Extraction optimization of polysaccharide from Zanthoxylum bungeanum using RSM and its antioxidant activity

Ulcerative colitis: molecular insights and intervention therapy

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease characterized by abdominal pain, diarrhea, rectal bleeding, and weight loss. The pathogenesis and treatment of UC remain key areas of research interest. Various factors, including genetic predisposition, immune dysregulation, and alterations in the gut microbiota, are believed to contribute to the pathogenesis of UC. Current treatments for UC include 5-aminosalicylic acids, corticosteroids, immunosuppressants, and biologics. However, study reported that the one-year clinical remission rate is only around 40%. It is necessary to prompt the exploration of new treatment modalities. Biologic therapies, such as anti-TNF-α monoclonal antibody and JAK inhibitor, primarily consist of small molecules targeting specific pathways, effectively inducing and maintaining remission. Given the significant role of the gut microbiota, research into intestinal microecologics, such as probiotics and prebiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) shows promising potential in UC treatment. Additionally, medicinal herbs, such as chili pepper and turmeric, used in complementary therapy have shown promising results in UC management. This article reviews recent findings on the mechanisms of UC, including genetic susceptibility, immune cell dynamics and cytokine regulation, and gut microbiota alterations. It also discusses current applications of biologic therapy, herbal therapy, microecologics, and FMT, along with their prospects and challenges.

Optimizing the fucoidan extraction using Box-Behnken Design and its potential bioactivity

Fucoidan is a sulfated polysaccharide that occurs naturally in the cell wall of brown seaweeds and has substantial biological efficacy. Optimizing the extraction of fucoidan from different brown seaweeds was the primary goal of this research. The optimization of fucoidan extraction was applied on the brown macroalga Turbinaria turbinata using a Box-Behnken Design (BBD) to inspect the impacts of different pH (3, 5, 7), temperature (70, 80, 90 °C) and extraction duration (60, 120, 180 min) on both the yield and sulfate content of fucoidan. The optimized parameters recorded to maximize the fucoidan yield and its sulfate content were a pH of 3.44 and a temperature of 82.26 °C for 60 min. The optimal conditions obtained from BBD were used for fucoidan extraction from T. turbinata, Sargassum cinereum, Padina pavonica, and Dictyota dichotoma. The highest average of fucoidan yield was derived from P. pavonica (40.76 ± 4.04 % DW). FTIR, 1H NMR, and HPLC were used to characterize extracted fucoidan. The extracted fucoidan's Physical characteristics, biochemical composition, antioxidant potential, antitumor effect against breast cancer cells (MCF-7), and antimicrobial and anticoagulant activity were assessed. The extracted fucoidan from D. dichotoma, followed by that extracted from S. cinereum, which had the highest sulphate content, depicted the highest antioxidant, anticancer, and anticoagulant activities. Fucoidan has demonstrated a strong antimicrobial action against some pathogenic microorganisms; Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia, and Candida albicans. The anticoagulant properties of fucoidan from D. dichotoma were stronger than those of fucoidan from S. cinereum, T. turbinata, and P. pavonica due to its higher sulphate content. These findings could be used for various biomedical applications to improve the pharmaceutical industry.

Advances in Eucommia ulmoides polysaccharides: extraction, purification, structure, bioactivities and applications

Eucommia ulmoides (EU) is a precious tree species native to China originating during the ice age. This species has important economic value and comprehensive development potential, particularly in medicinal applications. The medicinal parts of EU are its bark (Eucommiae cortex) and leaves (Eucommiae folium) which have been successively used as a traditional Chinese medicine to treat diseases since the first century BC. During the last 2 decades, as natural polysaccharides have become of increasing interest in pharmacology, biomedicine, cosmetic and food applications, more and more scholars have begun to study polysaccharides derived from EU as well. EU polysaccharides have been found to have a variety of biological functions both in vivo and in vitro, including immunomodulatory, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticomplementary, antifatigue, and hepatoprotective activities. This review aims to summarize these recent advances in extraction, purification, structural characteristics, pharmacological activities and applications in different fields of EU bark and leaf polysaccharides. It was found that both Eucommiae folium polysaccharides and Eucommiae cortex polysaccharides were suitable for medicinal use. Eucommiae folium may potentially be used to substitute for Eucommiae cortex in terms of immunomodulation and antioxidant activities. This study serves as a valuable reference for improving the comprehensive utilization of EU polysaccharides and further promoting the application of EU polysaccharides.

Pharmacological activities of Zanthoxylum L. plants and its exploitation and utilization

The study aims to provide an up-to-date review at the advancements of the investigations on the ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, pharmacological effect and exploitation and utilizations of Zanthoxylum L. Besides, the possible tendency and perspective for future research of this plant are discussed, as well. This article uses "Zanthoxylum L." "Zanthorylum bungeanum" as the keywords and collects relevant information on Zanthoxylum L. plants through electronic searches (Elsevier, PubMed, ACS, Web of Science, Science Direct, CNKI, Google Scholar), relevant books, and classic literature about Chinese herb. The plants of this genus are rich in volatile oils, alkaloids, amides, lignans, coumarins and organic acids, and has a wide range of pharmacological activities, including but not limited to anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-tumor, hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, antioxidant and anti-infectious. This article reviewed both Chinese and international research progress on the active ingredients and pharmacological activities of Zanthoxylum L. as well as the applications of this genus in the fields of food, medicinal and daily chemicals, and clarified the material basis of its pharmacological activities. Based on traditional usage, phytochemicals, and pharmacological properties, of Zanthoxylum L. species, which indicate that they possess diverse bioactive metabolites with interesting bioactivities. Zanthoxylum L. is a potential medicinal and edible plant with diverse pharmacological effects. Due to its various advantages, it may have vast application potential in the food and medicinal industries and daily chemicals. Nonetheless, the currently available data has several gaps in understanding the herbal utilization of Zanthoxylum L. Thus, further research into their toxicity, mechanisms of actions of the isolated bioactive metabolites, as well as scientific connotations between the traditional medicinal uses and pharmacological properties is required to unravel their efficacy in therapeutic potential for safe clinical application.

Analysis of composition and source of the key aroma compounds in stir-fried pepper tallow

Stir-fried pepper tallow is widely used in cooking due to its special flavor, particularly in hot-pot dishes. However, the composition and source of the key aroma compounds in stir-fried pepper tallow are poorly understood, resulting in uneven quality. Here, the key aroma compounds were screened using flavor dilution factors (FD) and odor activity values (OAVs). A total of 41 odorants compounds were identified. Of these, 20 compounds with FD ≥ 8 were aroma-active compounds. Furthermore, among these 20 compounds, 15 with OAVs ≥ 1were the key aroma-active compounds and most of these (13 out of 15 odorants) were produced from pepper. Glycosides in pepper are the precursors of the most of these key aroma compounds. It may be possible to improve the flavor quality of stir-fried pepper tallow by hydrolyzing glycosides. These findings should help to establish a standard to assess and improve the quality of stir-fried pepper tallow.

Fractionation and antioxidation activities of polysaccharides from Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim

Zanthoxylum bungeanum has a lengthy history of widespread use as a food ingredient in China. However, the composition of Zanthoxylum bungeanum polysaccharide remains ambiguous, and the antioxidant effect has received limited attention. This study aimed to extract water-soluble polysaccharide from the dried pericarp of Zanthoxylum bungeanum, referred to as WZBP, which was fractionated into a neutral component (WZBP-N) and three pectic components (WZBP-A-I, WZBP-A-II, WZBP-A-III). The findings indicated that WZBP-A-III is a pectic polysaccharide "smooth region" without many side chains. All components of WZBP exhibited a notable capacity for scavenging free radicals, with WZBP-A-III demonstrating the most potent antioxidation activity, and WZBP-A-III also observed to effectively extend the lifespan of Drosophila melanogaster and enhanced the activity of antioxidant enzymes. These results provide valuable insight and direction for future research on Zanthoxylum bungeanum polysaccharide as an antioxidant agent.

Sulfated polysaccharides from Caulerpa lentillifera: Optimizing the process of extraction, structural characteristics, antioxidant capabilities, and anti-glycation properties

The polysaccharides found in Caulerpa lentillifera (sea grape algae) are potentially an important bioactive resource. This study makes use of RSM (response surface methodology) to determine the optimal conditions for the extraction of valuable SGP (sea grape polysaccharides). The findings indicated that a water/raw material ratio of 10:1 mL/g, temperature of 90 °C, and extraction time of 45 min would maximize the yield, with experimentation achieving a yield of 21.576 %. After undergoing purification through DEAE-52 cellulose and Sephacryl S-100 column chromatography, three distinct fractions were obtained, namely SGP11, SGP21, and SGP31, each possessing average molecular weights of 38.24 kDa, 30.13 kDa, and 30.65 kDa, respectively. Following characterization, the fractions were shown to comprise glucose, galacturonic acid, xylose, and mannose, while the sulfate content was in the range of 12.2-21.8 %. Using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) it was possible to confirm with absolute certainty the sulfate polysaccharide attributes of SGP11, SGP21, and SGP31. NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) findings made it clear that SGP11 exhibited α-glycosidic configurations, while the configurations of SGP21 and SGP31 were instead β-glycosidic. The in vitro antioxidant assays which were conducted revealed that each of the fractions was able to demonstrate detectable scavenging activity against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals and 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical cations. All fractions were also found to exhibit the capacity to scavenge NO radicals in a dose-dependent manner. SGP11, SGP21, and SGP31 were also able to display cellular antioxidant activity (CAA) against the human adenocarcinoma colon (Caco-2) cell line when oxidative damage was induced. The concentration levels were found to govern the extent of such activity. Moreover, purified SGP were found to exert strong inhibitory effects upon glycation, with the responses dependent upon dosage, thus confirming the potential for SGP to find a role as a natural resource for the production of polysaccharide-based antioxidant drugs, or products to promote improved health.

Effects of lactic acid bacteria on antioxidant activity in vitro and aroma component of Eucommia ulmoides tea

Eucommia ulmoides tea is a popular functional health drink in Asian countries, but its unique herbal aroma is difficult for consumers to accept. The effects of four lactic acid bacteria strains (Lactobacillus plantarium, Lactobacillus bulgaricus, Lactobacillus acidophilus and Streptococcus thermophilus) fermentation on the physicochemical property, antioxidant activity in vitro and aroma component of E. ulmoides leaves were studied. Within the four strains, the sample by L. bulgaricus fermentation showed the higher concentrations of chlorogenic acid, geniposidic acid and stronger antioxidant activity in vitro. Moreover, the sample by L. bulgaricus fermentation produced a stronger fruity and floral flavor. These results suggested that L. bulgaricus was the best strain for fermentation E. ulmoides tea. The differences between different strains should be considered when selecting lactic acid bacteria for raw material fermentation of fruits and vegetables.

Comparative Evaluation of the Physiochemical Properties, and Antioxidant and Hypoglycemic Activities of Dendrobium officinale Leaves Processed Using Different Drying Techniques

Dendrobium officinale leaves have the potential to be processed into natural antioxidants, functional foods, and food additives. To maximally maintain their quality, fresh D. officinale leaves were dehydrated using different drying methods, i.e., hot air drying (HD), microwave drying (MD), infrared drying (IRD), and freeze drying (FD), and then the physicochemical properties, microstructure, and biological activities of the dried samples were compared. The results showed that, with the FD method, the samples had a porous microstructure, maintained the highest phenolic content, and demonstrated the highest antioxidant and hypoglycemic activities. Among the three thermal drying methods, with the IRD method, the samples retained higher phenolic contents, showed stronger DPPH free-radical scavenging, ferric ion reducing, ferrous ion chelating, and α-glucosidase inhibitory abilities, and more strongly promoted glucose metabolism in insulin-resistant HL-7702 cells than the samples with the MD and HD methods. These results suggested that FD was the most suitable method. However, IRD might be a promising alternative, owing to the high cost and long time needed for FD for the large-scale drying of D. officinale leaves.

Optimization of ultrasonic-assisted extraction of flavonoids from Lactuca indica L. cv. Mengzao and their antioxidant properties

In this study, the ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) conditions of flavonoids from Lactuca indica L.cv. Mengzao (LIM) leaves was optimized, and the flavonoids content and their antioxidant potential in different parts were analyzed. The optimal extraction parameters to obtain the highest total flavonoids content (TFC) were a a ratio of liquid to solid of 24.76 mL/g, ultrasonic power of 411.43 W, ethanol concentration of 58.86% and an extraction time of 30 min, the average TFC of LIM leaves could reach 48.01 mg/g. For the yield of flavonoids, the UAE method had the best extraction capacity compared with solvent extraction and microwave-assisted extraction (MAE). In general, the TFC in different parts of LIM followed the order flower > leaf > stem > root, the flowering period is the most suitable harvesting period. From ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS) quantification, the flower samples showed significantly higher six flavonoids and had the highest radical scavenging capacities compared to other samples. A high positive correlation was observed between the antioxidant activity and TFC, luteolin-7-O-glucoside and rutin were significantly (p < 0.05) correlated with all antioxidant evaluations. This study provides valuable information for the development and utilization of flavonoids in Lactuca indica as ingredients in food, feed and nutritional health products.

Optimization of Extraction Process and Dynamic Changes in Triterpenoids of Lactuca indica from Different Medicinal Parts and Growth Periods

In this study, the triterpenoids in the leaves of Lactuca indica L.cv. Mengzao (LIM) were extracted via microwave-assisted ethanol extraction, and the optimum extraction conditions for triterpenoids were determined through single-factor experiments and the Box-Behnken method. The effects of three factors (solid-liquid ratio, microwave power and extraction time) on the total triterpenoids content (TTC) were evaluated. The TTC of different parts (roots, stems, leaves and flowers) of LIM in different growth stages was studied, and the scavenging effects of the highest TTC parts on DPPH, ABTS and hydroxyl free radicals were investigated. The results showed that the optimum extraction conditions for microwave-assisted extraction of total triterpenoids from LIM leaves were as follows: solid-liquid ratio of 1:20 g/mL; microwave power of 400 W; and extraction time of 60 min. Under these conditions, the TTC was 29.17 mg/g. Compared with the fresh raw materials, the TTC of the materials increased after freeze drying. The leaves of LIM had the highest TTC, and the flowering stage was the best time. The triterpenoids from the leaves had a strong ability to eliminate DPPH and ABTS free radicals, and the elimination effect of dried leaves was better than that of fresh leaves, while the elimination effect of hydroxyl free radicals was not obvious. The tested method was used to extract total triterpenoids from LIM using a simple process at low cost, which provides a reference for developing intensive processing methods for L. indica.

Optimisation of enzyme-assisted extraction of Erythronium sibiricum bulb polysaccharide and its effects on immunomodulation

In this study, polysaccharides of Erythronium sibiricum bulb were extracted using enzyme-assisted extraction technology and then optimised by response surface methodology. The characteristics and immunomodulatory activities of the polysaccharide (E1P) were investigated. Setting the yield of polysaccharides as the index, the effects of amylase content, zymolytic time, extraction pH and zymolytic temperature were investigated. The optimal extraction conditions for polysaccharides were as follows: amylase content, 1% weight of pre-treated powder; zymolytic time, 2 h; extraction pH, 7.5; and zymolytic temperature, 55 °C. The yield was predicted to be 61.10%, which agreed with the value obtained in confirmatory experiments (59.71% ± 2.72%). Further research indicated that the primary component of E1P is glucose; however, it also contains a small quantity of galactose and arabinose. In vitro assays showed that E1P and ESBP (another kind of E. sibiricum bulb polysaccharide extracted by water decoction in our previous study) could significantly promote the cellular viability and phagocytosis of RAW264.7 cells without cytotoxicity. Moreover, they could enhance the ability to secrete nitric oxide and cytokines such as TNF-α and IL-1β. However, the immunomodulatory activities of E1P were better than those of ESBP. According to the results of this study, enzyme-assisted extraction represents a new strategy for extracting E. sibiricum bulb polysaccharides with higher yield and better immune activity.

Reflux Extraction Optimization and Antioxidant Activity of Phenolic Compounds from Pleioblastus amarus (Keng) Shell

Phenols were extracted from the Pleioblastus amarus (Keng) shell (PAS) using ethanol. A Plackett-Burman assessment indicated that the factors affecting polyphenol extraction included the ethanol concentration, extraction temperature, liquid to solid ratio, extraction time, and reflux extraction times; the best extraction parameters were the ethanol concentration of 75%, a 20:1 liquid to solid ratio, and an extraction time of 2.1 h. The number of polyphenols was 7.216 mg/g. Furthermore, the phenol composition analysis showed the presence of p-Coumaric acid (196.88 mg /mL) and rutin (312.9 mg /mL), which were used for the in vitro extraction and determination of the antioxidant activity. According to the A, B, C, and D antioxidant activity assays, the ethyl acetate phase was the strongest with low IC50 values of 0.169 ± 0.01 mg/mL, 0.289 ± 0.01 mg/mL, 0.372 ± 0.01 mg/mL, and 1.029 ± 0.03 mg/mL, respectively, confirming high antioxidant activity. For the n-butanol and petroleum ether phases, antioxidant activity was lower. This study showed that the polyphenol extract from Pleioblastus amarus (Keng) shell displayed excellent antioxidant activity, enhancing its practical application.

A new coumarin from pericarps of Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim

A new coumarin, 7-oxo-7 H-furo-[3,2-g]chromen-9-yl dimethylcarbamate, is isolated from a methanol extract of Zanthoxylum bungeanum pericarps. The structure of this compound 1 is elucidated based on extensive spectroscopic analysis, including infrared, nuclear magnetic resonance, and mass spectrometry. This new compound is also synthesized by a simple acylation reaction with dimethylcarbamoyl chloride. The inhibitory activity of the isolated compound against HeLa and HepG2 cell lines is described. The protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B inhibitory activity against HeLa and HepG2 cancer cells and the sirtuin 1 inhibitory activity against HepG2 cancer cells are also evaluated.

Integrated Transcriptome and Metabolome Analysis Revealed That Flavonoid Biosynthesis May Dominate the Resistance of Zanthoxylum bungeanum against Stem Canker

Stem canker of Zanthoxylum bungeanum is a devastating disease that seriously affects the plantation and industrial development of Z. bungeanum due to a lack of effective control measures. The objective of this study was to screen out resistant Z. bungeanum varieties and further explore their resistance mechanisms against stem canker. Results showed that the most resistant and susceptible varieties were, respectively, Doujiao (DJ) and Fengxian Dahongpao (FD). Combining transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses, we found that the genes and metabolites associated with the phenylpropanoid metabolism, especially flavonoid biosynthesis, were highly significantly enriched in DJ following pathogen infection compared with that in FD, which indicated that the flavonoid metabolism may positively dominate the resistance of Z. bungeanum. This finding was further confirmed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis, through which higher expression levels of core genes involved in flavonoid metabolism in resistant variety were observed. Moreover, by analyzing the differences in the flavonoid content in the stems of resistant and susceptible varieties and the antifungal activities of flavonoids extracted from Z. bungeanum stems, the conclusion that flavonoid metabolism positively regulates the resistance of Z. bungeanum was further supported. Our results not only aid in better understanding the resistance mechanisms of Z. bungeanum against stem canker but also promote the breeding and utilization of resistant varieties.

The Sirtuin-1 relied antioxidant and antiaging activity of 5,5'-diferulic acid glucoside esters derived from corn bran by enzymatic method

Maize is the food crop with the highest total output in the world. However, corn bran is only a by-product with low price. The 5,5'-diferulic acid glucoside esters (DFG) were obtained from corn bran using the enzymatic method. DFG showed obvious antioxidant capacity in cell, Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) and in mouse. DFG decreased ROS and MDA content in 500 μM H₂ O₂ stimulated ARPE-19 cells to 48.6% and 32.2%, respectively. DFG decreased ROS content in C. elegans to 49.1% and MDA content in acute ethanol (50%, 12 ml/kg) stimulated mouse to 30.4%. DFG also increased SOD protein content significantly in cell, C. elegans and mouse to 175.5%, 120.1%, and 126.2%, respectively. DFG significantly extended the lifespan of C. elegans both under heat stress and natural situation. The median survival time was prolonged to 133.3% and 116.7%, respectively. This capacity relied on the SIR-2.1 activity. SIR-2.1 is an ortholog of human Sirtuin-1 (SIRT-1). DFG also upregulated SIRT-1 and PCG-1α expression level obviously in H₂ O₂ -stimulated ARPE-19 cells (to 134.4% and 127.1%, respectively) and in acute ethanol stimulated mouse eyes (to 135.1% and 111.5%, respectively) and liver (to 123.3% and 113.6%, respectively). These results indicate that DFG has multiple bioactivities. Our research provides a new application prospect of corn bran. And to our best knowledge, this is the first time, the sirtuins-relied lifespan extension activity of the 5,5'-diferulic acid extracted from corn bran was reported. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: The traditional method for extracting diferulic acid from corn bran is to use the strong alkali. Obviously, this is not welcomed by the food industry. We employed the biological enzyme method in a relatively mild pH range during the extraction process. It is more environmentally friendly and more economical. DFG can be added as a raw material for functional foods like yogurt, fruit juice, and cereals. As well, the solid precipitate obtained after extraction can also be used as high-quality dietary fiber to produce functional food. Meanwhile, concerning for the 5,5'-diferulic acid derived from corn bran, the relevant research is still not abundant. And to our best knowledge, we have reported for the first time about the effect of this kinds of diferulic acid on prolonging life span and its SIRT-1-dependent activity. It also provides a new perspective for the study of diferulic acid.

Extraction, purification and antioxidant activity of polysaccharide from cold pressed oil cake of 'Tengjiao' seed

Tengjiao (Zanthoxylum armatum DC.) seed cold pressed oil cake (CPC), the main by-product of the cold-pressed oil process, is mainly used for animal feed or crop fertilizer, resulting in a great waste of resources. To improve the added value, the CPC polysaccharide (CPCP) was extracted and purified, and its antioxidant activity was studied. The extraction conditions by microwave assisted extraction, and purification conditions by trichloroacetic acid and polyamide column chromatography treatment were optimized. High performance liquid chromatography and Fourier transforms infrared were applied to characterize the primary structural features. And the antioxidant activity was analyzed by detecting the reducing power, and scavenging activity on radical of superoxide anion, DPPH and ABTS. The results showed that, under the optimal extraction conditions (liquid-to-solid ratio 44 mL/g, processing time 16 min, microwave power 500 W and extraction temperature 80 °C), and the optimal purification conditions, the extract rate of crude CPCP reached 4.76 ± 0.07%, and the purity increased from 48.52 ± 2.76% to 93.76 ± 2.06%. CPCP was mainly water-soluble pyranose with α-configuration, and composed of five kinds of monosaccharides including L-Rhamnose, D-Glucuronic acid, d-Glucose, D-Galactose and D-(-)-Arabinose. CPCP displayed certain degree of antioxidant activity, revealing the potential development and utilization value as antioxidants.

Effects of location, climate, soil conditions and plant species on levels of potentially toxic elements in Chinese Prickly Ash pericarps from the main cultivation regions in China

The presence of potentially toxic mineral elements is often reported in soil, fruits and vegetables. The concentrations of these are influenced by location, climate and soil conditions, and plant species. This study reports levels of aluminium (Al), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), manganese (Mn) and nickel (Ni) in the soils where Chinese Prickly Ash - Zanthoxylum bungeanum (ZB) and Z. armatum (ZA) are grown. Soil and pericarp samples were taken from 72 ZB and ZA plantations in 12 provinces. The soil pollution index (PI) was generally low for As (0.04-0.35), Pb (0.01-0.74) and Ni (0.15-1.06). The PI was higher for Cd (0.06-6.99) and was assessed at three categorical levels: 'low' (in 26% of soils), 'moderate' (in 67% of soils) and high (in 7% of soils). The majority (94%) of soils were slightly polluted with Cd with the integrated pollution index in the range 0.17-2.02. More than 60% of pericarp samples posed a high non-cancer health risk based on the hazard index, while 43% of pericarp samples posed a considerable cancer risk based on the incremental lifetime cancer risk. The mean temperature and the mean relative humidity contributed most significantly (28% and 10%, respectively) to variation in the concentrations of potentially toxic elements in the pericarps. This study provides a comprehensive report on the concentrations of potentially toxic elements in the soils and associated pericarps, and the effects of location, climate, and soil on the levels of potentially toxic elements in the soil and pericarps, including the effects of tree species.

Bungeanum Improves Cognitive Dysfunction and Neurological Deficits in D-Galactose-Induced Aging Mice via Activating PI3K/Akt/Nrf2 Signaling Pathway

Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim (Rutaceae), a popular condiment and dietetic herbal medicine, has been used traditionally in the treatment of forgetfulness, as recorded in Shen Nong's Herbal Medicine, an old Chinese medicine book. To explore effects and potential mechanisms of it, extracts of Z. bungeanum through water (WEZ), volatile oil (VOZ), petroleum ether (PEZ), and methylene chloride (MCZ) were used to treat the memory loss induced in D-galactose-induced aging mice. The impaired memory was significantly alleviated after WEZ and VOZ extract treatment. WEZ and VOZ extracts also prevented D-galactose-induced hippocampal neuron damage. In addition, WEZ and VOZ extracts upregulated nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1), which suggests that the effects of WEZ and VOZ extracts on oxidative stress and apoptosis might be involved in the cognitive dysfunctions. Furthermore, WEZ and VOZ extracts enhanced the activation of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt), which suggests that Z. bungeanum has an appreciable therapeutic effect on learning and memory disabilities, and its mechanism may be related to activate PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Collectively, our study suggested that Z. bungeanum extracts are promising agents for prevention of aging-related cognitive dysfunction and neurological deficits.

Simple quantitative analytical methods for the determination of alkaloids from medicinal and edible plant foods using a homemade chromatographic monolithic column

A polymer-based chromatographic monolithic column was prepared via in-situ radical polymerization using tetrahydrofurfuryl methacrylate as the monomer. The homemade column was used for the separation and quantitative analysis of alkaloids, including piperine from Piper longum (fruit of Piper longum Linn.) and pepper (fruit of Piper nigrum L.), hydroxy-α-sanshool, and hydroxy-γ-sanshool from zanthoxylum (fruit of Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim), as well as caffeine from Wuyi rock tea. The chromatographic fractions were identified by mass spectrometry. Single factor test and orthogonal test were both carried out to optimize the extraction conditions. The method validation indicated that the accuracy represented by spiked recovery ranged in 98.89%-102.06%, the correlation coefficients in 0.99986-0.99999. These results show that the prepared monolithic column can be successfully used to quantitatively analyse alkaloids from the real medicinal and edible plant foods with reversed-phase mechanism, which can avoid the long analytical time using traditional packed C18 column. The present method is a simple, and inexpensive method for quantitatively analysing alkaloids from medicinal and edible plant foods, exhibiting good specificity and durability.

The effect of Zanthoxylum bungeanum maxim extract on crow's feet: A double-blind, split-face trial

As one of the most obvious signs of aging, wrinkles have long been the concern of many people and continue to be a major topic in dermal-cosmetic industry. Accordingly, there is a need to develop products with good efficacy and safety profile. The Zanthoxylum bungeanum maxim (ZBM) extract is a natural food which may possess the property of a toxin-like botulinum. To evaluate the efficacy and safety of a formulation that contains 2% ZBM pericarp extract in the treatment of wrinkles. Twenty females aged 35-60 years old were enrolled in this randomized, vehicle-controlled, double-blind, and split-face trial. The trial lasted for 30 days, when participants randomly used formulations containing 2% ZBM extract on one side of the temporal canthus and vehicle formulation on the other side. Skin roughness, skin hydration, and skin elasticity were evaluated by Primospico, Corneometer® CM825, and Cutometer® MPA580, respectively. The formulation containing 2% ZBM extract has a significant short-term anti-crow's feet effect compared with vehicle. No adverse effect was shown during the study. Topical application of 2% ZBM extract is tolerable and can be used as an effective cosmetic agent for short-term wrinkle treatment.

Anticancer activities of Zanthoxylum bungeanum seed oil on malignant melanoma

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim. (ZBM), a Chinese herb medicine and food additive, has been shown to have broad-spectrum beneficial effects. However, the anticancer activities of its seed have not been reported.

AIM OF THE STUDY

for the first time investigated the anti-proliferation activity of seed oil of ZBM (ZBSO) on melanoma A375 cells as well as the underlying mechanisms.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The chemical composition of ZBSO was analyzed by Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography. A375 cells exposure at different concentrations of ZBSO to examine the selectivity versus normal skin cells, invasion, apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. Furthermore, transcriptome analysis was employed to investigate potential anticancer mechanisms of ZBSO.

RESULTS

Major compounds of ZBSO were identified and unsaturated fatty acid made up the major compound. ZBSO-treated A375 cells showed more typical apoptotic morphologic features than normal cells. ZBSO can significantly inhibit invasion and proliferation of A375 cells by G1 phase arrest and induction of apoptosis. Transcriptome analysis showed that ZBSO may affect cell cycle and MAPK signaling pathway of A375 cells.

CONCLUSION

ZBSO possessed anticancer activities that were selectively effective to A375 cells. This study support the hypothesis that ZBSO is a capable candidate for anti-melanoma agent, and provide new insights for future work on investigating the utilization of ZBSO in malignant melanoma treatment.

Optimization of ultrasound-assisted water extraction of flavonoids from Psidium guajava leaves by response surface analysis

Psidium guajava leaves are rich in health-promoting flavonoids compounds. For better utilization of the resource, the ultrasound-assisted aqueous extraction was investigated using Box-Behnken design under response surface methodology. A high coefficient of determination (R² = 97.8%) indicated good agreement between the experimental and predicted values of flavonoids yield. The optimal extraction parameters to obtain the highest total flavonoids yield were ultrasonic power of 407.41 W, extraction time of 35.15 min, and extraction temperature of 72.69 °C. The average extraction rate of flavonoids could reach 5.12% under the optimum conditions. Besides, HPLC analysis and field emission scanning electron microscopy indicated that the ultrasonic treatment did not change the main component of flavonoids during extraction process and the higher flavonoids content was attributed by the disruption of the cell walls of guava particles. Thus, the extraction method could be applied successfully for large-scale extraction of total flavonoids from guava leaves.

Antibacterial and Antibiofilm Effects of Zanthoxylum bungeanum Leaves against Staphylococcus aureus

Biofilm formation by Staphylococcus aureus on food contact surfaces is one of the most important issues for the food safety. The difficulties in controlling biofilms have driven the search for new antibacterial and antibiofilm agents from natural resources. The aims of the present study were to investigate the antibacterial and antibiofilm activities of the methanolic extract from Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim. leaves and identify the active compounds. By bioassay guide of inhibitory activity against S. aureus, four antibacterial compounds were separated from this extract and identified as neochlorogenic acid, chlorogenic acid, cryptochlorogenic acid and 4- O-caffeoyl-2,3-dihydroxy-2- C-methylbutyric acid based on MS and NMR data analyses. The four compounds exhibited moderate antibacterial activity against S. aureus with minimum inhibitory concentration of 5 mg/mL. Moreover, a fraction consisted of the four compounds was subjected to antibiofilm assays against S. aureus. Crystal violet staining and XTT reduction assay demonstrated that this fraction showed an excellent inhibitory efficacy on the biomass and metabolic activity of S. aureus biofilm. Scanning electron microscopic observation displayed that this fraction induced severe morphological changes in the architecture of S. aureus biofilm, which further confirmed that it possessed a potent inhibitory activity on the biofilm formation of S. aureus. So, these results suggested that Z. bungeanum leaves could be used as an attractive and promising candidate for the development of natural antibacterial agent for controlling food-related bacterial biofilms.

Optimization of Processing Conditions of Chinese Smoke-cured Bacon (Larou) with a New Natural Coating Solution during Storage Period

The study aims to determine the optimum sterilization rate and water activity of Chinese traditional smoke-cured bacon product (Larou) in the preservation with natural coating solution. With the response surface methodology (RSM), we analyzed 3 factors of processing conditions (the concentration of lysozyme, concentration of sodium alginate, and concentration of chitosan) and 2 response factors (sterilization rate and water activity). Sterilization rate and water activity of Larou were largely affected by the concentration of lysozyme, concentration of sodium alginate, and concentration of chitosan. The final optimum concentrations of lysozyme, sodium alginate, and chitosan were 0.09, 1.40, and 1.60% and realized the high sterilization rate. Water activity of sliced Larou was significantly correlated with the sterilization rate. Low-field nuclear magnetic resonance analysis verified the optimum processing conditions. The coating resulted in 99.69% rate of reducing bacteria after 30-day storage. The data of the total number of colony, peroxidation value, moisture content, pH, and sensory evaluation provided the theoretical basis for extending the shelf life of Chinese traditional smoke-cured bacon product (Larou) with natural coating solution.

Efficient Approach for the Extraction and Identification of Red Pigment from Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim and Its Antioxidant Activity

Red pigment (RP) was extracted from the peels of Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim (PZB) by ultrasonic-assisted extraction (UAE) in this work. Box⁻Behnken design⁻response surface methodology (BBD-RSM) was employed to research the efficiency of the RP extraction. Based on the optimization of RSM, results showed that the optimal extraction conditions were as follows: liquid⁻solid ratio of 31 mL/g, extraction time of 41 min, and extraction temperature of 27 °C, and under these conditions, the actual absorbance value was 0.615 ± 0.13%, highly agreeing with the predicted value by the model. Furthermore, ultra-performance liquid chromatography⁻mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS) was used to separate and analyze RP. The compounds of RP were mainly flavonoids, and there were five compounds detected for the first time in PZB. In addition, RP showed significant antioxidant activities in vitro, which could be developed for anti-aging candidate drugs and functional foods. In conclusion, ultrasound-assisted extraction with BBD-RSM and chromatographic separation technology with UPLC-MS are efficient strategies for the isolation and identification of RP from PZB.

Cellulase-Assisted Extraction of Polysaccharides from White Hyacinth Bean: Characterization of Antioxidant Activity and Promotion for Probiotics Proliferation

Food-derived polysaccharides have advantages over synthetical compounds and have attracted interest globally for decades. In this study, we optimized the cellulase-assisted extraction of polysaccharides from white hyacinth bean (PWBs) with the aid of response surface methodology (RSM). The optimum extraction parameters were a pH of 7.79, a cellulase of 2.73%, and a ratio of water to material of 61.39, producing a high polysaccharide yield (3.32 ± 0.03)%. The scavenging ability of PWBs varied on three radicals (hydroxyl > 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) > superoxide). Furthermore, PWBs contributed to the proliferation of three probiotic bacteria (Lactobacillus acidophilus LA5, Bifidobacterium bifidum BB01, and Lactobacillus bulgaricus LB6). These investigations of PWBs provide a novel bioresource for the exploitation of antioxidant and probiotic bacterial proliferation.

Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim. (Rutaceae): A Systematic Review of Its Traditional Uses, Botany, Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, Pharmacokinetics, and Toxicology

Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim. (Rutaceae) is a popular food additive and traditional Chinese herbal medicine commonly named HuaJiao in China. This plant is widely distributed in Asian countries. The aim of this paper is to provide a systematic review on the traditional usages, botany, phytochemistry, pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, and toxicology of this plant. Furthermore, the possible development and perspectives for future research on this plant are also discussed. To date, over 140 compounds have been isolated and identified from Z. bungeanum, including alkaloids, terpenoids, flavonoids, and free fatty acids. The extracts and compounds have been shown to possess wide-ranging biological activity, such as anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects, antioxidant and anti-tumor effects, antibacterial and antifungal effects, as well as regulatory effects on the gastrointestinal system and nervous system, and other effects. As a traditional herbal medicine, Z. bungeanum has been widely used to treat many diseases, especially digestive disorders, toothache, stomach ache, and diarrhea. Many traditional usages of this plant have been validated by present investigations. However, further research elucidating the structure-function relationship among chemical compounds, understanding the mechanism of unique sensation, as well as exploring new clinical effects and establishing criteria for quality control for Z. bungeanum should be further studied.

Inhibitory effect of Zanthoxylum bungeanum essential oil (ZBEO) on Escherichia coli and intestinal dysfunction

The inhibitory effects of Zanthoxylum bungeanum essential oil (ZBEO) on Escherichia coli (E. coli) in vitro and in vivo were investigated, as well as its function of improvement of intestinal health. The results of in vitro studies, such as minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) analysis, agar disc diffusion test and growth curve analysis of E. coli, showed that ZBEO had an excellent inhibitory effect on the growth of E. coli, which may be related to the loss of the normal shape of the cell membranes and the leakage of intracellular constituents, on the basis of SEM observation and cell constituents' release assay. ZBEO also had an inhibitory effect on enteritis and intestinal dysfunction induced by infection of E. coli in vivo, and histopathological observation indicated that ZBEO could markedly ameliorate the structural destruction of intestinal tissues, which might be related to its inhibitory effect on the gene expression of inflammatory cytokines (TLR2, TLR4, TNF_α and IL-8). In conclusion, ZBEO showed an excellent inhibitory effect on E. coli both in vitro and in vivo, suggesting the potential application of ZBEO as a kind of functional component having the effects of improving intestinal function and health.

Synthesis, characterization, solubilization, cytotoxicity and antioxidant activity of aminomethylated dihydroquercetin

A dihydroquercetin derivative (DHQA) was prepared through aminomethylation to overcome the low water solubility and bioavailability of dihydroquercetin (DHQ). DHQA was characterized through HPLC, nuclear magnetic resonance, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and thermogravimetric analyses. DHQA was converted into the amorphous form, but the major structure of DHQ remained unchanged. Solubilization and dissolution tests were also performed. Results showed that the solubility and dissolution rates of DHQA were approximately 16.28 and 6.31 times higher than those of DHQ, respectively. The MTT assay of DHQA showed a non-toxic effect against non-cancerous HEK-293T cells (EC₅₀ = 820.00 μM), and potent inhibitory activity against cancerous Hela cells (EC₅₀ = 138.17 μM). Finally, the antioxidant activity of DHQA was confirmed in vitro through DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activity assays. DHQA displayed high antioxidant activities with low IC₅₀ values (0.043 and 0.042 mM, respectively). Reducing Fe³⁺ power assay indicated that DHQA exhibited higher reducing power than DHQ and ascorbic acid.

Biodiversity, Phylogeny, and Antifungal Functions of Endophytic Fungi Associated with Zanthoxylum bungeanum

This study investigated the biodiversity, phylogeny, and antifungal activity of endophytic fungi isolated from Zanthoxylum bungeanum. A total of 940 isolates obtained were grouped into 93 morphotypes, 43 species, and 23 genera, which were authenticated by molecular identification based on rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence analysis. A high diversity of endophytic fungi from Z. bungeanum are observed with high species richness S (43), Margalef index D′ (6.1351), Shannon–Wiener index H′ (3.2743), Simpson diversity index D_s (0.9476), PIE index (0.9486), and evenness Pielou index J (0.8705) but a low dominant index λ (0.0524). Significant tissue specificity of the endophytic fungi was observed in Z. bungeanum, and the highest species richness and diversity indexes were obtained in the stem. Phylogenetic analyses of the 93 endophytic isolates were carried out by the neighbor-joining (NJ) method to demonstrate their evolutionary processes. Antifungal activities of endophytic fungi were assayed and eight endophytic isolates showed strong and long-lasting inhibition against host pathogenic fungi Fusarium sambucinum and Pseudocercospora zanthoxyli. Here, for the first time, we systematically demonstrate the biodiversity, phylogeny, and antifungal activity of endophytic fungi associated with Z. bungeanum and reveal the value of sampling different tissues of a given plant to obtain the greatest endophyte species diversity, which might offer a framework for further investigation and utilization of endophytic fungi as aunique source of interesting and useful bioactive compounds.

The extraction process optimization of antioxidant polysaccharides from Marshmallow (Althaea officinalis L.) roots

Response surface methodology (RSM) with a central composite rotatable design (CCRD) based on five levels was employed to model and optimize four experimental operating conditions of extraction temperature (10-90 °C) and time (6-30 h), particle size (6-24 mm) and water to solid (W/S, 10-50) ratio, obtaining polysaccharides from Althaea officinalis roots with high yield and antioxidant activity. For each response, a second-order polynomial model with high R(2) values (> 0.966) was developed using multiple linear regression analysis. Results showed that the most significant (P < 0.05) extraction conditions that affect the yield and antioxidant activity of extracted polysaccharides were the main effect of extraction temperature and the interaction effect of the particle size and W/S ratio. The optimum conditions to maximize yield (10.80%) and antioxidant activity (84.09%) for polysaccharides extraction from A. officinalis roots were extraction temperature 60.90 °C, extraction time 12.01 h, particle size 12.0mm and W/S ratio of 40.0. The experimental values were found to be in agreement with those predicted, indicating the models suitability for optimizing the polysaccharides extraction conditions.