Chemical and Antimicrobial Characterization of Mentha piperita L. and Rosmarinus officinalis L. Essential Oils and In Vitro Potential Cytotoxic Effect in Human Colorectal Carcinoma Cells

Colorectal cancer is one of the most frequently diagnosed forms of cancer, and the therapeutic solutions are frequently aggressive requiring improvements. Essential oils (EOs) are secondary metabolites of aromatic plants with important pharmacological properties that proved to be beneficial in multiple pathologies including cancer. Mentha piperita L. (M_EO) and Rosmarinus officinalis L. (R_EO) essential oils are well-known for their biological effects (antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic in different cancer cells), but their potential as complementary treatment in colorectal cancer is underexplored. The aim of the present study was to investigate the M_EO and R_EO in terms of chemical composition, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and cytotoxic effects in a colorectal cancer cell line—HCT 116. The gas-chromatographic analysis revealed menthone and menthol, and eucalyptol, α-pinene and L-camphor as major compounds in M_EO and R_EO respectively. M_EO exhibited potent antimicrobial activity, moderate antioxidant activity and a low cytotoxic effect in HCT 116 cells. R_EO presented a significant cytotoxicity in colorectal cancer cells and a low antimicrobial effect. The cytotoxic effect on non-cancerous cell line HaCaT was not significant for both essential oils. These results may provide an experimental basis for further research concerning the potential use of M_EO and R_EO for anticancer treatment.     

Fructose-derived hydrochar: combustion thermochemistry and kinetics assessments

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - The combustion behavior of fructose-derived hydrochar was investigated using a kinetic evaluation protocol that brings about novel elements related to...     

The Plateau problem from the perspective of optimal transport

Both optimal transport and minimal surfaces have received much attention in recent years. We show that the methodology introduced by Kantorovich on the Monge problem can, surprisingly, be adapted to questions involving least area, e.g., Plateau-type problems as investigated by Federer.     

Fixed points vs. coupled fixed points

In this paper, we will show some connections between fixed point and coupled fixed point problems in Banach and metric spaces.     

On the ‘true position’ of hydrogen in the Periodic Table

Several attempts have recently been made to point to ‘the proper place’ for hydrogen (sometimes also helium) in the Periodic Table of the elements. There are altogether five different types of arguments that lead to the following conclusions: (1) hydrogen should be placed in group 1, above lithium; (2) hydrogen should be placed in group 17, above fluorine; (3) hydrogen is to be placed in group 14, above carbon; (4) hydrogen should be positioned above both lithium and fluorine and (5) hydrogen should be treated as a stand-alone element, in the center of the Periodic Table. Although all proposals are based on arguments, not all of them sound equally convincing. An attempt is made, after critical reexamination of the arguments offered, to hopefully point to the best possible choice for the position of hydrogen. A few words are also mentioned on the structure of the Periodic Table and the (novel) attempts to reorganize it.