Medicinal foodstuffs. XXII. Structures of oleanane-type triterpene oligoglycosides, pisumsaponins I and II, and kaurane-type diterpene oligoglycosides, pisumosides A and B, from green peas, the immature seeds of Pisum sativum L

Post Natal Microbial and Metabolite Transmission: The Path from Mother to Infant

The entero-mammary pathway is a specialized route that selectively translocates bacteria to the newborn's gut, playing a crucial role in neonatal development. Previous studies report shared bacterial and archaeal taxa between human milk and neonatal intestine. However, the functional implications for neonatal development are not fully understood due to limited evidence. This study aimed to identify and characterize the microbiota and metabolome of human milk, mother, and infant stool samples using high-throughput DNA sequencing and FT-ICR MS methodology at delivery and 4 months post-partum. Twenty-one mothers and twenty-five infants were included in this study. Our results on bacterial composition suggest vertical transmission of bacteria through breastfeeding, with major changes occurring during the first 4 months of life. Metabolite chemical characterization sheds light on the growing complexity of the metabolites. Further data integration and network analysis disclosed the interactions between different bacteria and metabolites in the biological system as well as possible unknown pathways. Our findings suggest a shared bacteriome in breastfed mother-neonate pairs, influenced by maternal lifestyle and delivery conditions, serving as probiotic agents in infants for their healthy development. Also, the presence of food biomarkers in infants suggests their origin from breast milk, implying selective vertical transmission of these features.

Potential Anti-Inflammatory Constituents from Aesculus wilsonii Seeds

A chemical study of Aesculus wilsonii Rehd. (also called Suo Luo Zi) and the in vitro anti-inflammatory effects of the obtained compounds was conducted. Retrieving results through SciFinder showed that there were four unreported compounds, aeswilosides I-IV (1-4), along with fourteen known isolates (5-18). Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic methods such as UV, IR, NMR, [α]D, and MS spectra, as well as acid hydrolysis. Among the known ones, compounds 5, 6, 8-10, and 12-16 were obtained from the Aesculus genus for the first time; compounds 7, 11, 17, and 18 were first identified from this plant. The NMR data of 5 and 18 were reported first. The effects of 1-18 on the release of nitric oxide (NO) from lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW264.7 cells were determined. The results showed that at concentrations of 10, 25, and 50 μM, the novel compounds, aeswilosides I (1) and IV (4), along with the known ones, 1-(2-methylbutyryl)phloroglucinyl-glucopyranoside (10) and pisuminic acid (15), displayed significant inhibitory effects on NO production in a concentration-dependent manner. It is worth mentioning that compound 10 showed the best NO inhibitory effect with a relative NO production of 88.1%, which was close to that of the positive drug dexamethasone. The Elisa experiment suggested that compounds 1, 4, 10, and 15 suppressed the release of TNF-α and IL-1β as well. In conclusion, this study enriches the spectra of compounds with potential anti-inflammatory effects in A. wilsonii and provides new references for the discovery of anti-inflammatory lead compounds, but further mechanistic research is still needed.

Metabolic profile and hepatoprotective effect of Aeschynomene elaphroxylon (Guill. & Perr.)

Liver diseases are life-threatening and need urgent medical treatments. Conventional treatment is expensive and toxic, so the urge for nutraceutical hepatoprotective agents is crucial. This study is considered the first metabolic profile of Aeschynomene elaphroxylon (Guill. & Perr.) extracts of; flowers, leaves & bark adopting UPLC-Orbitrap HRMS analysis to determine their bioactive metabolites, and it was designed to investigate the potential hepatoprotective activity of A. elaphroxylon flowers and bark extracts against CCl₄-induced hepatic fibrosis in rats. Forty-nine compounds of various classes were detected in the three extracts, with triterpenoid saponins as the major detected metabolite. Flowers and bark extracts presented similar chemical profile while leaves extract was quite different. The antioxidant activities of the flowers, leaves & bark extracts were measured by in vitro assays as Fe⁺³ reducing antioxidant power and Oxygen radical absorbance capacity. It revealed that flowers and bark extracts had relatively high antioxidant activity as compared to leaves extract. Based on the metabolic profile and in vitro antioxidant activity, flowers and bark ethanolic extracts were chosen for alleviation of hepatotoxicity induced by CCl₄ in rats. The hepatoprotective activity was studied through measuring hepatotoxicity biomarkers in serum (ALT, AST, and Albumin). Liver tissues were examined histopathologically and their homogenates were used in determining the intracellular levels of oxidative stress biomarkers (MDA, GSH), inflammatory markers (TNF-α). Flowers and bark ethanolic extracts exerted a significant hepatoprotective effect through reduction in the activities of ALT, AST and Albumin, the tested extracts reduced oxidative stress by increasing GSH content and reducing the MDA level. Furthermore, the extracts decreased levels of pro-inflammatory TNF-α. Moreover, the present study revealed the potentiality of A. elaphroxylon in ameliorating the CCl₄-induced hepatic fibrosis in rats. In this aspect, A. elaphroxylon can be used with other agents as a complementary drug.

New Diterpenes from Arenga pinnata (Wurmb.) Merr. Fruits

Three new ent-kauran-type diterpenes (1⁻3), named arenterpenoids A⁻C, and five known ones (4⁻8) were isolated and identified from Arenga pinnata (Wurmb.) Merr. Fruits. The structures of these compounds were established by 1D and 2D NMR spectra and HR-ESI-MS. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first scientific report of diterpenes from Arenga genus.

Rhizobium Impacts on Seed Productivity, Quality, and Protection of Pisum sativum upon Disease Stress Caused by Didymella pinodes: Phenotypic, Proteomic, and Metabolomic Traits

In field peas, ascochyta blight is one of the most common fungal diseases caused by Didymella pinodes. Despite the high diversity of pea cultivars, only little resistance has been developed until to date, still leading to significant losses in grain yield. Rhizobia as plant growth promoting endosymbionts are the main partners for establishment of symbiosis with pea plants. The key role of Rhizobium as an effective nitrogen source for legumes seed quality and quantity improvement is in line with sustainable agriculture and food security programs. Besides these growth promoting effects, Rhizobium symbiosis has been shown to have a priming impact on the plants immune system that enhances resistance against environmental perturbations. This is the first integrative study that investigates the effect of Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viceae (Rlv) on phenotypic seed quality, quantity and fungal disease in pot grown pea (Pisum sativum) cultivars with two different resistance levels against D. pinodes through metabolomics and proteomics analyses. In addition, the pathogen effects on seed quantity components and quality are assessed at morphological and molecular level. Rhizobium inoculation decreased disease severity by significant reduction of seed infection level. Rhizobium symbiont enhanced yield through increased seed fresh and dry weights based on better seed filling. Rhizobium inoculation also induced changes in seed proteome and metabolome involved in enhanced P. sativum resistance level against D. pinodes. Besides increased redox and cell wall adjustments light is shed on the role of late embryogenesis abundant proteins and metabolites such as the seed triterpenoid Soyasapogenol. The results of this study open new insights into the significance of symbiotic Rhizobium interactions for crop yield, health and seed quality enhancement and reveal new metabolite candidates involved in pathogen resistance.

Direct detection of triterpenoid saponins in medicinal plants

Direct detection of saponins in medicinal plants using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy is reported in this paper. Crude dry plant powders were mixed with potassium bromide (KBr) powder and compressed to a thin pellet for infrared examination. FTIR spectra of the test samples showed -OH, -C=O, C-H, and C=C absorptions characteristic of oleanane triterpenoid saponins. The C-O-C absorptions indicated glycoside linkages to the sapogenins. Phytochemical analysis confirmed the presence of saponins in the tested specimens. Entada leptostachya was used as a reference sample. Dry plant powder was extracted sequentially with hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate and methanol. FTIR spectra of the reference sample powder and its organic solvent extracts showed characteristic saponin absorption peaks. These results indicated that direct detection of saponins in medicinal plants was possible by infrared analysis. Lengthy exhaustive chemical analyses necessary for detection of saponins could be avoided.

Structures of new cucurbitane-type triterpenes and glycosides, karavilagenins and karavilosides, from the dried fruit of Momordica charantia L. in Sri Lanka

Three new cucurbitane-type triterpene called karavilagenins A, B, and C and five new cucurbitane-type triterpene glycosides called karavilosides I, II, III, IV, and V were isolated from the dried fruit of Sri Lanka Momordica charantia L. (Cucurbitaceae) together with two known cucurbitane-type triterpenes, 19(R)-methoxy-5beta,19-epoxycucurbita-6,23-dien-3beta,25-diol and 5,19-epoxycucurbita-6,23-diene-3,25-diol, and nine known cucurbitane-type triterpene glycosides, goyaglycosides-b, -c, and -d, and momordicosides F1, F2, G, I, K, and L. The structures of karavilagenins and karavilosides were elucidated on the basis of chemical and physicochemical evidence.

Medicinal flowers. VI. Absolute stereostructures of two new flavanone glycosides and a phenylbutanoid glycoside from the flowers of Chrysanthemum indicum L.: their inhibitory activities for rat lens aldose reductase

Two new flavanone glycosides, (2S)- and (2R)-eriodictyol 7-O-beta-D-glucopyranosiduronic acids, and a new phenylbutanoid glycoside, (2S, 3S)-1-phenyl-2,3-butanediol 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside, were isolated from the flowers of Chrysanthemum indicum L. cultivated in China together with eight flavonoids. The absolute stereostructures of the new compounds were determined on the basis of chemical and physicochemical evidence. Both of the new flavanone glycosides were found to show inhibitory activity for rat lens aldose reductase.

Medicinal foodstuffs. XXIX. Potent protective effects of sesquiterpenes and curcumin from Zedoariae Rhizoma on liver injury induced by D-galactosamine/lipopolysaccharide or tumor necrosis factor-alpha

The 80% aqueous acetone extract of Zedoariae Rhizoma was found to show a protective effect against D-galactosamine (D-GalN)/lipopolysaccharide-induced acute liver injury in mice. To clarify the active compounds, the principal constituents were examined and 11 sesquiterpenes (furanodiene, curdione, neocurdrione, dehydrocurdione, germacrone, 13-hydroxygermacrone, curcumenol, isocurcumenol, aerugidiol, zedoarondiol, and curcumenone) and a diarylheptanoid (curcumin) were found to inhibit the increase in serum aspartate aminotransaminase and alanine aminotransaminase at a dose of 50 mg/kg p.o. in agreement with the previous in vitro studies, except for dehydrocurdione, aerugidiol, and zedoarondiol. In particular, curdione, neocurdione, curcumenol, and isocurcumenol potently inhibited the increase at a dose of 12.5 mg/kg p.o. Furthermore, the eight sesquiterpenes, furanodiene, curdione, neocurdione, dehydrocurdione, germacrone, 13-hydroxygermacrone, curcumenol, and curcumenone, also showed a protective effect against D-GalN/tumor necrosis factor-alpha-induced liver injury in mice at a dose of 50 mg/kg p.o.

Protective effects of polygodial and related compounds on ethanol-induced gastric mucosal lesions in rats: structural requirements and mode of action

The methanolic extract from the leaves of Tasmannia lanceolata was found to potently inhibit ethanol-induced gastric lesions in rats. Through bioassay-guided separation, three known sesquiterpenes, polygodial, polygodial 12 alpha-acetal, and polygodial 12 beta-acetal, and a new sesquiterpene, methyl isodrimeninol, were isolated as the active constituents. Among them, polygodial showed very potent gastroprotective effects (ED(50)=0.028 mg/kg, po). From the gastroprotective effects of various reduction and oxidation derivatives of polygodial, the dialdehyde or diacetal structure was found to be essential for the strong activity. Since the gastroprotection of polygodial was attenuated by pretreatment with indomethacin, N-ethylmaleimide, N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester and ruthenium red, endogenous prostaglandins, sulfhydryl compounds, nitric oxide and vanilloid receptors may be involved in the protective activity.

Medicinal foodstuffs. XXVIII. Inhibitors of nitric oxide production and new sesquiterpenes, zedoarofuran, 4-epicurcumenol, neocurcumenol, gajutsulactones A and B, and zedoarolides A and B, from Zedoariae Rhizoma

A new eudesmane-type sesquiterpene, zedoarofuran, and six new guaiane- or seco-guaiane-type sesquiterpenes, 4-epicurcumenol, neocurcumenol, gajutsulactones A and B, and zedoarolides A and B, were isolated from aqueous acetone extract of Zedoariae Rhizoma together with 36 known sesquiterpenes and two diarylheptanoids. Their stereostructures were elucidated on the basis of chemical and physicochemical evidence. The effects of isolated components on nitric oxide production in lipopolysaccharide-activated mouse peritoneal macrophages were examined and 16 sesquiterpenes including gajutsulactones A and B, and bis(4-hydroxycinnamoyl)methane were found to show inhibitory activity.

Bioactive saponins and glycosides. XIX. Notoginseng (3): immunological adjuvant activity of notoginsenosides and related saponins: structures of notoginsenosides-L, -M, and -N from the roots of Panax notoginseng (Burk.) F. H. Chen

New dammarane-type triterpene saponins, notoginsenosides-L, -M, and -N, were isolated from the glycosidic fraction of the dried roots of Panax notoginseng (Burk.) F. H. Chen. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of chemical and physicochemical evidence. Immunological adjuvant activities of the principal notoginsenosides and related dammarane-type triterpene saponins were examined and notoginsenosides-D, -G, -H, and -K were found to increase the serum IgG level in mice sensitized with ovalbumin.

Medicinal foodstuffs. XXVII. Saponin constituents of gotu kola (2): structures of new ursane- and oleanane-type triterpene oligoglycosides, centellasaponins B, C, and D, from Centella asiatica cultivated in Sri Lanka

Ursane- and oleanane-type triterpene oligoglycosides, centellasaponins B, C, and D, were isolated from the aerial parts of Centella asiatica (L.) Urban cultivated in Sri Lanka together with madecassoside, asiaticoside, asiaticoside B, and sceffoleoside A. The chemical structures of centellasaponins B, C, and D were determined on the basis of chemical and physicochemical evidence to be madecassic acid 28-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl(1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranoside, madasiatic acid 28-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1-->4)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl(1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranoside, and 3beta,6beta,23-trihydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid 28-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1-->4)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl(1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranoside, respectively.

Medicinal foodstuffs. XXV. Hepatoprotective principle and structures of ionone glucoside, phenethyl glycoside, and flavonol oligoglycosides from young seedpods of garden peas, Pisum sativum L

A new ionone glucoside, pisumionoside, a phenethyl glycoside, sayaendoside, and two acylated flavonol oligoglycosides, pisumflavonosides I and II, were isolated from the young seedpods of garden peas, Pisum sativum L., together with quercetin and kaempferol 3-O-(6-O-trans-p-coumaroyl)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl (1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl (1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyranosides and quercetin and kaempferol 3-sophorotriosides. The structures of pisumionoside, sayaendoside, and pisumflavonosides I and II were determined on the basis of chemical and physicochemical evidence, respectively. Quercetin 3-sophorotrioside, a principle component, was found to show protective effects on liver injury induced by D-galactosamine and lipopolysaccharide and by carbon tetrachloride in mice.

Medicinal foodstuffs. XXIV. Chemical constituents of the processed leaves of Apocynum venetum L.: absolute stereostructures of apocynosides I and II

Two new ionone glucosides, named apocynosides I and II, were isolated from the roasted leaves of Apocynum venetum L. together with nine known compounds. The absolute stereostructures of apocynosides I and II were determined by chemical and physicochemical evidence, which included the application of a modified Mosher's method and the circular dichroism helicity rule.

Bioactive saponins and glycosides. XVIII. Nortriterpene and triterpene oligoglycosides from the fresh leaves of Euptelea polyandra Sieb. et Zucc. (2): Structures of eupteleasaponins VI, VI acetate, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI, and XII

Following the elucidation of eupteleasaponins I, II, III, IV, V, and V acetate, eupteleasaponins VI, VI acetate, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI, and XII were isolated from the fresh leaves of Euptelea polyandra Sieb. et Zucc. The structures of eupteleasaponins VI-XII were determined on the basis of chemical and physicochemical evidence.

Medicinal foodstuffs. XXIII. Structures of new oleanane-type triterpene oligoglycosides, basellasaponins A, B, C, and D, from the fresh aerial parts of Basella rubra L

Basellasaponins A, B, C, and D, oleanane-type triterpene oligoglycosides having the dioxolane-type substituent, were isolated from the fresh aerial parts of Basella rubra L. together with betavulgaroside I, spinacoside C, and momordins IIb and IIc. The chemical structures of basellasaponins A, B, C, and D were determined from chemical and physicochemical evidence.