Phytochemical constituents, nutritional values, phenolics, flavonols, flavonoids, antioxidant and cytotoxicity studies on Phaleria macrocarpa (Scheff.) Boerl fruits

Light-Regulated Growth, Anatomical, Metabolites Biosynthesis and Transcriptional Changes in Angelica sinensis

Angelica sinensis is an alpine medicinal plant that has been widely used as a general blood tonic and gynecological indications over 2000 years, which depend on the bioactive metabolites (e.g., volatile oils, organic acids, and flavonoids). Although the accumulation of these metabolites is significantly affected by the environmental factors (e.g., altitude, temperature, and sunshine) as found in previous studies, the regulatory mechanism of different lights has not been clearly revealed. Here, growth parameters, contents of bioactive metabolites, and expression levels of related genes were examined when A. sinensis was exposed to different white-light (WL) and UV-B radiation treatments. The results showed that the differences in growth parameters (e.g., plant height, root length, and plant biomass) and leaf tissue characteristics (e.g., leaf thickness, stomatal density and shape, and chloroplast density) were observed under different light treatments. The contents of Z-ligustilide and ferulic acid elevated with the increase of WL (50 to 150 µmol·m2/s) and maximized under the combination of WL-100 and UV-B (107 µW/m2, UV-107) radiation, while the total flavonoids and polysaccharides contents, as well as in vitro antioxidant capacity, elevated with the increasing of WL and UV-B. mRNA transcripts encoding for the biosynthesis of volatile oils, ferulic acid, flavonoids, and polysaccharides were found to be differentially regulated under the different WL and UV-B treatments. These morphological, anatomical, and transcriptional changes are consistent with the elevated bioactive metabolites in A. sinensis under the combination of WL and UV-B. These findings will provide useful references for improving bioactive metabolite production via the cultivation and bioengineering of A. sinensis.

Quality Evaluation and Heat and Mass Transfer Mechanism of Microwave Vacuum Drying of Astragalus Roots

In this research, the objective was to optimize the drying process of Astragalus by investigating the effects of microwave vacuum drying parameters, including temperature (30, 35, 40, 45, and 50 °C) and slice thickness (2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 mm). In addition, utilizing COMSOL 6.0 finite element analysis software, we delved into the distribution of heat and moisture during the drying process. The results revealed that drying temperature played a significantly greater role than slice thickness in determining the drying dynamics. The thermal and mass transfer mechanism indicated that the whole drying process conforms to the microwave radiation mechanism and the basic principle of electromagnetic heating. In the case of low temperatures and thinner slice sizes, the more polysaccharide content was retained; The total phenol content peaked when the slice thickness was 5 mm; The increase of slice thickness was not conducive to the retention of total flavonoids content. The potent antioxidant capacity was detected at a temperature of 40 °C, with slice thickness having a negligible effect on this capacity; Low temperatures were beneficial for the preservation of active ingredients. Compared with the scanning electron microscope, the structure appeared more uniform at a temperature of 50 °C. Based on the analysis of the kinetic characteristics of microwave vacuum drying of Astragalus and the quality achieved under various drying conditions, the results of the study can provide valuable guidance for controlling the quality of microwave vacuum drying of Astragalus under different drying requirements.

Segmented variable-frequency ultrasound synergistic hot-air drying of Rhubarb: Effect on drying characteristics and quality and thermal analysis

This study employed segmented variable-frequency ultrasound synergistic hot-air drying (SVFU-HAD) for Rhubarb slices, selected two sets of time nodes for frequency conversion (60 min, 120 min, and 90 min, 150 min), and two sequences of frequency conversion (high-frequency to low-frequency, and low-frequency to high-frequency). It aimed to investigate the effects of SVFU-HAD on the drying characteristics, quality, and heat transfer of Rhubarb slices. The findings indicated that segmented variable-frequency ultrasound has advantages in increasing drying rate and improving uniformity of cavitation effects compared to constant-frequency ultrasound. Analysis of physical properties revealed that the rehydration performance of dried products subjected to ultrasonic variable-frequency treatment (90 min, 150 min) according to the drying rate was better (RR > 3.3). The transition mode from high-frequency to low-frequency in variable-frequency ultrasonic treatment contributes to maintaining the overall color of Rhubarb. Analysis of chemical properties unveiled that Rhubarb treated with 40 kHz (0 min)-28 kHz (60 min)-25 kHz (120 min) segmented variable-frequency ultrasound contained overall higher levels of tannins, dianthrones and free anthraquinones content, which exceeded the average values by 3.24%, 26.65%, and 14.42%, respectively. In addition, thermal analysis results based on ANSYS Workbench software demonstrated that the drying uniformity of SVFU-HAD is superior to that of hot-air drying and constant-frequency ultrasound synergistic hot-air drying (CFU-HAD). Overall, the SVFU-HAD method employed in this study presents an innovative approach to ultrasound synergistic hot-air drying research with promising potential for enhancing the efficiency and quality characteristics of Rhubarb slices.

Developing Effective Radio Frequency Vacuum Drying Processes for Moutan Cortex: Effect on Moisture Migration, Drying Kinetics, Physicochemical Quality, and Microstructure

This study aims to maximize the post-harvest quality of Moutan Cortex and reduce energy consumption. Radio frequency vacuum (RFV) technology was used to dehydrate Moutan Cortex in this study to investigate the effects of different drying temperatures, plate spacing, and vacuum degree on the drying kinetics, physicochemical quality, and microstructure of Moutan Cortex. The results showed that RFV drying shortened the dehydration time of the Moutan Cortex by 10.71-28.57% and increased the drying rate by 15.79-54.39% compared to hot-air drying. The best color (∆E = 6.08 ± 0.28, BI = 26.97 ± 0.98) and relatively high retention of polysaccharides, total phenolics, total flavonoids, antioxidant properties, paeonol, gallic acid, paeoniflorin, and benzoylpaeoniflorin contents were observed in the dried products of Moutan Cortex at a drying temperature of 50 °C, spacing of 90 mm, and vacuum of 0.025 MPa. Analyzing the microstructure, it was found that RFV drying could effectively inhibit the shrinkage and collapse of the cellular structure, and a regular and loose honeycomb pore structure appeared inside the samples, which contributed to the rapid migration of the internal moisture. This study can provide a theoretical reference basis for the selection and application of industrialized processing methods of high-quality Moutan Cortex.

Evaluation of the Effect of Ultrasonic Pretreatment on the Drying Kinetics and Quality Characteristics of Codonopsis pilosula Slices Based on the Grey Correlation Method

Ultrasonic (US) maltreatment was performed before the vacuum far-infrared drying (VFID) of Codonopsis pilosula (CP) slices to investigate the effects of different US parameters on the drying characteristics and nutrients of CP slices. The grey correlation method with relative correlation degree (r_i) as the evaluation measure was used to construct a model for the evaluation of the pretreatment quality of CP and to determine the optimal pretreatment conditions. The results showed that with the increase in US frequency and power, the drying rate increased. Under the conditions of US power of 180 W, frequency of 60 kHz and a pre-treatment time of 30 min, the drying time reduced by 28.6%. The contents of polysaccharide and syringin in dried CP slices pretreated by US increased by 14.7% and 62.0%, respectively, compared to the non-pre-treated samples, while the total flavonoid content decreased by 10.0%. In terms of colour, pretreatment had a certain protective effect on the red colour of dried products. The highest relative correlation (0.574) and the best overall quality of performance were observed at 180 W, 60 kHz and 30 min. Overall, US technology is suitable for the pretreatment processing of CP, which is of great significance to the drying of CP.

Effect of Ultrasonic Pretreatment on the Far-Infrared Drying Process and Quality Characteristics of Licorice

In this paper, the effects of different ultrasonic pretreatment processes on the far-infrared drying characteristics, quality indexes, and microstructure of licorice are evaluated. The results showed that ultrasonic pretreatment, combined with far-infrared drying, significantly reduced the drying time and moisture content of licorice compared with those of the control group. The highest total flavonoid content was obtained at an ultrasound power of 80 W. The total phenolic content (0.686 mg gallic acid equivalent/g) was higher than that in the control group, the increase was 19.4%, and its content was the highest at the sonication frequency of 20 kHz. The antioxidant capacity tended to increase and then decrease with the increase in sonication time, sonication power, and sonication frequency, and was the highest at 30 min of sonication. The soluble sugar content (31.490 mg glucose equivalent/g) was the highest at 30 kHz and 30 min. Observation of the microstructure revealed that the surface structure of the ultrasonic pretreated licorice slices changed significantly, forming more micropore channels, which facilitated the mass heat transfer during the drying process. In conclusion, ultrasonic pretreatment can significantly improve the quality of licorice tablets and significantly reduce the time required for subsequent drying. The combination of pretreatment parameters of 60 W ultrasonic power and 40 kHz ultrasonic frequency for 30 min was found to be an optimal combination of pretreatment parameters; therefore, this study may provide a technical reference for the industrialization of licorice drying.

Phaleria macrocarpa (Scheff.) Boerl.: An updated review of pharmacological effects, toxicity studies, and separation techniques

Phaleria macrocarpa (Scheff.) Boerl. is geographically distributed around Papua Island, Indonesia. Traditionally, P. macrocarpa is exercised to reduce pain, stomachache, diarrhea, tumor problems, blood glucose, cholesterol, and blood pressure. A growing interest in the medicinal values of P. macrocarpa especially in Asia reflects the usage of diverse extraction techniques, particularly modern approaches. In this review article, the extraction methods and solvents relevant to P. macrocarpa were discussed, with the extent of its pharmacological activities. Recent bibliographic databases such as Google Scholar, PubMed, and Elsevier between 2010 and 2022 were assessed. Based on the findings, the pharmacological studies of P. macrocarpa are still pertinent to its traditional uses but primarily emphasise anti-proliferative activity especially colon and breast cancer cells with low toxicity and fruit as the most studied plant part. The utilization of modern separation techniques has predominantly been aimed at extracting mangiferin and phenolic-rich compounds and evaluating their antioxidant capacity. However, the isolation of bioactive compounds remains a challenge, leading to the extensive utilization of the extracts in in vivo studies. This review endeavors to highlight modern extraction methods that could potentially be used as a point of reference in the future for exploring novel bioactive compounds and drug discovery on a multi-scale extraction level.

Effects of Different Drying Methods on the Drying Characteristics and Quality of Codonopsis pilosulae Slices

The present study aimed to investigate the effect of rotary microwave vacuum drying (RMVD), radio frequency vacuum drying (RFVD), vacuum far infrared drying (VFID), vacuum drying (VD), hot air drying (HD) and natural drying (ND) on the drying characteristics, active ingredients and microstructure of Codonopsis pilosulae slices. Compared with the fitting results of the four models, the Weibull model is the most suitable drying model for Codonopsis. The RFVD and HD color difference values were smaller compared to ND. The effective moisture diffusivity (Deff) under different drying methods was between 0.06 × 10−8 m2/s and 3.95 × 10−8 m2/s. RMVD-dried products had the shortest drying time and retained more active ingredients. The microstructure analysis revealed that the porous structure of RMVD is more favorable for water migration. RMVD is a promising dehydration method for obtaining high-value-added dried Codonopsis products.

Study on Ultrasonic Far-Infrared Radiation Drying and Quality Characteristics of Wolfberry (Lycium barbarum L.) under Different Pretreatments

In order to explore the effects of different pretreatment methods on the ultrasonic far-infrared synergistic drying characteristics and quality of wolfberry, the bioactive components (polysaccharide, total phenol, total flavonoids, and antioxidants), the quality characteristics (rehydration ratio, color, vitamin C content, and betaine content), and the microstructure of the dried products were used as evaluation indices to test wolfberry treated by five different pretreatments (hot blanching; candied pretreatment; NaOH solution treatment; NaCl solution treatment; and Na₂CO₃ solution treatment). The results showed that hot blanching pretreatment improved the drying rate and shortened the drying time, and that the vitamin C content of dried products pretreated by hot blanching (92.56 mg/100 g) was higher than that of dried products pretreated by other methods. All five pretreatment methods increased the contents of the total phenols, vitamin C, and betaine of wolfberry. Wolfberry treated by candied pretreatment had lower color differences and higher contents of polysaccharide (0.83 g/g), total phenol (9.26 mg/g), and total flavonoids (2.61 mg/g) than wolfberry treated by the other pretreatment methods. Wolfberry pretreated by NaCl solution had the strongest antioxidant capacity (65.01%). Wolfberry pretreated by Na₂CO₃ solution had the highest betaine content (3.24%). The observation of the microstructure of the dried products revealed that hot blanching caused the most damage to wolfberry, while the candied pretreatment was less destructive to the tissue cells of wolfberry. On the whole, the dried wolfberry products obtained by the candied pretreatment were of a better quality than products obtained by the other pretreatment methods.

Antiproliferative Potency of God’s Crown Fruit (Phaleria macrocarpa) Extract Against Breast Cancer Cell

Breast cancer is a sickness caused by abnormal cell growth in the breast. Mahkota Dewa fruit or god’s crown fruit products (Phaleria macrocarpa) contain flavonoids, alkaloids, polyphenols, and tannins associated with active compounds. This work directs to influence the potency of P. macrocarpa fruit as an antiproliferative agent against breast cancer cells (MCF-7 cells). The antiproliferative potency of P. macrocarpa fruit was proved by extracting and fractionating P. macrocarpa fruit using maceration. The cytotoxicity of extracts and fractions was determined using Brine Shrimp Lethality Test (BSLT). The antiproliferative potency against MCF-7 cells was tested using the hemacytometer approach. This work demonstrates the crude ethanol extract, n-hexane fraction, ethyl acetate fraction, and water fraction. The LC50 values in crude ethanol extract, n-hexane fraction, ethyl acetate fraction, and water fraction were 13.72 ppm, 147.55 ppm, 405.81 ppm, and 149. 07 ppm severally. Phaleria macrocarpa fruit has shown antiproliferation potency against MCF-7 cells. The maximum part of crude ethanol extract antiproliferative potency (56 ppm) effectively suppressed MCF-7 cell growth by 70. 9% while doxorubicin (100 ppm) by 46. 92%. This work confirms that crude ethanol extract of P. macrocarpa fruit interacts synergistically as an antiproliferative compound against MCF-7 cells.

Quality Attributes and Dielectric Properties of Sea Buckthorn Berries under Differing Freezing Regimes and Their Interrelationships

Fruit quality attributes interrelate with their dielectric properties, but such interrelationships in sea buckthorn berries under differing freezing regimes remain uninvestigated. Sea buckthorn (Hipophae rhamnoides L., cv. Shenqiuhong) berries were frozen at different temperatures (-13, -30, -35 and -40 °C) and stored for different periods (15, 30, 45, 60, 75 and 90 d). Seven quality attributes and nine dielectric parameters were measured to evaluate the effect of different frozen storage regimes on those attributes and parameters. The results showed that shorter time and lower temperature contributed to the preservation of berries quality. The dielectric parameters values increased with decreasing temperature and with the increase of freezing duration. The quality prediction models were established by the principal component analysis of the dielectric properties at characteristic frequency. The results are expected to provide a way to evaluate quality of frozen sea buckthorn berries by dielectric properties.

Phenolic profiles and antioxidant activity in different organs of Sinopodophyllum hexandrum

Sinopodophyllum hexandrum is a perennial anti-cancer medicinal plant as unique phytochemical composition podophyllotoxin, and it has special effects on the treatments of pneumonic, cervical and testicular cancers. Besides the podophyllotoxin, phenolic substances play a key role in the clinical practice. However, few reports were available in terms of the phenolic compositions and antioxidant activity. In this work, main phenolic compounds were quantified by RP-HPLC in seven organs from S. hexandrum. Simultaneously, the sodium borohydride/chloranil-based (SBC) method and the Folin-Ciocalteau colorimetric method were used to determine total flavonoids and total phenols contents, respectively. The antioxidant activity of the different organs was further assessed by three methods (DPPH method, ABTS method and FRAP method). Phenolic compositions/total flavonoids contents/total phenols contents/antioxidant activity was observed to have significant differences among different organs (P<0.05), but have a consistent changing rule viz. rhizome>root>fruit>flower>leaf>stem>petiole. Furthermore, a correlation analysis was employed and indicated that a positive correlation existed between phenolic compositions contents and antioxidant activity. Obviously, rhizome had high phenolic compositions contents and strong antioxidant activity with the low DPPH_IC50 value of 23.52 μg/mL, high ABTS value of 1137.82 μmol equiv. Trolox/g and high FRAP value of 685.76 μmol equiv. Trolox/g. Therefore, rhizome is recommended as a preponderant medicinal part, and root is proposed as an alternative raw material resource for natural antioxidant agents in functional food, medicine and chemicals. This study can provide a new insight into the utilization extension of S. hexandrum resources.

Effect of ultrasonic far-infrared synergistic drying on the characteristics and qualities of wolfberry (Lycium barbarum L.)

This study investigated the effects of ultrasonic frequency, ultrasonic power, irradiation height and temperature on the drying characteristics, quality and microstructure of wolfberry by ultrasonic-assisted far-infrared drying. By fitting five commonly used thin-layer drying mathematical models, it was found that the coefficient of determination (R²) of the Weibull model was 0.99400-0.99825, the root mean square error (RMSE) was 1.2162 × 10^-4-4.5209 × 10^-4, and the reduced chi-square (χ²) was 0.00207-0.00663, which was the best fit. Under the application of ultrasound, the average drying rate of wolfberry increased. Compared with natural drying, the polysaccharide content increased by 33.2 % at 250 mm irradiation height, and the total phenol content increased by 44.9 % at 40 kHz ultrasonic frequency. The antioxidant activity was the strongest, and the total flavonoids content was the highest (2.594 mg/g) at 24 W ultrasonic power. By comparing the microstructure of wolfberry under different drying methods, such as a fresh sample, natural drying, hot air drying, and ultrasonic-assisted drying, we found that the ultrasonic assistance increased the number of micropores on the surface of wolfberry, reduced the damage to epidermal cells, reduced the mass transfer resistance of the drying process and accelerated the drying process. This study shows that ultrasonic-assisted far-infrared drying technology played a significant role in the heat and mass transfer of wolfberry drying, and had great potential in the commercial processing of wolfberry.

Characteristics and Quality Analysis of Radio Frequency-Hot Air Combined Segmented Drying of Wolfberry (Lycium barbarum)

To overcome the problems of a long conventional drying time, low energy efficiency, and poor product quality, a segmented drying approach was developed for fresh wolfberry (Lycium barbarum) using a radio frequency (RF)-hot air drying process, which was investigated under different parameters of plate spacing (80, 90, 100 mm), vacuum degree (0.015, 0.025, 0.035 Mpa), and hot air temperature (50, 55, 60 °C). Analysis of the wolfberry’s drying characteristics, comprehensive quality, and microstructure indicated that: combined drying was faster and less time-consuming than natural drying or hot air drying, and components such as polysaccharides, ascorbic acid, and betaine in wolfberries were effectively retained. Based on the acceptable drying rate, stable temperature application, and avoidance of arcing effects, the optimal combined segmented drying parameters were determined to be as follows: a plate spacing of 90 mm, vacuum degree of 0.025 MPa, and air temperature of 55 °C. For the dried wolfberries under these conditions, the total drying time was 17 h and the berries had an improved comprehensive quality, the content of total soluble sugars was 0.62 g/g, total phenol was 10.01 mg/g, total flavonoids was 2.60 mg/g, V_C was 3.18 mg/100 g, betaine was 3.48%, oxidation resistance represented by an inhibition rate was 66.14%, color was better, and rehydration rate was 48.56%. The microstructure was more regular because of the special dielectric heating characteristics of RF vacuuming. Despite the differing drying characteristics of individual materials, the overall RF-hot air combined drying process was found to achieve high-quality dehydration of wolfberries.

Effect of an Ultrasound Pre-Treatment on the Characteristics and Quality of Far-Infrared Vacuum Drying with Cistanche Slices

In this study, the effect of an ultrasound (US) pre-treatment on the process of drying Cistanche slices through far-infrared vacuum drying was investigated with various experimental factors, including the US treatment time (25, 35, 45 min), frequency (20, 40, 60 kHz) and power (150, 180, 210 W). The results showed that compared with the samples without US, the material drying time after the US treatment was reduced by 16–36.8%. The effective moisture diffusion coefficients of Cistanche slices under different US conditions ranged from 1.61122 × 10⁻⁸ to 2.39274 × 10⁻⁸ m²/s, which agreed with food processing ranges. In addition, the phenylethanoid glycoside, iridoid, polysaccharide, total phenol and total flavonoid contents in Cistanche were significantly increased after US pre-treatment. However, the dried products obtained with the 45 min US treatment had greatly damaged internal structures, collapsed and seriously deformed surfaces, and low contents of active ingredients. Overall, the US pre-treatment could significantly improve the drying quality of Cistanche slices.

Cool Temperature Enhances Growth, Ferulic Acid and Flavonoid Biosynthesis While Inhibiting Polysaccharide Biosynthesis in Angelica sinensis

Angelica sinensis, a perennial herb that produces ferulic acid and phthalides for the treatment of cardio-cerebrovascular diseases, prefers growing at an altitude of 1800-3000 m. Geographical models have predicted that high altitude, cool temperature and sunshade play determining roles in geo-authentic formation. Although the roles of altitude and light in yield and quality have been investigated, the role of temperature in regulating growth, metabolites biosynthesis and gene expression is still unclear. In this study, growth characteristics, metabolites contents and related genes expression were investigated by exposing A. sinensis to cooler (15 °C) and normal temperatures (22 °C). The results showed that plant biomass, the contents of ferulic acid and flavonoids and the expression levels of genes related to the biosynthesis of ferulic acid (PAL1, 4CLL4, 4CLL9, C3H, HCT, CCOAMT and CCR) and flavonoids (CHS and CHI) were enhanced at 15 °C compared to 22 °C. The contents of ligustilide and volatile oils exhibited slight increases, while polysaccharide contents decreased in response to cooler temperature. Based on gene expression levels, ferulic acid biosynthesis probably depends on the CCOAMT pathway and not the COMT pathway. It can be concluded that cool temperature enhances plant growth, ferulic acid and flavonoid accumulation but inhibits polysaccharide biosynthesis in A. sinensis. These findings authenticate that cool temperature plays a determining role in the formation of geo-authentic and also provide a strong foundation for regulating metabolites production of A. sinensis.

Integrated Metabolomic and Transcriptomic Analysis Reveals Differential Mechanism of Flavonoid Biosynthesis in Two Cultivars of Angelica sinensis

Angelica sinensis is a traditional Chinese medicinal plant that has been primarily used as a blood tonic. It largely relies on its bioactive metabolites, which include ferulic acid, volatile oils, polysaccharides and flavonoids. In order to improve the yield and quality of A. sinensis, the two cultivars Mingui 1 (M1), with a purple stem, and Mingui 2 (M2), with a green stem, have been selected in the field. Although a higher root yield and ferulic acid content in M1 than M2 has been observed, the differences of flavonoid biosynthesis and stem-color formation are still limited. In this study, the contents of flavonoids and anthocyanins were determined by spectrophotometer, the differences of flavonoids and transcripts in M1 and M2 were conducted by metabolomic and transcriptomic analysis, and the expression level of candidate genes was validated by qRT-PCR. The results showed that the contents of flavonoids and anthocyanins were 1.5- and 2.6-fold greater in M1 than M2, respectively. A total of 26 differentially accumulated flavonoids (DAFs) with 19 up-regulated (UR) and seven down-regulated (DR) were obtained from the 131 identified flavonoids (e.g., flavonols, flavonoid, isoflavones, and anthocyanins) in M1 vs. M2. A total 2210 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were obtained from the 34,528 full-length isoforms in M1 vs. M2, and 29 DEGs with 24 UR and 5 DR were identified to be involved in flavonoid biosynthesis, with 25 genes (e.g., CHS1, CHI3, F3H, DFR, ANS, CYPs and UGTs) mapped on the flavonoid biosynthetic pathway and four genes (e.g., RL1, RL6, MYB90 and MYB114) belonging to transcription factors. The differential accumulation level of flavonoids is coherent with the expression level of candidate genes. Finally, the network of DAFs regulated by DEGs was proposed. These findings will provide references for flavonoid production and cultivars selection of A. sinensis.

Bolting reduces ferulic acid and flavonoid biosynthesis and induces root lignification in Angelica sinensis

Angelica sinensis is a perennial herbaceous species that produces the bioactive metabolites ferulic acid and alkylphthalides widely applied in the treatment of cardio-cerebrovascular diseases. While the effects of bolting on plant biomass and metabolites accumulation have been partly investigated, the mechanism of bolting reducing metabolites biosynthesis is still limited. In this study, the root biomass, accumulations of ferulic acid, flavonoids and lignin, antioxidant capacity, and related genes expression at four different bolting stages were investigated. The results showed that there was a 2.2-, 2.4- and 2.9-fold decrease of the root biomass, ferulic acid and flavonoids contents, while a 2.9-fold increase of lignin content on a per plant basis during the bolting stages. The antioxidant capacity also exhibited significant decrease with growth and development. The differential expression levels of the 20 genes, which are involved in biosynthesis of ferulic acid (e.g. AsPAL1, As4CLs and AsHCT), flavonoids (e.g. AsCHS, AsCHI and AsI3'H) and lignin (e.g. AsCAD1 and AsLACs), were consistent with changes in the above metabolites accumulation. The findings will provide useful references for improving the production of bioactive metabolites in A. sinensis.

Nutritional composition and antidiabetic effect of germinated endosperm (Borassus flabellifer), tuber (Amorphophallus paeoniifolius) and their combined impact on rats

Diabetic patients usually avoid germinated endosperm of sugar palm (GESP) and elephant foot yam tuber (EFYT), fearing that these may further deteriorate existing hyperglycemia. In the present study, this suspicion was investigated by analyzing the nutrients and following the animal experiments by supplementary feeding powder of GESP, EFYT, and their mixture in addition to the regular diet for the six consecutive weeks. Next three weeks, the powder was withdrawn, and fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels were recorded from the beginning. The results clearly showed that these foodstuffs significantly (P < 0.001) reduced FBG levels of alloxan-induced diabetic rats. The mixture of GESP & EFYT showed the maximum antidiabetic effects followed by GESP and EFYT, respectively. GESP, as well as the mixture, returned the FBG levels of diabetic rats within the normal range by the end of the 6th week, even after withdrawing the powder, but not by the EFYT. These results suggested that the foodstuffs may restore the damaged pancreatic β-cell functions by the end of the 6th week. Nutrient contents like fiber, zinc, as well as antidiabetogenic phytochemicals present in these foodstuffs, could perform these functions.

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The germinated endosperm of sugar palm (Borassus flabellifer) has the highest antidiabetogenic phytochemicals.

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The combined impact of germinated endosperm and tuber had a significant level of antidiabetic action.

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Both foodstuffs were rich with a complex carbohydrate, fiber, zinc, minerals, as well as phytochemicals.

Physiological and biochemical response of different resistant alfalfa cultivars against thrips damage

To investigate physiological and biochemical changes of thrips-resistant alfalfa (Medicago sativa L. cv. Gan-nong No. 9), we aimed at clarifying the response mechanisms of alfalfa against thrips. Medicago sativa L. cv. including thrips-resistant Gan-nong No.9 (G9), thrips-susceptible Gan-nong No.3 (G3) and highly thrips-susceptible WL363HQ (363) were infested with different thrips densities (3, 5, 7 and 9-thrips per branch). The quantitative change in specific nutrients, secondary metabolites, defensive and antioxidant enzymes were measured at seedling stage of the three alfalfa cultivars. The results showed that with the increase of thrips densities, the damage indices, SS, Pro, flavonoids, tannin and H₂O₂ in G9, G3 and 363 were significantly increased, but PPO and SOD significantly reduced, compared with CK. Furthermore, the tannin and lignin contents of G9 were significantly higher compared to 363, but SP content was significantly lower than G3 and H₂O₂ content which was further significantly less compared to 363. Correlation analysis observed that the damage index of the three alfalfa cultivars showed a significant positive association with SS, Pro, flavone, tannin, and H₂O₂ (P < 0.01), while damage index and DW, Chl (a, b, a + b), PPO and SOD showed a significant negative correlation (P < 0.01). Based on principal component comprehensive evaluation, the 5-thrips adults per branch were the critical inoculation threshold for G9 against thrips injury because the score was - 0.048. These results revealed that thrips damage significantly increased the contents of SS, Pro, flavonoids, tannins and H₂O₂, as well as significantly declined the activities of PPO and SOD in the three cultivars (P < 0.05), moreover, thrips-resistant G9 markedly accumulated lignin content, POD and CAT activity, inhibited Chl (a + b, b) and SP biosynthesis to resist thrips damage.

Biochemical Constituents of Phaleria macrocarpa (Leaf) Methanolic Extract Inhibit ROS Production in SH-SY5Y Cells Model

Background. Reactive oxygen species generation in mammalian cells profoundly affects several critical cellular functions, and the lack of efficient cellular detoxification mechanisms which remove these radicals may lead to several human diseases. Several studies show that ROS is incriminated as destructive agents in the context of the nervous system especially with advance in age leading to neurodegeneration. Current treatments of this disease are not effective and result in several side effects. Thus, the search for alternative medicines is in high demand. Therefore, the aim of this study is to evaluate the reactive oxygen inhibitory effect of Phaleria macrocarpa 80% (leaf) extract. Methods. The leaf was extracted with 80% methanol. Cytotoxicity studies were carried out using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT), and ROS inhibitory activities were evaluated using dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCF-DA) assay in the SH-SY5Y cells model. Results. The result revealed ROS inhibitory activities of the crude extract with highly significant differences at $p<0.001$ between the group that were treated with crude extract only, the group treated with crude extract and exposed to H2O2, and the group exposed to H2O2 only as well as the group that were maintained in complete media. Bioactive compounds show the presence of vitexin and isovitexin following the HPLC method. Conclusion. High antioxidant activities and low toxicity effect of this crude revealed its high benefit to be used as natural medicine/supplements.

Extracts from Myrtle Liqueur Processing Waste Modulate Stem Cells Pluripotency under Stressing Conditions

Nutraceuticals present in food are molecules able to exert biological activity for the prevention and treatment of various diseases, in form of pharmaceutical preparations, such as capsules, cream, or pills. Myrtus communis L. is a spontaneous Mediterranean evergreen shrub, widely known for the liqueur obtained from its berries rich in phytochemicals such as tannins and flavonoids. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the properties of myrtle byproducts, residual of the industrial liqueur processing, in Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) induced at oxidative stress by in vitro H₂O₂ treatment. Cells were exposed for 12-24 and 48h at treatment with extracts and then senescence-induced. ROS production was then determined. The real-time PCR was performed to evaluate the expression of inflammatory cytokines and sirtuin-dependent epigenetic changes, as well the modifications in terms of stem cell pluripotency. The β-galactosidase assay was conducted to analyze stem cell senescence after treatment. Our results show that industrial myrtle byproducts retain a high antioxidant and antisenescence activity, protecting cells from oxidative stress damages. The results obtained suggest that residues from myrtle liqueur production could be used as resource in formulation of food supplements or pharmaceutical preparations with antioxidant, antiaging, and anti-inflammatory activity.

Phytochemical, antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of Litsea angulata extracts

Background: Litsea angulata is a plant species belonging to Lauraceae family that is distributed throughout Indonesia, Malaysia, and New Guinea. The seeds have been traditionally used by local people in Kalimantan, Indonesia for the treatment of boils; however, there is no information about the potency of its branch, bark and leaves yet. This study aimed to determine the antioxidant, antimicrobial activity as well as the phytochemical constituent of Litsea angulata branch, bark, and leaves. Methods: Extraction was performed by successive maceration method using n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and ethanol solvent. Antioxidant activity was evaluated by DPPH radical scavenging assay. The antimicrobial activity using the 96 well-plate microdilution broth method against Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus mutans. Results: Based on the phytochemical analysis, it showed that extract of L. angulata contains alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, terpenoids, and coumarin. The results showed that all extracts of plant samples displayed the ability to inhibit DPPH free radical formation and all tested microorganisms. Conclusions: L. angulata contains secondary metabolites such as alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, terpenoids, carotenoids, and coumarin. The antioxidant activity on different plant extracts was a range as very strong to weak capacity. All extracts in this study could inhibit the growth of S. aureus and S. mutans.

Phaleria macrocarpa (Boerl.) fruit induce G0/G1 and G2/M cell cycle arrest and apoptosis through mitochondria-mediated pathway in MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cell

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Phaleria macrocarpa (Scheff) Boerl, is a well-known folk medicinal plant in Indonesia. Traditionally, P. macrocarpa has been used to control cancer, impotency, hemorrhoids, diabetes mellitus, allergies, liver and hearth disease, kidney disorders, blood diseases, acne, stroke, migraine, and various skin diseases.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The purpose of this study was to determine the in situ cytotoxicity effect P. macrocarpa fruit ethyl acetate fraction (PMEAF) and the underlying molecular mechanism of cell death.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

MDA-MB-231 cells were incubated with PMEAF for 24h. Cell cycle and viability were examined using flow cytometry analysis. Apoptosis was determined using the Annexin V assay and also by fluorescence microscopy. Apoptosis protein profiling was detected by RayBio® Human Apoptosis Array.

RESULTS

The AO/PI staining and flow cytometric analysis of MDA-MB-231 cells treated with PMEAF were showed apoptotic cell death. The cell cycle analysis by flow cytometry analysis revealed that the accumulation of PMEAF treated MDA-MB-231 cells in G₀/G₁ and G₂/M-phase of the cell cycle. Moreover, the PMEAF exert cytotoxicity by increased the ROS production in MDA-MB-231 cells consistently stimulated the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (∆_Ψm) and induced apoptosis cell death by activation of numerous signalling proteins. The results from apoptosis protein profiling array evidenced that PMEAF stimulated the expression of 9 pro-apoptotic proteins (Bax, Bid, caspase 3, caspase 8, cytochrome c, p21, p27, p53 and SMAC) and suppressed the 4 anti-apoptotic proteins (Bcl-2, Bcl-w, XIAP and survivin) in MDA-MB-231 cells.

CONCLUSION

The results indicated that PMEAF treatment induced apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 cells through intrinsic mitochondrial related pathway with the participation of pro and anti-apoptotic proteins, caspases, G₀/G₁ and G₂/M-phases cell cycle arrest by p53-mediated mechanism.

Chemopreventive effect of Phaleria macrocarpa on colorectal cancer aberrant crypt foci in vivo

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Natural products are important ingredients for pharmaceutical applications specifically new entities for treating cancer and other diseases. Phaleria macrocarpa is native of Indonesia and considered as a prolific source of bioactive substances useful for chemoprevention.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To investigate the chemopreventive properties of Phaleria macrocarpa on azoxymethane (AOM)-induced aberrant crypt foci (ACF) in rats.

METHODS

The biological activities of the ethanol extract of P. macrocarpa fruits were evaluated both in vitro and in vivo. First the extract was investigated for its in vitro antioxidant activity by the total phenolic content and ferric reducing antioxidant power assay. Then the chemopreventive effect of P. macrocarpa was performed on AOM-induced aberrant crypt foci as colorectal carcinoma model in rats.

RESULT

the crude ethanolic extract of P. macrocarpa has high antioxidant activity and modulated the oxidative stress as proved by the up-regulation of glutathione-s-transferase and superoxide dismutase. Immunohistochemical staining of the treated sections showed overexpression of PCNA and Bax, reduced crypt sizes and numbers, indicating the characteristic feature of apoptotic cancer cells. PCNA is a landmark of cell damage and turn-over and can be associated with clinical cancer mutation. The most potent doses were 250mg/kg and 500mg/kg as compared to 35mg/kg 5-fluorouracil.

CONCLUSION

In this sense, the potential modulation of the colorectal pathophysiological pathway by P. macrocarpa natural compounds mostly flavonoids offer a great possibility for the discovery of new leads towards the colorectal cancer.

Nutrients, phytochemicals and antioxidant activities of 26 kidney bean cultivars

Detailed characterization in nutrients and phytochemicals with antioxidant activities of 26 kidney beans was performed. The kidney beans contained high levels of dietary fiber (29.32-46.77%), resistant starch (9.16-18.09%) and protein (22.06-32.63%) but low levels of lipid (1.05-2.83%) and sugars (1.55-9.07%). The monosaccharide composition of soluble fiber was dominated by arabinose, galactose, mannose and galacturonic acid. The ratio of essential amino acid to the total amino acid was ranged from 0.29 to 0.36. The predominant fatty acid was polyunsaturated fatty acids, accounting for 47.54-67.26% of total fatty acids. The total tocopherol content was in the range of 12.83-68.35 μg/g, predominantly γ-tocopherol, followed by δ-tocopherol. In addition, certain levels of total phenolics and flavonoids with respective values of 0.25-3.79 mg gallic acid equivalent/g dry weight and 0.19-7.05 mg rutin equivalent/g dry weight resulted in significant antioxidant activities. And a good correlation was observed between TPC and FRAP values (R2 = 0.8030). The results indicated that kidney beans are excellent sources of health-promoting compounds.

Herbal Formulation C168 Attenuates Proliferation and Induces Apoptosis in HCT 116 Human Colorectal Carcinoma Cells: Role of Oxidative Stress and DNA Damage

The use of herbal formulations has gained scientific interest, particularly in cancer treatment. In this study, the herbal formulation of interest, denoted as C168, is a mixture of eight genera of plants. This study aims to investigate the antiproliferative effect of C168 methanol extract (CME) on various cancer cells and its underlying mechanism of action on the most responsive cell line, namely, HCT 116 cells. CME exerted antiproliferative activities on HCT 116 colorectal carcinoma cells and HepG2 hepatocellular carcinoma cells but not on CCD-841-CoN normal colon epithelial cells, Jurkat E6.1 lymphoblastic leukemic cells, and V79-4 Chinese hamster lung fibroblasts. Further investigation on HCT 116 cells showed that CME induced G₂/M cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis. Treatment of CME induced oxidative stress in HCT 116 cells by increasing the superoxide anion level and decreasing the intracellular glutathione. CME also increased tail moment value and H2AX phosphorylation in HCT 116 cells, suggesting DNA damage as an early signal of CME induced apoptosis. Loss of mitochondrial membrane potential in CME-treated cells also indicated the involvement of mitochondria in CME induced apoptosis. This study indicated the selectivity of CME toward colon cancer cells with the involvement of oxidative damage as its possible mechanism of action.

Solvent effects on phytochemical constituent profiles and antioxidant activities, using four different extraction formulations for analysis of Bucida buceras L. and Phoradendron californicum

BACKGROUND

The present investigation evaluated 4 different solvent compositions for their relative capacity to extract total phenolic and total flavonoid (TF) components of the leaves, trunks, and stems of Bucida buceras L. (Combretaceae), and the stems of Phoradendron californicum (Viscaceae), plus mesquite and oak species endemic to the Southwestern United States, northern Mexico, and tropical regions of Central and South America, as well as to profile the composition of these plant materials and to measure their antioxidant capacity.

METHODS

The total phenolic content of plant material used in the present investigation was measured using the Folin-Ciocalteau assay. Total flavonoids were assayed by AlCl3 and 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazin colorimetry. Nitroblue tetrazolium was utilized for scavenging of superoxide anion, and in vitro antioxidant activity was evaluated using the 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and Ferric Reducing/Antioxidant Power assays.

RESULTS

Phytochemical screening of each plant extract evaluated revealed the following major results: (1) No evidence of alkaloids for each of the extraction phases tested was detected in the hexanic, ethanolic, or aqueous phases of Bucida buceras and Phoradendron californicum (oak and mesquite); (2) Analysis of the hexane phase of B. buceras and P. californicum (mesquite) extracts revealed the presence of carotenes, triterpenes/steroids, and lactonic groups; (3) Analysis of the ethanol and aqueous extraction phases for both plants revealed the presence of a diverse range of compounds, including tripterpenes/steroids, lactonics groups, saponins, phenols/tannins, amines and/or amino acids, and flavonoids/anthocyanins; and (4) The highest total phenolic and flavonoid content were observed in P. californicum (oak): 523.886 ± 51.457 µg GAE/mg extract and 409.651 ± 23.091 µg/mg of extract for methanol and aqueous fractions, respectively. The highest flavonoid content was 237.273 ± 21.250 µg PNE/mg extract in the acetone extract of Bucida buceras stems; while the flavonol content (260.685 ± 23.031 µg CE/mg extract) was higher in the ethanol extract of P. californicum (oak). The acetone extract of B. buceras trunk extract showed the highest levels of DPPH radical-scavenging activity (IC50 = 4.136 ± 0.446 µg/mL) and reducing power (4928.392 ± 281.427 µM AAE/mg extract). The highest superoxide radical scavenging activity (IC50) was 55.249 ± 9.829 µg/mL, observed in acetone extracts of B. buceras leaves.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of the present investigation demonstrated the effects of extraction solvent on phenolic and flavonoid content yield-and antioxidant activities by Bucida buceras and Phoradendron californicum. The present investigation further revealed that Bucida buceras exhibited optimal antioxidant capacity when acetone was used as extraction solvent; and the highest yield of phenols and flavonoids were obtained from the P. californicum oak, using methanol and aqueous solvents, respectively.

Evaluation of antitumor property of extracts and steroidal alkaloids from the cultivated Bulbus Fritillariae ussuriensis and preliminary investigation of its mechanism of action

BACKGROUND

Cancer is well known as a leading cause of death in the world. At present, it is the very active area to search for anticancer drugs from natural products. In this study, we evaluated the antitumor property of chloroform extract (CE), n-hexane extract (HE), water extract (WE) and steroidal alkaloids from the cultivated Bulbus Fritillariae ussuriensis (BFU) and its preliminary mechanism for its action was investigated.

METHODS

Firstly, cytotoxicity of the different extracts from BFU against Lewis lung carcinoma cell line (LLC), Human ovarian cancer cell line (A2780), human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (HepG2), human lung carcinoma cell line (A549) was measured by MTT assay. Then, we identified the compounds from the active extract of BFU by bioassay guided isolation, determined their antitumor activity in vitro, and detected cell cycle distribution using flow cytometry. Moreover, the extract of BFU which showed remarked anti-proliferative activity in vitro was further evaluated using S180 and LLC tumor models. Additionally, a preliminary investigation of the mechanism of the action was carried out by using histological and immunohistochemical staining technique.

RESULTS

The results showed that CE and the purified total alkaloids of BFU (TAFU) exhibited stronger cytotoxic activity than the others (WE and HE). We further isolated the four main steroidal alkaloids from TAFU, and found all alkaloids showed significant cytotoxicity, and peimisine induced G0/G1 phase arrest and increased apoptosis. The results showed that TAFU had significant antitumor activity and low toxicity in vivo. Additionally, the immunohistochemical examinations signified that TAFU remarkably increased caspase-3 expression and reduced microvessel density (MVD) in tumor tissues of transplantable S180 and LLC tumor models.

CONCLUSIONS

These results achieved suggested that the steroidal alkaloids could hold a good potential for use as an antitumor drug. Notably, our finding is the first report on the antitumor activity of extracts and steroidal alkaloids from the cultivated BFU in vitro and in vivo and its mechanisms.