A Comprehensive Study on Lathyrus tuberosus L.: Insights into Phytochemical Composition, Antimicrobial Activity, Antioxidant Capacity, Cytotoxic, and Cell Migration Effects

In this study, in vitro antioxidant, antimicrobial, cytotoxic, and cell migration effects of phenolic compounds of Lathyrus tuberosus leaves, known in the Transylvanian ethnomedicine, were investigated. Ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was employed for the analysis of the ethanolic and aqueous extracts. The antimicrobial properties were determined using a conventional microdilution technique. Total antioxidant capacity techniques were used using cell-free methods and cell-based investigations. Cytotoxic effects were conducted on 3T3 mouse fibroblasts and HaCaT human keratinocytes using a multiparametric method, assessing intracellular ATP, total nucleic acid, and protein levels. Cell migration was visualized by phase-contrast microscopy, employing conventional culture inserts to make cell-free areas. Together, 93 polyphenolic and monoterpenoid compounds were characterized, including flavonoid glycosides, lignans, hydroxycinnamic acid, and hydroxybenzoic acid derivatives, as well as iridoids and secoiridoids. The ethanolic extract showed high antioxidant capacity and strong antimicrobial activity against Bacillus subtilis (MIC80 value: 354.37 ± 4.58 µg/mL) and Streptococcus pyogenes (MIC80 value: 488.89 ± 4.75 µg/mL). The abundance of phenolic compounds and the results of biological tests indicate the potential for L. tuberosus to serve as reservoirs of bioactive compounds and to be used in the development of novel nutraceuticals.

Casuarina glauca branchlets' extract as a potential treatment for ulcerative colitis: chemical composition, in silico and in vivo studies

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an inflammatory bowel disease that is often resistant to current treatment options, leading to a need for alternative therapies. Herbal products have shown promise in managing various conditions, including UC. However, the potential of Casuarina glauca branchlets ethanolic extract (CGBRE) in treating UC has not been explored. This study aimed to analyze the chemical composition of CGBRE and evaluate its efficacy in UC treatment through in silico and in vivo experiments. LC-ESI-MS/MS was used to identify 86 compounds in CGBRE, with 21 potential bioactive compounds determined through pharmacokinetic analysis. Network pharmacology analysis revealed 171 potential UC targets for the bioactive compounds, including EGFR, LRRK2, and HSP90 as top targets, which were found to bind to key CGBRE compounds through molecular docking. Molecular docking findings suggested that CGBRE may be effective in the prevention or treatment of ulcerative colitis mediated by these proteins, where key CGBRE compounds exhibited good binding affinities through formation of numerous interactions. In vivo studies in rats with acetic acid-induced UC demonstrated that oral administration of 300 mg/kg CGBRE for 6 days reduced UC symptoms and colonic expression of EGFR, LRRK2, and HSP90. These findings supported the therapeutic potential of CGBRE in UC and suggested the need for further preclinical and clinical investigation.

Extraction and Characterization of Bioactive Compounds from Diverse Marine Microalgae and Their Potential Antioxidant Activities

This study compared free and bound phenolic compounds in various marine microalgae species. It assessed total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC) and total condensed tannin content (TCT) and their antioxidant capacities using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay, 2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS⋅+ ) radical cation-based assay and ferric ion reducing antioxidant power assay. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) was also employed to characterize the phenolic profiling. Results showed that free phenolic compounds ranged from 1.83-6.45 mg GAE/g d. w., while bound phenolic compounds ranged from 4.03-26.03 mg GAE/g d. w., indicating significant differences. These variations were consistent across assays, highlining unique profiles in different species. A total 10 phenolics were found in these seven microalgae, including 1 phenolic acid, 6 flavonoids, 1 other polyphenol and 2 lignans. 4'-O-methyl-(-)-epigallocatechin 7-O-glucuronide and chrysoeriol 7-O-glucoside in microalgae were firstly reported in microalgal samples. These findings have implications for future applications in industries.

Antitrypanosomal, Antitopoisomerase-I, and Cytotoxic Biological Evaluation of Some African Plants Belonging to Crassulaceae; Chemical Profiling of Extract Using UHPLC/QTOF-MS/MS

In our continuous study for some African plants as a source for antitrypanosomally and cytotoxic active drugs, nine different plants belonging to the Crassulaceae family have been selected for the present study. Sedum sieboldii leaves extract showed an antitrypanosomal activity against Trypanosoma brucei with an IC₅₀ value of 8.5 µg/mL. In addition, they have cytotoxic activities against (HCT-116), (HEPG-2) and (MCF-7), with IC₅₀ values of 28.18 ± 0.24, 22.05 ± 0.66, and 26.47 ± 0.85 µg/mL, respectively. Furthermore, the extract displayed inhibition against Topoisomerase-1 with an IC₅₀ value of 1.31 µg/mL. It showed the highest phenolics and flavonoids content among the other plants' extracts. In order to identify the secondary metabolites which may be responsible for such activities, profiling of the polar secondary metabolites of S. sieboldii extract via Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography coupled to High-Resolution QTOF-MS operated in negative and positive ionization modes, which revealed the presence of 46 metabolites, including flavonoids, phenolic acids, anthocyanidins, coumarin, and other metabolites.

Dinebra retroflexa Herbal Phytotherapy: A Simulation Study Based on Bleomycin-Induced Pulmonary Fibrosis Retraction Potential in Swiss Albino Rats

Background and Objectives: Fibrotic lung disease is one of the main complications of many medical conditions. Therefore, the use of anti-fibrotic agents may provide a chance to prevent, or at least modify, such complication. The aim of this study was to evaluate the protective pulmonary anti-fibrotic and anti-inflammatory effects of Dinebra retroflexa. Materials and methods: Dinebra retroflexa methanolic extract and its synthesized silver nanoparticles were tested on bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis. Pulmonary fibrosis was induced by intratracheal instillation of bleomycin (5 mg/5 mL/kg-Saline) as a supposed model for induced lung fibrosis. The weed evaluation was performed by intratracheal instillation of Dinebra retroflexa methanolic extract and its silver nanoparticles (35 mg/100 mL/kg-DMSO, single dose). Results: The results showed that both Dinebra retroflexa methanolic extract and its silver nanoparticles had a significant pulmonary fibrosis retraction potential, with Ashcroft scores of three and one, respectively, and degrees of collagen deposition reduction of 33.8 and 46.1%, respectively. High-resolution UHPLC/Q-TOF-MS/MS metabolic profiling and colorimetrically polyphenolic quantification were performed for further confirmation and explanation of the represented effects. Such activity was believed to be due to the tentative identification of twenty-seven flavonoids and one phenolic acid along with a phenolic content of 57.8 mg/gm (gallic acid equivalent) and flavonoid content of 22.5 mg/gm (quercetin equivalent). Conclusion: Dinebra retroflexa may be considered as a promising anti-fibrotic agent for people at high risk of complicated lung fibrosis. The results proved that further clinical trials would be recommended to confirm the proposed findings.

Antidepressant Shugan Jieyu Capsule Alters Gut Microbiota and Intestinal Microbiome Function in Rats With Chronic Unpredictable Mild Stress -Induced Depression

Shugan Jieyu Capsule (SG) has been widely used in China to treat mild to moderate depression. Hypericum perforatum L. (St John’s Wort, SJW) is the main ingredient of SG and has been used as herbal medicine to treat depression in western countries. However, it is known that SJW has low bioavailability and does not easily get through the blood-brain barrier. Therefore, how SG plays an antidepressant effect in the central nervous system (CNS) remains an urgent problem to be solved. Mounting research has described the relationship between antidepressants and intestinal microbiota to illuminate antidepressive mechanisms in the CNS. We aimed to investigate the effects of therapy with SG on the function of gut microbiota and intestinal microbiota in rats with chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS)-induced depression. The psychophysiological state and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis function of rats are evaluated through behavioral experiments, corticosterone levels, serotonin levels, and adrenal index measurements. 16S rDNA amplicon sequencing is used to test the changes in gut microbiota and make functional predictions of genes. With treatment of SG, the depression-like behaviors of CUMS-induced rats were reversed; the corticosterone levels and the adrenal index decreased significantly; the level of serotonin increased significantly; and the alpha and beta diversity analysis of microbiota showed an increase in the richness and uniformity of the flora were increased. SG regulated the relative abundance of Actinobacteria, Erysipelotrichaceae, Bifidobacteriaceae, Atopobiaceae, Dubosiella, and Bifidobacterium; Linear discriminant analysis effect size analysis demonstrated that Lactobacillaceae (family level), Lactobacillus (genus level), Lactobacillales (order level), Bacilli (class level), and Lactobacillus-reuteri (species level) were biomarkers in the SG group samples, and also likely to modulate metabolic pathways, such as those involved in carbohydrate metabolism, amino acid metabolism, and signal transduction. These data clearly illustrated the effect of SG on gut microbiome, thus laying the foundation for uncovering more insights on the therapeutic function of the traditional Chinese antidepressants. The potential of SG on mechanisms of antidepression to alter gut microbiota and intestinal microbiome function exposed to CUMS can be explored.

A Comparative and Comprehensive Characterization of Polyphenols of Selected Fruits from the Rosaceae Family

The present research presents a comprehensive characterization of polyphenols from peach, pear, and plum using liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization quadrupole-time-of-flight-mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS), followed by the determination of their antioxidant potential. Plums showed the highest total phenolic content (TPC; 0.62 mg GAE/g), while peaches showed the highest total flavonoid content (TFC; 0.29 mg QE/g), also corresponding to their high scavenging activities (i.e., DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, and TAC). In all three fruit samples, a total of 51 polyphenolic compounds were tentatively identified and were mainly characterized from hydroxybenzoic acids, hydroxycinnamic acids, hydroxyphenylpentanoic acids, flavanols, flavonols, and isoflavonoids subclasses. Twenty targeted phenolic compounds were quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array detection (HPLC-PDA). The plum cultivar showed the highest content of phenolic acids (chlorogenic acid, 11.86 mg/100 g), whereas peach samples showed the highest concentration of flavonoids (catechin, 7.31 mg/100 g), as compared to pear. Based on these findings, the present research contributes and complements the current characterization data of these fruits presented in the literature, as well as ensures and encourages the utilization of these fruits in different food, feed, and nutraceutical industries.

Effect of Phytopreparations Based on Bioreactor-Grown Cell Biomass of Dioscorea deltoidea, Tribulus terrestris and Panax japonicus on Carbohydrate and Lipid Metabolism in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

In the present study, we explored the therapeutic potential of bioreactor-grown cell cultures of the medicinal plant species Dioscorea deltoidea, Tribulus terrestris and Panax japonicus to treat carbohydrate metabolism disorders (CMDs) in laboratory rats. In the adrenaline model of hyperglycemia, aqueous suspensions of cell biomass pre-administered at a dose of 100 mg dry biomass/kg significantly reduced glucose level in animal blood 1–2.5 h (D. deltoidea and T. terrestris) or 1 h (P. japonicus) after adrenaline hydrochloride administration. In a streptozotocin-induced model of type 2 diabetes mellitus, the cell biomass of D. deltoidea and T. terrestris acted towards normalization of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, as evidenced by a significant reduction of daily diuresis (by 39–57%), blood-glucose level (by 46–51%), blood content in urine (by 78–80%) and total cholesterol (25–36%) compared to animals without treatment. Bioactive secondary metabolites identified in the cell cultures and potentially responsible for their actions were deltoside, 25(S)-protodioscin and protodioscin in D. deltoidea; furostanol-type steroidal glycosides and quinic acid derivatives in T. terrestris; and ginsenosides and malonyl-ginsenosides in P. japonicus. These results evidenced for high potential of bioreactor-grown cell suspensions of these species for prevention and treatment of CMD, which requires further investigation.

Phenolic Profiling of Five Different Australian Grown Apples

Apples (Malus domestica) are one of the most widely grown and consumed fruits in the world that contain abundant phenolic compounds that possess remarkable antioxidant potential. The current study characterised phenolic compounds from five different varieties of Australian grown apples (Royal Gala, Pink Lady, Red Delicious, Fuji and Smitten) using LC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS and quantified through HPLC-PDA. The phenolic content and antioxidant potential were determined using various assays. Red Delicious had the highest total phenolic (121.78 ± 3.45 mg/g fw) and total flavonoid content (101.23 ± 3.75 mg/g fw) among the five apple samples. In LC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS analysis, a total of 97 different phenolic compounds were characterised in five apple samples, including Royal Gala (37), Pink Lady (54), Red Delicious (17), Fuji (67) and Smitten (46). In the HPLC quantification, phenolic acid (chlorogenic acid, 15.69 ± 0.09 mg/g fw) and flavonoid (quercetin, 18.96 ± 0.08 mg/g fw) were most abundant in Royal Gala. The obtained results highlight the importance of Australian apple varieties as a rich source of functional compounds with potential bioactivity.

UPLC-QTof-MSE Metabolomics Reveals Changes in Leaf Primary and Secondary Metabolism of Hop (Humulus lupulus L.) Plants under Drought Stress

The hop (Humulus lupulus L.) is an important specialty crop used in beer production. Untargeted UPLC-QTof-MS^E metabolomics was used to determine metabolite changes in the leaves of hop plants under varying degrees of drought stress. Principal component analysis revealed that drought treatments produced qualitatively distinct changes in the overall chemical composition of three out of four genotypes tested (i.e., Cascade, Sultana, and a wild var. neomexicanus accession but not Aurora), although differences among treatments were smaller than differences among genotypes. A total of 14 compounds consistently increased or decreased in response to drought stress, and this effect was generally progressive as the severity of drought increased. A total of 10 of these marker compounds were tentatively identified as follows: five glycerolipids, glutaric acid, pheophorbide A, abscisic acid, roseoside, and dihydromyricetin. Some of the observed metabolite changes likely occur across all plants under drought conditions, while others may be specific to hops or to the type of drought treatments performed.

Water Extract of Agastache rugosa Prevents Ovariectomy-Induced Bone Loss by Inhibiting Osteoclastogenesis

Estrogen deficiency in postmenopausal women causes homeostatic imbalance of bone, resulting in bone loss and osteoporosis. Agastache rugosa, a plant belonging to the Lamiaceae family, is an aromatic herb, and the leaves of this herb are widely used as food ingredients. Extracts of A. rugosa have various bioactivities including anti-HIV integration, anti-inflammatory, and anti-atherogenic properties. However, the beneficial effect of A. rugosa on bone has not been studied. Therefore, we investigated the effects of water extract of A. rugosa (WEAR) on osteoclast differentiation and estrogen deficiency-induced bone loss in ovariectomized (OVX) mice as an animal model for postmenopausal osteoporosis. The oral administration of WEAR remarkably improved OVX-induced trabecular bone loss and fat accumulation in the bone marrow. WEAR suppressed receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclast differentiation in osteoclast precursor cells, subsequently inhibiting resorption activity on a bone mimetic surface. WEAR inhibited the expression of cellular oncogene fos (c-Fos) and nuclear factor of activated T-cells cytoplasmic 1 (NFATc1), key osteoclastogenic transcription factors, by decreasing RANKL-induced activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) pathways. We also identified seventeen phytochemicals present in WEAR, including five phenols and twelve flavonoids, and found eleven bioactive constituents that have anti-osteoclastogenic effects. Collectively, these results suggest that WEAR could be used to treat and prevent postmenopausal osteoporosis by suppressing osteoclastogenesis.

Polyphenols composition from leaves of Cuphea spp. and inhibitor potential, in vitro, of angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE)

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Cuphea is the largest genus of the Lythraceae family. It is popularly known as "sete-sangrias" in Brazil used in folk medicine as a diuretic, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, laxative and antihypertensive agent. The raw material of Cuphea has shown promising results in the production of fitotherapics, which are chemically characterized by quercetin core flavonoids.

AIMS OF THE STUDY

Present work aims to investigate the chemical composition of Cuphea calophylla, Cuphea carthagenensis, Cuphea glutinosa and Cuphea racemosa by UHPLC-MS using ESI-Q-TOF, and also to investigate the inhibition of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) in vitro.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Leaves extraction was conducted by an ultrasound-assisted system under the following conditions: 40% ethanol, particle size ≤180 μm, plant:solvent ratio 1:20 (w/v) for 30 min. The leaf extracts were analyzed by UHPLC-MS positive mode ionization. For the inhibition of ACE, the leaf extracts used were obtained from different Cuphea species collected from several regions of Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil).

RESULTS

In total 26 polyphenolic compounds were proposed, which were mostly derived from quercetin, myricetin, and kaempferol. Of these compounds, ten are described in the genus for the first time. The ACE-inhibiting activities are presented in descending order: miquelianin (32.41%), C. glutinosa 1 (31.66%), C. glutinosa 5 (26.32%) and C. carthagenensis 1 (26.12%).

CONCLUSION

The obtained results suggest that the ACE-inhibiting potential may be increased by the interactions among the different phytoconstituents present in the crude extract. These results corroborate with the popular usage of Cuphea genus as diuretic and antihypertensive agents in folk medicine.