The volatile oils of black pepper [Piper nigrum L. (Piperaceae)], clove [Syzygium aromaticum (L.) Merr. & Perry (Myrtaceae)], geranium [Pelargonium graveolens L'Herit (Geraniaceae)], nutmeg [Myristica fragrans Houtt. (Myristicaceae), oregano [Origanum vulgare ssp. hirtum (Link) Letsw. (Lamiaceae)] and thyme [Thymus vulgaris L. (Lamiaceae)] were assessed for antibacterial activity against 25 dif...

Both Origanum vulgare L. subsp. vulgare and O. vulgare subsp. hirtum (Link) Ietsw. occur in the Rhodopes in different habitats. Collection of O. v. subsp. hirtum is forbidden for trade purposes in Bulgaria by law. The aim of this study is to trace the traditional use and collection of both subspecies in the Rhodopes therefore ethnobotanical survey was carried out. O. vulgare was one of the most...

A procedural modification of the AOAC Official Method for extracting light filth from ground oregano and ground marjoram was tested in an intralaboratory study. The modified method specifies isopropanol defatting, 975.49A(a), rather than chloroform-isopropanol defatting, 975.49A(b), followed by direct flotation as directed in AOAC Official Method, 975.49B(b). The modified method provided compar...

The antifungal activity and the chemical composition of essential oils (EOs) from some Mediterranean autochthonous plants were investigated against Malassezia pachydermatis, a fastidious opportunistic yeast usually involved in canine external otitis. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of Anthemis nobilis, Citrus limon, Citrus paradisi, Illicium verum, Lavandula hybrida, Mentha piperita, O...

The world species of Zambion Kasparyan (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae: Tryphoninae) are revised including re-descriptions of Zambion monodon Kasparyan and Zambion hirtum Delobel. Five new species are described: Zambion kasparyanisp. n., Zambion rogerisp. n., Zambion eileenaesp. n., Zambion wahlisp. n. andZambion broadisp. n. A key to species is provided. The genus is endemic to Africa (Angola to K...

The objective of the present investigation was to assess the possible involvement of GABAergic mechanism in analgesic effect of aqueous extract of Origanum Vulgare (ORG) in a rat model of acute pain test. Sixty-three anaesthetized male Wistar rats (200-250 g) were cannulated into the left ventricle. Five to seven days after the recovery from surgery, ORG extract was intraventricularly injected ...