Antioxidant activity, anti-inflammatory activity, and whitening effects of extracts of Elaeagnus multiflora Thunb

The Bioactive Profile, Nutritional Value, Health Benefits and Agronomic Requirements of Cherry Silverberry (Elaeagnus multiflora Thunb.): A Review

The cherry silverberry (Elaeagnus multiflora Thunb.) is a lesser-known plant species with high nutritional and therapeutic potential. Cherry silverberry contains numerous biologically active compounds. The cherry silverberry is a shrub growing up to 3 m. Its drupe-like fruit is ellipsoidal, up to 1 cm long, and set on stems. It is red in color, juicy, and sour, and its taste resembles that of red currants. According to the literature, cherry silverberry fruit contains carbohydrates, organic acids, and amino acids, as well as vitamin C, in addition to biominerals, polyphenols, flavonoids, carotenoids, chlorophylls, and tocopherols, which contribute to its high nutritional value. New biotypes of cherry silverberry cultivated in Poland can be used for the production of functional foods and direct consumption. In China, the cherry silverberry, known as goumi, has been used as a medicinal plant and a natural remedy for cough, diarrhea, itch, foul sores, and, even, cancer. This review article summarizes the scant research findings on the nutritional and therapeutic benefits of cherry silverberry.

Fermentation with mono- and mixed cultures of Lactobacillus plantarum and L. casei enhances the phytochemical content and biological activities of cherry silverberry (Elaeagnus multiflora Thunb.) fruit

BACKGROUND

Lactic acid fermentation has been widely used to improve the nutritional and functional properties of food products. Cherry silverberry (Elaeagnus multiflora Thunb.) is considered as an invasive plant species with known medicinal and functional properties. In this study, improvement of the biological activity and health benefits of cherry silverberry fruit through lactic acid fermentation was investigated.

RESULTS

Extracts of cherry silverberry fruits fermented by pure cultures of Lactobacillus plantarum KCTC 33131 and L. casei KCTC 13086 exhibited favorable physicochemical properties and enhanced phytochemical content, antioxidant properties (DPPH radical scavenging activity, reducing power, superoxide dismutase-like property and hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity) and α-glucosidase and tyrosinase enzyme inhibitory activity as compared with unfermented fruits. Despite a decrease in the specific phenolic acid contents among the fermented samples, the cherry silverberry fruit fermented by mixed cultures of L. plantarum and L. casei contained superior total polyphenols (3.78 ± 0.22 mg GAE g^-1 ) and total (0.66 ± 0.12 mg QE g^-1 ) and individual flavonoid contents in comparison with fruits fermented by single cultures and unfermented ones. Multivariate analysis also showed strong association among total phytochemical contents and biological activities.

CONCLUSIONS

This work has elucidated the effect of fermentation with L. plantarum KCTC 33131 and L. casei KCTC 13086 on the improvement of the physicochemical properties and biological activity of cherry silverberry fruit. It also revealed the potential application of fermented cherry silverberry in the production of food materials beneficial for health. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

Elaeagnus glabra f. oxyphylla Attenuates Scopolamine-Induced Learning and Memory Impairments in Mice by Improving Cholinergic Transmission via Activation of CREB/NGF Signaling

We aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects of an Elaeagnus glabra f. oxyphylla (EGFO) ethanol extract in mice with scopolamine-induced memory dysfunction. Fifty male mice were randomly divided into a normal control group, a scopolamine-treated group, a scopolamine and EGFO extract-treated group, and a scopolamine and tacrine-treated group. EGFO (50 or 100 mg/kg/day) was received for 21 days. Step-through passive avoidance and Y-maze tests were performed to examine the effects of treatment on learning and memory impairments. Acetylcholine (Ach) levels and acetylcholinesterase (AchE) activity were measured via an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Levels of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), nerve growth factor (NGF), cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB), and apoptosis-related protein expression were determined via Western blot analysis. EGFO pretreatment significantly attenuated scopolamine-induced memory impairments, relative to findings observed in the scopolamine-treated group. Levels of cholinergic factors in the brain tissues were markedly attenuated in the scopolamine-treated group. EGFO treatment also attenuated neural apoptosis in scopolamine-treated mice by decreasing the expression of apoptosis-related proteins such as Bax, Bcl2, cleaved caspase-3, and TUNEL staining. These results suggest that EGFO improves memory and cognition in a mouse model of memory impairment by restoring cholinergic and anti-apoptotic activity, possibly via activation of CREB/NGF signaling.

Variation of fruits morphometric parameters of Elaeagnus multiflora thunb. germplasm collection

The aim of this study was to determine morphometric parameters of fruits within some genotypes of Elaeagnus multiflora Thunb., which are growing in the Forest-Steppe of Ukraine in M.M. Gryshko National Botanical Garden of NAS of Ukraine (NBG). Their morphometric parameters were following: fruit weight from 0.32 to 1.89 g, fruit length from 7.60 to 19.54 mm, fruit diameter from 4.39 to 10.32 mm, seed weight from 0.10 to 0.41 g, seed length from 7.40 to 13.30 mm, seed diameter from 1.34 to 5.07 mm. The shape indexes of fruits and seeds were found ranging from 1.25 to 1.56 and from 2.90 to 4.04, respectively. The analysis of coefficient of variation showed the difference of variability in morphometric characteristics between Elaeagnus multiflora samples. Data showed that the most variability of important selection characteristics is the average cumulative seeds weight - from 18.72 to 36.61%, seeds diameter - from 10.46 to 24.29%, fruits weight - from 9.15 to 22.24%. The other characteristics are more or less stable. Collected quantitative data were subjected to principal hierarchical cluster analysis. The cluster analysis of morphometric parameters exhibited that the Elaeagnus multiflora genotypes fell into two clusters. These cluster analysis results suggest that broad morphologic diversity was found in Elaeagnus multiflora genotypes examined in this study. The introduction population of the Elaeagnus multiflora, was created in the M.M. Gryshko National Botanical Garden in Kyiv, has a sufficient potential for successful selection work. These preliminary results could open the interest of farmers in this Elaeagnus multiflora and will be precedent for future domestication and introduction of the species in the agroproductive system in Ukraine and the rest of the world.

Endophytic Nocardiopsis sp. from Zingiber officinale with both antiphytopathogenic mechanisms and antibiofilm activity against clinical isolates

Novel and potential antimicrobial compounds are essential to tackle the frequently emerging multidrug-resistant pathogens and also to develop environment friendly agricultural practices. In the current study, endophytic actinomycetes from rhizome of Zingiber officinale were explored in terms of its diversity and bioactive properties. Fourteen different organisms were isolated, identified and screened for activity against Pythium myriotylum and human clinical pathogens. Among these, Nocardiopsis sp. ZoA1 was found to have highest inhibition with excellent antibacterial effects compared to standard antibiotics. Remarkable antibiofilm property was also shown by the extract of ZoA1. Its antifungal activity against Pythium and other common phytopathogens was also found to be promising as confirmed by scanning electron microscopic analysis. By PCR-based sequence analysis of phz E gene, the organism was confirmed for the genetic basis of phenazine biosynthesis. Further GC-MS analysis of Nocardiopsis sp. revealed the presence of various compounds including Phenol, 2,4-bis (1,1-dimethylethyl) and trans cinnamic acid which can have significant role in the observed result. The current study is the first report on endophytic Nocardiopsis sp. from ginger with promising applications. In vivo treatment of Nocardiopsis sp. on ginger rhizome has revealed its inhibition towards the colonization of P. myriotylum which makes the study to have promises to manage the severe diseases in ginger like rhizome rot.

Studies on cytotoxic constituents from the leaves of Elaeagnus oldhamii Maxim. in non-small cell lung cancer A549 cells

Elaeagnus oldhamii Maxim. is a commonly used traditional herbal medicine. In Taiwan the leaves of E. oldhamii Maxim. are mainly used for treating lung disorders. Twenty five compounds were isolated from the leaves of E. oldhamii Maxim. in the present study. These included oleanolic acid (1), 3-O-(Z)-coumaroyl oleanolic acid (2), 3-O-(E)-coumaroyl oleanolic acid (3), 3-O-caffeoyl oleanolic acid (4), ursolic acid (5), 3-O-(Z)-coumaroyl ursolic acid (6), 3-O-(E)-coumaroyl ursolic acid (7), 3-O-caffeoyl ursolic acid (8), 3β, 13β-dihydroxyolean-11-en-28-oic acid (9), 3β, 13β-dihydroxyurs-11-en-28-oic acid (10), uvaol (11), betulin (12), lupeol (13), kaempferol (14), aromadendrin (15), epigallocatechin (16), cis-tiliroside (17), trans-tiliroside (18), isoamericanol B (19), trans-p-coumaric acid (20), protocatechuic acid (21), salicylic acid (22), trans-ferulic acid (23), syringic acid (24) and 3-O-methylgallic acid (25). Of the 25 isolated compounds, 21 compounds were identified for the first time in E. oldhamii Maxim. These included compounds 1, 4, 5 and 8–25. These 25 compounds were evaluated for their inhibitory activity against the growth of non-small cell lung cancer A549 cells by the MTT assay, and the corresponding structure-activity relationships were discussed. Among these 25 compounds, compound 6 displayed the best activity against the A549 cell line in vitro (CC₅₀ = 8.56 ± 0.57 μg/mL, at 48 h of MTT asssay). Furthermore, compound 2, 4, 8 and 18 exhibited in vitro cytotoxicity against the A549 cell line with the CC₅₀ values of less than 20 μg/mL at 48 h of MTT asssay. These five compounds 2, 4, 6, 8 and 18 exhibited better cytotoxic activity compared with cisplatin (positive control, CC₅₀ value of 14.87 ± 1.94 μg/mL, at 48 h of MTT asssay). The result suggested that the five compounds might be responsible for its clinical anti-lung cancer effect.

One lignanoid compound and four triterpenoid compounds with anti-inflammatory activity from the leaves of Elaeagnus oldhamii maxim

One lignanoid compound, isoamericanol B (1), along with four triterpenoid compounds-cis-3-O-p-hydroxycinnamoyloleanolic acid (2), trans-3-O-p-hydroxy cinnamoyloleanolic acid (3), cis-3-O-p-hydroxycinnamoylursolic acid (4), trans-3-O-p-hydroxycinnamoylursolic acid (5) have been isolated for the first time from the leaves of Elaeagnus oldhamii Maxim. Compounds 1-4 significantly inhibited the expression of NO (nitric oxide) produced in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. The IC50 value for inhibition of nitrite production of compound 1 was about 10.3 ± 0.4 μg/mL. In the cell viability test, however, among compounds 1-4 compound 1 did not significantly change cell viability. Therefore, in this study compound 1 possessed anti-inflammatory effects. The result suggests compound 1 as a potential lead compound for the treatment of inflammatory diseases.