The hepatoprotective effects of the polyphenol-enriched n-butanol fraction of Cnicus benedictus against carbon tetrachloride-induced liver fibrosis in rats: In vivo study

Liver fibrosis is a continuous wound-healing response to chronic injury caused by various chemical, virus, and pathological disorders; the lack of approved drugs or methods to reverse or prevent liver fibrosis makes it an interesting area of research. This study investigates the potential hepatoprotective effects of the phenolic extract of Cnicus benedictus in rat's module of liver fibrosis. Liver fibrosis was induced by intraperitoneal injection of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) for six consecutive weeks; the butanol fraction of Cnicus and silymarin was administered orally concurrently with CCl4. After six weeks, all animals were euthanized. Rat liver tissue levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) were measured, and serum liver enzymes and protein were measured using the ELISA technique. Histopathological study and immunohistochemistry of liver tissue for transforming growth factor (TGF-β1), alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), and hydroxyproline were assessed. In HPLC analysis, Cnicus extract showed several components, including quercetin, gallic acid, rutin, kaempferol, silibinin, and apigenin. Treatment with Cnicus butanol extract reduces serum ALT, AST, bilirubin, and albumin levels compared to induction. Additionally, Cnicus extract increases liver GSH levels and decreases liver MDA levels compared to induction. Liver tissue of TGF-β1, α-SMA, and hydroxyproline expression was downregulated in rats receiving Cnicus extract. Liver tissue histopathology showed improvement in its features compared to the induction group. In conclusion, oral administration of the polyphenol-enriched n-butanol fraction of Cnicus benedictus showed a protective effect on liver fibrosis caused by CCl4, possibly through antioxidant and anti-inflammatory mechanisms.

Unraveling the Role of Quinoa in Managing Metabolic Disorders: A Comprehensive Review

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The review aims to address the knowledge gap and promote the widespread adoption of quinoa as a functional food for improving metabolic health. By presenting a comprehensive overview of its nutritional profile and bioactive components, the review aims to increase consumers' awareness of the potential therapeutic benefits of incorporating quinoa into diets.

RECENT FINDINGS

Recent studies have highlighted the diverse range of bioactive compounds in quinoa, such as phytosterols, saponins, phenolic acids, phytoecdysteroids, and betalains. These compounds exhibit various health-promoting properties, such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antidiabetic, and gut microbiota-modulating effects. Furthermore, research indicates that regular quinoa consumption can improve metabolic parameters, including reduced cholesterol levels, blood sugar, fat accumulation, and blood pressure. These findings highlight the potential of quinoa as a dietary tool for preventing and managing metabolic disorders, such as obesity, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and gut dysbiosis. The article concludes that quinoa has emerged as a promising solution to food security challenges due to its adaptability to diverse environments and rich nutritional profile. However, some findings are not consistent in the mentioned studies, therefore, well-designed cohort randomized clinical trials with diverse populations are needed. While in vivo studies are necessary to elucidate the specific mechanisms behind the potential benefits of quinoa.

Phenolic profiles of Australian monofloral Eucalyptus, Corymbia, Macadamia and Lophostemon honeys via HPLC-DAD analysis

Australian honey samples from four botanical genera (Lophostemon, Eucalyptus, Macadamia and Corymbia) were investigated for their phenolic content. An improved phenolic extraction and high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection (HPLC-DAD) analysis method allowed for the rapid and reliable identification of phenolic compounds. A concentrated liquid-liquid extraction method with an acidified aqueous solution and acetonitrile was optimised to isolate phenolic compounds from the honey matrix. The concentrated extraction method improved sensitivity and permitted the identification of phenolics present at low concentrations (LOD: 0.012-0.25 mg/kg and LOQ: 0.040-2.99 mg/kg). The optimised HPLC-DAD chromatographic conditions gave stable retention times, improved peak separation and allowed for the inexpensive detection of each of the 109 phenolic compounds at their maximum absorbance wavelength. Out of the 109 phenolic compounds included in this study, 49 were identified in the Australian honeys tested. Furthermore, 25 of the 49 compounds were determined to be markers specific to honey floral origin.

Stachys byzantina K. Koch in the Treatment of Skin Inflammation: A Comprehensive Evaluation of Its Therapeutic Properties

Stachys byzantina is a plant widely cultivated for food and medicinal purposes. Stachys species have been reported as anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, anxiolytic, and antinephritic agents. This study aimed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory potential of the ethanolic extract (EE) from the aerial parts of S. byzantina and its most promising fraction in models of acute and chronic inflammation, including a psoriasis-like mouse model. The EE was fractionated into hexane (HF), dichloromethane (DF), ethyl acetate (AF), and hydroalcoholic (HD) fractions. Screening for anti-inflammatory activity based on nitric oxide inhibition (IC50 μg/mL: HF 24.29 ± 5.87, EE 176.45 ± 18.65), hydroxyl radical scavenging (HF 3.89 ± 0.61, EE 6.38 ± 2.25), β-carotene/linoleic acid assay (HF 10.13 ± 3.81, EE 25.64 ± 2.12), and ORAC identified HF as the most active fraction. Topical application of HF effectively reduced croton oil- and phenol-induced ear edema in mice, with no statistical difference to the reference drugs. A formulation containing HF showed significant activity in the imiquimod-induced psoriasis model, reducing pro-inflammatory cytokines and nitric oxide production in macrophages, with no cytotoxicity to skin cells. Phytochemical analysis of HF revealed the presence of terpenes, steroids (491.68 ± 4.75 mg/g), phenols (34.30 ± 4.96 mg/g), flavonoids (151.77 ± 6.66 mg/g), and α-tocopherol, which was identified and quantified by HPLC-UV analysis (10.56 ± 0.97 mg/g of HF). These findings highlight the therapeutic potential of S. byzantina for skin inflammation, particularly contact dermatitis and psoriasis, encouraging further studies, including in human volunteers.

A Comparative UPLC/HRMS Molecular Networking-Enhanced Study on the Phenolic Profiles and Bioactivities of Three Medicinally Significant Species of Onosma (Boraginaceae)

The current work represents a comparative study of the phenolic profiles of three under-explored Onosma (Boraginaceae) species from Greece-Onosma leptantha (OL), Onosma erecta (OE), and Onosma graeca (OG). Although Onosma spp. have ethnopharmacological significance, previous phytochemical studies have focused primarily on roots. Methanolic extracts of the aerial parts were analyzed using qualitative LC-MS enhanced by molecular networking-based dereplication, annotating 94 phenolics categorized into hydroxybenzoic acids (7), hydroxycinnamic acids (24), lignans (14), neolignans (14), stilbenes (4), coumarins (5), and flavonoids (26). OG exhibited the broadest distribution of flavonoid glycosides. OL contained the greatest number of hydroxycinnamic and neolignan derivatives, and OE was notably abundant in lignans. Total phenolic (TPC) and total flavonoid (TFC) contents were quantified, and the antioxidant capacity and enzyme inhibition against cholinesterases, α-amylase, and α-glucosidase were assessed. OL showed a high TPC (69.03 mg GAE/g extract) and strong antioxidant activity, while OG exhibited a high TFC (45.80 mg RE/g extract). All extracts demonstrated stronger AChE inhibition than BChE, with OG showing the highest AChE inhibition (2.35 mg GALAE/g). Additionally, OL was the most active against both α-glucosidase (5.69 mmol ACAE/g) and α-amylase (0.48 mmol ACAE/g). This study improved our understanding of the chemical diversity within these species, providing a more comprehensive insight into their longstanding ethnopharmacological potential.

Phytochemical Analysis and Multifaceted Biomedical Activities of Nitraria retusa Extract as Natural Product-Based Therapies

This study examined the phytochemical profile and biomedical activities of Nitraria retusa, a halophytic and drought-resistant shrub. HPLC analysis showed gallic acid (1905.1 μg/g), catechin (1984.1 μg/g), and ellagic acid (2671.1 μg/g) as the primary constituents, while FT-IR analysis revealed a complex organic profile with significant functional groups. The extract demonstrated strong antioxidant activity in DPPH assays, outperforming ascorbic acid (IC50 = 18.7 ± 1.0 μg/mL) with an IC50 of 16.4 ± 4.4 μg/mL. It demonstrated specific antiproliferative effects on cancer cell lines as it showed selective cytotoxicity against cancer cell lines; normal WI38 cells were largely unaffected, showing 50.0% viability at 125 μg/mL. The most sensitive cell line was Caco2, which showed 50.0% viability at 125 μg/mL. Anti-diabetic properties were exhibited by means of inhibition of α-amylase (IC50 = 68.2 ± 4.2 μg/mL) and α-glucosidase (IC50 = 22.8 ± 3.3 μg/mL). Additionally, antimicrobial activity was observed to be broad-spectrum, and it was most effective against E. coli (32.6 mm inhibition zone at 400 μg/mL) and Penicillium glabrum (35.3 mm at 400 μg/mL). These findings highlight the potential of N. retusa in developing plant-based therapeutic approaches.

A sustainable nanotechnology producing high-quality remediated sewage wastewater used for microalgal protein-rich biomass and biodiesel production

Water scarcity is a crucial environmental challenge. Wastewater remediation is an important way to tackle the challenge. Using nanoparticles of natural and agricultural wastes is considered a low-cost sustainable remediation technology. This study develops an effective prototype of a sustainable sewage wastewater (SWW) remediation process using zeolite and bagasse nanoparticles. All studied physico-chemical parameters and heavy metals of the SWW were reduced over the course of treatment with nanobagasse (NB), nanozeolite (NZ), and nanobagasse-nanozeolite double treatments (DT). After only 2 weeks of remediation, the chemical oxygen demand (COD), biological oxygen demand (BOD), total suspended solid (TSS), and total dissolved solid (TDS) concentrations were decreased (in NB 38, 33, 58, and 30%; in NZ 40, 30, 63, and 58%; and in DT 47, 38, 75, and 62%), respectively, compared to raw SWW. The DT for 4 and 6 weeks (DT4W and DT6W) show 0.94 and 0.67 Kelly ratios, respectively, which are suitable for irrigation. According to the water pollution index (WPI), all types of DT treatments produce excellent-quality water. DT6W recorded the highest significant rank of removal efficiency of COD, BOD, TSS, TDS, PO4, NO3, Ca, Mg, Na, Cu, Cd, Fe, and Ni (72.7, 59.6, 88.6, 74, 56.7, 88.2, 72.7, 58.7, 80.7, 94.6, 91.1, 65.3, and 84.4%). This remediated water may be used directly for irrigation or other purposes. Also, this study proves that DT4W and DT6W are suitable for Chlorella sorokiniana growth and production of safe protein-rich biomass, 26 and 31.8% protein, respectively. DT for 2, 4, and 6 weeks are suitable growth media for C. sorokiniana to produce diesel engines’ compatible biodiesel. Finally, this recent study presents an interpretation of the physiological status of C. sorokiniana cells grown in the raw SWW and DT media.

Extracting Quercetin from Different Plant Sources, Purifying It Using Different Extraction Methods (Chemical, Physical, and Enzymatic), and Measuring Its Antioxidant Activity

BACKGROUND

Flavonoids are among the most important compounds found in plants, since laboratory studies have shown them to be a daily requirement in human diets due to their various health benefits. Therefore, this study focused on extracting, purifying, and measuring the antioxidant activity of the flavonoid quercetin, which is widely found in plants and possesses a variety of biological activities, from different plant sources.

METHODS

The extraction of quercetin was performed using several methods (chemical, physical, and enzymatic) and several extraction solutions (water, ethanol, and chloroform) from several plants (spinach, dill, Onion Skin, Pistacia eurycarpa, sumac, digalkhasab chemri, and leelwi chemri). The alcoholic extract extracted by chemical method was purified and the content of total flavonoids based on quercetin in all plant extracts was determined using adsorption chromatography on a silica gel column (100-200 mesh), followed by thin layer chromatography (TLC). TLC and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) were used to assess the purity of quercetin. The ability of quercetin to capture free radicals using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) was compared to that of butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). Statistical analyses were performed using completely randomized designs (CRD) for factorial experiments, and the least significant difference (LSD) test was used to calculate the significant differences between the averages of the coefficients at the 0.05 probability level.

RESULTS

The alcoholic Pistacia extract extracted by chemical method yielded the highest concentration of quercetin (84.037 mg/g). Furthermore, it was found that quercetin purified from Pistacia possessed strong antioxidant activity, and its antioxidant activity increased with increased concentration.

CONCLUSIONS

Pistacia eurycarpa showed the highest quercetin content among the assessed plants. Moreover, solvents played a major role in extracting plant components due to the high polarity of flavonoids. Quercetin purified using a silica gel column demonstrated antioxidant activity.

Synergistic potential of Bauhinia holophylla leaf extracts with conventional antifungals in the inhibition of Candida albicans: A new approach for the treatment of oral candidiasis

OBJECTIVE

This study investigated the combination of Bauhinia holophylla (Bong.) Steud. leaf extracts with conventional antifungal agents, highlighting the extracts' potential as adjuvants in treating oral candidiasis.

DESIGN

Ethanolic and aqueous extracts of B. holophylla leaves were analyzed using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography with a diode array detector (UHPLC-DAD) to assess their chemical composition. Their Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) against standard strains of Candida albicans and isolates from oral mucosa was determined. Additionally, the potential synergistic effects with chlorhexidine gluconate, nystatin, and fluconazole were investigated, along with their impact on inhibiting and disrupting biofilm formation, germ tube formation of C. albicans, and cytotoxicity in human erythrocytes.

RESULTS

Protocatechuic acid, epicatechin, and rutin were identified in both extracts. They exhibited fungistatic activity with a median minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC50) of 15.62 µg/mL for the ethanolic extract (EEB) and 62.50 µg/mL for the aqueous extract (AEB) against C. albicans. In growth kinetics, both extracts reduced the viable cell count of C. albicans by 2 logs after 24 h compared to the positive control. The extracts reduced germ tube formation by 81.6 % for EEB and 86.3 % for AEB. The synergistic combination with fluconazole and nystatin resulted in a 50 % reduction in the concentration required to inhibit C. albicans growth. No hemolytic activity was detected in human erythrocytes at the tested concentrations.

CONCLUSION

Both ethanolic and aqueous extracts show promising potential as adjuvants in managing oral candidiasis. Notably, the aqueous extract is advantageous due to its non-toxic solvent, cost-effectiveness, and ease of preparation.

Efficacy of soil drench and foliar application of iron nanoparticles on the growth and physiology of Solanum lycopersicum L. exposed to cadmium stress

Cadmium (Cd) can harm the yield and quality of vegetables, threatening food safety. Essential microelements such as iron are crucial for plant growth and can help alleviate heavy metal stress. Recently, nanoparticles have been studied as eco-friendly solutions for mitigating heavy metal stress in plants. In the present study, iron nanoparticles (FeNPs) at 0, 100, and 300 mg/L were applied as soil drenches and foliar sprays to tomato plants under cadmium stress. A comparison was made between the application methods of FeNPs by evaluating the growth parameters of tomato plants, including shoot length (SL), root length (RL), number of branches (NB), number of leaves per plant (NL), and leaf area (LA), as well as by assessing biochemical and antioxidant enzyme parameters. In the Cd stress treatment, the protein content decreased by 24.71%, and the phenolic and flavonoid content of the tomato plants also decreased due to cadmium stress, with levels decreasing from 16.07 to 6.9 µg and from 0.36 to 0.16 µg, respectively. Compared with the soil drench, 100 mg/L FeNPs significantly improved the parameters of Cd-stressed plants when used as a foliar spray, leading to increases in shoot length, root length, fruit weight, number of fruits, number of leaves, and number of branches by 42%, 66%, 24%, 66%, 173%, and 45%, respectively. Tomato plants treated with this spray presented increased carotenoid and lycopene contents. FeNP foliar spray also reduced Cd accumulation in plant tissues. This technique shows promise in alleviating Cd stress in vulnerable vegetable plants such as tomatoes.

Phytoconstituents as modulator of inflammatory pathways for COVID-19: A comprehensive review and recommendations

SARS-CoV-2 infection causes disruptions in inflammatory pathways, which fundamentally contribute to COVID-19 pathophysiology. The present review critically evaluates the gaps in scientific literature and presents the current status regarding the inflammatory signaling pathways in COVID-19. We propose that phytoconstituents can be used to treat COVID-19 associated inflammation, several already formulated in traditional medications. For this purpose, extensive literature analysis was conducted in the PubMed database to collect relevant in vitro, in vivo, and human patient studies where inflammation pathways were shown to be upregulated in COVID-19. Parallelly, scientific literature was screened for phytoconstituents with known cellular mechanisms implicated for inflammation or COVID-19 associated inflammation. Studies with insufficient evidence on cellular pathways for autophagy and mitophagy were considered out of scope and excluded from the study. The final analysis was visualized in figures and evaluated for accuracy. Our findings demonstrate the frequent participation of NF-κB, a transcription factor, in inflammatory signaling pathways linked to COVID-19. Moreover, the MAPK signaling pathway is also implicated in producing inflammatory molecules. Furthermore, it was also analyzed that the phytoconstituents with flavonoid and phenolic backbones could inhibit either the TLR4 receptor or its consecutive signaling molecules, thereby, decreasing NF-κB activity and suppressing cytokine production. Although, allopathy has treated the early phase of COVID-19, anti-inflammatory phytoconstituents and existing ayurvedic formulations may act on the COVID-19 associated inflammatory pathways and provide an additional treatment strategy. Therefore, we recommend the usage of flavonoids and phenolic phytoconstituents for the treatment of inflammation associated with COVID-19 infection and similar viral ailments.

Harnessing Nature's Toolbox: Naturally Derived Bioactive Compounds in Nanotechnology Enhanced Formulations

The vast diversity of plants in nature offers a rich reservoir of bioactive compounds that have historically played an integral role in pharmacotherapy and continue to serve as a primary source of novel therapeutic agents. Medicinal plants contain a multitude of secondary metabolites with pharmacological potential, making them indispensable in drug discovery and development. These bioactive constituents, inherent in herbal remedies, exhibit a wide range of medicinal properties due to their complex chemical compositions and structural diversity. Despite their therapeutic potential, the clinical application of crude plant extracts is often hindered by limitations, such as poor bioavailability, low biostability, and variable efficacy. These issues can diminish the therapeutic impact of plant-derived compounds. Nanotechnology presents an innovative approach to addressing these challenges through the development of nanoformulations that enhance the efficacy of bioactive compounds. This review examines both historical and recent studies on the synthesis and characterization of bioactive compounds, focusing on their effectiveness in treating various diseases. Additionally, it addresses the risks associated with the direct use of crude plant extracts in medicine, explores extraction and isolation techniques, and reviews research from the past five years on the development of bioactive compounds, their nanoformulations, and their applications in disease treatment. The review also presents recent clinical trials conducted over the last five years on crude extracts and their nanoformulated counterparts, providing insights into the clinical translation of these natural therapeutics.

Oil and mucilage idioblasts co-occur in the vegetative organs of Ocotea pulchella (Lauraceae): comparative development, ultrastructure and secretions

This study compares oil and mucilage idioblasts occurring together in the vegetative organs of Ocotea pulchella, a Lauraceae species. Our focus is specifically on the ontogeny and developmental cytology of these secretory cells. Both types of idioblasts originate from solitary cells located in the fundamental meristem, underlying the protodermis. The growth of both types of idioblasts is asynchronous, with the oil idioblasts developing first, but their initiation is restricted to the early stages of organ development. Mucilaginous idioblasts occur exclusively in the palisade parenchyma, while oil idioblasts are scattered throughout the mesophyll, midrib, and petiole of the leaves. The lamellar secretion of mucilage idioblasts is mostly made up of polysaccharides, while the secretion of oil idioblasts is made up of terpenes and lipids. Cupule occurred only in the oil idioblasts, while suberized layers occurred in both types of cells. We found that immature oil idioblasts that are close to each other fuse; mature mucilage idioblasts have labyrinthine walls arranged in a reticulate pattern; the cells close to the oil idioblasts have a pectin protective layer; and the oil idioblasts have a sheath of phenolic cells. In contrast to previous reports, the two types of secretory idioblasts were recognized during the early stages of their development. The results emphasize the importance of combining optical and electron microscopy methods to observe the ontogenetic, histochemical and ultrastructural changes that occur during the development of the secretory idioblasts. This can help us understand how secreting cells store their secretions and how their walls become specialized.

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

Background

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

Methods

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

Results

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

Conclusion

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

Isolation and antimicrobial activity of secondary metabolites of pothos tener wall

The Pothos genus is extensively utilised in traditional medicine in China and India. An underexplored species of Pothos tener Wall was identified in Sulawesi, Indonesia. Antimicrobial activity was assessed using microdilutions and streak plates against Staphylococcus aureus, Eschericia coli, Aeromonas hydrophila, Aspergillus niger, and Candida albicans. Significant effectiveness was observed in the methanol extract, as indicated by the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) values for three different extracts (methanol, ethyl acetate, and n-hexane) of P. tener. The isolates obtained were structurally analysed using Ultraviolet (UV)-spectroscopy, Fourier-transform Infra Red-Spectroscopy (FT-IR), Mass Spectroscopy (MS), Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), and antimicrobial testing after undergoing fractionation and subfractionation. The isolate obtained was stigmasterol with moderate antimicrobial activity against A. niger and A. hydrophila, with MIC equivalent to MBC of 500 µg/ml. The first report of stigmasterol from P. tener has potent antimicrobial properties, bolstering empirical data in this field.

Biochemical and in silico characterization of glycosyltransferases from red sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) reveals their broad specificity toward phenolic substrates

Polyphenolic compounds are a class of phytonutrients that play important roles in plants and contribute to human health when incorporated into our diet through fruit consumption. A large proportion occur as glycoconjugates but the enzymes responsible for their glycosylation are poorly characterized. Here, we report the biochemical and structural characterization of two glycosyltransferases from sweet cherry named PaUGT1 and PaUGT2. Both are promiscuous glucosyltransferases active on diverse anthocyanidins and flavonols, as well as phenolic acids in the case of PaUGT1. They also exhibit weaker galactosyltransferase activity. The expression of the gene encoding PaUGT1, the most active of the two proteins, follows anthocyanin accumulation during fruit ripening, suggesting that this enzyme is the primary glycosyltransferase involved in flavonoid glycosylation in sweet cherry. It can potentially be used to synthesize diverse glycoconjugates of flavonoids for integration into bioactive formulations, and for generating new fruit cultivars with enhanced health-promoting properties using breeding methods.

Development of Ultrasound-Processed Poppy (Papaver rhoeas L.) Sherbet Enriched with Bee Bread Using Response Surface Methodology: Changes in Shelf Life

This research aimed to investigate the effects of ultrasound treatment on the quality characteristics of optimized functional bee bread-enriched poppy sherbet. Antioxidant activity capacity, antimicrobial activity, phenolic compounds, ascorbic acid, organic acid and sugar composition, and sensory properties were performed under storage conditions. The present research was the first to express the effect of ultrasound on the bioactive components in a functional poppy sherbet enriched with bread, using the response surface methodology (RSM) optimization. The maximum optimization, radical scavenging activity (DPPH), total phenolic content (TPC), total anthocyanin content (TAC), and general acceptability values were determined. When comparing the 0th- and 21st-day samples of bee bread-fortified functional poppy sherbets, it was observed that the TPC was decreased (p < 0.05). It was also noted that there was no significant decrease in the total flavonoids on day 21. In storage, a decrease in anthocyanin content was observed. Among phenolic compounds, gallic acid had the highest content. While citric acid was found in the highest amount of organic acid, sucrose (6.25 g/L) was found in the highest amount of sugar components 0th day, while MIC values against Micrococcus luteus were lower. The data from this study will be important input for future work.

Cold plasma: Unveiling its impact on hydration, rheology, nutritional, and anti-nutritional properties in food materials - An overview

Non-thermal technologies, primarily employed for microbial inactivation and quality preservation in foods, have seen a surge in interest, with non-thermal plasma garnering particular attention. Cold plasma exhibits promising outcomes, including enhanced germination, improved functional and rheological properties, and microorganism destruction. This has sparked increased exploration across various domains, notably in hydration and rheological properties for creating new products. This review underscores the manifold benefits of applying cold plasma to diverse food materials, such as cereal and millet flours, and gums. Notable improvements encompass enhanced functionality, modified color parameters, altered rheological properties, and reduced anti-nutritional factors. The review delves into mechanisms like starch granule fragmentation, elucidating how these processes enhance the physical and structural properties of food materials. While promising for high-quality food development, overcoming challenges in scaling up production and addressing legal issues is essential for the technology's commercialization.

Poloxamer-Based Mixed Micelles Loaded with Thymol or Eugenol for Topical Applications

Poloxamers (P184, P188, and P407) have been investigated as the carrier system for eugenol or thymol. A synergic effect of mixed Poloxamers was proved by enhanced micellar parameters, with a lower critical micelle concentration (about 0.06 mM) and the highest surface adsorption of 9 × 10-7 mol m-2 for P188/P407. Dynamic light scattering revealed a decrease in micellar size after loading with biomolecules. Three mathematical models were applied to study the release kinetics, of which Korsmeyer-Peppas was the best fitted model. Higher relative release was observed for Poloxamer/eugenol samples, up to a value of 0.8. Poloxamer micelles with thymol were highly influential in bacterial reduction. Single P407/eugenol micelles proved to be bacteriostatic for up to 6 h for S. aureus or up to 48 h for E. coli. Mixed micelles were confirmed to have prolonged bacteriostatic activity for up to 72 h against both bacteria. This trend was also proven by the modified Gompertz model. An optimized P188/P407/eugenol micelle was successfully used as a model system for release study with a particle size of less than 30 nm and high encapsulation efficiency surpassing 90%. The developed mixed micelles were proved to have antibiofilm activity, and thus they provide an innovative approach for controlled release with potential in topical applications.

Dietary Phenolic Compounds-Wellbeing and Perspective Applications

Contemporary living is continuously leading to poor everyday choices resulting in the manifestation of various diseases. The benefits of plant-based nutrition are undeniable and research on the topic is rising. Modern man is now aware of the possibilities that plant nutrition can provide and is seeking ways to benefit from it. Dietary phenolic compounds are among the easily accessible beneficial substances that can exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, antiparasitic, analgesic, anti-diabetic, anti-atherogenic, antiproliferative, as well as cardio-and neuroprotective activities. Several industries are exploring ways to incorporate biologically active substances in their produce. This review is concentrated on presenting current information about the dietary phenolic compounds and their contribution to maintaining good health. Additionally, this content will demonstrate the importance and prosperity of natural compounds for various fields, i.e., food industry, cosmetology, and biotechnology, among others.

Antioxidant capacity sources of soils under different land uses

Antioxidants (AOX) in soils originate mainly from secondary plant metabolites and are pivotal in many redox processes in environment, maintaining soil quality. Still, little is known about the influence of land uses on their accumulation in soil. The aim of the paper was to determine the content of these redox-active compounds in the extracts of A horizons of abandoned fallows, arable and woodland soils. Total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of soils under various uses and vegetation was evaluated in different soil extracts using Folin-Ciocâlteu method. The contribution of humic acids to TAC was determined and antioxidant profiles estimated using the chromatographic GC-MS method. Forest soils exhibited the highest TAC (15.5 mg g-1) and AOX contents (4.34 mg g-1), which were positively correlated with soil organic carbon content. It was estimated that humic acids contribute to over 50% of TAC in soils. The main phenolics in woodland A horizons were isovanillic and p-hydroxybenzoic acid (p-HA), while esculetin and p-HA predominated in the abandoned fallows due to the prevalence of herbaceous vegetation. Cultivated soils were the most abundant in p-HA (56.42%). In the studied topsoils, there were considerable amounts of aliphatic organic matter, which role in redox processes should be further evaluated.

In vitro diffusion of plant phenolics through the skin: A review update

OBJECTIVE

Excessive skin exposure to deleterious environmental variables results in inflammation as well as molecular and cellular impairments that compromise its functionality, aesthetic qualities, and overall well-being. The implementation of topical administration of antioxidants and other compounds as a method for preventing or reversing damage is a rational approach. Numerous phenolic compounds derived from plants have demonstrated capabilities such as scavenging free radicals and promoting tissue healing. However, the primary obstacle lies in effectively delivering these compounds to the specific place on the skin, and accurately forecasting their diffusion through the skin can assist in determining the most effective tactics. Hence, this article provides a comprehensive analysis of recent literature pertaining to the in vitro skin diffusion characteristics of plant phenolics. The aim is to gain a deeper understanding of their behaviour when present in various forms such as solutions, suspensions, and formulations.

METHOD

The data on plant extracts and isolated plant phenolic compounds in vitro skin diffusion assays published over the last six years were compiled and discussed.

RESULTS

Even though the gold standard Franz diffusion cell is the most commonly used in the assessment of in vitro plant phenolic skin diffusion profiles, a plethora of skin models and assay conditions are reported for a variety of compounds and extracts in different vehicles.

CONCLUSION

The presence of numerous models and vehicles poses a challenge in creating correlations among the existing data on plant phenolic compounds. However, it is possible to draw some general conclusions regarding molecular, vehicle, and skin characteristics based on the gathered information.

Artemisia vulgaris L., Artemisia alba Turra and their constituents reduce mitomycin C-induced genomic instability in human peripheral blood lymphocytes in vitro

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of aqueous and acetone extracts from Artemisia vulgaris L. (AV) and Artemisia alba Turra (AA), and two major polyphenols compounds (3,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid and quercetin-3-O-glucopyranoside) presented in both extracts of the plants against mitomycin C (MMC)-induced genomic instability. Genomic instability was measured using cytokinesis block micronucleus (MN) assay in human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) in vitro by analyzing two biomarkers - MN and nuclear division index (NDI). Extracts were tested in a concentration-dependent manner (10-250 µg/mL), while 3,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid and quercetin-3-O-glucopyranoside were tested in three different concentrations, in combination with 0.5 µg/mL of MMC. Aqueous and acetone extracts obtained from both plants significantly reduced MMC-induced MN frequency in PBLs, compared to positive control cells (p < 0.05). Extracts from AV did not affect NDI, whereas the concentrations of 10-100 μg/mL of aqueous and acetone AA extracts significantly elevated MMC-decreased NDI values in comparison to positive control cells (p < 0.05). Combined treatment of 3,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid and MMC showed a significant reduction of MMC-induced MN frequency, while quercetin-3-O-glucopyranoside increased MN frequency compared to positive control cells (p < 0.05). Both compounds decreased NDI values but only at the highest tested concentration of quercetin-3-O-glucopyranoside it was of greater significance. In conclusion, all extracts from AV and AA and 3,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid showed protective effect, whereby aqueous AA demonstrated the highest protective effect on MMC- induced genomic instability, while quercetin-3-O-glucopyranoside showed co-mutagen effect.

Antioxidant, antibacterial and antiviral effects of the combination of ginger and garlic extracts

Garlic and ginger are well known as safe alternatives to traditional therapies. Limited information exists regarding antioxidant, antibacterial and antiviral capabilities of the combination of ginger and garlic. Standard methodologies were employed to determine the phytochemical compositions. Antioxidant activities were evaluated through DPPH and FRAP assays. Notably, in DPPH assay, combination of ginger and garlic extracts displayed significantly higher (85.44%, p < 0.005) antioxidant activity even at lower concentrations (6 mg/ml) compared to ginger and garlic extracts alone. Similar findings were observed for FRAP assay. At low concentration of extracts (25 µg/ml), combination of ginger and garlic exhibited significant (p < 0.005) increase in reducing activity (51%) compared to ginger or garlic extracts alone. Significant antibacterial and antiviral activities were exhibited by the combination of both ginger and garlic extracts as compared to ginger and garlic extracts alone. The combined effect of garlic and ginger exhibited a synergistic effect in bacterial and viral growth inhibition. These findings suggest that the diverse phytochemical compositions of the ginger and garlic varieties contribute to their strong antioxidant properties, potentially positioning them as valuable therapeutics for bacterial and viral infections. Further analysis will be required for their widespread utilization and pharmaceutical applications.

Leishmanicidal and immunomodulatory activity of Terminalia catappa in Leishmania amazonensisin vitro infection

Leishmaniases are infectious-parasitic diseases that impact public health around the world. Antileishmanial drugs presented toxicity and increase in parasitic resistance. Studies with natural products show an alternative to this effect, and several metabolites have demonstrated potential in the treatment of various diseases. Terminalia catappa is a plant species with promising pharmaceutical properties. The objective of this work was to evaluate the therapeutic potential of extracts and fractions of T. catappa on Leishmania amazonensis and investigate the immunomodulatory mechanisms associated with its action. In anti-Leishmania assays, the ethyl acetate fraction exhibited activity against promastigotes (IC50 86.07 ± 1.09 μg/mL) and low cytotoxicity (CC50 517.70 ± 1.68 μg/mL). The ethyl acetate fraction also inhibited the intracellular parasite (IC50 25.74 ± 1.08 μg/mL) with a selectivity index of 20.11. Treatment with T. catappa ethyl acetate fraction did not alter nitrite production by peritoneal macrophages stimulated with L. amazonensis, although there was a decrease in unstimulated macrophages treated at 50 μg/mL (p = 0.0048). The T. catappa ethyl acetate fraction at 100 μg/mL increased TNF-α levels (p = 0.0238) and downregulated HO-1 (p = 0.0030) and ferritin (p = 0.0002) gene expression in L. amazonensis-stimulated macrophages. Additionally, the total flavonoid and ellagic acid content for ethyl acetate fraction was 13.41 ± 1.86 mg QE/g and 79.25 mg/g, respectively. In conclusion, the T. catappa ethyl acetate fraction showed leishmanicidal activity against different forms of L. amazonensis and displayed immunomodulatory mechanisms, including TNF-α production and expression of pro and antioxidant genes.

Ultrasound-assisted deep eutectic solvent extraction of bioactive compounds from persimmon calyx

This study aimed to investigate the ultrasound-assisted extraction of bioactive compounds from persimmon (Diospyros kaki) calyx by deep eutectic solvents (DES) with different molar ratios. For this reason, the prepared DES extracts' total phenolic-flavonoid compounds and antioxidant activities (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrilhydrazyl radical scavenging activity [DPPH•], Cupric Reducing Antioxidant Capacity (CUPRAC), and ferric reducing antioxidant power [FRAP]) were investigated as a result of the experimental design and optimization study conducted for this purpose. A sonication time of 20 min was determined as the optimal condition. Under these conditions, a molar ratio of 1.9:1 (lactic acid:choline chloride) and a water ratio of 70% provided the highest phenolic/flavonoid compounds and antioxidative activity. Correlations among water ratio, molar ratio, and sonication time were determined using principal component analysis (PCA). In conditions where total flavonoid compound, FRAP, and DPPH• are high due to PCA, it can be concluded that the sonication time is at high level; on the contrary, the water and molar ratios are at low level. In conclusion, ultrasound-assisted extraction using DES proved effective in persimmon calyx. Therefore, it can be recommended to use these environmentally friendly green solvents as an alternative to organic solvents in preparing extracts in various fields. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: This study shows the effectiveness of the ultrasound-assisted green extraction method using persimmon calyx specified as waste. These findings are compelling in the food industry in terms of consumers being now aware of green technology and the discovery that calyx is a good source of bioactive compounds.

Effects of gallic acid on the release of aroma compounds in Moutai Baijiu

Due to the trace concentrations of gallic acid (GA), the interaction mechanism between GA and flavor compounds is limited, and the effects on the aroma compounds of Moutai Baijiu are even more unclear. In this study, the aroma compounds and phenolic compounds in Moutai Baijiu were investigated by stir bar sorptive extraction (SBSE), gas chromatography-olfactometry (GC-O), gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). A total of 63 volatiles and 10 phenolic compounds were identified, and 16 esters and 4 alcohols were identified as the important aroma substances (odor activity values ≥1). The effect of GA on the release of aroma compounds was investigated by sensory analysis and partition coefficient. The results showed that GA mainly inhibited the volatilization of alcohols, low concentrations of GA promoted the release of esters, and high concentrations slowed down or even inhibited the release effect affected by the hydrophobicity of aroma compounds. UV spectroscopy and thermodynamic analysis further revealed that the interaction of GA with 1-propanol was attributed mainly to hydrogen bonding and van der Waals forces, and the interaction with other compounds was mainly influenced by hydrophobic effects. These results show that gallic acid can effectively control the release of the aromas of Moutai Baijiu, highlight the important role of GA on the volatiles of baijiu, and provide theoretical support for further healthy improvement of the sensory quality of baijiu.

A computational investigation of potential plant-based bioactive compounds against drug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus of multiple target proteins

Drug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (DRSA) poses a significant global health threat, like bacteremia, endocarditis, skin, soft tissue, bone, and joint infections. Nowadays, the resistance against conventional drugs has been a prompt and focused medical concern. The present study aimed to explore the inhibitory potential of plant-based bioactive compounds (PBBCs) against effective target proteins using a computational approach. We retrieved and verified 22 target proteins associated with DRSA and conducted a screening process that involved testing 87 PBBCs. Molecular docking was performed between screened PBBCs and reference drugs with selected target proteins via AutoDock. Subsequently, we filtered the target proteins and top PBBCs based on their binding affinity scores. Furthermore, molecular dynamic simulation was carried out through GROMACS for a duration of 100 ns, and the binding free energy was calculated using the gmx_MMPBSA. The result showed consistent hydrogen bonding interactions among the amino acid residues Ser 149, Arg 151, Thr 165, Thr 216, Glu 239, Ser 240, Ile 14, as well as Asn 18, Gln 19, Lys 45, Thr 46, Tyr 109, with their respective target proteins of the penicillin-binding protein and dihydrofolate reductase complex. Additionally, we assessed the pharmacokinetic properties of screened PBBCs via SwissADME and AdmetSAR. The findings suggest that β-amyrin, oleanolic acid, kaempferol, quercetin, and friedelin have the potential to inhibit the selected target proteins. In future research, both in vitro and in vivo, experiments will be needed to establish these PBBCs as potent antimicrobial drugs for DRSA.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

HPLC-DAD-MS Characterization, Antioxidant Activity, α-amylase Inhibition, Molecular Docking, and ADMET of Flavonoids from Fenugreek Seeds

Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) has a great beneficial health effect; it has been used in traditional medicine by many cultures. Likewise, the α-amylase inhibitors are potential compounds in the development of drugs for the treatment of diabetes. The beneficial health effects of fenugreek lead us to explore the chemical composition of the seeds and their antioxidant and α-amylase inhibition activities. The flavonoid extraction from fenugreek seeds was achieved with methanol through a Soxhlet apparatus. Then, the flavonoid glycosides were characterized using HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS analysis. The antioxidant capacity of fenugreek seed was measured using DPPH, FRAP, ABTS, and CUPRAC assays. Finally, the α-amylase inhibition activity was carried out using in vitro and in silico methods. The methanolic extract was found to contain high amounts of total phenolics (154.68 ± 1.50 μg GAE/mg E), flavonoids (37.69 ± 0.73 μg QE/mg E). The highest radical-scavenging ability was recorded for the methanolic extract against DPPH (IC50 = 556.6 ± 9.87 μg/mL), ABTS (IC50 = 593.62 ± 9.35 μg/mL). The ME had the best reducing power according to the CUPRAC (A 0.5 = 451.90 ± 9.07 μg/mL). The results indicate that the methanolic extracts of fenugreek seed best α-amylase inhibition activities IC50 = 653.52 ± 3.24 μg/mL. Twenty-seven flavonoids were detected, and all studied flavonoids selected have good affinity and stabilize very well in the pocket of α-amylase. The interactions between the studied flavonoids with α-amylase were investigated. The flavonoids from fenugreek seed present a good inhibitory effect against α-amylase, which is beneficial for the prevention of diabetes and its complications.

Antioxidant activity, anti-tyrosinase activity, molecular docking studies, and molecular dynamic simulation of active compounds found in nipa palm vinegar

Tyrosinase is a key enzyme in melanogenesis and its inhibitors have become increasingly because of their potential activity as hypopigmenting agents which have less side effects. Nipa palm vinegar is an aqueous product that is normally used as a food supplement. The aim of this study was to study the determination of antioxidant activity and tyrosinase inhibitory activities of aqueous extract of original nipa palm vinegar (AE O-NPV), nipa palm vinegar powder (NPV-P) and aqueous extract of nipa palm vinegar powder (AE NPV-P) were examined. Nipa palm vinegars were evaluated the phenolic and flavonoid content, and the active compounds which were submitted to molecular docking and molecular dynamic simulation, chemoinformatics, rule of five, skin absorption and toxicity. The highest phenolic and flavonoid contents in the AE O-NPV were 2.36 ± 0.23 mg gallic acid equivalents/g extract and 5.11 ± 0.59 mg quercetin equivalents/g, and the highest ABTS radical cation scavenging activity was also found. The AE O-NPV, NPV-P and AE NPV-P showed anti-mushroom tyrosinase activity. The HPLC analysis showed that there were vanillic acid and three flavonoids (catechin, rutin and quercetin). The molecular docking study revealed that the binding of the vanillic acid and three flavonoids occurred in the active site residues (histidine and other amino acids). Moreover, the number of hydrogen bond acceptors/donors, solubility, polar surface area and bioavailability score of the vanillic acid and three flavonoids were acceptable compared to Lipinski's Rule of Five. The molecular dynamic simulation showed that vanillic acid interacts with HIS284 through π-π stacking hydrophobic interactions and forms a metal-acceptor interaction with the copper molecule at the tyrosinase active site. All compounds revealed good skin permeability and nontoxicity. Nipa palm vinegar could be a promising source of a new ingredient for tyrosinase inhibition for cosmetics or pharmaceutical products.

Unraveling the bioactive interplay: seaweed polysaccharide, polyphenol and their gut modulation effect

Seaweed is rich in many unique bioactive compounds such as polyphenols and sulfated polysaccharides that are not found in terrestrial plant. The discovery of numerous biological activities from seaweed has made seaweed an attractive functional food source with the potential to be exploited for human health benefits. During food processing and digestion, cell wall polysaccharide and polyphenols commonly interact, and this may influence the nutritional properties of food. Interactions between cell wall polysaccharide and polyphenols in plant-based system has been extensively studied. However, similar interactions in seaweed have received little attention despite the vast disparity between the structural and chemical composition of plant and seaweed cell wall. This poses a challenge in extracting seaweed bioactive compounds with intact biological properties. This review aims to summarize the cell wall polysaccharide and polyphenols present in brown, red and green seaweed, and current knowledge on their potential interactions. Moreover, this review gives an overview of the gut modulation effect of seaweed polysaccharide and polyphenol.

Study of Mono and Di-O-caffeoylquinic Acid Isomers in Acmella oleracea Extracts by HPLC-MS/MS and Application of Linear Equation of Deconvolution Analysis Algorithm for Their Characterization

Chlorogenic acids, the esters of caffeic and quinic acids, are the main phenolic acids detected in Acmella oleracea extracts and have gained increasing interest in recent years due to their important biological activities. Given their structural similarity and instability, the correct analysis and identification of these compounds in plants is challenging. This study aimed to propose a simple and rapid determination of the A. oleracea caffeoylquinic isomers, applying an HPLC-MS/MS method supported by a mathematical algorithm (Linear Equation of Deconvolution Analysis (LEDA)). The three mono- and the three di-caffeoylquinic acids in roots of Acmella plants were studied by an ion trap MS analyzer. A separation by a conventional chromatographic method was firstly performed and an MS/MS characterization by energetic dimension of collision-induced dissociation mechanism was carried out. The analyses were then replicated using a short HPLC column and a fast elution gradient (ten minutes). Each acquired MS/MS data were processed by LEDA algorithm which allowed to assign a relative abundance in the reference ion signal to each isomer present. Quantitative results showed no significant differences between the two chromatographic systems proposed, proving that the use of LEDA algorithm allowed the distinction of the six isomers in a quarter of the time.

Alginate-chitosan-microencapsulated tyrosols/oleuropein-rich olive mill waste extract for lipopolysaccharide-induced skin fibroblast inflammation treatment

The Ca2+ ion-driven emulsification-ionotropic gelation method produced chitosan-alginate microspheres (CAMSs) with a narrow particle size distribution (PSD). Particle size distribution and zeta potential studies, as well as spectral electron microscopy, were used to assess the microspheres' physicochemical properties and morphology. The tyrosols (hydroxytyrosol (HT), tyrosol (TY), and oleuropein (OE) were loaded into these microspheres using a polyphenol extract (PPE) from Koroneki olive mill waste (KOMW). The microencapsulation efficiency and loading capacity of microspheres for PPE were 98.8% and 3.9%, respectively. Three simulated fluids, including gastric (pH = 1.2), intestinal (pH = 6.8), and colonic (pH = 7.4), were used to examine how the pH of the releasing medium affected the ability of CAMSs to release bioactive phenols. At a severely acidic pH (1.2, SGF), PPE release is nearly halted, while at pH 6.8 (SCF), release is at its maximum. Additionally, the PPE-CAMPs have ameliorated the endogenous antioxidant content SOD, GST, GPx with significant values from 0.05 to 0.01 in the treated LPS/human skin fibroblast cells. The anti-inflammatory response was appeared through their attenuations activity for the released cytokines TNF-α, IL6, IL1β, and IL 12 with levels significantly from 0.01 to 0.001. Microencapsulation of PPE by CAMPs significantly improved its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capabilities.

In vitro and in vivo antioxidant and antihyperglycemic potentials of phenolic fractions of Syzygium zeylanicum (L.) DC trunk-bark

Syzygium zeylanicum L. (DC) (SZL) has been used in antidiabetes treatment for ages. However, the scientific evidence of active agents that have antidiabetic activity and response against biological activities is limited. In this study, the active components of SZL trunk-bark extract (SZL extract) were identified using principal component analysis (PCA), and their antidiabetic activities were assessed. The results indicated that the ethyl acetate fraction (EAF) had the highest concentration of phenolic compounds, antioxidants, and antihyperglycemic activities in the postprandial zebrafish model. The major antioxidant contributors were gallic acid, catechin, epicatechin, ellagic acid, quercetin, caffeine, and apigenin, and their concentrated levels reduced α-amylase inhibitory activity, whereas rutin and ethyl gallate influenced the α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. This study showed the bio-functional properties of active phenolic compounds present in the SZL extract, potentially serving as a functional food to control hyperglycemia.

Wild Fruits of Crataegus monogyna Jacq. and Sorbus aria (L.) Crantz: From Traditional Foods to Innovative Sources of Pigments and Antioxidant Ingredients for Food Products

Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna Jacq.) and whitebeam (Sorbus aria (L.) Crantz) are wild species traditionally used as ethnic foods in the Mediterranean area. Their red berries, and mainly the peels, may be used as ingredients due to their color (replacing other synthetic colorants) or functional properties. Some previous studies analyze all edible fruits, but there is very little literature on the composition and properties of the pulpless epidermis of the fruits of C. monogyna and no literature concerning the fruits of S. aria. Total phenolic compounds (TPC) and families of hydroxybenzoic acids, hydroxycinnamic acids, flavonols, and total monomeric anthocyanins were determined in the epidermis of C. monogyna and S. aria fruits. The in vitro antioxidant capacity was also determined using QUENCHER (Quick-Easy-New-CHEap-Reproducible) methodology. Anthocyanins profiles were analyzed in hydroalcoholic extracts through HPLC/MS. C. monogyna fruits presented higher content of TPC than S. aria, with hydroxybenzoic acids (2870.6 mg GAE/100g dw) as the major family, followed by flavonols (771.4 mg QE/100 g dw) and hydroxycinnamic acids (610.3 FAE/100 g dw). Anthocyanins were found in 251.7 mg cyanidin-3-glucoside/100 g dw, characterized by the content of cyanidin-O-hexoxide and peonidin-O-hexoxide. The levels of these compounds correlated with higher values of a* parameter (higher intensity of reddish color). These fruits also showed higher antioxidant capacity by Q-Folin-Ciocalteu and Q-FRAP. S. aria peels had fewer phenolic compounds, particularly anthocyanins (33.7 mg cyanidin-3-glucoside/100 g dw), containing different cyanidin derivatives. From these results, new insights about the composition of the epidermis of these wild fruits are provided, and their potential as ingredients for the food industry is corroborated.

Determination of the Total Phenolics Content and Antioxidant Activity of Extracts from Parts of Plants from the Greek Island of Crete

Oxidative damages are responsible for many adverse health effects and food deterioration. The use of antioxidant substances is well renowned, and as such, much emphasis is placed on their use. Since synthetic antioxidants exhibit potential adverse effects, plant-derived antioxidants are a preferable solution. Despite the myriads of plants that exist and the fact that numerous studies have been carried out so far, there are many species that have not been examined so far. Many plants under research exist in Greece. Trying to fill this research gap, the total phenolics content and antioxidant activity of seventy methanolic extracts from parts of Greek plants were evaluated. The total phenolics content was measured by the Folin-Ciocalteau assay. Their antioxidant capacity was calculated by the 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging test, the Rancimat method based on conductometric measurements, and the thermoanalytical method DSC (Differential Scanning Calorimetry). The tested samples were obtained from several parts of fifty-seven Greek plant species belonging to twenty-three different families. Both a remarkably high phenolic content (with gallic acid equivalents varying between 311.6 and 735.5 mg/g of extract) and radical scavenging activity (IC₅₀ values ranged from 7.2 to 39.0 μg/mL) were found in the extract of the aerial parts of Cistus species (C. creticus subsp. creticus, C. creticus subsp. eriocephalus, C. monspeliensis, C. parviflorus and C. salviifolius), Cytinus taxa (C. hypocistis subsp. hypocistis, C. hypocistis subsp. orientalis and C. ruber), and Sarcopoterium spinosum. Furthermore, the sample of Cytinus ruber showed the highest protection factor (PF = 1.276) regarding the Rancimat method, which was similar to that of butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) (PF = 1.320). The results indicated that these plants are rich in antioxidant compounds, potentiating their use either as food additives to enhance the antioxidant properties of food products, or protect them from oxidation, or as sources for the preparation of food supplements with antioxidant properties.

Early detection of stripe rust infection in wheat using light-induced fluorescence spectroscopy

In the current study, the application of fluorescence spectroscopy along with the advanced statistical technique and confocal microscopy was investigated for the early detection of stripe rust infection in wheat grown under field conditions. The indigenously developed Fluorosensor fitted with LED, emitting monochromatic light was used that covered comparatively larger leaf area for recording fluorescence data thus presenting more reliable current status of the leaf. The examined leaf samples covered the entire range of stripe rust disease infection from no visible symptoms to the complete disease prevalence. The molecular changes were also assessed in the leaves as the disease progresses. The emission spectra mainly produce two fluorescence emission classes, namely the blue-green fluorescence (400-600 nm range) and chlorophyll fluorescence (650-800 nm range). The chlorophyll fluorescence region showed lower chlorophyll bands both at 685 and 735 nm in the asymptomatic (early diseased) and symptomatic (diseased) leaf samples than the healthy ones as a result of partial deactivation of PSII reaction centers. The 735 nm chlorophyll fluorescence band was either slight or completely absent in the leaf samples with lower to higher disease incidence and thus differentiate between the healthy and the infected leaf samples. The Hydroxycinnamic acids (caffeic and sinapic acids) showed decreasing trend, whereas the ferulic acid increased with the rise in disease infection. Peak broadening/shifting has been observed in case of ferulic acid and carotenes/carotenoids, with the increase in the disease intensity. While using the LEDs (365 nm), the peak broadening and the decline in the chlorophyll fluorescence bands could be used for the early prediction of stripe rust disease in wheat crop. The PLSR statistical techniques discriminated well between the healthy and the diseased samples, thus showed promise in early disease detection. Confocal microscopy confirmed the early prevalence of stripe rust disease infection in a susceptible variety at a stage when the disease is not detectable visually. It is inferred that fluorescence emission spectroscopy along with the chemometrics aided in the effective and timely diagnosis of plant diseases and the detected signatures provide the basis for remote sensing.

Pattern Recognition of Varieties of Peach Fruit and Pulp from Their Volatile Components and Metabolic Profile Using HS-SPME-GC/MS Combined with Multivariable Statistical Analysis

A fruit's aroma profile, composed of a complex mixture of volatile organic compounds, is among the core attributes related to the overall taste and consumer preference. Prunus persica L. is a preferred summer fruit with a distinct, favorable olfactory characteristic. The volatile compositions of both peach fruits and fruit pulps from eight peach cultivars (four native and four introduced) was investigated to compare their composition and assess flavor-contributing compounds. In total, 65 compounds were profiled after a HS-SPME-GC-MS analysis: 16 esters, 14 aldehydes, 5 alcohols, 7 hydrocarbons, 7 ketones, 8 acids, and 8 terpenes. The most common compounds were esters, acids, and aldehydes. Although the same compounds were identified in both fruit and pulp, their %TIC (total ion current) differed in favor of the whole fruit. Following the metabolic profiling of the whole fruit and fruit pulp, a total of 44 compounds were identified from the studied varieties. Among them, amino acids, organic acids, sugar alcohols, saccharides, fatty acids, and phenolic acids were identified as existing groups. According to the provided principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA), the relative %TIC of the identified volatile compounds fluctuated depending on the studied cultivar. No differences were visible in the PCA biplots, which suggested that the polar and lipid metabolites do not provide significant variations when considering different parts of the fruit, contrary to the volatile compounds. The obtained results could successfully be applied in the metabolic chemotaxonomy of peaches and the differentiation of the metabolites present in different parts of the peach.

Phenolic Constituents from Wendlandia tinctoria var. grandis (Roxb.) DC. Stem Deciphering Pharmacological Potentials against Oxidation, Hyperglycemia, and Diarrhea: Phyto-Pharmacological and Computational Approaches

Wendlandia tinctoria var. grandis (Roxb.) DC. (Family: Rubiaceae) is a semi-evergreen shrub distributed over tropical and subtropical Asia. The present research intended to explore the pharmacological potential of the stem extract of W. tinctoria, focusing on the antioxidant, hypoglycemic, and antidiarrheal properties, and to isolate various secondary metabolites as mediators of such activities. A total of eight phenolic compounds were isolated from the dichloromethane soluble fraction of the stem extract of this plant, which were characterized by electrospray ionization (ESI) mass spectrometric and 1H NMR spectroscopic data as liquiritigenin (1), naringenin (2), apigenin (3), kaempferol (4), glabridin (5), ferulic acid (6), 4-hydroxybenzoic acid (7), and 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde (8). The dichloromethane soluble fraction exhibited the highest phenolic content (289.87 ± 0.47 mg of GAE/g of dried extract) and the highest scavenging activity (IC50 = 18.83 ± 0.07 µg/mL) against the DPPH free radical. All of the isolated compounds, except 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde, exerted a higher antioxidant effect (IC50 = 6.20 ± 0.10 to 16.11 ± 0.02 μg/mL) than the standard butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) (IC50 = 17.09 ± 0.01 μg/mL). Significant hypoglycemic and antidiarrheal activities of the methanolic crude extract at both doses (200 mg/kg bw and 400 mg/kg bw) were observed in a time-dependent manner. Furthermore, the computational modeling study supported the current in vitro and in vivo findings, and the isolated constituents had a higher or comparable binding affinity for glutathione reductase and urase oxidase enzymes, glucose transporter 3 (GLUT 3), and kappa-opioid receptor, inferring potential antioxidant, hypoglycemic, and antidiarrheal properties, respectively. This is the first report of all of these phenolic compounds being isolated from this plant species and even the first demonstration of the plant stem extract's antioxidant, hypoglycemic, and antidiarrheal potentials. According to the current findings, the W. tinctoria stem could be a potential natural remedy for treating oxidative stress, hyperglycemia, and diarrhea. Nevertheless, further extensive investigation is crucial for thorough phytochemical screening and determining the precise mechanisms of action of the plant-derived bioactive metabolites against broad-spectrum molecular targets.

Investigation of Antioxidant Synergisms and Antagonisms among Phenolic Acids in the Model Matrices Using FRAP and ORAC Methods

The total antioxidant potential of a sample cannot be predicted from the antioxidant activity of its compounds; thus, scientists usually explain the overall activity through their combined effects (synergistic, antagonistic, or additive). Phenolic compounds are one of the most powerful and widely investigated antioxidants, but there is a lack of information about their molecular interactions. This study aimed to investigate the individual and combined antioxidant activity of equimolar mixtures (binary, ternary, quaternary, and quinary) of 10 phenolic acids (protocatechuic, gentisic, gallic, vanillic, syringic, p-coumaric, caffeic, ferulic, sinapic, and rosmarinic acid) at different concentrations using ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) assays. Gallic acid showed the highest antioxidant activity, determined using the FRAP assay (494-5033 µM Fe2+) and rosmarinic acid with the ORAC assay (50-92 µM Trolox Equivalents (TE)), while the lowest antioxidant potential was observed for p-coumaric acid (FRAP 24-113 µM Fe2+ and ORAC 20-33 µM TE). The synergistic effect (by FRAP) in the equimolar mixtures of hydroxybenzoic acids was confirmed for a large number of tested mixtures, especially at low concentrations. All mixtures containing gentisic acid showed a synergistic effect (28-89% difference). Using the ORAC method, only two mixtures of hydroxybenzoic acids showed an antagonistic effect, namely a mixture of gentisic + syringic acids (-24% difference) and gallic + vanillic acids (-30% difference), while all other mixtures showed a synergistic effect in a range of 26-236% difference. Among mixtures of hydroxycinnamic acids, the highest synergistic effect was observed for the mixtures of p-coumaric + ferulic acids and caffeic + sinapic acids with differences of 311% and 211%, respectively. The overall antioxidant activity of phenolic acids could be explained by the number or position of hydroxyl and/or methoxy functional groups as well as the compound concentration, but the influence of other parameters such as dissociation, intramolecular hydrogen bonds, and electron donating or withdrawing effect should not be neglected.

Evaluation of Biological Activity of Natural Compounds: Current Trends and Methods

Natural compounds have diverse structures and are present in different forms of life. Metabolites such as tannins, anthocyanins, and alkaloids, among others, serve as a defense mechanism in live organisms and are undoubtedly compounds of interest for the food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries. Plants, bacteria, and insects represent sources of biomolecules with diverse activities, which are in many cases poorly studied. To use these molecules for different applications, it is essential to know their structure, concentrations, and biological activity potential. In vitro techniques that evaluate the biological activity of the molecules of interest have been developed since the 1950s. Currently, different methodologies have emerged to overcome some of the limitations of these traditional techniques, mainly via reductions in time and costs. These emerging technologies continue to appear due to the urgent need to expand the analysis capacity of a growing number of reported biomolecules. This review presents an updated summary of the conventional and relevant methods to evaluate the natural compounds' biological activity in vitro.

Investigation of the Renal Protective Effect of Combined Dietary Polyphenols in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Aged Rats

Natural polyphenols are widely reported to have a large range of pharmacological properties, especially antioxidant activities and free radical scavenging capacities. In this study, we investigate the effects of naringin, chlorogenic acid, and quercetin mixtures (NCQ) on renal fibrosis in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic aged rats and its underlying mechanisms for ten consecutive weeks. The oxidative defense system in the kidneys of treated rats was found to be improved. Several biomarkers were investigated including the blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, and uric acid. Moreover, antioxidant parameters were evaluated and we found that superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, Na⁺-K⁺-ATPase activities, the nitric oxide production, the protein carbonyl, the advanced oxidation protein products, lipid peroxidation, and reduced glutathione levels were all significantly balanced and close to control values. In addition, NCQ restored renal injuries and fibrosis as assessed by histological method and molecular biology investigation of the matrix metalloproteinase, the transforming growth factor-beta TGF-β, the tumor necrosis factor TNFα, and p53 expression. Our study proposes the NCQ combination as potential plant-derived bioactive compounds to prevent diabetic nephropathy.

Secondary plant metabolites as potent drug candidates against antimicrobial-resistant pathogens

Antibiotic resistance is a major public health threat of the twenty-first century and represents an important risk to the global economy. Healthcare-associated infections mainly caused by drug-resistant bacteria are wreaking havoc in patient care worldwide. The spread of such pathogens limits the utility of available drugs and complicates the treatment of bacterial diseases. As a result, there is an urgent need for new drugs with mechanisms of action capable of curbing resistance. Plants synthesize and utilize various metabolic compounds to deter pathogens and predators. Utilizing these plant-based metabolites is a promising option in identifying novel bioactive compounds that could be harnessed to develop new potent antimicrobial drugs to treat multidrug-resistant pathogens. The purpose of this review is to highlight medicinal plants as important sources of novel antimicrobial agents that could be developed to help combat antimicrobial resistance.