Investigation into the biological properties, secondary metabolites composition, and toxicity of aerial and root parts of Capparis spinosa L.: An important medicinal food plant

Integrated metabolomics and network pharmacology reveal the procoagulant mechanisms of Cirsium setosum extracts

As a medicinal plant, Cirsium setosum has excellent procoagulant effects and has long been used as a cure for hemoptysis, epistaxis, uremia and metrorrhagia caused by blood heat. However, the key medicinal part of C. setosum, as well as the biologically active substances that play a major role, are not known. In this study, the aboveground, underground and whole grass portions of C. setosum were subjected to a coagulation comparison experiment to determine the primary active procoagulant compounds. The main active procoagulant compounds of C. setosum were then screened using a comparative metabolomics analysis between aboveground and underground. Network pharmacology analysis was used to construct the "active ingredient-disease target-pathway" network. Finally, molecular docking was used to verify the binding ability and affinity between the key active ingredients obtained from the screening and the targets. The results indicated that the aboveground part of C. setosum could significantly shorten activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and that this part exerts substantial procoagulant effects. The total phenol, total flavonoid and total alkaloid content of the aboveground part was measured to be higher than those of the underground part and whole grass. Furthermore, comparative metabolomics analysis as well as the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform (TCMSP) database and literature search screening yielded 10 active substances, including naringenin, guanine, 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol, calycosin-7-O-beta-D-glucoside, flavone, vitexin, and tiliroside, which may be related to the coagulation-promoting properties of C. setosum and its therapeutic effects on coagulation-related disorders. Network pharmacological analysis revealed that C. setosum may exert procoagulant effects mainly through tiliroside, calycosin-7-O-beta-D-glucoside, and flavone, which act on key target proteins, such as SRC, PRKACA, EGFR, AKT1, MAPK3, and GSK3B. In summary, C. setosum exerts its procoagulant and therapeutic effects on coagulation-related diseases through multiple compounds, targets, and pathways.

A comprehensive in-vitro/in-vivo screening toolbox for the elucidation of glucose homeostasis modulating properties of plant extracts (from roots) and its bioactives

Plant extracts are increasingly recognized for their potential in modulating (postprandial) blood glucose levels. In this context, root extracts are of particular interest due to their high concentrations and often unique spectrum of plant bioactives. To identify new plant species with potential glucose-lowering activity, simple and robust methodologies are often required. For this narrative review, literature was sourced from scientific databases (primarily PubMed) in the period from June 2022 to January 2024. The regulatory targets of glucose homeostasis that could be modulated by bioactive plant compounds were used as search terms, either alone or in combination with the keyword "root extract". As a result, we present a comprehensive methodological toolbox for studying the glucose homeostasis modulating properties of plant extracts and its constituents. The described assays encompass in-vitro investigations involving enzyme inhibition (α-amylase, α-glucosidase, dipeptidyl peptidase 4), assessment of sodium-dependent glucose transporter 1 activity, and evaluation of glucose transporter 4 translocation. Furthermore, we describe a patch-clamp technique to assess the impact of extracts on KATP channels. While validating in-vitro findings in living organisms is imperative, we introduce two screenable in-vivo models (the hen's egg test and Drosophila melanogaster). Given that evaluation of the bioactivity of plant extracts in rodents and humans represents the current gold standard, we include approaches addressing this aspect. In summary, this review offers a systematic guide for screening plant extracts regarding their influence on key regulatory elements of glucose homeostasis, culminating in the assessment of their potential efficacy in-vivo. Moreover, application of the presented toolbox might contribute to further close the knowledge gap on the precise mechanisms of action of plant-derived compounds.

LC-MS/MS, GC-MS and molecular docking analysis for phytochemical fingerprint and bioactivity of Beta vulgaris L

The plants that we consume in our daily diet and use as a risk preventer against many diseases have many biological and pharmacological activities. In this study, the phytochemical fingerprint and biological activities of Beta vulgaris L. leaf extract, which are widely consumed in the Black Sea region, were investigated. The leaf parts of the plant were dried in an oven at 35 °C and then ground into powder. The main constituents in B. vulgaris were identified by LC-MS/MS and GC-MS analyses. Phenolic content, betaxanthin and betacyanin levels were investigated in the extracts obtained using three different solvents. The biological activity of the extract was investigated by anti-microbial, anti-mutagenic, anti-proliferative and anti-diabetic activity tests. Anti-diabetic activity was investigated by in vitro enzyme inhibition and in-silico molecular docking was performed to confirm this activity. In the LC-MS analysis of B. vulgaris extract, a major proportion of p_coumaric acid, vannilin, protecatechuic aldehyde and sesamol were detected, while the major essential oils determined by GC-MS analysis were hexahydrofarnesyl acetone and phytol. Among the solvents used, the highest extraction efficiency of 2.4% was obtained in methanol extraction, and 36.2 mg of GAE/g phenolic substance, 5.1 mg/L betacyanin and 4.05 mg/L betaxanthin were determined in the methanol extract. Beta vulgaris, which exhibited broad-spectrum anti-microbial activity by forming a zone of inhibition against all tested bacteria, exhibited anti-mutagenic activity in the range of 35.9-61.8% against various chromosomal abnormalities. Beta vulgaris extract, which did not exhibit mutagenic, sub-lethal or lethal effects, exhibited anti-proliferative activity by reducing proliferation in Allium root tip cells by 21.7%. 50 mg/mL B. vulgaris extract caused 58.9% and 55.9% inhibition of α-amylase and α-glucosidase activity, respectively. The interactions of coumaric acid, vanniline, hexahydrofarnesyl acetone and phytol, which are major compounds in phytochemical content, with α-amylase and α-glucosidase were investigated by in silico molecular docking and interactions between molecules via various amino acids were determined. Binding energies between the tested compounds and α-amylase were obtained in the range of - 4.3 kcal/mol and - 6.1 kcal/mol, while for α-glucosidase it was obtained in the range of - 3.7 kcal/mol and - 5.7 kcal/mol. The biological activities of B. vulgaris are closely related to the active compounds it contains, and therefore studies investigating the phytochemical contents of plants are very important. Safe and non-toxic plant extracts can help reduce the risk of various diseases, such as diabetes, and serve as an alternative or complement to current pharmaceutical practices.

In-vitro Cytotoxicity Investigations for Phytoconstituents of Saudi Medicinal Plants With Putative Ocular Effects

BACKGROUND

Metastatic secondary ocular tumors spread from systemic malignancies, including breast cancer. This study aimed to evaluate the cytotoxicity of extracts from 5 medicinal plants native to Saudi Arabia.

METHODS

For preliminary activity screening, cytotoxicity using the MTT assay and selectivity index determinations were made for medicinal plant extracts against various cancer cell-lines. The most promising extract was subjected to GC-MS analysis to determine the phytochemical composition. Clonogenic assays were performed using the most promising extract to confirm the initial results. Finally, western blot analysis was used to determine the modulation in expression of survivin and P27 suppressor genes in the human breast adenocarcinoma (MCF7) cell-line to understand the potential mechanistic properties of the active plant extract.

RESULTS

The 5 plant extracts showed various cytotoxic activity levels using IC50. The most active extract was found to be the leaves of Capparis spinosa L. (BEP-07 extract) against the MCF7 breast cancer cell-line (IC50 = 3.61 ± 0.99 μg/ml) and selectivity index of 1.17 compared to the normal human fetal lung fibroblast (MRC5) cells. BEP-07 extract showed a dose dependent clonogenic effect against the MCF7 colonies which was comparable with the effect of doxorubicin. BEP-07 extract caused a significant decrease of survivin and increase in P27 expression compared to control GAPDH at its highest dose (14 µg/ml). The GC-MS chromatogram of Capparis spinosa L. (BEP-07 extract) revealed the existence of 145 compounds, belonging to the diverse classes of phytoconstituents. Fatty acids and their derivatives represent 15.4%, whilst octadecanoic acid, 2,3-dihydroxypropyl ester was the principal component (7.9%) detected.

CONCLUSION

Leaves of Capparis spinosa L. (BEP-07 extract) exhibited a significant cytotoxic effect particularly against breast cancer cells. It exhibited this effect through survivin inhibition and via P27 upregulation. The detected phytoconstituents in the plant extract might be involved in tested cytotoxic activity, while further investigations are required to complete the drug candidate profile.

Effect of caper fruit (Capparis spinosa L.) consumption on liver enzymes, lipid profile, fasting plasma glucose, and weight loss. A systematic review and a preliminary meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the overall effect of caper fruit on the modulation of glycemic, lipid profile, liver enzymes, and body mass. Google Scholar, PubMed, and Scopus were explored to collect relevant studies in the last 10 years. RCTs with caper fruit supplementation or consumption in different cohorts of subjects with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), Type-2-Diabetes (T2D), metabolic syndrome, and hyperlipidemia were included in this systematic review with a mean intervention duration from 2 to 12 weeks. The outcomes measured in this meta-analysis were liver enzymes such as aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), the lipid profile represented by triglycerides, total cholesterol (TC) with LDL and HDL and also, weight, and fasting blood glucose. Five randomized controlled trials, which involved a total of 178 adults, were included. According to the results, caper fruit seems to decrease liver enzymes ALT -12.29 U/L [-24.47, -0.11], AST -2.20 U/L [-4.70, 0.31]. Furthermore, the lipid profile seems to improve with a decrease in triglycerides. -11.89 mg/dL [-33.73, 9.95], LDL -4.80 mg/dL [-16.34, 6.74], HDL 0.72 mg/dL [0.10, 1.34], total cholesterol -7.83 mg/dL [-20.04, 4.38], FPG -17.93 [-42.66, 6.79], weight -1.00 kg [-1.44, -0.56]. Significant modulations were found only for ALT, HDL, and weight. In conclusion, this systematic review and meta-analysis showed the paucity of data available on the topic while showing the potential role of caper fruit as a promising food for improving the liver-lipid profile axis in patients with metabolic syndrome and diabetes. Further studies are required to confirm these results.

Capparis spinosa L. as a potential source of nutrition and its health benefits in foods: A comprehensive review of its phytochemistry, bioactivities, safety, and application

Capparis spinosa L. (C. spinosa) is an edible plant with health-promoting benefits. C. spinosa possesses various biological activities, including antioxidant, antidiabetic, anticancer, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, anti-arthritic, antibacterial, and insecticidal effects. The active compounds associated with these effects mainly include flavonoids, phenolic acids, alkaloids, volatile oils, fatty acids, and polysaccharides. Moreover, C. spinosa has considerable nutritional value. Apart from being a food condiment, it belongs to a class of functional ingredients that act as preservatives and antioxidants in food products. C. spinosa has also shown good potential applications in novel food packaging materials. In this article, in addition to systematically reviewing the botanical characteristics, traditional edible uses, phytochemical composition, bioactivities and safety of C. spinosa, we highlight for the first time its potential applications in the foods. The findings will provide critical information for the future development of C. spinosa into a multifunctional food product with essential roles in health benefits.

Dietary regulation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors in metabolic syndrome

BACKGROUND

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are a class of ligand-activated nuclear transcription factors, members of the type nuclear receptor superfamily, with three subtypes, namely PPARα, PPARβ/δ, and PPARγ, which play a key role in the metabolic syndrome. In the past decades, a large number of studies have shown that natural products can act by regulating metabolic pathways mediated by PPARs.

PURPOSE

This work summarizes the physiological importance and clinical significance of PPARs and reviews the experimental evidence that natural products mediate metabolic syndrome via PPARs.

METHODS

This study reviews relevant literature on clinical trials, epidemiology, animals, and cell cultures published in NCBI PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and other databases from 2001 to October 2022. Search keywords were "natural product" OR "botanical" OR "phytochemical" AND "PPAR" as well as free text words.

RESULTS

The modulatory involvement of PPARs in the metabolic syndrome has been supported by prior research. It has been observed that many natural products can treat metabolic syndrome by altering PPARs. The majority of currently described natural compounds are mild PPAR-selective agonists with therapeutic effects that are equivalent to synthetic medicines but less harmful adverse effects.

CONCLUSION

PPAR agonists can be combined with natural products to treat and prevent metabolic syndrome. Further human investigations are required because it is unknown how natural products cause harm and how they might have negative impacts.

Edible Halophytes and Halo-Tolerant Species in Apulia Region (Southeastern Italy): Biogeography, Traditional Food Use and Potential Sustainable Crops

The Mediterranean basin is rich in wild edible species which have been used for food and medicinal purposes by humans throughout the centuries. Many of these species can be found near coastal areas and usually grow under saline conditions, while others can adapt in various harsh conditions including high salinity. Many of these species have a long history of gathering from the wild as a source of food. The aim of this contribution is an overview on the most important halophyte species (Salicornia sp. pl., Arthrocaulon macrostachyum (Moric.) Piirainen & G. Kadereit, Soda inermis Fourr., Cakile maritima Scop., Crithmum maritimum L., Reichardia picroides (L.) Roth., Silene vulgaris (Moench) Garcke subsp. tenoreana (Colla) Soldano & F. Conti, Allium commutatum Guss., Beta vulgaris L. subsp. maritima (L.) Arcang., Capparis spinosa L.) that traditionally have been gathered by rural communities in southern Italy, with special interest on their ecology and distribution, traditional uses, medicinal properties, marketing and early attempts of cultivation. It is worth noting that these species have an attractive new cash crop for marsh marginal lands.

Caper (Capparis spinosa L.): An Updated Review on Its Phytochemistry, Nutritional Value, Traditional Uses, and Therapeutic Potential

Caper (Capparis spinosa L.) is a perennial shrub of the family Capparaceae, endemic to circum-Mediterranean countries. Caper carries a renowned nutritional value, especially in terms of vitamins and antioxidants related to the occurrence of flavonoids, alkaloids, and glucosinolates as main secondary metabolites. Caper extracts have also shown to display antibacterial, antifungal, analgesic, antitumor, hepatoprotective, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective effects which correlate the uses of the plant in folk medicine against both metabolic and infectious diseases. The present review aims to provide exhaustive phytochemistry and pharmacological properties survey on Caper constituents. Attention has also been given to the nutritional values and traditional uses of main organs to pinpoint research gaps for future investigations on the plant.

The Imbibition, Viability, and Germination of Caper Seeds (Capparisspinosa L.) in the First Year of Storage

The caper is a shrub that adapts to harsh environments when it is established, but it presents serious difficulties in its propagation, both by cuttings and by seeds. Its seeds have low germination percentages, and germination is a very slow process. Significant increases in germination have been obtained with scarification and with the addition of gibberellic acid (GA3) to the substrate, leading to the hypothesis that they have possible physical and physiological dormancy. However, the only way to examine the water-impermeability of the cover is through imbibition analysis. This study analyzes the imbibition, viability, and germination of two seed lots, obtained in different years and evaluated immediately after their collection (FS) and after being stored (7 °C) for one month (DS) and one year (SS). The seed moisture content stabilizes from the fourth day, exceeding in all cases 31% in all three seed states tested (FS, DS and SS). This allows the germination of all viable seeds, only with the addition of GA3 to the germination substrate, without the need for scarification, so that caper seeds exclusively appear to present a physiological latency. Germination decreased in storage, even with just one month. With the GA3 addition, high germination values were obtained (up to 95% in FS).