Phytochemical Profile and Biological Activities of Tendrils and Leaves Extracts from a Variety of Vitis vinifera L

Exploitation of Natural By-Products for the Promotion of Healthy Outcomes in Humans: Special Focus on Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Mechanisms and Modulation of the Gut Microbiota

Daily, a lot of food is wasted, and vegetables, fruit, and cereals as well as marine products represent the major sources of unwanted by-products. The sustainability, waste recovery, and revalorization of food by-products have been proposed as the main goals of the so-called circular economy. In fact, food wastes are enriched in by-products endowed with beneficial effects on human health. Grape, olives, vegetables, and rice contain different compounds, such as polyphenols, dietary fibers, polysaccharides, vitamins, and proteins, which exert antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, inhibiting pro-oxidant genes and the Nuclear Factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-kβ) pathway, as demonstrated by in vitro and in vivo experiments. Dietary fibers act upon the gut microbiota, expanding beneficial bacteria, which contribute to healthy outcomes. Furthermore, marine foods, even including microalgae, arthropods, and wastes of fish, are rich in carotenoids, polyphenols, polyunsaturated fatty acids, proteins, and chitooligosaccharides, which afford antioxidant and anti-inflammatory protection. The present review will cover the major by-products derived from food wastes, describing the mechanisms of action involved in the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, as well as the modulation of the gut microbiota. The effects of some by-products have also been explored in clinical trials, while others, such as marine by-products, need more investigation for their full exploitation as bioactive compounds in humans.

Computational identification of potential acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and monoamine oxidase-B inhibitors from Vitis vinifera: a case study of Alzheimer's disease (AD)

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most prevalent neurodegenerative disease that affects people aged 60 years and above. Yet, the discovery of potent therapeutic agents against this disease has no utmost progress and a number of drug candidates could not make it out of the clinical trials at varied stages. At the same time, the currently available anti-cholinesterase (AChE) and monoamine oxidase-B (MAO-B) for the treatment of AD can only improve the clinical symptoms while the recently approved immunotherapy agent "remains questionable. Thus, the need for novel therapeutic agents with the potential to treat the aetiology of the disease. Herein, this study sought to examine the potential of a number of bioactive compounds derived from Vitis vinifera as a promising agent against AChE and MAO-B. Using a computational approach via molecular docking 23 bioactive agents were screened against AChE and MAO-B, and the compounds with a binding score below that of the standard ligand were further subjected to drug-likeness and pharmacokinetic screening. Eight and thirteen of the studied agents optimally saturated the active pocket of the AChE and MAO-B respectively, forming principal interactions with a number of amino acids at the active pocket of the targets and among these compounds only rutin failed the drug-likeness test by violating four parameters while all showed moderate pharmacokinetics features. A number of Vitis vinifera-derived bioactive compounds show excellent inhibitory potential against AChE and MAO-B, and moderate pharmacokinetic features when compared to the reference ligand (tacrine). These compounds are therefore proposed as novel AChE and MAO-B inhibitors for the treatment of AD and wet-lab analysis is necessary to affirm their potency.

Valorization of grape (Vitis vinifera) leaves for bioactive compounds: novel green extraction technologies and food-pharma applications

Grape leaves, scientifically known as Vitis vinifera, the primary by-product obtained after the processing of grapes, are gathered in enormous amounts and disposed of as agricultural waste. For more sustainable agriculture and better food systems, it is crucial to investigate these byproducts' nutritional values. The primary bioactive compounds present in grape leaves are quercetin, resveratrol, caffeic acid, kaempferol, and gallic acid, which favour pharmacological effects on human health such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-obesity, anti-diabetic, and hepatoprotective. Furthermore, grape leaves extract has been used as a functional ingredient for creating both food and non-food products. The aim of the current review is to review the nutritional and phytochemical composition of various varieties of grape leaves, their health-promoting characteristics and their applications. The study also highlights the various extraction techniques including conventional and non-conventional methods for extracting the various bioactive compounds present in grape leaves. Grape leaves bioactives can be extracted using environmentally safe and sustainable processes, which are in line with the rising demand for eco-friendly and healthful products worldwide. These methods are perfectly suited to the changing needs of both customers and industries since they lessen environmental effect, enhance product quality, and offer financial advantages.

Nonclinical evaluation of a Vitis vinifera extract towards a novel antiaging cosmetic ingredient

BACKGROUND

Skin aging is regulated by multiple physiological processes, such as oxidative stress. Natural products have been considered as a promising source of antioxidant compounds. As a result, few innovative products on the market based on natural products tackle additional underlying mechanisms of skin aging.

AIMS

The present work reports the nonclinical evaluation of a novel extract from the skin of V. vinifera fruits (codified as ACH37 extract), with the aim of supporting its use as an antiaging cosmetic ingredient candidate in clinical trials.

METHODS

We employed enzymatic, phenotypic, and gene expression assays, both in vitro and ex vivo, to investigate the action of the ACH37 extract in different biological processes that could be related to skin aging mechanisms.

RESULTS

The ACH37 extract was able to scavenge reactive oxygen species (DPPH, O2 - ), prevent inflammation (LPS- and UV-induced COX-2, IL-1β, and IL-8 expression), modulate extracellular matrix remodeling (inhibiting elastase, MMP-1, MMP-3, and MMP-12, as well as associated expression), increase telomere length, telomerase activity, and reverse the UV-induced suppression of genes involved in skin protection. In addition, the ACH37 extract permeated human skin explants and presented antioxidant efficacy ex vivo.

CONCLUSION

The results indicated that the ACH37 extract acts on multiple targets commonly related to skin aging, being a promising antiaging active ingredient candidate to be further investigated in clinical trials.

New Approaches on the Anti-Inflammatory and Cardioprotective Properties of Taraxacum officinale Tincture

The present research investigated the in vivo anti-inflammatory and cardioprotective activities, as well as the antioxidant potential of Taraxacum officinale tincture (TOT), in relation to the polyphenolic composition. Chromatographic and spectrophotometric techniques were used to determine the polyphenolic profile of TOT and the antioxidant activity was preliminarily assessed in vitro by DPPH• and FRAP spectrophotometric methods. The in vivo anti-inflammatory and cardioprotective activities were studied in rat turpentine-induced inflammation and in rat isoprenaline-induced myocardial infarction (MI) models. The main polyphenolic compound identified in TOT was cichoric acid. The oxidative stress determinations showed the capacity of the dandelion tincture not only to decrease the total oxidative stress (TOS), the oxidative stress index (OSI), and the total antioxidant capacity (TAC), but also the malondialdehide (MDA), thiols (SH), and nitrites/nitrates (NOx) levels both in inflammation and MI models. In addition, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), creatin kinase-MB (CK-MB), and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) parameters were decreased by the administration of the tincture. The results show that T. officinale could be considered a valuable source of natural compounds with important benefits in pathologies linked to oxidative stress.

Epilobium Species: From Optimization of the Extraction Process to Evaluation of Biological Properties

Epilobium species are used in Romanian folk medicine as tinctures, tea, or tablets for ameliorating the symptoms of benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH), but scientific-based evidence is scarce for this species or other endemic plants of the same genus. Therefore, the aims of this research were to evaluate the phytochemical profile of five endemic Epilobium species (E. hirsutum L., E. parviflorum Schreb., E. palustre L. E. dodonaei Vill., and E. angustifolium L.) and to assess their in vitro biological activity. For enhanced recovery of polyphenols, a D-optimal experimental plan was developed using Modde software and the optimal working conditions were ultra-turrax-assisted extraction, for 8 min, with 30% ethanol in water. The optimized extracts were obtained from various plant parts and were further characterized by LC-MS analysis, with the major compound being oenothein B. All extracts demonstrated good antioxidant activity, evaluated by DPPH and TEAC assays. The most prominent antimicrobial potency of optimized extracts was displayed against Bacillus cereus, while against Gram-(+) bacteria, a moderate efficacy was observed. Furthermore, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant potential were assessed on normal fibroblasts and prostate carcinoma cell lines. From the evaluated optimized extracts, E. angustifolium aerial parts had the highest selectivity toward killing cancerous cells, followed by E. hirsutum aerial parts extract. For the antioxidant effect, E. hirsutum leaves and E. hirstum aerial parts extracts displayed the highest potency, decreasing ROS at the level observed for the positive control. The highest anti-inflammatory potential, based on the IL-6 and IL-8 levels, was displayed by E. dodonaei aerial parts and E. angustifolium leaves extracts. In conclusion, all five endemic species of Epilobium harvested from Romanian flora possess a diverse phytochemical composition, which supports complex biological activities.

Grapevine Wastes: A Rich Source of Antioxidants and Other Biologically Active Compounds

Wine production is one of the most critical agro-industrial sectors worldwide, generating large amounts of waste with negative environmental impacts, but also with high economic value and several potential applications. From wine shoots to grape pomace or seeds, all of the wastes are rich sources of bioactive compounds with beneficial effects for human health, with these compounds being raw materials for other industries such as the pharmaceutical, cosmetic or food industries. Furthermore, these compounds present health benefits such as being antioxidants, supporting the immune system, anti-tumoral, or preventing cardiovascular and neural diseases. The present work aims to be a critical discussion of the extraction methods used for bioactive compounds from grapevine waste and their beneficial effects on human health.

In Vitro Evaluation of Biological Activities of Canes and Pomace Extracts from Several Varieties of Vitis vinifera L. for Inclusion in Freeze-Drying Mouthwashes

In this study, the biological activities of four extracts from Vitis vinifera by-products: two pomace extracts, white (WPE) and red (RPE), a canes extract (CE), and their combination (CoE), were evaluated, to be included in freeze-drying mouthwashes formulations. The cytocompatibility and anticancerous potential of the four extracts were tested on three cancerous cell lines, as well as the cytoprotective activity against nicotine-induced cytotoxicity and the antioxidant potential determined on a human gingival fibroblasts (HGF) cell line. Additionally, the anti-inflammatory activity and the antimicrobial activity against several microorganisms from the oral microbiome were tested. Freeze-dried mouthwashes with CoE were prepared and characterized, both as lyophilizates and after reconstitution. The four tested extracts showed the highest cytotoxicity on MDA-kb2 cell line. The antioxidant potential was demonstrated for WPE, RPE, CE, and CoE, both in non-stimulated and H₂O₂ stimulated conditions. The four extracts reduced the levels of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-8, and IL-1β) in a dose-dependent manner, confirming their anti-inflammatory activity. The antimicrobial activity of tested extracts was shown against pathogenic bacteria from the oral microbiome. Mouthwashes of CoE with poloxamer-407, xylitol, and different ratios of mannitol were prepared by freeze-drying leading to porous formulations with interesting mechanical properties and reconstitution times.

Phytochemical contents of different parts of the seeded raisins from the South-East Anatolia: Enzyme inhibitory potential of pulp extracts

In this study, some phytochemical properties of six seeded raisin species that are mainly cultivated in Southeastern Anatolia were investigated. Additionally, some physical and quality characteristics, phenolic contents (by LC-MS/MS; Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass / Mass Spectrometer System), anticholinesterase, and antioxidant capacities (DPPH; 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl free-radical scavenging, ABTS; 2,2-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid cation-radical scavenging activity and CUPRAC; cupric reducing antioxidant capacity) of the cultivars were investigated on ground raisins. In all three methods, the antioxidant activity values of seed extracts were determined to be higher than those of leaf and pulp extracts. Remarkably, the seed extract of Banazı Siyahı showed the highest antioxidant activity in ABTS (IC50: 4.35±0.02 μg/mL), DPPH (IC50: 10.78±0.78 μg/mL), and CUPRAC (A0.5: 9.33±0.45 μg/mL) methods. Additionally, the ethanol extracts of all pulp samples showed higher anticholinesterase activity against acetyl-(AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) enzymes than galantamine. According to the LC-MS/MS results, catechin (21.362 mg analyte/g extract) and epicatechin (44.667 mg analyte/g extract) found to be quite rich in Kerküş seed extract and isoquercitrin (116.873 mg analyte/g extract) and astragalin (31.915 mg analyte/g extract) detected to be quite rich in Banazı Siyahı leaf extract. Considering the mineral content of the varieties and the soil samples they grow in, all of the grape varieties analyzed in the study was found to be rich. Based on these findings, it might be suggested that Banazı Siyahı and Kerküş varieties have potential to be utilized in pharmaceutical and food industries, due to their contents of catechins, isoquercitrin and astragalin.

More than Just Wine: The Nutritional Benefits of Grapevine Leaves

The domesticated species Vitis vinifera L. harbours many cultivars throughout the world that present distinctive phenology and grape quality. Not only have the grapes been used for human consumption, but the leaves are also used as a source of bioactive compounds and are present in the diets of several Mediterranean countries. We have selected seven different cultivars and performed elemental, fatty acid (FA) and pigment profiling. Total reflection X-ray fluorescence (TXRF) enabled the identification of 21 elements. Among them, Na, Ca and K were highly represented in all the cultivars and Zn was prevalent in V. vinifera cv. 'Pinot noir' and 'Cabernet sauvignon'. Through gas chromatography, six FAs were identified, including omega-3 and omega-6 FA, the most abundant mainly in V. vinifera cv. 'Tinta barroca', 'Pinot noir' and 'Cabernet sauvignon'. FA composition was used to determine nutritional quality parameters, namely atherogenic, thrombogenic, hypocholesterolemic/hypercholesterolemic and peroxidisability indexes as well as oxidability and oxidative susceptibility. Grapevine leaves were highlighted as a suitable source of health-promoting lipids. Given the popularity of "green" diets, we have also performed a leaf pigment analysis. Seventeen pigments including chlorophylls, trans-lutein, b-carotene and zeaxanthins were detected. 'C19' presented the highest content of most of the detected pigments.

A Novel Antifungal Actinomycete Streptomyces sp. Strain H3-2 Effectively Controls Banana Fusarium Wilt

Banana Fusarium wilt disease caused by Fusarium oxyspoum f. sp. cubense (Foc) seriously threatens the banana industry. Foc tropical race 4 (Foc TR4) can infect almost all banana cultivars. Compared with traditional physical and chemical practices, biocontrol strategy using beneficial microbes is considered as an environmentally sound option to manage fungal disease. In this study, a strain, H3-2, isolated from a non-infected banana orchard, exhibited high antifungal activity against Foc TR4. According to its morphological, physiological, and biochemical characteristics, the strain H3-2 was identified as Streptomyces sp. and convinced by the polymorphic phylogenic analysis of 16S rRNA sequences. Extracts of the strain H3-2 suppressed the growth and spore germination of Foc TR4 in vitro by destroying cell membrane integrity and mycelial ultrastructure. Notably, the strain and its extracts showed broad-spectrum antifungal activity against the selected seven fungal phytopathogens. Fourteen chemical compounds in the extracts were identified by gas chromatography–mass spectrometer (GC-MS), primarily phenolic compounds. Additional pot inoculation experiment demonstrated that the fermentation broth of the strain H3-2 promoted the growth of banana seedlings by efficiently inhibiting the spread of banana Fusarium wilt disease. This study demonstrated the potential application of the novel Streptomyces sp. H3-2 for the management of banana Fusarium wilt.

Exploring the anti-HIV-1 reverse transcriptase, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer activities and cytotoxicity of two fermented commercial herbal concoctions sold in Limpopo Province of South Africa

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

The use of herbal concoctions is very popular in South Africa, including Limpopo Province. The herbal concoctions are claimed to be capable of treating numerous illnesses such as ulcers, cancer, HIV/AIDS, diabetes, certain STDs, blood cleansing to mention but a few. The focus of this study was to evaluate the anti-HIV 1 reverse transcriptase, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancerous activities as well as cytotoxic effects of 2 fermented herbal concoctions used for the treatment of the related ailments in Limpopo province of South Africa.

METHOD

Two fermented herbal concoctions obtained from a herbalist in Polokwane were extracted with 80% acetone. The anti-HIV activity of the herbal concoctions was determined using the anti-HIV reverse transcriptase assay. The anti-cancer and cytotoxic effects of the herbal concoctions were evaluated using cancerous Human Colon (HT-29) cells and the normal human Hepatoma cells (C3A) respectively.

RESULTS

Notable anti-HIV reverse transcriptase activity was observed from the 80% acetone fraction of herbal concoction 1 (IC₅₀ 38.031 μg/mL) which exhibited better activity than the positive control Lamivudine (IC₅₀ 40.90 μg/mL). There was variation in the anti-inflammation activity as determined by the sPL2, 15-LOX and COX enzyme assays. The only concerning matter was the high COX-1 activity in some of the extracts, which is not desirable due to the mucosal protection action of COX-1 enzyme. The herbal concoctions did not exhibit cytotoxic effects on normal human cells, however, toxicity against cancerous cells was observed.

CONCLUSION

The herbal concoctions displayed some considerable pharmacological effects against various ailments as claimed by the herbalist. More work to ascertain the toxicity of both concoctions against cancerous cells need to be followed as this could lead to the discovery of anticancer drugs.

Enhanced Recovery of Phenolic and Tocopherolic Compounds from Walnut (Juglans Regia L.) Male Flowers Based on Process Optimization of Ultrasonic Assisted-Extraction: Phytochemical Profile and Biological Activities

The extraction of bioactive compounds present in walnut (Juglans regia L.) male flowers (WMFs) was performed based on an experimental design using ultrasonic-assisted extraction. Solvent nature, extraction time, and water content were selected as experimental variables, and phenolic, flavonoidic, and condensed tannins contents and antioxidant properties were evaluated. Acetone was the solvent with the highest extraction performance, with the extracts obtained using this solvent displaying an increased concentration of bioactive compounds and increased antioxidant activities. For several extracts with high bioactive content, individual polyphenolic and tocopherolic compounds were evaluated by means of LC-MS and LC-MS/MS. The best extraction conditions for polyphenolic (2.86 mg gallic acid equivalents/g WMF) and tocopherolic compounds (29.4 µg/g WMF) were acetone with 40% water content (N20) and acetone with 20% water content (N15), respectively. Although the total tocopherol concentrations were lower than in other Juglans regia parts, most of the total tocopherol quantity was provided by the highly biologically active δ-tocopherol (84%). Significant quantities of quercetin (101.9 µg/g), hyperoside (2662.9 µg/g), quercitrin (405.7 µg/g), and isoquercitrin (1293.7 µg/g) were determined in WMF (N20). Both extracts inhibited the enzymatic activity of α-glucosidase and tyrosinase; however, an increased inhibition was observed for N20, the extract with the higher polyphenolic content. Conversely, N15 had higher anticancerous activity on the cell lines used, with a moderate selectivity towards the cancerous phenotype being observed for both extracts. At non-cytotoxic concentrations, both extracts displayed good antioxidant activities in cellular cultures, decreasing basal and H₂O₂-induced oxidative stress. This is the first characterization of both hydrophilic and lipophilic phytochemicals in WMF extracts. The outcomes of our study reveal that walnut male flowers have strong biological activities, thus justifying further research to demonstrate their usefulness in the food, pharmaceutical, and/or cosmetic industries.

Assessment of cytotoxicity and antioxidant properties of berry leaves as by-products with potential application in cosmetic and pharmaceutical products

Vaccinum myrtillus L., Ribes nigrum L., Rubus fruticosus L., Fragaria vesca L. leaves are considered an agro-waste of the berry industry. Although numerous studies indicate fruit is a rich source of bioactive compounds, the authors prove leaves can also be a valuable source of compounds used in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. The study attempts to assess and compare the antioxidant and cytotoxic properties of berry leaves extracts. The total phenolic compounds, flavonoids, anthocyanins and procyanidins content were determined. Antioxidant potential was evaluated using the DPPH radical scavenging method. Cytotoxicity studies were conducted to evaluate the effect of the extracts on the metabolism and proliferation of keratinocytes and fibroblasts in vitro. The effect on the migration capacity of these cells was also assessed. The obtained results show that the examined extracts are a source of valuable bioactive agents. All tested extracts show significant ability to remove free radicals in higher concentrations. Cytotoxicity assessments have shown that leaf extracts of the analyzed plants differ in cytotoxicity, both for keratinocytes and fibroblasts. The results of the assessment of cell migration capacity correlate with cytotoxicity tests, because the concentration of extracts showing cytotoxic activity towards the tested cells also inhibited their migration.

Antifungal Activity of Phenolic and Polyphenolic Compounds from Different Matrices of Vitis vinifera L. against Human Pathogens

Phenolic compounds, the most widely distributed class of natural products in the plants, show several biological properties including antifungal activity. Phenolics contained in grapes can be classified in two main groups, flavonoids and non-flavonoids compounds. Variability and yield extraction of phenolic and polyphenolic compounds from different matrices of Vitis vinifera depends of cultivar, climate, soil condition and process technology. Unripe grapes, berry skins and seeds, leaves, canes and stems and not-fermented and fermented pomaces represent large reusable and valuable wastes from agricultural and agro-industrial processes. This review summarizes studies that examine the extraction method, chemical characterization, and antifungal activity of phenolic and polyphenolic compounds from edible and non-edible V. vinifera matrices against human fungal pathogens. In the world, around one billion people have fungal diseases related to skin, nail or hair and around 150 million have systemic diseases caused by fungi. Few studies on antifungal activity of plant extracts have been performed. This review provides useful information for the application of V. vinifera phenolics in the field of antifungals for human use.

Research Advances in the Use of Bioactive Compounds from Vitis vinifera By-Products in Oral Care

Oral health is considered an important factor of general health and it contributes to the quality of life. Despite the raising awareness of preventive measures, the prevalence of oral health conditions continues to increase. In this context, a growing interest in investigating natural resources like Vitis vinifera (V. vinifera) phenolic compounds (PhCs) as oral health promoters has emerged. This paper aims to review the evidence about the bioactivities of V. vinifera by-products in oral health. Up to date, a high number of studies have thoroughly reported the antimicrobial and antiplaque activity of V. vinifera extracts against S. mutans or in multi-species biofilms. Moreover, the bioactive compounds from V. vinifera by-products have been shown to modulate the periodontal inflammatory response and the underlying oxidative stress imbalance induced by the pathogenic bacteria. Considering these beneficial effects, the utility of V. vinifera by-products in the maintaining of oral health and the necessary steps towards the development of oral care products were emphasized. In conclusion, the high potential of V. vinifera by-products could be valorized in the development of oral hygiene products with multi-target actions in the prevention and progression of several oral conditions.