Xavier Fernandez- Professor
- Professor at Université Côte d'Azur
Xavier Fernandez
- Professor
- Professor at Université Côte d'Azur
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216
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Introduction
Current institution
Publications
Publications (216)
Ostrya carpinifolia L., a member of the Betulaceae family, is a tree endemic to the Mediterranean basin that is well known for the hardness of its wood. In this study, we assess the anti‐pollution activities of a hydroalcoholic extract of O. carpinifolia twigs using several judiciously selected in vitro cosmetic bioassays. The extract's capacity to...
Essential oils from four aromatic plants growing in Tunisia (Mentha spicata, Thymus vulgaris, Citrus aurantium and Juniperus phoenica) were examined for their chemical composition and inhibitory properties against tyrosinase, lipoxygenase and elastase. These biological activities would make these aromatic plants as a valuable source for natural pro...
Naturalness is gaining ground among perfumers and the use of natural raw materials is spreading in perfumery. Forgotten perfumery plants are of concern to develop innovative and natural ingredients for modern perfume industries. The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential interest of Crataegus monogyna Jacq. extracts as fragrance i...
Purpose
Olfactory identification disorder is considered a promising early biomarker of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The QUICK TODA2 can be used as a short olfactory screening tool specific for French AD patients. The selection of AD specific odorants and the design of this screening were the main objectives of this twofold study.
Methods
In study 1,...
Dwarf Labrador tea, Rhododendron subarcticum Harmaja, is a popular medicinal plant in use by First Nations of Northern Canada, but its phytochemistry has remained largely unexplored. We have isolated and characterized the essential oil from a population of this species harvested near the treeline in Nunavik, Québec. Analyses by gas chromatography-m...
A study on the formation of ternary biphasic systems composed of heptane, 1-butanol or ethyl acetate and type III or type V deep eutectic solvents based on levulinic acid and choline chloride or thymol was carried. Binodal curves and densities and phase compositions of phases in equilibrium for seven systems are reported. The partition coefficients...
As an alternative to fossil volatile hydrocarbon solvents used nowadays in perfumery, investigation on essential oil of Commiphora wildii Merxm. oleo gum resin as a source of heptane is reported here. Heptane, representing up to 30 wt-% of this oleo gum resin, was successfully isolated from the C. wildii essential oil, using an innovative double di...
Valorization of wastes rich in valuable compounds is one of the most relevant topics in biorefinery and circular economy. Kiwifruit industry wastes are a potential source of bioactive compounds, such as phenolic compounds, which, in turn, exhibit many biological activities with potential health benefits. With the aim of developing a green approach...
Over the last few years, the development of micro-distilleries producing diverse spirits with various flavors has been observed. Versatile analytical techniques for the characterization of aroma compounds in such alcoholic beverages are therefore required. A model mixture embodying a theoretical distilled spirit was made according to the data found...
Le dosage des principes actifs et des substances réglementées dans les produits
cosmétiques est devenu ces dernières années un véritable enjeu pour le secteur très dynamique du cosmétique. Ces analyses sont nécessaires à la fois pour contrôler la qualité des matières premières et produits finis mais également pour en vérifier la conformité aux diff...
Valorisation of discarded kiwifruits is proposed by extracting bioactive compounds using sustainable solvents namely deep eutectic solvents (DES). A screening of fifteen DES and several hydrogen bonding donor solvents was carried out. Extraction efficiency was measured in terms of antioxidant activity using DPPH and FRAP tests. The influence of sol...
Introduction Fine lavender and lavandin are perfume and medicinal plants widely cultivated in Provence (south-east of France) for their essential oil and for the production of honey. The lavender monocultures are affected by a severe decline in France, due to the propagation of the yellow decline disease. This disease is caused by the Stolbur phyto...
(Résumé en français ci-dessous.) . . . . . . . The mastic tree (Pistacia lentiscus L.) is a common species in shrublands around the mediterranean sea. He has been appreciated for ages in traditional medecine, cosmetics, as food and fuel. We compare 3 fixed oils extracted from its fruit harvested in the Maures Mountains (South-Eastern France) with c...
(Résumé en français ci-dessous) // Pistacia lentiscus (mastic tree) is a very common shrub in most coastal areas around the Mediterranean Sea. Very tolerant to heat and drought, it is adapted to almost all types of soil, thus can adapt better than other species to climate change. It therefore offers a great deal of hope in arid regions and for degr...
Agricultural practices generate huge amounts of by‐products, often simply discarded as waste that must be processed at some cost. The revalorisation of such natural by‐products as raw material to produce high‐added value ingredients for various industrial sectors may pave the way towards more sustainable industrial practices, via an optimised utili...
Abstract (résumé en français ci-dessous)
A study of the mastic tree’s potential in cosmetics Pistacia lentiscus (mastic tree) is a very common shrub in most coastal areas around the Mediterranean Rim. Very tolerant to heat and drought, it has adapted to almost all types of soil and thus can better adapt than other species to climate change. It the...
Leishmania genus is responsible for leishmaniasis, a group of diseases affecting 12 million people in the tropical and subtropical zone. Currently, the few drugs that are available to treat this disease are expensive and cause many side effects. Searching for new therapeutics from plant species seems to be a promising path. This work proposes an or...
The volatile fraction of the leaves of Betula glandulosa Michx. has been investigated for its secondary metabolite composition by GC‐MS and GC/FID. The rapid expansion of this shrub species in subarctic landscapes, like the ones found in Nunavik (Northern Québec, Canada), highly impacts ecosystem dynamics. Yet, despite its abundance, few phytochemi...
Background
Post-COVID-19 Olfactory impairment has a negative impact on quality of life. The Sniffin Sticks test 12 items (SST-12) can be used in quick olfactory disorders screening. Its evaluation in a post-covid-19 situation was the main objective of this work.Methods
All patient impaired with a post-COVID olfactory loss were included while consul...
The genus Lavandula occurs naturally in the Mediterranean basin and its species are a rich source of phytochemicals. Species of this genus have attracted great interest, especially those such as fine lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Miller) and its natural hybrid lavandin (Lavandula x intermedia Emeric ex Loisel), which are cultivated for their ess...
Solvent-free microwave extraction (SFME) is a combination of microwave heating and dry distillation performed at atmospheric pressure without the addition of water or organic solvents that has been proposed as a green method for the extraction of essential oils from aromatic and medicinal herbs. In this work, SFME and the conventional techniques of...
Nitrogen (N) and water are crucial in crop production but increasingly scarce environmental resources. Reducing their inputs can affect the whole plant-arthropod community including biocontrol agents. In a multitrophic system, we studied the interaction of the bottom-up effects of moderately reduced N concentration and/or water supply as well as th...
Thirty-one samples of essential oils used both in perfumery and aromatherapy were purchased to business-to-consumers suppliers and submitted to standard gas chromatography-based analysis of their chemical composition. Their compliance with ISO AFNOR standards was checked and revealed, although ISO AFNOR ranges are relatively loose, that more than 4...
The aim of this work was to first, study the chemical characteristics of virgin olive oils produced by two varieties grown in southern Tunisia, and second to compare with the olive oil of their pollinator. The sterols and triterpenic dialcohols compositions of all the samples lay within the established regulatory limits. The main sterols found were...
In western Algeria, Thymelaea hirsuta aerial parts are traditionally used topically for the treatment of human skin infections. For a better knowledge of its biological activities, this study aimed at evaluating the in vitro antifungal activity and antiaging properties of several extracts of the aerial parts by in vitro assays. Antifungal activity...
Plant resins, tars and organic fossil substances provide valuable insights into the ecological, environmental and cultural contexts of ancient societies. Their study offers evidence of past know-how, production systems, socio-economic networks and mobility. In this paper, we present new data from 16 sites located in the North-West Mediterranean tha...
The present study aimed to highlight the insecticidal activity of the Algerian desert truffle Terfezia claveryi Chatin against two post-harvest pests of rice and other cereal products, the rice weevil Sitophilus oryzae (L.), and the lesser grain borer Rhyzopertha dominica (F.), using direct contact application method with the filter paper impregnat...
The ethical and ecological concerns of today's consumers looking for both sustainable and efficient ingredients in finished products, put a lot of pressure on the cosmetic market actors who are being driven to profoundly modify the strategies adopted to innovate in terms of actives while notably being urged to switch from petroleum-to plant-based i...
Introduction
In situ analysis of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by plants is an important challenge in chemical ecology. The traditional approach usually consists in trapping compounds using dynamic headspace extraction (DHS) in‐field, followed by gas chromatography analysis coupled with mass spectrometry (GC–MS and/or GC‐FID) in the lab...
IntroductionFine lavender and lavandin are perfume and medicinal plants originate from the South of France and are widely cultivated for their essential oils. Recently, cultivated plants suffered from a severe decline in France, due to the propagation of the yellow decline disease. This disease is caused by the stolbur phytoplasma, a bacterium tran...
Perfumes have always been products of great importance, mainly composed of natural, valuable and vegetal raw materials. Today, some of them have completely disappeared in perfumery, even though they are part of our cultural heritage and were commonly used in the past. Balm of Judea is one of the most noble, rare and fascinating ingredient long used...
For centuries, perfumes consisted in a combination of natural ingredients, mainly of plant origin. From the 19th c. on, the advent of organic synthesis enabled the deployment of multiple synthetic olfactory notes, enriching significantly the perfumers’ portfolio. Chemistry is ever since the foundation of modern perfumery. However, sustainable‐minde...
A headspace solid‐phase microextraction (HS‐SPME) method combined with gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry (GC‐MS) was developed and optimized for the extraction and the analysis of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from lavandin and fine lavender roots. Optimal parameters to extract volatile molecules from ground and intact roots were determined...
Birch bark tar, the oldest adhesive known in Europe, was widely used during Prehistory. This material, produced by the dry distillation of birch bark, has been identified in various spheres of activities and provides valuable information on the know-how and technical and territorial systems of past societies. This biomaterial can also provide evide...
When it comes to the development of new active ingredients for cosmetics, biodiversity is a rich source for inspiration that must be tapped in a sustainable manner to cause no social nor ecological damage. Agri-food by-products are therefore more and more considered as available biomass that can be reused to extract their maximum value to produce n...
Les goudrons végétaux sont des produits résineux néoformés extraits par pyrolyse du bois ou de l’écorce (cf. bouleau), contrairement aux goudrons d’origine
géologique (bitume, goudron de houille ou de schiste). Le principe d’extraction est de
faire exsuder la matière première en la soumettant à un traitement thermique direct
ou indirect; l’exsudat...
Considering chemical complexity of plant crude extracts, purification of natural products is a rate limitingprocess to identify new compounds as well as to obtain standard references for quantitative or qualitativepurposes. In the present work, a centrifugal partition chromatography (CPC) method was developed toisolate and produce high quality refe...
When it comes to beauty, consumers are increasingly
concerned by the efficacy of the cosmetic products they use,
so marketing arguments need to be based on rigorous testing to
support claims displayed on the product’s packaging. Lately,
the cosmetic market was also driven by the widespread
consumers’ desire to “go green”. As a result, the increasin...
When it comes to beauty, consumers are increasingly
concerned by the efficacy of the cosmetic products they use,
so marketing arguments need to be based on rigorous testing to
support claims displayed on the product’s packaging. Lately,
the cosmetic market was also driven by the widespread
consumers’ desire to “go green”. As a result, the increasin...
Lichens are complex symbiotic organisms able to produce a vast array of compounds. The Algerian lichen diversity has only prompted little interest even given the 1085 species listed. Herein, the chemodiversity of four Algerian lichens including Cladonia rangiformis, Ramalina farinaceae, R. fastigiata and Roccella phycopsis was investigated. A derep...
Consumers pay more and more attention not just to the safety and health aspects of ingredients entering their cosmetics' formulations, but also to their potency, origin, processing, ethical value and environmental footprint. Sustainability of the supply chain, preservation of biodiversity, as well as greener extraction techniques are hence very pop...
Skin whitening agents occupy an important part of the dermo-cosmetic market nowadays. They are used to treat various skin pigmentation disorders, or simply to obtain a lighter skin tone.
The use of traditional skin bleachers (e.g., hydroquinone, corticoids) is now strictly regulated due to their side effects. When considering this and the growing c...
In a recent publication (DOI: 10.1080/10412905.2016.1142477), we presented the composition and antifungal activity of the essential oil of allegedly Nashia inaguensis Millsp. (Verbenaceae) using material from plants cultivated in French Guiana. A recent taxonomic revision of the genus Nashia, including a complete description of N. inaguensis, calle...
Background
Ficus umbellata is a medicinal plant previously shown to endow estrogenic properties. Its major component was isolated and characterized as 7-methoxycoumarin (MC). Noteworthy, coumarins and the respective active metabolite 7-hydroxycoumarin analogs have shown aromatase inhibitory activity, which is of particular interest in the treatment...
Background:
The current study presents new insight in the phytochemical content and biological activities of five Prunus domestica L. varieties ('Quetsche blanche de Létricourt', 'Mirabelle de Nancy', 'Perdrigon violet', 'Mirabelle de Provence' and 'Reine-claude dorée').
Results:
The plum leaves were found to possess promising anti-ageing activi...
Background: Vetiver is a key ingredient for the perfume industry nowadays. However, with the constant and rapid changes of personal tastes, this appeal could vanish and this sector could decline quite quickly. New dissemination paths need to be found to tap this valuable resource. Methods: In this way, its potential use in cosmetics either as an ac...
Natural resources have been exploited over time and largely used since Prehistory due their several properties acquired after heat input, such as medicinal, adhésives or cosmetics. These substances share common features in chemistry and ethnoarchaeological contexts. They are made of complex molecular mixtures, and are often preserved at low amount...
This study reports for the first time the chemical composition of the essential oil of Varronia
schomburgkii (DC.) Borhidi cultivated in French Guiana. This essential oil was examined by a
combination of GC/FID and GC-MS techniques and was further tested for antifungal activity against
several Candida strains, as well as for anti-leishmanial activi...
Background
Since the biological properties of propolis depend to the plants that can be found in a specific region, propolis from unexplored regions attracts the attention of scientists. Ethanolic extract of Cameroonian propolis (EEP) is used to treat various ailments including gynecological problems and amenorrhea. Since there were no scientific d...
Ce chapitre présente quelques techniques utilisées en Écologie chimique. Depuis quelques années, des équipements de plus en plus performants permettent en effet d’obtenir des analyses profondes de métabolites secondaires et d’acides nucléiques. Ces approches vont souvent de pair avec la production de masses de données énormes rendant indispensable...
French Guyana is a part of the Amazonia rainforest identified as a biodiversity hotspot for both animal and plant species threatened with extinction [1]. With the generalized awareness of this endangered richness a number of conservation and promotion actions have been undertaken over the last years. In collaboration with the Guyarômes society, the...
A previous study on Solidago virgaurea extracts showed an inhibiting activity of Candida albicans yeast-hyphal transition due to a mixture of triterpene saponins, leading to applications in the field of oral care products. Such applications require the development of an efficient, fast, and simple quantification method of S. virgaurea total saponin...
Alpinia species, used as ornamental plants and flavoring agents, are renowned for their therapeutic properties and their subsequent use in traditional medicines throughout the world. Alpinia zerumbet (Pers.) B.L. Burtt & R.M. Sm. is the most common Alpinia species encountered in Martinique. Several essential oils (EOs) obtained by hydrodistillation...
With the public’s growing interest in skin whitening, lightening ingredients only used
under dermatological supervision until recently, are more and more frequently incorporated into
cosmetic formulas. The active agents that lighten skin tone are either natural or synthetic substances,
and may act at various levels of melanogenesis. They are used t...
This chapter presents several techniques used in chemical ecology. Dynamic-headspace (D-HS) is a highly sensitive sampling technique however, due to its cost and complexity of implementation, the use of passive techniques have been developed, in particular, headspace-solid-phase micro-extraction (SPME). SPME is an extraction technique by adsorption...
Lately, the cosmetic and personal care market has been more and more driven toward natural ingredients by the rising consumers' awareness about personal health and safety and their will for safer cosmetics free of harmful chemicals. Preservatives are no exception to the rule: evidence or suspicion of the toxicity of certain synthetic preservatives...
In the current investigation, the biological activities of essential oils obtained from organs of Ruta chalepensis plants grown under salt stress (0, 50 and 100 mM NaCl) were analyzed. Their chemical composition was often investigated by GC/FID and GC–MS and the antimicrobial activities towards eight bacteria (Salmonella All, Salmonella K, Escheric...
Natural extracts used in fine fragrances (alcoholic perfumes) are rare and precious. As such, they represent an interesting target for fraudulent practices called adulterations. Absolutes, important materials used in the creation of perfumes, are obtained by organic solvent extraction of raw plant materials. Because the non-volatile part of these n...
Using water as a green solvent with a variable geometry makes use of physical and chemical phenomena that are fundamentally different from those applied in conventional extraction techniques such as hydro-distillation, steam distillation or solvent extraction. Advantages and drawbacks of using water as a solvent with different physical and chemical...
The polyphenolic-rich extract of Tunisian Origanum glandulosum Desf. was investigated for its phenolic composition, antioxidant activity and potential to contribute to the dietary management of type II diabetes. By mean of an ultra-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization- mass spectrometry (UPLC-PDA-ESI-MS) 16 phenolics were chara...
The volatile constituents obtained by hydrodistillation of the aerial parts of Hyptis atrorubens Poit. growing in Martinique (F.W.I.: French West Indies) were analyzed by a combination of GC/FID and GC-MS. Plants from two different locations in Martinique (North and South) were studied. For the north location, two preparation methods were studied:...
Natural extracts used in flavour and fragrances are exposed to authentication issues. Companies working in this industrial market acquire the raw materials locally but also abroad, sourcing exotic plants with specific olfactive features or lower costs of production. The geographical origin, the botanical variety, environmental conditions, extractio...
This study reports the chemical composition of the essential oil of Nashia inaguensis Millsp. organically cultivated in French Guiana. This essential oil was examined by a combination of GC/FID and GC-MS techniques. A total of thirty-one components accounting for 97% of the total GC/FID chromatogram were identified. The most abundant ones were carv...
Solvent-free microwave extraction (SFME) and conventional hydro-distillation (HD) were used for the extraction of essential oils (EOs) from Egyptian sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) leaves. The two resulting EOs were compared with regards to their chemical composition, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activities. The EO analyzed by GC and GC-MS, pre...
In this study, the effects of sodium chloride (NaCl) on plant growth, phenolic content and antioxidant properties of fringed rue (Ruta chalepensis L.) was investigated. The study was carried out using seedlings subjected to 0, 50 and 100 mM NaCl for 2 weeks. The negative effects of NaCl on dry biomass of leaves, stems and roots were accompanied by...
The phenolic profile of six wild growing Marrubium vulgare L. (Lamiaceae) collected from different bioclimatic zones was investigated. Ethanol, ethyl acetate and residual water fractions were investigated for their antioxidant activity using DPPH assay. Ethyle acetate (EtOAc) fraction showed the highest antioxidant capacity with IC50 values ranging...
Questions
Question (1)
Molecules, Special Issue "Chemistry of Essential Oils: The Incredible Wealth of Plants"
Special Issue Editor
Prof. Dr. Xavier Fernandez Guest EditorCNRS, Institut de Chimie de Nice UMR 7272, Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France Interests: natural products chemistry; analytical sciences; flavor and fragrances chemistry; essential oils; cosmetics; archeochemistry
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,Known for millennia, essential oils are still the subject of numerous studies. These extracts obtained by hydrodistillation, steam distillation, dry distillation and expression from plants are very complex mixtures of metabolites. With the development of green chemistry and the resurgence of consumer interest in natural products, essential oils are of increasing interest to the scientific community.The present Special Issue, “Chemistry of essential oils: the incredible wealth of plants”, aims to collect and publish recent advances in this interdisciplinary area. Reviews and research articles dealing with innovative extraction and analytical techniques, ecoextraction, original procedures, essential oils composition and biology are encouraged, as well as valorization in various areas such as perfume, aroma, cosmetics, human and animal drugs, and biocontrol. In terms of dissemination, this Special Issue is aiming to provide some guidelines for good practice and reporting in several areas: analytical chemistry, natural product chemistry, food processing, pharmaceutical chemistry, agricultural products, functional foods, nutraceuticals, cosmetics, bioeconomy, etc.
https://www.mdpi.com/journal/molecules/special_issues/Essential_Oil_Chem
