The potential of e-nose aroma profiling for identifying the geographical origin of licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra L.) roots

Exploring Influence of Production Area and Harvest Time on Specialized Metabolite Content of Glycyrrhiza glabra Leaves and Evaluation of Antioxidant and Anti-Aging Properties

Calabrian Glycyrrhiza glabra is one of the most appreciated licorice varieties worldwide, and its leaves are emerging as a valuable source of bioactive compounds. Nevertheless, this biomass is usually discarded, and its valorization could contribute to boost the economic value of the licorice production chain. In this study, the effects of production area and harvest time on the specialized metabolite content of G. glabra leaves (GGL) and also the antioxidant and anti-aging properties are evaluated to explore the potential of this untapped resource and to select the most optimal harvesting practices. GGL exhibited high levels of specialized metabolites (4-30 g/100 g of dry leaf) and the most abundant ones are pinocembrin, prenylated flavanones (licoflavanone and glabranin), and prenylated dihydrostilbenes. Their levels and antioxidant capacity in extracts are influenced by both production area and harvest time, showing a decisive role on specialized metabolites accumulation. Interestingly, GGL extracts strongly attenuate the toxicity of α-synuclein, the intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) content, and cellular senescence on Saccharomyces cerevisiae expressing human α-synuclein model, showing great potential to prevent aging and age-related disorders. These results provide insights into the phytochemical dynamics of GGL, identifying the best harvesting site and period to obtain bioactive-rich sources with potential uses in the food, nutraceutical, and pharmaceutical sectors.

Targeting biomarkers in the gas phase through a chemoresistive electronic nose based on graphene functionalized with metal phthalocyanines

Electronic noses (e-noses) have received considerable interest in the past decade as they can match the emerging needs of modern society such as environmental monitoring, health screening, and food quality tracking. For practical applications of e-noses, it is necessary to collect large amounts of data from an array of sensing devices that can detect interactions with molecules reliably and analyze them via pattern recognition. The use of graphene (Gr)-based arrays of chemiresistors in e-noses is still virtually missing, though recent reports on Gr-based chemiresistors have disclosed high sensing performances upon functionalization of the pristine layer, opening up the possibility of being implemented into e-noses. In this work, with the aim of creating a robust and chemically stable interface that combines the chemical properties of metal phthalocyanines (M-Pc, M = Fe, Co, Ni, Zn) with the superior transport properties of Gr, an array of Gr-based chemiresistor sensors functionalized with drop-cast M-Pc thin layers has been developed. The sensing capability of the array was tested towards biomarkers for breathomics application, with a focus on ammonia (NH₃). Exposure to NH₃ has been carried out drawing the calibration curve and estimating the detection limit for all the sensors. The discrimination capability of the array has then been tested, carrying out exposure to several gases (hydrogen sulfide, acetone, ethanol, 2-propanol, water vapour and benzene) and analysing the data through principal component analysis (PCA). The PCA pattern recognition results show that the developed e-nose is able to discriminate all the tested gases through the synergic contribution of all sensors.

Comparative Analysis of Acanthopanacis Cortex and Periplocae Cortex Using an Electronic Nose and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Coupled with Multivariate Statistical Analysis

Chinese Herbal Medicines (CHMs) can be identified by experts according to their odors. However, the identification of these medicines is subjective and requires long-term experience. The samples of Acanthopanacis Cortex and Periplocae Cortex used were dried cortexes, which are often confused in the market due to their similar appearance, but their chemical composition and odor are different. The clinical use of the two herbs is different, but the phenomenon of being confused with each other often occurs. Therefore, we used an electronic nose (E-nose) to explore the differences in odor information between the two species for fast and robust discrimination, in order to provide a scientific basis for avoiding confusion and misuse in the process of production, circulation and clinical use. In this study, the odor and volatile components of these two medicinal materials were detected by the E-nose and by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), respectively. An E-nose combined with pattern analysis methods such as principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least squares (PLS) was used to discriminate the cortex samples. The E-nose was used to determine the odors of the samples and enable rapid differentiation of Acanthopanacis Cortex and Periplocae Cortex. GC-MS was utilized to reveal the differences between the volatile constituents of Acanthopanacis Cortex and Periplocae Cortex. In all, 82 components including 9 co-contained components were extracted by chromatographic peak integration and matching, and 24 constituents could be used as chemical markers to distinguish these two species. The E-nose detection technology is able to discriminate between Acanthopanacis Cortex and Periplocae Cortex, with GC-MS providing support to determine the material basis of the E-nose sensors' response. The proposed method is rapid, simple, eco-friendly and can successfully differentiate these two medicinal materials by their odors. It can be applied to quality control links such as online detection, and also provide reference for the establishment of other rapid detection methods. The further development and utilization of this technology is conducive to the further supervision of the quality of CHMs and the healthy development of the industry.

Chemical analysis of the Chinese herbal medicine licorice (Gan-Cao): An update review

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Licorice, called Gan-Cao in China, is one of the most popular traditional herbal medicines. It is derived from the dried roots and rhizomes of Glycyrrhiza uralensis, G. glabra, and G. inflata. Licorice is recorded in the pharmacopoeias of China, Japan, US, and Europe.

AIM

This review updates research progress of licorice from the perspectives of chemical analysis, quality evaluation, drug metabolism, and pharmacokinetic studies from 2009 to April 2022.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Both English and Chinese literatures were collected from databases including PubMed, Elsevier, Web of Science, and CNKI (Chinese). Licorice, extraction, structural characterization/identification, quality control, metabolism, and pharmacokinetics were used as keywords.

RESULTS

Newly developed analytical methods, including LC/UV, 2DLC, LC/MS, GC/MS, and mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) for chemical analysis of licorice were summarized.

CONCLUSION

This review provides a comprehensive summary on chemical analysis of licorice.

Volatile Organic Compounds, Evaluation Methods and Processing Properties for Cooked Rice Flavor

Rice (Oryza sativa L.), as the main refined grain in China, has attracted much attention in terms of quality. Rice is usually consumed after cooking, and it is a commonly staple food. Nowdays, people's requirements for cooked rice focus more on the taste characteristics and quality. Furthermore, aroma is one of the primary sensory reference points, which is the most intuitive way for people to judge cooked rice. By integrating and analyzing the researches of cooked rice aroma identification in recent five years, this paper expounds the extraction and identification methods (sensory evaluation method, GC-MS, SPME, MOS sensors, electronic nose, etc.) of the flavor substances in cooked rice, as the processing methods and properties of cooked rice, and the volatile organic compounds of cooked rice under different conditions are summarized as well.

The qualitative and quantitative assessment of xiaochaihu granules based on e-eye, e-nose, e-tongue and chemometrics

Xiaochaihu granules (XCHG), a famous Chinese patent medicine with high sales, have more than 100 approved number by China Food and Drug Administration (CFDA). Therefore, it is important to evaluate the quality of XCHG from different pharmaceutical companies. The data fusion of electronic eye (e-eye), electronic nose (e-nose) and electronic tongue (e-tongue) combined with chemometrics were applied for qualitative identification and quantitative prediction of XCHG quality. Firstly, main chemical constituents, such as saikosaponin b2, baicalin and glycyrrhizin were quantified with ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC). Secondly, the characteristic features of odor, color, and taste of XCHG were measured by e-nose, e-eye and e-tongue, and the Pearson correlation between constituents and e-signals was analyzed. Thirdly, partial least squares discrimination analysis (PLS-DA) of e-eye, e-nose and e-tongue were classified by the hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA) results of the main constituents of XCHG separately. Finally, partial least-squares regression (PLSR) was used to build the prediction model between components and data fusion of e-eye, e-nose and e-tongue. The results showed that saikosaponin b2, baicalin and glycyrrhizin were the three main components in XCHG samples. in which saikosaponin b2 ranged from 0.280 to 2.186 mg (relative standard deviation (RSD), 62.10 %), baicalin range from 25.883 mg to 49.108 mg (RSD, 16.64 %), and glycyrrhizin ranged from 0.897 mg to 6.052 mg (RSD, 40.32 %) of 31 batches of XCHG in each bag. Pearson correlation results showed that the main constituents were related to the core e-signals of XCHG, such as Eab, bitterness and R2 (odor sensitive to nitrogen oxide). Data fusion of e-eye, e-nose and e-tongue with main constitutes of XCHG using the PLSR model showed that the root mean square error (RMSE) values were 0.320 and 0.090 for saikosaponin b2 and licoricesaponin G2 (P < 0.000). The saikosaponin b2 and licoricesaponin G2 contents in XCHG could be predicted with integrated data of e-nose, e-eye, and e-tongue using the PLSR model.

Geographical origin identification of two salmonid species via flavor compound analysis using headspace-gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry combined with electronic nose and tongue

The flavor of salmonids is affected by species and origin. Sources of salmonid fish fillets are complex and difficult to identify and label fraud occasionally occurs in the market. In this study, headspace-gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (HS-GC-IMS), electronic nose, electronic tongue and amino acid detection technologies were used to analyze flavor compounds in two salmonid species from different geographical origins. Fingerprints of volatile compounds of salmonid were constructed using HS-GC-IMS technology. Free amino acid (FAA) content differed in salmonids from different geographical origins. Regarding salmonid odor, HS-GC-IMS analysis results were basically consistent with those of the electronic nose. Regarding taste, the conclusions drawn from the electronic tongue were consistent with the amino acid test results. Therefore, our results demonstrate that flavor compounds can be used to distinguish salmonids from different geographical origins, providing a new dimension to food safety and authenticity. Furthermore, HS-GC-IMS, electronic nose and tongue can be used as tools in the market to identify food fraud.

A Machine Learning Method for the Fine-Grained Classification of Green Tea with Geographical Indication Using a MOS-Based Electronic Nose

Chinese green tea is known for its health-functional properties. There are many green tea categories, which have sub-categories with geographical indications (GTSGI). Several high-quality GTSGI planted in specific areas are labeled as famous GTSGI (FGTSGI) and are expensive. However, the subtle differences between the categories complicate the fine-grained classification of the GTSGI. This study proposes a novel framework consisting of a convolutional neural network backbone (CNN backbone) and a support vector machine classifier (SVM classifier), namely, CNN-SVM for the classification of Maofeng green tea categories (six sub-categories) and Maojian green tea categories (six sub-categories) using electronic nose data. A multi-channel input matrix was constructed for the CNN backbone to extract deep features from different sensor signals. An SVM classifier was employed to improve the classification performance due to its high discrimination ability for small sample sizes. The effectiveness of this framework was verified by comparing it with four other machine learning models (SVM, CNN-Shi, CNN-SVM-Shi, and CNN). The proposed framework had the best performance for classifying the GTSGI and identifying the FGTSGI. The high accuracy and strong robustness of the CNN-SVM show its potential for the fine-grained classification of multiple highly similar teas.

Onion Peel: Turning a Food Waste into a Resource

Food waste is a serious problem for food processing industries, especially when it represents a loss of a valuable source of nutrients and phytochemicals. Increasing consumer demand for processed food poses the problem of minimizing waste by conversion into useful products. In this regard, onion (Allium cepa) waste consisting mainly of onion skin is rich in bioactive phenolic compounds. Here, we characterized the flavonoid profiles and biological activities of onion skin wastes of two traditional varieties with protected geographical indication (PGI), the red “Rossa di Tropea” and the coppery “Ramata di Montoro”, typically cultivated in a niche area in southern Italy. The phytochemical profiles of exhaustive extracts, characterized by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with ultraviolet (UV) detection and high-resolution mass spectrometry, revealed that flavonols and anthocyanins were the characteristic metabolite classes of onion skins. Quercetin, quercetin glucosides and their dimer and trimer derivatives, and, among anthocyanins, cyanidin 3-glucoside, were the most abundant bioactive compounds. The potential of onion skins was evaluated by testing several biological activities: ABTS/oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) and in vitro alpha-glucosidase assays were performed to evaluate the antioxidant and anti-diabetic properties of the extracts and of their main compounds, respectively, and proliferative activity was evaluated by MTT assay on human fibroblasts. In the present study, by observing various biological properties of “Rossa di Tropea” and “Ramata di Montoro” onion-dried skins, we clearly indicated that this agricultural waste can provide bioactive molecules for multiple applications, from industrial to nutraceutical and cosmetical sectors.

Identification of the raw and processed Crataegi Fructus based on the electronic nose coupled with chemometric methods

Crataegi Fructus (CF) is widely used as a medicinal and edible material around the world. Currently, different types of processed CF products are commonly found in the market. Quality evaluation of them mainly relies on chemical content determination, which is time and money consuming. To rapidly and nondestructively discriminate different types of processed CF products, an electronic nose coupled with chemometrics was developed. The odour detection method of CF was first established by single-factor investigation. Then, the sensor array was optimised by a stepwise discriminant analysis (SDA) and analysis of variance (ANOVA). Based on the best-optimised sensor array, the digital and mode standard were established, realizing the odour quality control of samples. Meanwhile, mathematical prediction models including the discriminant formula and back-propagation neural network (BPNN) model exhibited good evaluation with a high accuracy rate. These results suggest that the developed electronic nose system could be an alternative way for evaluating the odour of different types of processed CF products.

Characterization and Analysis of Okoume and Aiele Essential Oils from Gabon by GC-MS, Electronic Nose, and Their Antibacterial Activity Assessment

Essential oil resins of Aucoumea klaineana (Okoume) and Canarium schweinfurthii (Aiele) species, of the Burseraceae family, were studied to investigate their bioactive constituents and their antibacterial activities. Aiele resin had a higher yield (6.86%) of essential oil than Okoume (3.62%). Twenty-one compounds for Okoume and eighteen for Aiele essential oil were identified using a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Gp-C-MS) technique. The main compounds identified in Okoume essential oil were benzenemethanol, α, α,4-trimethyl (28.85%), (+)-3-carene (3,7,7-trimethyl bicyclo[4.1.0]hept-3-ene) (17.93%), D-Limonene ((4R)-1-methyl-4-prop-1-en-2-ylcyclohexene) (19.36%). With regard to the Aiele essential oil, we identified (1R,4S)-1-methyl-4-propan-2-ylcyclohex-2-en-1-ol (26.64%), and 1-methyl-4-propan-2-ylcyclohex-2-en-1-ol (26.83%). Two strains of bacteria, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, were used in antibacterial tests. S. aureus was found to be more sensitive to Okoume and Aiele essential oils, with a high inhibition zone ranging from 20 to 16 mm. In comparison, the inhibition zone ranged from 6 to 12 mm for E. coli. An electronic nose (e-nose) combined with pattern analysis methods such as principal component analysis (PCA), discriminant function analysis (DFA), and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) were used to discriminate the essential oil samples. In summary, the e-nose and GC-MS allowed the identification of bioactive compounds in the essential oil samples, which have a strong antimicrobial activity, with satisfactory results.

Additive Effect of a Combination of Artocarpus lakoocha and Glycyrrhiza glabra Extracts on Tyrosinase Inhibition in Melanoma B16 Cells

Artocarpus lakoocha (Al) and Glycyrrhiza glabra (Gg) extracts have been reported to show tyrosinase inhibitory activity and melanin pigment reduction. This is the first study to assess the combination of Al and Gg extracts in enhancing inhibition of tyrosinase and reduction of melanin pigments. Al and Gg extracted by maceration in 70% and 95% ethanol were analyzed for oxyresveratrol and glabridin using Ultra High Performance Liquid Chromatography. Extracts of Al and Gg singly and combinations of Al95 and Gg95 were tested for cytotoxicity, tyrosinase inhibitory activity, and reduction of melanin pigments in melanoma B16 cells. Al95 had higher antioxidant, tyrosinase inhibitory activity and reduced more melanin pigments in B16 cells compared to Al70, and exhibited higher levels of oxyresveratrol. Gg95 inhibited oxidative stress and mushroom tyrosinase better than Gg70, and exhibited higher levels of glabridin. Combinations of Al95 and Gg95 at various ratios (concentration of 0.1 mg/mL) were not cytotoxic to B16 cells. Interestingly, Al95 and Gg95 combined at a ratio 9:1 reduced melanin pigment up to 53% in B16 cells. This combination of Al95 and Gg95 extracts exhibited the additive effect of reducing melanin pigments by suppressing the expression of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), tyrosinase (TYR) and tyrosinase-related protein-2 (TRP-2) in B16 cells. The combination of Al and Gg extracts could be developed as skin care products for hyperpigmentation treatment.

Metabolic profiling of mice plasma, bile, urine and feces after oral administration of two licorice flavonones

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Licorice is an ancient food and medicinal plant. Liquiritigenin and liquiritin, two kinds of major flavonoes in licorice, are effective substances used as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and tumor-suppressive food, cosmetics or medicines. However, their in vivo metabolites have not been fully explored.

AIM OF STUDY

To clarify the metabolism of liquiritigenin and liquiritin in mice.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this study, we developed a liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole/time-of-flight mass spectrometry approach to determine the metabolites in mice plasma, bile, urine and feces after oral administration of liquiritigenin or liquiritin. The structures of those metabolites were tentatively identified according to their fragment pathways, accurate masses, characteristic product ions, metabolism laws or reference standard matching.

RESULTS

A total of 26 and 24 metabolites of liquiritigenin or liquiritin were respectively identified. The products related with apigenin, luteolin or quercetin were the major metabolites of liquiritigenin or liquiritin in mice. Seven main metabolic pathways including (de)hydrogenation, (de)hydroxylation, (de)glycosylation, (de)methoxylation, acetylation, glucuronidation and sulfation were summarized to tentatively explain their biotransformation.

CONCLUSION

This study not only can provide the evidence for in vivo metabolites and pharmacokinetic mechanism of liquiritigenin and liquiritin, but also may lay the foundation for further development and utilization of liquiritigenin, liquiritin and then licorice.

Effect of Storage Time and Packing Method on the Freshness of Dried Lycium Fruit Using Electronic Nose and Chemometrics

The effect of storage time and packing method on dried Lycium fruits was studied through an electronic olfactory system with the metal oxide sensor array that provides an overall perception of the volatile compounds presented in the sample headspace. Principle component analysis (PCA), canonical discriminant analysis (CDA), and cluster analysis (CA) were used for freshness and packing methods discrimination of dried Lycium fruits. The stale samples of 2015 and 2016 could be separated with those of 2017 by PCA, CDA, and CA analysis. Better discrimination results were obtained by CDA, with samples of 2015 and 2016 separated with each other. For samples of 2017, the unpackaged samples of 2017-4 were distinguished with the vacuumed samples, while samples of grade C were separated with B and D. For quantitative analysis, predictive models for prediction of the storage years of dried Lycium fruits were built with methods of partial least square (PLS) analysis, multiple linear regression (MLR), and back propagation neural network (BPNN). The model built by BPNN showed the best predict ability with R2 = 0.9994, while PLS and MLR were also effective in the prediction of storage years of dried Lycium fruits, with high determination coefficients of 0.9316 and 0.9330. These findings showed that E-nose can be used in the discrimination of the storage time and package method of dried Lycium fruits.

Critical review of electronic nose and tongue instruments prospects in pharmaceutical analysis

Electronic nose (enose, EN) and electronic tongue (etongue, ET) have been designed to simulate human senses of smell and taste in the best possible way. The signals acquired from a sensor array, combined with suitable data analysis system, are the basis for holistic analysis of samples. The efficiency of these instruments, regarding classification, discrimination, detection, monitoring and analytics of samples in different types of matrices, is utilized in many fields of science and industry, offering numerous practical applications. Popularity of both types of devices significantly increased during the last decade, mainly due to improvement of their sensitivity and selectivity. The electronic senses have been employed in pharmaceutical sciences for, among others, formulation development and quality assurance. This paper contains a review of some particular applications of EN and ET based instruments in pharmaceutical industry. In addition, development prospects and a critical summary of the state of art in the field were also surveyed.

Metal Oxide Nanostructures in Food Applications: Quality Control and Packaging

Metal oxide materials have been applied in different fields due to their excellent functional properties. Metal oxides nanostructuration, preparation with the various morphologies, and their coupling with other structures enhance the unique properties of the materials and open new perspectives for their application in the food industry. Chemical gas sensors that are based on semiconducting metal oxide materials can detect the presence of toxins and volatile organic compounds that are produced in food products due to their spoilage and hazardous processes that may take place during the food aging and transportation. Metal oxide nanomaterials can be used in food processing, packaging, and the preservation industry as well. Moreover, the metal oxide-based nanocomposite structures can provide many advantageous features to the final food packaging material, such as antimicrobial activity, enzyme immobilization, oxygen scavenging, mechanical strength, increasing the stability and the shelf life of food, and securing the food against humidity, temperature, and other physiological factors. In this paper, we review the most recent achievements on the synthesis of metal oxide-based nanostructures and their applications in food quality monitoring and active and intelligent packaging.

Utilization of the Ability to Induce Activation of the Nuclear Factor (Erythroid-derived 2)-like Factor 2 (Nrf2) to Assess Potential Cancer Chemopreventive Activity of Liquorice Samples

INTRODUCTION

Nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like factor 2 (Nrf2) is a transcription factor that regulates expression of many detoxification enzymes. Nrf2-antioxidant responsive element (Nrf2-ARE) signalling pathway can be a target for cancer chemoprevention. Glycyrrhiza glabra, common name, 'liquorice', is used as a sweetening and flavouring agent, and traditionally, to treat various ailments, and implicated to chemoprevention. However, its chemopreventive property has not yet been scientifically substantiated.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the ability of liquorice root samples to induce Nrf2 activation correlating to their potential chemopreventive property.

METHODS

The ability of nine methanolic extracts of liquorice root samples, collected from various geographical origins, to induce Nrf2 activation was determined by the luciferase reporter assay using the ARE-reporter cell line, AREc32. The antioxidant properties were determined by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryhydrazyl (DPPH) and the ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays.

RESULTS

All extracts exhibited free-radical-scavenging property (RC50  = 136.39-635.66 µg/mL). The reducing capacity of ferrous ion was 214.46-465.59 μM Fe(II)/g. Nrf2 activation indicated that all extracts induced expression of ARE-driven luciferase activity with a maximum induction of 2.3 fold relative to control. These activities varied for samples from one geographical location to another.

CONCLUSIONS

The present findings add to the existing knowledge of cancer chemoprevention by plant-derived extracts or purified phytochemicals, particularly the potential use of liquorice for this purpose. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Herbal composition of Cinnamomum cassia, Pinus densiflora, Curcuma longa and Glycyrrhiza glabra prevents atherosclerosis by upregulating p27 (Kip1) expression

Background

Kiom-18 is a novel composition of Cinnamomum cassia, Pinus densiflora, Curcuma longa and Glycyrrhiza glabra. Curcuma longa and Glycyrrhiza glabra, which are traditional medicines in Asia, have been reported to demonstrate preventive effects against atherosclerosis; however, they have not yet been developed into functional atherosclerosis treatments. We therefore studied the anti-atherosclerotic effects and possible molecular mechanisms of Kiom-18 using vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs).

Methods

To assess the anti-proliferative effect of Kiom-18 in vitro, we performed thymidine incorporation, cell cycle progression, immunoblotting and immunofluorescence assays in VSMCs stimulated by platelet derived-growth factor (PDGF)-BB. In addition, we used LDLr knockout mice to identify the effects of Kiom-18 as a preliminary result in an atherosclerosis animal model.

Results

Kiom-18 inhibited platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB-stimulated-VSMC proliferation and DNA synthesis. Additionally, Kiom-18 arrested the cell cycle transition of G₀/G₁ stimulated by PDGF-BB and its cell cycle-related proteins. Correspondingly, the level of p27^kip1 expression was upregulated in the presence of the Kiom-18 extract. Moreover, in an atherosclerosis animal model of LDLr knockout mice, Kiom-18 extract showed a preventive effect for the formation of atherosclerotic plaque and suppressed body weight, fat weight, food treatment efficiency, neutrophil count, and triglyceride level.

Conclusions

These results indicate that Kiom-18 exerts anti-atherosclerotic effects by inhibiting VSMC proliferation via G₀/G₁ arrest, which upregulates p27^Kip1 expression.

Advanced development in phytochemicals analysis of medicine and food dual purposes plants used in China (2011-2014)

In 2011, we wrote a review for summarizing the phytochemical analysis (2006-2010) of medicine and food dual purposes plants used in China (Zhao et al., J. Chromatogr. A 1218 (2011) 7453-7475). Since then, more than 750 articles related to their phytochemical analysis have been published. Therefore, an updated review for the advanced development (2011-2014) in this topic is necessary for well understanding the quality control and health beneficial phytochemicals in these materials, as well as their research trends.

Authentication of fishery and aquaculture products by multi-element and stable isotope analysis

The market of fishery and aquaculture products is globalized with increasing numbers of mislabeled products. This highlights the need for approaches to indentify the origin of these products. Among the measures used to identify the origin of other agro-products, multi-element and stable isotope analysis are promising approaches to identify the authenticity and traceability of fishery and aquaculture products. The present paper reviews the use of multi-element and stable isotope analysis to determine the origin of fishery and aquaculture products. Principles and limitations of each method will be illustrated and perspectives for traceability of fishery and aquaculture products will be discussed. The aim of this review is to mediate fundamental knowledge for the interpretation of experimental data on authentication of aquaculture products.

Comparative Cytotoxicity of Glycyrrhiza glabra Roots from Different Geographical Origins Against Immortal Human Keratinocyte (HaCaT), Lung Adenocarcinoma (A549) and Liver Carcinoma (HepG2) Cells

Glycyrrhiza glabra L. (Fabaceae), commonly known as 'liquorice', is a well-known medicinal plant. Roots of this plant have long been used as a sweetening and flavouring agent in food and pharmaceutical products, and also as a traditional remedy for cough, upper and lower respiratory ailments, kidney stones, hepatitis C, skin disorder, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, gastrointestinal ulcers and stomach ache. Previous pharmacological and clinical studies have revealed its antitussive, antiinflammatory, antiviral, antimicrobial, antioxidant, immunomodulatory, hepatoprotective and cardioprotective properties. While glycyrrhizin, a sweet-tasting triterpene saponin, is the principal bioactive compound, several bioactive flavonoids and isoflavonoids are also present in the roots of this plant. In the present study, the cytotoxicity of the methanol extracts of nine samples of the roots of G. glabra, collected from various geographical origins, was assessed against immortal human keratinocyte (HaCaT), lung adenocarcinoma (A549) and liver carcinoma (HepG2) cell lines using the in vitro 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl tetrazoliumbromide cell toxicity/viability assay. Considerable variations in levels of cytotoxicity were observed among various samples of G. glabra.

Geoherbalism evaluation of Radix Angelica sinensis based on electronic nose

Radix Angelica sinensis (Danggui, DG), derived from the dry root of Angelicae sinensis, is popularly used for its antioxidant, hematinic and immuno-enhancement. However, DG from different origins possess different quality, and difficult to identity. In this study, we used electronic nose technique to investigate DG from different producing areas for monitoring the correlation of origin and quality. The electronic nose was employed to establish classification model of DG originated from four main producing areas of Gansu, Yunnan, Sichuan and Hubei in China. Principal component analysis (PCA) and discriminant function analysis (DFA) were performed to differentiate DG samples from four main producing areas. The content of phthalides of DG were determined to confirm the quality changes and investigate its correlation with the odor response values by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometer (GC-MS). The results of PCA and DFA analysis showed that the electronic nose could accurately distinguish DG from four main producing areas. The method of electronic nose for identification could be verified by GC-MS technology, and the main ingredient content was consistent with its odor of DG. In conclusion, electronic nose could effectively identify different origins of DG, and could be applied for rapid identification and quality control of genuine Angelica herbs.