identified in this plant have not been reported about other species of Allium such elemol,
β-copaen-4-α-ol, globulol, viridiflorol, guaiol, eremoligenol, α-eudesmol, β-eudesmol and pimaradiene. Furthermore, the
isolated oils were evaluated for antibacterial and antifungal activities. All the oils exhibited significant in vitro antibacterial
activity, especially against Enterococcus faecalis and Staphylococcus aureus. The oil obtained from the stem, leaf and bulbs
exhibited an interesting antibacterial activity, with a Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of 31.25μg/mL against S.
aureus. It was found also that stem and bulbs oil showed the highest growth inhibition of almost fungi especially against
Fusarium solani (75.33and 71.33%, resp.) even greater than the positive control: benomyl (69.33%). The results indicate that
the essential oil of A. triquetrum contains chemical compounds with good potential for application in natural health products
and in the protection of agriculture products
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