Characterization of Polyphenols from Lycium ruthenicum Fruit by UPLC-Q-TOF/MS(E) and Their Antioxidant Activity in Caco-2 Cells

A review of Lycium ruthenicum Murray: Geographic distribution tracing, bioactive components, and functional properties

Lycium ruthenicum (LRM), endemic to Northwest China, is known as hei goji or black goji and is renowned for its rich bioactive compounds. This review analyzes LRM's geographic distribution and traceability and highlights challenges and future developments in geographical traceability. The work also focuses on LRM's bioactive constituents, especially on anthocyanins and polysaccharides, demonstrating a clear clue for understanding their updated extraction methods, identification, and diverse bioactive activities, including antioxidation, anti-inflammation, and immunomodulation, which is beneficial to developing novel functional foods and new medical materials. Moreover, the paper elucidates advances in the potential application of LRM in food preservation, packaging, and other domains. Notably, we figure out gaps in LRM research, such as traceability technology and the proven efficacy of biological activities. This study provides a foundation for future perspectives on developing nutraceuticals and functional foods, disease treatment supplements, and green food packaging materials by bridging these gaps.

Integrated Metabolomic and Transcriptomic Analysis of Nitraria Berries Indicate the Role of Flavonoids in Adaptation to High Altitude

Background: Plants of Nitraria, belonging to the Zygophyllaceae family, are not only widely distributed at an altitude of about 1000 m but also at an altitude of about 3000 m, which is a rare phenomenon. However, little is known about the effect of altitude on the accumulation of metabolites in plants of Nitraria. Furthermore, the mechanism of the high-altitude adaptation of Nitraria has yet to be fully elucidated. Methods: In this study, metabolomics and transcriptomics were used to investigate the differential accumulation of metabolites of Nitraria berries and the regulatory mechanisms in different altitudes. Results: As a result, the biosynthesis of flavonoids is the most significant metabolic pathway in the process of adaptation to high altitude, and 5 Cyanidins, 1 Pelargonidin, 3 Petunidins, 1 Peonidin, and 4 Delphinidins are highly accumulated in high-altitude Nitraria. The results of transcriptomics showed that the structural genes C4H (2), F3H, 4CL (2), DFR (2), UFGT (2), and FLS (2) were highly expressed in high-altitude Nitraria. A network metabolism map of flavonoids was constructed, and the accumulation of differential metabolites and the expression of structural genes were analyzed for correlation. Conclusions: In summary, this study preliminarily offers a new understanding of metabolic differences and regulation mechanisms in plants of Nitraria from different altitudes.

A systematic UHPLC Q-ToF MS approach for the characterization of bioactive compounds from freeze-dried red goji berries (L. barbarum L.) grown in Serbia: Phenolic compounds and phenylamides

The aim of this study was to identify and characterise different classes of bioactive compounds from freeze-dried red goji berries (RGB) grown in Serbia, using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC Q-ToF MS). In addition, this study aims to demonstrate the importance of applying the advanced UHPLC Q-ToF MS technique in the identification of various biocompounds. The analysis showed the presence of 28 phenolic compounds, 3 organic acids, and 26 phenylamides. The 2-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-l-ascorbic acid (AA-2βG) was identified by UHPLC Q-ToF MS and quantified by standardised UHPLC-DAD method. Most of the compounds detected were derivatives of caffeic acid and ferulic acid, followed by quercetin derivatives. Among the phenylamides, several glucosylated caffeoyl and/or dihydrocaffeoyl derivatives of spermidine and spermine were characterized, confirming their recent characterization. Some glycosylated/non-glycosylated putrescine derivatives and caffeoyl-dihydrocaffeoyl-feruloyl spermidines were identified in goji berriesfor the first time. Their tentative structures and fragmentations were proposed.

Comparative Analysis on Polyphenolic Composition of Different Olive Mill Wastewater and Related Extra Virgin Olive Oil Extracts and Evaluation of Nutraceutical Properties by Cell-Based Studies

This study reports a comparative analysis of the polyphenolic composition and nutraceutical properties of different olive mill wastewater (OMWW) and corresponding extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) extracts. Specifically, four OMWWs and corresponding EVOOs from cultivars Frantoio (A) and Leccino (B) obtained from different crushing seasons (early-stage (A1 and B1) and later-stage (A2 and B2)) were analyzed. Employing HPLC-DAD and LC-MS methods, the primary polyphenol content was identified and quantified. Overall, OMWW extracts showed a greater polyphenolic content compared to corresponding EVOO extracts, with OMWW B1 displaying the highest levels of polyphenols. The antiradical properties of extracts towards radical species (DPPH, ABTS, O2-, and HOCl-) were demonstrated in vitro, revealing a correlation with polyphenolic content. In fact, OMWW B1 and B2 demonstrated the strongest antiradical activity. Exploring nutraceutical properties of OMWWs, the intestinal permeation of the main polyphenols in a co-culture model (Caco-2 and HT29-MTX cell lines) was assessed, with tyrosol achieving a permeation of almost 60%. Furthermore, the involvement in the inflammation process has been evaluated in cell studies on THP1-derived macrophages by immunocytochemistry, demonstrating that OMWW B1 may exert an anti-inflammatory effect by modulating specific phenotype expression on macrophages. In conclusion, this study provides evidence supporting the reuse of OMWWs as a source of polyphenols with nutraceutical properties.

Improvement of intestinal microbial structure in patients with cerebral infarction through in vitro fermentation of anthocyanins from Lycium ruthenicum Murray

Anthocyanins in Lycium ruthenicum Murray can be degraded into metabolites by intestinal microorganisms and have a wide range of biological functions. However, there are limited studies on the effect of anthocyanins on the intestinal flora structure in patients with cerebral infarction. To explore the new probiotic effects of ACN, the gut microbiota present in fecal samples obtained from healthy volunteers and patients with acute cerebral infarction underwent in vitro fermentation analysis. The in vitro fermentation product of ACN with L. ruthenicum Murray can significantly increase the diversity of the gut flora in patients with cerebral infarction. It can also promote beneficial bacteria (e.g., Bifidobacterium) in the guts of patients with acute cerebral infarction (e.g. Bifidobacterium, Allisonella, and Prevotell), reduce the growth of potentially harmful bacteria (Dialister, Megamonas, and Clostridium), and increase the levels of SCFAs. This investigation demonstrated the capability of ACN in vitro fermentation to improve the gut microbiota structure in patients with cerebral infarction. This, in turn, furnishes new theoretical underpinnings for its potential development as a functional food component.

Ultrasound-assisted extraction of bioactive compounds from goji berries: Optimization, bioactivity, and intestinal permeability assessment

Lycium barbarum L. berries have a remarkable chemical composition and extensive biological activities, being a valuable component of health and nutraceutical practices. Nevertheless, a deep insight on the intestinal permeation of the pro-healthy bioactive compounds is urgently needed to predict the real effects on human body. This study attempted, for the first time, to optimize the Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction (UAE) of goji berries using a Response Surface Methodology approach and establish the intestinal permeation of the principal pro-healthy compounds. The optimal extraction conditions were a solid:liquid ratio of 8.75 % for 56.21 min, using an intensity of 59.05 W/m2. The optimal extract displayed a remarkable antioxidant capacity, with LC/DAD-ESI-MS analysis unveiled a diverse phytochemical profile, encompassing different compounds (e.g. glu-lycibarbarspermidine F, 2-glu-kukoamine, rutin, 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid). The intestinal co-culture model demonstrated that glu-lycibarbarspermidine F (isomer 2) (73.70 %), 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid (52.66 %), and isorhamnetin-3-O-rutinoside (49.31 %) traversed the intestinal cell layer, exerting beneficial health-promoting effects.

Effects of fruit and vegetable intake on memory and attention: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials

BACKGROUND

Memory and attention are important for daily functioning, and their function deteriorates due to aging. However, fruit and vegetable consumption are one of the protective factors against deterioration in memory and attention. This systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) aims to identify the effects of fruit and vegetable consumption on memory and attention.

METHODS

We conducted a systematic search in EBSCOhost, ProQuest, PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science from inception up to 06/09/2022. The inclusion criteria were peer-reviewed articles, fruit and vegetable intake measured using randomized controlled trials, and the outcome measures that showed the results of memory and attention scores. Two researchers independently extracted articles that met the selection criteria and evaluated the quality of each study.

RESULTS

There were 70 articles identified from the databases, of which 13 articles met the inclusion criteria and were included in this systematic review. There were 493 participants in total. The results show that consumption of fruit and vegetable intake improved memory and attention in longitudinal studies (10 to 12 weeks). Children showed improvement in immediate recall after supplementation with blueberries. Older adults required a higher dose of fruit and vegetable intake consumption to achieve significant improvement compared with children and younger adults. Furthermore, the effect of fruits and vegetables on memory showed better immediate memory recall than delayed recall.

CONCLUSION

This systematic review showed that there is an improvement in memory and attention with fruit and vegetable intake consumption. Hence, awareness of fruit and vegetable intake consumption is important to maintain cognitive health.

Major quality regulation network of flavonoid synthesis governing the bioactivity of black wolfberry

Black wolfberry (Lycium ruthenicum Murr.) contains various bioactive metabolites represented by flavonoids, which are quite different among production regions. However, the underlying regulation mechanism of flavonoid biosynthesis governing the bioactivity of black wolfberry remains unclear. Presently, we compared the bioactivity of black wolfberry from five production regions. Multi-omics were performed to construct the regulation network associated with the fruit bioactivity. The detailed regulation mechanisms were identified using genetic and molecular methods. Typically, Qinghai (QH) fruit exhibited higher antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. The higher medicinal activity of QH fruit was closely associated with the accumulation of eight flavonoids, especially Kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside (K3R) and Quercetin-3-O-rutinoside (rutin). Flavonoid biosynthesis was found to be more active in QH fruit, and the upregulation of LrFLS, LrCHS, LrF3H and LrCYP75B1 caused the accumulation of K3R and rutin, leading to high medicinal bioactivities of black wolfberry. Importantly, transcription factor LrMYB94 was found to regulate LrFLS, LrCHS and LrF3H, while LrWRKY32 directly triggered LrCYP75B1 expression. Moreover, LrMYB94 interacted with LrWRKY32 to promote LrWRKY32-regulated LrCYP75B1 expression and rutin synthesis in black wolfberry. Transgenic black wolfberry overexpressing LrMYB94/LrWRKY32 contained higher levels of K3R and rutin, and exhibited high medicinal bioactivities. Importantly, the LrMYB94/LrWRKY32-regulated flavonoid biosynthesis was light-responsive, showing the importance of light intensity for the medicinal quality of black wolfberry. Overall, our results elucidated the regulation mechanisms of K3R and rutin synthesis, providing the basis for the genetic breeding of high-quality black wolfberry.

The "depict" strategy for discovering new compounds in complex matrices: Lycibarbarspermidines as a case

The comprehensive detection and identification of active ingredients in complex matrices is a crucial challenge. Liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) is the most prominent analytical platform for the exploration of novel active compounds from complex matrices. However, the LC-HRMS-based analysis workflow suffers from several bottleneck issues, such as trace content of target compounds, limited acquisition for fragment information, and uncertainty in interpreting relevant MS2 spectra. Lycibarbarspermidines are vital antioxidant active ingredients in Lycii Fructus, while the reported structures are merely focused on dicaffeoylspermidines due to their low content. To comprehensively detect the new structures of lycibarbarspermidine derivatives, a "depict" strategy was developed in this study. First, potential new lycibarbarspermidine derivatives were designed according to the biosynthetic pathway, and a comprehensive database was established, which enlarged the coverage of lycibarbarspermidine derivatives. Second, the polarity-oriented sample preparation of potential new compounds increased the concentration of the target compounds. Third, the construction of the molecular network based on the fragmentation pathway of lycibarbarspermidine derivatives broadened the comprehensiveness of identification. Finally, the weak response signals were captured by data-dependent scanning (DDA) followed by parallel reaction monitoring (PRM), and the efficiency of acquiring MS2 fragment ions of target compounds was significantly improved. Based on the integrated strategy above, 210 lycibarbarspermidine derivatives were detected and identified from Lycii Fructus, and in particular, 170 potential new compounds were structurally characterized. The integrated strategy improved the sensitivity of detection and the coverage of low-response components, and it is expected to be a promising pipeline for discovering new compounds.

Chemical Profiling of Nitraria roborowskii Kom. by UPLC-Q-Orbitrap-MS and Their Hypolipidemic Effects in Vivo

The Nitraria roborowskii Kom. (NRK) berries, as fruits of the genus Nitraria of the Zygophyllceae family, have been widely used as folk medicine. Modern pharmacological research has demonstrated that Nitraria berries had hypolipidemic, hypoglycemic, and immunomodulatory effects. However, more research needs to be reported on the chemical composition and biological activity of NRK. Hence, the phenolic compounds in the NRK berries were comprehensively analyzed and characterized by Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography-Quadruple-Orbitrap MS system (UPLC-Q-Orbitrap MS) in this study. In total, 52 phenolics were identified, and all were reported for the first time. In addition, the hypolipidemic efficacy of NRK berries extract was studied in the hyperlipidemic mouse model. After treatment, the high dose group of NRK substantially reversed total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. Through lipidomics technology, 27 potential biomarkers were characterized. And there was a significant callback at 25 of them after NRK treatment by using statistical analysis methods. Pathway analysis results demonstrated that NRK might exert therapeutic effects by regulating glycerophospholipid and glycerolipid metabolism pathways. This study could provide firsthand information on NRK berries for their phenolic compounds and potential application in preventing and treating hyperlipidemia.

Black Goji Berry (Lycium ruthenicum Murray): A Review of Its Pharmacological Activity

Lycium ruthenicum Murray (LRM; commonly known as black goji berry or black wolfberry), a plant in the Solanaceae family, grows in the deserts of China's Qinghai-Tibet plateau. LRM is widely consumed in traditional Chinese medicine, and its fruits are frequently used as herbal remedies to treat heart disease, fatigue, inflammation, and other conditions. Many studies have reported that LRM is rich in functional phytochemicals, such as anthocyanins and polysaccharides, and has various pharmacological actions. This article reviews research on the biological and pharmacological effects of the constituents of LRM fruits. LRM has various pharmacological properties, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-radiation, immune-enhancing, anti-tumor, and protective effects. LRM has much promise as a dietary supplement for preventing many types of chronic metabolic disease.

The health-promoting anthocyanin petanin in Lycium ruthenicum fruit: a promising natural colorant

Acylated anthocyanins derived from dietary sources have gained significant attention due to their health-promoting properties and potential as natural colorants with high stability. However, exploration of the functional food products using acylated anthocyanins enriched in fruits and vegetables remains largely delayed in food industries. The black goji (Lycium ruthencium) fruit (LRF) is a functional food that is extensively used due to its exceptionally high levels of acylated anthocyanins, including petanin. This review provides a comprehensive summary of the functional properties and anthocyanin components of LRF. The stability, bioaccessibility, bioavailability, and bioactivities of petanin, the major anthocyanin component, are compared with those of LRF anthocyanin extracts and other food sources. Furthermore, the biosynthetic pathway and regulatory network of petanin in LRF are proposed and constructed, respectively. The key genes that could be potentially used for metabolic engineering to produce petanin are predicted. Finally, the potential application of petanin derivatives in the food industry is also discussed. This review presents comprehensive and systematic information about the dual-function of petanin as a bioactive component and a promising natural colorant for future food industrial applications.

Comparative Analysis of Polyphenols in Lycium barbarum Fruits Using UPLC-IM-QTOF-MS

Variety, geographical origin, and harvest season are important factors affecting the accumulation of polyphenols in Lycium barbarum. In this study, the effects of these factors on the polyphenolic components of this species were analyzed using ultra-performance liquid chromatography ion mobility quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Moreover, the in vitro antioxidant activities of fruit extracts from this species were evaluated. The total polyphenolic contents of L. barbarum fruits from Jinghe County in Xinjiang and Zhongning County in Ningxia were 5.52-11.72 and 7.06-9.37 mg (gallic acid equivalent)/g dry weight, while the total flavonoid contents of L. barbarum fruits from these regions were 12.52-30.29 and 12.67-20.77 mg (rutin equivalent)/g dry weight, respectively. Overall, 39 types of polyphenols were identified in the fruit extracts, including 26 flavonoids, 10 phenolic acids, and three tannins. Of these, 11 polyphenols were quantitatively analyzed, which revealed rutin to be the most dominant polyphenolic component in fruits from Jinghe and Zhongning. There were significant differences (p < 0.05) in the polyphenolic contents and antioxidant activities of L. barbarum fruit extracts, depending on the geographical origin, variety, and harvest season. The antioxidant activity of this species was found to be significantly positively correlated with the polyphenolic contents. This study provided scientific guidance for comprehensive applications of polyphenols from different varieties of L. barbarum from separate geographical origins.

Anthocyanins from Lycium ruthenicum Murray Ameliorated High-Fructose Diet-Induced Neuroinflammation through the Promotion of the Integrity of the Intestinal Barrier and the Proliferation of Lactobacillus

In the present study, we found that anthocyanins from Lycium ruthenicum Murray (ACN) potently ameliorated a high-fructose diet (HFrD)-induced neuroinflammation in mice. ACN improved the integrity of the intestinal barrier and suppressed the toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signaling pathway to ameliorate the neuroinflammation, which was verified by Tlr4^-/- mice. Furthermore, ACN could modulate the HFrD-induced dysbiosis of gut microbiota. The fecal microbiota transplantation from ACN-induced mice was sufficient to attenuate the neuroinflammation, while the amelioration of neuroinflammation by ACN was blocked upon gut microbiota depletion. In addition, ACN-induced increment of the relative abundance of Lactobacillus might be responsible for the alleviation of the neuroinflammation, which was further confirmed in the promoting effect of ACN on the growth of Lactobacillus in vitro. Overall, these results provided the evidence of a comprehensive cross-talk mechanism between ACN and neuroinflammation in HFrD-fed mice, which was mediated by reducing gut microbiota dysbiosis and maintaining the intestinal barrier integrity.

Synergistic antitumor effects of polysaccharides and anthocyanins from Lycium ruthenicum Murr. on human colorectal carcinoma LoVo cells and the molecular mechanism

The antitumor effects of Lycium ruthenicum Murr. polysaccharides (LRPS) and Lycium ruthenicum Murr. anthocyanins (LRAC) were comprehensively investigated in this study. LPRS was obtained by water extraction and alcohol precipitation and further purified using diethylaminoethyl cellulose (DEAE-Cellulose) and Sephadex G-75 columns. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy were used to characterize the purified LRPS. The results showed that the purified LRPS contained heteropolysaccharides, mainly composed of arabinose, galactose, and glucose with weight percentage of 41.2%, 33.6%, and 10.8%, respectively. More importantly, LRPS (500 μg/ml) and LRAC (80 μg/ml) failed to impede the proliferation of tumor cells when applied solely (48 h incubation), yet remarkable antineoplastic effects were found once they were applied altogether, since the LoVo cells, a typical human colorectal carcinoma cell line, were significantly inhibited by the mixture of LRPS (150 μg/ml) and LRAC (20 μg/ml) (LRPS&AC) in 24 h. The antineoplastic activity resulted from the combination of both LRPS and LRAC (LRPS&AC), by means of blocking the cell cycle at the G0-G1 phase and inducing LoVo cell apoptosis via reactive oxygen species (ROS)-dependent pathway. The inhibitory effects of LRPS&AC were specific to the tumor cells, without imposing on the proliferation of normal cells. Western blotting revealed that the antitumor effect was related to the mitochondria-mediated apoptosis launched by the cross-action of PI3K/Akt (phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B) and JAK2/STAT3 (janus kinase 2/signal transduction and activator of transcription 3) signaling pathways. These findings for the first time reveal the synergistic antitumor effects of LRPS&AC and the related mechanisms, which enable Lycium ruthenicum Murr. to serve as a natural source to develop therapeutic reagents and functional foods with antineoplastic properties.

Physicochemical and functional properties of Lycium ruthenicum pectin by different extraction methods

Three different extraction methods were used to extract high-temperature water-extracted pectin (HWp), high-temperature acid-extracted pectin (HAp), and high-temperature alkali-extracted pectin (HALp) from Lycium ruthenicum. The physicochemical properties, structure, and functional properties of three different pectins were studied. The results showed that HWp and HALp can extract rhamnogalacturonan-I (RG-I) from L. ruthenicum better. Through structural feature analysis, HWp and HALp have a branched structure, and HWp has a higher degree of esterification than HAp and HALp. Zeta potential results show that HWp solution is more stable. The thermal analysis results show that the thermal stability is HALp > HAp > HWp. HWp has the highest viscosity. The inhibitory activity results showed that HWp, HAp, and HALp have a certain inhibitory effect on α-glucosidase activity. This study shows the effects of different extraction methods on the properties of L. ruthenicum pectin and aims to provide a theoretical basis for the pharmaceutical and food industries to choose more suitable pectin extraction methods.

Polyphenolic Glycosides from the Fruits Extract of Lycium ruthenicum Murr and Their Monoamine Oxidase B Inhibitory and Neuroprotective Activities

The fruits ofLycium ruthenicum Murr have long been consumed as health food and used in folk medicine in China. Apart from the well-known polysaccharides, the active small molecular constituents in this fruit have not been fully studied. In this work, a systematic phytochemical study was carried out to investigate the small molecules and their potential health benefits. Nine new polyphenolic glycosides, lyciumserin A-I (1-9), together with 16 known compounds (10-25), were isolated and elucidated by high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and comprehensive NMR analyses in combination with chemical hydrolysis. Compounds 1, 2, and 16 exhibited moderate inhibitory activity of monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B), while compounds 1 (50 μM) and 2 (100 μM) displayed significant neuroprotective effects (69.22 and 72.38% of cell viability, respectively) in the 6-hydroxydopamine-induced injury of the PC12 cell model (54.41%), comparable to the positive drug rasagiline (70.45%). The neuroprotective effect of 1 and 2 was further evidenced by the observation of the morphological change and fluorescein diacetate/propidium iodide staining. In addition, the levels of the major active compounds (1, 3, 5/6, and 16-18) vary from 21.5 to 892.3 μg/g. This is the first report on phenolic glycosides from the fruits ofL. ruthenicum Murr that possess both significant MAO-B inhibitory and neuroprotective effects, indicating the promising potential of the fruits for the development of health care products and even therapeutic agents for the treatment of Parkinson's disease and other neurodegenerative diseases.

Evaluation of Antioxidant Capacity and Gut Microbiota Modulatory Effects of Different Kinds of Berries

Berries are fairly favored by consumers. Phenolic compounds are the major phytochemicals in berries, among which anthocyanins are one of the most studied. Phenolic compounds are reported to have prebiotic-like effects. In the present study, we identified the anthocyanin profiles, evaluated and compared the antioxidant capacities and gut microbiota modulatory effects of nine common berries, namely blackberry, black goji berry, blueberry, mulberry, red Chinese bayberry, raspberry, red goji berry, strawberry and white Chinese bayberry. Anthocyanin profiles were identified by UPLC-Triple-TOF/MS. In vitro antioxidant capacity was evaluated by four chemical assays (DPPH, ABTS, FRAP and ORAC). In vivo antioxidant capacity and gut microbiota modulatory effects evaluation was carried out by treating healthy mice with different berry extracts for two weeks. The results show that most berries could improve internal antioxidant status, reflected by elevated serum or colonic T-AOC, GSH, T-SOD, CAT, and GSH-PX levels, as well as decreased MDA content. All berries significantly altered the gut microbiota composition. The modulatory effects of the berries were much the same, namely by the enrichment of beneficial SCFAs-producing bacteria and the inhibition of potentially harmful bacteria. Our study shed light on the gut microbiota modulatory effect of different berries and may offer consumers useful consumption guidance.

Identification of anthocyanic profile and determination of antioxidant activity of Dahlia pinnata petals: A potential source of anthocyanins

In recent decades, the food industry has focused on the search for potential sources of anthocyanins that are able to provide color to replace synthetic dyes and at the same time provide health benefits through food products. Thus, in the present work, we propose the Dahlia pinnata flower as a potential source of anthocyanins. The dahlia is a native, annual flower from Mexico with a wide diversity of shapes and colors. The ancestral use of the flower in several dishes, its abundance, and the intense color of the flowers known as black make the D. pinnata flower a suitable candidate to be considered as a potential source of anthocyanins. Thus, the aim of this research is the determination of its nutritional composition, anthocyanin profile, and antioxidant activity. For this purpose, proximate composition of petals was determined by the AOAC standard methods. Anthocyanins were extracted from the dried petals of the flower with 0.1% HCl in methanol and 70% aqueous acetone solution and purified through Amberlite-XAD7-HP resin. Then, the purified extracts were analyzed for antioxidant activity by the DPPH method and the anthocyanin profile was characterized by HPLC and UPLC-MS/MS. Results showed that D. pinnata flowers have a proximate composition similar to other important edible flowers with a high level of moisture (87%-92%) and fiber (6%-7%). The antioxidant activity of both purified extracts was considerable (2.6-12 g/ml) compared to other sources of anthocyanins. The anthocyanin profile of the purified extracts contains four main anthocyanins: delphinidin-3-glucoside, delphinidin-3-rutinoside, pelargonidin-3-sambubioside-5-glucoside, and peonidin-3-sambubioside-5-glucoside, the last two being uncommon as major anthocyanin components in other plant sources. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: We present a potential and novel source of anthocyanins based on anthocyanin content and antioxidant activity of Dahlia pinnata petals. On the basis of UPLC-MS/MS studies, we identified four main anthocyanins, so this information provides the opportunity to study the source in many areas such as natural pigment stabilization, food additives, and antioxidants.

Transcriptome and Gut Microbiota Profiling Revealed the Protective Effect of Tibetan Tea on Ulcerative Colitis in Mice

Traditionally, Ya’an Tibetan tea is routinely consumed by local people in the Tibet region. It is believed to possess promising anti-inflammatory benefits. This study was conducted to elucidate the protective impact of Tibetan tea extract (TTE) on dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis in mice. Mice were split into four groups: control (C) group, Tibetan tea (T) group, DSS-induced model (CD) group, and Tibetan tea + DSS (TD) group. The intake of TTE significantly reduced the clinical symptoms of ulcerative colitis (UC) by alleviating the impact of cellular damage and reducing glandular hypertrophy and the infiltration of inflammatory cells. UC led to a prominent shift of the microbial communities in the gut. Interestingly, the beneficial microbes, such as Lactobacillus reuteri, Bifidobacterium choerinum, and Lactobacillus intestinalis, were significantly increased in TTE-treated mice when compared to any other experimental group. The transcriptome analysis revealed that the positive effect of TTE on UC could be attributed to changes in the G alpha (i) signaling pathway and the innate immune system. The genes related to inflammation and immune system pathways were differentially expressed in the TTE-treated group. Moreover, the relative expression of genes linked to the inflammatory TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway was significantly downregulated toward the level of normal control samples in the TD group. Overall, this study revealed the modulatory effect by which TTE reversed the development and severity of chronic colon damage.

Expressions and clinical significance of interleukin-1β and cyclooxygenase-2 in serum and synovia of patients with gouty arthritis

Background: To explore the expressions and clinical significance of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in serum and synovia of patients with gouty arthritis (GA).

Materials and Methods: A total of 110 GA patients hospitalized from January 2016 to September 2019 were selected as observation group, with 55 at remission stage (observation group I) and 55 at acute attack stage (observation group II). Another 55 healthy volunteers were selected as control group. The correlations of IL-1β and COX-2 with uric acid (UA) were explored by Spearman’s analysis. IL-1β and COX-2 expression levels were compared at different time points after treatment.

Results: IL-1β, COX-2 and UA levels of patients were significantly higher in observation group I and II than those in the control group, and higher in the observation group II than those in observation group I. IL-1β and COX-2 were positively correlated with UA (P<0.05). ROC curve analysis showed that the optimal cut-off values of IL-1β and COX-2 for predicting GA were 18.23 and 9.12 pg/mL, and AUC values were 0.702 and 0.714 (P<0.001), respectively. On admission and after treatment for 3, 7, and 10 days, IL-1β and COX-2 levels of observation group II significantly exceeded those of observation group I (P<0.05). Compared with the efficacy group, after treatment for 14 days, IL-1β and COX-2 levels in serum and synovia significantly increased in the non-efficacy group (P<0.05).

Conclusion: IL-1β and COX-2 levels in serum and synovia of GA patients are evidently higher than those in the control group, which rise with the aggravation of disease.

Health Benefits and Applications of Goji Berries in Functional Food Products Development: A Review

Goji berries have long been used for their nutritional value and medicinal purposes in Asian countries. In the last two decades, goji berries have become popular around the world and are consumed as a functional food due to wide-range bioactive compounds with health-promoting properties. In addition, they are gaining increased research attention as a source of functional ingredients with potential industrial applications. This review focuses on the antioxidant properties of goji berries, scientific evidence on their health effects based on human interventional studies, safety concerns, goji berry processing technologies, and applications of goji berry-based ingredients in developing functional food products.

Current findings and future prospective of high-value trans Himalayan medicinal plant Lycium ruthenicum Murr: a systematic review

Background

The genus Lycium is commercially known for its nutrient dense goji-berries, among these berries, black goji-berries obtained from Lycium ruthenicum Murr are highly valued and widely used as traditional medicine in trans-himalayan cold desert Ladakh and as functional food in several countries.

Methods

The current collection of data and literature was done by exploring different scientific portals like SciFinder, Google scholar, PubMed, Dictonary of Natural Products, Institute for Scientific Information, Web of Science and Scopus by searching keywords like black goji berry, crystal pearl, and trans-Himalayan plant.

Results

Fruits of L. ruthenicum Murr, are overwhelmingly enriched in anthocyanins, proanthocyanidins, polysaccharides, spermine and spermidine alkaloids. The presence of these bioactive phyto-chemicals has been linked with reported anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, anti-fatigue, anti-atherosclerosis and neuro-protective properties of black goji berries. A unique color of these berries makes them exceptional as compared to other berries.

Conclusions

In this article, we have reviewed the variety of high value phytochemicals of Lycium ruthenicum Murr, with a special focus on health promoting anthocyanins which will provide an insight to the readers for exploring novel applications of L. ruthenicum Murr in field of medicine and food industries.

Multivariate Statistical Analysis of Metabolites in Anisodus tanguticus (Maxim.) Pascher to Determine Geographical Origins and Network Pharmacology

Anisodus tanguticus (Maxim.) Pascher, has been used for the treatment of septic shock, analgesia, motion sickness, and anesthesia in traditional Tibetan medicine for 2,000 years. However, the chemical metabolites and geographical traceability and their network pharmacology are still unknown. A total of 71 samples of A. tanguticus were analyzed by Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography Q-Exactive Mass Spectrometer in combination with chemometrics developed for the discrimination of A. tanguticus from different geographical origins. Then, network pharmacology analysis was used to integrate the information of the differential metabolite network to explore the mechanism of pharmacological activity. In this study, 29 metabolites were identified, including tropane alkaloids, hydroxycinnamic acid amides and coumarins. Principal component analysis (PCA) explained 49.5% of the total variance, and orthogonal partial least-squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) showed good discrimination (R2Y = 0.921 and Q2 = 0.839) for A. tanguticus samples. Nine differential metabolites accountable for such variations were identified through variable importance in the projection (VIP). Through network pharmacology, 19 components and 20 pathways were constructed and predicted for the pharmacological activity of A. tanguticus. These results confirmed that this method is accurate and effective for the geographic classification of A. tanguticus, and the integrated strategy of metabolomics and network pharmacology can explain well the "multicomponent--multitarget" mechanism of A. tanguticus.

The Main Anthocyanin Monomer from Lycium ruthenicum Murray Fruit Mediates Obesity via Modulating the Gut Microbiota and Improving the Intestinal Barrier

Anthocyanins have been shown to exert certain antiobesity properties, but the specific relationship between anthocyanin-induced beneficial effects and the gut microbiota remains unclear. Petunidin-3-O-[rhamnopyranosyl-(trans-p-coumaroyl)]-5-O-(β-D-glucopyranoside) (P3G) is the main anthocyanin monomer from the fruit of Lycium ruthenicum Murray. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the antiobesity and remodeling effects of P3G on gut microbiota through a high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity mouse model and a fecal microbiota transplantation experiment. P3G was found to reduce body weight gain, fat accumulation, and liver steatosis in HFD-induced obese mice. Moreover, supplementation with P3G alleviated the HFD-induced imbalance in gut microbiota composition, and transferring the P3G-regulated gut microbiota to recipient mice provided comparable protection against obesity. This is the first time evidence is provided that P3G has an antiobesity effect by changing the intestinal microbiota. Our present data highlight a link between P3G intervention and enhancement in gut barrier integrity. This may be a promising option for obesity prevention.

Stabilization of Lycium ruthenicum Murr. anthocyanins by natural polyphenol extracts

Anthocyanins are a group of flavonoids widely used as natural pigments and in functional foods. However, the sensitivity of anthocyanins to environment factors limits their utilization. The present study examined the stabilizing effects of polyphenol extracts from raspberry, sea-buckthorn, Lonicera edulis, and blackcurrant on Lycium ruthenicum Murr (LRM)-derived anthocyanins. After light and heat exposure, contents of total anthocyanins and the monomers were detected with the pH differential method and the HPLC. Remarkably, polyphenol extracts from raspberry, Lonicera edulis and blackcurrant extended the half-lives of anthocyanins, while the effect of the sea-buckthorn extracts was negligible. Noticeably, petunidin-3-O-[6-O-(4-O-trans-p-coumaroyl-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl)-beta-D-glucopyranoside]-5-O-[beta-D-glucopyranoside], the major component of LRM-derived anthocyanins, exhibited a dramatic increase in half-life with the presence of polyphenol extracts from raspberry, Lonicera edulis, and blackcurrant. In summary, our findings suggest the polyphenol extracts could be developed into copigments for stabilization of anthocyanins.

Comparison Performance of Visible-NIR and Near-Infrared Hyperspectral Imaging for Prediction of Nutritional Quality of Goji Berry (Lycium barbarum L.)

The potential of hyperspectral imaging for the prediction of the internal composition of goji berries was investigated. The prediction performances of models obtained in the Visible-Near Infrared (VIS-NIR) (400-1000 nm) and in the Near Infrared (NIR) (900-1700 nm) regions were compared. Analyzed constituents included Vitamin C, total antioxidant, phenols, anthocyanin, soluble solids content (SSC), and total acidity (TA). For vitamin C and AA, partial least square regression (PLSR) combined with different data pretreatments and wavelength selection resulted in a satisfactory prediction in the NIR region obtaining the R2pred value of 0.91. As for phenols, SSC, and TA, a better performance was obtained in the VIS-NIR region yielding the R2pred values of 0.62, 0.94, and 0.84, respectively. However, the prediction of total antioxidant and anthocyanin content did not give satisfactory results. Conclusively, hyperspectral imaging can be a useful tool for the prediction of the main constituents of the goji berry (Lycium barbarum L.).

Chemical profiling of Houttuynia cordata Thunb. by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS and analysis of its antioxidant activity in C2C12 cells

Houttuynia cordata Thunb. ("Yu-Xing-Cao"), a traditional Chinese medicinal herb, has long been used to treat various diseases. However, detailed information regarding the chemical constituents of H. cordata aqueous extract is lacking, and the molecular basis of its beneficial effects on muscle is unknown. To investigate these points, in this study, we used ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole-time-of-flight-mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS) in positive and negative ion modes to profile and identify the major constituents of H. cordata water extract. A total of 63 peaks were identified based on mass and fragmentation characteristics, including 29 organic acids and their glycosides, 17 flavonoids, 7 volatiles, 4 pyrimidine and purine derivatives, 2 alkaloids, 2 amino acids, 1 isovanillin, and 1 coumarin. The total flavonoid and polyphenol contents of the extract were 4.77 and 139.15 mg/mL, respectively, by ultraviolet spectrophotometry. The cytoprotective activity of H. cordata aqueous extract was evaluated using C2C12 cells treated with tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α to induce oxidative challenge. The TNF-α induced decrease in cell viability was reversed by treatment for 48 h with the extract; moreover, superoxide dismutase activity was increased while reactive oxygen species level was decreased. These results provide molecular-level evidence for the antioxidant effect of H. cordata extract and highlight its therapeutic potential for the treatment of muscle injury or diseases caused by oxidative stress.

Metal Chelates of Petunidin Derivatives Exhibit Enhanced Color and Stability

Anthocyanins with catechol (cyanidin) or pyrogallol (delphinidin) moieties on the B-ring are known to chelate metals, resulting in bluing effects, mainly at pH ≤ 6. Metal interaction with petunidin, an O-methylated anthocyanidin, has not been well documented. In this study, we investigated metal chelation of petunidin derivatives in a wide pH range and its effects on color and stability. Purple potato and black goji extracts containing >80% acylated petunidin derivatives (25 µM) were combined with Al3+ or Fe3+ at 0 µM to 1500 µM in buffers of pH 3-10. Small metal ion concentrations triggered bathochromic shifts (up to ~80nm) at an alkaline pH, resulting in vivid blue hues (hab 200°-310°). Fe3+ caused a larger bathochromic shift than Al3+, producing green colors at pH 8-9. Generally, metal ions increased the color stability and half-life of petunidin derivatives in a dose-dependent manner, particularly at pH 8. Petunidin derivative metal chelates produced a wide range of colors with enhanced stability.

Lycium ruthenicum Murr. alleviates nonalcoholic fatty liver in mice

Oxidative stress and inflammation contribute to hypertriglyceridemia-induced nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Cholesterol-enriched diets increase the risk of NAFLD. Lycium ruthenium Murr. (LRM) contains water-soluble antioxidant proanthocyanidins. Whether Lycium ruthenium Murr. improves NAFLD remains elusive. In this study, we established a model of NAFLD-induced by cholesterol-enriched high-fat diet (western diet) in ApoE -/- mice; oxidative stress and inflammation were examined and intervened by supplement of Lycium ruthenium Murr. (LRM) extracts. LRM supplement did not influence body weight gain, food intake, and lipotoxicity of mice. LRM supplement significantly alleviated triglyceride accumulation in liver, with reduced inflammation, elevated GSH-Px activity, and reduced MDA levels. The expression of fatty acids oxidative gene Scd1 was significantly increased, and fatty acids synthesis-related gene Pparγ was dramatically downregulated on mRNA level in liver of mice with LRM supplement. These data demonstrated that LRM supplement decreased ROS production and inflammation, increased fatty acids oxidation, and reduced fatty acids synthesis in liver, leading to ameliorate the development of NAFLD induced by high western diet. Thus, oxidative stress and inflammation also are involved in the pathogenesis of western diet-induced NAFLD, which is independent of obesity.

Extensive Profiling of Polyphenols from two Trollius Species Using a Combination of Untargeted and Targeted Approaches

Various species of globeflowers, belonging to the genus Trollius, have been extensively used in traditional Chinese medicine due to their anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antiviral properties, which are mainly attributed to their high polyphenol content. Differences in polyphenol composition, and abundances, will lead to varying treatment efficacies of globeflowers. Herein, we employ a combination of targeted and untargeted mass spectrometry (MS) approaches to characterize and quantify a comprehensive array of polyphenols, mainly including flavonoids and phenolic acids in two globeflower species commonly used in Chinese medicine, Trollius chinensis Bunge and Trollius ledebouri Reichb. In addition, free radical scavenging activity was investigated to evaluate the association between polyphenol composition and antioxidation capacity. Liquid chromatography (LC)-based separation and multiple-reaction-monitoring (MRM) transitions were optimized using a library of 78 polyphenol reference compounds to achieve absolute quantification on triple quadrupoles MS (QqQ). The analytical method was further expanded via high-resolution MS to provide relative quantitation of an additional 104 endogenous polyphenols in globeflowers not included in our reference library. Our results revealed stark differences in polyphenol content between T. chinensis and T. ledebouri, emphasizing the need for systematic characterization of polyphenol composition to ensure treatment efficacy and consistency in standardizing the use of globeflowers in Chinese medicine.

Developing deep learning based regression approaches for determination of chemical compositions in dry black goji berries (Lycium ruthenicum Murr.) using near-infrared hyperspectral imaging

Black goji berry (Lycium ruthenicum Murr.) has great commercial and nutritional values. Near-infrared hyperspectral imaging (NIR-HSI) was used to determine total phenolics, total flavonoids and total anthocyanins in dry black goji berries. Convolutional neural networks (CNN) were designed and developed to predict the chemical compositions. These CNN models and deep autoencoder were used as supervised and unsupervised feature extraction methods, respectively. Partial least squares (PLS) and least-squares support vector machine (LS-SVM) as modelling methods, successive projections algorithm and competitive adaptive reweighted sampling (CARS) as wavelength selection methods, and principal component analysis (PCA) and wavelet transform (WT) as feature extraction methods were studied as conventional approaches for comparison. Deep learning approaches as modelling methods and feature extraction methods obtained good and equivalent performances to the conventional methods. The results illustrated that deep learning had great potential as modelling and feature extraction methods for chemical compositions determination in NIR-HSI.

Extraction optimization and purification of anthocyanins from Lycium ruthenicum Murr. and evaluation of tyrosinase inhibitory activity of the anthocyanins

The aim of this study was to extract and purify anthocyanins from Lycium ruthenicum Murr. and evaluate their tyrosinase inhibitory activity. Response surface methodology was devoted to optimize enzyme-assisted extraction of anthocyanins from L. ruthenicum dried fruits. Extraction at 38 °C for 37 min using water-containing pectinase (52.04 mg/100 g dried fruit) rendered an anthocyanin extraction yield of 19.51 ± 0.21 mg/g. The purified anthocyanins were separated from the extract by macroporous resin XDA-6. Antioxidant tests in vitro suggested that the extract and the purified anthocyanins exhibited a potent 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging capacity, 2,2-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) radical scavenging capacity, hydroxyl radical scavenging capacity, superoxide radical scavenging capacity, and total reducing power. Thirteen anthocyanins from L. ruthenicum dried fruits were analyzed by HPLC-MS. Moreover, the purified anthocyanins had inhibitory effect on tyrosinase monophenolase (IC₅₀ = 1.483 ± 0.058 mg/mL), and the type of inhibition was competitive inhibition (K_i = 39.83 ± 1.4 mg/mL). The maximum inhibitory activity of the purified anthocyanins (3.00 mg/mL) on tyrosinase diphenolase was 42.16 ± 0.77%, and the type of inhibition was anticompetitive inhibition (K_is = 2.387 ± 0.10 mg/mL). PRACTICAL APPLICATION: The anthocyanins from L. ruthenicum dried fruits can be used as tyrosinase inhibitors in medicine, cosmetics, and food preservation industries.

Effects of long-term intake of anthocyanins from Lycium ruthenicum Murray on the organism health and gut microbiota in vivo

The relationship between diet, especially polyphenols, and health has been receiving increasing attention. Polyphenols were degraded by gut microbiota into metabolites and acted on the body to exert many bioactivities from several targets such as antioxidative stress, anti-inflammation, intestinal barrier and gut microbiota modulation. After long-term treatment of mice with anthocyanins from Lycium ruthenicum Murray (ACN), antioxidant status in liver (T-AOC, T-SOD, CAT, GSH and GSH-Px were increased and AST, ALT, ALP and MDA were decreased), anti-inflammatory status in colon (the expression of mRNA of iNos, Cox-2, Tnf-α, Il-6, Il-1β and Ifn-γ were significantly reduced), intestinal barrier (the expression of mRNA of Zo-1, Occludin, Claudin-1 and Muc1 were significantly increased) and gut microbiota (Barnesiella, Alistipes, Eisenbergiella, Coprobacter and Odoribacter were proliferated) were all regulated in ACN group. Meanwhile, the content of short-chain fatty acids in cecal contents and feces were increased. Taken together, long-term intake of ACN could promote organism healthy and these results have important implications for the development of ACN as a functional food ingredient.