UHPLC-MS/MS phytochemical screening, polyphenolic content and antioxidant potential of Diplorhynchus condylocarpon (Müll.Arg.) Pichon (Apocynaceae), a medicinal plant

Effect of sodium selenite on the synthesis of glucosinolates and antioxidant capacity in Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa L.ssp.pekinensis)

Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa ssp. pekinensis) is a globally cultivated and consumed leafy vegetable due to its abundant plant secondary metabolites and antioxidant compounds, including flavonoids, ascorbic acids, glucosinolates, and vitamins, which have been reported to confer health-promoting effects. Glucosinolates components in leaves of Chinese cabbage plantlets under different concentrations of sodium selenite (0, 30, and 50 μmol/L) were analyzed. Seven glucosinolates were identified and quantified using UHPLC-QTOF-MS. Finally, treatments with 30 and 50 μmol/L Na2SeO3 solution significantly increased the levels of total selenium content as well as total phenols, flavonoids, anthocyanins, and DPPH free radical scavenging ability in Chinese cabbage seedlings. Our results revealed that 30 μmol/L Na2SeO3 effectively enhanced aliphatic glucosinolate levels and total glucosinolate content while causing a significant reduction in indole glucosinolates. Furthermore, downregulation was observed for BrCYP79F1, BrBCAT4, and BrMAM1 genes associated with aliphatic glucosinolate synthesis. Conversely, BrMYB28 and BrCYP83A1 genes exhibited significant upregulation. Thus, the positive influence of Na2SeO3 on glucosinolate biosynthesis in Chinese cabbage can be attributed to the upregulation of key genes related to this process.

Phytochemical Analysis, Antioxidant Activity and Bioassay-Guided Isolation of Acetylcholinesterase and Butyrylcholinesterase Inhibitors from Horsfieldia polyspherula Bark (Myristicaceae)

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative condition brought on by aging and characterised by progressive decline in cognitive function and abnormalities in the central cholnergic system. β-amyloid deposits, neurofibril tangle aggregation, oxidative stress or reduced level of acetylcholine are a few causes that have been linked to AD. In this study, the bioassay-guided isolation from ethyl acetate (EtOAc) extract of Horsfieldia polyspherula bark led to the isolation of nine compounds namely, 16-phenylhexadecanoic acid (1), undecylbenzene (2), 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid (3), dodecanoic acid (4), tetradecanoic acid (5), pentadecanoic acid (6), 1-tridecene (7), stigmasterol (8) and trimyristin (9). Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of flavonoids, steroids, lignin, alkaloids, phytosterol and triterpenoids. The DPPH scavenging activity of EtOAc extract was related to the phenolic content (116.67 ± 16.98 GAE mg/g) and other non-phenolics such as lower fatty acids. Meanwhile, the DPPH scavenging activity was found to be concentration-dependent and correlated with both flavonoid and phenolic content. Furthermore, EtOAc and methanol (MeOH) extracts of H. polyspherula bark showed significant inhibitory activity at 100 μg/mL on acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE), with EtOAc extract showing 77.2% and 64.1% inhibition and MeOH extract showing 37.5% and 39.2% inhibition, respectively. Additionally, the IC50 for BuChE and AChE of the EtOAc extract were found to be effective, with 15.41 ± 0.78 μg/mL and 7.67 ± 0.13 μg/mL, respectively. Compound 1 exhibited dual inhibition of 40.99 ± 1.99 μM (BuChE) and 46.83 ± 2.44 μM (AChE), while compounds 2 and 3 showed IC50 values above 200 μM. This study revealed that this plant shows a significant potential as anti-cholinesterase focusing on acetylcholinesterase (AchE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE). This is the first report on Horsfieldia polyspherula and their biological activity.

Unlocking the hepatoprotective potential of the parasitic plant Orobanche foetida Poir. aqueous extract against CCl4-induced liver injury in rat

In this current study, we explored the preventive capacity of the aqueous extract of Orobanche foetida (OF), a root holoparasite, against CCl4 prompt hepatotoxicity in rats. LC-MS/MS profiling revealed the existence of 32 compounds belonging to organic acids, benzoic acid derivatives, and hydroxycinnamic acids along with their glycosides and derivatives as well as several flavonoids. In vitro, OF demonstrated substantial antioxidant potential at DPPH and ABTS assays. Results showed that the pretreatment with OF for 6 weeks at the doses (25 mg/kg bw) and (50 mg/kg bw) countered the CCl4-induced liver injury by restoring liver injuries indicators (ALT, AST, LDH, ALP, GGT and bilirubin), normalizing lipid profile (TC, TG, LDL-C, and HDL-C), as well as, impeding DNA fragmentation. Furthermore, OF blocked the hepatic oxidative stress spurred by CCl4 administration through boosting antioxidant enzymes (GSH, CAT, and SOD) responsible of diminishing lipid peroxidation. exhibited an anti-inflammatory effect by downregulating TNF-α and IL-6 levels. OF suppressive effect on proinflammatory cytokines is further exerted by its capacity to modulate the expression of the NF-κB gene. In silico investigation revealed that among the 32 identified compounds, vanillic acid glucoside and dihydroxybenzoic acid glucoside have strong and stable bindings with the active sites of three key inflammatory proteins (PARP-1, TNF-α, IL-6), which could highlight the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capacity of. Overall, this research provides a preliminary pharmacological support for the medicinal applications of Orobanche foetida for addressing inflammatory and hepato-pathological conditions.