Traditional Yellow Dyes Used in the 21st Century in Central Iran: The Knowledge of Master Dyers Revealed by HPLC-DAD and UHPLC-HRMS/MS

Recent progress on Prangos (Apiaceae) species used in traditional herbal medicine

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Plants have been used for a long time in traditional medicine to treat many diseases. The genus Prangos belongs to the Apiaceae family and has various medicinal and aromatic species. Since ancient times, Prangos species have been employed extensively in traditional medicine for different purposes and are especially popular for their aphrodisiac effects.

AIM OF THE REVIEW

The goal of this paper is to represent a systematic review of the species in the genus Prangos, including their botanical characteristics, uses in traditional medicine, phytochemical constituents, the composition of the essential oils produced, and the biological properties.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The articles regarding traditional uses and bioactivities of Prangos species were evaluated using electronic databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect. Use of the World Flora Online (WFO) - The Plant List, The International Plant Names Index, the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (2024), and ChemDraw Professional helped complete this compilation.

RESULTS

Phytochemical investigations have indicated that coumarins are characteristic constituents of Prangos species, especially prenylated simple coumarins and furanocoumarins, and also flavonoids, terpenoids, and phytosterols occur in this genus. In addition, the essential oils of these plants have been examined. The biological properties of the Prangos species seem worthy of further investigation. Also, some information about the toxicity of these species and their use as ingredients in food products is presented.

CONCLUSIONS

This review highlights the evaluation of traditional knowledge, phytochemical profiles, biological activities, and potential uses of Prangos species as foods and spices. Many pharmacological activities have been performed related to their traditional uses, but frequently, the exact mechanism of action remains scientifically unproven. This review has compiled data on the phytochemistry, the active secondary metabolites, the biological properties, and recent advances in Prangos species.

Comparative Analysis of Chemical Composition of Zanthoxylum myriacanthum Branches and Leaves by GC-MS and UPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS, and Evaluation of Their Antioxidant Activities

Zanthoxylum myriacanthum Wall. ex Hook. f., a plant belonging to the Rutaceae family and the Zanthoxylum genus, is extensively utilized for its medicinal properties and as a culinary seasoning in China and Southeast Asian countries. However, the chemical composition and biological activities of Z. myriacanthum branches and leaves remain insufficiently explored. In this study, the volatile and non-volatile components of Z. myriacanthum branches and leaves were analyzed using GC-MS and UPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS techniques. A total of 78 volatile compounds and 66 non-volatile compounds were identified. The volatile compounds were predominantly terpenoids and aliphatic compounds, while the non-volatile compounds were primarily flavonoids and alkaloids. The branches contained 52 volatile compounds and 33 non-volatile compounds, whereas the leaves contained 48 volatile compounds and 40 non-volatile compounds. The antioxidant activities of the methanol extracts from Z. myriacanthum branches and leaves were evaluated using ABTS and DPPH free-radical-scavenging assays, both of which demonstrated certain antioxidant activity. The methanol extract of leaves demonstrated significantly higher antioxidant activity compared to that of the branches, possibly due to the higher presence of flavonoids and phenols in the leaves, with IC50 values of 7.12 ± 0.257 μg/mL and 1.22 × 102 ± 5.01 μg/mL for ABTS and DPPH, respectively. These findings enhance our understanding of the chemical composition and antioxidant potential of Z. myriacanthum. The plant holds promise as a natural source of antioxidants for applications in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and functional foods. Further research can explore its broader biological activities and potential applications.

Ultrasensitive Luteolin Electrochemical Sensor Based on Novel Lamellar CuZn@ Nitrogen-Containing Carbon Nanosheets

The Cu/Zn-zeolitic imidazolate framework (Cu/Zn-ZIF) was synthesized using the traditional hydrothermal method, and its surface morphology was controlled by adding polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) during its synthesis. It was then calcined at 800 °C to form the nitrogen-containing carbon material CuZn@NC, which improved the electron transfer rate. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray crystal diffraction (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were used to investigate the surface morphology and structure. Finally, the electrochemical sensing platform for luteolin was effectively constructed by changing the metal-ion ratio during synthesis to achieve the most suitable electrode material. The sensor platform detects luteolin well, with an operating curve equation of Ip (A) = 0.0571C (nM) - 1.2913 and a minimum detection limit of 15 nM, and the platform has been successfully employed for luteolin detection in real samples.

Identification of Dyes in Coptic Textiles from the Museum of Faculty of Archaeology, Cairo University

High Performance Liquid Chromatography coupled to a Diode-Array-Detector (HPLC-DAD) is used to investigate samples which were extracted from ancient Egyptian textiles (4th–5th c. AD) of the Museum of Faculty of Archaeology, Cairo University. Madder is identified in several samples. According to semi-quantitative results, which are obtained from HPLC peak areas measured at 254 nm, madder that is rich in purpurin and poor in alizarin is identified in samples which were treated (i) only with madder and (ii) with madder and either indigo/woad (Indigofera species and other/Isatis tinctoria L.) or weld (Reseda luteola L.). The madder dye used in these samples could have been originated from Rubia peregrina L. However, the possible use of Rubia tinctorum L. (or other plants of the Rubiaceae family) by the Egyptian dyers cannot be ruled out, particularly if methods were developed by the ancient dyers to affect and control the relative composition of madder dye. The HPLC peak area ratio of alizarin versus purpurin is very high (>2.2) for samples which were treated with madder (probably originated from R. tinctorum) and a tannin source. Finally, in some samples, only indigoid dyes (indigo/woad) are identified.

Optimization of Natural Antioxidants Extraction from Pineapple Peel and Their Stabilization by Spray Drying

Pineapple peel still contains an important amount of phenolic compounds and vitamins with valuable antioxidant activity. In this way, the aim of this study was the recovery of the bioactive compounds from pineapple peel using environmentally friendly and low-cost techniques, envisaging their application in food products. From the solid-liquid extraction conditions tested, the one delivering an extract with higher total phenolic content and antioxidant capacity was a single extraction step with a solvent-pineapple peel ratio of 1:1 (w/w) for 25 min at ambient temperature, using ethanol-water (80-20%) as a solvent. The resulting extract revealed a total phenolic content value of 11.10 ± 0.01 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g dry extract, antioxidant activity of 91.79 ± 1.98 µmol Trolox/g dry extract by the DPPH method, and 174.50 ± 9.98 µmol Trolox/g dry extract by the FRAP method. The antioxidant rich extract was subjected to stabilization by the spray drying process at 150 °C of inlet air temperature using maltodextrin (5% w/w) as an encapsulating agent. The results showed that the antioxidant capacity of the encapsulated compounds was maintained after encapsulation. The loaded microparticles obtained, which consist of a bioactive powder, present a great potential to be incorporated in food products or to produce bioactive packaging systems.

In-depth phenolic characterization of iron gall inks by deconstructing representative Iberian recipes

Iron-gall ink is one of the most important inks in the history of western civilization. The deep black colour results from Fe³⁺ complexes with phenolic compounds available in gall extracts. Unfortunately, it induces the degradation of both ink and support over time. Furthermore, our knowledge of these complex molecular structures is limited. This work aims to overcome this gap, revealing essential information about the complex structures of these pigments and dyes that will create a breakthrough in the next generation of conservation treatments. It presents the first in-depth phenolic identification and quantification of extracts and inks, prepared with and without gum arabic (an essential additive in medieval recipes). Five representative Iberian recipes were selected and prepared. Their phenolic profile was analysed by HPLC–DAD and HPLC–ESI–MS, which revealed that the phenolic compounds present in higher concentration, in the gall extracts, are pentagalloylglucose and hexagalloylglucose (0.15 ± 0.01–32 ± 3 mg/mL), except for one recipe, in which gallic acid is the main phenolic. The influence of the ingredients is also discussed by deconstructing the recipes: extracts of additives as pomegranate peel and solvents used in the extraction of the galls (vinegar and white wine) were characterized.

Ultrasensitive Electrochemical Sensor for Luteolin Based on Zirconium Metal-Organic Framework UiO-66/Reduced Graphene Oxide Composite Modified Glass Carbon Electrode

Luteolin is a kind of natural flavonoid with many bioactivities purified from a variety of natural herbs, fruits and vegetables. Electrochemical sensing has become an outstanding technology for the detection of luteolin in low concentration due to its fast response, easy operation and low cost. In this study, electroreduced graphene oxide (ErGO) and UiO-66 were successively modified onto a glassy carbon electrode (UiO-66/ErGO/GCE) and applied to the detection of luteolin. A combination of UiO-66 and ErGO showed the highest promotion in the oxidation peak current for luteolin compared with those of a single component. The factors affecting the electrochemical behavior of UiO-66/ErGO/GCE were evaluated and optimized including pH, accumulation potential, accumulation time and scan rate. Under optimum conditions, UiO-66/ErGO/GCE showed satisfactory linearity (from 0.001 μM to 20 μM), reproducibility and storage stability. The detection limit of UiO-66/ErGO/GCE reached 0.75 nM of luteolin and was suitable for testing real samples. Stable detection could be provided at least eight times by one modified electrode, which guaranteed the practicability of the proposed sensor. The fabricated UiO-66/ErGO/GCE showed a rapid electrochemical response and low consumption of materials in the detection of luteolin. It also showed satisfactory accuracy for real samples with good recovery. In conclusion, the modification using MOFs and graphene materials made the electrode advanced property in electrochemical sensing of natural active compounds.