Quantification of 2- and 3-isopropylmalic acids in forty Italian wines by UHPLC-MS/MS triple quadrupole and evaluation of their antimicrobial, antioxidant activities and biocompatibility

Quantification of two derivatives of malic acid first-time discovered in coffee: Influence of postharvest processing method

This study quantified, for the first time, 2-isopropylmalic and 3-isopropylmalic acids, in green, roasted and espresso coffee by UHPLC-MS/MS. Moreover, it reports the influence of postharvest processing methods (natural, washed and honey) on their content. New extraction techniques were developed and validated from three coffee matrices (green, roasted and espresso). Honey coffee exhibited levels substantially higher of 2-isopropylmalic acid than those processed by natural and washed methods (p < 0.05). Specifically, 2-isopropylmalic acid levels in honey green, roasted and espresso coffee samples were 48.24 ± 7.31 ng/g, 168.8 ± 10.88 ng/g and 177.5 ± 9.49 ng/g, respectively. This research highlights the significant impact of processing methods on the chemical profile of coffee and introduces 2-isopropylmalic and 3-isopropylmalic acids as potential quality indicators. Moreover, it suggests that the fermentation stage during processing may play a crucial role in their formation, laying the foundation for optimizing coffee processing to enhance quality.

Dynamic changes of microbiota and metabolite of traditional Hainan dregs vinegar during fermentation based on metagenomics and metabolomics

Hainan dregs vinegar (HNDV) is a traditional fermented food in China that is renowned for its unique flavor. HNDV is one of the most popular vinegars in Southeast Asia. However, research on the microorganisms and characteristic metabolites specific to HNDV is lacking. This study investigated the changes in microbial succession, volatile flavor compounds and characteristic non-volatile flavor compounds during HNDV fermentation based on metagenomics and metabolomics. The predominant microbial genera were Lactococcus, Limosilactobacillus, Lactiplantibacillus, and Saccharomyces. Unlike traditional vinegar, l-lactic acid was identified as the primary organic acid in HNDV. Noteworthy flavor compounds specific to HNDV included 3-methylthiopropanol and dl-phenylalanine. Significant associations were observed between six predominant microorganisms and six characteristic volatile flavor compounds, as well as seven characteristic non-volatile flavor compounds. The present results contribute to the development of starter cultures and the enhancement of HNDV quality.

Revealing the potential bioactive components and mechanism of Qianhua Gout Capsules in the treatment of gouty arthritis through network pharmacology, molecular docking and pharmacodynamic study strategies

Recent clinical studies have confirmed the effectiveness of Qianhua Gout Capsules (QGC) in the treatment of gouty arthritis (GA). However, the specific regulatory targets and mechanisms of action of QGC are still unclear. To address this gap, we utilized network pharmacology, molecular docking, and pharmacodynamic approaches to investigate the bioactive components and associated mechanisms of QGC in the treatment of GA. By employing UPLC-Q Exactive-MS, we identified the compounds present in QGC, with active ingredients defined as those with oral bioavailability ≥30 % and drug similarity ≥0.18. Subsequently, the targets of these active compounds were determined using the TCMSP database, while GA-related targets were identified from DisGeNET, GeneCards, TTD, OMIM, and DrugBank databases. Further analysis including PPI analysis, GO analysis, and KEGG pathway enrichment was conducted on the targets. Validation of the predicted results was performed using a GA rat model, evaluating pathological changes, inflammatory markers, and pathway protein expression. Our results revealed a total of 130 components, 44 active components, 16 potential shared targets, GO-enriched terms, and 47 signaling pathways related to disease targets. Key active ingredients included quercetin, kaempferol, β-sitosterol, luteolin, and wogonin. The PPI analysis highlighted five targets (PPARG, IL-6, MMP-9, IL-1β, CXCL-8) with the highest connectivity, predominantly enriched in the IL-17 signaling pathway. Molecular docking experiments demonstrated strong binding of CXCL8, IL-1β, IL-6, MMP9, and PPARG targets with the top five active compounds. Furthermore, animal experiments confirmed the efficacy of QGC in treating GA in rats, showing reductions in TNF-α, IL-6, and MDA levels, and increases in SOD levels in serum. In synovial tissues, QGC treatment upregulated CXCL8 and PPARG expression, while downregulating IL-1β, MMP9, and IL-6 expression. In conclusion, this study applied a network pharmacology approach to uncover the composition of QGC, predict its pharmacological interactions, and demonstrate its in vivo efficacy, providing insights into the anti-GA mechanisms of QGC. These findings pave the way for future investigations into the therapeutic mechanisms underlying QGC's effectiveness in the treatment of GA.

Bioactivity Screening and Chemical Characterization of Biocompound from Endophytic Neofusicoccum parvum and Buergenerula spartinae Isolated from Mangrove Ecosystem

The discovery of biomolecules has been the subject of extensive research for several years due to their potential to combat harmful pathogens that can lead to environmental contamination and infections in both humans and animals. This study aimed to identify the chemical profile of endophytic fungi, namely Neofusicoccum parvum and Buergenerula spartinae, which were isolated from Avecinnia schaueriana and Laguncularia racemosa. We identified several HPLC-MS compounds, including Ethylidene-3,39-biplumbagin, Pestauvicolactone A, Phenylalanine, 2-Isopropylmalic acid, Fusaproliferin, Sespendole, Ansellone, Calanone derivative, Terpestacin, and others. Solid-state fermentation was conducted for 14-21 days, and methanol and dichloromethane extraction were performed to obtain a crude extract. The results of our cytotoxicity assay revealed a CC₅₀ value > 500 μg/mL, while the virucide, Trypanosoma, leishmania, and yeast assay demonstrated no inhibition. Nevertheless, the bacteriostatic assay showed a 98% reduction in Listeria monocytogenes and Escherichia coli. Our findings suggest that these endophytic fungi species with distinct chemical profiles represent a promising niche for further exploring new biomolecules.

Above the Invasive and Ornamental Attributes of the Traveler's Palm: An In Vitro and In Silico Insight into the Anti-Oxidant, Anti-Enzymatic, Cytotoxic and Phytochemical Characterization of Ravenala madagascariensis

Ravenala madagascariensis is a widely known ornamental and medicinal plant, but with a dearth of scientific investigations regarding its phytochemical and pharmacological properties. Hence, these properties were appraised in this study. The DPPH (154.08 ± 2.43 mgTE/g), FRAP (249.40 ± 3.01 mgTE/g), CUPRAC (384.57 ± 1.99 mgTE/g), metal chelating (29.68 ± 0.74 mgEDTAE/g) and phosphomolybdenum assay (2.38 ± 0.07 mmolTE/g) results demonstrated that the aqueous extract had the most prominent antioxidant activity, while the methanolic extract displayed the best antioxidant potential in the ABTS assay (438.46 ± 1.69 mgTE/g). The HPLC-ESI-Q-TOF-MS-MS analysis allowed the characterization of 41 metabolites. The methanolic extract was the most active against acetylcholinesterase. All extracts were active against the alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase enzymes, with the ethyl acetate extract being the most active against the alpha-amylase enzyme, while the methanolic extract showed the best alpha-glucosidase inhibition. A plethora of metabolites bonded more energetically with the assayed enzymes active sites based on the results of the in silico studies. R. madagascariensis extracts used in this study exhibited cytotoxicity against HT29 cells. The IC₅₀ of the methanolic extract was lower (506.99 ug/mL). Based on the heat map, whereby flavonoids were found to be in greater proportion in the extracts, it can be concluded that the flavonoid portion of the extracts contributed to the most activity.

Green extraction, chemical composition, and in vitro antioxidant activity of theabrownins from Kangzhuan dark tea

Theabrownins (TBs) in dark tea have received increasing attention for their multiple health benefits. In this study, ultrasound assisted extraction with deep eutectic solvent (UAE-DES) was developed for the extraction of TBs from Kangzhuan dark tea (KZDT). The highest yield (12.59%) of TBs was obtained using UAE-choline (ChCl)/malic acid (MA) with a liquid to solid ratio of 20:1 (v/w), ultrasonic power of 577 W, ultrasonic time of 25 min, and water content of 30%. TBs were further eluded by silica gel to obtain six theabrownine fractions (TBFs), namely, TBFs1, TBFs2, TBFs3, TBFs4, TBFs5, and TBFs6. LC-MS/MS revealed that flavonoids, terpenes, phenolic acids, alkaloids, lipids, and amino acids are the leading components of TBFs. The TBFs4, with the DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP values of 45.08 ± 0.42 μM Ascorbic acid/g DW, 178.52 ± 0.29 μM Trolox/g DW, and 370.85 ± 6.00 μM Fe(II)/g DW, respectively, showed the highest antioxidant activity among all the TBFs. Overall, this study first provided the evidence that UAE-ChCl/MA combining with silica gel was effective to extract TBs from KZDT, and the 6,7-dihydroxycoumarin-6-glucoside and neohesperidin were found as the leading compounds in the TBFs, providing a guidance for the chemical research and further utilization of dark tea and its TBs.

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Yield of TBs of 12.59% from KZDT was achieved by UAE-ChCl/MA.

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Silica gel powder with methanol (100%–0%) as a mobile phase was used for TBs separation.

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The chemical component of TBFs was revealed.

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Flavonoids are among the leading compounds in the TBFs.

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TBFs4 displayed the highest in vitro antioxidant activity.

Synthesis and Biological Characterization of the New Glycolipid Lactose Undecylenate (URB1418)

As a follow-up to our previous studies on glycolipid surfactants, a new molecule, that is lactose 6′-O-undecylenate (URB1418), was investigated. To this end, a practical synthesis and studies aimed at exploring its specific properties were carried out. URB1418 showed antifungal activities against Trichophyton rubrum F2 and Candida albicans ATCC 10231 (MIC 512 μg/mL) and no significant antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. At the same time, it presented anti-inflammatory properties, as documented by the dose-dependent reduction in LPS-induced NO release in RAW 264.7 cells, while a low antioxidant capacity in the range of concentrations tested (EC50 > 200 µM) was also observed. Moreover, URB1418 offers the advantage of being more stable than the reference polyunsaturated lactose esters and of being synthesized using a “green” procedure, involving an enzymatic method, high yield and low manufacturing cost. For all these reasons and the absence of toxicity (HaCaT cells), the new glycolipid presented herein could be considered an interesting compound for applications in various fields.

Phytochemical Profile and Biological Activities of the Extracts from Two Oenanthe Species (O. aquatica and O. silaifolia)

This study presents the evaluation of biological activities and chemical profiling of Oenanthe aquatica (L.) Poir. and Oenanthe silaifolia M. Bieb. The phytochemical profile, antioxidant, enzyme inhibitory, cytotoxic and antiviral activities of the methanolic and aqueous extracts were investigated. The aqueous extract of O. aquatica possessing the highest content of phenolics (60.85 mg gallic acid equivalent/g extract), also exhibited the strongest radical scavenging potential against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (79.46 and 148.66 mg Trolox equivalent/g extract, respectively), the highest reducing ability (207.59 and 107.27 mg Trolox equivalent/g extract, for cupric reducing antioxidant capacity and ferric reducing antioxidant activity, respectively), metal chelating potential (33.91 mg ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid equivalent/g extract) and total antioxidant ability (1.60 mmol Trolox equivalent/g extract). Liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-quadrupole time-of-flight-mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS) permitted tentative identification of compounds from simple organic acids, phenolic acids, coumarins, flavonoids and their glycosides in O. aquatica and O. silaifolia extracts. The methanolic extract of O. aquatica substantially depressed acetylcholinesterase (3.67 mg galantamine equivalent/g extract), tyrosinase (126.66 mg kojic acid equivalent/g extract), and α-amylase (0.83 mmol acarbose equivalent/g extract) enzymes. The methanolic extract of O. silaifolia showed highest enzymatic inhibitory property against butyrylcholinesterase, and its aqueous extract depressed α-glucosidase activity (0.26 mmol acarbose equivalent/g extract). All tested extracts exerted selective toxicity towards cancer cell lines, and the highest anticancer potential was found for O. aquatica aqueous extract on FaDu and HeLa cells with CC₅₀ of 57.36 and 47.16 µg/mL, respectively. Significant antiviral activity against HSV-1 (HHV-1) was found for both aqueous extracts in concentrations of 1000 µg/mL, which inhibited the HSV-1 cytopathic effect (CPE) in virus infected VERO cells and reduced the virus infective titer by more than 3 log (logCCID₅₀/mL). This study has produced critical scientific data on O. aquatica and O. silaifolia, which are potential contenders for the development of novel phyto-pharmaceuticals.

Primary Ciliogenesis by 2-Isopropylmalic Acid Prevents PM2.5-Induced Inflammatory Response and MMP-1 Activation in Human Dermal Fibroblasts and a 3-D-Skin Model

Particulate matters (PMs) increase oxidative stress and inflammatory response in different tissues. PMs disrupt the formation of primary cilia in various skin cells, including keratinocytes and melanocytes. In this study, we found that 2-isopropylmalic acid (2-IPMA) promoted primary ciliogenesis and restored the PM2.5-induced dysgenesis of primary cilia in dermal fibroblasts. Moreover, 2-IPMA inhibited the generation of excessive reactive oxygen species and the activation of stress kinase in PM2.5-treated dermal fibroblasts. Further, 2-IPMA inhibited the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IL-6 and TNF-α, which were upregulated by PM2.5. However, the inhibition of primary ciliogenesis by IFT88 depletion reversed the downregulated cytokines by 2-IPMA. Moreover, we found that PM2.5 treatment increased the MMP-1 expression in dermal fibroblasts and a human 3-D-skin model. The reduced MMP-1 expression by 2-IPMA was further reversed by IFT88 depletion in PM2.5-treated dermal fibroblasts. These findings suggest that 2-IPMA ameliorates PM2.5-induced inflammation by promoting primary ciliogenesis in dermal fibroblasts.

Untargeted LC-QTOF-MS/MS based metabolomics approach for revealing bioactive components in probiotic fermented coffee brews

Amidst trends in non-dairy probiotic foods and functional coffees, we recently developed a fermented coffee brew containing high live counts of the probiotics Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG and Saccharomyces boulardii CNCM-I745. However, probiotic fermentation did not alter levels of principal coffee bioactive components based on targeted analyses. Here, to provide therapeutic justification compared to other non-fermented coffee brews, we aimed to discover postbiotics in coffee brews fermented with L. rhamnosus GG and/or S. boulardii CNCM-I745. By using an untargeted LC-QTOF-MS/MS based metabolomics approach coupled with validated multivariate analyses, 37 differential metabolites between fermentation treatments were putatively annotated. These include the production of postbiotics such as 2-isopropylmalate by S. boulardii CNCM-I745, and aromatic amino acid catabolites (indole-3-lactate, p-hydroxyphenyllactate, 3-phenyllactate), and hydroxydodecanoic acid by L. rhamnosus GG. Overall, LC-QTOF based untargeted metabolomics can be an effective approach to uncover postbiotics, which may substantiate additional potential functionalities of probiotic fermented foods compared to their non-fermented counterparts.

Determination of coeluted isomers in wine samples by application of MS/MS deconvolution analysis

Two organic acids isomers, 3-isopropylmalic acid (3-IPMA) and 2-isopropylmalic acid (2-IPMA), were identified and quantified in wine samples by using an LC-MS/MS method without any chromatographic separation, but processing the MS/MS data with a recently developed deconvolution algorithm (LEDA: linear equations deconvolution analysis), thus decreasing the time necessary for the process. In particular, the LEDA tool processes the MS/MS signals and assigns the relative concentrations (abundances) of the isomers in the sample, at the mg L^-1 level. The efficiency of MS/MS signal assignment was improved by introducing five linear equations to define the LEDA matrix. Then, as a novel approach, an overdetermined system of linear equations was applied for the deconvolution of isomers. The use of LEDA to identify and quantify the isomers in wine samples, together with the choice of a short LC column and a fast elution gradient, simplifies the process and shortens the time needed. Furthermore, it was evaluated the quantitative determination of the IPMA isomers by using the calibration curve provided by the precursor ion MRM transition data. The calculated values of accuracy (recovery between 82.6% and 99.8%) and precision (RSD between 0.4% and 4.0%) confirm the validity of this quantitative approach and the ability of LEDA to establish the correct percentage of the MS/MS signal for each isomer. Finally, to compare the conventional LC-MS/MS method and our proposed method of LC-MS/MS coupled with LEDA post-processing elaboration, a series of real wine samples were analysed by both methods, and the results were compared.