Maslinic acid, a natural phytoalexin-type triterpene from olives--a promising nutraceutical?

Lower Energy-Demanding Extraction of Bioactive Triterpene Acids by Microwave as the First Step towards Biorefining Residual Olive Skin

In the olive oil industry, a pit fraction is collected from olive pomace and split into a clean pit fraction and a residual olive skin-rich fraction, which does not an industrial application. Therefore, in this work, microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) was applied to obtain high-value triterpene acids (maslinic acid and oleanolic acid) from this biomass using the renewable solvent ethanol. The response surface methodology was used to gain a deeper understanding of how the solvent (ethanol-water, 50-100% v/v), time (4-30 min), and temperature (50-120 °C) affect the extraction performance, as well as the energy required for the process. The effect of milling was also studied and the solid-to-liquid ratio was also evaluated, and overall, a good compromise was found at 10% (w/v) using the raw sample (unmilled biomass). The optimised conditions were applied to residual olive skin sourced from various industries, yielding up to 5.1 g/100 g and 2.2 g/100 g dry biomass for maslinic acid and oleanolic acid, respectively. In conclusion, the residual olive skin is a promising natural source of these triterpene acids, which can be extracted using MAE, releasing extracted solids rich in polymeric carbohydrates and lignin that can be valorised under a holistic biorefinery process.

Unleashing plant synthetic capacity: navigating regulatory mechanisms for enhanced bioproduction and secondary metabolite discovery

Plant natural products (PNPs) hold significant pharmaceutical importance. The sessile nature of plants has led to the evolution of chemical defense mechanisms over millions of years to combat environmental challenges, making it a crucial and essential defense weapon. Despite their importance, the abundance of these bioactive molecules in plants is typically low, and conventional methods are time-consuming for enhancing production. Moreover, there is a pressing need for novel drug leads, exemplified by the shortage of antibiotics and anticancer drugs. Understanding how plants respond to stress and regulate metabolism to produce these molecules presents an opportunity to explore new avenues for discovering compounds that are typically under the detection limit or not naturally produced. Additionally, this knowledge can contribute to the advancement of plant engineering, enabling the development of new chassis for the biomanufacturing of these valuable molecules. In this perspective, we explore the intricate regulation of PNP biosynthesis in plants, and discuss the biotechnology strategies that have been and can be utilized for the discovery and production enhancement of PNPs in plants.

Synthesis of Rhodamine-Conjugated Lupane Type Triterpenes of Enhanced Cytotoxicity

Various conjugates with rhodamines were prepared by starting with betulinic acid (BA) and platanic acid (PA). The molecules homopiperazine and piperazine, which were identified in earlier research, served as linkers between the rhodamine and the triterpene. The pentacyclic triterpene's ring A was modified with two acetyloxy groups in order to possibly boost its cytotoxic activity. The SRB assays' cytotoxicity data showed that conjugates 13-22, derived from betulinic acid, had a significantly higher cytotoxicity. Of these hybrids, derivatives 19 (containing rhodamine B) and 22 (containing rhodamine 101) showed the best values with EC50 = 0.016 and 0.019 μM for A2780 ovarian carcinoma cells. Additionally, based on the ratio of EC50 values, these two compounds demonstrated the strongest selectivity between malignant A2780 cells and non-malignant NIH 3T3 fibroblasts. A375 melanoma cells were used in cell cycle investigations, which showed that the cells were halted in the G1/G0 phase. Annexin V/FITC/PI staining demonstrated that the tumor cells were affected by both necrosis and apoptosis.

Clerodendrum Glandulosum Lindl.: A Review of Ethnopharmacology, Pharmacological Potentials, and their Mechanism of Action

Clerodendrum glandulosum Lindl. is popularly known for its traditional herbal remedies and therapeutic properties among the people of Northeast Indian communities, as well as Chinese traditional medicine. For the myriad pharmacological properties, viz., anti-hypertensive, hypolipidemic, hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective, planting this species in kitchen gardens is a common practice to treat various ailments, especially hypertension, diabetes, and other metabolic complications. Different phytochemicals, representing the diverse classes of secondary metabolites comprising physiological and phytopharmaceutical significance, have been reported from C. glandulosum. Compounds with terpenoids, steroids, and phenolics are in demand in the pharmaceutical industry. An overview of the mechanism of action of the prominent compounds has also been collated for future research on C. glandulosum-based therapeutics. Current information focuses on this important medicinal plant's ethnomedicinal use, phytochemistry, pharmacology, associated mechanisms, and toxicology. This review will help explore this potential medicinal plant, which can pave the path for its application in the pharmaceutical industry.

Neurotrophic Natural Products

Neurotrophins (NGF, BDNF, NT3, NT4) can decrease cell death, induce differentiation, as well as sustain the structure and function of neurons, which make them promising therapeutic agents for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders. However, neurotrophins have not been very effective in clinical trials mostly because they cannot pass through the blood-brain barrier owing to being high-molecular-weight proteins. Thus, neurotrophin-mimic small molecules, which stimulate the synthesis of endogenous neurotrophins or enhance neurotrophic actions, may serve as promising alternatives to neurotrophins. Small-molecular-weight natural products, which have been used in dietary functional foods or in traditional medicines over the course of human history, have a great potential for the development of new therapeutic agents against neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. In this contribution, a variety of natural products possessing neurotrophic properties such as neurogenesis, neurite outgrowth promotion (neuritogenesis), and neuroprotection are described, and a focus is made on the chemistry and biology of several neurotrophic natural products.

Bioactive constituents from Trichilia dregeana Sond. (Meliaceae)

The chemical investigation of the methanolic leaf extract of Trichilia dregeana Sond. led to the isolation of a hitherto unreported cycloartane-type triterpene, dregeanol (1), together with nine known compounds, (3β,23E)-9,19-cyclolanosta-23,25-dien-3-ol (2), 9,19-cyclolanost-24-en-23-one (3), 6β-hydroxystigmasta-4,22-dien-3-one (4), lyoniresinol (5), maslinic acid (6), asperphernamate (7), mixture of stigmasterol (8) and β-sitosterol (9) and β-sitosterol-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (10). The structures of the isolates were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic and spectrometric analyses (1D and 2D NMR, ESI-MS) and by comparison with previously reported data. Compounds 2 and 6 showed significant antibacterial effect against Escherichia coli and Salmonella enteritidis, res-pectively, with MIC value of 31.25 μg/mL, whilst they displayed moderate antifungal effect with MIC value of 62.5 μg/mL against Candida albicans. All the isolates except compound 3 were found to possess a weak antioxidant potential in the DPPH, ABTS and FRAP assays.

Low and high doses of oral maslinic acid protect against Parkinson's disease via distinct gut microbiota-related mechanisms

The use of oral agents that can modify the gut microbiota (GM) could be a novel preventative or therapeutic option for Parkinson's disease (PD). Maslinic acid (MA), a pentacyclic triterpene acid with GM-dependent biological activities when it is taken orally, has not yet been reported to be effective against PD. The present study found both low and high dose MA treatment significantly prevented dopaminergic neuronal loss in a classical chronic PD mouse model by ameliorating motor functions and improving tyrosine hydroxylase expressions in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) and increasing dopamine and its metabolite homovanillic acid levels in the striatum. However, the effects of MA in PD mice were not dose-responsive, since similar beneficial effects for low and high doses of MA were observed. Further mechanism studies indicated that low dose MA administration favored probiotic bacterial growth in PD mice, which helped to increase striatal serotonin, 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid, and γ-aminobutyric acid levels. High dose MA treatment did not influence GM composition in PD mice but significantly inhibited neuroinflammation as indicated by reduced levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin 1β in the SNpc; moreover, these effects were mainly mediated by microbially-derived acetic acid in the colon. In conclusion, oral MA at different doses protected against PD via distinct mechanisms related to GM. Nevertheless, our study lacked in-depth investigations of the underlying mechanisms involved; future studies will be designed to further delineate the signaling pathways involved in the interactive actions between different doses of MA and GM.

Maslinic acid alleviates LPS-induced mice mastitis by inhibiting inflammatory response, maintaining the integrity of the blood-milk barrier and regulating intestinal flora

Mastitis occurs frequently in breastfeeding women and not only affects the women's health but also hinders breastfeeding. Maslinic acid is a type of pentacyclic triterpenoid widely found in olives that has good anti-inflammatory activity. This study aims to discuss the protective function of maslinic acid against mastitis and its underlying mechanism. For this, mice models of mastitis were established using lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The results revealed that maslinic acid reduced the pathological lesions in the mammary gland. In addition, it reduced the generation of pro-inflammatory factors and enzymes (IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, iNOS, and COX2) in both mice mammary tissue and mammary epithelial cells. The high-throughput 16S rDNA sequencing of intestinal flora showed that in mice with mastitis, maslinic acid treatment altered β-diversity and regulated microbial structure by increasing the abundance of probiotics such as Enterobacteriaceae and downregulating harmful bacteria such as Streptococcaceae. In addition, maslinic acid protected the blood-milk barrier by maintaining tight-junction protein expression. Furthermore, maslinic acid downregulated mammary inflammation by inhibiting the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome, AKT/NF-κB, and MAPK signaling pathways. Thus, in a mice model of LPS-induced mastitis, maslinic acid can inhibit the inflammatory response, protect the blood-milk barrier, and regulate the constitution of intestinal flora.

Recent advances in the discovery of plant-derived antimicrobial natural products to combat antimicrobial resistant pathogens: insights from 2018-2022

Covering: 2018 to 2022Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a significant global health threat. There is a rising demand for innovative drug scaffolds and new targets to combat multidrug-resistant bacteria. Before the advent of antibiotics, infections were treated with plants chosen from traditional medicine practices. Of Earth's 374 000 plant species, approximately 9% have been used medicinally, but most species remain to be investigated. This review illuminates discoveries of antimicrobial natural products from plants covering 2018 to 2022. It highlights plant-derived natural products with antibacterial, antivirulence, and antibiofilm activity documented in lab studies. Additionally, this review examines the development of novel derivatives from well-studied parent natural products, as natural product derivatives have often served as scaffolds for anti-infective agents.

Assessing Arabic youtube videos on herbal cancer treatment: Absence of health information quality

This study assesses the quality of the health information in Arabic YouTube videos regarding herbal cancer treatment. It also provides an overview of how the quality of video content shapes user awareness by assessing the users' engagement indicators. A simple Python tool was developed using YouTube API V3 to automate the YouTube search based on the recommendation of Google Trends. After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, 110 YouTube videos were selected, of which 95% were uploaded by non-experts and had a total of 8,633,569 views. The analyzed videos presented more than 40 different herbals as sources of cancer treatment; for example, Ephedra, garden cress, Green tea, Ginseng, Rosemary, and Thyme. 32.7% of the videos provided information about a single herb, 41% about mixing herbals, and 26.3% provided testimonials and success stories without pointing to specific herbs. The videos were assessed by two experts using two reliable tools, DISCERN and PEMAT, which were produced mainly for assessing health information quality. DISCERN has evaluated the reliability and quality of health information. PEMAT has assessed the understandability and actionability. The qualitative and quantitative analyses of the videos represent bias and poor health information quality, with a total score of 27 out of 80 for DISCERN and 31 out of 100 for the PEMAT. The results also showed weak users' awareness regarding the content of videos with no association between user engagement indicators (likes, dislikes, VPI, views, comments) and the dimensions of the two tools. The study concludes that it is evident that YouTube, in its current form, is an inadequate Arabic source for herbal cancer treatment information. To overcome this, this study proposed the GAP framework for social media that integrated Governance, Awareness, and Proficiency.

Maslinic acid solid lipid nanoparticles as hydrophobic anticancer drug carriers: Formulation, in vitro activity and in vivo biodistribution

Maslinic acid (MA) is a natural pentacyclic triterpenoid with inherent antitumor activity which has a very low solubility in water. MA solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) were prepared using Poloxamer 407 and Dicarboxylic acid-Poloxamer 407 as surfactants. Both MA SLNs are monodisperse, with sizes around 130 nm, and stable. Curcumin has been encapsulated in both types of nanoparticles without altering their colloidal properties. Moreover, SLNs greatly improve the solubility of MA and Curcumin. The cytotoxicity of MA and SLNs has been evaluated in BxPC3 human pancreatic cancer cells, MCF7 human breast cancer cells, and in a human fibroblast primary cell line. MA shows higher cytotoxic effect in BxPC3 and MCF7 cancer cells than in human primary fibroblasts. Nile Red loaded MA SLNs are quickly uptaken by BxPC3 and MCF7 cells, and show different cytoplasmic distributions depending on the cellular line. The oral or intravenous administration of MA SLNs in mice does not report any toxic effect, and the intravenous administration of fluorescent MA SLNs shows a homogeneous distribution in mice, without site-specific accumulation. Results suggest the great potential of MA SLNs as nanocarriers of anticancer drugs and as promising targeted theranostic nanodevices.

GC-MS and NMR spectroscopy based metabolite profiling of Panchvalkal kwath (polyherbal formulation)

Panchvalkal kwath (PK) is a bark formulation of five pharmacologically important plants, i.e., Ficus benghalensis, Ficus racemosa, Ficus religiosa, Thespesia populnea, and Ficus lacor. The Ayurvedic formulation is being used since ancient times to cure diabetes, bacterial infections and heal wounds. The present study aims to identify the metabolite profiles of PK which could explain its properties and its mode of action against specific diseases and disorders. The aqueous extract of Panchvalkal is prepared through a hot maceration process. The extract is subjected to preliminary identification of phytoconstituents and FTIR spectroscopy to recognize functional groups. GC-MS analysis reveals that the extract is enriched with 24-Norursa-3,12-diene (25.16%); Lup-20(29)-en-3-one (16.76%); 2-methyl-3-(4-propan-2-ylphenyl) propanal (7.04%); 2-(hydroxymethyl)-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol (11.21%) and 3,5-dihydroxy-6-methyl-2,3-dihydropyran-4-one (4.15%). The presence of three new phytocompounds that are 4-(hydroxymethyl)-7-methyl-1,3-dioxepane-5,6-diol; 1-(4-isopropylphenyl)-2-methylpropylacetate and 4,4,6 A,6B,8A,11,11,14B-octamethyl-1,4,4A,5,6,6A,8,8a,910,11,12,12a,12b,13,14,14a,14b-ctadecahydro-3(2H)-picenone are detected in the extract. Metabolite profiles of the extract also constitute isoeugenol, stigmasterol, ergosterol, ocimene, myrcene, squalene, sphingosine, betulin, methyl ferulate and cis-jasmone, which are unraveled by 1 D ¹H and 2 D ¹H-¹³C HSQC NMR spectroscopy. This article focuses on the presence of different phytocompounds in PK in order to demonstrate its efficacy as a therapeutic formulation for a variety of diseases.

NMR-Based Metabolite Profiling and the Application of STOCSY toward the Quality and Authentication Assessment of European EVOOs

Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) possesses a high-value rank in the food industry, thus making it a common target for adulteration. Hence, several methods have been essentially made available over the years. However, the issue of authentication remains unresolved with national and food safety organizations globally struggling to regulate and control its market. Over the course of this study, the aim was to determine the origin of EVOOs suggesting a high-throughput, state-of-the-art method that could be easily adopted. A rapid, NMR-based untargeted metabolite profiling method was applied and complemented by multivariate analysis (MVA) and statistical total correlation spectroscopy (STOCSY). STOCSY is a valuable statistical tool contributing to the biomarker identification process and was employed for the first time in EVOO analysis. Market samples from three Mediterranean countries of Spain, Italy, and Greece, blended samples from these countries, as well as monocultivar samples from Greece were analyzed. The NMR spectra were collected, with the help of chemometrics acting as "fingerprints" leading to the discovery of certain chemical classes and single biomarkers that were related to the classification of the samples into groups based on their origin.

Maslinic acid exerts anticancer effects by targeting cancer hallmarks

BACKGROUND

Natural products have long been regarded as a source of anticancer compounds with low toxicity. Evidence revealed that maslinic acid (MA), a widely distributed pentacyclic triterpene in common foodstuffs, exhibited pronounced inhibitory effects against various cancer cell lines. Most cancer cells thrive by acquiring cancer hallmarks, as coined by Hanahan and Weinberg in 2000 and 2011.

PURPOSE

This represents the first systematic review concerning the anticancer properties of MA as these cancer hallmarks are targeted. It aims to summarize the antineoplastic activities of MA, discuss the diverse mechanisms of action based on the effects of MA exerted on each hallmark.

METHODS

A comprehensive literature search was conducted using the search terms "maslinic," "cancer," "tumor," and "neoplasm," to retrieve articles from the databases MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Scopus published up to September 2022. Study selection was conducted by three reviewers independently from title and abstract screening until full-text evaluation. Data extraction was done by one reviewer and counterchecked by the second reviewer.

RESULTS

Of the 330 articles assessed, 40 papers met the inclusion criteria and revealed that MA inhibited 16 different cancer cell types. MA impacted every cancer hallmark by targeting multiple pathways.

CONCLUSION

This review provides insights regarding the inhibitory effects of MA against various cancers and its remarkable biological properties as a pleiotropic bioactive compound, which encourage further investigations.

Olive pomace oil can improve blood lipid profile: a randomized, blind, crossover, controlled clinical trial in healthy and at-risk volunteers

PURPOSE

This study aimed to assess the effect of dietary consumption of olive pomace oil (OPO) on blood lipids (primary outcome) and other cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors (blood pressure, inflammation and endothelial function as secondary outcomes).

METHODS

A randomized, controlled, blind, crossover intervention was carried out in healthy and at-risk (hypercholesterolemic) subjects. Participants consumed daily 45 g of OPO or high-oleic acid sunflower oil (HOSO) as control oil during 4 weeks.

RESULTS

OPO significantly reduced low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C; P = 0.003) and apolipoprotein B (Apo B; P = 0.022) serum concentrations, and LDL/HDL ratio (P = 0.027) in healthy and at-risk volunteers. These effects were not observed with HOSO. Blood pressure, peripheral artery tonometry (PAT), endothelial function and inflammation biomarkers were not affected.

CONCLUSIONS

Regular consumption of OPO in the diet could have hypolipidemic actions in subjects at cardiovascular risk as well as in healthy consumers, contributing to CVD prevention.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRY

NCT04997122, August 8, 2021, retrospectively registered.

Maslinic Acid: A New Compound for the Treatment of Multiple Organ Diseases

Maslinic acid (MA) is a pentacyclic triterpene acid, which exists in many plants, including olive, and is highly safe for human beings. In recent years, it has been reported that MA has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-tumor, hypoglycemic, neuroprotective and other biological activities. More and more experimental data has shown that MA has a good therapeutic effect on multiple organ diseases, indicating that it has great clinical application potential. In this paper, the extraction, purification, identification and analysis, biological activity, pharmacokinetics in vivo and molecular mechanism of MA in treating various organ diseases are reviewed. It is hoped to provide a new idea for MA to treat various organ diseases.

Jasminum sambac Cell Extract as Antioxidant Booster against Skin Aging

Oxidative stress plays a major role in the skin aging process through the reactive oxygen species production and advanced glycation end products (AGEs) formation. Antioxidant ingredients are therefore needed in the skin care market and the use of molecules coming from plant cell cultures provide a unique opportunity. In this paper, the features of an hydroethanolic extract obtained by Jasminum sambac cells (JasHEx) were explored. The antioxidant and anti-AGE properties were investigated by a multidisciplinary approach combining mass spectrometric and bio-informatic in vitro and ex vivo experiments. JasHEx contains phenolic acid derivatives, lignans and triterpenes and it was found to reduce cytosolic reactive oxygen species production in keratinocytes exposed to exogenous stress. It also showed the ability to reduce AGE formation and to increase the collagen type I production in extracellular matrix. Data demonstrated that JasHEx antioxidant properties were related to its free radical scavenging and metal chelating activities and to the activation of the Nrf2/ARE pathway. This can well explain JasHEx anti-inflammatory activity related to the decrease in NO levels in LPS-stimulated macrophages. Thus, JasHEx can be considered a powerful antioxidant booster against oxidative stress-induced skin aging.

Solid lipid nanoparticles to improve bioaccessibility and permeability of orally administered maslinic acid

Maslinic acid (MA) is a plant-derived, low water-soluble compound with antitumor activity. We have formulated MA in the form of solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) with three different shell compositions: Poloxamer 407 (PMA), dicarboxylic acid-Poloxamer 407 (PCMA), and HA-coated PCMA (PCMA-HA). These SLNs improved the solubility of MA up to 7.5 mg/mL, are stable in a wide range of pH, and increase the bioaccessibility of MA after in vitro gastrointestinal (GI) digestion. Gastrointestinal digested SLNs afforded MA delivery across in vitro gut barrier models (21 days old Caco-2 and mucus-producing Caco-2/HT29-MTX co-cultures). The cellular fraction of Caco-2/HT29-MTX co-cultures retained more MA from GI digested PCMA-HA than the Caco-2 monolayers. The concentration of MA reached in the basolateral chamber inhibited growth of pancreatic cancer cells, BxPC3. Finally, confocal microscopy images provided evidence that Nile Red incorporated in MA SLNs was capable of crossing Caco-2 monolayers to be taken up by basolaterally located BxPC3 cells. We have demonstrated that SLNs can be used as nanocarriers of hydrophobic antitumor compounds and that these SLNs are suitable for oral consumption and delivery of the bioactive across the gut barrier.

Chemical and Enzymatic Characterization of Leaves from Spanish Table Olive Cultivars

Olive leaves are generated as by-products in the olive industry and contain substances with biological properties that provide health benefits. Although these compounds have been characterized in many leaves from olive cultivars devoted to olive oil extraction, few data are available on leaves from the processing of table olives. In this study, the concentration of polyphenols, triterpenic acids, sugars and enzymatic activities (polyphenol oxidase, peroxidase, β-glucosidase and esterase) were determined in the leaves of the olive tree (Olea europaea L.) of cvs. Aloreña, Cacereña, Empeltre, Hojiblanca, Manzanilla, Verdial, Gordal and Morona. The mean total phenolic content in olive leaves reached 75.58 g/kg fresh weight, and oleuropein was the main polyphenol identified (89.7-96.5%). The main triterpenic acid identified was oleanolic acid, and the main sugar was mannitol, with mean values of 15.83 and 22.31 g/kg, respectively. However, the content of these biocompounds was influenced by the type of cultivar and the orchards of origin. The highest oleuropein content was found in the Manzanilla variety, while the Gordal had the highest triterpene and mannitol content. In particular, the phenolic content could also be affected by endogenous enzymatic activities. High polyphenol oxidase, peroxidase and β-glucosidase activity and low esterase activity were detected, compared to the fruit. Similar to the phenolic compounds, enzymatic activities varied with the harvesting season. The lowest phenolic content corresponded to the highest polyphenol oxidase activity detected during spring. The rest of the enzymatic activities also varied throughout the year, but no common trend was observed.

Potential of natural products in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome

BACKGROUND

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a kind of functional bowel disease that is characterized by bellyache, abdominal distension, and diarrhea. Although not life-threatening, IBS has a long course and recurrent attacks and seriously affects the life quality of patients. Current drugs for treating IBS possess remarkable limitations, such as limited efficacy and severe adverse reactions. Therefore, developing novel medications to treat IBS is quite essential, and natural products may be a substantial source.

PURPOSE

This is the first systematic review elaborating the recent advancement of natural products as potential drugs for the therapy of IBS.

METHODS

A comprehensive retrieval of studies was carried out in scientific databases including PubMed, Web of Science, Elsevier, and CNKI. By using ("irritable bowel syndrome" OR "IBS") AND ("natural product" OR "natural compound" OR "phytochemical") as keywords, the eligible studies were screened, and the relevant information about therapeutic action and mechanism of natural products treating IBS was extracted.

RESULTS

Natural products against IBS consisted of four categories, namely, terpenoids, flavonoids, alkaloids, and phenols. Furthermore, the underlying mechanisms for natural products treating IBS were tightly associated with increased TJs and mucus protein expression, regulation of the brain-gut axis and gut microbiota structure, and inhibition of inflammatory response and intestinal mucosal damage.

CONCLUSION

Natural products could be extremely prospective candidate drugs used to treat IBS, and further preclinical and clinical researches are needed to guarantee their efficacy and safety.

Self-Assembled Maslinic Acid Attenuates Doxorobucin Induced Cytotoxicity via Nrf2 Signaling Pathway: An In Vitro and In Silico Study in Human Healthy Cells

The clinical applications of some well-known chemotherapeutic drugs for cancer treatment have been restricted nowadays owing to their adverse effects on many physiological systems. In this experimental study, maslinic acid (MA) isolated from Olea europaea (Olive) fruit extract was used to mitigate the cytotoxicity induced by Doxorubicin (DOX) in human healthy peripheral blood mononuclear cells (hPBMCs). Self-assembled maslinic acid (SA-MA) was obtained in ethanol-water mixture (35.5 mM: 4:1 v/v). The morphology of SA-MA was analyzed by various physicochemical characterization techniques, which revealed its micro-metric vesicular architecture as well as nano-vesicular appearances. In this study, treatment of hPBMCs with DOX has been found to generate severe intracellular oxidative stress, which was significantly mitigated after pre-treatment with SA-MA. Alteration of hPBMC morphologies after DOX treatment was also restored notably by pre-treatment with SA-MA. Furthermore, pentoxifylline (TNF-α inhibitor) and indomethacin (COX-2 inhibitor) were used to investigate the responsible pathway by which SA-MA protected hPBMCs from DOX-induced cellular stress. Restoration of hPBMC viability above 92% in both cases confirmed that SA-MA protected the cells by inhibiting inflammatory pathways generated by DOX treatment. Subsequently, in molecular docking study, it was also evaluated that MA could successfully bind with the pocket region of Keap1, while Nrf2 was capable of upregulating cytoprotecting genes.

Biological Effects of Maslinic Acid on Human Epithelial Cells Used in Tissue Engineering

In the present work, we evaluated the potential of maslinic acid (MA) to improve currently available keratinocyte culture methods for use in skin tissue engineering. Results showed that MA can increase cell proliferation and WST-1 activity of human keratinocytes after 24, 48, and 72 h, especially at the concentration of 5 μg/ml, without affecting cell viability. This effect was associated to a significant increase of KI-67 protein expression and upregulation of several genes associated to cell proliferation (PCNA) and differentiation (cytokeratins, intercellular junctions and basement membrane related genes). When human keratinocytes were isolated from skin biopsies, we found that MA at the concentration of 5 μg/ml significantly increased the efficiency of the explant and the cell dissociation methods. These results revealed the positive effects of MA to optimize human keratinocyte culture protocols for use in skin tissue engineering.

Nutraceutical Role of Polyphenols and Triterpenes Present in the Extracts of Fruits and Leaves of Olea europaea as Antioxidants, Anti-Infectives and Anticancer Agents on Healthy Growth

There is currently a worldwide consensus and recognition of the undoubted health benefits of the so-called Mediterranean diet, with its intake being associated with a lower risk of mortality. The most important characteristics of this type of diet are based on the consumption of significant amounts of fruit, vegetables, legumes, and nuts, which provide, in addition to some active ingredients, fiber and a proportion of vegetable protein, together with extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) as the main sources of vegetable fat. Fish and meat from poultry and other small farm animals are the main sources of protein. One of the main components, as already mentioned, is EVOO, which is rich in monounsaturated fatty acids and to a lesser extent in polyunsaturated fatty acids. The intake of this type of nutrient also provides an important set of phytochemicals whose health potential is widely spread and agreed upon. These phytochemicals include significant amounts of anthocyanins, stilbenes, flavonoids, phenolic acids, and terpenes of varying complexities. Therefore, the inclusion in the diet of this type of molecules, with a proven healthy effect, provides an unquestionable preventive and/or curative activity on an important group of pathologies related to cardiovascular, infectious, and cancerous diseases, as well as those related to the metabolic syndrome. The aim of this review is therefore to shed light on the nutraceutical role of two of the main phytochemicals present in Olea europaea fruit and leaf extracts, polyphenols, and triterpenes, on healthy animal growth. Their immunomodulatory, anti-infective, antioxidant, anti-aging, and anti-carcinogenic capabilities show them to be potential nutraceuticals, providing healthy growth.

Maslinic acid protects against pressure-overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy by blocking METTL3-mediated m6A methylation

Coordinated response of the heart to physiological stressors (including stress overload, ischemia, hypothyroidism, and metabolic signals) is a hallmark of heart disease. However, effective treatment and its molecular targets are unknown. Although Maslinic Acid (MA) has been shown to inhibit inflammatory responses with strong anti-tumor, anti-bacterial, and antioxidant effects, information on its role and underlying mechanism in cardiac hypertrophy are scanty. The present study revealed that 10-10³ μg/ml MA treatment significantly inhibited Ang-II induced hypertrophy in NMCMs and the dosage did not influence the cell viability of H9C2 and NCMCs. Moreover, the anti-hypertrophy effect of MA (30 mg/kg·day) was verified in the TAC-induced hypertrophy mouse model in vivo. Further analysis showed that MA administration decreased the total RNA m⁶A methylation and METTL3 levels in Ang-II treated NMCMs and TAC stressed hearts. Rescue experiments under adenovirus-mediated myocardial METTL3 overexpression confirmed that METTL3-mediated m⁶A methylation is essential in M-driven inhibition of myocardial hypertrophy. Collectively, MA exerts a significant anti-hypertrophy effect by regulating the modification of METTL3-mediated m⁶A methylation in vitro and in vivo. These findings may provide a platform for establishing a new target and strategy for cardiac hypertrophy treatment.

Comparative Evaluation of the Phytochemical Profiles and Antioxidant Potentials of Olive Leaves from 32 Cultivars Grown in China

Olives (Olea europaea L.) are a significant part of the agroindustry in China. Olive leaves, the most abundant by-products of the olive and olive oil industry, contain bioactive compounds that are beneficial to human health. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the phytochemical profiles and antioxidant capacities of olive leaves from 32 cultivars grown in China. A total of 32 phytochemical compounds were identified using high-performance liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization–tandem mass spectrometry, including 17 flavonoids, five iridoids, two hydroxycinnamic acids, six triterpenic acids, one simple phenol, and one coumarin. Specifically, olive leaves were found to be excellent sources of flavonoids (4.92–18.29 mg/g dw), iridoids (5.75–33.73 mg/g dw), and triterpenic acids (15.72–35.75 mg/g dw), and considerable variations in phytochemical content were detected among the different cultivars. All tested cultivars were classified into three categories according to their oil contents for further comparative phytochemicals assessment. Principal component analysis indicated that the investigated olive cultivars could be distinguished based upon their phytochemical profiles and antioxidant capacities. The olive leaves obtained from the low-oil-content (<16%) cultivars exhibited higher levels of glycosylated flavonoids and iridoids, while those obtained from high-oil-content (>20%) cultivars contained mainly triterpenic acids in their compositions. Correspondingly, the low-oil-content cultivars (OL3, Frantoio selection and OL14, Huaou 5) exhibited the highest ABTS antioxidant activities (758.01 ± 16.54 and 710.64 ± 14.58 mg TE/g dw, respectively), and OL9 (Olea europaea subsp. Cuspidata isolate Yunnan) and OL3 exhibited the highest ferric reducing/antioxidant power assay values (1228.29 ± 23.95 mg TE/g dw and 1099.99 ± 14.30 mg TE/g dw, respectively). The results from this study may be beneficial to the comprehensive evaluation and utilization of bioactive compounds in olive leaves.

The Role of Cyclodextrins in the Design and Development of Triterpene-Based Therapeutic Agents

Triterpenic compounds stand as a widely investigated class of natural compounds due to their remarkable therapeutic potential. However, their use is currently being hampered by their low solubility and, subsequently, bioavailability. In order to overcome this drawback and increase the therapeutic use of triterpenes, cyclodextrins have been introduced as water solubility enhancers; cyclodextrins are starch derivatives that possess hydrophobic internal cavities that can incorporate lipophilic molecules and exterior surfaces that can be subjected to various derivatizations in order to improve their biological behavior. This review aims to summarize the most recent achievements in terms of triterpene:cyclodextrin inclusion complexes and bioconjugates, emphasizing their practical applications including the development of new isolation and bioproduction protocols, the elucidation of their underlying mechanism of action, the optimization of triterpenes’ therapeutic effects and the development of new topical formulations.

High-yield bioactive triterpenoid production by heterologous expression in Nicotiana benthamiana using the Tsukuba system

Oleanolic acid is a pentacyclic triterpenoid found in numerous plant species and is a precursor to several bioactive triterpenoids with commercial potential. However, oleanolic acid accumulates at low levels in plants, and its chemical synthesis is challenging. Here, we established a method for producing oleanolic acid in substantial quantities via heterologous expression of pathway enzymes in Nicotiana benthamiana. The "Tsukuba system" is one of the most efficient agroinfiltration-based transient protein expression systems using the vector pBYR2HS, which contains geminiviral replication machinery and a double terminator for boosting expression. Additionally, the pBYR2HS vector contains an expression cassette for the gene-silencing suppressor p19 protein from tomato bushy stunt virus, which can also contribute to enhancing the expression of target proteins. In this study, we evaluated the applicability of this system to heterologous triterpenoid production in N. benthamiana. Medicago truncatula cytochrome P450 monooxygenase (CYP) 716A12 is the first enzyme to be functionally characterized as β-amyrin C-28 oxidase producing oleanolic acid. A mutant CYP716A12 (D122Q) with improved catalytic activity engineered in our previous study was co-expressed with other enzymes in N. benthamiana leaves. Using pBYR2HS, oleanolic acid yield was increased 13.1-fold compared with that using the conventional binary vector, indicating the advantage of the Tsukuba system. We also demonstrated the efficacy of co-expressing a mutant Arabidopsis thaliana HMGR1 catalytic domain, additional NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase (CPR) transferring electrons to heterologous CYPs, and application of ascorbic acid for preventing leaf necrosis after agroinfiltration, to improve product yield. As a result, the product yields of both simple (β-amyrin) and oxidized (oleanolic acid and maslinic acid) triterpenoids were significantly improved compared with the previously reported yield in heterologous triterpenoid production in N. benthamiana leaves.

Feature-Based Molecular Networks Identification of Bioactive Metabolites from Three Plants of the Polynesian Cosmetopoeia Targeting the Dermal Papilla Cells of the Hair Cycle

The term cosmetopoeia refers to the use of plants in folks’ cosmetics. The aerial parts of Bidens pilosa L., the leaves of Calophyllum inophyllum L. and the fruits of Fagraea berteroana A.Gray ex Benth are traditionally used in French Polynesia for hair and skin care. During the hair cycle, dermal papilla cells and their interaction with epithelial cells are essential to promote hair follicle elongation. The aim of our investigations was the identification of metabolites from these three plants and chemical families responsible for their hair growth activity. A bioactivity-based molecular network was produced by mapping the correlation between features obtained from LC-MS/MS data and dermal papilla cell proliferation, using the Pearson correlation coefficient. The analyses pointed out glycosylated flavonols and phenolic acids from B. pilosa and C. inophyllum, along with C-flavonoids, iridoids and secoiridoids from F. berteroana, as potential bioactive molecules involved in the proliferation of hair follicle dermal papilla cells. Our results highlight the metabolites of the plant species potentially involved in the induction of hair follicle growth and support the traditional uses of these plants in hair care.

Maslinic Acid Attenuates Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury-Induced Myocardial Inflammation and Apoptosis by Regulating HMGB1-TLR4 Axis

Aims: The inflammatory response and apoptosis are the major pathological features of myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury (MI/RI). Maslinic acid (MA), a natural pentacyclic triterpene with various bioactivities, plays critical roles in the multiple cellular biological processes, but its protective effects on the pathophysiological processes of MI/RI have not been extensively investigated. Our study aimed to determine whether MA treatment alleviate ischemia/reperfusion (I/R)-induced myocardial inflammation and apoptosis both in vitro and in vivo, and further reveal the underlying mechanisms. Methods and results: An MI/RI rat model was successfully established by ligating the left anterior descending coronary artery and H9c2 cells were exposed to hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) to mimic I/R injury. In addition, prior to H/R stimulation or myocardial I/R operation, the H9c2 cells or rats were treated with varying concentrations of MA or vehicle for 24 h and two consecutive days, respectively. In this study, our results showed that MA could obviously increase the cell viability and decrease the cardiac enzymes release after H/R in vitro. MA could significantly improve the H/R-induced cardiomyocyte injury and I/R-induced myocardial injury in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, MA suppressed the expression of inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor alpha [TNF-α, interleukin-1β [IL-1β and interleukin-6 [IL-6]) and the expressions of apoptosis-related proteins (cleaved caspase-3 and Bax) as well as increased the levels of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 expression both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, MA significantly inhibited nuclear translocation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) p65 after H/R via regulating high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1)/toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) axis. Conclusion: Taken together, MA treatment may alleviate MI/RI by suppressing both the inflammation and apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner, and the cardioprotective effect of MA may be partly attributable to the inactivation of HMGB1/TLR4/NF-κB pathway, which offers a new therapeutic strategy for MI/RI.

Maslinic acid activates mTORC1 and human TGR5 and induces skeletal muscle hypertrophy

Maslinic acid, a naturally occurring pentacyclic triterpene in more than 30 plants (including olives), reportedly increases human muscle mass and muscle strength; however, the underlying molecular mechanism remains unknown. C57BL/6J mice were fed a standard diet or supplemented with 0.27% maslinic acid for 4 weeks, and their skeletal muscle mass was measured. Mice that consumed maslinic acid displayed significant increases in gastrocnemius and soleus muscle mass. Cultured mouse-C2C12 skeletal muscle cells were treated with mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) or protein kinase b (Akt) inhibitor, and protein synthesis was quantified. Maslinic acid accelerated protein synthesis via mTORC1 activation independent of Akt. Furthermore, maslinic acid activated human Takeda G protein-coupled receptor 5 (TGR5) more strongly than mouse TGR5, augmenting the expression of several genes related to muscular hypertrophy. Maslinic acid activated mTORC1 and human TGR5, implying its contribution to human muscular hypertrophy through these effects.

Wine, Polyphenols, and Mediterranean Diets. What Else Is There to Say?

A considerable amount of literature has been published claiming the cardiovascular benefits of moderate (red) wine drinking, which has been considered a distinguishing trait of the Mediterranean diet. Indeed, red wine contains relevant amounts of polyphenols, for which evidence of their biological activity and positive health effects are abundant; however, it is also well-known that alcohol, even at a low level of intake, may have severe consequences for health. Among others, it is directly related to a number of non-communicable diseases, like liver cirrhosis or diverse types of cancer. The IARC classifies alcohol as a Group 1 carcinogen, causally associated with the development of cancers of the upper digestive tract and liver, and, with sufficient evidence, can be positively associated with colorectum and female breast cancer. In these circumstances, it is tricky, if not irresponsible, to spread any message on the benefits of moderate wine drinking, about which no actual consensus exists. It should be further considered that other hallmarks of the Mediterranean diet are the richness in virgin olive oil, fruits, grains, and vegetables, which are also good sources of polyphenols and other phytochemicals, and lack the risks of wine. All of these aspects are reviewed in this article.

Antifungal Activity of Isolated Compounds from the Leaves of Combretum erythrophyllum (Burch.) Sond. and Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal against Fusarium Pathogens

Crop diseases caused by Fusarium pathogens, among other microorganisms, threaten crop production in both commercial and smallholder farming. There are increasing concerns about the use of conventional synthetic fungicides due to fungal resistance and the associated negative effects of these chemicals on human health, livestock and the environment. This leads to the search for alternative fungicides from nature, especially from plants. The objectives of this study were to characterize isolated compounds from Combretum erythrophyllum (Burch.) Sond. and Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal leaf extracts, evaluate their antifungal activity against Fusarium pathogens, their phytotoxicity on maize seed germination and their cytotoxicity effect on Raw 264.7 macrophage cells. The investigation led to the isolation of antifungal compounds characterized as 5-hydroxy-7,4'-dimethoxyflavone, maslinic acid (21-hydroxy-3-oxo-olean-12-en-28-oic acid) and withaferin A (4β,27-dihydroxy-1-oxo-5β,6β-epoxywitha-2-24-dienolide). The structural elucidation of the isolated compounds was established using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, mass spectroscopy (MS) and, in comparison, with the available published data. These compounds showed good antifungal activity with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) less than 1.0 mg/mL against one or more of the tested Fusarium pathogens (F. oxysporum, F. verticilloides, F. subglutinans, F. proliferatum, F. solani, F. graminearum, F. chlamydosporum and F. semitectum). The findings from this study indicate that medicinal plants are a good source of natural antifungals. Furthermore, the isolated antifungal compounds did not show any phytotoxic effects on maize seed germination. The toxicity of the compounds A (5-hydroxy-7,4'-dimethoxyflavone) and AI (4β,27-dihydroxy-1-oxo-5β,6β-epoxywitha-2-24-dienolide) was dose-dependent, while compound B (21-hydroxy-3-oxo-olean-12-en-28-oic acid) showed no toxicity effect against Raw 264.7 macrophage cells.

IL-6/STAT3 signaling activation exacerbates high fructose-induced podocyte hypertrophy by ketohexokinase-A-mediated tristetraprolin down-regulation

Glomerular hypertrophy is a crucial factor of severe podocyte damage and proteinuria. Our previous study showed that high fructose induced podocyte injury. The current study aimed to explore a novel molecular mechanism underlying podocyte hypertrophy induced by high fructose. Here we demonstrated for the first time that high fructose significantly initiated the hypertrophy in rat glomeruli and differentiated human podocytes (HPCs). Consistently, it induced inflammatory response with the down-regulation of anti-inflammatory factor zinc-finger protein tristetraprolin (TTP) and the activation of interleukin-6 (IL-6)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling in these animal and cell models. Subsequently, high-expression of microRNA-92a-3p (miR-92a-3p) and its target protein cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p57 (P57) down-regulation, representing abnormal proliferation and apoptosis, were observed in vivo and in vitro. Moreover, high fructose increased ketohexokinase-A (KHK-A) expression in rat glomeruli and differentiated HPCs. Exogenous IL-6 stimulation up-regulated IL-6/STAT3 signaling and miR-92a-3p, reduced P57 expression and promoted podocyte proliferation, apoptosis and hypertrophy in vitro. The data from anti-inflammatory agent maslinic acid treatment or TTP siRNA transfection showed that high fructose may decrease TTP to activate IL-6/STAT3 signaling in podocyte overproliferation and apoptosis, causing podocyte hypertrophy. Whereas, KHK-A siRNA transfection remarkably restored high fructose-induced TTP down-regulation, IL-6/STAT3 signaling activation, podocyte overproliferation, apoptosis and hypertrophy in differentiated HPCs. Taken together, these results suggested that high fructose possibly increased KHK-A expression to down-regulate TTP, subsequently activated IL-6/STAT3 signaling to interfere with podocyte proliferation and apoptosis by up-regulating miR-92a-3p to suppress P57 expression, causing podocyte hypertrophy. Therefore, the inactivation of IL-6/STAT3 to relieve podocyte hypertrophy mediated by inhibiting KHK-A to increase TTP may be a novel strategy for high fructose diet-associated podocyte injury and proteinuria.

Effects of maslinic acid on cardiac function in ischemia-reperfusion injury rats

Maslinic acid (MA), a pentacyclic triterpenoid, has been reported to exert broad pharmacological properties. However, it is still unclear whether MA exhibits protective effects against ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Herein, we aimed to investigate the effects of MA on I/R injury and its underlying mechanisms. A rat model of I/R injury was established and administrated with MA by intraperitoneal injection. Cardiac function was assessed with a color ultrasound diagnosis system and PowerLab system. The levels of oxidative stress-related and I/R-related biomarkers were evaluated by using commercial kits. Apoptosis-related biomarkers and sirtuin (SIRT)1/AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling proteins were determined by using quantitative reverse transcription PCR and western blotting, respectively. Treatment with MA improved cardiac performance and cardiac hemodynamic parameters in the I/R injury rat model. Besides, treatment with MA (20 mg/kg) ameliorated I/R injury-related biomarkers in serum. Interestingly, treatment with MA (20 mg/kg) also regulated myocardial apoptosis and inhibited oxidative-stress in left ventricular tissue. Mechanistic studies demonstrated that MA upregulated SIRT1 and AMPK phosphorylation in the left ventricular tissue. In summary, MA exerted protective effects against the impairments of cardiac function in I/R injury rats by the regulation of SIRT1/AMPK signaling pathways.

Advances in Research on the Preparation and Biological Activity of Maslinic Acid

Maslinic acid, a pentacyclic triterpene acid, is mainly isolated from olives. Maslinic acid and its derivatives exhibit a broad range of biological properties, such as anti-inflammatory, anticancer, anti-diabetic, antimicrobial, neuroprotective and hepatoprotective activities. In this minireview, the progress of research on maslinic acid with regard to its bioactivities, extraction, semisynthetic preparation and patents is reported. The relationships between the structure and the activity of maslinic acid and its derivatives are also discussed.

The Identification of New Triterpenoids in Eucalyptus globulus Wood

Eight polyhydroxy triterpenoid acids, hederagenin, (4α)-23-hydroxybetulinic acid, maslinic acid, corosolic acid, arjunolic acid, asiatic acid, caulophyllogenin, and madecassic acid, with 2, 3, and 4 hydroxyl substituents, were identified and quantified in the dichloromethane extract of Eucalyptus globulus wood by comparing their GC-retention time and mass spectra with standards. Two other triterpenoid acids were tentatively identified by analyzing their mass spectra, as (2α)-2-hydroxybetulinic acid and (2α,4α)-2,23-dihydroxybetulinic acid, with 2 and 3 hydroxyl substituents. Two MS detectors were used, a quadrupole ion trap (QIT) and a quadrupole mass filter (QMF). The EI fragmentation pattern of the trimethylsilylated polyhydroxy structures of these triterpenoid acids is characterized by the sequential loss of the trimethylsilylated hydroxyl groups, most of them by the retro-Diels-Alder (rDA) opening of the C ring with a π-bond at C12-C13. The rDA C-ring opening produces ions at m/z 320 (or 318) and m/z 278 (or 277, 276, 366). Sequential losses of the hydroxyl groups produce ions with m/z from [M - 90] to [M - 90*y], where y is the number of hydroxyl substituents present (from 2 to 4). Moreover, specific cleavage in ring E was observed, passing from m/z 203 to m/z 133 and conducting other major fragments such as m/z 189.

Olive Mill and Olive Pomace Evaporation Pond’s By-Products: Toxic Level Determination and Role of Indigenous Microbiota in Toxicity Alleviation

Diverse vegetable oils are extracted from oleagenic trees and plants all over the world. In particular, olive oil represents a strategic socio-economic branch in the Mediterranean countries. These countries use either two or three-phase olive oil extraction systems. In this work, we focus on the by-products from three-phase olive oil extraction, which are the liquid olive mill wastewater (OMW) and the solid olive mill pomace (OMP) rejected in evaporative ponds. The disposal of this recalcitrant waste poses environmental problems such as the death of different species of insects and animals. In-depth ICP-OES analysis of the heavy metal composition of OMW and OMP revealed the presence of many metals ranging from non-toxic to highly toxic. The LC-HRMS characterization of these by-products indicated the presence of several secondary metabolites harmful to humans or to the environment. Thus, we aimed to identify OMW and OMP indigenous microbiota through metagenomics. The bacterial population was dominated by the Acetobacter (49.7%), Gluconobacter (17.3%), Gortzia (13.7%) and Nardonalla (5.3%) genera. The most abundant fungal genera were Nakazawaea, Saccharomyces, Lachancea and Candida. These microbial genera are responsible for OMW, OMP and soil toxicity alleviation.

Leishmanicidal Activity and Ultrastructural Changes of Maslinic Acid Isolated from Hyptidendron canum

The therapeutic arsenal for the treatment of leishmaniasis is limited and has serious obstacles, such as variable activity, high toxicity, and costs. To overcome such limitations, it becomes urgent to characterize new bioactive molecules. Plants produce and accumulate different classes of bioactive compounds, and these molecules can be studied as a strategy to combat leishmaniasis. The study presented herein evaluated the leishmanicidal effect of maslinic acid isolated from the leaves of Hyptidendron canum (Lamiaceae) and investigated the morphological that occurred on Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum upon treatment. Maslinic acid was active and selective against promastigote and amastigote forms in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally, it was not toxic to peritoneal macrophages isolated from golden hamsters, while miltefosine and amphotericin B showed mild toxicity for macrophages. Morphological changes in promastigotes of L. (L.) infantum treated with maslinic acid were related to cytoplasmic degeneration, intense exocytic activity, and blebbing in the kDNA; disruption of mitochondrial cristae was observed in some parasites. The nucleus of promastigote forms seems to be degraded and the chromatin fragmented, suggesting that maslinic acid triggers programmed cell death. These results indicate that maslinic acid may be an interesting molecule to develop new classes of drugs against leishmaniasis.

Analysis of maslinic acid and gallic acid compounds as xanthine oxidase inhibitors in isoprenaline administered myocardial necrotic rats

OBJECTIVE

This research designed to analyze the in vivo and in silico ameliorative action of maslinic acid (MA) and gallic acid (GA) on reactive oxygen species generating enzyme xanthine oxidase (XO) in isoprenaline or isoproterenol (ISO) induced myocardial infarcted rats.

METHODS

Albino Wistar rats were categorized into four groups with eight rats in each group. A dose of 15 mg/kg of MA and GA were pretreated to each MA and GA groups for seven days. A dose of 85 mg/kg of ISO administered to the ISO group along with MA and GA groups except normal group on two consecutive days of pretreatment. All animals sacrificed and the heart tissues were collected for the analysis of XO. The in silico molecular docking analysis of the compounds MA and GA with XO was analyzed by using Gold 3.0.1 software.

RESULTS

XO enzyme levels were significantly increased in the heart homogenate of ISO administered rats when compared to normal rats. Pretreatment of MA and GA to ISO treated rats significantly brought XO enzyme to the near normal levels which indicate the protective action of MA and GA against myocardial necrosis. The in vivo results were further supported by the in silico molecular docking study which revealed the inhibition of XO enzyme by the formation of enzyme and ligand complex with the compounds MA and GA.

CONCLUSION

MA and GA compounds manifested the ameliorative effect against ISO administrated myocardial necrosis by inhibiting the free radical generating enzyme XO which is evidenced by both in vivo and in silico studies.

Preparative separation of structural isomeric pentacyclic triterpenes from Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) leaves by high speed countercurrent chromatography with hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin as additive

Maslinic acid and corosolic acid with high purity were successfully separated from Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) leaves by two-step countercurrent chromatographic separation. Two biphasic solvent systems composed of petroleum ether-ethyl acetate-ethanol-water (6:4:5:5, v/v) and petroleum ether-ethyl acetate-ethanol-0.10 mol/L of hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin with pH 7.0 (8:2:3.5:6.5, v/v) were selected according to the partition performance of the main structural isomeric pentacyclic triterpenes. The influences of pH value and concentration of hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin in separation of two isomers were investigated. In first step countercurrent chromatographic separation, a mixture of two target structural isomers (14.12 mg of sample I) was separated from 40.00 mg of a partially purified sample. In second step countercurrent chromatographic separation, maslinic acid and corosolic acid were completely isolated from 12.00 mg of sample I with hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin as aqueous phase additive. The recoveries of the two isomers were over 90%, yielding 5.18 mg of maslinic acid and 5.47 mg of corosolic acid, respectively.

Natural pentacyclic triterpenoid acids potentially useful as biocompatible nanocarriers

The importance of natural raw materials has grown recently because of their ready availability, renewable nature, biocompatibility and controllable degradability. One such group of plant-derived substances includes the triterpenoid acids, terpenic compounds consisting of six isoprene units, a carboxyl group and other functional groups producing various isomers. Most can be easily extracted from different parts of the plant and modified successfully. By themselves or as aglycones (genins) of triterpene saponins, they have potentially useful pharmaceutical activity. This review focuses on the supramolecular properties of triterpenoid acids with regard to their subsequent use as biocompatible nanocarriers. The review also considers the current list of pentacyclic triterpene acids for which molecular self-assembly has been confirmed without the need for structural modification.

The effect of plant bioactive compounds on lamb performance, intake, gastrointestinal parasite burdens, and lipid peroxidation in muscle

Plant extracts have been widely used in animal production systems due to the benefits promoted by their bioactive components, mainly through their antioxidant effects and positive effects on animal growth, health, and meat quality. We determined whether bioactive compounds (BC) from grape (Vitis vinifera), olive (Olea europaea), and pomegranate (Punica granatum) have beneficial effects on lamb growth while controlling gastrointestinal parasitism and reducing skeletal lipid peroxidation in muscle. Fourteen lambs (4 to 5 mo of age) were housed in individual pens and assigned to two treatment groups (seven animals/group), where they received: 1) a basal diet of beet pulp:soybean meal (90:10) (CONTROL) and 2) the same diet, but containing 0.3% of BC extracted from grape, olive, and pomegranate (BNP). After 21 d of consuming their respective rations (period 1), all lambs were dosed with 10,000 L3 stage larvae of Haemonchus contortus. Intake, production, and physiological parameters were determined before infection (period 1), after oral dosage with L3 (period 2), and during early (period 3) and later (period 4) developmental stages of infection. Groups of animals did not differ in their ration intake or average daily gain, either before or after the infection, or in their parasitic burdens estimated through fecal egg counts (P > 0.05). Lambs under BNP showed greater feed efficiency before infection (P < 0.001), but the pattern reversed after infection. In addition, the inclusion of plant bioactives to the diet did not have an effect (P > 0.05) on blood or lipid peroxidation in muscle or on hemogram, serum concentration of haptoglobin, and immunoglobulin E. These results could be explained by low dietary doses and constrained absorption or ruminal inactivation of these compounds. Changes in feed efficiencies suggest a negative interaction between BC in the diet and parasitism, which warrants further research.

In vitro activities of crude extracts and triterpenoid constituents of Dichapetalum crassifolium Chodat against clinical isolates of Schistosoma haematobium

Dichapetalum crassifolium Chodat (Dichapetalaceae) is widely distributed in Africa, Tropical Asia and Latin America. As part of our quest for potential bioactive lead compounds for various neglected tropical diseases, we report the anti-schistosomal potential of the crude extracts and chemical constituents of the stems and roots of Dichapetalum crassifolium. Column chromatography of extracts of the stems and roots led to the isolation and identification of three oleanane-type triterpenoids, friedelan-3β-ol (1), friedelan-3-one (2), and maslinic acid (3); the ursane-type tritepenoid, pomolic acid (4) and the dammarane-type tetracyclic triterpenoids, dichapetalin A (5) and dichapetalin M (6). Dichapetalin A was isolated from only the roots. Isolated compounds were identified by comparison of their physico-chemical and spectral data with published data. The highest in vitro anti-schistosomal activity (IC₅₀) of the crude extracts against clinical isolates of Schistosoma haematobium (Bilharz 1852) was 248.6 μg/ml for the ethyl acetate extract of the root while dichapetalin A gave the highest activity at 151.1 μg/ml among the compounds compared with the 15.5 μg/ml for the standard drug, praziquantel. The rest of the compounds showed activities in the order 177.9, 191.0, and 378.1 μg/ml respectively for mixture of β-sitosterol/stigmasterol, dichapetalin M and friedelan-3-one. The least active extract was the methanol extract of the stem (893.7 μg/ml). The constituents of D. crassifolium showed activity against the S. haematobium that are below praziquantel. It is envisaged that the presence of multiple layers and the minute sizes of pores in the egg shells, may preclude penetration of eggs by the compounds.

NMR-Based Metabolic Profiling of Edible Olives-Determination of Quality Parameters

Edible olive drupes (from Olea europaea L.) are a high-value food commodity with an increasing production trend over the past two decades. In an attempt to prevent fraud issues and ensure quality, the International Olive Council (IOC) issued guidelines for their sensory evaluation. However, certain varieties, geographical origins and processing parameters are omitted. The aim of the present study was the development of a method for the quality assessment of edible olives from the Konservolia, Kalamon and Chalkidikis cultivars from different areas of Greece processed with the Spanish or Greek method. A rapid NMR-based untargeted metabolic profiling method was developed along with multivariate analysis (MVA) and applied for the first time in edible olives' analysis complemented by the aid of statistical total correlation spectroscopy (STOCSY). Specific biomarkers, related to the classification of olives based on different treatments, cultivars and geographical origin, were identified. STOCSY proved to be a valuable aid towards the assignment of biomarkers, a bottleneck in untargeted metabolomic approaches.

Novel factor Xa inhibitor, maslinic acid, with antiplatelet aggregation activity

As antithrombotic effects of maslinic acid (MA) have not yet been studied, MA-mediated downregulation of coagulation factor Xa (FXa) and platelet aggregation was studied. We show that MA inhibited the enzymatic activity of FXa and platelet aggregation, induced by adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and a thromboxane A₂ (TXA₂ ) analog, U46619 with a similar antithrombotic efficacy to rivaroxaban, a direct FXa inhibitor used as a positive control. Mechanistically, MA suppressed U46619- or ADP-induced phosphorylation of myristoylated alanine-rich C kinase substrate, and the expression of P-selectin, and activated PAC-1 in platelets. MA increased generation of nitric oxide, but downregulated excessive secretion of endothelin-1 in ADP- or U46619-treated human umbilical vein endothelial cells. In arterial and pulmonary thrombosis mouse model, MA showed prominent anticoagulant and antithrombotic effects. Our data suggest MA as a candidate molecule for a new class of drugs targeting anti-FXa and antiplatelet.

Unraveling Natural Products' Role in Osteoarthritis Management-An Overview

The natural process of aging gradually causes changes in living organisms, leading to the deterioration of organs, tissues, and cells. In the case of osteoarthritis (OA), the degradation of cartilage is a result of both mechanical stress and biochemical factors. Natural products have already been evaluated for their potential role in the prevention and treatment of OA, providing a safe and effective adjunctive therapeutic approach. This review aimed to assess the therapeutic potential of natural products and their derivatives in osteoarthritis via a systematic search of literature after 2008, including in vitro, in vivo, ex vivo, and animal models, along with clinical trials and meta-analysis. Overall, 170 papers were obtained and screened. Here, we presented findings referring to the preventative and therapeutic potential of 17 natural products and 14 naturally occurring compounds, underlining, when available, the mechanisms implicated. The nature of OA calls to initially focus on the management of symptoms, and, in that context, several naturally occurring compounds have been utilized. Underlying a global need for more sustainable natural sources for treatment, the evidence supporting their chondroprotective potential is still building up. However, arriving at that kind of solution requires more clinical research, targeting the implications of long-term treatment, adverse effects, and epigenetic implications.