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Nutrients
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Aromatic Herbs, Spices and Human Health
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Aromatic Herbs, Spices and Human Health

A special issue of Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643). This special issue belongs to the section "Phytochemicals and Human Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (25 October 2023) | Viewed by 13795

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Carla Masala

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, SP 8 Cittadella Universitaria, 09042 Monserrato, Italy
Interests: olfactory function; gustatory function; neurodegenerative diseases; cognitive function; COVID-19; nutrition
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Antonella Rosa

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, 09124 Cagliari, Italy
Interests: natural extracts; food components; nutraceuticals; antioxidants; lipids
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

There is great interest in the dietary use of herbs and spices for their ability to positively affect human health and impart distinctive flavorings to food products. Aromatic plants, traditionally used as flavor enhancers, provide proteins, fiber, essential oils, vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals, in addition to greatly contributing to the promotion of health due to their antioxidant activity and capacity to prevent cancer and cardiovascular as well as neurodegenerative diseases. Moreover, the addition of herbs and spices to food products has been suggested as a strategy for reducing the amount of salt in diets and for the improvement of flavor perceptions in patients with gustatory and olfactory deficits.

The aim of this Specific Issue is to extend the current knowledge on the role of aromatic herbs and spices, normally used in food flavoring and medical applications, in human health in relation to their chemical compositions. The current and new applications of herbs and spices in the field of nutritional, nutraceutical, and pharmaceutical sciences will be explored together with their other useful roles in human healthcare.

Dr. Carla Masala
Dr. Antonella Rosa
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Nutrients is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • aromatic plants
  • herbs and spices
  • food flavorings
  • medicinal plants
  • olfactory and gustatory deficit
  • human healthcare

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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22 pages, 8098 KiB  
Article
Exploring the Impact of Onobrychis cornuta and Veratrum lobelianum Extracts on C. elegans: Implications for MAPK Modulation, Germline Development, and Antitumor Properties
by Qinghao Meng, Nishit Pathak, Xiaojing Ren, Robert P. Borris and Hyun-Min Kim
Nutrients 2024, 16(1), 8; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16010008 - 19 Dec 2023
Viewed by 902
Abstract
In an era of increasing interest in the potential health benefits of medicinal foods, the need to assess their safety and potential toxicity remains a critical concern. While these natural remedies have garnered substantial attention for their therapeutic potential, a comprehensive understanding of [...] Read more.
In an era of increasing interest in the potential health benefits of medicinal foods, the need to assess their safety and potential toxicity remains a critical concern. While these natural remedies have garnered substantial attention for their therapeutic potential, a comprehensive understanding of their effects on living organisms is essential. We examined 316 herbal extracts to determine their potential nematocidal attributes in Caenorhabditis elegans. Approximately 16% of these extracts exhibited the capacity to induce diminished survival rates and larval arrest, establishing a correlation between larval arrest and overall worm viability. Certain extracts led to an unexpected increase in male nematodes, accompanied by a discernible reduction in DAPI-stained bivalent structures and perturbed meiotic advancement, thereby disrupting the conventional developmental processes. Notably, Onobrychis cornuta and Veratrum lobelianum extracts activated a DNA damage checkpoint response via the ATM/ATR and CHK-1 pathways, thus hindering germline development. Our LC–MS analysis revealed jervine in V. lobelianum and nine antitumor compounds in O. cornuta. Interestingly, linoleic acid replicated phenotypes induced by O. cornuta exposure, including an increased level of pCHK-1 foci, apoptosis, and the MAPK pathway. Mutants in the MAPK pathway mitigated the decline in worm survival, underscoring its importance in promoting worm viability. This study reveals complex interactions between herbal extracts and C. elegans processes, shedding light on potential antitumor effects and mechanisms. The findings provide insights into the complex landscape of herbal medicine’s impact on a model organism, offering implications for broader applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aromatic Herbs, Spices and Human Health)
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14 pages, 2285 KiB  
Article
Fermented Stevia Improves Alcohol Poisoning Symptoms Associated with Changes in Mouse Gut Microbiota
by Qingmiao Ma, Masafumi Noda, Narandalai Danshiitsoodol and Masanori Sugiyama
Nutrients 2023, 15(17), 3708; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15173708 - 24 Aug 2023
Viewed by 1023
Abstract
We previously found that the continuous feeding of ethanol caused mice dysbiosis, in which the cecal microbiota were significantly altered, as compared with those in the non-feeding control group, especially in some bacterial genera involved in gut inflammation. In the present study, we [...] Read more.
We previously found that the continuous feeding of ethanol caused mice dysbiosis, in which the cecal microbiota were significantly altered, as compared with those in the non-feeding control group, especially in some bacterial genera involved in gut inflammation. In the present study, we have found that the fermented extract of stevia (Stevia rebaudiana) leaves with plant-derived lactic acid bacteria (LABs), Pediococcus pentosaceus LY45, improves the trimethylamine (TMA) productivity of cecal content, which can be used as an indicator of dysbiosis. The following animal experiment also shows that the LY45-fermented stevia extract represses the typical increase in serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels, which decreased from 1106 to 210 IU/L (p < 0.05) and from 591 to 100 IU/L (p < 0.05), respectively, together with the simultaneously latent TMA productivity (from 1356 to 745 μM, p < 0.05) of cecal content in the ethanol-fed mice. The microbiota analyses have shown that the observed increased alterations in pro-inflammatory genera putative SMB53 (family Clostridiaceae) and Dorea are restored by the fermented stevia extract. Our result indicates that the preliminary bioconversion of herbal medicinal precursors by fermentation with safe microorganisms like LABs is expected to be a hopeful method of producing specific metabolites that may contribute to the reconstruction of gut microbiota. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aromatic Herbs, Spices and Human Health)
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22 pages, 2312 KiB  
Article
Sex Differences in the Bitterness Perception of an Aromatic Myrtle Bitter Liqueur and Bitter Compounds
by Antonella Rosa, Ilenia Pinna, Alessandra Piras, Silvia Porcedda and Carla Masala
Nutrients 2023, 15(9), 2030; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15092030 - 23 Apr 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3297
Abstract
We evaluated sex differences in the perception of bitter compounds and an aromatic bitter herbal liqueur (Mirtamaro) obtained by the infusion of myrtle leaves/berries together with a mixture of Mediterranean herbs/plants as flavoring/bittering ingredients. In a healthy population (n = 231 participants), [...] Read more.
We evaluated sex differences in the perception of bitter compounds and an aromatic bitter herbal liqueur (Mirtamaro) obtained by the infusion of myrtle leaves/berries together with a mixture of Mediterranean herbs/plants as flavoring/bittering ingredients. In a healthy population (n = 231 participants), using bivariate correlations and multivariate linear regression analyses, significant sex differences emerged in quinine bitterness perception, with women showing a higher bitter taste intensity rating than men. Among all participants, 40 subjects (subpopulation) were randomly selected for the evaluation of sex differences in Mirtamaro gustatory and olfactory perception using a hedonic Likert-type scale. Women showed higher ratings in Mirtamaro aroma (odor intensity) and bitterness (taste intensity) perception than men, with a superior capacity to perceive/describe its sensory attributes. 1,8-Cineole and methyl chavicol were the main contributors to the bitter liqueur aroma. A significant correlation (r = 0.564, p < 0.01) between Mirtamaro odor pleasantness/taste pleasantness was observed in women, indicating a positive contribution of aromatic herbs to bitter taste acceptability. Moreover, a higher bitter intensity rating of 6-n-propylthiouracil was evidenced in women than men. Our results highlighted sex differences in bitter taste acuity and the role of aromatic herbs/plants in modulating bitter taste acceptance, which is useful information in the field of precision nutrition and medicine. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aromatic Herbs, Spices and Human Health)
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26 pages, 3131 KiB  
Article
Effect of Thymbra capitata (L.) Cav. on Inflammation, Senescence and Cell Migration
by Jorge M. Alves-Silva, Sónia Pedreiro, Carlos Cavaleiro, Maria Teresa Cruz, Artur Figueirinha and Lígia Salgueiro
Nutrients 2023, 15(8), 1930; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15081930 - 17 Apr 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1786
Abstract
Aromatic plants are reported to display pharmacological properties, including anti-aging. This work aims to disclose the anti-aging effect of the essential oil (EO) of Thymbra capitata (L.) Cav., an aromatic and medicinal plant widely used as a spice, as well as of the [...] Read more.
Aromatic plants are reported to display pharmacological properties, including anti-aging. This work aims to disclose the anti-aging effect of the essential oil (EO) of Thymbra capitata (L.) Cav., an aromatic and medicinal plant widely used as a spice, as well as of the hydrodistillation residual water (HRW), a discarded by-product of EO hydrodistillation. The phytochemical characterization of EO and HRW was assessed by GC-MS and HPLC-PDA-ESI-MSn, respectively. The DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP assays were used to disclose the antioxidant properties. The anti-inflammatory potential was evaluated using lipopolysaccharide-stimulated macrophages by assessing NO production, iNOS, and pro-IL-1β protein levels. Cell migration was evaluated using the scratch wound assay, and the etoposide-induced senescence was used to assess the modulation of senescence. The EO is mainly characterized by carvacrol, while the HRW is predominantly characterized by rosmarinic acid. The HRW exerts a stronger antioxidant effect in the DPPH and FRAP assays, whereas the EO was the most active sample in the ABTS assay. Both extracts reduce NO, iNOS, and pro-IL-1β. The EO has no effect on cell migration and presents anti-senescence effects. In opposition, HRW reduces cell migration and induces cellular senescence. Overall, our study highlights interesting pharmacological properties for both extracts, EO being of interest as an anti-aging ingredient and HRW relevant in cancer therapy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aromatic Herbs, Spices and Human Health)
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15 pages, 3315 KiB  
Article
Role of Aromatic Herbs and Spices in Salty Perception of Patients with Hyposmia
by Antonella Rosa, Francesco Loy, Ilenia Pinna and Carla Masala
Nutrients 2022, 14(23), 4976; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14234976 - 23 Nov 2022
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 1685
Abstract
Herbs and spices represent a possibility for the improvement of anosmia and ageusia. In this work we evaluated the role of Mediterranean aromatic herbs and spices in the salty taste perception of patients with hyposmia compared to healthy controls. To this goal, the [...] Read more.
Herbs and spices represent a possibility for the improvement of anosmia and ageusia. In this work we evaluated the role of Mediterranean aromatic herbs and spices in the salty taste perception of patients with hyposmia compared to healthy controls. To this goal, the salty taste perception in response to pure salt and different types of commercial flavored sea salt was assessed in patients with hyposmia, with or without a post-acute coronavirus syndrome, and healthy controls. Myrtle berries and leaves, a mixture of Mediterranean herbs and plants such as helichrysum, rosemary, liquorice, fennel seeds and myrtle leaves, oranges and saffron were used as salt flavoring ingredients. Differences in gustatory perception between 57 patients with hyposmia and 91 controls were evaluated considering the rate of the gustatory dimensions of pleasantness, intensity, and familiarity, using a 7-point hedonic Likert-type scale. At a dose of 0.04 g/mL, saline solutions of flavored salts, with an average 15% less NaCl, were perceived by patients with hyposmia as equally intense but less familiar than pure salt solution, with similar scores in the pleasantness dimension. Our study highlighted the central role of Mediterranean aromatic plants in the enhancement of salty perception in patients with hyposmia. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aromatic Herbs, Spices and Human Health)
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Review

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44 pages, 2854 KiB  
Review
A Scoping Review of the Clinical Evidence for the Health Benefits of Culinary Doses of Herbs and Spices for the Prevention and Treatment of Metabolic Syndrome
by Marion Mackonochie, Ana Rodriguez-Mateos, Simon Mills and Vivien Rolfe
Nutrients 2023, 15(23), 4867; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15234867 - 22 Nov 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3763
Abstract
Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a growing global health problem. Evidence suggests that diets rich in phytochemical-containing herbs and spices can contribute to reducing the risk of chronic diseases. This review assesses the scope of evidence supporting the use of herbs and spices in [...] Read more.
Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a growing global health problem. Evidence suggests that diets rich in phytochemical-containing herbs and spices can contribute to reducing the risk of chronic diseases. This review assesses the scope of evidence supporting the use of herbs and spices in the diet for the prevention or treatment of MetS and its associated health conditions. A search of the PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar databases was carried out to assess the available clinical evidence for culinary doses of commonly used herbs and spices. Trials that were measuring health factors related to metabolic disorders in healthy individuals, or the health of individuals with MetS or associated diseases, were included. Out of a total of 1738 papers identified, there were 142 relevant studies on black pepper, chilli, cardamom, cinnamon, coriander, cumin, fennel, fenugreek, garlic, ginger, nigella seed, rosemary, sage and turmeric. No relevant research was found for cloves, mint, oregano, parsley or thyme. Cinnamon, fenugreek and ginger were the herbs/spices with the most published trials on them and that showed promise for glycaemic control. Cardamom appears to have potential to reduce inflammatory markers, and cinnamon, ginger and turmeric to reduce blood lipids. Patients with type 2 diabetes were the population most likely to be included in studies, but the preventative benefits of herbs/spices in healthy populations were also investigated, particularly for chilli, ginger and cinnamon. There is evidence for the beneficial effect of culinary doses of many common herbs/spices in the prevention and treatment of MetS and associated disorders. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aromatic Herbs, Spices and Human Health)
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