Extraction of Carnosic Acid and Carnosol from Sage (Salvia officinalis L.) Leaves by Supercritical Fluid Extraction and Their Antioxidant and Antibacterial Activity

Comparative study of the antibacterial effects of wound secretions of different cultivars of Chinese fir

Background

The bark of Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata), the largest afforestation tree species in the forest areas of southern China, is susceptible to injuries and bites from small animals. The population of small animals has recently increased owing to improvements in the ecological environment across various forested areas, thus increasing the incidence of injuries in the bark of Chinese fir. Following such injuries, the bark secretes light yellow or milky white secretions, the function of which remains unclear. The present study aimed to reveal the antibacterial effect of exudates of different Chinese fir cultivars on five bacterial species.

Methods

The research involved three-year-old plantations of Taxus chinensis var. koraiensis and Yangkou3 and three-year-old container plantations of Taxus chinensis var. pendula, Yang 061, and Yang 020. The antibacterial effects of exudates were analyzed using the filter paper diffusion method. The minimum inhibitory concentration for each secretion and the bacterial inhibition zone were determined.

Results

The exudates of the different Chinese fir bark exhibited notable antibacterial effects on Bacillus subtilis, Salmonella paratyphi B, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus. However, the extent of these antibacterial effects varied among the different Chinese fir cultivars, as the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of the exudates against the five bacterial species varied. The mean MIC of Pseudomonas aeruginosa was lower potency, whereas that of Escherichia coli was the lowest. Notably, the antibacterial efficacy of the exudates was mainly influenced by the composition of the secretions rather than the number of secretions, with organic acid compounds and terpenoids potentially contributing to the antibacterial effects against E. coli and Bacillus subtilis, respectively.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates the antibacterial effect of wound secretion of different Chinese fir cultivars, highlighting their varying efficacy on different bacterial species. Moreover, the antibacterial ability of the exudates of the strains was mainly determined by the composition of the wound secretions, and there was no noticeable relationship with the number of wound secretions. The results of this study offers a theoretical basis for screen Chinese fir cultivars with high-disease-resistant.

Mechanism of antibacterial phytoconstituents: an updated review

The increase of multiple drug resistance bacteria significantly diminishes the effectiveness of antibiotic armory and subsequently exaggerates the level of therapeutic failure. Phytoconstituents are exceptional substitutes for resistance-modifying vehicles. The plants appear to be a deep well for the discovery of novel antibacterial compounds. This is owing to the numerous enticing characteristics of plants, they are easily accessible and inexpensive, extracts or chemicals derived from plants typically have significant levels of action against infections, and they rarely cause serious adverse effects. The enormous selection of phytochemicals offers very distinct chemical structures that may provide both novel mechanisms of antimicrobial activity and deliver us with different targets in the interior of the bacterial cell. They can directly affect bacteria or act together with the crucial events of pathogenicity, in this manner decreasing the aptitude of bacteria to create resistance. Abundant phytoconstituents demonstrate various mechanisms of action toward multi drug resistance bacteria. Overall, this comprehensive review will provide insights into the potential of phytoconstituents as alternative treatments for bacterial infections, particularly those caused by multi drug resistance strains. By examining the current state of research in this area, the review will shed light on potential future directions for the development of new antimicrobial therapies.

Secondary Metabolites and Antioxidant Activity against Moko Disease as a Defense Mechanism of Musa spp. from the Ecuadorian Coast Area

The Musa spp. represents the most commonly produced, transitioned, and consumed fruit around the globe, with several important applications in the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and food industries. Moko disease is produced by Ralstonia solanacearum-a factor with a high impact on all crops in Ecuador, representing one of the biggest phytosanitary problems. Four of the most common varieties of Musa spp. were tested to identify the metabolic reaction of plants facing Moko disease. The phenolic and flavonoid content has been evaluated as a defense system, and the α-diphenyl-α-picrylhydrazyl free-radical-scavenging method (DPPH), free-radical-scavenging activity (ABTS), ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays, and liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry (LC-MS) have been adapted to analyze the active compounds with the antioxidant capacity necessary to counteract the pathogenic attack. Our results indicate that all the studied varieties of Musa spp. react in the same way, such that the diseased samples showed a higher accumulation of secondary metabolites with antioxidant capacity compared with the healthy ones, with high active compound synthesis identified during the appearance of Moko disease symptoms. More than 40 compounds and their derivatives (from kaempferol and quercetin glycosides) with protective roles demonstrate the implication of the Musa spp. defense system against R. solanacearum infection.

Mitigating digestive disorders: Action mechanisms of Mediterranean herbal active compounds

This study explores the effects of the Mediterranean diet, herbal remedies, and their phytochemicals on various gastrointestinal conditions and reviews the global use of medicinal plants for common digestive problems. The review highlights key plants and their mechanisms of action and summarizes the latest findings on how plant-based products influence the digestive system and how they work. We searched various sources of literature and databases, including Google Scholar, PubMed, Science Direct, and MedlinePlus. Our focus was on gathering relevant papers published between 2013 and August 2023. Certain plants exhibit potential in preventing or treating digestive diseases and cancers. Notable examples include Curcuma longa, Zingiber officinale, Aloe vera, Calendula officinalis, Lavandula angustifolia, Thymus vulgaris, Rosmarinus officinalis, Ginkgo biloba, Cynodon dactylon, and Vaccinium myrtillus. The phytochemical analysis of the plants showed that compounds such as quercetin, anthocyanins, curcumin, phenolics, isoflavones glycosides, flavonoids, and saponins constitute the main active substances within these plants. These natural remedies have the potential to enhance the digestive system and alleviate pain and discomfort in patients. However, further research is imperative to comprehensively evaluate the benefits and safety of herbal medicines to use their active ingredients for the development of natural and effective drugs.

Agave angustifolia Haw. Leaves as a Potential Source of Bioactive Compounds: Extraction Optimization and Extract Characterization

The leaves of Agave angustifolia Haw. are the main agro-waste generated by the mezcal industry and are becoming an important source of bioactive compounds, such as phenolic compounds, that could be used in the food and pharmaceutical industries. Therefore, the extraction and identification of these phytochemicals would revalorize these leaf by-products. Herein, maceration and supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) extractions were optimized to maximize the phenolic and flavonoid contents and the antioxidant capacity of vegetal extracts of A. angustifolia Haw. In the maceration process, the optimal extraction condition was a water-ethanol mixture (63:37% v/v), which yielded a total phenolic and flavonoid content of 27.92 ± 0.90 mg EAG/g DL and 12.85 ± 0.53 µg QE/g DL, respectively, and an antioxidant capacity of 32.67 ± 0.91 (ABTS assay), 17.30 ± 0.36 (DPPH assay), and 13.92 ± 0.78 (FRAP assay) µM TE/g DL. Using supercritical extraction, the optimal conditions for polyphenol recovery were 60 °C, 320 bar, and 10% v/v. It was also observed that lower proportions of cosolvent decreased the polyphenol extraction more than pressure and temperature. In both optimized extracts, a total of 29 glycosylated flavonoid derivatives were identified using LC-ESI-QTof/MS. In addition, another eight novel compounds were identified in the supercritical extracts, showing the efficiency of the cosolvent for recovering new flavonoid derivatives.

Phenolic compounds profile of macerates of different edible parts of carob tree (Ceratonia siliqua L.) using UPLC-ESI-Q-TOF-MSE: Phytochemical screening and biological activities

Locust bean pulp and gum extracts were prepared, and phytochemical tests based on color reactions and chromatographic analyzes were performed. A profile of seventy-six phenolic compounds was obtained by the ultra-high performance liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization and quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The main groups of phenolic compounds identified in the both extracts of Ceratonia siliqua L., were flavonoids, tannins and phenolic acids. Moreover, carob pulp and gum extracts were tested for their antimicrobial activity using disk diffusion tests which showed sensitivity of the different strains to the analyzed extracts at a concentration of 100 mg/mL. Additionally, the antioxidant activity of Ceratonia siliqua L. extracts was assessed by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl acid test, which confirmed stronger antioxidant properties in the case of the pulp extract. To sum up, carob pulp and gum extracts present promising alternatives to synthetic additives within the medicinal industry, serving as potential antioxidant agents and preservatives that combat bacterial contamination, thereby offering a more natural approach to enhancing product safety and efficacy.

An Update on Recent Studies Focusing on the Antioxidant Properties of Salvia Species

Nutrition has crucial effects and a significant role in disease prevention. Recently, nutraceuticals have attracted much attention in scientific research due to their pleiotropic effects and relatively non-toxic behavior. Among the biological effects displayed by plants belonging to the Lamiaceae family, such as antibacterial, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and anticholinesterase, sage is well known for its antioxidant properties and is a rich source of numerous compounds that are biologically active, amongst them polyphenols, with more than 160 types identified. In this review we summarized some of the significant studies published in the last decade reporting the most employed extraction methods and the different assays that are useful for establishing the antioxidant properties of some sage species. Even though the scientific literature contains plenty of data regarding the antioxidant properties of many sage species, further studies are needed in order to gain a deeper understanding of the mechanism of action and the compounds responsible for their antioxidant activity. Finally, it should be taken into account that the data on the antioxidant properties of sage extracts are often difficult to compare with each other, since a series of variables in the extraction procedures, the type of assay used, and standardization may affect the final result.

Natural Compounds of Salvia L. Genus and Molecular Mechanism of Their Biological Activity

The study of medicinal plants is important, as they are the natural reserve of potent biologically active compounds. With wide use in traditional medicine and the inclusion of several species (as parts and as a whole plant) in pharmacopeia, species from the genus Salvia L. are known for the broad spectrum of their biological activities. Studies suggest that these plants possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive, anticancer, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, antiangiogenic, hepatoprotective, cognitive and memory-enhancing effects. Phenolic acids, terpenoids and flavonoids are important phytochemicals, which are primarily responsible for the medicinal activity of Salvia L. This review collects and summarizes currently available data on the pharmacological properties of sage, outlining its principal physiologically active components, and it explores the molecular mechanism of their biological activity. Particular attention was given to the species commonly found in Kazakhstan, especially to Salvia trautvetteri Regel, which is native to this country.

Anti-Biofilm Activity of Carnosic Acid from Salvia rosmarinus against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

The Salvia rosmarinus "Eretto Liguria" ecotype was studied as a source of valuable bioactive compounds. LC-MS analysis of the methanolic extract underlined the presence of diterpenoids, triterpenoids, polyphenolic acids, and flavonoids. The anti-virulence activity of carnosic acid along with the other most abundant compounds against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was evaluated. Only carnosic acid induced a significant reduction in the expression of agrA and rnaIII genes, which encode the key components of quorum sensing (QS), an intracellular signaling mechanism controlling the virulence of MRSA. At a concentration of 0.05 mg/mL, carnosic acid inhibited biofilm formation by MRSA and the expression of genes involved in toxin production and made MRSA more susceptible to intracellular killing, with no toxic effects on eukaryotic cells. Carnosic acid did not affect biofilm formation by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a human pathogen that often coexists with MRSA in complex infections. The selected ecotype showed a carnosic acid content of 94.3 ± 4.3 mg/g. In silico analysis highlighted that carnosic acid potentially interacts with the S. aureus AgrA response regulator. Our findings suggest that carnosic acid could be an anti-virulence agent against MRSA infections endowed with a species-specific activity useful in multi-microbial infections.

The Most Potent Natural Pharmaceuticals, Cosmetics, and Food Ingredients Isolated from Plants with Deep Eutectic Solvents

There is growing interest in reducing the number of synthetic products or additives and replacing them with natural ones. The pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food industries are especially focused on natural and bioactive chemicals isolated from plants or microorganisms. The main challenge here is to develop efficient and ecological methods for their isolation. According to the strategies and rules of sustainable development and green chemistry, green solvents and environmentally friendly technologies must be used. The application of deep eutectic solvents as efficient and biodegradable solvents seems to be a promising alternative to traditional methods. They are classified as being green and ecological but, most importantly, very efficient extraction media compared to organic solvents. The aim of this review is to present the recent findings on green extraction, as well as the biological activities and the possible applications of natural plant ingredients, namely, phenolics, flavonoids, terpenes, saponins, and some others. This paper thoroughly reviews modern, ecological, and efficient extraction methods with the use of deep eutectic solvents (DESs). The newest findings, as well as the factors influencing the efficiency of extraction, such as water content, and hydrogen bond donor and acceptor types, as well as the extraction systems, are also discussed. New solutions to the major problem of separating DESs from the extract and for solvent recycling are also presented.

Controlled Production of Carnosic Acid and Carnosol in Cell Suspensions of Lepechinia meyenii Treated with Different Elicitors and Biosynthetic Precursors

Lepechinia meyenii is a medicinal plant specialized in the biosynthesis of different types of antioxidants including the diterpenes carnosic (CA) acid and carnosol (CS). Herein we present the results of plant tissue culture approaches performed in this medicinal plant with particular emphasis on the generation and evaluation of a cell suspension system for CA and CS production. The effect of sucrose concentration, temperature, pH, and UV-light exposure was explored. In addition, diverse concentrations of microbial elicitors (salicylic acid, pyocyanin, Glucanex, and chitin), simulators of abiotic elicitors (polyethylene glycol and NaCl), and biosynthetic precursors (mevalonolactone, geranylgeraniol, and miltiradiene/abietatriene) were evaluated on batch cultures for 20 days. Miltiradiene/abietatriene obtainment was achieved through a metabolic engineering approach using a recombinant strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Our results suggested that the maximum accumulation (Acc_max ) of CA and CS was mainly conferred to stimuli associated with oxidative stress such as UV-light exposure (Acc_max , 6.2 mg L^-1 ) polyethylene glycol (Acc_max , 6.5 mg L^-1 ) NaCl (Acc_max , 5.9 mg L^-1 ) which simulated drought and saline stress, respectively. Nevertheless the bacterial elicitor pyocyanin was also effective to increase the production of both diterpenes (Acc_max , 6.4 mg L^-1 ). Outstandingly, the incorporation of upstream biosynthetic precursors such as geranylgeraniol and miltiradiene/abietatriene, generated the best results with Acc_max of 8.6 and 16.7 mg L^-1 , respectively. Optimized batch cultures containing 100 mg L^-1 geranylgeraniol, 50 mg L^-1 miltiradiene/abietatriene (95 : 5 %) and 5 g L^-1 polyethylene glycol treated with 6 min UV light pulse during 30 days resulted in Acc_max of 26.7 mg L^-1 for CA and 17.3 mg L^-1 for CS on days 18-24. This strategy allowed to increase seven folds the amounts of CA and CS in comparison with batch cultures without elicitation (Acc_max , 4.3 mg L^-1 ).

White Sage (Salvia apiana)-a Ritual and Medicinal Plant of the Chaparral: Plant Characteristics in Comparison with Other Salvia Species

Salvia apiana, commonly known as white sage, is an aromatic evergreen subshrub of the chaparral, commonly found in coastal plains in California and Baja California. It has been traditionally used by the Chumash people as a ritual and medicinal plant and used as a calmative, a diuretic, and a remedy for the common cold. However, until recently, relatively little has been known about the composition and biological activity of white sage. Phytochemical studies on S. apiana revealed the presence of substantial amounts of essential oil, accompanied by a variety of triterpenes, C23 terpenoids, diterpenes, and flavonoids. Extracts of the plant have been shown to exhibit antioxidative, antimicrobial, and cytotoxic effects. The influence of white sage constituents on the nervous system, including GABA, opioid, and cannabinoid receptors, has also been documented. The review aimed to compile information on the taxonomy, botany, chemical composition, and biological activities of S. apiana. White sage was compared with other representatives of the genus in terms of chemical composition. The differences and similarities between S. apiana and other sage species were noted and discussed in the context of their therapeutic applications. Reports on ethnomedicinal uses of white sage were confronted with reports on chemistry, bioactivity, and bioavailability of S. apiana constituents. Finally, a critical assessment of the available data was made and perspectives for the use of white sage preparations in modern phytomedicine were discussed.

Carnosol, a diterpene present in rosemary, increases ELP1 levels in familial Dysautonomia (FD) patient-derived cells and healthy adults: a possible therapy for FD

Recent research on Familial Dysautonomia (FD) has focused on the development of therapeutics that facilitate the production of the correctly spliced, exon 20-containing, transcript in cells and individuals bearing the splice-altering, FD-causing, mutation in the ELP1 gene. We report here the ability of carnosol, a diterpene present in plant species of the Lamiaceae family, including rosemary, to enhance the cellular presence of the correctly spliced ELP1 transcript in FD patient-derived fibroblasts by upregulating transcription of the ELP1 gene and correcting the aberrant splicing of the ELP1 transcript. Carnosol treatment also elevates the level of the RBM24 and RBM38 proteins., two multifunctional RNA binding proteins. Transfection-mediated expression of either of these RBMs facilitates the inclusion of exon 20 sequence into the transcript generated from a minigene bearing ELP1 genomic sequence containing the FD-causing mutation. Suppression of the carnosol-mediated induction of either of these RBMs, using targeting siRNAs, limited the carnosol-mediated inclusion of the ELP1 exon 20 sequence. Carnosol treatment of FD patient PBMCs facilitates the inclusion of exon 20 into the ELP1 transcript. Increased levels of the ELP1 and RBM38 transcripts and the alternative splicing of the SIRT2 transcript, a sentinel for exon 20 inclusion in the FD-derived ELP1 transcript, are observed in RNA isolated from whole blood of healthy adults following the ingestion of carnosol-containing rosemary extract. These findings and the excellent safety profile of rosemary together justify an expedited clinical study of the impact of carnosol on the FD patient population.

Non-Volatile and Volatile Bioactives of Salvia officinalis L., Thymus serpyllum L. and Laurus nobilis L. Extracts with Potential Use in the Development of Functional Beverages

Functional beverages based on herbal extracts are highly demanded products due to the presence of bioactives with promising health benefits and interesting and characteristic sensory properties. Mediterranean medicinal and aromatic herbs contain a wide range of bioactives (non-volatile polyphenols, volatile terpenes) that are important constituents of herbal extracts and essential oils. The antioxidant capacity and potential health benefits of these bioactives could be associated with their synergistic effects. Therefore, this study aimed to characterize the non-volatile and volatile bioactives of sage (Salvia officinalis L.), wild thyme (Thymus serpyllum L.) and laurel (Laurus nobilis L.) aqueous extracts and their two- and three-component mixtures as well as their antioxidant capacity. The content of total phenols, flavonoids, hydroxycinnamic acids and flavonols was determined spectrophotometrically. Individual polyphenols were analyzed by LC-MS/MS, the volatiles were analyzed by HS-SPME/GC-MS, and the antioxidant capacity was analyzed by ORAC and DPPH assays. The results showed that aqueous extracts of all examined herbs and their mixtures contained a high content of phenolic compounds ranging from 0.97 to 2.79 g L^-1 of the sample, among which the most common were flavonols. At the same time, mono- and sesquiterpenes were the main volatiles. All extracts showed high antioxidant capacity, especially L. nobilis (781.62 ± 5.19 μmol TE mL^-1 of the sample in the DPPH assay; 1896.10 ± 8.77 μmol TE mL^-1 of the sample in the ORAC assay) and the two-component mixture of L. nobilis and T. serpyllum (679.12 ± 5.19 μmol TE mL^-1 in the DPPH assay; 1913.38 ± 8.77 μmol TE mL^-1 in the ORAC assay). Mixtures of herbal extracts have been shown to possess additive or synergistic effects, consequently contributing to higher antioxidant capacity. Therefore, two-component mixtures of herbal extracts showed promising potential for the production of functional beverages.

Dissection of canopy layer-specific genetic control of leaf angle in Sorghum bicolor by RNA sequencing

BACKGROUND

Leaf angle is an important plant architecture trait, affecting plant density, light interception efficiency, photosynthetic rate, and yield. The "smart canopy" model proposes more vertical leaves in the top plant layers and more horizontal leaves in the lower canopy, maximizing conversion efficiency and photosynthesis. Sorghum leaf arrangement is opposite to that proposed in the "smart canopy" model, indicating the need for improvement. Although leaf angle quantitative trait loci (QTL) have been previously reported, only the Dwarf3 (Dw3) auxin transporter gene, colocalizing with a major-effect QTL on chromosome 7, has been validated. Additionally, the genetic architecture of leaf angle across canopy layers remains to be elucidated.

RESULTS

This study characterized the canopy-layer specific transcriptome of five sorghum genotypes using RNA sequencing. A set of 284 differentially expressed genes for at least one layer comparison (FDR < 0.05) co-localized with 69 leaf angle QTL and were consistently identified across genotypes. These genes are involved in transmembrane transport, hormone regulation, oxidation-reduction process, response to stimuli, lipid metabolism, and photosynthesis. The most relevant eleven candidate genes for layer-specific angle modification include those homologous to genes controlling leaf angle in rice and maize or genes associated with cell size/expansion, shape, and cell number.

CONCLUSIONS

Considering the predicted functions of candidate genes, their potential undesirable pleiotropic effects should be further investigated across tissues and developmental stages. Future validation of proposed candidates and exploitation through genetic engineering or gene editing strategies targeted to collar cells will bring researchers closer to the realization of a "smart canopy" sorghum.

Mechanistic Insights into Biological Activities of Polyphenolic Compounds from Rosemary Obtained by Inverse Molecular Docking

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) represents a medicinal plant known for its various health-promoting properties. Its extracts and essential oils exhibit antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, anticarcinogenic, and antimicrobial activities. The main compounds responsible for these effects are the diterpenes carnosic acid, carnosol, and rosmanol, as well as the phenolic acid ester rosmarinic acid. However, surprisingly little is known about the molecular mechanisms responsible for the pharmacological activities of rosemary and its compounds. To discern these mechanisms, we performed a large-scale inverse molecular docking study to identify their potential protein targets. Listed compounds were separately docked into predicted binding sites of all non-redundant holo proteins from the Protein Data Bank and those with the top scores were further examined. We focused on proteins directly related to human health, including human and mammalian proteins as well as proteins from pathogenic bacteria, viruses, and parasites. The observed interactions of rosemary compounds indeed confirm the beforementioned activities, whereas we also identified their potential for anticoagulant and antiparasitic actions. The obtained results were carefully checked against the existing experimental findings from the scientific literature as well as further validated using both redocking procedures and retrospective metrics.

Carnosol inhibits the growth and biofilm of Candida albicans

OBJECTIVE

This study was to explore the inhibitory effects of carnosol on the growth and biofilm of Candida albicans.

RESULTS

Our results showed that carnosol inhibited the planktonic growth of C. albicans with a MIC of 100 μg/mL. Carnosol can also inhibit the biofilm formation and development of C. albicans. 25-100 μg/mL of carnosol can obviously inhibit the yeast-to-hyphal transition in four kinds of hyphal-inducing media and the adhesion of C. albicans to polystyrene surfaces. Results from PI staining indicated that carnosol may disrupt cell membrane of C. albicans.

CONCLUSION

Carnosol can inhibit the planktonic growth and virulence factors of C. albicans, such as biofilm formation, adhesion and hyphal growth. The antifungal mechanism may involve the increase in cell membrane permeability.

Effect of addition of carbon dots to the frying oils on oxidative stabilities and quality changes of fried meatballs during refrigerated storage

Carbon dots (CDs) were prepared and noted to exhibit potent scavenging activities against DPPH·, ·OH, and O₂^·- radicals. Addition of CDs to frying oil as a means to improve oxidative stability and minimize quality changes of fried meatballs during refrigerated storage was investigated in comparison with the use of tert-butylhydroquinone (TBHQ) and carnosic acid (CA). Compared with the control sample, 0.05% CDs significantly reduced thiobarbituric acid reactive substances value, carbonyl and total volatile basic nitrogen contents of fried meatballs. Both lipid and protein oxidation inhibition capabilities of CDs were higher than those of 0.05% CA but lower than those of 0.02% TBHQ. Total sensory score of sample with CDs (7.1 ± 0.06) was significantly higher than those of the control (4.7 ± 0.03) and sample with TBHQ (6.4 ± 0.04). CDs could delay oxidation of fried meatballs during refrigerated storage and can well serve as an alternative antioxidant.

Chemical and Biological Characterization of the Anticancer Potency of Salvia fruticosa in a Model of Human Malignant Melanoma

Malignant melanoma is one of the most aggressive types of skin cancer with an increasing incidence worldwide. Thus, the development of innovative therapeutic approaches is of great importance. Salvia fruticosa (SF) is known for its anticancer properties and in this context, we aimed to investigate its potential anti-melanoma activity in an in vitro model of human malignant melanoma. Cytotoxicity was assessed through a colorimetric-based sulforhodamine-B (SRB) assay in primary malignant melanoma (A375), non-malignant melanoma epidermoid carcinoma (A431) and non-tumorigenic melanocyte neighbouring keratinocyte (HaCaT) cells. Among eight (8) different fractions of S. fruticosa extracts (SF1-SF8) tested, SF3 was found to possess significant cytotoxic activity against A375 cells, while A431 and HaCaT cells remained relatively resistant or exerted no cytotoxicity, respectively. In addition, the total phenolic (Folin-Ciocalteu assay) and total flavonoid content of SF extracts was estimated, whereas the antioxidant capacity was measured via the inhibition of tert-butyl hydroperoxide-induced lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation levels. Finally, apoptotic cell death was assessed by utilizing a commercially available kit for the activation of caspases - 3, - 8 and - 9. In conclusion, the anti-melanoma properties of SF3 involve the induction of both extrinsic and intrinsic apoptotic pathway(s), as evidenced by the increased activity levels of caspases - 8, and - 9, respectively.

Uncovering the Novel QTLs and Candidate Genes of Salt Tolerance in Rice with Linkage Mapping, RTM-GWAS, and RNA-seq

Salinity is a major abiotic stress that limits plant growth and crop productivity. Indica rice and japonica rice show significant differences in tolerance to abiotic stress, and it is considered a feasible method to breed progeny with stronger tolerance to abiotic stress by crossing indica and japonica rice. We herein developed a high-generation recombinant inbred lines (RILs) from Luohui 9 (indica) X RPY geng (japonica). Based on the high-density bin map of this RILs population, salt tolerance QTLs controlling final survival rates were analyzed by linkage mapping and RTM-GWAS methods. A total of seven QTLs were identified on chromosome 3, 4, 5, 6, and 8. qST-3.1, qST-5.1, qST-6.1, and qST-6.2 were novel salt tolerance QTLs in this study and their function were functionally verified by comparative analysis of parental genotype RILs. The gene aggregation result of these four new QTLs emphasized that the combination of the four QTL synergistic genotypes can significantly improve the salt stress tolerance of rice. By comparing the transcriptomes of the root tissues of the parents' seedlings, at 3 days and 7 days after salt treatment, we then achieved fine mapping of QTLs based on differentially expressed genes (DEGs) identification and DEGs annotations, namely, LOC_Os06g01250 in qST-6.1, LOC_Os06g37300 in qST-6.2, LOC_Os05g14880 in qST-5.1. The homologous genes of these candidate genes were involved in abiotic stress tolerance in different plants. These results indicated that LOC_Os05g14880, LOC_Os06g01250, and LOC_Os06g37300 were the candidate genes of qST-5.1, qST-6.1, and qST-6.2. Our finding provided novel salt tolerance-related QTLs, candidate genes, and several RILs with better tolerance, which will facilitate breeding for improved salt tolerance of rice varieties and promote the exploration tolerance mechanisms of rice salt stress.

Salvia Species as Nutraceuticals: Focus on Antioxidant, Antidiabetic and Anti-Obesity Properties

Salvia plants belong to the Lamiaceae family and are recognized as being strongly aromatic, being widely used for different purposes in culinary or traditional medicine. These plants are well recognized as being rich in phenolic acids, flavonoids and terpenic compounds, which exhibit health-beneficial activities, protecting against oxidative and inflammatory-related diseases, such as diabetes and obesity. Because of these properties, phytochemicals from Salvia species have been investigated as health promoting agents, for application in distinct fields. However, the growing demand for natural products with possible uses and applications in industry requires scientific validation studies. This review consists of a compilation of relevant studies with an emphasis on the antioxidant, antidiabetic and anti-obesity properties of phenolic-rich extracts from Salvia plants.

Antibacterial Activity of Medicinal Plants and Their Constituents in the Context of Skin and Wound Infections, Considering European Legislation and Folk Medicine-A Review

Bacterial infections of skin and wounds may seriously decrease the quality of life and even cause death in some patients. One of the largest concerns in their treatment is the growing antimicrobial resistance of bacterial infectious agents and the spread of resistant strains not only in the hospitals but also in the community. This trend encourages researchers to seek for new effective and safe therapeutical agents. The pharmaceutical industry, focusing mainly on libraries of synthetic compounds as a drug discovery source, is often failing in the battle with bacteria. In contrast, many of the natural compounds, and/or the whole and complex plants extracts, are effective in this field, inactivating the resistant bacterial strains or decreasing their virulence. Natural products act comprehensively; many of them have not only antibacterial, but also anti-inflammatory effects and may support tissue regeneration and wound healing. The European legislative is in the field of natural products medicinal use formed by European Medicines Agency (EMA), based on the scientific work of its Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC). HMPC establishes EU monographs covering the therapeutic uses and safe conditions for herbal substances and preparations, mostly based on folk medicine, but including data from scientific research. In this review, the medicinal plants and their active constituents recommended by EMA for skin disorders are discussed in terms of their antibacterial effect. The source of information about these plant products in the review is represented by research articles listed in scientific databases (Science Direct, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, etc.) published in recent years.

Supercritical Antisolvent Fractionation of Antioxidant Compounds from Salvia officinalis

The increasing interest towards greener antioxidants obtained via natural sources and more sustainable processes encourages the development of new theoretical and experimental methods in the field of those compounds. Two advanced separation methods using supercritical CO2 are applied to obtain valuable antioxidants from Salvia officinalis, and a first approximation to a QSAR model relating molecular structure with antioxidant activity is explored in order to be used, in the future, as a guide for the preselection of compounds of interest in these processes. Separation experiments through antisolvent fractionation with supercritical CO2 were designed using a Response Surface Methodology to study the effect of pressure and CO2 flow rate on both mass yields and capability to obtain fractions enriched in three antioxidant compounds: chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid and rosmarinic acid which were tracked using HPLC PDA. Rosmarinic acid was completely retained in the precipitation vessel while chlorogenic and caffeic acids, though distributed between the two separated fractions, had a major presence in the precipitation vessel too. The conditions predicted for an optimal overall yield and enrichment were 148 bar and 10 g/min. Although a training dataset including much more compounds than those now considered can be recommended, descriptors calculated from the σ-profiles provided by COSMO-RS model seem to be adequate for estimating the antioxidant activity of pure compounds through QSAR.

Antimicrobial Properties of Lepidium sativum L. Facilitated Silver Nanoparticles

Antibiotic resistance toward commonly used medicinal drugs is a dangerously growing threat to our existence. Plants are naturally equipped with a spectrum of biomolecules and metabolites with important biological activities. These natural compounds constitute a treasure in the fight against multidrug-resistant microorganisms. The development of plant-based antimicrobials through green synthesis may deliver alternatives to common drugs. Lepidium sativum L. (LS) is widely available throughout the world as a fast-growing herb known as garden cress. LS seed oil is interesting due to its antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities. Nanotechnology offers a plethora of applications in the health sector. Silver nanoparticles (AgNP) are used due to their antimicrobial properties. We combined LS and AgNP to prevent microbial resistance through plant-based synergistic mechanisms within the nanomaterial. AgNP were prepared by a facile one-pot synthesis through plant-biomolecules-induced reduction of silver nitrate via a green method. The phytochemicals in the aqueous LS extract act as reducing, capping, and stabilizing agents of AgNP. The composition of the LS-AgNP biohybrids was confirmed by analytical methods. Antimicrobial testing against 10 reference strains of pathogens exhibited excellent to intermediate antimicrobial activity. The bio-nanohybrid LS-AgNP has potential uses as a broad-spectrum microbicide, disinfectant, and wound care product.

Facile Synthesis of Bio-Antimicrobials with "Smart" Triiodides

Multi-drug resistant pathogens are a rising danger for the future of mankind. Iodine (I₂) is a centuries-old microbicide, but leads to skin discoloration, irritation, and uncontrolled iodine release. Plants rich in phytochemicals have a long history in basic health care. Aloe Vera Barbadensis Miller (AV) and Salvia officinalis L. (Sage) are effectively utilized against different ailments. Previously, we investigated the antimicrobial activities of smart triiodides and iodinated AV hybrids. In this work, we combined iodine with Sage extracts and pure AV gel with polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as an encapsulating and stabilizing agent. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS), microstructural analysis by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and X-Ray-Diffraction (XRD) analysis verified the composition of AV-PVP-Sage-I₂. Antimicrobial properties were investigated by disc diffusion method against 10 reference microbial strains in comparison to gentamicin and nystatin. We impregnated surgical sutures with our biohybrid and tested their inhibitory effects. AV-PVP-Sage-I₂ showed excellent to intermediate antimicrobial activity in discs and sutures. The iodine within the polymeric biomaterial AV-PVP-Sage-I₂ and the synergistic action of the two plant extracts enhanced the microbial inhibition. Our compound has potential for use as an antifungal agent, disinfectant and coating material on sutures to prevent surgical site infections.

Determination of Suitable Macroporous Resins and Desorbents for Carnosol and Carnosic Acid from Deep Eutectic Solvent Sage (Salvia officinalis) Extract with Assessment of Antiradical and Antibacterial Activity

In this study, for the first time, the adsorption/desorption characteristics of carnosic acid and carnosol from deep eutectic solvent extract of Salvia officinalis on five macroporous resins (HP20, XAD7HP, XAD16N, HP21, HP2MG) were evaluated. The high adsorption and medium desorption capacities of carnosic acid and carnosol as well as antibacterial and antiradical activity from the extract obtained with choline chloride:lactic acid (1:2) on XAD7HP resin indicated that resin was appropriate. To get the optimal separation process, the influence of factors such as adsorption/desorption time and volume of desorbent was further investigated. The results showed that the extract with high antiradical and antibacterial activity was obtained via adsorption and desorption on XAD7HP resin. The extraction efficiencies of the deep eutectic solvents (DESs) recycled once, twice, and thrice were 97.64% (±0.03%), 93.10% (±0.66%), and 88.94% (±1.15%), respectively, for carnosic acid, and 96.63% (±0.04%), 94.38% (±0.27%), and 91.19% (±0.36%), respectively, for carnosol, relative to the initial solvent efficiency. Based on that, this method is a promising basis for the large-scale preparation of extracts from Salvia officinalis with further application in the pharmaceutical or food industry, especially for maintaining the “green” character of the whole process to obtain the appropriate extract.

Application of Deep Eutectic Solvents for the Extraction of Carnosic Acid and Carnosol from Sage (Salvia officinalis L.) with Response Surface Methodology Optimization

Salvia officinalis L. is a good source of antioxidant compounds such as phenolic diterpenes carnosic acid and carnosol. From 17 deep eutectic solvents (DESs) used, choline chloride: lactic acid (1:2 molar ratio) was found to be the most suitable for the extraction of targeted compounds. The influence of H₂O content, extraction time, and temperature (for stirring and heating and for ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE)), H₂O content, extraction time, and vibration speed for mechanochemical extraction on the content of targeted compounds were investigated. Carnosic acid content obtained by the extraction assisted by stirring and heating was from 2.55 ± 0.04 to 14.43 ± 0.28 µg mg⁻¹, for UAE it was from 1.62 ± 0.29 to 14.00 ± 0.02 µg mg⁻¹, and for mechanochemical extraction the yield was from 1.80 ± 0.02 to 8.26 ± 0.45 µg mg⁻¹. Determined carnosol content was in the range 0.81 ± 0.01 to 4.83 ± 0.09 µg mg⁻¹ for the extraction with stirring and for UAE it was from 0.56 ± 0.02 to 4.18 ± 0.05 µg mg⁻¹, and for mechanochemical extraction the yield was from 0.57 ± 0.11 to 2.01 ± 0.16 µg mg⁻¹. Optimal extraction conditions determined by response surface methodology (RSM) were in accordance with experimentally demonstrated values. In comparison with previously published or own results using conventional solvents or supercritical CO₂, used DES provided more efficient extraction of both targeted compounds.

Early Detection of Sage (Salvia officinalis L.) Responses to Ozone Using Reflectance Spectroscopy

Advancements in techniques to rapidly and non-destructively detect the impact of tropospheric ozone (O3) on crops are required. This study demonstrates the capability of full-range (350-2500 nm) reflectance spectroscopy to characterize responses of asymptomatic sage leaves under an acute O3 exposure (200 ppb for 5 h). Using partial least squares regression, spectral models were developed for the estimation of several traits related to photosynthesis, the oxidative pressure induced by O3, and the antioxidant mechanisms adopted by plants to cope with the pollutant. Physiological traits were well predicted by spectroscopic models (average model goodness-of-fit for validation (R2): 0.65-0.90), whereas lower prediction performances were found for biochemical traits (R2: 0.42-0.71). Furthermore, even in the absence of visible symptoms, comparing the full-range spectral profiles, it was possible to distinguish with accuracy plants exposed to charcoal-filtered air from those exposed to O3. An O3 effect on sage spectra was detectable from 1 to 5 h from the beginning of the exposure, but ozonated plants quickly recovered after the fumigation. This O3-tolerance was confirmed by trends of vegetation indices and leaf traits derived from spectra, further highlighting the capability of reflectance spectroscopy to early detect the responses of crops to O3.

Current Advances on the Extraction and Identification of Bioactive Components of Sage (Salvia spp.)

Common sage (Salvia spp., with the most common species Salvia officinalis L., Lamiaceae) is an important medicinal and aromatic plant, with antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties. The polyphenolic compounds are mainly responsible for its diverse biological activity. Many different methods for extraction and identification of sage bioactive compounds, using various solvents, have been developed in recent years. The total phenolic content is usually measured and identified by various technical methodologies with different sensitivity and specificity. In this aspect, the present review is aimed to critically summarize and discuss various technical approaches for the extraction and identification of sage bioactive components in order to point out the more appropriate approaches of them.

Antimicrobial and cytotoxic activity of extracts from Salvia tebesana Bunge and Salvia sclareopsis Bornm cultivated in Iran

Salvia, a member of the Lamiaceae family, represents more than 58 species in Iran. In the present study, antibacterial and cytotoxic activity of extracts obtained from the roots of Salvia tebesana and Salvia sclareopsis were investigated. The antibacterial activity of the extracts was investigated against 4 bacterial strains and yeast using serial dilution method. The petroleum ether and CH₂Cl₂ extracts of S. tebesana showed a good activity against Gram-positive bacteria particularly Bacillus cereus (MIC 1.25 mg/mL) while Gram-negative bacteria and yeast were resistant to the extracts. Also, the cytotoxic effects of the extracts on A2780 (ovarian), MCF-7 (breast) and DU 145 (prostate) cancer cell lines were examined using AlamarBlue^® assay. The petroleum ether and CH₂Cl₂ extracts of S. tebesana were found to be cytotoxic against the tested cell lines, with IC₅₀ values less than 50 µg/mL. The petroleum ether extract also showed a potent anti-proliferative activity against DU 145 cells with the lowest IC₅₀ value (6.25 µg/mL).

Cod-Liver Oil Improves Metabolic Indices and hs-CRP Levels in Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Patients: A Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effects of cod-liver oil on metabolic status and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in patients with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).

METHODS

This study was a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial with the allocation ratio of 1 : 1. The contents of EPA and DHA in cod-liver oil were measured using a gas chromatograph. A total of 550 GDM patients were randomly divided into the intervention group (cod-liver oil) and the control group (placebo, mineral oil), and both groups were given regular dietary care. Glycosylated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), 2-hour plasma glucose (2hPG), lipid profiles, homeostatic model assessment insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and hs-CRP were measured. Primary outcomes were different in HbA1c, FPG, 2hPG, and HOMA-IR between the two groups after 4-week randomization. Secondary outcomes were the blood glucose levels and perinatal complications (pregnancy-induced hypertension, polyhydramnios, premature delivery, postpartum hemorrhage, postpartum infection, premature rupture of membranes, and cesarean section) between the two groups before and after 12-16 weeks of cod-liver oil intervention from middle pregnancy to late pregnancy.

RESULTS

EPA and DHA were the main components of cod-liver oil with 76 mg/mL and 150 mg/mL, respectively. There was no significant difference for primary outcomes in the levels of HbA1c, FPG, 2hPG, HOMA-IR, and lipid profiles between the two groups (P > 0.05). For the secondary outcomes, the levels of HbA1c, FPG, 2hPG, triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (LDL-C), HOMA-IR, and hs-CRP in the intervention group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P < 0.05). The incidence of perinatal complications in the intervention group was lower than that in the control group too (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Cod-liver oil consumption effectively reduced the levels of blood glucose, lipid levels, hs-CRP, and HOMA-IR and the incidence of perinatal complications.