Phenylpropanoids from the leaves of Acanthopanax koreanum and their antioxidant activity

Molecular characterization and transcriptional response of Lactuca sativa seedlings to co-exposure to graphene nanoplatelets and titanium dioxide nanoparticles

The widespread use of nanomaterials in agriculture may introduce multiple engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) into the environment, posing a combined risk to crops. However, the precise molecular mechanisms explaining how plant tissues respond to mixtures of individual ENPs remain unclear, despite indications that their combined toxicity differs from the summed toxicity of the individual ENPs. Here, we used a variety of methods including physicochemical, biochemical, and transcriptional analyses to examine the combined effects of graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) and titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) on hydroponically exposed lettuce (Lactuca sativa) seedlings. Results indicated that the presence of GNPs facilitated the accumulation of Ti as TiO2 NPs in the seedling roots. Combined exposure to GNPs and TiO2 NPs caused less severe oxidative damage in the roots compared to individual exposures. Yet, GNPs and TiO2 NPs alone and in combination did not cause oxidative damage in the shoots. RNA sequencing data showed that the mixture of GNPs and TiO2 NPs led to a higher number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the seedlings compared to exposure to the individual ENPs. Moreover, the majority of the DEGs encoding superoxide dismutase displayed heightened expression levels in the seedlings exposed to the combination of GNPs and TiO2 NPs. The level of gene ontology (GO) enrichment in the seedlings exposed to the mixture of GNPs and TiO2 NPs was found to be greater than the level of GO enrichment observed after exposure to isolated GNPs or TiO2 NPs. Furthermore, the signaling pathways, specifically the "MAPK signaling pathway-plant" and "phenylpropanoid biosynthesis," exhibited a close association with oxidative stress. This study has provided valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying plant resistance against multiple ENPs.

Butanol Extract of Acanthopanax senticosus (Rupr. et Maxim.) Harms Alleviates Atherosclerosis in Apolipoprotein E-Deficient Mice Fed a High-Fat Diet

This study investigated the effect of butanol extract of AS (ASBUE) on atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E-deficient (ApoE^-/-) mice. The mice were administered ASBUE (390 or 130 mg/kg/day) or rosuvastatin (RSV) via oral gavage for eight weeks. In ApoE^-/- mice, ASBUE suppressed the abnormal body weight gain and improved serum and liver biochemical indicators. ASBUE remarkably reduced the aortic plaque area, improved liver pathological conditions, and lipid metabolism abnormalities, and altered the intestinal microbiota structure in ApoE^-/- mice. In the vascular tissue of ASBUE-treated mice, P-IKKβ, P-NFκB, and P-IκBα levels tended to decrease, while IκB-α increased in high fat-diet-fed atherosclerotic mice. These findings demonstrated the anti-atherosclerotic potential of ASBUE, which is mediated by the interaction between the gut microbiota and lipid metabolism and regulated via the Nuclear Factor-kappa B (NF-κB) pathway. This work paves the groundwork for subsequent studies to develop innovative drugs to treat atherosclerosis.

Characterization of α-Glucosidase Inhibitors from Psychotria malayana Jack Leaves Extract Using LC-MS-Based Multivariate Data Analysis and In-Silico Molecular Docking

Psychotria malayana Jack has traditionally been used to treat diabetes. Despite its potential, the scientific proof in relation to this plant is still lacking. Thus, the present study aimed to investigate the α-glucosidase inhibitors in P.malayana leaf extracts using a metabolomics approach and to elucidate the ligand–protein interactions through in silico techniques. The plant leaves were extracted with methanol and water at five various ratios (100, 75, 50, 25 and 0% v/v; water–methanol). Each extract was tested for α-glucosidase inhibition, followed by analysis using liquid chromatography tandem to mass spectrometry. The data were further subjected to multivariate data analysis by means of an orthogonal partial least square in order to correlate the chemical profile and the bioactivity. The loading plots revealed that the m/z signals correspond to the activity of α-glucosidase inhibitors, which led to the identification of three putative bioactive compounds, namely 5′-hydroxymethyl-1′-(1, 2, 3, 9-tetrahydro-pyrrolo (2, 1-b) quinazolin-1-yl)-heptan-1′-one (1), α-terpinyl-β-glucoside (2), and machaeridiol-A (3). Molecular docking of the identified inhibitors was performed using Auto Dock Vina software against the crystal structure of Saccharomyces cerevisiae isomaltase (Protein Data Bank code: 3A4A). Four hydrogen bonds were detected in the docked complex, involving several residues, namely ASP352, ARG213, ARG442, GLU277, GLN279, HIE280, and GLU411. Compound 1, 2, and 3 showed binding affinity values of −8.3, −7.6, and −10.0 kcal/mol, respectively, which indicate the good binding ability of the compounds towards the enzyme when compared to that of quercetin, a known α-glucosidase inhibitor. The three identified compounds that showed potential binding affinity towards the enzymatic protein in molecular docking interactions could be the bioactive compounds associated with the traditional use of this plant.

Acanthopanax versus 3-Methyladenine Ameliorates Sodium Taurocholate-Induced Severe Acute Pancreatitis by Inhibiting the Autophagic Pathway in Rats

Objectives. To observe the therapeutic effects of Acanthopanax and 3-methyladenine against severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). Methods. Sodium taurocholate-induced SAP rats were equally randomized into a SAP group, an Acanthopanax group, and a 3-methyladenine group. Serum amylase levels were determined by ELISA; protein and mRNA expression levels of nucleus nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) p65, light chain 3II (LC3-II), and Beclin-1 and mRNA expression levels of Class III phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K-III) in pancreas tissue were detected by Western blot and quantitative real-time PCR, respectively; mortality and pathological change of the pancreas were observed at 3, 12, and 24 h after operation. Results. There was no significant difference in mortality between SAP group and both treatment groups (P > 0.05). Serum amylase levels, protein, and mRNA expression levels of nucleus NF-κB p65, LC3-II, and Beclin-1 protein, mRNA expression levels of PI3K-III, and pathological score of the pancreas in both treatment groups were significantly lower than those in SAP group at 12 and 24 h after operation (P < 0.05 or 0.01). The number of autophagosomes and autophagolysosomes of pancreatic acinar cells in both treatment groups was smaller than that in SAP group at 12 and 24 h. Conclusions. Acanthopanax and 3-methyladenine had similar therapeutic effects against SAP in rats. The mechanism may be through inhibiting abnormal autophagy activation of pancreatic acinar cells.

Development and Application of an HPLC-UV Procedure to Determine Multiple Flavonoids and Phenolics in Acanthopanax Leaf Extracts

Acanthopanax species are used in traditional medicine to treat numerous diseases. A simultaneous high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method was developed and validated for the determination of the flavonoid and phenolic content of Acanthopanax leaves. HPLC analysis was performed on an AKZO NOBEL Kromasil 100-5C18 column (250 × 4.6 mm, 5 µm) using a gradient elution of acetonitrile-water containing 0.2% formic acid with a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min, monitored at 320 nm. The method was linear over the range 1-500 µg/mL (determination coefficients R(2) > 0.999). Satisfactory intraday and interday precision was achieved, with the relative standard deviation (RSD) <2.99%. The mean recoveries measured at the three concentrations were in the range of 90.11-104.83%, with RSD <2.91% for the targets. Twenty-four samples of Acanthopanax leaves from different species and locations were examined using this analytical method, and their chemical profiles provided information for the chemotaxonomic investigation. The established method is simple, rapid and reliable for the quality control of Acanthopanax leaves of various species from different collections. The complete phenolic and flavonoid profiles of Acanthopanax leaves of various species have been established.

Structures of eremophilane-type sesquiterpene glucosides, alticolosides A-G, from the Far Eastern endemic Ligularia alticola Worosch

Seven eremophilane-type sesquiterpene glucosides, alticolosides A-G, have been isolated from aerial parts of the endemic Far Eastern species Ligularia alticola Worosch. (Family Asteraceae) along with two known compounds, monoterpenoid glycoside (4S)-α-terpineol 8-O-β-D-glucopyranoside and norditerpenoid glycoside 7(8)-dihydro-β-ionone 3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside. Alticoloside D was identified with the earlier known 8-O-(β-D-glucopyranosyl)-2-oxo-eremophila-1(10),8,11-triene, but the stereostructure of the latter was revised on the basis of ROESY and CD data. All the glycosides are derivatives of new eremophilane-type aglycones, differing from known eremophilanes in details of planar and/or stereo structures except for the aglycone of alticoloside E.

Antioxidant phenolic glycoside and flavonoids from Pieris japonica

A new phenolic glycoside, benzyl 2-hydroxy-4-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-benzoate (1), along with nine known flavonoids, epicatechin-(2 → O → 7,4 → 8)-ent-epicatechin (2), bis-8,8'-catechinylmethane (3), quercetin (4), quercetin-3-O-α-L-arabinfuranoside (5), quercetin-3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside (6), astilbin (7), engeletin (8), (2S,3R)-ent-catechin (9), and 2',4-dihydroxy-4'-methoxy-6'-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl dihydrochalcone (10), was isolated from the flowers of Pieris japonica. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of MS, 1D NMR, and 2D NMR techniques. This paper describes the isolation, structural elucidation as well as in vitro antioxidant activity of these compounds.