Metabolite characterization of different palm date varieties and the correlation with their NO inhibitory activity, texture and sweetness

Recent Advances in Anticancer Activity of Novel Plant Extracts and Compounds from Curcuma longa in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

PURPOSE

Among all forms of cancers, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common cancer worldwide. There are several treatment options for HCC ranging from loco-regional therapy to surgical treatment. Yet, there is high morbidity and mortality. Recent research focus has shifted towards more effective and less toxic cancer treatment options. Curcumin, the active ingredient in the Curcuma longa plant, has gained widespread attention in recent years because of its multifunctional properties as an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and anticancer agent.

METHODS

A systematic search of PubMed, Embase and Google Scholar was performed for studies reporting incidence of HCC, risk factors associated with cirrhosis and experimental use of curcumin as an anti-cancer agent.

RESULTS

This review exclusively encompasses the anti-cancer properties of curcumin in HCC globally and it's postulated molecular targets of curcumin when used against liver cancers.

CONCLUSIONS

This review is concluded by presenting the current challenges and future perspectives of novel plant extracts derived from C. longa and the treatment options against cancers.

Potential bioactivity of Phoenix dactylifera fruits, leaves, and seeds against prostate and pancreatic cancer cells

The use of functional foods' phytochemicals in the chemoprevention of different cancer diseases has become one of the hot scientific areas in the clinical nutrition field. For instance, the Khalas palm cultivar (KPC; Phoenix dactylifera) is one of the natural sustainable resources that have high bioactivity and functionality. This study aimed to investigate the antiproliferative activity and mode of action of KPC's different parts on prostate (Pc3) and pancreatic (panc1) cancer cells at a molecular level. In the methods, KPC's leaves, seeds, and fruits' chemical composition and phytochemical analysis were analyzed. Also, the cytotoxic effects of each extract were assessed against pc3 and panc1 cell lines. Besides, induction of apoptosis, cell cycle analysis, and gene expression of both Cap3 and Cap9 were studied. The obtained results indicated that KPC leaves extract exhibited the highest significant (P < 0.01) anti-proliferation activity against the utilized cancer cell lines compared to fruits and seeds extracts. Also, there were significant (P < 0.05) differences in the phenolic contents, flavonoid of compounds, and antioxidant power of the leaves when compared to the seeds and fruits. Additionally, the highest cytotoxic effect (lowest IC₅₀) was recorded with leave extract than seeds and fruits. Meanwhile, the seeds extract induced (P < 0.05) the apoptosis and arrested cells in the G2/M phase as well as up-regulated the gene expression of the apoptotic-related genes (Casp3 and Casp9) compared to the control group. In conclusion, this study showed that the presence of bioactive components in the KPC different parts extracts have the significant ability to induce the apoptotic pathway that could down-regulate the proliferation of prostate (pc3) and pancreatic (panc1) cancer cells. The pathway mechanism of action was induced by the phytol molecule presented in its leaves extract.

Patterns of Volatile Diversity Yield Insights Into the Genetics and Biochemistry of the Date Palm Fruit Volatilome

Volatile organic compounds are key components of the fruit metabolome that contribute to traits such as aroma and taste. Here we report on the diversity of 90 flavor-related fruit traits in date palms (Phoenix dactylifera L.) including 80 volatile organic compounds, which collectively represent the fruit volatilome, as well as 6 organic acids, and 4 sugars in tree-ripened fruits. We characterize these traits in 148 date palms representing 135 varieties using headspace solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography. We discovered new volatile compounds unknown in date palm including 2-methoxy-4-vinylphenol, an attractant of the red palm weevil (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Olivier), a key pest that threatens the date palm crop. Associations between volatile composition and sugar and moisture content suggest that differences among fruits in these traits may be characterized by system-wide differences in fruit metabolism. Correlations between volatiles indicate medium chain and long chain fatty acid ester volatiles are regulated independently, possibly reflecting differences in the biochemistry of fatty acid precursors. Finally, we took advantage of date palm clones in our analysis to estimate broad-sense heritabilities of volatiles and demonstrate that at least some of volatile diversity has a genetic basis.

Cytotoxic and Antioxidant Effects of Phoenix dactylifera L. (Ajwa Date Extract) on Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cell Line

Aim

The aim of the current study is to investigate the antioxidant and apoptotic potential of Ajwa date flesh (ADF) and Ajwa date pit (ADP) extract on human squamous cell carcinoma cell line (HSC-2).

Method

ADF and ADP were extracted with a solvent extraction method using hexane, acetone, and ethanol, which were then subjected to antioxidant assay by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). HSC-2 cells were then treated with different concentrations of ADF and ADP extract for 24, 48, and 72 hours. MTT assay was performed to assess the antiproliferative effect, and Annexin V-FITC was used for the detection of cellular apoptosis.

Results

Acetone extracts of ADF and ADP had the highest radical scavenging and antioxidant activities followed by the ethanolic extracts, whereas ADP appeared to have significantly higher antioxidant effects than ADF. MTT assay demonstrated that acetone extracts of ADF and ADP were significantly cytotoxic against HSC-2 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The half inhibitory concentration (IC50) of ADF was found to be 8.69 mg/ml at 24 h, and the maximum cell growth inhibition was observed at 50 mg/ml. The IC50 for the ADP was found to be 0.97 mg/ml at 24 h, and the maximum cell growth inhibition was observed at 5 mg/ml. Statistical analysis of the flow cytometry assay showed that the treatment with ADF and ADP extracts had a significant apoptotic effect which occurred in a dose-dependent manner. HSC-2 cells were seen in the late apoptotic stage with higher doses of ADF and ADP extract. ADP extract demonstrated higher apoptotic activity than ADF extract. In addition, combined treatment of ADF and ADP was also performed on HSC-2 cells which demonstrated higher apoptotic activity when compared to the single extract.

Conclusion

Ajwa date fruit has a promising cytotoxic effect by inhibiting the growth and proliferation of OSCC cells and inducing cell death by apoptosis.

Novel Insight into the Relationship between Metabolic Profile and Fatty Acid Accumulation Altering Cellular Lipid Content in Pineapple Fruits at Different Stages of Maturity

Pineapple fruits are usually harvested at different stages of maturity, based on consumer demands. The stage of maturity significantly affects the storage tolerance due to alterations in the cellular lipid homeostasis in the fruits. The characteristic abundance of metabolites and fatty acids (FAs) can provide vital information giving insight into the cellular lipid changes that occur during the ripening process in the fruits. Here, liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, largely based on the analysis of widely targeted metabolomics, was applied to evaluate the differences in the metabolites among the pineapple at three different stages of maturity namely, pineapples at the young fruit (YF), mature fruit (MF), and fully mature fruit (FMF) stages. In this study, 466 metabolites were annotated and identified. Among these, 59 lipids, including the glyceride esters, fatty acids and conjugates, and lysophospholipids (LPLs) were characterized. Notably, the LPLs were down-regulated in their relative abundance in the MF compared with the YF, and subsequently they remained almost stable in the FMF stage. The FA profiling results revealed the presence of certain unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs); besides, the total monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) to saturated fatty acid (SFA) ratio, as well as the polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) to SFA ratio, showed noticeable decrease during the ripening process. The differential accumulation patterns of the LPLs, MUFAs, PUFAs, and SFAs imply that the lipid degradation and peroxidation take place in the pineapple fruits from the YF to MF and YF to FMF stages, respectively. The present study provides new insights into the alterations in the cellular lipid metabolism underlying the metabolite profiles and accumulation of FAs in pineapple fruits during ripening.

Metabolite variations and antioxidant activity of Muntingia calabura leaves in response to different drying methods and ethanol ratios elucidated by NMR-based metabolomics

INTRODUCTION

Muntingia calabura from the Muntingiaceae family has been documented for several medicinal uses. The combinations of drying treatment and extracting solvents for a plant species need to be determined and optimised to ensure that the extracts contain adequate amounts of the bioactive metabolites.

OBJECTIVE

Evaluate the metabolite variations and antioxidant activity among M. calabura leaves subjected to different drying methods and extracted with different ethanol ratios using proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹ H-NMR)-based metabolomics. Methodology The antioxidant activity of M. calabura leaves dried with three different drying methods and extracted with three different ethanol ratios was determined by using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and nitric oxide (NO) scavenging assays. The metabolites variation among the extracts and correlation with antioxidant activity were analysed by ¹ H-NMR-based metabolomics.

RESULTS

Muntingia calabura leaves extracted with 50% and 100% ethanol from air-drying and freeze-drying methods had the highest total phenolic content and the lowest IC₅₀ value for the DPPH scavenging activity. Meanwhile, oven-dried leaves extracted with 100% ethanol had the lowest IC₅₀ value for the NO scavenging activity. A total of 43 metabolites, including sugars, organic acids, amino acids, phytosterols, phenolics and terpene glycoside were tentatively identified. A noticeable discrimination was observed in the different ethanol ratios by the principal component analysis. The partial least-squares analysis suggested that 32 compounds out of 43 compounds identified were the contributors to the bioactivities.

CONCLUSION

The results established set the preliminary steps towards developing this plant into a high value product for phytomedicinal preparations.

Potentially Bioactive Metabolites from Pineapple Waste Extracts and Their Antioxidant and α-Glucosidase Inhibitory Activities by 1H NMR

Pineapple (Ananas comosus) waste is a promising source of metabolites for therapeutics, functional foods, and cosmeceutical applications. This study strives to characterize the complete metabolite profiles of a variety of MD2 pineapple waste extracts. Metabolomics strategies were utilized to identify bioactive metabolites of this variety prepared with different solvent ratios. Each pineapple waste extract was first screened for total phenolic content, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl free radical scavenging, nitric oxide scavenging, and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities. The highest TPC was found in all samples of the peel, crown, and core extracted using a 50% ethanol ratio, even though the results were fairly significant than those obtained for other ethanol ratios. Additionally, crown extracted with a 100% ethanol ratio demonstrated the highest potency in DPPH and NO scavenging activity, with IC₅₀ values of 296.31 and 338.52 µg/mL, respectively. Peel extracted with 100% ethanol exhibited the highest α-glucosidase inhibitory activity with an IC₅₀ value of 92.95 µg/mL. Then, the extracts were analyzed and the data from ¹H NMR were processed using multivariate data analysis. A partial least squares and correlogram plot suggested that 3-methylglutaric acid, threonine, valine, and α-linolenic acid were the main contributors to the antioxidant activities, whereas epicatechin was responsible for the α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. Relative quantification further supported that 100% crown extract was among the extracts that possessed the most abundant potential metabolites. The present study demonstrated that the crown and peel parts of MD2 pineapple extracted with 100% ethanol are potentially natural sources of antioxidants and α-glucosidase inhibitors, respectively.

Phytotherapeutic potential and pharmaceutical impact of Phoenix dactylifera (date palm): current research and future prospects

Phoenix dactylifera (date palm) is a member of the genus Phoenix belonging to family Arecaceae. It is widely cultivated for its edible fruits and kernels. Dates have been used for both dietary purposes as well as for their phytomedicinal impacts against the variety of diseases. Date fruits are rich in alkaloids, protein, carbohydrate, fatty acid (linoleic, lauric, palmitic, and stearic acid), carotenoids, vitamins, polyphenolic compounds, flavonoids, and tannins along with different types of nutrients like potassium, calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus. Due to the presence of the variety of phytochemicals, they have greater impact on human health. They have strong antioxidant potential. It has been proposed now as a potential source of several unique medical and industrial products. In literature, much information is available on botanical descriptions, agriculture technology, and utilization in therapeutic intervention, but a little description is accessible on phytochemical relevance, formulation strategies, nutritional impact, and bioprocess technology. Therefore, the present review provides comprehensive information on the phytochemical relevance, pharmacology/bioactivity, pharmaceutical impact, their scope in bioprocess technology and nutraceutical values of date palm. According to all collected information, every portion of the plant has some beneficial properties that can serve as a source of medicine and nutraceutical.

Cytostatic and Anti-tumor Potential of Ajwa Date Pulp against Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma HepG2 Cells

Ajwa dates (Phoenix dactylifera L.) are used by traditional therapeutic practitioners for several health benefits but most remain to be scientifically validated. In this study, we evaluated the apoptosis-inducing effect of ethanolic extract of Ajwa date pulp (ADP) on human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) HepG2 cells. High performance liquid chromatography analysis revealed the presence of polysaccharide β-D-glucan in ADP extract. Treated HCC cells revealed morphological characteristics of apoptosis under phase contrast microscopy. MTT assay demonstrated significant (p < 0.05) dose- and time-dependent inhibition of HCC cell growth. HCC cells were found to be in late apoptotic stage on treatment with higher doses of ADP extract as depicted by acridine orange/ethidium bromide and Annexin V-FITC/PI double stain. Importantly, ADP extract increased the reactive oxygen species level and decreased the mitochondrial membrane potential in treated HCC cells. Flow cytometry analysis demonstrated that ADP extract induced elevation of S and G2/M phases of cell cycle. Moreover, ADP extract induced apoptosis in HCC cells independent of tumor suppressor genes viz. CHEK2, ATM and TP53. Interestingly, ADP extract did not display any significant effect on normal cell line Vero. This study provides validation that ADP extract can be considered as a safe and natural potential drug candidate against human liver cancer.