Scavenging Properties of Plant-Derived Natural Biomolecule Para-Coumaric Acid in the Prevention of Oxidative Stress-Induced Diseases

The mitigating effect of para-hydroxycinnamic acid in bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice through targeting oxidative, inflammatory and fibrotic pathways

This study investigated the therapeutic benefits of para-hydroxycinnamic acid in mice with bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis. Forty male BALB/c mice were randomly assigned to four groups: normal, which received 0.9% normal saline; induced, which received a single dose of bleomycin (5 mg/kg) by oropharyngeal challenge; pirfenidone-treated; and para-hydroxycinnamic acid-treated, which challenged with bleomycin and received a daily oral dose of 300 and 50 mg/kg, respectively, from day 7 to day 21. Tissue pro-fibrotic and inflammatory cytokines, oxidative indicators, pulmonary histopathology, immunohistochemistry of fibrotic proteins and the assessment of gene expression by RT-qPCR were evaluated on day 22 after euthanizing animals. Pirfenidone and para-hydroxycinnamic acid managed to alleviate the fibrotic endpoints by statistically improving the weight index, histopathological score and reduced expression of fibrotic-related proteins in immune-stained lung sections, as well as fibrotic markers measured in serum samples. They also managed to alleviate tissue levels of oxidative stress and inflammatory and pro-fibrotic mediators. para-Hydroxycinnamic acid enhanced the expression of crucial genes associated with oxidative stress, inflammation and fibrosis in vivo. para-Hydroxycinnamic acid has demonstrated similar effectiveness to pirfenidone, suggesting it could be a promising treatment for fibrotic lung conditions by inhibiting the TGF-β1/Smad3 pathway or through its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

Antioxidant capacity of Pleurotus ostreatus (Jacq.) P. Kumm influenced by growth substrates

Functional constituents are the main concern in food production and consumption. Because foods rich in functional constituents have antioxidant capacity and are important in keeping consumers healthy. Pleurotus ostreatus is among foods rich in functional constituents. However, its functional constituents are affected by various factors. This study compared the antioxidant capacity of P. ostreatus grown on different substrates: straws of tef (Trt1), barley (Trt2), and wheat (Trt3), husks of faba bean (Trt4), and field pea (Trt5), sawdust (Trt6), and the mixture of the above with 1:1 w/w (Trt7). Trt7 had significantly higher radical scavenging activity (RSA) (73.27%), vitamin C (10.61 mg/100 g), and vitamin D (4.92 mg/100 g) compared to other treatments. Whereas the lowest values of RSA (44.24%), vitamin C (5.39 mg/100 g), and vitamin D (1.21 mg/100 g) were found in Trt2. The results indicated that mixed substrate may be a good growth substrate for functionally beneficial P. ostreatus and could be a promising source of natural antioxidants.

In vitro Evaluation of the Antileishmanial and Antischistosomal Activities of p-Coumaric Acid Prenylated Derivatives

We have evaluated eight p-coumaric acid prenylated derivatives in vitro for their antileishmanial activity against Leishmania amazonensis promastigotes and their antischistosomal activity against Schistosoma mansoni adult worms. Compound 7 ((E)-3,4-diprenyl-4-isoprenyloxycinnamic alcohol) was the most active against L. amazonensis (IC50=45.92 μM) and S. mansoni (IC50=64.25 μM). Data indicated that the number of prenyl groups, the presence of hydroxyl at C9, and a single bond between C7 and C8 are important structural features for the antileishmanial activity of p-coumaric acid prenylated derivatives.

Effects of Laminaria japonica polysaccharide and coumaric acid on pasting, rheological, retrogradation and structural properties of corn starch

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Laminaria japonica polysaccharide (LJP) and coumaric acid (CA) on pasting, rheological, retrogradation and structural properties of corn starch (CS). Rapid viscosity analysis (RVA) revealed that LJP significantly increased the peak viscosity, trough viscosity, final viscosity, and setback viscosity of CS gel (p < 0.05) in a concentration-dependent manner. The addition of LJP and CA simultaneously caused the pasting of CS to need a greater temperature (from 75.53 °C to 78.75 °C), suggesting that LJP and CA made CS pasting more difficult. Dynamic viscoelasticity measurements found that all gels exhibited typical characteristics of weak gel. When compared to CS gel, 4 % LJP increased the viscosity and fluidity of gel and the simultaneous addition of LJP and CA reduced the elasticity. The steady shear results showed that the all gels were pseudoplastic fluids with shear-thinning behavior. In the meanwhile, the addition of LJP and CA enhanced the pseudoplasticity of CS-LJP-CA gel and improved its shear thinning. Furthermore, thermodynamic results showed that 8 % LJP promoted the retrogradation of CS gel and 2.0 % CA delayed the retrogradation of CS gel. Notably, on the 7th day of retrogradation, 2.0 % CA significantly decreased the retrogradation rate of CS-LJP by 19.31 % as compared to CS + 8 % LJP. Microstructure observation revealed that LJP made the honeycomb network structure of CS gel partially collapsed, and the surface of CS-LJP gel developed venation. Nevertheless, the structure of CS-LJP gel was clearly enhanced by adding CA. FT-IR spectra demonstrated that the addition of LJP or CA to CS did not result in the formation of a new distinctive peak in the system, suggesting the absence of a new group. Moreover, LF-NMR findings showed that LJP and CA strengthened the gel structure of CS and enhanced its capacity to retain water. This study not only provided a new insight into using LJP and CA to regulate the gel properties of CS, but also provided scientific strategy for developing starchy foods.

Exploring the therapeutic potential of layered double hydroxides and transition metal dichalcogenides through the convergence of rheumatology and nanotechnology using generative adversarial network

Two-dimensional Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) are highly used in the biomedical domain due to their biocompatibility, biodegradability, controlled drug loading and release capabilities, and improved cellular permeability. The interaction of LDHs with biological systems could facilitate targeted drug delivery and make them an attractive option for various biomedical applications. Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) requires targeted drug delivery for optimum therapeutic outcomes. In this study, stacked double hydroxide nanocomposites with dextran sulphate modification (LDH-DS) were developed while exhibiting both targeting and pH-sensitivity for rheumatological conditions. This research examines the loading, release kinetics, and efficiency of the therapeutics of interest in the LDH-based drug delivery system. The mean size of LDH-DS particles (300.1 ± 8.12 nm) is -12.11 ± 0.4 mV. The encapsulation efficiency was 48.52%, and the loading efficacy was 16.81%. In vitro release tests indicate that the drug's discharge is modified more rapidly in PBS at pH 5.4 compared to pH 5.6, which later reached 7.3, showing the case sensitivity to pH. A generative adversarial network (GAN) is used to analyze the drug delivery system in rheumatology. The GAN model achieved high accuracy and classification rates of 99.3% and 99.0%, respectively, and a validity of 99.5%. The second and third administrations resulted in a significant change with p-values of 0.001 and 0.05, respectively. This investigation unequivocally demonstrated that LDH functions as a biocompatible drug delivery matrix, significantly improving delivery effectiveness.

Biochemical and pharmaceutical traits of Marrubium vulgare L. plants treated with plant growth-promoting bacteria and elevated CO2

The present research aimed to understand the influence of plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) on various biochemical, nutritional, and pharmaceutical characteristics of Marrubium vulgare plants grown under elevated carbon dioxide (eCO2). To achieve this objective, a pot experiment was carried out, consisting of two treatments, namely: (i) biofertilization (Bf) by a PGPB strain (Micromonospora sp.) and (ii) two different air CO2 levels, including ambient CO2 (aCO2) and eCO2 concentrations (410 and 710 μmol CO2 mol-1, respectively). The improvement in the photosynthesis rate of eCO2 and Bf-treated plants can explain the increase in the production of carbohydrate. This is evidenced by a substantial rise, reaching up to + 75% and 25% in the total sugar and starch content in plants subjected to eCO2 treatment, respectively. Additionally, eCO2-treated plants exhibited a remarkable 102% increase in soluble sugar synthesis, while plants subjected to Bf treatment showed a notable increase of 66%. Such modifications could be the main factor affecting plants carbon and nitrogen metabolism. Although the level of certain amino acids (such as glycine, tyrosine, and phenylalanine) in plants exhibited significant increases in response to eCO2 and Bf, the levels of other amino acids demonstrated enhancements in plants grown under eCO2 (e.g., histidine) or under treatments containing Bf (e.g., alanine and ornithine). Improvements in primary metabolites led to more benefits in plants treated with Bf and CO2 by boosting secondary metabolites accumulation, including phenolics (+ 27-100%), flavonoids (+ 30-92%), and essential oils (up to + 296%), as well as improved antioxidant capacity (FRAP). This remarkable effectiveness was evident in the significant increase in the biomass production, highlighting the synergistic impact of the treatments. Therefore, the interaction of Bf and eCO2 not only induced plant biomass accumulation but also improved the nutritional and pharmaceutical value of M. vulgare plants.

Natural compounds as lactate dehydrogenase inhibitors: potential therapeutics for lactate dehydrogenase inhibitors-related diseases

Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) is a crucial enzyme involved in energy metabolism and present in various cells throughout the body. Its diverse physiological functions encompass glycolysis, and its abnormal activity is associated with numerous diseases. Targeting LDH has emerged as a vital approach in drug discovery, leading to the identification of LDH inhibitors among natural compounds, such as polyphenols, alkaloids, and terpenoids. These compounds demonstrate therapeutic potential against LDH-related diseases, including anti-cancer effects. However, challenges concerning limited bioavailability, poor solubility, and potential toxicity must be addressed. Combining natural compounds with LDH inhibitors has led to promising outcomes in preclinical studies. This review highlights the promise of natural compounds as LDH inhibitors for treating cancer, cardiovascular, and neurodegenerative diseases.

Neuroprotective Effects of P-Coumaric Acid on Haloperidol-Induced Catalepsy Through Ameliorating Oxidative Stress and Brain Dopamine Level

Objective

To evaluate the effect of p-coumaric acid (p-CA) on haloperidol-induced catalepsy in Swiss albino male mice.

Methods

To induce catalepsy, haloperidol (1 mg/kg i.p.) was administered for 21 consecutive days. p-CA (50, 75, and 100 mg/kg, PO) was administered 30 min before haloperidol injection for 21 consecutive days. For catalepsy, locomotor activity and motor coordination scores were recorded on the 17, 14, and 21 days of drug treatment, while the gait analysis score was recorded on day 21. After behavioral testing, animals were sacrificed, and various biochemical and histopathology tests of the brain were conducted. Dopamine, malondialdehyde, reduced glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase activity were examined in the brain.

Results

Chronic administration of haloperidol significantly increased catalepsy in mice. It also produced hypolocomotion, motor coordination, and gait disturbance in mice. p-CA significantly inhibited haloperidol-induced catalepsy. Haloperidol significantly increased malondialdehyde levels in the brain. While dopamine levels in the brain dropped along with GSH, SOD, and catalase activity levels, which also had an impact on the histology of the brain. p-CA significantly reduced haloperidol-induced increases in brain oxidative stress, dopamine levels in the brain, and brain histology in mice.

Discussion

p-CA significantly reduced haloperidol-induced catalepsy, possibly through reducing oxidative stress and increasing brain dopamine levels. It can be a good candidate drug for extrapyramidal symptoms in Parkinson’s disease and adjuvant therapy with antipsychotic drugs.

Possible Mechanisms of Oxidative Stress-Induced Skin Cellular Senescence, Inflammation, and Cancer and the Therapeutic Potential of Plant Polyphenols

As the greatest defense organ of the body, the skin is exposed to endogenous and external stressors that produce reactive oxygen species (ROS). When the antioxidant system of the body fails to eliminate ROS, oxidative stress is initiated, which results in skin cellular senescence, inflammation, and cancer. Two main possible mechanisms underlie oxidative stress-induced skin cellular senescence, inflammation, and cancer. One mechanism is that ROS directly degrade biological macromolecules, including proteins, DNA, and lipids, that are essential for cell metabolism, survival, and genetics. Another one is that ROS mediate signaling pathways, such as MAPK, JAK/STAT, PI3K/AKT/mTOR, NF-κB, Nrf2, and SIRT1/FOXO, affecting cytokine release and enzyme expression. As natural antioxidants, plant polyphenols are safe and exhibit a therapeutic potential. We here discuss in detail the therapeutic potential of selected polyphenolic compounds and outline relevant molecular targets. Polyphenols selected here for study according to their structural classification include curcumin, catechins, resveratrol, quercetin, ellagic acid, and procyanidins. Finally, the latest delivery of plant polyphenols to the skin (taking curcumin as an example) and the current status of clinical research are summarized, providing a theoretical foundation for future clinical research and the generation of new pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.

Phenolic Acids-Mediated Regulation of Molecular Targets in Ovarian Cancer: Current Understanding and Future Perspectives

Cancer is a global health concern with a dynamic rise in occurrence and one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide. Among different types of cancer, ovarian cancer (OC) is the seventh most diagnosed malignant tumor, while among the gynecological malignancies, it ranks third after cervical and uterine cancer and sadly bears the highest mortality and worst prognosis. First-line treatments have included a variety of cytotoxic and synthetic chemotherapeutic medicines, but they have not been particularly effective in extending OC patients' lives and are associated with side effects, recurrence risk, and drug resistance. Hence, a shift from synthetic to phytochemical-based agents is gaining popularity, and researchers are looking into alternative, cost-effective, and safer chemotherapeutic strategies. Lately, studies on the effectiveness of phenolic acids in ovarian cancer have sparked the scientific community's interest because of their high bioavailability, safety profile, lesser side effects, and cost-effectiveness. Yet this is a road less explored and critically analyzed and lacks the credibility of the novel findings. Phenolic acids are a significant class of phytochemicals usually considered in the nonflavonoid category. The current review focused on the anticancer potential of phenolic acids with a special emphasis on chemoprevention and treatment of OC. We tried to summarize results from experimental, epidemiological, and clinical studies unraveling the benefits of various phenolic acids (hydroxybenzoic acid and hydroxycinnamic acid) in chemoprevention and as anticancer agents of clinical significance.

Non-Enzymatic Antioxidants against Alzheimer's Disease: Prevention, Diagnosis and Therapy

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive memory loss and cognitive decline. Although substantial research has been conducted to elucidate the complex pathophysiology of AD, the therapeutic approach still has limited efficacy in clinical practice. Oxidative stress (OS) has been established as an early driver of several age-related diseases, including neurodegeneration. In AD, increased levels of reactive oxygen species mediate neuronal lipid, protein, and nucleic acid peroxidation, mitochondrial dysfunction, synaptic damage, and inflammation. Thus, the identification of novel antioxidant molecules capable of detecting, preventing, and counteracting AD onset and progression is of the utmost importance. However, although several studies have been published, comprehensive and up-to-date overviews of the principal anti-AD agents harboring antioxidant properties remain scarce. In this narrative review, we summarize the role of vitamins, minerals, flavonoids, non-flavonoids, mitochondria-targeting molecules, organosulfur compounds, and carotenoids as non-enzymatic antioxidants with AD diagnostic, preventative, and therapeutic potential, thereby offering insights into the relationship between OS and neurodegeneration.

Benefits of p-coumaric acid in mice with rotenone-induced neurodegeneration

The paper examines the use of natural antioxidant and anti-inflammation substances as therapeutic candidates for brain disease. Para-coumaric acid (pCA), a phenolic compound with a variety of medicinal properties, was used against deterioration caused by various diseases. Recently, pCA has gained attention for use against cardiovascular disease but less so for neurodegenerative disease (i.e., Parkinson's disease). Therefore, the present study intended to investigate the effect of pCA against rotenone-induced Parkinson's disease-like pathology in mice. Thirty male institute of cancer research (ICR) mice were randomly divided into three experimental groups: Sham-veh, Rot-veh, and Rot-pCA100. Rotenone (Rot) 2.5 mg/kg was subcutaneously injected every 48 h in the rotenone groups. Alternately, a 100 mg/kg pCA dose was given every 48 h via intragastric gavage to the Rot-pCA100 group for 6 weeks. Motor ability was assessed at the second, fourth, and sixth week before brain collection for biochemical and histological analyses. Results indicated significant motor deficits appeared from the second to sixth week after rotenone injection. Brain analysis detected a significant effect of rotenone in the increase of malondialdehyde and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). This result was observed in accordance with a reduction of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and an increase of neuronal degeneration in the substantia nigra par compacta (SNc) and striatum. However, pCA was able to reverse all of the deterioration (i.e., reduced malondialdehyde and TNF-α) rotenone had caused, and it protected against TH and neuronal loss in the SNc and striatum. Therefore, the present study has depicted the neuroprotective effect of pCA against rotenone-induced Parkinson's disease-like pathology in mice. Benefits of pCA include anti-lipid peroxidation and anti-inflammatory effects, inhibition of neurodegeneration, and a nurturing effect on the TH level in the SNc and striatum, leading to mitigation of motor deficits.

Exploration of acute and chronic anti-inflammatory potential of Quercus leucotrichophora A. Camus extracts in Wistar rats: A mechanistic insight

Introduction: This research was conducted to validate the folkloric use of Quercus leucotrichophora (QL) leaf extracts against inflammation and arthritis and to determine the chemical composition using HPLC. Method: The aqueous and methanolic extracts of QL were evaluated by in vitro anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory (inhibition of protein denaturation and membrane stabilization) assays, and in vivo anti-inflammatory (carrageenan and xylene-induced edema) and anti-arthritic models. For anti-arthritic potential, 0.1 mL Complete Freund's Adjuvant (CFA) was inoculated into the left hind paw of a Wistar rat on day 1, and oral dosing with QL methanolic extract (QLME) at 150, 300, and 600 mg/kg was begun at day 8 till the 28th day in all groups, except disease control that was given distilled water, while methotrexate was given as standard treatment. Results and discussion: There was a noteworthy (p < 0.05-0.0001) restoration in body weight, paw edema, arthritic index, altered blood parameters, and oxidative stress biomarkers in treated rats as compared to the diseased group. Moreover, QLME treatment significantly (p < 0.0001) downregulated TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, COX-2, and NF-κB, while significantly (p < 0.0001) upregulating IL-10, I-κB, and IL-4 in contrast to the diseased group. The QLME exhibited no mortality in the acute toxicity study. It was concluded that QLME possessed substantial anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-arthritic potential at all dosage levels prominently at 600 mg/kg might be due to the presence of quercetin, gallic, sinapic, and ferulic acids.

Coumaric acid from M. polymorphum extracts reverses the activated state of hepatic stellate cells (GRX) and inhibits their proliferation by decreasing the p53/p21 pathway

Coumaric acid is a phenolic compound found in medicinal plants. Its use has been reported in the treatment of inflammatory diseases, prevention of alterations induced by oxidative stress, as well as acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity. Thus, this study evaluated coumaric acid as a potential treatment for liver fibrosis. Cell proliferation was assessed by the trypan blue exclusion technique and the cytotoxicity of coumaric acid was performed using an LDH assay. Mechanisms of cell apoptosis were evaluated by flow cytometry. The expression of genes associated with apoptosis, cell cycle control, and fibrosis was assessed by qPCR. The production of lipid droplets was quantified by oil red staining. The experiments performed showed that the treatment with coumaric acid was able to reduce cell proliferation without causing cell cytotoxicity or apoptosis. Coumaric acid was able to inhibit the expression of cyclin D1 and CDK's (CDK2, CDK4, and CDK6), increasing p53 and p21, which could lead to cell cycle arrest. Treatment with coumaric acid was also able to revert the activated phenotype of GRX cells to their quiescent state. Thus, our results suggest that coumaric acid has a potential therapeutic effect against liver fibrosis.

Naturally Occurring Functional Ingredient from Filamentous Thermophilic Cyanobacterium Leptolyngbya sp. KC45: Phytochemical Characterizations and Their Multiple Bioactivities

Cyanobacteria are rich in phytochemicals, which have beneficial impacts on the prevention of many diseases. This study aimed to comprehensively characterize phytochemicals and evaluate multifunctional bioactivities in the ethanolic extract of the cyanobacterium Leptolyngbya sp. KC45. Results found that the extract mainly contained chlorophylls, carotenoids, phenolics, and flavonoids. Through LC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS analysis, 38 phenolic compounds with promising bioactivities were discovered, and a higher diversity of flavonoids was found among the phenolic compounds identified. The extract effectively absorbed the harmful UV rays and showed high antioxidant activity on DPPH, ABTS, and PFRAP. The extract yielded high-efficiency inhibitory effects on enzymes (tyrosinase, collagenase, ACE, and α-glucosidase) related to diseases. Interestingly, the extract showed a strong cytotoxic effect on cancer cells (skin A375, lung A549, and colon Caco-2), but had a much smaller effect on normal cells, indicating a satisfactory level of safety for the extract. More importantly, the combination of the DNA ladder assay and the TUNEL assay proved the appearance of DNA fragmentation in cancer cells after a 48 h treatment with the extract, confirming the apoptosis mechanisms. Our findings suggest that cyanobacterium extract could be potentially used as a functional ingredient for various industrial applications in foods, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and nutraceuticals.

Antidiabetic activity of Solanum torvum fruit extract in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Background

Solanum torvum Swartz, a medicinal plant belonging to the family Solanaceae, is an important medicinal plant widely distributed throughout the world and used as medicine to treat diabetes, hypertension, tooth decay, and reproductive problems in traditional systems of medicine around the world including Malaysia. The objective of this study was to investigate hypoglycemic, antilipidemic, and hepatoprotective activities, histopathology of the pancreas, and specific glucose regulating gene expression of the ethanolic extract of S. torvum fruit in streptozotocin-induced diabetic Sprague–Dawley rats.

Materials and methods

Acute toxicity study was done according to OECD-423 guidelines. Diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of streptozotocin (55 mg/kg) in male Sprague–Dawley rats. Experimental diabetic rats were divided into six different groups; normal, diabetic control, and glibenclamide at 6 mg/kg body weight, and the other three groups of animals were treated with oral administration of ethanolic extract of S. torvum fruit at 120, 160, and 200 mg/kg for 28 days. The effect of ethanolic extract of S. torvum fruit on body weight, blood glucose, lipid profile, liver enzymes, histopathology of pancreas, and gene expression of glucose transporter 2 (slc2a2), and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PCK1) was determined by RT-PCR.

Results

Acute toxicity studies showed LD₅₀ of ethanolic extract of S. torvum fruit to be at the dose of 1600 mg/kg body weight. Blood glucose, total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoproteins, very low-density lipoproteins, serum alanine aminotransferase, and aspartate aminotransferase were significantly reduced, whereas high-density lipoproteins were significantly increased in S. torvum fruit (200 mg/kg)-treated rats. Histopathological study of the pancreas showed an increase in number, size, and regeneration of β-cell of islets of Langerhans. Gene expression studies revealed the lower expression of slc2a2 and PCK1 in treated animals when compared to diabetic control.

Conclusion

Ethanolic extract of S. torvum fruits showed hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, and hepatoprotective activity in streptozocin-induced diabetic rats. Histopathological studies revealed regeneration of β cells of islets of Langerhans. Gene expression studies indicated lower expression of slc2a2 and PCK1 in treated animals when compared to diabetic control, indicating that the treated animals prefer the gluconeogenesis pathway.

Phytochemicals from Red Onion, Grown with Eco-Sustainable Fertilizers, Protect Mammalian Cells from Oxidative Stress, Increasing Their Viability

Red onion, a species of great economic importance rich in phytochemicals (bioactive compounds) known for its medicinal properties, was fertilized with sulphur-bentonite enriched with orange residue or olive pomace, with the aim of producing onion enriched in health beneficial compounds. There is a worldwide great demand of minimally processed food or food ingredients with functional properties because of a new awareness of how important healthy functional nutrition is in life. Phytochemicals have the capacity to regulate most of the metabolic processes resulting in health benefits. Red onion bioactive compound quantity and quality can vary according to cultivation practices. The main aims of the current research were to determine the chemical characteristics of the crude extracts from red onion bulbs differently fertilized and to evaluate their biological activity in normal and oxidative stress conditions. The lyophilized onion bulbs have been tested in vitro on two cellular models, i.e., the H9c2 rat cardiomyoblast cell line and primary human dermal fibroblasts, in terms of viability and oxygen radical homeostasis. The results evidenced different phytochemical compositions and antioxidant activities of the extracts obtained from red onions differently fertilized. Sulphur-bentonite fertilizers containing orange waste and olive pomace positively affected the red onion quality with respect to the red onion control, evidencing that sulphur-bentonite-organic fertilization was able to stimulate plant a secondary metabolism inducing the production of phytochemicals with healthy functions. A positive effect of the extracts from red onions treated with fertilizers—in particular, with those containing orange waste, such as the reduction of oxidative stress and induction of cell viability of H9c2 and human fibroblasts—was observed, showing a concentration- and time-dependent profile. The results evidenced that the positive effects were related to the phenols and, in particular, to chlorogenic and p-coumaric acids and to the flavonol kaempferol, which were more present in red onion treated with low orange residue than in the other treated ones.

Virgin coconut oil: A comprehensive review of antioxidant activity and mechanisms contributed by phenolic compounds

Virgin coconut oil (VCO) is obtained by processing mature coconut cores with mechanical or natural methods. In recent years, VCO has been widely used in the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries because of its excellent functional activities. VCO has biological functions such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antiviral, and also has potential therapeutic effects on many chronic degenerative diseases. Among these functions, the antioxidant is the most basic and important function, which is mainly determined by phenolic compounds and medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs). This review aims to elucidate the antioxidant functions of each phenolic compound in VCO, and discuss the antioxidant mechanisms of VCO in terms of the role of phenolic compounds with fat, intestinal microorganisms, and various organs. Besides, the composition of VCO and its application in various industries are summarized, and the biological functions of VCO are generalized, which should lay a foundation for further research on the antioxidant activity of VCO and provide a theoretical basis for the development of food additives with antioxidant activity.

Potential Gonado-Protective Effect of Cichorium endivia and Its Major Phenolic Acids against Methotrexate-Induced Testicular Injury in Mice

Cichorium endivia L. (Asteraceae) is a wide edible plant that grows in the Mediterranean region. In this study, a phytochemical investigation of C. endivia L. ethanolic extract led to the isolation of stigmasterol (1), ursolic acid (2), β-amyrin (3), azelaic acid (4), vanillic acid (5), (6S, 7E)-6-hydroxy-4,7-megastigmadien-3,9-dione (S(+)-dehydrovomifoliol) (6), 4-hydroxy phenyl acetic acid (7), vomifoliol (8), ferulic acid (9), protocatechuic acid (10), kaempferol (11), p. coumaric acid (12), and luteolin (13). In addition, the total phenolic content as well as the in vitro antioxidant activity of C. endivia L. extract were estimated. Moreover, we inspected the potential gonado-protective effect of C. endivia crude extract, its phenolic fraction, and the isolated coumaric, vanillic, and ferulic acids against methotrexate (MTX)-induced testicular injury in mice. There were seven groups: normal control, MTX control, MTX + C. endivia crude extract, MTX + C. endivia phenolic fraction, MTX + isolated coumaric acid, MTX + isolated vanillic acid, and MTX + isolated ferulic acid. MTX was given by i.p. injection of a 20 mg/kg single dose. The crude extract and phenolic fraction were given with a dose of 100 mg/kg/day, whereas the compounds were given at a dose of 10 mg/kg/day. A histopathological examination was done. The testosterone level was detected in serum together with the testicular content of malondialdehyde (MDA), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), interleukin 1β (IL-1β), IL-6, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), Bcl-2 associated x protein (Bax), p53, and miR-29a. C. endivia crude extract, the phenolic fraction, and the isolated compounds showed significant elevation in their levels of testosterone, CAT, SOD, Bcl-2 with a significant decrease in their levels of MDA, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, NF-κB, Bax, P53, and miR-29a compared to those of the MTX control group. In conclusion, C. endivia mitigated MTX-induced germ cell toxicity via anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antiapoptotic effects.

Anti-Inflammatory and Analgesic Evaluation of a Phytochemical Intercalated into Layered Double Hydroxide

Coumaric acid (CouH), an antioxidant molecule assimilated by food consumption, was intercalated into layered double hydroxide (LDH) nanocarrier, having zinc and aluminium ions in the layers (LDH-Cou), to evaluate its pharmacological activity through in vitro and in vivo assays in mice. Therefore, the following tests were performed: coumarate delivery in saline solution, fibroblasts’ cell viability using neutral red, peritonitis induced by carrageenan, formalin test, acetic-acid-induced writhing, and tail-flick assay, for the non-intercalated CouH and the intercalated LDH-Cou system. Furthermore, different pharmacological pathways were also investigated to evaluate their possible anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive mechanisms of action, in comparison to traditionally used agents (morphine, naloxone, caffeine, and indomethacin). The LDH-Cou drug delivery system showed more pronounced anti-inflammatory effect than CouH but not more than that evoked by the classic non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) indomethacin. For the analgesic effect, according to the tail-flick test, the treatment with LDH-Cou expressively increased the analgesia duration (p < 0.001) by approximately 1.7−1.8 times compared to CouH or indomethacin. Thus, the results pointed out that the LDH-Cou system induced in vivo analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities and possibly uses similar mechanisms to that observed for classic NSAIDs, such as indomethacin.

Phytochemical Profiling, Antimicrobial and α-Glucosidase Inhibitory Potential of Phenolic-Enriched Extracts of the Aerial Parts from Echium humile Desf.: In Vitro Combined with In Silico Approach

The current study aimed to evaluate the naturally occurring antimicrobial and antidiabetic potential of various Echium humile (E. humile) solvent extracts (hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, methanol and aqueous). The bioactive compounds were identified using HPLC-MS, revealing the presence of sixteen phytochemical compounds, with the most abundant being p-coumaric acid, followed by 4,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid, trans-ferulic acid and acacetin. Furthermore, E. humile extracts showed marked antimicrobial properties against human pathogen strains, with MIC values for the most relevant extracts (methanol and ethyl acetate) ranging from 0.19 to 6.25 mg/mL and 0.39 to 12.50 mg/mL, respectively. Likewise, methanol was found to be bactericidal towards S. aureus, B. cereus and M. luteus, fungicidal against P. catenulatum and F. oxysporum and have a bacteriostatic/fungicidal effect for the other strains. In addition, the E. humile methanolic extract had the greatest α-glucosidase inhibitory effect (IC₅₀ = 0.06 ± 0.29 mg/mL), which is higher than the standard drug, acarbose (IC₅₀ = 0.80 ± 1.81 mg/mL) and the aqueous extract (IC₅₀ = 0.70 ± 0.67 mg/mL). A correlation study between the major phytochemicals and the evaluated activities was investigated. Docking studies evidenced that most of the identified phenolic compounds showed strong interactions into the binding sites of S. aureus tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase and human lysosomal acid-α-glucosidase, confirming their suitable inhibitory effect. In summary, these results may provide rational support to explore the clinical efficacy of E. humile and its secondary metabolites in the treatment of dual diabetes and infections.

Platanus hybrida’s Phenolic Profile, Antioxidant Power, and Antibacterial Activity against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)

Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) are a threat to public health as they frequently reveal a multidrug-resistant pattern. Researchers all over the world are on an urgent hunt for new treatments to help fight infections before antibiotics become obsolete, and some natural alternatives, such as polyphenols, have already exhibited therapeutic properties. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the phenolic profile, antioxidant capacity, and antimicrobial activity against MRSA of the leaf, fruit, and stem bark extracts of Platanus hybrida. The polyphenols were extracted with a water/ethanol (20:80) mixture and the methodology included HPLC-DAD, DPPH, FRAP, and CuPRAC. To address this issue from a One Health perspective, the Kirby–Bauer disc diffusion method was performed against nine MRSA strains from three different sources (livestock, wild animals, and humans). Fourteen phenolics were identified and the leaf extract showed the highest phenolic content, followed by the fruit extract. The leaf extract also showed the highest antioxidant capacity while the fruit extract had the lowest antioxidant capacity. Both leaf and fruit extracts inhibited the growth of strains from all sources, while the stem bark extract did not inhibit the growth of human strains. This work highlights the complex chemical composition and the antioxidative and antimicrobial potential of extracts derived from P. hydrida.

In Vitro Free Radical Scavenging Properties and Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Ilex paraguariensis (Maté) and the Ability of Its Major Chemical Markers to Inhibit the Production of Proinflammatory Mediators

Ilex paraguariensis A. St. Hil. (Aquifoliaceae), popularly known as “yerba mate,” has great economic and social significance for the population of Southern Latin America. This study was conducted (1) to investigate the phytochemical composition of four different standardized extracts, (2) to investigate its free radical scavenging properties, and (3) to investigate the anti-inflammatory action of I. paraguariensis and its major chemical markers. The chemical profile was achieved by Folin-Ciocalteu, by LC/DAD, and by LC/MS assays, while the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties were investigated, respectively, by DPPH assay and by inhibition of nitric oxide (Griess reaction) and TNF-α (ELISA). Our results demonstrated that the IA (aqueous infusion extract) showed higher amounts of total phenolic contents (266.62 ± 10.85 mg CAE·g⁻¹ DE), the highest amounts of all six chemical markers (theobromine, 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid, 4-O-caffeoylquinic acid, 3-O-caffeoylquinic acid, caffeine, and rutin), and stronger antioxidant activity (EC₅₀ = 54.4 ± 5.14 μg · mL⁻¹). The IA extract also showed the lowest inhibition of NOx secretion (50.10 ± 8.97%) as well as inhibition of TNF-α (83.33 ± 4.01%). Regarding the chemical markers, all compounds showed strong inhibition of NOx secretion, especially theobromine, which was 200x more potent than dexamethasone. Furthermore, TNF-α secretion was also significantly decreased by THEO at 0.033 μM (22.15 ± 6.49%), NCA at 1.97 μM (27.46 ± 3.98%), CCA at 0.35 μM (39.76 ± 5.73%), CGA at 0.56 μM (23.58 ± 5.79%), CAF at 0.52 μM (26.45 ± 5.34%), and RUT at 0.16 μM (40.18 ± 3.70%). Our results suggest that I. paraguariensis and its major chemical markers have strong free radical scavenging properties as well as showed important anti-inflammatory activity and that these compounds in a plant extract may work based on several different mechanisms synergistically, resulting in moderating the immune system.