Flavor compounds of pine sprout tea and pine needle tea

Water-Repellent Spray for Textiles Using Plant Waste from Conifer Trees

A superhydrophobic textile coating, applied by using a home drying machine, was developed as an aqueous dispersion of waxes that were extracted from recycled Christmas trees. Because the bulk extraction of waxes yielded a mixture of hydrophobic and hydrophilic compounds, a purification process was tested to determine if removing noncrystallizing wax components would enhance the performance of the coating. The performances of coatings created from the crude and enriched extracts were compared, and no significant difference in hydrophobicity was found. Moreover, although the enriched coating was slightly more breathable, there was not enough of an improvement to justify the additional purification steps, rendering the crude extract more industrially viable. Overall, Christmas tree waxes are readily sourced and are capable of producing superhydrophobic coatings without the need for a costly purification step.

Utilization of a nanostructured lipid carrier encapsulating pitavastatin-Pinus densiflora oil for enhancing cytotoxicity against the gingival carcinoma HGF-1 cell line

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common epithelial tumor of the oral cavity. Gingival tumors, a unique type of OSCC, account for 10% of these malignant tumors. The antineoplastic properties of statins, including pitavastatin (PV), and the essential oil of the Pinus densiflora leaf (Pd oil) have been adequately reported. The goal of this investigation was to develop nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) containing PV combined with Pd oil and to determine their cytotoxicity against the cell line of human gingival fibroblasts (HGF-1). A central composite quadratic design was adopted to optimize the nanocarriers. The particle size and stability index of the nano-formulations were measured to evaluate various characteristics. TEM analysis, the entrapment efficiency, dissolution efficiency, and the cytotoxic efficiency of the optimized PV-loaded nanostructured lipid carrier drug delivery system (PV-Pd-NLCs) were evaluated. Then, the optimal PV-Pd-NLCs was incorporated into a Carbopol 940® gel base and tested for its rheological features and its properties of release and cell viability. The optimized NLCs had a particle size of 98 nm and a stability index of 89%. The gel containing optimum PV-Pd-NLCs had reasonable dissolution efficiency and acceptable rheological behavior and acquired the best cytotoxic activity against HGF-1 cell line among all the formulations developed for the study. The in vitro cell viability studies revealed a synergistic effect between PV and Pd oil in the treatment of gingival cancer. These findings illustrated that the gel containing PV-Pd-NLCs could be beneficial in the local treatment of gingival cancer.

Antibacterial and Antiviral Properties of Pinus densiflora Essential Oil

The Korean mountains are home to the Korean red pine (Pinus densiflora). Pine needle oil has been used as a food additive and a traditional herbal medicine; however, any health-related properties of its trunk oil remain unknown. Herein, we assessed antibacterial and antiviral properties of essential oil extracted from the trunk of P. densiflora. Th extracted oil was hydrodistilled using a Clevenger apparatus and analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The antimicrobial activity of the oil was tested using the microbroth dilution technique against 10 bacterial species (6 g-positive and 4 g-negative) and fungi. The extract exerted strong antimicrobial activity against Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Bacillus cereus, Listeria monocytogenes, Propionibacterium acnes, and Malassezia furfur (minimum inhibitory concentration = 10 mL/L). Additionally, it exhibited dose-dependent activity against influenza virus A and feline coronavirus. Furthermore, among 20 identified constituents accounting for 98.7% of the oil contents, the major components included 3-cyclohexene-1-methanol (10.12%), 2-(4-methylcyclohexyl)-2-propanol (9.09%), fenchone (8.14%), O-isopropyltoluene (6.35%), and isothymol methyl ether (6.14%). The P. densiflora trunk essential oil showed antibacterial and antiviral activities that depended on its chemical composition and the microbial strains tested herein. The essential oil can be used as an antimicrobial agent and disinfectant.

Development of Pinaceae and Cupressaceae Essential Oils from Forest Waste in South Korea

The growing awareness of environmental issues has garnered increasing interest in the use of waste material in a wide variety of applications. From this viewpoint, developing essential oils from forest waste can bring new cost opportunities for the effective and sustainable management of unused forestry biomass. However, better knowledge of the production, chemical constituents, and application of essential oils is necessary. Among the species considered to be of interest from the point of view of their essential oils and forest biomass, Pinaceae and Cupressaceae were selected in this study as potential candidates for commercial essential oils based on previous studies. This current study focuses on investigating Pinaceae (Larix kaempferi, Pinus densiflora, and Pinus koraiensis) and Cupressaceae (Chamaecyparis obtusa and Chamaecyparis pisifera) essential oils extracted from various parts from the perspective of their bioactive compounds and potential applications. This is followed by an overview of the essential oils industry in South Korea, with particular attention being paid to utilising unused forest biomass. Therefore, this is a comprehensive review suggesting that Pinaceae and Cupressaceae essential oils extracted from various parts of forest waste could be utilised in various industries, adding value to the aspect of sustainable industry. Furthermore, our study contributes towards capturing the value of forest resources through the utilisation of native essential oils in South Korea.

Chemical Diversity and α-Glucosidase Inhibitory Activity in Needles Essential Oils of Four Pinus Species from Northwestern Himalaya, India

This work describes the study of the chemical profiling and α-glucosidase inhibitory activity of essential oils (EOs) from four Pinus species (P. wallichiana, P. patula, P. roxburghii and P. gerardiana). The identification and quantification of EOs metabolites were performed by GC/MS, GC-FID and ¹³ C-NMR. The needles of P. wallichiana and P. gerardiana presented the highest oil yields (0.35 % and 0.36 %, respectively). Twenty-four constituents were characterized in among samples exhibiting 93.8-97.7 % of the total EOs. The components and yields of the targeted samples were varied according to the species. Major components of the oils were α-pinene (20.5-34.1 %), β-pinene (1.4-53.0 %), δ-3-carene (0.2-47.0 %), limonene (1.7-13.4 %), β-phellandrene (0.2-23.4 %), β-myrcene (1.8-7.2 %) and α-terpinolene (0.6-7.9 %). The extracted EOs showed strong α-glucosidase inhibitory activity, which was close to the positive control, acarbose. This study showed that the EOs of Pinus species may be used as natural antidiabetic.

Extract of Pinus densiflora needles suppresses acute inflammation by regulating inflammatory mediators in RAW264.7 macrophages and mice

CONTEXT

Pinus densiflora Siebold & Zucc. (Pinaceae) needle extracts ameliorate oxidative stress, but research into their anti-inflammatory effects is limited.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of a Pinus densiflora needles (PINE) ethanol extract in vitro and in vivo.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We measured levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and inflammatory mediators in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 cells at various PINE concentrations (25, 50 and 100 μg/mL; but 6.25, 12.5 and 25 μg/mL for interleukin-1β and prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂)). Thirty ICR mice were randomized to six groups: vehicle, control, PINE pre-treatment (0.1, 0.3 and 1 mg/left ear for 10 min followed by arachidonic acid treatment for 30 min) and dexamethasone. The posttreatment ear thickness and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity were measured.

RESULTS

PINE 100 μg/mL significantly decreased ROS (IC₅₀, 70.93 μg/mL, p < 0.01), SOD (IC₅₀, 30.99 μg/mL, p < 0.05), malondialdehyde (p < 0.01), nitric oxide (NO) (IC₅₀, 27.44 μg/mL, p < 0.01) and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (p < 0.05) levels. Interleukin-1β (p < 0.05) and PGE₂ (p < 0.01) release decreased significantly with 25 μg/mL PINE. PINE 1 mg/ear inhibited LPS-stimulated expression of cyclooxygenase-2 and inducible NO synthase in RAW264.7 macrophages and significantly inhibited ear oedema (36.73-15.04% compared to the control, p < 0.01) and MPO activity (167.94-105.59%, p < 0.05).

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

PINE exerts antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting the production of inflammatory mediators. Identified flavonoids such as taxifolin and quercetin glucoside can be attributed to effect of PINE.

Chemical Composition, Total Phenolic Content, and Antioxidant Activity of the Essential Oils Extracted from the Needle of Ten Pinus Taxa

This study investigated the chemical compositions of essential oils (EOs) from ten taxa belonging to the Pinus genus. The studied taxa that grow wildly in China, and the EOs were extracted by steam distillation; the chemical compositions were isolated and characterized by GC-MS. Eighty-one components, representing over 92.10% of the EOs, were identified. The main constituents of EOs were α-pinene (6.44%–53.00%), β-caryophyllene (2.43%–24.64%), β-pinene (0.00%–22.32%), δ-cadinene (2.56%–17.56%), germacrene D (0.74%–11.38%), and camphene (0.78%–10.48%). Furthermore, we determined the total phenolic content (TPC) of the EOs, with the values from 26.50 to 60.01 mg eq GAE/mL EO. DPPH free radical scavenging activity (DPPH), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and ABTS radical cation scavenging activity (ABTS) were used to evaluate the antioxidant capacity of the EOs, and the obtained values were ranged from 499.15 to 1,272.75 mmol eq Trolox/mL EO, 1,255.67 to 3,857.93 mmol eq Trolox/mL EO, and 370.81 to 1,677.19 mmol eq Trolox/mL EO, respectively. The results showed that all of the EOs studied had strong antioxidant activity, and these pine plants could be used as natural antioxidants in functional food and pharmaceutical industries.

Pinus Species as Prospective Reserves of Bioactive Compounds with Potential Use in Functional Food-Current State of Knowledge

The pine (Pinus L.) is the largest and most heteromorphic plant genus of the pine family (Pinaceae Lindl.), which grows almost exclusively in the northern hemisphere. The demand for plant-based remedies, supplements and functional food is growing worldwide. Although pine-based products are widely available in many parts of the world, they are almost absent as food ingredients. The literature shows the beneficial effects of pine preparations on human health. Despite the wide geographical distribution of pine trees in the natural environment, there are very few data in the literature on the widespread use of pine in food technology. This study aims to present, characterise and evaluate the content of phytochemicals in pine trees, including shoots, bark and conifer needles, as well as to summarise the available data on their health-promoting and functional properties, and the potential of their use in food and the pharmaceutical industry to support health. Various species of pine tree contain different compositions of bioactive compounds. Regardless of the solvent, method, pine species and plant part used, all pine extracts contain a high number of polyphenols. Pine tree extracts exhibit several described biological activities that may be beneficial to human health. The available examples of the application of pine elements in food are promising. The reuse of residual pine elements is still limited compared to its potential. In this case, it is necessary to conduct more research to find and develop new products and applications of pine residues and by-products.

Antihypertensive Effects of Dehydroabietic and 4-Epi-Trans-Communic Acid Isolated from Pinus densiflora

Korean red pine needle (RPN) exhibits various biological and pharmacological activities. Among the various compounds of RPN, we isolated dehydroabietic and 4-epi-trans-communic acid. At first, we confirmed that two compounds inhibited angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) and induced p-Akt in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). RPN extract powder significantly reduced systolic blood pressure in spontaneous hypertensive rats (SHRs) through the reduced expression of ACE and angiotensin type I receptors in the lungs of SHRs. The Lineweaver-Burk plots suggested that the two compounds were noncompetitive inhibitors of ACE. Using docking analysis, we found that two compounds showed the best returned pose at ACE active sites, and formed hydrogen and hydrophobic bonds with ACE residues. These results demonstrate that RPNs may be a source of compounds effective for preventing hypertension and may be useful in the development of antihypertensive drugs.

Anti-Inflammatory Principles from the Needles of Pinus taiwanensis Hayata and In Silico Studies of Their Potential Anti-Aging Effects

Pinus needle tea are very popular in Eastern countries such as Japan, Russia, Korea, and China. Pine needle tea is claimed to have significant anti-aging effects, but no clear evidence has supported this until now. In the present study, five undescribed compounds (1–5) as well as seventy-two known compounds were purified and characterized from the bioactive fraction of methanol extracts of P. taiwanensis needles. Most of the isolates were examined for their anti-inflammatory bioactivity by cellular neutrophil model and six compounds (45, 47, 48, 49, 50, and 51) exhibited a significant inhibition on superoxide anion generation and elastase release with IC₅₀ values ranging from 3.3 ± 0.9 to 8.3 ± 0.8 μM. These anti-inflammatory ingredients were subjected to docking computing to evaluate their binding affinity on the ghrelin receptor, which played an important role in regulating metabolism, with anti-aging effects. Compounds 49, 50, and 51 formed a stable complex with the ghrelin receptor via hydrogen bonds and different types of interactions. These results suggest the flavonoids are responsible for the potential anti-aging effects of pine needle tea.

Malonic Acid Isolated from Pinus densiflora Inhibits UVB-Induced Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in HaCaT Keratinocytes

Skin aging is caused by exposure to various external factors. Ultraviolet B (UVB) irradiation induces oxidative stress, photoaging, and inflammation in skin cells. Pinus densiflora Sieb. et Zucc. (red pine) has various antimicrobial and antioxidant activities. However, the anti-inflammatory effects of red pine on skin have rarely been reported. The protective effects of malonic acid (MA) isolated from Pinus densiflora were investigated against UVB-induced damage in an immortalized human keratinocyte cell line (HaCaT). MA increased levels of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD-1) and heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) via activation of nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor-2 (Nrf2), resulting in a reduction in UVB-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. Additionally, the inhibition of ROS increased HaCaT cell survival rate. Thus, MA downregulated the expression of ROS-induced nuclear factor-κB, as well as inflammation-related cytokines (interleukin-6, cyclooxygenase-2, and tumor necrosis factor-α). Furthermore, MA significantly suppressed the mitogen-activated protein kinase/activator protein 1 signaling pathway and reduced the expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs; MMP-1, MMP-3, and MMP-9). In contrast, MA treatment increased the expression of collagen synthesis regulatory genes (COL1A1 and COL3A1) via regulation of Smad2/3 signal induction through transforming growth factor-β. In conclusion, MA protected against UVB-induced photoaging via suppression of skin inflammation and induction of collagen biosynthesis.

Antioxidant Potential of Pine Needles: A Systematic Study on the Essential Oils and Extracts of 46 Species of the Genus Pinus

The antioxidant activity of the essential oils, as well as of the organic and hydroethanolic extracts, of the fresh needles of 54 pine taxa was evaluated using the peroxy-oxalate and luminol chemiluminescence assays. Among all evaluated essential oils, P. canariensis and P. attenuata displayed the highest levels of activity. P. contorta var. murrayana, followed by P. nigra var. caramanica, exhibited the highest antioxidant capacity among the organic extracts, while the most active hydroethanolic extract was that of P. nigra subsp. nigra. Based on the overall levels of activity, the latter taxon was selected for phytochemical analysis targeting the isolation of the bioactive constituents. As such, the organic extract of P. nigra subsp. nigra was subjected to chromatographic separations to yield 11 secondary metabolites (1-11) that were evaluated for their antioxidant activity. Nonetheless, the isolated compounds were found to be less active than the crude extract, thus suggesting the potential role of synergism.

The Therapeutic Potential of the Essential Oil of Thymbra capitata (L.) Cav., Origanum dictamnus L. and Salvia fruticosa Mill. And a Case of Plant-Based Pharmaceutical Development

This review performs a comprehensive assessment of the therapeutic potential of three native herbs of Crete (Thymbra capitata (L.) Cav., Salvia fruticosa Mill. and Origanum dictamnus L.), their phytochemical constituents, health benefits and issues relevant to their safety, within a translational context. Issues discussed comprise: 1) Ethnopharmacological uses of the three herbs, reviewed through an extensive search of the literature; 2) Systematic analysis of the major phytochemical constituents of each plant, and their medicinal properties; 3) To what extent could the existing medicinal properties be combined and produce an additive or synergistic effect; 4) Possible safety issues. We conclude with a specific example of the use of a combination of the essential oils of these plants as an effective anti-viral product and the experience gained in a case of a plant-based pharmaceutical development, by presenting the major steps and the continuum of the translational chain.

Anti-inflammatory properties of fermented pine (Pinus morrisonicola Hay.) needle on lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation in RAW 264.7 macrophage cells

This study was aimed to explore the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity of various pine needle products (non-fermented, fermented, and commercial) extracted with different solvents (hexane, ethyl acetate, and water) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced RAW 264.7 cells. The phenolic/flavonoid contents of ethyl acetate extract of fermented pine needle (EAE-FPN) is higher than other pine product extracts (hexane/water). The levels of antioxidant indices (TEAC, DPPH) as well as free radical scavenging activity (H₂ O₂ ) were significantly improved in EAE-FPN than other pine needle product extracts. The levels of ROS and various inflammatory markers (NO, PGE2, TNF-α, and IL-1β/6) were considerably abolished by EAE-FPN in a dose-dependent manner (50-200 μg/ml). Moreover, the protein expressions of inducible NO synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2), and nuclear factor Kappa B (NF-κB) p65 subunit were also markedly downregulated by EAE-FPN. Collectively, EAE-FPN with phenolic/flavonoid content showed excellent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties via modulating NF-κB signaling pathway. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Pine needle drink (Pinus morrisonicola Hay) has been used as a functional beverage for many years due to its various biological properties in Asia especially in Taiwan, China, and Korea. Many researchers hinted various biological activity of fermented pine needle product but none of them explored the in-depth mechanism underpinning its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cell model. Hence, the current cell line study was designed to assess the underlying mechanism behind the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity of Pine needles extract (both non-fermented and fermented) in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells (macrophage). The outcome of this study distinctly showed that EAE-FPN displayed potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities by regulating NF-κB signaling pathway. Therefore, pine needle could be developed into functional drink to abolish the progression of inflammatory responses in various disease condition.

Cadmium adsorption characteristics of biochars derived using various pine tree residues and pyrolysis temperatures

This study investigated the characteristics of biochars derived using various pine tree residues and pyrolysis temperatures and evaluated their Cd adsorption behaviors. The characteristics of pine tree residue biochars (PRBs) were dominantly affected by the pyrolysis temperature, and the optimum pyrolysis temperature for Cd adsorption was 600 °C. The adsorption of Cd by PRBs was divided into two stages: rapid adsorption on the initial boundary layer and slow adsorption by intraparticle diffusion. The Cd adsorption characteristics of all the PRBs were well described by pseudo-second-order and Langmuir isotherm models, and the maximum adsorption capacity was the highest in pine bark biochar (85.8 mg/g). The amounts of the cations released from the mixed pine tree residue biochars (M-PRBs) during Cd adsorption were increased, while the amount of phosphate released was decreased, indicating that exchangeable cations and phosphate on the biochar affected the Cd adsorption. In particular, the amount of Cd removed by the exchangeable cations corresponds to 23.6% of the total adsorption amount. Spectroscopic analyses using FTIR showed that the Cd adsorption on M-PRB was associated with functional groups such as CC, COH and COOH. Overall, the use of biochars derived from pine tree residue as an adsorbent is considered to be effective for both the treatment of wastewater containing heavy metals and the recycling of forest residues.

Preliminary Automated Determination of Edibility of Alternative Foods: Non-Targeted Screening for Toxins in Red Maple Leaf Concentrate

Alternative food supplies could maintain humanity despite sun-blocking global catastrophic risks (GCRs) that eliminate conventional agriculture. A promising alternative food is making leaf concentrate. However, the edibility of tree leaves is largely uncertain. To overcome this challenge, this study provides the methods for obtaining rapid toxics screening of common leaf concentrates. The investigation begins with a non-targeted approach using an ultra-high-resolution hybrid ion trap orbitrap mass spectrometer with electrospray ionization (ESI) coupled to an ultra-high pressure two-dimensional liquid chromatograph system on the most common North American leaf: the red maple. Identified chemicals from this non-targeted approach are then cross-referenced with the OpenFoodTox database to identify toxic chemicals. Identified toxins are then screened for formula validation and evaluated for risk as a food. The results after screening show that red maple leaf concentrate contains at least eight toxic chemicals, which upon analysis do not present substantial risks unless consumed in abundance. This indicates that red maple leaf is still a potential alternative food. The results are discussed in the context of expanding the analysis with open science and using leaf extract from other plants that are not traditionally used as foods to offset current global hunger challenges, and move to a more sustainable food system while also preparing for GCRs.

Bio-synthesis of palladium nanocubes and their electrocatalytic properties

The bio-synthesis of palladium nanocubes (PdNCs) was realised using pine needle extract as the reducing agent and cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide as the capping agent. As an eco-friendly and readily available biomass, pine needle extract avoided the use of highly polluting chemical reducing agents. The growth process of PdNCs was analysed using ultraviolet-vis and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Flavonoids, esters, terpenoids and polyhydric alcohols, which contain reductive groups, were mainly responsible for the transition of Pd2+ ions to PdNCs. The morphology and structure of PdNCs were characterised using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution TEM, selected area electron diffraction and X-ray diffraction. It was indicated that the as-prepared PdNCs displayed a relatively high purity and good crystallinity with a face-centred cubic structure and exhibited sizes ranging from 6.11 to 29.51 nm with an average particle size of 11.18 nm. In the methanol electro-oxidation reaction, the PdNCs enclosed by {100} facets exhibited superior electro-catalytic activity to commercial Pd/C, which was rarely reported in other bio-synthesis processes for Pd catalysts. Meanwhile, the PdNCs showed excellent anti-poisoning ability and long-term stability. This study reveals the possibility of preparing shape-controlled PdNCs with a specific structure and excellent electro-catalytic activity.

Pine needles attenuate receptor activator for nuclear factor-B ligand (RANKL)-induced trabecular bone loss by inhibiting osteoclast differentiation

Background

The leaf of Pinus densiflora known as pine needles has been used to treat vascular disease, gastrointestinal diseases, and urinary diseases in traditional medicine. We evaluated anti-osteoporotic effect of water extract of Pinus densiflora (WEPN) on acute bone loss and osteoclastogenesis induced by receptor activator for nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL).

Methods

After oral administration of WEPN (0.25 g/kg) for 5 days, femora were collected, and bone parameter [trabecular bone volume/tissue volume (BV/TV), trabecular thickness (Tb. Th), trabecular separation (Tb. Sp), trabecular number (Tb. N), and bone mineral density (BMD)] were analyzed by micro-CT analysis. Anti-osteoclastic effect of WEPN was examined using tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase activity and activation of RANKL signaling pathway.

Results

We found that WEPN significantly attenuated RANKL-induced decrease of BV/TV, Tb.Th., Tb.N, and BMD but increase of Tb. Sp in femora. WEPN dose-dependently decreased osteoclastogenesis accompanied by inhibiting the activation of RANKL signaling components (JNK, p38, and p65) and mRNA expression level of osteoclast specific genes (NFATc1, c-Fos, TRAP, cathepsin K, DC-STAMP, and carbonic anhydrate).

Conclusion

WEPN inhibition on osteoclastogenesis could contribute to attenuate RANKL-induced trabecular bone loss in vivo. Therefore, it might suggest that WEPN could be prescribed in traditional medicine or used in health functional food to prevent or treat osteoporotic bone diseases.

Characterization of Vasorelaxant Principles from the Needles of Pinus morrisonicola Hayata

Pinus morrisonicola Hayata, usually called Taiwan five-leaf pine (5LP), is an endemic species in Taiwan and is traditionally used to relieve hypertension symptoms and improve cardiovascular function. In this study, the needle extract of 5LP was fractionated and analyzed by LC/MS/MS to search for possible antihypertensive candidates. In addition, bioassay-guided purification of the bioactive components was performed by Ca²⁺ fluorescent signal (Fluo 4-AM) assays. Two dihydrobenzofuran lignans, pinumorrisonide A (1) and icariside E4 (2), and one acylated flavonoid glycoside, kaempferol 3-O-α-(6‴-p-coumaroylglucosyl-β-1,4-rhamnoside) (3) were characterized from the active fractions. The structure of a new compound 1 was established on the basis of 2D NMR spectroscopic and mass spectrometric analyses, and the known compounds 2 and 3 were identified by comparison of their physical and spectroscopic data with those reported in the literature. The purified compounds 1–3 exhibited significant inhibition of Ca²⁺ fluorescence with IC₅₀ values of 0.71, 0.36, and 0.20 mM, respectively. A mechanism study showed that these compounds showed vasorelaxant effects by blocking the voltage-operated Ca²⁺ channel (VOCC) and inhibiting Ca²⁺ influx to the cytoplasmic. These results suggested that 5LP and the three characterized components could be promising antihypertensive candidates for the use as VOCC blockers.

Optimization of Mixing Ratio to Improve Antioxidant Activity of Aged Garlic with Pine Needle Using Response Surface Methodology

Aged garlic has been reported to possess beneficial pharmacological activities, including anti-stress and anti-fatigue properties, and to exert protective effects on the cardiovascular system and liver. Pine needles are widely used in folk medicine and as food additives owing to their pharmacological properties such as anti-aging and anti-inflammatory effects. It has long been known that combining certain phytochemicals with other phenols or organic acids can produce synergistic effects. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to develop an optimal formula of aged garlic with added pine needle powder for improved antioxidant activity using the statistical technique of response surface methodology. The antioxidant activities of aged garlic mixed with pine needle powder were confirmed by measuring oxygen radical absorbance capacity and total polyphenol content. An optimized antioxidant formula was identified that contained 5.08 g aged garlic and 1.97 g pine needle powder. The antioxidant activities of the mixture prepared using this optimal formula were significantly higher than the predicted values according to an additive model. Hence, this study confirms that the addition of pine needle powder to aged garlic can improve its antioxidant activity. This study demonstrated an optimal mixing ratio to produce an aged garlic product with improved functionality through the addition of pine needle powder that could be successfully employed by the food industry to prepare functional foods.

Herbal composition of Cinnamomum cassia, Pinus densiflora, Curcuma longa and Glycyrrhiza glabra prevents atherosclerosis by upregulating p27 (Kip1) expression

Background

Kiom-18 is a novel composition of Cinnamomum cassia, Pinus densiflora, Curcuma longa and Glycyrrhiza glabra. Curcuma longa and Glycyrrhiza glabra, which are traditional medicines in Asia, have been reported to demonstrate preventive effects against atherosclerosis; however, they have not yet been developed into functional atherosclerosis treatments. We therefore studied the anti-atherosclerotic effects and possible molecular mechanisms of Kiom-18 using vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs).

Methods

To assess the anti-proliferative effect of Kiom-18 in vitro, we performed thymidine incorporation, cell cycle progression, immunoblotting and immunofluorescence assays in VSMCs stimulated by platelet derived-growth factor (PDGF)-BB. In addition, we used LDLr knockout mice to identify the effects of Kiom-18 as a preliminary result in an atherosclerosis animal model.

Results

Kiom-18 inhibited platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB-stimulated-VSMC proliferation and DNA synthesis. Additionally, Kiom-18 arrested the cell cycle transition of G₀/G₁ stimulated by PDGF-BB and its cell cycle-related proteins. Correspondingly, the level of p27^kip1 expression was upregulated in the presence of the Kiom-18 extract. Moreover, in an atherosclerosis animal model of LDLr knockout mice, Kiom-18 extract showed a preventive effect for the formation of atherosclerotic plaque and suppressed body weight, fat weight, food treatment efficiency, neutrophil count, and triglyceride level.

Conclusions

These results indicate that Kiom-18 exerts anti-atherosclerotic effects by inhibiting VSMC proliferation via G₀/G₁ arrest, which upregulates p27^Kip1 expression.

Antioxidant Properties of Essential Oil Extracted from Pinus morrisonicola Hay Needles by Supercritical Fluid and Identification of Possible Active Compounds by GC/MS

Pine (Pinus morrisonicola Hay, PM) needles have been used as folk medicine for their antihypertension and lipid-lowering effects. As supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) is considered an ideal technique for the extraction of essential oil from plant materials, the present work investigated the optimal SFE conditions and the protective effects of different resulting fractions of PM needles on lipid peroxidation and foam cell production in macrophages. Nine PM needle extracts (PME1–9) were obtained in 1%–4% yields using different SFE conditions, of which PME1 had the lowest yield (1.1%) and PME3 the highest (3.9%). PME3 exhibited lower cytotoxic effects and stronger inhibition of lipid peroxidation and formation of foam cell in RAW 264.7 macrophages than those of other PME extracts. PME3-1 purified from PME3 by column and thin layer chromatography inhibited LDL oxidation more effectively than did PME3 in a cell-free system oxidized by Cu²⁺. PME3-1 dose-dependently (25–100 μg/mL) decreased conjugated diene levels and foam cell formation induced by ox-LDL. GC/MS analyses revealed that 1-docosene, neophytadiene, and methyl abietate were increased 5.2-, 1.7- and 4.3-fold in PME3-1 relative to PME3. A new hydrocarbon compound, cedrane-8,13-diol, was identified in PME3-1. Overall, the present study demonstrates the optimal extraction conditions of SFE of PM and identifies the most potent antioxidant fractions and possible active compounds in PM.

Chemical composition and antioxidant activity of essential oil of six pinus taxa native to China

The essential oils obtained by steam distillation from needles of six China endemic Pinus taxa (P. tabulaeformis, P. tabulaeformis f. shekanensis, P. tabulaeformis var. mukdensis, P. tabulaeformis var. umbraculifera, P. henryi and P. massoniana) were analysed by GC/MS. A total of 72 components were separated and identified by GC/MS from the six taxa. The major constituents of the essential oils were: α-pinene (6.78%–20.55%), bornyl acetale (3.32%–12.71%), β-caryophellene (18.26%–26.31%), α-guaiene (1.23%–8.19%), and germacrene D (1.26%–9.93%). Moreover, the essential oils were evaluated for antioxidant potential by three assays (DPPH, FRAP and ABTS) and tested for their total phenolic content. The results showed that all essential oils exhibited acceptable antioxidant activities and these strongly suggest that these pine needles may serve as a potential source of natural antioxidants for food and medical purposes.

Hippocampal memory enhancing activity of pine needle extract against scopolamine-induced amnesia in a mouse model

We evaluated the neuropharmacological effects of 30% ethanolic pine needle extract (PNE) on memory impairment caused by scopolamine injection in mice hippocampus. Mice were orally pretreated with PNE (25, 50, and 100 mg/kg) or tacrine (10 mg/kg) for 7 days, and scopolamine (2 mg/kg) was injected intraperitoneally, 30 min before the Morris water maze task on first day. To evaluate memory function, the Morris water maze task was performed for 5 days consecutively. Scopolamine increased the escape latency and cumulative path-length but decreases the time spent in target quadrant, which were ameliorated by pretreatment with PNE. Oxidant-antioxidant balance, acetylcholinesterase activity, neurogenesis and their connecting pathway were abnormally altered by scopolamine in hippocampus and/or sera, while those alterations were recovered by pretreatment with PNE. As lipid peroxidation, 4HNE-positive stained cells were ameliorated in hippocampus pretreated with PNE. Pretreatment with PNE increased the proliferating cells and immature neurons against hippocampal neurogenesis suppressed by scopolamine, which was confirmed by ki67- and DCX-positive stained cells. The expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and phosphorylated cAMP response element-binding protein (pCREB) in both protein and gene were facilitated by PNE pretreatment. These findings suggest that PNE could be a potent neuropharmacological drug against amnesia, and its possible mechanism might be modulating cholinergic activity via CREB-BDNF pathway.

Pinus densiflora extract protects human skin fibroblasts against UVB-induced photoaging by inhibiting the expression of MMPs and increasing type I procollagen expression

Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light can cause skin photoaging, which is associated with upregulation of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and downregulation of collagen synthesis. It has been reported that MMPs, especially MMP-1, MMP-3 and MMP-9, decrease the elasticity of the dermis by degrading collagen. In this study, we assessed the effects of Pinus densiflora extract (PDE) on photoaging and investigated its mechanism of action in human skin fibroblast (Hs68) cells after UVB exposure using real-time polymerase chain reaction, Western blot analysis, and enzymatic activity assays. PDE exhibited an antioxidant activity and inhibited elastase activities in vitro. We also found that PDE inhibited UVB-induced cytotoxicity, MMP-1 production and expression of MMP-1, -3 and -9 mRNA in Hs68 cells. In addition, PDE decreased UVB-induced MMP-2 activity and MMP-2 mRNA expression. Moreover, PDE prevented the decrease of type I procollagen mediated by exposure to UVB irradiation, an effect that is linked to the upregulation and downregulation of Smad3 and Smad7, respectively. Another effect of UV irradiation is to stimulate activator protein 1 (AP-1) activity via overexpression of c-Jun/c-Fos, which, in turn, upregulates MMP-1, -3, and -9. In this study, we found that PDE suppressed UV-induced c-Jun and c-Fos mRNA expression. Taken together, these results demonstrate that PDE regulates UVB-induced expression of MMPs and type I procollagen synthesis by inhibiting AP-1 activity and restoring impaired Smad signaling, suggesting that PDE may be useful as an effective anti-photoaging agent.

Low-Volatile Lipophilic Compounds in Needles, Defoliated Twigs, and Outer Bark of Pinus thunbergii

Despite a long history of the use of Pinus thunbergii for technical, medicinal, agricultural, and other purposes, the composition of low-volatile metabolites in the used parts of the plant has been poorly investigated. We report here on the distribution of lipophilic extractive compounds in different parts of the shoot system (needles, defoliated twigs, outer bark) of P. thunbergii studied by GC/MS. The highest and lowest contents of lipophilic substances were found in defoliated twigs and in outer bark correspondingly. Acid compounds in the extract of needles comprised mainly labdane type diterpenoids ( trans-communic acid), while in the extracts of defoliated twigs and outer bark the acids were represented predominantly by abietane type compounds (neoabietic, dehydroabietic, abietic, levopimaric and palustric acids). The major neutral components of the extract of needles were 10-nonacosanol, labdanoids (18-hydroxy-13- epi-manoyl oxide, trans-communol), and β-sitosterol. In the case of the extract of defoliated twigs, labdanoids (18-hydroxy-13- epi-manoyl oxide, trans-communol, 13- epi-torulosol), serratane triterpenoids (3β-methoxyserrat-14-en-21-one), and β-sitosterol were the main neutral constituents, whereas serratanoids (3β-methoxyserrat-14-en-21-one) alone dominated among the neutral compounds of the outer bark extract. Most of the neutral components and the labdane type acids were detected for the first time in organs and tissues of P. thunbergii. The distribution of lipophilic metabolites in the studied parts of P. thunbergii shoot system may be applied for chemotaxonomy purposes. Diversified accumulation of extractive substances in different organs of the plant should be taken into account for isolation of specific components from the pine raw material.

Contact and fumigant toxicity of Pinus densiflora needle hydrodistillate constituents and related compounds and efficacy of spray formulations containing the oil to Dermatophagoides farinae

BACKGROUND

The toxicity of red pine needle hydrodistillate (RPN-HD), 19 RPN-HD constituents and another 12 structurally related compounds and the control efficacy of four experimental spray formulations containing RPN-HD (0.5. 1, 2 and 3% sprays) to adult Dermatophagoides farinae were evaluated.

RESULTS

RPN-HD (24 h LC50 , 68.33 µg cm(-2) ) was toxic to mites. Menthol was the most toxic compound (12.69 µg cm(-2) ), and the toxicity of this compound and benzyl benzoate did not differ significantly. High toxicity was also produced by α-terpineol, bornyl acetate, geranyl acetate, thymol, linalyl acetate, terpinyl acetate, citral, linalool and camphor (18.79-36.51 µg cm(-2) ). These compounds were more toxic than either deet or dibutyl phthalate. In vapour-phase mortality tests, these compounds were consistently more toxic in closed versus open containers, indicating that their mode of delivery was largely a result of vapour action. RPN-HD 3% experimental spray provided 95% mortality against adult D. farinae, whereas permethrin (cis:trans, 25:75) 2.5 g L(-1) spray treatment resulted in 0% mortality.

CONCLUSION

In the light of global efforts to reduce the level of highly toxic synthetic acaricides in indoor environments, RPN-HD and the compounds described merit further study as potential biocides for the control of Dermatophagoides populations as fumigants with contact action.

Optimization of headspace solid-phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for detecting methoxyphenolic compounds in pu-erh tea

A method based on headspace solid-phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was developed for the analysis of volatile methoxyphenolic compounds in pu-erh tea. Six fibers with different polarities were initially evaluated. The 75 μm carboxen/polydimethylsiloxane fiber exhibited the highest extraction efficiency and was selected for further optimization. A Plackett-Burman design was used to screen for the brewing proportion of tea and water, amount of pu-erh tea, ionic strength, extraction time, extraction temperature, desorption time, rate of agitation, and equilibrium time. A Box-Behnken design was then applied to optimize the significant factors. Under optimal conditions, the proposed method affords a wide range of linearity, high linear regression coefficients (0.996-0.999), less than 9.0% repeatability of relative standard deviation, and limits of detection ranging from 2.31 to 21.80 ng/g. The proposed method has satisfactory accuracy, with recoveries of 79.08-113.9%. This method was successfully applied for the analysis of pu-erh tea samples.

Pinus densiflora leaf essential oil induces apoptosis via ROS generation and activation of caspases in YD-8 human oral cancer cells

The leaf of Pinus (P.) densiflora, a pine tree widely distributed in Asian countries, has been used as a traditional medicine. In the present study, we investigated the anticancer activity of essential oil, extracted by steam distillation, from the leaf of P. densiflora in YD-8 human oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cells. Treatment of YD-8 cells with P. densiflora leaf essential oil (PLEO) at 60 μg/ml for 8 h strongly inhibited proliferation and survival and induced apoptosis. Notably, treatment with PLEO led to generation of ROS, activation of caspase-9, PARP cleavage, down-regulation of Bcl-2, and phosphorylation of ERK-1/2 and JNK-1/2 in YD-8 cells. Treatment with PLEO, however, did not affect the expression of Bax, XIAP and GRP78. Importantly, pharmacological inhibition studies demonstrated that treatment with vitamin E (an anti-oxidant) or z-VAD-fmk (a pan-caspase inhibitor), but not with PD98059 (an ERK-1/2 inhibitor) or SP600125 (a JNK-1/2 inhibitor), strongly suppressed PLEO-induced apoptosis in YD-8 cells and reduction of their survival. Vitamin E treatment further blocked activation of caspase-9 and Bcl-2 down-regulation induced by PLEO. Thus, these results demonstrate firstly that PLEO has anti-proliferative, anti-survival and pro-apoptotic effects on YD-8 cells and the effects are largely due to the ROS-dependent activation of caspases.

Antioxidant activity and analysis of proanthocyanidins from pine (Pinus densiflora) needles

In this study, we evaluated the antioxidant activity of pine needle extracts prepared with hot water, ethanol, hexane, hot water-hexane (HWH), and hot water-ethanol (HWE), using the DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) radical method. The hot water extract possessed superior antioxidant activity than the other extracts. We also compared the antioxidant activity of pine needle extracts through ROS inhibition activity in a cellular system using MC3T3 E-1 cells. The hot water extract exhibited the lowest ROS production. The pattern of HPLC analysis of each extract indicated that the hot water extract contained the highest proanthocyanidin level. The pine needle hot-water extract was then isolated and fractionated with Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography to determine the major contributor to its antioxidant activity. The No.7 and 12 fractions had high antioxidant activities, that is, the highest contents of proanthocyanidins and catechins, respectively. These results indicate that the antioxidant activity of procyanidins from the hot water extract of pine needles is positively related to not only polymeric proanthocyanidins but also to monomeric catechins. Moreover, the antioxidant activity of the pine needle hot water extract was similar to well-known antioxidants, such as vitamin C. This suggests that pine needle proanthocyanidins and catechins might be of interest for use as alternative antioxidants.

Volatile compounds and antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of the essential oils of the needles of Pinus densiflora and Pinus thunbergii

BACKGROUND

To investigate the volatile compounds and the antibacterial and antioxidant effects of the essential oils of Pinus densiflora needles (EPDN) and Pinus thunbergii needles (EPTN), the volatile compounds of steam-distilled essential oils were analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Antibacterial activities were analysed by performing disc-agar diffusion assay and determining the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of the essential oils. Antioxidant activities were analysed via radical- and nitrite-scavenging activity assays.

RESULTS

The yields of EPDN and EPTN were 0.304% (v/w) and 0.296% (v/w), respectively. In the antibacterial activity assay, the MICs of EPDN and EPTN for Klebsiella pneumoniae, Shigella flexneri and Proteus vulgaris were < 0.4 mg mL(-1) . In the antioxidant activity assay, the 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC(50) ) of EPDN and EPTN were 120 and 30 µg mL(-1) , respectively. At 1680 µg mL(-1) , both EPDN and EPTN exhibited > 50% nitrite-scavenging activity.

CONCLUSION

EPDN can be used as a natural antimicrobial substance.

A validated HPTLC method for determination of trans-caryophyllene from polyherbal formulations

Formulations of traditional medicines are usually made up of a complex mixture of herbs. However, effective quality control methods in order to select materials of the right quality are lacking. 'Amukkara choornam' is a polyherbal Siddha formulation used for gastritis, spleen enlargement, leucorrhoea, hiccups, anaemia, tuberculosis and kappa diseases. Trans-caryophyllene is an important constituent present in the ingredients of this formulation. In a literature survey, it was found that there is no such method for the quantification of trans-caryophyllene except gas chromatography or gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS). So, a high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) method was developed and validated for the quantification of trans-caryophyllene in amukkara choornam. Pre-coated silica gel 60F-254 plates (10 × 10 cm²) were used for the analysis. The solvent system consisted of toluene-ethyl acetatate (9 : 3, v/v), and trans-caryophyllene was detected at 260 nm. The developed method was validated for linearity (R² = 0.9996 ± 0.0034), limit of detection (LOD) (0.101 ng), limit of quantification (LOQ) (0.639 ng), accuracy (% recovery = 97.19 ± 1.204), and precision (CV < 5%, for both intra-day and inter-day precisions). The levels of trans-caryophyllene were found to be 3.5-4.10 µg per gram of herbal products.

Comparison of methods for proanthocyanidin extraction from pine (Pinus densiflora) needles and biological activities of the extracts

Flavonoids are known to be effective scavengers of free radicals. In particular, proanthocyanidins are flavonoids that possess cardiovascular protection, antioxidative activities, and immunomodulatory activities. Here, we evaluated proanthocyanidin contents in the total polyphenolic compounds of pine needle extracts prepared by hot water, ethanol, hexane, hot water-hexane (HWH), and hot water-ethanol (HWE). Analysis of each extract indicated that the ethanol extract contained the highest proanthocyanidin concentration. The HWH and hexane extracts also contained relatively high concentrations of proanthocyanidin. On the other hand, proanthocyanidin content analyses out of the total polyphenolic compounds indicated that the HWH extract contained the highest content. These results suggest that HWH extraction is a suitable method to obtain an extract with a high level of pure proanthocyanidins and a relatively high yield. The HWH extract possessed superior activity in diverse antioxidative analyses such as 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), ferrous ion chelating (FIC), and ferric-ion reducing power (FRAP) assays. In addition, upon assessing the effects of the pine needle extracts on macrophages (Raw 264.7 cell), the HWH extract exhibited the highest activity. In this study, we discerned an efficient extraction method to achieve relatively pure proanthocyanidins from pine needles and evaluated the biological functions of the resulting extract, which could potentially be used for its efficacious components in functional food products.

Effect of extracts from pine needle against oxidative DNA damage and apoptosis induced by hydroxyl radical via antioxidant activity

In this study, the protective effects of water extracts from pine needle (WEPN) against DNA damage and apoptosis induced by hydroxyl radical were investigated in non-cellular and cellular system. WEPN exhibited strong scavenging action on hydroxyl radical and intracellular ROS, and chelating action of Fe(2+) ion. WEPN inhibited oxidative DNA damage by hydroxyl radical. Also, WEPN prevented the cells from oxidative damage through lowering p21 and BAX protein expression, blocking the cleavage of PARP and increasing Bcl-2 protein, which was confirmed by Hoechst 33342 staining. These data indicate that WEPN possesses a spectrum of antioxidant and DNA-protective properties common to cancer chemopreventive agents.