Current Advances in Naturally Occurring Caffeoylquinic Acids: Structure, Bioactivity, and Synthesis

The extract of buds of Chrysanthemum morifolium ramat alleviated UVB-induced skin photoaging by regulating MAPK and Nrf2/ARE pathways

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat. is a commonly used Chinese herb and food homologous plant with traditional effects such as anti-inflammatory, antifebrile, antibacterial and antiviral.

AIM OF STUDY

Photoaging is one of the main causes of accelerated skin aging. Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat. has reported to alleviate photodamage. In this study, we investigated the protective effect of the extract of buds of Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat. (CE) on UVB-induced photoaging and further mechanism.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The extract of buds of chrysanthemum was analyzed by HPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS. Antioxidant activity was assessed by DPPH and ABTS assay. Cell viability examined by cell counting kit-8 assay. The ROS level was detected by fluorescent probe DCFH-DA. Protein expression evaluated by Western blotting. The skin tissue investigated by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

CE significantly reversed the decrease of cell viability that induced by UVB in HaCaT and HFF-1 cells. Further analysis showed that CE alleviated photoaging by inhibiting the expression of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and activating the NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)/antioxidant response element (ARE) pathway to promote the expression of antioxidant enzymes. Moreover, CE effectively improved the reduced skin hydration, disordered collagen and thickening epidermis caused by UVB in mice.

CONCLUSIONS

All results demonstrated that CE had therapeutic effect on UVB-induced photoaging and provided theoretical basis for its further developing as a natural functional product with anti-photoaging effect.

Comparison of Neurogenesis Promotion Effects between Cinnamoylquinic Acids in Neural Stem Cells from Adult Mice Brains

Caffeoylquinic acids (CQAs) and feruloylquinic acids (FQAs), as cinnamoylquinic acids, have neurogenesis promotion effects. We studied for the first time the neurogenesis-enhancing effect of 3,4,5-tri-feruloylquinic acid (TFQA) compared to 3,4,5-tri-caffeoylquinic acid (TCQA), which has a similar structure, and explored their different cellular and molecular mechanisms in neural stem cells (NSCs) of mice brains. After 2 weeks of incubation, we first assessed the number and size of NSCs in TCQA and TFQA treatments. In NSCs treated for TCQA and TFQA, the NSC proliferation gene expression as well as neuronal and glial cell differentiation gene expressions improved. In the microarray assay, the erythroblastic oncogene B (ErbB) signaling pathway, as the common signaling of TCQA and TFQA treatments, was focused on and discussed. In our study, TCQA and TFQA treatments in NSCs showed a significant performance on improving synapse growth and neurogenesis compared with no treatment of NSCs. The two treatments in NSCs also had a significant activation of the ErbB signaling pathway, protein kinase B (AKT), and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) kinases. In particular, the TCQA-expressed proliferation gene myelocytomatosis oncogene (Myc) had the greatest connections significantly. TFQA treatment remarkably regulated the differentiation gene jun proto-oncogene (Jun), which was the gene with greatest direct relations, while Myc was also induced in TFQA treatment. In the overall quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay, TFQA had more outstanding neural proliferation and differentiation capabilities than TCQA in NSCs. Our study suggests that TFQA has greater therapeutic potential in neurogenesis promotion and neurodegenerative diseases compared with TCQA.

Antifungal metabolites of biocontrol stain LB-1 and their inhibition mechanism against Botrytis cinerea

Introduction

Chaetomium subaffine LB-1 is a novel biocontrol strain that produces non-volatile metabolites that inhibit the growth of Botrytis cinerea. However, the specific metabolites and antimicrobial mechanism of the strain LB-1 remains unclear.

Methods

In this study, the antifungal substances produced by strain LB-1, as well as the underlying mechanism of its inhibitory effect against B. cinerea, were explored using metabolomic and transcriptomic analysis.

Results

The results found that 45 metabolites might be the key antifungal substances, such as ouabain, ferulic acid, chlorogenic acid, spermidine, stachydrine, and stearic acid. The transcriptomic analysis indicated that the inhibition effect of LB-1 on B. cinerea resulted in the upregulation of genes related to adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-binding cassette (ABC) transporters, peroxisome, ER stress, and multiple metabolic pathways, and in downregulation of many genes associated with the synthesis of cell walls/membranes, carbohydrate metabolism, cell cycle, meiosis, and DNA replication.

Discussion

These results suggested that the inhibitory effect of strain LB-1 against B. cinerea might be due to the destroyed cell wall and membrane integrity exerted by antimicrobial substances, which affect cell metabolism and inhibit cell proliferation.

Development of an ic-CLEIA for precise detection of 3-CQA in herbs and patent medicines: ensuring quality control and therapeutic efficacy

Background

3-caffeoylquinic acid (3-CQA), a member of the chlorogenic acid family, possesses diverse pharmacological properties, such as scavenging, antioxidant, and antiapoptotic activity, rendering substantial value to alimentary consumables and therapeutic substances. However, the pervasiveness of non-standard practices, notably the misuse and abuse of indigenous botanicals, coupled with the inherent susceptibility of 3-CQA to degradation under light and heat exposure, engenders discernible disparateness in the quality profiles of the same kinds of herbs. Consequently, precise quantification of 3-CQA becomes imperative.

Methods

In this context, an artificial antigen was synthesized as a specific conjugate of 3-CQA and bovine serum albumin (3-CQA-BSA), followed by the generation of a monoclonal antibody (mAb) against the conjugate. Through optimization, a mAb-based indirect competitive chemiluminescence enzyme immunoassay (ic-CLEIA) was developed.

Results

It demonstrated an IC50 and the calibration range of 2.97 ng/mL and 0.64-13.75 ng/mL, respectively, outperforming the conventional enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Notably, the ic-CLEIA displayed 10.71% cross-reactivity with 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid, alongside minimal cross-reactivity toward other isomeric counterparts and analogs. Validation experiments on herbs and Chinese patent medicines using ic-CLEIA, confirmed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis, revealed a robust correlation coefficient of 0.9667 between the two modalities.

Conclusion

These findings unequivocally demonstrated that the proposed ic-CLEIA represents a viable and reliable analytical method for 3-CQA determination. This method holds significant potential for ensuring the quality control and therapeutic efficacy germane to herbs and patent medicines, spanning diverse therapeutic milieus and applications.

Engineering the Rhizosphere Microbiome with Plant Growth Promoting Bacteria for Modulation of the Plant Metabolome

Plant-growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) have beneficial effects on plants. They can promote growth and enhance plant defense against abiotic stress and disease, and these effects are associated with changes in the plant metabolite profile. The research problem addressed in this study was the impact of inoculation with PGPB on the metabolite profile of Salicornia europaea L. across controlled and field conditions. Salicornia europaea seeds, inoculated with Brevibacterium casei EB3 and Pseudomonas oryzihabitans RL18, were grown in controlled laboratory experiments and in a natural field setting. The metabolite composition of the aboveground tissues was analyzed using GC-MS and UHPLC-MS. PGPB inoculation promoted a reconfiguration in plant metabolism in both environments. Under controlled laboratory conditions, inoculation contributed to increased biomass production and the reinforcement of immune responses by significantly increasing the levels of unsaturated fatty acids, sugars, citric acid, acetic acid, chlorogenic acids, and quercetin. In field conditions, the inoculated plants exhibited a distinct phytochemical profile, with increased glucose, fructose, and phenolic compounds, especially hydroxybenzoic acid, quercetin, and apigenin, alongside decreased unsaturated fatty acids, suggesting higher stress levels. The metabolic response shifted from growth enhancement to stress resistance in the latter context. As a common pattern to both laboratory and field conditions, biopriming induced metabolic reprogramming towards the expression of apigenin, quercetin, formononetin, caffeic acid, and caffeoylquinic acid, metabolites that enhance the plant's tolerance to abiotic and biotic stress. This study unveils the intricate metabolic adaptations of Salicornia europaea under controlled and field conditions, highlighting PGPB's potential to redesign the metabolite profile of the plant. Elevated-stress-related metabolites may fortify plant defense mechanisms, laying the groundwork for stress-resistant crop development through PGPB-based inoculants, especially in saline agriculture.

Integrated metabolomic and transcriptomic analysis reveals biosynthesis mechanism of flavone and caffeoylquinic acid in chrysanthemum

BACKGROUND

Chrysanthemum morifolium 'HangBaiJu', a popular medicinal and edible plant, exerts its biological activities primarily through the presence of flavones and caffeoylquinic acids (CQAs). However, the regulatory mechanism of flavone and CQA biosynthesis in the chrysanthemum capitulum remains unclear.

RESULTS

In this study, the content of flavones and CQAs during the development of chrysanthemum capitulum was determined by HPLC, revealing an accumulation pattern with higher levels at S1 and S2 and a gradual decrease at S3 to S5. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that CmPAL1/2, CmCHS1/2, CmFNS, CmHQT, and CmHCT were key structural genes in flavones and CQAs biosynthesis. Furthermore, weighted gene co-expression correlation network analysis (WGCNA), k-means clustering, correlation analysis and protein interaction prediction were carried out in this study to identify transcription factors (TFs) associated with flavone and CQA biosynthesis, including MYB, bHLH, AP2/ERF, and MADS-box families. The TFs CmERF/PTI6 and CmCMD77 were proposed to act as upstream regulators of CmMYB3 and CmbHLH143, while CmMYB3 and CmbHLH143 might form a complex to directly regulate the structural genes CmPAL1/2, CmCHS1/2, CmFNS, CmHQT, and CmHCT, thereby controlling flavone and CQA biosynthesis.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, these findings provide initial insights into the TF regulatory network underlying flavones and CQAs accumulation in the chrysanthemum capitulum, which laid a theoretical foundation for the quality improvement of C. morifolium 'HangBaiJu' and the high-quality development of the industry.

Acaricidal activity of Erigeron acer L. root against Haemaphysalis longicornis and phytochemical profiling by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

The present study is focused on evaluating acaricidal activity and chemical compositions of Erigeron acer root, which was identified as a promising candidate among fifteen Mongolian plant extracts tested for acaricidal activity. The acaricidal effect was evaluated against Haemaphysalis longicornis, assessed for toxicity to normal human skin fibroblast, and analyzed for its chemical constituents. The acetone extract of E. acer root showed significant activity against H. longicornis, with a lethal concentration (LC50) of 5.31 mg/mL and low toxicity, evidenced by a cytotoxic concentration (CC50) of 267.00 µg/mL. Using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and molecular networking, thirteen natural compounds were identified, including pyrrolidines, alkaloids, fatty acids, and flavonoids, highlighting the efficacy of E. acer root extract as an effective acaricide against H. longicornis and offering insights for developing new tick control solutions.

A Comprehensive View on the Impact of Chlorogenic Acids on Colorectal Cancer

Chlorogenic acids are plant secondary metabolites, chemically-polyphenols with similar biological activity, formed through the esterification of quinic acid and hydrocinnamic acid moieties. They are best known for their high concentration in coffee and other dietary sources and the antioxidant properties that they exhibit. Both chlorogenic acids and plant extracts containing significant amounts of the compounds show promising in vitro activity against colorectal cancer. With coffee being the most popular drink in the world, and colorectal cancer at an unfortunate peak in incidence and mortality, the mechanisms through which the anti-tumorigenic effect of chlorogenic acids could be functionalized for CRC prevention seem appealing to study. Therefore, this review aims to enable a better understanding of the modes of action of chlorogenic acids in combating carcinogenesis, with a focus on cell cycle arrest, the induction of apoptosis, and the modulation of Wnt, Pi3K/Akt, and MAPK signal transduction pathways, alongside the reduction in the number of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines and the counterintuitive beneficial elevation of oxidative stress.

Metabolomics analysis reveals metabolite diversity of the rare cliff plant Oresitrophe rupifraga unge

Oresitrophe is monotypic, with the only species, Oresitrophe rupifraga Bunge, which is exclusive to China, having special growth and developmental traits due to its habitat. Furthermore, it has bright flowers and medicinal benefits. This study investigated the metabolites present in various tissues of Oresitrophe rupifraga Bunge. Using a widely targeted metabolomics approach, 1965 different metabolites were identified in Oresitrophe rupifraga Bunge. Based on principal component analysis (PCA) and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA), the aboveground and underground metabolites of Oresitrophe rupifraga differed significantly. The comparison between bulblets and leaves revealed the differential expression of 461 metabolites, whereas the comparison between rhizomes and leaves showed the differential expression of 423 metabolites, and the comparison between bulblets and rhizomes showed the differential expression of 249 metabolites. The bulblets exhibited 49 metabolites that were higher and 412 metabolites that were lower than those of the leaves, whereas the rhizomes showed 123 upregulated and 300 downregulated metabolites. Bulblets showed an increase in 18 metabolites and a decrease in 231 metabolites compared to the rhizomes. Leaves contain more phenolic acids than the rhizomes and bulblets, whereas the rhizomes and bulblets contain more terpenoids than the leaves. KEGG pathway analysis showed an association between metabolites and metabolic pathways, as well as their effect on the progression and maturation of Oresitrophe rupifraga Bunge. The research findings can provide some insight into the growth and developmental traits of Oresitrophe rupifraga Bunge, thus providing a theoretical foundation for cultivating and utilising this plant.

Inula salicina L.: Insights into Its Polyphenolic Constituents and Biological Activity

In this study, UHPLC-HRMS analysis of the defatted methanol extract obtained from Inula salicina L. led to the identification of 58 compounds-hydroxycinnamic and hydroxybenzoic acids and their glycosides, acylquinic and caffeoylhexaric acids, and flavonoids and their glycosides. In addition, a new natural compound, N-(8-methylnepetin)-3-hydroxypiperidin-2-one was isolated and its structure was elucidated by NMR spectroscopy. The presence of a flavoalkaloid in genus Inula is described now for the first time. Chlorogenic acid was the main compound followed by 3,5-, 1,5- and 4,5-dicaffeoylquinic acids. The methanol extract was studied for its antioxidant potential by DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP assays and sun protective properties. In addition, a study was conducted to assess the effectiveness of the tested extract in inhibiting biofilm formation by Gram-positive and Gram-negative strains. Results from crystal violet tests revealed a notable decrease in biofilm mass due to the extract. The anti-biofilm efficacy was confirmed through the observation of the biofilm viability by live/dead staining. The obtained results showed that this plant extract could be used in the development of cosmetic products with antibacterial and sun protection properties.

Exploring the Phytochemical Composition and the Bioactive Properties of Malbec and Torrontés Wine Pomaces from the Calchaquíes Valleys (Argentina) for Their Sustainable Exploitation

Hydroalcoholic extracts from Malbec and Torrontés wine pomaces (Vitis vinifera L.) originating from the high-altitude vineyards of Argentina's Calchaquí Valleys were characterized. Total phenolics, hydroxycinnamic acids, orthodiphenols, anthocyanins, non-flavonoid phenolics, total flavonoids, flavones/flavonols, flavanones/dihydroflavonols, and tannins were quantified through spectrophotometric methods, with the Malbec extract exhibiting higher concentrations in most of phytochemical groups when compared to Torrontés. HPLC-DAD identified more than 30 phenolic compounds in both extracts. Malbec displayed superior antiradical activity (ABTS cation, nitric oxide, and superoxide anion radicals), reduction power (iron, copper, and phosphomolybdenum), hypochlorite scavenging, and iron chelating ability compared to Torrontés. The cytotoxicity assessments revealed that Torrontés affected the viability of HT29-MTX and Caco-2 colon cancer cells by 70% and 50%, respectively, at the highest tested concentration (1 mg/mL). At the same time, both extracts did not demonstrate acute toxicity in Artemia salina or in red blood cell assays at 500 µg/mL. Both extracts inhibited the lipoxygenase enzyme (IC50: 154.7 and 784.7 µg/mL for Malbec and Torrontés), with Malbec also reducing the tyrosinase activity (IC50: 89.9 µg/mL), and neither inhibited the xanthine oxidase. The substantial phenolic content and diverse biological activities in the Calchaquí Valleys' pomaces underline their potentialities to be valorized for pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food industries.

Quality and production enhancement of fish mint, Houttuynia cordata Thunb., cultivated in a hydroponic planting system with designed plant growth-promoting additives

Fish mint, Houttuynia cordata Thunb. (HCT) is an edible vegetable that has also been used in traditional folk medicines. As both a medicinal herb and a dietary source, HCT has been clinically proven to be a pivotal ingredient in formulas administered to alleviate COVID-19 symptoms. With the increasing market demand for imported materials, ensuring the quality consistency of HCT becomes a significant concern. In this study, the growing time for hydroponically-cultivated HCT with seaweed extract and amino acids added (HCTW) reduced by half compared to conventional soil-cultivated HCT (HCTS). Key quantified components in HCTW, flavonoid glycosides and caffeoylquinic acid derivatives, exhibited a 143% increase over HCTS. These crucial constituents were responsible for possessing antioxidant activity (IC50 < 25 μg/mL) and anti-nitrite oxide production (IC50 < 20 μg/mL). An economically-designed hydroponic system with appropriate additives is proposed to replace HCTS with improvements of growth time, overall production yields, and bioactive qualities.

High Value-Added Application of Natural Products in Crop Protection: Discovery and Exploration of Caffeoyl and Flavonoid Derivatives from Clematis brevicaudata DC. as Novel Insecticide Candidates

Nine caffeoyl derivatives (1-9), including two new dicaffeoyl glycosides, brevicaudatosides A and B (1 and 2), and six flavonoids (10-15), were identified from overground Clematis brevicaudata DC. Compounds 1 and 13 exhibited significant oral toxicities against Acyrthosiphon pisum Harris with LC50 (half-lethal concentration) values of 0.12 and 0.28 mM, respectively. Meanwhile, compounds 1, 8, 10, 13, and 15 showed remarkable repellent effects against A. pisum with the repellent indexes valued at 1.00 under 50-200 μg/mL at 24 h. Compounds 1 and 8 also displayed moderate antifeedant activities against Plutella xylostella L. The shrunken bodies, especially for wizened cauda, and the ultrastructural damages of microvilli, mitochondrion, nucleus, and endoplasmic reticulum in midgut were toxic symptoms of A. pisum caused by 1 and 13. The inhibition of Chitinase was the main reason for their potent insecticidal activities. This study provided valuable pieces of evidence for the high value-added application of caffeoyl and flavonoid derivatives from C. brevicaudata as novel plant-origin biopesticides for crop protection.

Effects of Cooking Methods on Caffeoylquinic Acids and Radical Scavenging Activity of Sweet Potato

The effects of cooking methods, including steaming, deep-frying, and baking, on the phenolic content, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity, and isomerization of caffeoylquinic acids in sweet potato were investigated. A high correlation was observed between antioxidant capacity and total phenolic content. Deep-frying treatment resulted in higher antioxidant capacity with increasing heating time. The major phenolic components of raw sweet potat were 5-caffeoylquinic acid (CQA) and 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid (diCQA), which were reduced by heat treatment due to the isomerization of 5-CAQ to 3- and 4-CQA, and 3,5-diCQA to 3,4- and 4,5-diCQA. Moreover, 5-CQA was more stable than 3,5-diCQA even at 100 °C. Our results demonstrated that by controlling the cooking temperature and time, new bioactive compounds such as mono- and diCQA derivatives can be produced from sweet potato. These data indicate a potential approach for the development of new functional foods from sweet potato by controlling cooking temperature and time.

Phytoconstituent analysis, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and anticancer effects of nano encapsulated Convolvulus arvensis L. extracts

BACKGROUND

The Convolvulus genus is distributed all over the world and has a long history in traditional medicine. As nanotechnology expands its reach into areas like drug delivery and biomedicine, this study intends to assess the potential of Convolvulus arvensis L. extracts as anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer agents, along with chemical profiling of the methanolic (MeOH) extract active ingredients.

METHODS

The chemical composition of an 85% MeOH extract was investigated by liquid chromatography with an electrospray source connected to mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS). Both the 85% MeOH extract and n-butanol fraction of C. arvensis were loaded for the first time on alginate/chitosan nanoparticles. The 85% MeOH extract, n-butanol fraction and their loaded nanoparticles were tested for their cytotoxicity, anticancer, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial activity (against pathogenic bacteria, E. coli and S. aureus).

RESULTS

The chemical investigation of 85% MeOH extract of C. arvensis underwent LC-ESI-MS analysis, revealing twenty-six phenolic substances, of which 16 were phenolic acids, 6 were flavonoids, 1 glycolipid, 1 sesquiterpene and 2 unknown compounds. The FT-IR spectra confirmed the encapsulation of the 85% MeOH extract and n-butanol fraction onto alginate/chitosan nanoparticles and small size obtained by TEM maintained them nontoxic and enhanced their anti-inflammatory activity (the IC50 was decreased from 1050 to 175 µg/ml). The anti-cancer activity against HepG2 was increased and the cell viability was decreased from 28.59 ± 0.52 to 20.80 ± 0.27 at a maximum concentration of 1000 µg/ml. In addition, the MIC of encapsulated extracts was decreased from 31.25 to7.78 µg/ml in E. coli (Gm-ve) and from 15.56 to 7.78 µg/ml in S. aureus (Gm + ve) bacteria.

CONCLUSION

Both alginate and chitosan are excellent natural polymers for the encapsulation process, which affects positively on the bioactive constituents of C. arvensis extracts and improves their biological properties.

Uncovering the Role of Hydroxycinnamoyl Transferase in Boosting Chlorogenic Acid Accumulation in Carthamus tinctorius Cells under Methyl Jasmonate Elicitation

Chlorogenic acids (CGAs) are bioactive compounds widely used in the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries. Carthamus tinctorius is an important economic crop, and its suspension cells are rich in CGAs. However, little is known about the biosynthesis and regulation of CGAs in Carthamus tinctorius cells. This study first elucidated the regulatory mechanism of CGA biosynthesis in methyl jasmonate (MeJA)-treated Carthamus tinctorius cells and the role of the MeJA-responsive hydroxycinnamoyl transferase (HCT) gene in enhancing their CGA accumulation. Firstly, temporal changes in intracellular metabolites showed that MeJA increased the intracellular CGA content up to 1.61-fold to 100.23 mg·g-1. Meanwhile, 31 primary metabolites showed significant differences, with 6 precursors related to increasing CGA biosynthesis. Secondly, the transcriptome data revealed 3637 new genes previously unannotated in the Carthamus tinctorius genome and 3653 differentially expressed genes. The genes involved in the plant signaling pathway and the biosynthesis of CGAs and their precursors showed a general up-regulation, especially the HCT gene family, which ultimately promoted CGA biosynthesis. Thirdly, the expression of a newly annotated and MeJA-responsive HCT gene (CtHCT, CtNewGene_3476) was demonstrated to be positively correlated with CGA accumulation in the cells, and transient overexpression of CtHCT enhanced CGA accumulation in tobacco. Finally, in vitro catalysis kinetics and molecular docking simulations revealed the ability and mechanism of the CtHCT protein to bind to various substrates and catalyze the formation of four hydroxycinnamic esters, including CGAs. These findings strengthened our understanding of the regulatory mechanism of CGA biosynthesis, thereby providing theoretical support for the efficient production of CGAs.

Insights into the anti-infective effects of Pluchea indica (L.) Less and its bioactive metabolites against various bacteria, fungi, viruses, and parasites

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Pluchea indica (L.) Less (family Asteraceae) is popularly consumed as a medicinal vegetable and used in ethnomedicine to treat various diseases including gastrointestinal problems such as dysentery and leucorrhoea, which are due to bacterial, fungal or parasitic infections. There have been numerous studies on the antimicrobial effects of the plant due to these ethnomedicine use.

AIM OF THIS REVIEW

This review is comprehensively discussed the information on the anti-infective properties of P. indica and its secondary metabolites, and highlight the potential of the plant as a new source of anti-infective agents.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Scientific databases such as Scopus, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, PubMed, Wiley Online Library, and ACS Publications were used to gather the relevant information on the ability of P. indica to fight infections, with the leaves and roots receiving most of the attention.

RESULTS

Anti-bacterial, anti-mycobacterial, anti-malarial, and anti-viral activities have been the most exploited. Most studies were carried out on the crude extracts of the plant and in most studies the bioactive extracts were not standardized or chemically characterized. Several studies have reported the anti-infective activity of several bioactive components of P. indica including caffeoylquinic acids, terpenoid glycosides, thiophenes, and kaempferol.

CONCLUSIONS

The strong anti-infective effect and underlying mechanisms of the compounds provide insights into the potential of P. indica as a source of new leads for the development of anti-infective agents for use in food and pharmaceutical industries.

Baccharis dracunculifolia DC Consumption Improves Nociceptive and Depressive-like Behavior in Rats with Experimental Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) persistently activates nociceptors, leading to chronic pain, which is often accompanied by the comorbid development of emotional impairments (anxiety and depression), an effect associated with microgliosis. Baccharis dracunculifolia DC (Asteraceae), a Brazilian edible plant, is an important source of active compounds with anti-inflammatory abilities. Thus, we evaluated its ability to reverse OA-induced nociceptive and emotional-like impairments in osteoarthritic ovariectomized female rats using the kaolin/carrageenan (K/C) model. Four weeks after OA induction, mechanical hyperalgesia was confirmed, and the treatment started. Control animals (SHAMs) were treated with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), while arthritic animals (ARTHs) either received PBS or B. dracunculifolia 50 mg/kg (Bd50) and 100 mg/kg (Bd100), via gavage, daily for five weeks. At the end of the treatment, anxiety-like behavior was assessed using the Open Field Test (OFT), anhedonia was assessed using the Sucrose Preference Test (SPT), and learned helplessness was assessed using the Forced Swimming Test (FST). After occision, microglia were stained with IBA-1 and quantified in brain sections of target areas (prefrontal cortex, amygdala, and periaqueductal grey matter). Treatment with B. dracunculifolia extract reversed OA-induced mechanical hyperalgesia and partly improved depressive-like behavior in OA animals' concomitant to a decrease in the number of M1 microglia. Our findings suggest that B. dracunculifolia extracts can potentially be used in the food industry and for the development of nutraceuticals and functional foods.

The radical scavenging activity of monocaffeoylquinic acids: the role of neighboring hydroxyl groups and pH levels

Caffeoylquinic acids (CQAs) are well-known antioxidants. However, a key aspect of their radical scavenging activity - the mechanism of action - has not been addressed in detail thus far. Here we report on a computational study of the mechanism of activity of CQAs in scavenging hydroperoxyl radicals. In water at physiological pH, the CQAs demonstrated ≈ 104 times higher HOO˙ antiradical activity than in lipid medium (k(lipid) ≈ 104 M-1 s-1). The activity in the aqueous solution was determined by the hydrogen transfer mechanism of the adjacent hydroxyl group (O6'-H) of the dianion states (Γ = 93.2-95.2%), while the single electron transfer reaction of these species contributed 4.8-6.8% to the total rate constants. The kinetics estimated by the calculations are consistent with experimental findings in water (pH = 7.5), yielding a kcalculated/kexperimental = 2.4, reinforcing the reliability and precision of the computational method and demonstrating its utility for evaluating radical reactions in silico. The results also revealed the pH dependence of the HOO˙ scavenging activity of the CQAs; activity was comparable for all compounds below pH 3, however at higher pH values 5CQA reacted with the HOO˙ with lower activity than 3CQA or 4CQA. It was also found that CQAs are less active than Trolox below pH 4.7, however over pH 5.0 they showed higher activity than the reference. The CQAs had the best HOO˙ antiradical activity at pH values between 5.0 and 8.6. Therefore, in the physiological environment, the hydroperoxyl antiradical capacity of CQAs exhibits similarity to renowned natural antioxidants including resveratrol, ascorbic acid, and Trolox.

Comparative Analysis of Root Phenolic Profiles and Antioxidant Activity of Five Native and Invasive Solidago L. Species

The high environmental importance of invasive goldenrod has prompted research to find potential benefits that can be derived from these species. This study aimed to identify differences in root phenolic profiles among five Solidago species, thus providing valuable information on their potential applications and the botanical origin of the raw material. The roots of native S. virgaurea L., two alien species S. gigantea Aiton and S. canadensis L. and their hybrids S. ×niederederi Khek and S. ×snarskisii Gudž. & Žaln. were sampled from mixed-species stands in Lithuania. A complex of twelve phenolic acids and their derivatives was identified and quantified in methanol-water root extracts using the HPLC-PDA and LC/MS systems. The radical-scavenging capacities of the extracts were assessed by ABTS. The chemical content of the roots of S. virgaurea, S. gigantea and S. ×niederederi were statistically similar, while the roots of S. canadensis and S. ×snarskisii contained lower amounts of compounds than the other species. The PCA score-plot models of the phenolic profiles only partially confirmed the identification of S. ×niederederi and S. ×snarskisii as crosses between native and alien species. The findings from the phenolic profiles and the observed radical-scavenging activity of root extracts of Solidago species provide valuable insights into their potential applications in various fields.

Hypericum alpestre extract exhibits in vitro and in vivo anticancer properties by regulating the cellular antioxidant system and metabolic pathway of L-arginine

Conventional treatment methods are not effective enough to fight the rapid increase in cancer cases. The interest is increasing in the investigation of herbal sources for the development of new anticancer therapeutics. This study aims to investigate the antitumor capacity of Hypericum alpestre (H. alpestre) extract in vitro and in vivo, either alone or in combination with the inhibitors of the  l-arginine/polyamine/nitric oxide (NO) pathway, and to characterize its active phytochemicals using advanced chromatographic techniques. Our previous reports suggest beneficial effects of the arginase inhibitor NG-hydroxy-nor- l-arginine and NO inhibitor NG-nitro-Larginine methyl ester in the treatment of breast cancer via downregulation of polyamine and NO synthesis. Here, the antitumor properties of H. alpestre and its combinations were explored in vivo, in a rat model of mammary gland carcinogenesis induced by subcutaneous injection of 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene. The study revealed strong antiradical activity of H. alpestre aerial part extract in chemical (DPPH/ABTS) tests. In the in vitro antioxidant activity test, the H. alpestre extract demonstrated pro-oxidant characteristics in human colorectal (HT29) cells, which were contingent upon the hemostatic condition of the cells. The H. alpestre extract expressed a cytotoxic effect on HT29 and breast cancer (MCF-7) cells measured by the MTT test. According to comet assay results, H. alpestre extract did not exhibit genotoxic activity nor possessed antigenotoxic properties in HT29 cells. Overall, 233 substances have been identified and annotated in H. alpestre extract using the LC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS system. In vivo experiments using rat breast cancer models revealed that the H. alpestre extract activated the antioxidant enzymes in the liver, brain, and tumors. H. alpestre combined with chemotherapeutic agents attenuated cancer-like histological alterations and showed significant reductions in tumor blood vessel area. Thus, either alone or in combination with Nω -OH-nor- l-arginine and Nω -nitro- l-arginine methyl ester, H. alpestre extract exhibits pro- and antioxidant, antiangiogenic, and cytotoxic effects.

A Systematic Analysis of the Correlation between Flavor Active Differential Metabolites and Multiple Bean Ripening Stages of Coffea arabica L

Coffee cherries contain a crucial flavor-precursor and chemical substances influencing roasted bean quality, yet limited knowledge exists on metabolite changes during cherry ripening. Our study identified 1078 metabolites, revealing 46 core differential metabolites using a KEGG pathway analysis. At the GF vs. ROF stage, amino acid synthesis dominated; ROF vs. BRF featured nucleotide catabolism; BRF vs. PRF exhibited glycoside and flavonoid synthesis; and PRF vs. PBF involved secondary metabolite synthesis and catabolism. The PRF stage emerged as the optimal cherry-harvesting period. A correlation analysis identified core differential metabolites strongly linked to taste indicators, suggesting their potential as taste markers. Notably, nucleotides and derivatives exhibited significant negative correlations with glycosides and flavonoids during ripening. This research systematically analyzed flavor and active substances in green coffee beans during cherry ripening, offering valuable insights into substance formation in Coffea arabica L.

Microarray meta-analysis reveals comprehensive effects of 3,4,5-tricaffeolyquinic acid in cell differentiation and signaling

Caffeoylquinic acids (CQA) are polyphenolic compounds found in fruits, vegetables, coffee, and spices that have exhibited several beneficial activities, including antioxidant, antibacterial, neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antiviral, antidiabetic, and cardiovascular effects. A derivative, TCQA (3,4,5-Tri-O-caffeoylquinic acid), has also shown both neurogenic and pigment differentiation potential. A transcriptomic-based meta-analysis was conducted to explore potential biochemical processes and molecular targets of TCQA. This approach involved integrating data from various cell and tissue types, including human amniotic stem cells, human neural stem cells, human dermal papilla cells, and the brain cortex of aging model mice. It offered a comprehensive perspective on the significant gene regulations in response to TCQA treatment. The objective was to uncover the mechanism and novel targets of TCQA, facilitating a further understanding of its functions. New areas of interest found were TCQA's effect on adipogenesis, heart, and muscle tissue development. In addition, significantly enhanced biological activities found through meta-analysis included cell cycle, VEGFA-VEGFR2 pathway, and BMP signaling. Overall, a comprehensive functional and visual analysis using available biological databases uncovered the multi-target potential of this natural compound.

The possible role of Wnt/β-catenin signalling in vitiligo treatment

Vitiligo is a common chronic skin disease which has an adverse impact on patients' life. Its pathogenesis is complex, involving autoimmunity and oxidative stress (OS). Autoimmunity leads to the loss of epidermal melanocytes and the formation of the depigmented patches of the disease. Treatment of vitiligo should control the exaggerated immune response to arrest the progress of active disease, and then promote melanocytes to repigmentation. Wnt/β-catenin signalling pathway has been of recent interest in vitiligo. Wnt/β-catenin signalling pathway is downregulated in vitiligo. Upregulation of Wnt/β-catenin signalling possibly control vitiligo autoimmune response by protecting melanocyte from OS damage, inhibiting CD8+ T cell effector cell differentiation and enhancing Treg. Wnt/β-catenin signalling plays a critical role in the melanocyte regeneration by driving the differentiation of melanocyte stem cells (McSCs) into melanocytes. Promoting Wnt/β-catenin signalling can not only arrest the progress of active disease of vitiligo but also promote repigmentation. Some of the main effective therapies for vitiligo are likely to work by activating Wnt/β-catenin signalling. Agents that can enhance the effect of Wnt/β-catenin signalling may become potential candidates for the development of new drugs for vitiligo treatment.

Anti-Wrinkling Effect of 3,4,5-tri-O-caffeoylquinic Acid from the Roots of Nymphoides peltata through MAPK/AP-1, NF-κB, and Nrf2 Signaling in UVB-Irradiated HaCaT Cells

Nymphoides peltata has been widely used pharmacologically in traditional Chinese medicine to treat heat strangury and polyuria. The aim of this study was to isolate the bioactive components from N. peltata and evaluate their potential use as antioxidant and anti-wrinkle agents. Phytochemical investigation of the methanolic extract of N. peltata roots led to the isolation of 15 compounds (1-15), which were structurally determined as α-spinasterol (1), 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-oleanolic acid 28-O-β-D-glucuronopyranoside (2), 4-hydroxybenzoic acid (3), protocatechuic acid (4), vanillic acid (5), p-coumaric acid (6), caffeic acid (7), ferulic acid (8), neochlorogenic acid (neo-CQA) (9), chlorogenic acid (CQA) (10), cryptochlorogenic acid (crypto-CQA) (11), isochlorogenic acid B (3,4-DCQA) (12), isochlorogenic acid A (3,5-DCQA) (13), isochlorogenic acid C (4,5-DCQA) (14), and 3,4,5-tri-O-caffeoylquinic acid (TCQA) (15). Of these 15 compounds, compound 2 was a new oleanane saponin, the chemical structure of which was characterized by 1D and 2D nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopic data and high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HRESIMS), as well as chemical reaction. Biological evaluation of the isolated compounds revealed that 3,4,5-tri-O-caffeoylquinic acid (TCQA) significantly improved Nrf2 levels in an Nrf2-ARE reporter HaCaT cell screening assay. TCQA was found to potently inhibit the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway and to possess strong anti-wrinkle activity by modulating the MAPK/NF-κB/AP-1 signaling pathway and thus inhibiting MMP-1 synthesis in HaCaT cells exposed to UVB. Our results suggest that TCQA isolated from N. peltata might be useful for developing effective antioxidant and anti-wrinkle agents.

Antibacterial and Antimycotic Activity of Epilobium angustifolium L. Extracts: A Review

The aim of this work was to provide an overview of available information on the antibacterial and antifungal properties of Epilobium angustifolium extracts. A literature search of Scopus, PubMed/Medline, and Google Scholar for peer-reviewed articles published between January 2000 and June 2023 was undertaken. A total of 23 studies were eligible for inclusion in this review. Significant variation of antimicrobial activity depending on the tested species and strains, type of extract solvent, or plant organs utilized for the extract preparation was found. E. angustifolium extracts were active against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and showed antimycotic effects against the fungi of Microsporum canis and Trichophyton tonsurans and the dermatophytes Arthroderma spp. Greater susceptibility of Gram-positive than Gram-negative bacteria to fireweed extracts was found. A strong antibacterial effect was recorded for Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Micrococcus luteus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Acinetobacter baumannii including multi-drug resistant strains. E. angustifolium extract might find practical application as an antimicrobial in wound healing, components of cosmetic products for human and animals, or as food preservatives.

Phytochemicals, therapeutic benefits and applications of chrysanthemum flower: A review

Chrysanthemum is a flowering plant belonging to a genus of the dicotyledonous herbaceous annual flowering plant of the Asteraceae (Compositae) family. It is a perpetual flowering plant, mostly cultivated for medicinal purposes; generally, used in popular drinks due to its aroma and flavor. It is primarily cultivated in China, Japan, Europe, and United States. These flowers were extensively used in various healthcare systems and for treating various diseases. Chrysanthemum flowers are rich in phenolic compounds and exhibit strong properties including antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, anti-allergic, anti-obesity, immune regulation, hepatoprotective, and nephroprotective activities. The main aim of the present review was to investigate the nutritional profile, phytochemistry, and biological activities of flowers of different Chrysanthemum species. Also, a critical discussion of the diverse metabolites or bioactive constituents of the Chrysanthemum flowers is highlighted in the present review. Moreover, the flower extracts of Chrysanthemum have been assessed to possess a rich phytochemical profile, including compounds such as cyanidin-3-O-(6″-O-malonyl) glucoside, delphinidin 3-O-(6" -O-malonyl) glucoside-3', rutin, quercetin, isorhamnetin, rutinoside, and others. These profiles exhibit potential health benefits, leading to their utilization in the production of supplementary food products and pharmaceutical drugs within the industry. However, more comprehensive research studies/investigations are still needed to further discover the potential benefits for human and animal utilization.

Chlorogenic Acids, Acting via Calcineurin, Are the Main Compounds in Centella asiatica Extracts That Mediate Resilience to Chronic Stress in Drosophila melanogaster

Common symptoms of depressive disorders include anhedonia, sleep problems, and reduced physical activity. Drugs used to treat depression mostly aim to increase serotonin signaling but these can have unwanted side effects. Depression has also been treated by traditional medicine using plants like Centella asiatica (CA) and this has been found to be well tolerated. However, very few controlled studies have addressed CA's protective role in depression, nor have the active compounds or mechanisms that mediate this function been identified. To address this issue, we used Drosophila melanogaster to investigate whether CA can improve depression-associated symptoms like anhedonia and decreased climbing activity. We found that a water extract of CA provides resilience to stress induced phenotypes and that this effect is primarily due to mono-caffeoylquinic acids found in CA. Furthermore, we describe that the protective function of CA is due to a synergy between chlorogenic acid and one of its isomers also present in CA. However, increasing the concentration of chlorogenic acid can overcome the requirement for the second isomer. Lastly, we found that chlorogenic acid acts via calcineurin, a multifunctional phosphatase that can regulate synaptic transmission and plasticity and is also involved in neuronal maintenance.

Characteristics of Phenolic Compounds in Peucedanum japonicum According to Various Stem and Seed Colors

Total polyphenol and total flavonoid assays were performed to characterize the relationships between the color of Peucedanum japonicum (PJ) seed coat and stem and the content of phytochemical compounds. The samples were divided into two groups based on their stem and seed coat color, with each group containing 23 samples. The stem color group was subdivided into green, light red, and red, whereas the seed coat color group was divided into light brown, brown, and dark brown. In the stem color group, the light red stems exhibited the highest content of phytochemical compounds, with levels over 10% higher than those of the stems of the other colors. Moreover, among the top ten samples with the highest total polyphenol content, eight samples were light red, and the light red group also exhibited the highest total flavonoid content among the examined color groups. In terms of the seed coat color, the plants grown from dark brown seeds exhibited the highest contents of both total polyphenols and total flavonoids. In conclusion, PJ plants with dark brown seeds and light red stems contained the highest levels of phytochemical compounds. Collectively, our findings provide a valuable basis for future seed selection of PJ for pharmaceutical purposes.

Exploring the Antioxidant Properties of Caffeoylquinic and Feruloylquinic Acids: A Computational Study on Hydroperoxyl Radical Scavenging and Xanthine Oxidase Inhibition

Caffeoylquinic (5-CQA) and feruloylquinic (5-FQA) acids, found in coffee and other plant sources, are known to exhibit diverse biological activities, including potential antioxidant effects. However, the underlying mechanisms of these phenolic compounds remain elusive. This paper investigates the capacity and mode of action of 5-CQA and 5-FQA as natural antioxidants acting as hydroperoxyl radical scavengers and xanthine oxidase (XO) inhibitors. The hydroperoxyl radical scavenging potential was investigated using thermodynamic and kinetic calculations based on the DFT method, taking into account the influence of physiological conditions. Blind docking and molecular dynamics simulations were used to investigate the inhibition capacity toward the XO enzyme. The results showed that 5-CQA and 5-FQA exhibit potent hydroperoxyl radical scavenging capacity in both polar and lipidic physiological media, with rate constants higher than those of common antioxidants, such as Trolox and BHT. 5-CQA carrying catechol moiety was found to be more potent than 5-FQA in both physiological environments. Furthermore, both compounds show good affinity with the active site of the XO enzyme and form stable complexes. The hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) mechanism was found to be exclusive in lipid media, while both HAT and SET (single electron transfer) mechanisms are possible in water. 5-CQA and 5-FQA may, therefore, be considered potent natural antioxidants with potential health benefits.

Domestication shapes the endophytic microbiome and metabolome of Salicornia europaea

AIMS

We aim at understanding the effect of domestication on the endophytic microbiome and metabolome of Salicornia europaea and collecting evidence on the potential role of microbial populations and metabolites in the adaptation of plants to different ecological contexts (wild vs crops).

METHODS AND RESULTS

Samples were collected from a natural salt marsh (wild) and an intensive crop field (crop). High-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS) were used to analyze the endophytic bacterial communities and the metabolite profiles of S. europaea roots, respectively. The elemental analysis of the plant shoots was performed by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectroscopy (ICP-MS).Overall, significant differences were found between the microbiome of wild and cultivated plants. The later showed a higher relative abundance of the genera Erythrobacter, Rhodomicrobium, and Ilumatobacter than wild plants. The microbiome of wild plants was enriched in Marinobacter, Marixanthomonas, and Thalassospira. The metabolite profile of crop plants revealed higher amounts of saturated and non-saturated fatty acids and acylglycerols. In contrast, wild plants contained comparatively more carbohydrates and most macroelements (i.e. Na, K, Mg, and Ca).

CONCLUSIONS

There is a strong correlation between plant metabolites and the endosphere microbiome of S. europaea. In wild populations, plants were enriched in carbohydrates and the associated bacterial community was enriched in genes related to primary metabolic pathways such as nitrogen metabolism and carbon fixation. The endosphere microbiome of crop plants was predicted to have higher gene counts related to pathogenesis. Crop plants also exhibited higher amounts of azelaic acid, an indicator of exposure to phytopathogens.

Risk Assessment of Chlorogenic and Isochlorogenic Acids in Coffee By-Products

Chlorogenic and isochlorogenic acids are naturally occurring antioxidant dietary polyphenolic compounds found in high concentrations in plants, fruits, vegetables, coffee, and coffee by-products. The objective of this review was to assess the potential health risks associated with the oral consumption of coffee by-products containing chlorogenic and isochlorogenic acids, considering both acute and chronic exposure. An electronic literature search was conducted, revealing that 5-caffeoylquinic acid (5-CQA) and 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid (3,5-DCQA) are the major chlorogenic acids found in coffee by-products. Toxicological, pharmacokinetic, and clinical data from animal and human studies were available for the assessment, which indicated no significant evidence of toxic or adverse effects following acute oral exposure. The current state of knowledge suggests that long-term exposure to chlorogenic and isochlorogenic acids by daily consumption does not appear to pose a risk to human health when observed at doses within the normal range of dietary exposure. As a result, the intake of CQAs from coffee by-products can be considered reasonably safe.

Determination of Caffeoylquinic Acids Content by UHPLC in Scolymus hispanicus Extracts Obtained through Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction

Scolymus hispanicus L., also known as golden thistle, Spanish oyster thistle or, more commonly, as tagarnina is a plant that belongs to the Asteraceae family. It is collected from the wild for human consumption in Mediterranean countries. It is a relevant ingredient in Andalusian culinary culture, where the midribs of young plants are harvested for consumption. Scolymus hispanicus L. contains a wide variety of phenolic compounds such as caffeoylquinic acids (CQAs), among others. In the present work, the major phenolic compounds present in tagarnina have been identified, with 5-caffeoylquinic acid (5-CQA) and 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid (3,5-diCQA) being the main ones. A method based on ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) has been developed for the extraction of these compounds, with the percentage of methanol, sample-to-solvent ratio and the pH being the most influential factors. The developed method has been validated and employed to determine the concentration of 5-CQA and 3,5-diCQA in the midribs of Scolymus hispanicus, collected in six different places in the south of Spain. The antioxidant activity of the samples has also been determined, and a direct correlation with their caffeoylquinic compounds content has been established, showing an antioxidant effect.

The aqueous extracts of Ageratum conyzoides inhibit inflammation by suppressing NLRP3 inflammasome activation

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Ageratum conyzoides L. (Asteraceae), a well-known and widely distributed traditional tropical medicinal herb, has been used to treat diverse diseases. Our preliminary research has shown that aqueous extracts of A. conyzoides leaf (EAC) have anti-inflammatory activity. However, the detailed underlying anti-inflammatory mechanism of EAC is still unclear.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To determine the anti-inflammatory mechanism of action of EAC.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The major constituents of EAC were identified by ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) combined with quadrupole-time-of-flight mass/mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS). LPS and ATP were used to activate the NLRP3 inflammasome in two types of macrophages (RAW 264.7 and THP-1 cells). The cytotoxicity of EAC was measured by the CCK8 assay. The levels of inflammatory cytokines and NLRP3 inflammasome-related proteins were detected by ELISA and western blotting (WB), respectively. The oligomerization of NLRP3 and ASC and the resulting inflammasome complex formation were observed by immunofluorescence. The intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) level was measured by flow cytometry. Finally, an MSU-induced peritonitis model was established to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects of EAC in vivo.

RESULTS

Twenty constituents were identified in the EAC. Kaempferol 3,7-diglucoside, 1,3,5-tricaffeoylquinic acid, and kaempferol 3,7,4'-triglucoside were found to be the most potent ingredients. EAC significantly reduced the levels of IL-1β, IL-18, TNF-α, and caspase-1 in the two types of activated macrophages, implying that EAC can inhibit the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome. A mechanistic study revealed that EAC inhibited NLRP3 inflammasome activation by blocking NF-κB signalling pathway activation and scavenging the level of intracellular ROS to prevent NLRP3 inflammasome assembly in macrophages. Furthermore, EAC attenuated the in vivo expression of inflammatory cytokines by suppressing NLRP3 inflammasome activation in a peritonitis mouse model.

CONCLUSION

Our results demonstrated that EAC inhibited inflammation by suppressing NLRP3 inflammasome activation, highlighting that this traditional herbal medicine might be used to treat NLRP3 inflammasome-driven inflammatory diseases.

An In Vitro and In Vivo Assessment of Antitumor Activity of Extracts Derived from Three Well-Known Plant Species

One of the objectives of this study consists of the assessment of the antitumor activity of several extracts from three selected plant species: Xanthium spinosum L., Trifolium pratense L., and Coffea arabica L. and also a comparative study of this biological activity, with the aim of establishing a superior herbal extract for antitumor benefits. The phytochemical profile of the extracts was established by HPLC-MS analysis. Further, the selected extracts were screened in vitro for their antitumor activity and antioxidant potential on two cancer cell lines: A549-human lung adenocarcinoma and T47D-KBluc-human breast carcinoma and on normal cells. One extract per plant was selected for in vivo assessment of antitumor activity in an Ehrlich ascites mouse model. The extracts presented high content of antitumor compounds such as caffeoylquinic acids in the case of X. spinosum L. (7.22 µg/mL-xanthatin, 4.611 µg/mL-4-O-caffeoylquinic acid) and green coffee beans (10.008 µg/mL-cafestol, 265.507 µg/mL-4-O-caffeoylquinic acid), as well as isoflavones in the case of T. pratense L. (6806.60 ng/mL-ononin, 102.78 µg/mL-biochanin A). Concerning the in vitro results, the X. spinosum L. extracts presented the strongest anticancerous and antioxidant effects. In vivo, ascites cell viability decreased after T. pratense L. and green coffee bean extracts administration, whereas the oxidative stress reduction potential was important in tumor samples after T. pratense L. Cell viability was also decreased after administration of cyclophosphamide associated with X. spinosum L. and T. pratense L. extracts, respectively. These results suggested that T. pratense L. or X. spinosum L. extracts in combination with chemotherapy can induce lipid peroxidation in tumor cells and decrease the tumor viability especially, T. pratense L. extract.

Extract of Aster koraiensis Nakai Leaf Ameliorates Memory Dysfunction via Anti-inflammatory Action

Aster koraiensis Nakai (AK) leaf reportedly ameliorates health problems, such as diabetes. However, the effects of AK on cognitive dysfunction or memory impairment remain unclear. This study investigated whether AK leaf extract could attenuate cognitive impairment. We found that AK extract reduced the production of nitric oxide (NO), tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α, phosphorylated-tau (p-tau), and the expression of inflammatory proteins in lipopolysaccharide- or amyloid-β-treated cells. AK extract exhibited inhibitory activity of control specific binding on N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors. Scopolamine-induced AD models were used chronically in rats and acutely in mice. Relative to negative controls (NC), hippocampal choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) and B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl2) activity was increased in rats chronically treated with scopolamine and fed an AK extract-containing diet. In the Y-maze test, spontaneous alterations were increased in the AK extract-fed groups compared to NC. Rats administered AK extract showed increased escape latency in the passive avoidance test. In the hippocampus of rats fed a high-AK extract diet (AKH), the expression of neuroactive ligand–receptor interaction-related genes, including Npy2r, Htr2c, and Rxfp1, was significantly altered. In the Morris water maze assay of mice acutely treated with scopolamine, the swimming times in the target quadrant of AK extract-treated groups increased significantly to the levels of the Donepezil and normal groups. We used Tg6799 Aβ-overexpressing 5XFAD transgenic mice to investigate Aβ accumulation in animals. In the AD model using 5XFAD, the administration of AK extract decreased amyloid-β (Aβ) accumulation and increased the number of NeuN antibody-reactive cells in the subiculum relative to the control group. In conclusion, AK extract ameliorated memory dysfunction by modulating ChAT activity and Bcl2-related anti-apoptotic pathways, affecting the expression of neuroactive ligand–receptor interaction-related genes and inhibiting Aβ accumulation. Therefore, AK extract could be a functional material improving cognition and memory.

Green Biosynthesis of Silver Nanoparticles Using Aqueous Extracts of Ageratum Conyzoides and Their Anti-Inflammatory Effects

The NLRP3 inflammasome, which plays a central role in innate immunity, is linked to a variety of inflammatory diseases, and thus it may provide a new target for the treatment of those diseases. Biosynthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), particularly those synthesized using medicinal plant extracts, have recently been shown to be a promising therapeutic option. Herein, the aqueous extract of Ageratum conyzoids was used to prepare a series of sized AgNPs (AC-AgNPs), in which the smallest mean particle size was 30 ± 1.3 nm with a polydispersity of 0.328 ± 0.009. The ζ potential value was -28.77 with a mobility of -1.95 ± 0.24 cm2/(v·s). Its main ingredient, elemental silver, accounted for about 32.71 ± 4.87% of its mass, and other ingredients included amentoflavone-7,7⁗-dimethyl ether, 1,3,5-tricaffeoylquinic acid, kaempferol 3,7,4'-triglucoside, 5,6,7,3',4',5'-hexamethoxyflavone, kaempferol, and ageconyflavone B. In LPS+ATP-stimulated RAW 264.7 and THP-1 cells, AC-AgNPs significantly inhibited the release of IL-1β, IL-18, TNF-α, and caspase-1, indicating that AC-AgNPs can inhibit the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome. The mechanistic study revealed that AC-AgNPs could decrease the phosphorylation levels of IκB-α and p65, resulting in decreased expression of NLRP3 inflammasome-related proteins, including pro-IL-1β, IL-1β, procaspase 1, caspase 1P20, NLRP3, and ASC, and also scavenge the level of intracellular ROS to prevent NLRP3 inflammasome assembly. Furthermore, AC-AgNPs attenuated the in vivo expression of inflammatory cytokines by suppressing NLRP3 inflammasome activation in a peritonitis mouse model. Our study provides evidence that the as-prepared AC-AgNPs can inhibit the inflammatory process by suppressing NLRP3 inflammasome activation and might be used to treat NLRP3 inflammasome-driven inflammatory diseases.

Influences of Different Extraction Techniques and Their Respective Parameters on the Phytochemical Profile and Biological Activities of Xanthium spinosum L. Extracts

The aim of this study was to identify possible influences of extraction methods as well as extraction parameters on the phytochemical and biological profiles of Xanthium spinosum L. extracts. Extraction methods were chosen as follows: classical methods, maceration and Soxhlet extraction; innovative extraction methods, turboextraction, ultrasound-assisted extraction, and a combination of the latter two. Extracts were subjected to total polyphenolic and flavonoid content spectrophotometric analysis. The phytochemical profile was determined for the best-yielding extracts using HPLC-MS analysis. Following the newly acquired data, another sorting of the extracts was performed. Biological activities such as antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory actions were evaluated, as well as oxidative stress reduction potential, on a Wistar rats inflammation model. Comparable results were achieved with Soxhlet extraction and ultrasound-assisted extraction, both surpassing all other tested methods in terms of yields. Bioactive compound concentrations tended to increase with the increase in extraction time and temperature. These maximal values lowered once the degradation points of the bioactive compounds were reached. Extracts demonstrated good protection against Gram-negative bacteria. Additionally, they provided good cellular protection and increased the antioxidant defense in the analyzed rat plantar tissue.

HPLC-PDA/ESI-MS Analysis of Phenolic Compounds and Bioactivities of the Ethanolic Extract from Flowers of Moroccan Anacyclus clavatus

In this work, polyphenols were extracted from Anacylus clavatus flowers using a hydroethanolic solvent, and the obtained extract was studied for its total phenol and flavonoid contents and evaluated for its antioxidant and antibacterial capacities. The contents of total phenols and flavonoids were measured by employing gallic acid and quercetin as references, respectively, and the phenolic composition analysis was conducted using high-performance liquid chromatography combined with a photodiode array and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HPLC-PDA/ESI-MS). The antioxidant capacity of the extracts was tested using a potassium ferric reducing antioxidant power (PFRAP) assay, and the antibacterial activity assay was carried out against Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimirium) and Gram-positive bacteria (Staphyloccocus aureus and Listeria monocytogenes) using the broth microdilution assay. The phenolic and flavonoid contents of the extracts equaled 9.53 ± 0.48 mg GAE/g dm and 1.31 ± 0.06 mg QE/g dm, respectively. The chromatographic analysis of the phenolic profile detected 26 phenolic compounds belonging to phenolic acids, flavones and flavonols, and with the caffeoylquinic acid derivatives being the major phenolic compounds present in 12 isomers. Only one organic compound, viz. citric acid, was found. The extracts exhibited interesting antioxidant activity. Bacteriostatic activity towards Escherichia coli and bactericidal activity against Salmonella typhimirium, Staphyloccocus aureus and Listeria monocytogenes were determined. This study revealed that Anacyclus clavatus flower extracts contain phenolic compounds with interesting bioactivities.

Effect of Stress Signals and Ib-rolB/C Overexpression on Secondary Metabolite Biosynthesis in Cell Cultures of Ipomoea batatas

Ipomoea batatas is a vital root crop and a source of caffeoylquinic acid derivatives (CQAs) with potential health-promoting benefits. As a naturally transgenic plant, I. batatas contains cellular T-DNA (cT-DNA) sequence homologs of the Agrobacterium rhizogenes open reading frame (ORF)14, ORF17n, rooting locus (Rol)B/RolC, ORF13, and ORF18/ORF17n of unknown function. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of abiotic stresses (temperature, ultraviolet, and light) and chemical elicitors (methyl jasmonate, salicylic acid, and sodium nitroprusside) on the biosynthesis of CQAs and cT-DNA gene expression in I. batatas cell culture as a model system. Among all the applied treatments, ultraviolet irradiation, methyl jasmonate, and salicylic acid caused the maximal accumulation of secondary compounds. We also discovered that I. batatas cT-DNA genes were not expressed in cell culture, and the studied conditions weakly affected their transcriptional levels. However, the Ib-rolB/C gene expressed under the strong 35S CaMV promoter increased the CQAs content by 1.5-1.9-fold. Overall, our results show that cT-DNA-encoded transgenes are not involved in stress- and chemical elicitor-induced CQAs accumulation in cell cultures of I. batatas. Nevertheless, overaccumulation of RolB/RolC transcripts potentiates the secondary metabolism of sweet potatoes through a currently unknown mechanism. Our study provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms linked with CQAs biosynthesis in cell culture of naturally transgenic food crops, i.e., sweet potato.

Effect of Sucrose Concentration on Rhaponticum carthamoides (Willd.) Iljin Transformed Root Biomass, Caffeoylquinic Acid Derivative, and Flavonoid Production

Rhaponticum carthamoides (Willd.) Iljin is a rare, pharmacopoeial, and medicinal plant, endemic to Siberia and endangered due to the massive collection of raw material from the natural habitat. The aim of the current study was to estimate the effect of sucrose concentration (0-7%) on R. carthamoides transformed root growth and on caffeoylquinic acid derivative (CQA) and flavonoid production. Sucrose in higher concentrations may induce osmotic stress and thus may affect secondary metabolism in plants. It was revealed that sucrose concentration influenced R. carthamoides transformed root biomass and modified the phenolic compound metabolic pathway. However, the dynamics of both processes varied significantly. The optimal sucrose level was different for biomass accumulation and the biosynthesis of specialized metabolite. The highest dry weight of roots was achieved for 7% sucrose (31.17 g L-1 of dry weight), while 1% sucrose was found to be optimal for phenolic acid and flavonoid production. Considering the dry weight increase and metabolite accumulation, 3% sucrose was revealed to give optimal yields of CQAs (511.1 mg L-1) and flavonoids (38.9 mg L-1). Chlorogenic acid, 3,5-, 4,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acids, 1,4,5-O-tricaffeoylquinic acid, and a tentatively-identified tricaffeoylquinic acid derivative 1 were found to be the most abundant specialized metabolites among the identified CQAs. Our findings indicate that R. carthamoides transformed roots may be an efficient source of CQA derivatives, with valuable health-promoting activities.

Approved Genetically Modified Potatoes (Solanum tuberosum) for Improved Stress Resistance and Food Safety

Potatoes (Solanum tuberosum) are one of the most important crops worldwide. However, its production and nutrient content are endangered by both biotic and abiotic stresses. The main yield losses are caused by pest damage (e.g., Colorado potato beetle and aphids), virus disease (e.g., Potato leafroll virus and Potato viruses Y and X), or oomycete pathogens (like Phytophthora infestans), which also significantly affect the production of antinutrients and toxic metabolites of plants. Therefore, the use of genetic engineering could be an efficient tool, not harmful to the environment, and beneficial to the consumer. In this review, we focus on the main sources of problems in the field of potato production according to approved genetic modifications, their traditional solution and positive impact of gene transfection reducing economic losses, use of insecticides, and improving the nutritional properties of potatoes. We summarize all transgenic events that have been performed on potatoes and have been approved for cultivation and/or direct use or processing as feed or food.

Anti-Inflammatory and Wound Healing Properties of Leaf and Rhizome Extracts from the Medicinal Plant Peucedanum ostruthium (L.) W. D. J. Koch

Peucedanum ostruthium (L.) W. D. J. Koch (Apiaceae) is a worldwide perennial herb native to the mountains of central Southern Europe. The rhizome has a long tradition in popular medicine, while ethnobotanical surveys have revealed local uses of leaves for superficial injuries. To experimentally validate these uses, plant material was collected in the Gran Paradiso National Park, Aosta Valley, Italy, and the rhizome and leaves were micromorphologically and phytochemically characterized. Polyphenol-enriched hydroalcoholic rhizome and leaf extracts, used in cell-free assays, showed strong and concentration-dependent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. In vitro tests revealed cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase inhibition by the leaf extract, while the rhizome extract induced only lipoxygenase inhibition. MTT assays on HaCaT keratinocytes and L929 fibroblasts showed low cytotoxicity of extracts. In vitro scratch wound test on HaCaT resulted in a strong induction of wound closure with the leaf extract, while the effect of the rhizome extract was lower. The same test on L929 cells showed similar wound closure induction with both extracts. The results confirmed the traditional medicinal uses of the rhizome as an anti-inflammatory and wound healing remedy for superficial injuries but also highlighted that the leaves can be exploited for these purposes with equal or superior effectiveness.

Semi-Synthesis of Chloroxaloterpin A and B and Their Antifungal Activity against Botrytis cinerea

Chloroxaloterpin A (1) and B (2) are two diterpenoids with potent inhibitory activities against spore germination of Botrytis cinerea, which were identified from Streptomyces sp. SN194 as minor products previously. In order to overcome the poor yields, 1 and 2 were synthesized using viguiepinol (3), the major metabolite of Streptomyces sp. SN194, as the precursor compound. Scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscope observations revealed that after treating B. cinerea spores with 1 and 2, spores were obviously aberrant, the cytoplasm appeared withdrawn, and plasma membranes were blurred. Propidium iodide fluorescence assay indicated that 1 and 2 damaged plasma membranes of B. cinerea spores. In vivo assays showed that compounds 1 and 2 could effectively inhibit the sporulation of B. cinerea on tomato fruits, with sporulation inhibitory rates reaching 98.8% at 100 μg/mL. These findings provide new insights into chloroxaloterpin A and B and demonstrate their potential as lead candidates for novel fungicides.

3,4,5-O-tricaffeoylquinic acid with anti-radiation activity suppresses LPS-induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation via autophagy in THP-1 macrophages

Damage to normal tissues caused by excessive ionizing radiation (IR) exposure is the major side effect of radiotherapy. Several recent studies have shown that IR-induced damage to tissues leads to a systemic immune response and NLRP3 inflammasome activation in immune cells. 3,4,5-O-tricaffeoylquinic acid (tCQA), extracted from the natural plant Azolla imbricata, relieves inflammation and has radioprotective function. Here, we aimed to investigate the inhibitory effect and molecular mechanism of tCQA on IR-induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation. First, the results of ELISA and qPCR assays showed that tCQA has anti-inflammatory effects in THP-1 cell line and healthy human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Western blotting and ELISA suggested tCQA could inhibit NF-κB/MAPK signaling pathway, NLRP3 expression and the secretion of IL-1β in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated THP-1 macrophages. Then, flow cytometry, LDH assay and western blotting demonstrated that tCQA could inhibit LPS- and nigericin-induced Caspase-1 activation and gasdermin D cleavage, thereby suppressing inflammatory cell death. Furthermore, we found that the autophagy inhibitor chloroquine, not the proteasome inhibitor MG132, could counteract the promoting effect of tCQA on NLRP3 degradation and the inhibitory effect on cell death. Western blotting and autophagosome staining results suggested tCQA could significantly enhance LPS-induced autophagic flux in macrophages and ATG5/ATG7 knockdown reverses the inhibitory effect of tCQA on NLRP3 expression and Caspase-1 activation, indicating that tCQA induces NLRP3 degradation via autophagy. Finally, THP-1 macrophages and BALB/c mice were irradiated with ¹³⁷Cs γ-rays and tCQA could inhibit IR-induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation both in vitro and in vivo. To conclude, tCQA controls inflammation and NLRP3 inflammasome activation in vitro via NF-κB/MAPK signaling pathway and autophagy, meanwhile inhibits IR-induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation in vivo. Overall, our study provides an experimental and theoretical basis for the application of tCQA as a radioprotectant in clinical radiotherapy.

Coffee Chlorogenic Acids Incorporation for Bioactivity Enhancement of Foods: A Review

The demand of foods with high antioxidant capacity have increased and research on these foods continues to grow. This review is focused on chlorogenic acids (CGAs) from green coffee, which is the most abundant source. The main CGA in coffee is 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid (5-CQA). Coffee extracts are currently the most widely used source to enhance the antioxidant activity of foods. Due to the solubility of CGAs, their extraction is mainly performed with organic solvents. CGAs have been associated with health benefits, such as antioxidant, antiviral, antibacterial, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory activity, and others that reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, and Alzheimer's disease. However, the biological activities depend on the stability of CGAs, which are sensitive to pH, temperature, and light. The anti-inflammatory activity of 5-CQA is attributed to reducing the proinflammatory activity of cytokines. 5-CQA can negatively affect colon microbiota. An increase in anthocyanins and antioxidant activity was observed when CGAs extracts were added to different food matrices such as dairy products, coffee drinks, chocolate, and bakery products. The fortification of foods with coffee CGAs has the potential to improve the functionality of foods.

A Comparative Study of Chemical Profiling and Biological Effects of Doronicum orientale Extracts

In this study, phytochemical and pharmacological screening of the aerial part and roots extracts from Doronicum orientale Hoffm. (Asteraceae) was carried out. Plant extracts were obtained using solvents of different polarity (hexane, ethyl acetate, ethanol, ethanol/water, water) for selection the most optimal solvent for the extraction of active compounds. For instance, the extracts yielded total phenolic and flavonoid contents in the range of 12.13-45.67 mg GAE/g and 0.75-12.44 mg QE/g, respectively, while the total antioxidant capacity of the extracts determined by the phosphomolybdenum assay ranged from 0.88-2.53 mmol TE/g. HPLC/MS/MS analysis revealed 5-caffeoylquinic acid (2.52-337.05 μg/g) and 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid (3.12-299.36 μg/g) to be the major components present in the investigated extracts. Antioxidant activity in terms of radical scavenging ability of the extracts ranged from 0.82-45.56 mg TE/g in DPPH assay and from 5.07-104.58 mg TE/g in ABTS assay. The tested extracts were found to inhibit acetylcholinesterase (aerial part: 0.50-2.33 mg GALAE/g; roots: 0.40-2.43 mg GALAE/g), while with the exception of the water extracts, the other extracts showed butyrylcholinesterase inhibition (aerial part: 2.46-5.02 mg GALAE/g; root: 2.93-4.17 mg GALAE/g). Overall, this study presented an interesting scope of this species in phytomedicine with preliminary data demonstrating some of the tested extracts to possess high bioactive contents, antioxidant potential and enzyme inhibitory activity. Thus, additional investigations are necessary to confirm their safety in herbal drug applications.

Special Thai Oolong Tea: Chemical Profile and In Vitro Antidiabetic Activities

Special Thai oolong tea is oolong tea (Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze) steamed with selected Thai botanical drugs. Oolong tea steamed with ginger (Zingiber officinale), lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus), and celery (Anathallis graveolens L.) is called eternity tea (EN), whereas peaceful rest (PR) tea is made of oolong tea leaves steamed with Indian gooseberry (Phyllanthus emblica), Turkey berry (Solanum torvum), and wild betel leaf bush leaves (Piper sarmentosum). Oolong tea is known for its numerous biological activities including antidiabetic properties. However, the effect of the additional botanical drugs on the biological activities of special oolong teas has not yet been explored. From the results, the PR extract exhibited the best activity in the in vitro assays relevant to antidiabetic properties such as chemical antioxidant, anti-inflammation, anti-adipogenesis, enzyme inhibition, and glucose uptake and consumption. The UHPLC-QTOF-MS/MS profiles of PR and EN extracts indicated chemical profiles different from oolong tea. For instance, gingerdiol and gingerol were detected in EN, whereas piperettine I was detected in PR. Therefore, it was inferred that among the three tea extracts, the additional compounds in PR contributed to good activities compared to oolong and EN. It is also important to highlight that the PR extract inhibited glucose uptake and consumption by adipocytes and skeletal muscles at concentrations of 500 and 100 μg/ml, respectively, as well as metformin activity (p < 0.05). Findings from this study support the antidiabetic potential of PR tea.