Anti-inflammatory, gastroprotective, free-radical-scavenging, and antimicrobial activities of hawthorn berries ethanol extract

Regulation effects of Crataegus pinnatifida leaf on glucose and lipids metabolism

The leaf of Crataegus pinnatifida (Rosaceae) is commonly consumed either raw or cooked to improve digestion and promote blood circulation in China. To investigate the regulation effects of it on glucose and lipid metabolism, the flavonoids fraction was prepared and analyzed by HPLC and LC-MS. In vivo, at doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg, the flavonoids fraction showed inhibitory effects on TG and glucose absorption, accelerating effects on gastrointestinal transit but no effect on gastric emptying. In vitro, treatment of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes with 30 μg/mL flavonoids fraction significantly suppressed the accumulation of TG and free fatty acid. It also suppressed the gene expressions of C/EBPα, PPARγ, SREBP 1c, aP2 and adiponectin but did not affect that of leptin. C. pinnatifida leaf may be useful for type 2 diabetics and hyperlipidemics as a foodstuff.

Comparing the composition and bioactivity of Crataegus Monogyna flowers and fruits used in folk medicine

INTRODUCTION

Studying local plant foods is of particular interest as they often contain high amounts of bioactive compounds. Furthermore, their nutritional and medicinal impact must be documented and supported with scientific studies. Crataegus monogyna is an example of 'functional food' traditionally used all over South European countries.

OBJECTIVE

A complete chemical and bioactive characterization of flower buds, flowers, unripe, ripened and over ripened fruits was performed.

METHODOLOGY

Chemical characterization included determination of proteins, fats, ash, and carbohydrates, particularly sugars by HPLC-RI, fatty acids by GC-FID, tocopherols by HPLC-fluorescence, phenolics, flavonoids, β-carotene and ascorbic acid, by spectrophotometric techniques. Bioactivity was evaluated through screening of antioxidant properties: radical scavenging effects, reducing power, and inhibition of lipid peroxidation.

RESULTS

Flowers revealed the highest tocopherols and ascorbic acid contents, as also the best n-6/n-3 fatty acids ratio. Over ripened fruits showed the highest levels of carbohydrates, sugars and SFA. Unripe fruits presented the highest PUFA contents with the best PUFA/SFA ratio, as also the highest levels of phenolics and the most promising antioxidant properties (EC₅₀ < 20.83 µg/ml; even better than trolox).

CONCLUSION

This study shows the potential of different parts of Crataegus monogyna as sources of several compounds, including nutrients and nutraceuticals. Moreover, it supports the documented nutritional and medicinal impact of this species.

Quantitative analysis of phenolic compounds in Chinese hawthorn (Crataegus spp.) fruits by high performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry

Eleven major phenolic compounds (hyperoside, isoquercitrin, chlorogenic acid, ideain, epicatechin, two procyanidin (PA) dimers, three PA trimers and a PA dimer-hexoside) were quantified in the fruits of 22 cultivars/origins of three species of the Chinese hawthorn (Crataegus spp.) by HPLC-ESI-MS-SIR. Hyperoside (0.1-0.8mg/g dry mass [DM]), isoquercitrin (0.1-0.3mg/g DM), chlorogenic acid (0.2-1.6mg/g DM), epicatechin (0.9-11.7mg/g DM), PA B2 (0.7-12.4mg/g DM), PA dimer II (0.1-1.5mg/g DM), PA trimer I (0.1-2.7mg/g DM), PA trimer II (0.7-6.9mg/g DM), PA trimer III (0.01-1.2mg/g DM) and a PA dimer-hexoside (trace-1.1mg/g DM) were detected in all the samples. Ideain (0.0-0.7mg/g DM) was found in all the samples except Crataegus scabrifolia. Significant correlations between the contents of individual PA aglycons were observed (r>0.9, P<0.01). A strong correlation between flavonols was also shown (r=0.71, P<0.01). Fruits of Crataegus pinnatifida var. major had higher contents of PAs but lower contents of flavonols compared with Crataegus brettschneideri. The fruits of C. scabrifolia contained the highest level of PA dimer-hexoside, which was present in trace amounts in the fruits of C. pinnatifida.

Synergetic effect and structure-activity relationship of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors from Crataegus pinnatifida Bge

The 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMGR) inhibitors from hawthorn fruit ( Crataegus pinnatifida Bge.) were isolated and evaluated for their antihyperlipidemic effect induced by high-fat diet in mice. After being further purified with silica and polyamide column chromatography from the fractions (fractions A, F, H, and G) with a high inhibitory rate (IR) to HMGR, 24 chromatographic fractions were obtained, including 8 active fractions with a high IR to HMGR. However, the total inhibitory activity of 24 fractions was decreased by about 70%. From eight active fractions, four compounds were obtained by recrystallization and identified as quercetin (a), hyperoside (b), rutin (c), and chlorogenic acid (d), the contents of which in hawthorn EtOH extract were 0.16, 0.32, 1.45, and 0.95%, respectively. The IR values of compounds a-d to HMGR were 6.28, 9.64, 23.53, and 10.56% at the corresponding concentrations of 0.16, 0.32, 1.45, and 0.95 mg/mL, respectively. It was discovered that the IR of a mixture (2.85 mg/mL) matching the original percentage of compounds a-d in hawthorn EtOH extract was up to 79.5%, much higher than that of the single compound and the total IR of these four compounds (50.01%). The in vivo results also revealed that the mixture had a more significant lipid-lowering efficacy than the monomers. Structure-activity relationship revealed the inhibitory activity and lowering-lipid ability of compounds a-c decreased with increasing glycoside numbers. It was concluded that there were synergetic effects on inhibiting HMGR and lowering lipid among compounds a-d, and the weak hydrophilic ability benefits the inhibition to HMGR and lowering-lipid efficacy.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of caffeic acid 3,4-dihydroxyphenethyl ester

A high-yield synthesis of caffeic acid 3,4-dihydroxyphenethyl ester (1) has been achieved through Knoevenagel condensation of 3,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde and 3,4-dihydroxyphenethyl monomalonate as the key step. Compound 1 was tested against a 56-cell-line cytotoxicity panel and for its free-radical-scavenging activity in the DPPH test.

Anti-hypertensive nutraceuticals and functional foods

Epidemiological studies have demonstrated that elevated blood pressure is one of the major risk factors for stroke and coronary heart disease (CHD). A close association between blood pressure and the incidence of cardiovascular diseases is well established if systolic/diastolic blood pressure is above 140/90 mmHg. In recent years, nutraceuticals and functional foods have attracted considerable interest as potential alternative therapies for treatment of hypertension, especially for prehypertensive patients, whose blood pressure is marginally or mildly high but not high enough to warrant the prescription of blood pressure-lowering medications. This review summarizes the findings of recent studies on the chemistry, production, application, efficacy, and mechanisms of popular blood pressure-lowering nutraceuticals and functional foods including the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet plan, L-arginine, chlorogenic acid, fermented milk, garlic, onion, tea, soybean, ginger, hawthorn, and fish oil.

Phytochemical analysis and gastroprotective activity of an olive leaf extract

Some medicinal features of olive leaf have been known for centuries. It has been traditionally used as an antimicrobial and to prevent and treat diabetes mellitus and heart disease. Whether olive leaf, a natural antioxidant, influences the gastric defense mechanism and exhibits gastroprotection against experimentally-induced gastric lesions remains unknown. In this study, the content of total phenols, total flavonoids and tannins in olive leaf extract (OLE) were determined. Seven phenolic compounds were identified and quantified (oleuropein, caffeic acid, luteolin, luteolin-7-O-glucoside, apigenin-7-O-glucoside, quercetin, and chryseriol). Furthermore, the protective activity of the OLE in gastric mucosal injury induced by a corrosive concentration of ethanol was investigated. In relation to the control group, pretreatment with OLE (40, 80 and 120 mg kg-1) significantly (p < 0.001) attenuated the gastric lesions induced by absolute ethanol. The protective effect of the OLE was similar to that obtained with a reference drug, ranitidine. The results obtained indicate that OLE possesses significant gastroprotective activity, and that the presence of compounds with antioxidative properties would probably explain this effect.