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The purple corn cob is an agro-industrial by-product that contains high-value bioactive compounds, which makes its use attractive for the development of extraction processes. The aim of this research was to extract the bioactive compounds from the purple corn cob by high isostatic pressure at different processing temperatures. Pressures of 0.01 MPa, 250 MPa, 450 MPa and 650 MPa for 3 minutes and at temperatures of 25 °C, 45 °C and 65 °C were used. High pressure extraction was compared with conventional extraction (2.5 h at 25°C). The purple corn cob extract obtained by isostatic processing at 650 MPa and 65 °C presented high antioxidant activity and content of bioactive compounds, unlike the conventional extraction of 2.5 h and 65 °C (p < 0.05). However, it did not show a significant difference with the extract obtained at 450 MPa and 45 °C (p > 0.05). Seven different anthocyanins were identified by liquid chromatography in the extracts obtained by high isostatic pressure (650 MPa at 65 °C) and hydroalcoholic maceration (2.5 h at 65 °C), mainly cyanidin-3-glucoside, pelargonidin-3-glucoside and peonidin-3-glucoside, and their respective malonyl derivatives. The high isostatic pressure increased the extraction of bioactive compounds by more than 50% and obtained them in shorter times, thus appearing as a new alternative, and eco-friendly method for the extraction of bioactive compounds from plant tissues.

Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) is still affecting the lives of people round the globe and remains a major public health threat. The emergence of new variants more efficiently transmitted, more virulent and more capable of escaping naturally acquired and vaccine-induced immunity creates a long-term negative outlook for the management of the pandemic. The development of effective and viable prevention and treatment options to reduce viral transmission is of the utmost importance. The fruits of the European black elderberry and extracts thereof have been traditionally used to treat viral infections such as coughs, cold and flu. Specifically, its efficacy against the Influenza A virus has been shown in vitro as well as in human clinical trials. In the current project, we investigated the antiviral activity of a black elderberry extract, mainly containing anthocyanins and phenolic compounds, against SARS-CoV-2 and its variants of concern and explored the possible mode of action by performing time of addition experiments. The results revealed that the extract displayed a strong anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity against the Wuhan type as well as the variants of concern Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta and Omicron with a comparable antiviral activity. Based on cytotoxicity data, a 2-log theoretical therapeutic window was established. The data accumulated so far suggest that the viral replication cycle is inhibited at later stages, inasmuch as the replication process was affected after virus entry. Therefore, it would be legitimate to assume that black elderberry extract might have the potential to be an effective treatment option for SARS-CoV-2 infections.

Ternary solvent extraction investigated as green technology to obtain anthocyanin-rich extracts from black carrots. A central composite design was used to optimize the extraction pressure (100–400 bar), extraction temperature (20–60 °C), and ethanol/water ratio (10/90–90/10). The extraction time (40 min) and the fow rate of CO2 (50 g/min) and the fow rate of ethanol–water mixture (10 mL/min) was kept constant. Response surface methodology was employed for optimization and 3D response surfaces were depicted using the mathematical model. All the trials were found to be at two-phase region according phase equilibrium diagram of for CO2–ethanol–water mixtures. The linear and quadratic efect of pressure and temperature were found to be signifcant (p

Colorectal Cancer (CRC) is dangerous cancer that causes many cases of death in the world. This cancer spike occurred in 2020 with 1.15 million cases and is expected to increase in 2040 by 1.92 million CRC cancer cases. Some of the most popular drugs used for CRC chemotherapy are 5-Fluorouracil, Oxaliplatin, and Irinotecan. The effects caused by chemotherapy using synthetic drugs are loss of appetite, fatigue, vomiting, numbness, hair loss, and low blood cell count. Anthocyanins are a group of flavonoid compounds and polyphenols with antioxidant, antimutagenic, and anticancer activity that can be developed as CRC anticancer. Anthocyanins do not cause side effects in CRC patients. This article is a review of anthocyanin activity to reduce the risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) in terms of molecular mechanisms, the proliferation ability of cancer cells, and promoting apoptosis of CRC cells.

In recent years, the use of intelligent and efficient food freshness indicators (FFIs) for monitoring food freshness has been studied widely. In this work, we employed polyacrylonitrile as polymer, blueberry anthocyanins as an indicator, and caffeic acid as a co-pigment and fabricated a novel colorimetric sensing film for real-time monitoring the freshness of fish. The total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N) level is one of the potential indicators to evaluate meat freshness. Visual observation confirmed that the polyacrylonitrile-anthocyanin-caffeic acid film changed from pink to light purple, and then to dark purple providing a good indication of spoilage, which correlated well with the TVB-N content and pH values in fish. It is because the volatile ammonia combined with water to form NH

The composition of common dogwood fruits anthocyanins was determined using reverse-phase HPLC with spectrophotometric and mass spectrometric detection. A procedure for determining the structure of individual components of extracts including 3-galactosides of delphinidin, cyanidin and pelargonidin and 3-robinobiosides (3-rhamnosylgalactosides) of cyanidin and pelargonidin has been described. It was found that the content of delphinidin-3-galactoside, as well as both 3-robinobiosides, may be insignificant when cyanidin and pelargonidin 3-galactosides predominate. For the studied fruits, the level of accumulation of anthocyanins can reach (depending on color intensity) 46 mg per 100 g of fresh fruit, while the concentration of anthocyanins in the peel of fruits is significantly higher - more than 390 mg per 100 g. When developing an exhaustive extraction of anthocyanins, a peculiarity of dogwood fruits was established, which consists in the fact that extraction of anthocyanins by 0.1 M aqueous hydrochloric acid solution, unlike a large number of other natural sources studied, is practically impossible. The problem can be solved only by extraction with acidified aqueous-alcoholic mixtures when the ethanol content in the extractant is more than 30 vol.%, which indicates the high affinity of fruit pulp components to anthocyanins., В работе с использованием обращенно-фазовой ВЭЖХ со спектрофотометрическим и масс-спектрометрическим детектированием определен состав антоцианов плодов кизила обыкновенного. Описана процедура установления строения индивидуальных компонентов экстрактов, включающих 3-галактозиды дельфинидина, цианидина и пеларгонидина и 3-робинобиозиды (3-рамнозилгалактозиды) цианидина и пеларгонидина. Установлено, что содержание дельфинидин-3-галактозида, как и обоих 3-робинобиозидов, может быть незначительным при превалировании в составе 3-галактозидов цианидина и пеларгонидина. Для исследованных плодов уровень накопления антоцианов может достигать (в зависимости от интенсивности окраски) 46 мг на 100 г свежих плодов, при этом концентрация антоцианов в кожуре плодов существенно выше – более 390 мг на 100 г. При разработке исчерпывающей экстракции антоцианов установлена особенность плодов кизила, состоящая в том, что экстракция антоцианов 0.1 М водным раствором соляной кислоты, в отличие от большого числа других исследованных природных источников, практически невозможна. Задача может быть решена только при экстракции подкисленными водно-спиртовыми смесями при содержании этанола в экстрагенте более 30 об.%, что указывает на высокое сродство компонентов мякоти плодов к антоцианам.

Anthocyanins as natural pH-sensitive material can be used to determine the freshness of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) fillets. However, it is easily degraded. Using zein as the protective layer to improve the light blocking ability of the film, gellan gum (GG) and black rice extracts (BRE) as the sensing layer, a bilayer colorimetric indicator film for monitoring fish spoilage was developed. The functionality and stability of bilayer film and GG single film were compared. As compared to GG single film, Zein/GG bilayer film had stronger intermolecular interactions, higher mechanical properties, and higher optical barrier properties. Notably, Zein/GG-8 % BRE bilayer film exhibited higher stability than GG-8 % BRE film when the films were exposed to room temperature for 30 days. Zein/GG-8 % BRE bilayer film were further used to monitor freshness of largemouth bass fillets during storage. Zein/GG-8 % BRE bilayer film demonstrated a noticeable color change from red to brown when largemouth bass fillets spoiled. Moreover, the ∆E of films showed a good correlation with TVB-N of largemouth bass fillets (R

The effect of nonacylated and acylated anthocyanins on urinary metabolites in diabetic rats was investigated. Nonacylated anthocyanins extract from bilberries (NAAB) or acylated anthocyanins extract from purple potatoes (AAPP) was given to Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats for 8 weeks at daily doses of 25 and 50 mg/kg body weight.

Given increase in infertility due to environmental pollutants, this study examined changes in sperm parameters and testicular histology of cadmium- exposed rats treated with Hibiscus sabdarrifa L. anthocyanins (HSA). Adult male Wistar rats were divided into 9 groups: A (Control), B (Cd), C (HS Aq Extract), D (Low Dose HSA), E (High Dose HSA), F (Low Dose (HSA Pre Cd), G (High Dose HSA Pre Cd), H (Low Dose HSA Post Cd), I (High Dose HSA Post Cd) and treated in two experimental periods (5 days acute toxicity study and 15 days chronic toxicity study). Exposure to Cd alone significantly (p

This work aims to develop intelligent labels based on cassava starch and biohybrid pigments by thermo-compression. The biohybrid pigment (BH) was developed by the adsorption of anthocyanins (ACNs) extracted from the jambolan fruit (Syzygium cumini L.) into montmorillonite (Mt) in order to improve its stability. The effect of the addition of biohybrid on the physicochemical properties of the thermo-pressed starch labels was evaluated. ACNs from jambolan extract show a visible pH-dependent color-changing ability at pH 1 - 12, and the adsorption did not modify the color property. The intelligent labels presented a homogeneous surface, and the BH was well dispersed in the starch matrix. The presence of BH increased the solubility in the water of starch labels. Chemical structure characterization revealed that the BH interacted with starch matrices through hydrogen bonds. Furthermore, the thermal stability of starch labels increased with the presence of BH. Hence, the purple color of intelligent labels was preserved at high temperatures. Finally, labels containing BH show visible changes from purple to a blue color when exposed to ammonia vapor, which simulates the degradation of meat products. Thus, the label content jambolan pigments will be used to control meat deterioration.

Blackcurrant juices and extracts containing anthocyanin may provide ergogenic benefits to sports performance. However, there are no studies examining the effects of coingestion of blackcurrant and caffeine. This investigation examined the effects of acute supplementation with a proprietary blackcurrant beverage administered in isolation or in combination with caffeine on repeated high-intensity cycling. Twelve well-trained male cyclists (mean ± SD: age, 39.5 ± 11.4 years; height, 177.9 ± 5.7 cm; weight, 78.2 ± 8.9 kg; and peak oxygen consumption, 4.71 ± 0.61 L/min) completed experimental sessions consisting of repeated (8 × 5 min) maximal intensity efforts. Four experimental treatments were administered in a double-blind, balanced Latin square design: blackcurrant + caffeine, blackcurrant + placebo, caffeine + placebo and placebo + placebo. Differences in power output, heart rate, oxygen consumption, muscle oxygen saturation, rate of perceived exertion, and cognitive function (Stroop) were compared between treatments using two-way repeated-measures analysis of variance and effect size analysis. There were no significant differences (p > .05) in either physiological or cognitive variables with any supplement treatment (blackcurrant + caffeine, blackcurrant + placebo, and caffeine + placebo) relative to placebo + placebo. Moreover, any observed differences were deemed trivial (d p

Mother Nature is an indispensable source of bioactive natural products. Bioactive secondary metabolites have played a crucial role in the drug development and discovery process; mainly, anticancer and antibiotic molecules are extensively enriched with molecules of natural origin. Anthocyanins are water-soluble secondary metabolites found in most species in the plant domain, especially flowers, fruits, and tubers. These natural vacuolar pigments belong to the chemical class of phenolic moieties, which are responsible for the shiny orange, red, blue, pink, and violet colors in the fruits, flowers, and vegetables. Chemically, anthocyanins comprise a core structure in the form of flavylium cation or 2-phenylbenzopyrylium, and these natural colorants are polyhydroxy and polymethoxy analouges of this flavylium cation and can have sugar moieties or acylated groups linked at different positions. Currently, these molecules have raised a growing interest because of their wide range of colors, innocuous and beneficial health effects, and commercial application in functional foods, nutraceuticals, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. However, interest in anthocyanin derivatives has noticeably enhanced in recent years due to their higher stability, improved bioavailability in biological matrices, and better use in food matrices and cosmetic products. Due to the enormous potential of natural anthocyanins and their derivatives, this review tries to cover syntheses of anthocyanins and their analogues, chemical derivatization of anthocyanins, and anticancer activities, such as breast, colorectal, leukemia, lung, prostate, and skin cancer of anthocyanins efficiently.

Anthocyanins were extracted from a winery solid by-product (Vinasse) and added to fish gelatin (FG) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) matrices to create freshness monitoring labels. Three different colorimetric indicator smart films [PWE = polyvinyl alcohol with wine extract (WE), FWE = fish gelatin with WE, and PFWE = polyvinyl alcohol and FG blended film with WE] were generated and examined for their suitability to monitor the freshness of shrimp. The mechanical and optical properties, ammonia sensitivity, and colorimetric analysis of smart films were determined. Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to evaluate the interaction of anthocyanins with FG and PVA and changes in the film's chemical composition with storage. The film surfaces were characterized with atomic force microscopy (AFM). The incorporation of WE enhanced the films' flexibility by providing plasticizer and surfactant properties. The PWE film showed the best color stability. The FWE film showed the least amount of total color change with exposure to ammonia gas and was deemed suitable for refrigerated food packaging. The color of all indicator films showed significant changes suggesting that PWE, FWE, and PFWE films can be utilized in the intelligent packaging application for protein-rich foods to detect spoilage.

The aim of this study was to develop and characterize sodium alginate films loaded with 10-40 % Clitoria ternatea extract (CTE) and apply to monitoring the quality of milk, pork and shrimp. Films loaded with CTE showed high light barrier capacity and improved tensile strength by 3.8 times over control films. The incorporation of CTE in alginate films improved the thermal stability of the materials due to intermolecular interactions and crosslinking of polymeric networks. The addition of 40 % of CTE generated films with antibacterial action against E. coli. The alginate films showed biodegradable characteristics in soil and beach sand in 15 days. The food simulant test revealed that the loaded films show good compatibility with aqueous and acidic foods due to the release of higher levels of polyphenols and anthocyanins. The films showed great colorimetric potential due to their ability to change color at different pH (pink-green), ammonia gas (blue-green) and sterilization process (blue-yellow). When the film loaded with 40 % CTE (F40) was applied to monitor the freshness of milk and meat products (shrimp and pork), its blue color changed to purple and green, respectively. Therefore, the F40 has great potential to be used as a biodegradable indicator of freshness.

Flower and seed coat colour are important agronomic traits in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.). Cultivated chickpeas are of two types namely, desi (dark seeded, purple flower) and kabuli (light colour seeded, white flower). There has been limited information about the molecular mechanism underlying the colour variation of flower and seed coats in desi and kabuli chickpea. We profiled the anthocyanin and proanthocyanidin (PA) contents in chickpea flowers and seed coats. Tissue-specific silencing of two genes encoding a basic helix-loop-helix (CabHLH) protein and a tonoplast-localized multidrug and toxic compound extrusion (CaMATE1) transporter in a desi genotype resulted in the reduction in expressions of anthocyanin and PA biosynthetic genes and anthocyanin and PA contents in the flower and seed coat and produced flowers and seeds with kabuli characteristics. Transcriptional regulation of a subset of anthocyanin and PA biosynthetic genes by a natural CabHLH variant and transport assay of a natural CaMATE1 variant explained the association of these alleles with the kabuli phenotype. We carried out a detailed molecular characterization of these genes, and provided evidences that kabuli chickpea flower and seed colour phenotype can be derived by manipulation of single genes in a desi chickpea background.HighlightIn this study, we have defined the molecular link between flower and seed color in chickpea and identified CaMATE1 and CabHLH as the regulators of both the traits.

The origin of phenotypic novelty is one of the most challenging problems in evolutionary biology. Although genetic regulatory network rewiring or co-option has been widely recognised as a major contributor, in most cases how such genetic rewiring/co-option happens is completely unknown. We have studied a novel foliar pigmentation pattern that evolved recently in the monkeyflower species Mimulus verbenaceus. Through genome-wide association tests using wild-collected samples, experimental crosses of laboratory inbred lines, gene expression analyses, and functional assays, we identified an anthocyanin-activating R2R3-MYB gene, STRIPY, as the causal gene triggering the emergence of the discrete, mediolateral anthocyanin stripe in the M. verbenaceus leaf. Chemical mutagenesis revealed the existence of upstream activators and repressors that form a 'hidden' prepattern along the leaf proximodistal axis, potentiating the unique expression pattern of STRIPY. Population genomics analyses did not reveal signatures of positive selection, indicating that nonadaptive processes may be responsible for the establishment of this novel trait in the wild. This study demonstrates that the origin of phenotypic novelty requires at least two separate phases, potentiation and actualisation. The foliar stripe pattern of M. verbenaceus provides an excellent platform to probe the molecular details of both processes in future studies.

Previous studies have demonstrated the penetration of anthocyanins through the blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier (BCSF barrier) after intraruminal administration of chokeberry and red cabbage preparation to sheep. However, they have failed to explain which food anthocyanin forms are more capable of crossing the BCSF barrier. Thus, this study aim was to verify the ability of cyanidin 3-galactoside (Cy3gal, main chokeberry anthocyanin) and cyanidin 3-diglucoside-5-glucoside (Cy3diG5G, main red cabbage anthocyanin) to cross the BCSF barrier on the sheep model (

Oxidative stress is one of the common factors leading to age-related eye diseases in older adults. Factors such as high oxygen consumption, high concentration of polyunsaturated fatty acids, and cumulative exposure to high-energy visible light in the eyes, lead to excessive generation of reactive oxygen species, hence triggering apoptosis of ocular cells and giving rise to ophthalmic diseases. Dietary supplements such as carotenoids, anthocyanins, and vitamins have antioxidant properties which may be of benefit in retaining better vision or reversing vision impairment; thus, studies have been conducted to understand the role of dietary supplements in the treatment or prevention of ophthalmic diseases. While high concentration of carotenoids such as lutein and zeaxanthin decrease the risk of developing age-related macular disease, anthocyanins and vitamins play a role in the treatment and prevention of other ophthalmic diseases: saffron extract reduced intraocular pressure in glaucoma patients; bilberry extract prevented impairments in lenses and retina, as well as alleviate symptoms of dry eye disease; high concentration of beta-carotene may reduce the risk of developing cataract. Further studies with clinical measurements are required to investigate the effectiveness of antioxidants on visual function and ophthalmic diseases.

The present work describes the natural anthocyanin from Jacaranda cuspidifolia (JC) flower immobilized within a biopolymer matrix composed of chitosan (CS) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) gave novel intelligent/active packaging films (CPC). We introduced microwave irradiation to prepare polymeric composite films noticed faster mixing of the polymers and extract take place than the conventional method. The prepared composite films are characterized by various analytical and spectroscopic techniques. The smooth SEM images demonstrated CS/PVA matrix miscibility and compatibility with anthocyanin for the film formation. The addition of anthocyanin to the CS/PVA films significantly reduced UV-Vis light transmission, while causing a slight decrease in the films transparency. An increased anthocyanin concentration on polymer films showed improved oxygen permeability (77.09 %), moisture retention capacity (11.64 %), and water vapor transmission rate (43.10 %) substantially. Additionally, the prepared CPC smart films exhibited strong antioxidant (97.92 %) as well as antibacterial activities against common foodborne pathogens such as S. aureus, and E. coli. Furthermore, the prepared smart films demonstrated pink color in acidic, while grey to yellowish in basic solvent. Further, the color response of the freshness label was consistent with the spoilage Total Volatile Basic-Nitrogen (TVB-N) content determined in the fish samples with varied time period. The CPC smart films also showed promising application in terms of monitoring freshness of the fish fillets at room temperature. The obtained results suggested that, the prepared CPC smart films have potential to be used as quality indicator in the marine food packaging system.

The objective of this study was to design a chitosan (CS) derivative with good protective effect on the color stability of anthocyanins (ACNs) under accelerated storage. The binding affinities and interactions of 12 organic acids with cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (C3G) were evaluated using quantum mechanics method. Sinapic acid (SinA) showing the strongest interaction with C3G was selected for the synthesis of SinA-grafted-CS (SinA-g-CS), which was further characterized by FTIR and

Due to their sessile nature, plants cannot escape adverse environmental conditions and evolved mechanisms to cope with sudden environmental changes. The reaction to variations in abiotic factors, also summarized as acclimation response, affects all layers of cellular functions and involves rapid modification of enzymatic activities, the metabolome, proteome and transcriptome on different timescales. One trait of plants acclimating to high light (HL) is the rapid transcriptional activation of the flavonoid biosynthesis (FB) pathway resulting in the accumulation of photoprotective and antioxidative flavonoids, such as flavonols and anthocyanins, in the leaf tissue. Although enormous progress has been made in identifying enzymes and transcriptional regulators of FB by forward and reverse genetic approaches in the past, the signals and signalling pathways permitting the conditional activation of FB in HL are still debated. With this Tansley Insight, we summarize the current knowledge on the proposed signals and downstream factors involved in regulating FB and will discuss their contribution to, particularly, HL-induced accumulation of anthocyanins.

In some wine regions of China, Cabernet Gernischt (CG; Vitis vinifera L.) grape berries usually exhibit low pigment content and titratable acidity, and low sensory quality of the resulting wine. The aim of this study was to evaluate co-winemaking of CG wines using the red grape cultivar Beibinghong (BBH; Vitis amurensis Rupr.) at different proportions in terms of alcohols, phenolic compounds, and sensory properties of the wines. The results showed that the co-winemaking wines contained a similar content of higher alcohols, whereas the methanol content increased with an increase in BBH proportion, although this was still corresponded with the national standard. Significantly higher levels of titratable acidity were observed in co-winemaking wines at the ratio of 6:4 and 5:5, compared with monocultivar CG wines. All co-winemaking wines, except CG:BBH (9:1) wine, showed significantly higher levels of total anthocyanins, total phenolics, total tannins, and total flavan-3-ols. Further, individual phenolics, primarily diglucoside anthocyanins and non-anthocyanins (trans-ferulic acid, myricetin, viniferin, trans-caffeic acid, 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid), as important contributors to wine color intensity, permitted the differentiation of the wines via principal component analysis. In most cases, co-winemaking wines exhibited higher scores of the 10 sensory attributes on color, aroma, mouthfeel, and overall quality compared with monocultivar wines. Co-winemaking CG wines with BBH at 7:3 ratio demonstrated the highest scores of color intensity, aroma intensity, aroma quality, and overall quality. The results indicate that co-winemaking with V. amurensis grape variety may be useful to enhance V. vinifera wine quality by modifying wine composition. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Cabernet Gernischt (CG) is the predominant grape cultivar used to prepare premium-quality wine in China; however, in some wine regions, CG wines have low levels of pigment and titratable acidity, and low sensory quality. Co-winemaking with another native grape cultivar, Beibinghong (BBH), which is characterized by a higher content of anthocyanins and acidity, provided sufficient experimental evidence of adjustments in the Vitis vinifera wine composition leading to improved wine sensory quality.

In this study, the green extraction of bioactive compounds from Rosehip (Rosa canina L.) fruits and their antioxidant activity were investigated. An ultrasound-assisted extraction combined with deep eutectic solvents (DES) was used for this purpose. Deep eutectic solvents based on citric acid were specially designed. Namely, hydrogen bond donor (HBD) such as glycerol and ethylene glycol as well as hydrogen bond acceptor (HBA) like citric acid were used. After choosing the best option of DES, for extraction of the bioactive ingredients, optimal extraction conditions of the ultrasonic-assisted extraction have been optimized through Box-Behnken design of response surface methodology (RSM). Total phenolics content (TPC), total anthocyanins content (TAA), and antioxidant activity against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) have been found as 103.37 mg GAE/g DW in DES2, 92.23 mg GAE/g DW in DES1, 3.25mg C3G/100g-DW in DES2, 1.31 mg C3G/100g-DW in DES1, and 101.85% inhibition in DES2, 94.32%. The results of this study showed that this method is a competitive sustainable, green, and effective extraction of bioactive compounds from Rosehip (Rosa canina L.) fruits.

Undoubtedly, global warming has caused a decrease in the production of agricultural commodities. This problem has increased the price of animal feed due to competition with human consumption. Meanwhile, the physiology of ruminants gives them the ability to use by-products and agricultural waste and supply their requirements for growth, maintenance and even production. Berberis vulgaris is a plant native to Iran, and after separating the fruit, its waste (mainly leaf) is unused and causes environmental pollution. The leaves of this plant contain significant amounts of phenolic compounds, alkaloids and anthocyanins that have antioxidant properties.This experiment was conducted with the aim of determining the chemical properties of barberry leaves, such as crude protein, phenolic compounds, tannins and alkaloids. The effects of substituting of B. vulgaris leaf (BVL) in the diet on performance characteristics of fattening Baluchi lambs were evaluated. The quality and antioxidant status of meat and blood parameters such as glucose, cholesterol, blood urea nitrogen and liver enzymes were investigated.A total of 21 male of 5-6 months old lambs with a mean body weight of 30.60 ± 1.28 kg were randomly assigned to one of three dietary treatments with different levels of BVL: 1-diet without BVL (control), 2-diet containing 7.5% BVL (BVL7.5), and 3-diet containing 15% BVL (BVL15; dry matter [DM] basis). Blood samples were harvested after overnight fasting from the jugular vein at 0, 28, 56 and 84 days. The lambs were slaughtered after 84 days of feeding trial and longissimus dorsi (LD) muscle was dissected. Meat quality and antioxidant stability status were measured.15% substitution of alfalfa hay by BVL (BVL15) increased DM intake) and decreased average daily gain (p ≤ 0.05). The LD muscle (p ≤ 0.05), liver (p ≤ 0.01) and plasma (p ≤ 0.05) samples of lambs fed either BVL7.5 or BVL15 displayed a greater total antioxidant capacity than that of lambs fed the control diet. Also, malondialdehyde concentration was decreased in plasma (p ≤ 0.01) and LD muscle of lambs (p ≤ 0.05) fed both BVL7.5 and BVL15. In addition, higher a* and C* values (p ≤ 0.05) were observed in the meat of lambs fed BVL15 than those fed with the control, while the lightness (L*) in BVL15 was lower, compared to other experimental diets CONCLUSIONS: Overall, our results indicated that 7.5% substitution of alfalfa hay by BVL may positively modulate the antioxidant status of fattening lambs and improve the colour stability of meat without negative effects on performance characteristics.

In this work, the volatile fingerprints of different parts of Chongming saffron flowers (stigmas, stamens, and tepals) were analyzed and compared for the first time by headspace-gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry. Three different parts of saffron flowers could be clearly distinguished using principal component analysis based on signal intensity data of gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry. Therefore, gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry coupled with principal component analysis method could be employed as a new method for authentication and quality control of saffron for the reason of frequent addition with stamens and/or tepals as adulterants in saffron. Moreover, the bioactive composition (total flavonoids, total phenolics, and total anthocyanins) and bioactive properties of saffron tepals were evaluated. The results indicated that aqueous, ethanol, and ethyl acetate extracts of saffron tepals exhibited good radical scavenging (2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, ABTS, and OH) and enzyme (α-amylase/α-glucosidase) inhibition activities, which probably were attributed to the bioactive components contained in the extracts. This approach would provide the important information for monitoring the quality of saffron as well as exploring the utilization of saffron tepals in functional food technology. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: This study demonstrated that the HS-GC-IMS method might be used as a new strategy for quality control of saffron, and the saffron tepals were rich source of bioactive components that could be used in health-promoting products.

Anthocyanins are known for their therapeutic efficacy for many human diseases, including cancer. After ingestion, anthocyanins degrade due to oxidation and enzymatic breakdown, resulting in reduced therapeutic efficacy. Direct delivery to target tissues and entrapment of anthocyanins increases their stability, bioavailability, and therapeutic efficacy. The objective of the present study was to develop a direct delivery system of anthocyanins into pulmonary tissues via encapsulated nanocarriers. A cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (C3G)-rich anthocyanin extract was prepared from well-ripened haskap (Lonicera caerulea L.) berries (HB) and encapsulated in three different polymeric nanocarrier systems: polyethylene glycol-poly(lactide-co-glycolide), maltodextrin, and carboxymethyl chitosan (CMC). The anthocyanin encapsulation efficiency was significantly higher in CMC (10%) than in the other two polymers. The cytotoxicity and cytoprotective effect of HB anthocyanin-encapsulated CMC (HB-CMC, 4 μg of C3G equivalent anthocyanin in 2 mg/mL nanoparticle) and anthocyanin-free CMC (E-CMC, 2 mg/mL) were tested for cytotoxicity using human normal lung epithelial BEAS-2B cells. The CMC nanoparticles were not cytotoxic for BEAS-2B cells. The HB-CMC nanoparticles reduced carcinogen-induced oxidative stress in BEAS-2B cells and restored the expression of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase enzymes. The HB-CMC nanoparticles also reduced carcinogen-induced DNA single-strand breaks and alkaline-labile sites but not the double-strand breaks. The E-CMC, HB-CMC (28 μg C3G equivalent/mouse/day for six days), or the same dose of free HB anthocyanin was administered to A/JCr mice through a nose-only passive inhalation device. C3G and its metabolites, cyanidin, peonidin-3-O-glucoside, and cyanidin-3-O-glucuronide, were detected by UPLC/ESI/Q-TOF-MS in the lungs of mice after one hour of exposure. Therefore, the CMC could be a promising noncytotoxic candidate to encapsulate HB anthocyanin. Direct delivery of anthocyanin to lung tissues enhances tissue retention, slows phase 2 metabolism, and improves therapeutic efficacy.

Background Land plants commonly produce red pigmentation as a response to environmental stressors, both abiotic and biotic. The type of pigment produced varies among different land plant lineages. In the majority of species they are flavonoids, a large branch of the phenylpropanoid pathway. Flavonoids that can confer red colours include 3-hydroxyanthocyanins, 3-deoxyanthocyanins, sphagnorubins and auronidins, which are the predominant red pigments in flowering plants, ferns, mosses and liverworts, respectively. However, some flowering plants have lost the capacity for anthocyanin biosynthesis and produce nitrogen-containing betalain pigments instead. Some terrestrial algal species also produce red pigmentation as an abiotic stress response, and these include both carotenoid and phenolic pigments. Scope In this review, we examine: which environmental triggers induce red pigmentation in non-reproductive tissues; theories on the functions of stress-induced pigmentation; the evolution of the biosynthetic pathways; and structure–function aspects of different pigment types. We also compare data on stress-induced pigmentation in land plants with those for terrestrial algae, and discuss possible explanations for the lack of red pigmentation in the hornwort lineage of land plants. Conclusions The evidence suggests that pigment biosynthetic pathways have evolved numerous times in land plants to provide compounds that have red colour to screen damaging photosynthetically active radiation but that also have secondary functions that provide specific benefits to the particular land plant lineage.

The effect of calcium silicate, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and their mixture on the adaptation of wheat and corn to simulated acid rain has been evaluated in the pot experiments. Acid rain was simulated by watering twice with distilled water acidified with sulfuric acid to pH = 2. Test plants were grown in a plant growth chamber under controlled conditions of temperature, illumination and relative humidity for 18 days. The physiological state of the test plants was assessed by characteristics of growth (shoot height, root length, dry weight of shoots and roots), the content of photosynthetic pigments, flavonoids, and proline in leaves. For the corn, the content of anthocyanins in shoots and roots was also evaluated. In parallel, the physical and chemical characteristics of the soil (pH, electrical conductivity, redox potential, content of soluble carbonates, and nitrates) were determined. It was established that simulated acid rain inhibited the growth and accumulation of photosynthetic pigments in the leaves of wheat and corn. The content of protective metabolites (proline, flavonoids, and anthocyanins) increased. Wheat showed greater sensitivity to the inhibiting effect of acidification compared to corn. The application of CaSiO3 was more effective than GABA in restoring pH value and HCO3- concentration in soil, while the application of GABA more effectively promoted the accumulation of NO3- anions in soil. Combining CaSiO3 with GABA was the most effective in restoring soil physical and chemical properties altered by simulated acidification and stimulating the growth and photosynthesis in the test-plants. Thus, the mixture of CaSiO3 with GABA is promising for further studies of the possibility of its application to mitigate the negative impact of acid depositions on vegetation and soil.

Light flux and quality are crucial factor for setting endogenous plant circadian rhythms. Evaluating the daily rhythmicity of leaf chlorophyll content is an effective method to monitor the plant physiological endogenous clock in response to environmental signals such as light availability/quality. Here, we used a leaf-clip sensor to monitor diurnal rhythms in the content of chlorophyll and flavonoids such as flavonols and anthocyanins in three green- (Ailanthus altissima, Tilia platyphyllos and Platanus × acerifolia) and two red-leafed (Acer platanoides cv. Crimson King and Prunus cerasifera var. pissardii) tree species, adapted to sun (L) or shade (S). Significant differences in chlorophyll content (Chl) and its variations during the day were observed among treatments in all the analyzed species. S-plants had more Chl than L-plants irrespective of leaf color, and Chl variations were more distinct during the day than in L-plants. In particular, contents were lowest in the morning (9:00) and in the middle of the day (at 12:00 and 15:00), and the highest at dusk (21:00). The less evident trends in Chl variation in L-plants were attributed to a decrease in Chl content in high light, which likely masked any increases in the shaded counterparts during the afternoon. Daily flavonol levels did not vary no notably during the day. In sun-exposed red leaves, anthocyanins partially screened mesophyll cells from incident light, and its levels were similar to the Chl dynamics in the shaded counterparts. This study provides new bases for further work on endogenous rhythms of plant pigments and improves our understanding of plant physiology in the context of day/night rhythmicity.

This study investigated the effects of dietary supplementation with anthocyanin extracted from black rice bran (AR) on the growth rate, immunological response, and expression of immune and antioxidant genes in Nile tilapia raised in an indoor biofloc system. A total of 300 Nile tilapia fingerlings (15.14 ± 0.032 g) were maintained in 150 L tanks and acclimatized for two weeks. Five experimental AR diets (0, 1, 2, 4, and 8 g kg

The aim of the current review was to explore the association between various dietary antioxidants and the risk of developing Parkinson's disease (PD). PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar were searched up to March 2021. Prospective, observational cohort studies, nested case-control, and case-control designs that investigated the association between antioxidants and PD risk were included. A random-effects model was used to pool the RRs. The certainty of the evidence was rated using the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluations) scoring system. In addition, a dose-response relation was examined between antioxidant intake and PD risk. Six prospective cohort studies and 2 nested case-control (total n = 448,737 with 4654 cases), as well as 6 case-control (1948 controls, 1273 cases) studies were eligible. The pooled RR was significantly lower for the highest compared with the lowest intake categories of vitamin E (n = 7; 0.84; 95% CI: 0.71, 0.99) and anthocyanins (n = 2; 0.76; 95% CI: 0.61, 0.96) in cohort studies. Conversely, a significantly higher risk of PD was observed for higher lutein intake (n = 3; 1.86; 95% CI: 1.20, 2.88) among case-control studies. Dose-response meta-analyses indicated a significant association between a 50-mg/d increase in vitamin C (n = 6; RR: 0.94; 95% CI: 0.88, 0.99), a 5-mg/d increment in vitamin E (n = 7; RR: 0.84; 95% CI: 0.70, 0.99), a 2-mg/d increment in β-carotene (n = 6; RR: 0.94, 95% CI: 0.89, 0.99), and a 1-mg/d increment in zinc (n = 1; OR: 0.65; 95% CI: 0.49, 0.86) and a reduced risk of PD. Overall, higher intake of antioxidant-rich foods may be associated with a lower risk of PD. Future well-designed prospective studies are needed to validate the present findings. The protocol was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) database (https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO, CRD42021242511).

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-γ) plays a central role in health and is an essential cardioprotective factor because of its effect on lipid and glucose metabolism, inflammation, and oxidative stress. We hypothesized that nutritional strategies positively regulate PPAR-γ expression in patients with noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). A systematic search was conducted using PubMed, Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO), and LILACS databases from May 2020 to January 2021. Eligibility criteria included placebo-controlled randomized clinical trials in adults with chronic diseases involving nutritional strategies, which performed PPAR-γ analysis (majority on mononuclear cells) before and after the intervention. The exclusion criteria included studies published more than 10 years ago, studies not published in English or Spanish, theses, reviews, and other study designs. The review was developed according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Methodological quality was assessed based on 7 criteria obtained from the Cochrane Handbook. A total of 7 studies were included that reported the effects of different nutritional strategies (such as anthocyanins, fish oil, Berberis vulgaris juice, ketogenic diet, flaxseed oil, olive oil) on 346 patients with NCDs (such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and cancer) between 18 and 85 years of age. These results suggest that anthocyanins, flaxseed oil, and olive oil may function as putative PPAR-γ agonists.

In order to explore the effect and mechanism of Aornia mealnocarpa Elliot anthocyanins (AMA) at the cellular level on hepatic fibrosis (HF), molecular docking, RT-PCR and Western Blotting were used to explore the molecular mechanism and the effects of different doses AMA on HSC-T6 cells by TGF-β1 induction. The results showed that the binding energy of anthocyanins on TGF-β1 (PDB ID: 3KFD) was in the range of -9.5 to 8.6 kcal/mol, with good low energy parameters and binding positions. AMA could effectively inhibit the expressions of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and total serum bilirubin (TSB), and improved the expressions of total protein (TP) and albumin (ALB). RT-PCR and Western bloting results showed that AMA could inhibited the secretion of inflammatory cytokines IL-1, IL-6, TNF-α and COX-2, and inhibit the expression of TGF-β1, P-Smad2, α-SMA and Collagen I in TGF-β /Smad signaling pathway. This study revealed the AMA's inhibition effects and mechanism of malignant biological behavior of HSC-T6 cells, in order to provide theoretical basis for the prevention and treatment of HF by Aronia melanocarpa Elliot.

Cytokinin plays an important role in plant stress responses via a multistep signaling pathway, involving the histidine phosphotransfer proteins (HPs). In Arabidopsis thaliana, the AHP2, AHP3 and AHP5 proteins are known to affect drought responses; however, the role of AHP4 in drought adaptation remains undetermined. In the present study, using a loss-of-function approach we showed that AHP4 possesses an important role in the response of Arabidopsis to drought. This is evidenced by the higher survival rates of ahp4 than wild-type (WT) plants under drought conditions, which is accompanied by the downregulated AHP4 expression in WT during periods of dehydration. Comparative transcriptome analysis of ahp4 and WT plants revealed AHP4-mediated expression of several dehydration- and/or abscisic acid-responsive genes involved in modulation of various physiological and biochemical processes important for plant drought acclimation. In comparison with WT, ahp4 plants showed increased wax crystal accumulation in stems, thicker cuticles in leaves, greater sensitivity to exogenous abscisic acid at germination, narrow stomatal apertures, heightened leaf temperatures during dehydration, and longer root length under osmotic stress. In addition, ahp4 plants showed greater photosynthetic efficiency, lower levels of reactive oxygen species, reduced electrolyte leakage and lipid peroxidation, and increased anthocyanin contents under drought, when compared with WT. These differences displayed in ahp4 plants are likely due to upregulation of genes that encode enzymes involved in reactive oxygen species scavenging and non-enzymatic antioxidant metabolism. Overall, our findings suggest that AHP4 plays a crucial role in plant drought adaptation.

Chinese jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.) and sour jujube (Ziziphus spinosa Hu.) fruits have health benefits because they contain bioactive compounds such as flavonoids. However, differences in the flavonoid metabolites of these two fruits remain unclear. We determined the flavonoids present in Z. jujuba cv. Hupingzao (HPZ) and Z. spinosa cv. Taigusuanzao (TGSZ) from two different harvest periods fruits: HPZ white period (HW) and HPZ red period (HR) as well as TGSZ white period (SW) and TGSZ red period (SR). We identified 123 flavonoid metabolites: 40 flavonols, 37 flavones, 12 anthocyanins, 9 dihydroflavones, 8 flavanols, 7 flavonoid carbonosides, 5 dihydroflavonols, 3 isoflavones, and 2 chalcones. The total flavonoid content of both HPZ and TGSZ decreased with fruit development and was significantly higher in TGSZ than in HPZ fruits. Moreover, we detected 63, 81, 56, and 63 differential flavonoid metabolites (DFMs) between HW and HR (two upregulated and 61 downregulated), SW and SR (four upregulated and 77 downregulated), HW and SW (54 upregulated and two downregulated), and HR and SR (62 upregulated and one downregulated), respectively. KEGG pathway annotation and enrichment analysis showed that 22 DFMs were annotated seven relevant metabolic pathways, among which flavonoid biosynthesis pathway and secondary metabolites biosynthesis pathway were the main pathways, and flavanols were the primary metabolites that influenced the difference in flavonoid accumulation between the fruits. To our knowledge, this is the first study to reveal the differences in flavonoid metabolism between Chinese jujube and sour jujube. Our findings may facilitate the comprehensive use of functional flavonoids. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Chinese jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.) and sour jujube (Ziziphus spinosa Hu.) fruits have health benefits because they contain bioactive compounds such as flavonoids. However, differences in the flavonoid metabolites of these two fruits remain unclear. We determined the flavonoids present in Z. jujuba cv. Hupingzao (HPZ) and Z. spinosa cv. Taigusuanzao (TGSZ) from two different harvest periods. Our findings may facilitate the comprehensive use and product research of functional flavonoids of jujube.

Background Flower pigment and shape are determined by the coordinated expression of a set of structural genes during flower development. R2R3-MYB transcription factors are known regulators of structural gene expression. The current study focused on two members of this large family of transcription factors that were predicted to have roles in pigment biosynthesis and organ shape development in orchids. Methods Phylogenetic analysis was used to identify candidate Dendrobium catenatum R2R3-MYB (DcaMYB) sequences associated with pigment and cell shape development. Gene silencing of candidate DhMYBs in Dendrobium hybrid by direct application of dsRNA to developing flowers was followed by observation of gene expression level and flower phenotypes. Silencing of the structural gene chalcone synthase was used as a comparative control. Key Results Ten candidate flower-associated DcaMYBs were identified. Flowers treated with dsRNA of DhMYB22 and DhMYB60 sequences were less pigmented and had relatively low expression of anthocyanin biosynthetic genes (F3ʹH and DFR), lower total anthocyanin concentration and markedly lower levels of cyanidin-3-glucoside and cyanidin-3-rutinoside. Petals of DhMYB22-treated flowers and sepals of DhMYB60-treated flowers showed the greatest colour difference relative to the same organs in untreated flowers. DhMYB22-treated flowers had relatively narrow and constricted lips, while DhMYB60-treated flowers had narrow and constricted sepals. No significant difference in shape was observed for DhCHS-treated or untreated flowers. Conclusions Our results demonstrate that DhMYB22 and DhMYB60 regulate pigment intensity and floral organ shape in Dendrobium. This is a first report of MYB regulation of floral organ shape in orchids.

A survey of metalloanthocyanin by in vivo visible spectrum and circular dichroism suggested that blue petals of Salvia macrophylla contain metalloanthocyanins. Chemical analysis of the purified blue pigment proved that the pigment in the petals is protodelphin, which is the same pigment present in the blue petals of Salvia patens composed of malonylawobanin, apigenin 7,4′-diglucosides and Mg2+.

The maize red1 (r1) locus regulates anthocyanin accumulation and is a classic model for allelic diversity; changes in regulatory regions are responsible for most of the variation in gene expression patterns. Here, an intrachromosomal rearrangement between the distal upstream region of r1 and the region of naked endosperm 2 (nkd2) upstream to the third exon generated a nkd2 null allele lacking the first three exons, and the R1-st (stippled) allele with a novel r1 5' promoter region homologous to 5' regions from nkd2-B73. R1-sc:124 (an R1-st derivative) shows increased and earlier expression than a standard R1-g allele, as well as ectopic expression in the starchy endosperm compartment. Laser capture microdissection and RNA sequencing indicated that ectopic R1-sc:124 expression impacted expression of genes associated with RNA modification. The expression of R1-sc:124 resembled nkd2-W22 expression, suggesting that nkd2 regulatory sequences may influence the expression of R1-sc:124. The r1-sc:m3 allele is derived from R1-sc:124 by an insertion of a Ds6 transposon in intron 4. This insertion blocks anthocyanin regulation by causing mis-splicing that eliminates exon 5 from the mRNA. This allele serves as an important launch site for Ac/Ds mutagenesis studies, and two Ds6 insertions believed to be associated with nkd2 mutant alleles were actually located in the r1 5' region. Among annotated genomes of teosinte and maize varieties, the nkd2 and r1 loci showed conserved overall gene structures, similar to the B73 reference genome, suggesting that the nkd2-r1 rearrangement may be a recent event.

Proanthocyanidins (PAs) are phenolic compounds present in skins and seeds of wine grapes and have great implications for plant physiology and wine quality. There are several strategies to increase PA concentration, such as application of elicitors methyl jasmonate (MeJ) and benzothiadiazole (BTH), compounds that can stimulate defence responses like phenolic compound biosynthesis in wine grapes, which have been applied mainly at veraison (beginning of ripening). We recently evaluated the application of MeJ and BTH on Vitis vinifera cv. Monastrell grapes during veraison and mid-ripening (3 weeks after veraison). Grapes treated at mid-ripening showed higher anthocyanin concentrations than those at veraison. In this trial, over two seasons, we evaluated whether time of application (veraison or mid-ripening) of MeJ and BTH on 'Monastrell' grapes is a determining factor in the biosynthesis and composition of PAs in grapes and their subsequent release into wines.Application of elicitors at different ripening times produced significant differences in the PAs of 'Monastrell' grapes, since those treated at mid-ripening recorded a higher PAs concentration in skin and seeds, and then in the wines produced, compared to grapes treated at veraison.Results suggest that despite different environmental conditions endured in each of the two seasons evaluated, application of elicitors at mid-ripening of Monastrell grapes could be used to harvest grapes with higher PA concentration, increasing the functional value of the wines, without altering their organoleptic quality. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Aim: The reactions were carried out by one pot three-component synthesis, 3- cyanoacetylindole (1) on reaction with aromatic aldehydes (2) and β-naphthol (3) in an aqueous medium in the presence of L-proline as a catalyst under reflux for 30 min, resulting in (3-amino-1- phenyl-1H-benzo[f]chromen-2-yl) (1H-indol-3-yl)methanone (4). The method has many advantages like short reaction times, good yields, and simple workup procedure, besides being green in nature. Pharmacological evaluation of title compounds was done for anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities. Anti-inflammatory activity was carried carrageenan-induced paw edema model in which indomethacin was used as standard and analgesic activity was evaluated by eddy's hot plate method using diclofenac as standard drug. Background: Benzopyrans or chromenes are an important class of heterocyclic compounds due to their broad spectrum of biological activity and a wide range of applications in medicinal chemistry. The chromene moiety is found in various natural products with interesting biological properties. Chromenes constitute the basic backbone of various types of polyphenols and are widely found in alkaloids, tocopherols, flavonoids, and anthocyanins. Indoles are omnipresent in various bioactive compounds like alkaloids, agrochemicals, and pharmaceuticals. Objective: The objective of this study is to synthesize one-pot stepwise Green synthesis, antiinflammatory and analgesic activities of 3-amino-1-phenyl-1H-benzo[f]chromen-2-yl) (1H-indol-3- yl) methanones. Methods: The acute anti-inflammatory effect was evaluated by carrageenan-induced mice paw edema (Ma Rachchh et al., 2011). Edema was induced by injecting carrageenan (1% w/v, 0.1 ml) in the right hind paw of mice. The test compounds 1-12, indomethacin (10 mg/kg), and the vehicle were administered orally one hour before injection of carrageenan. Paw volume was measured with a digital plethysmometer at 0, 30, 60, 90, 120 min after injection. Percentage increase =A-B/ A *100 Results: Carrageenan induced paw edema model was used for anti-inflammatory activity in which animals treated with standard (indomethacin) and test compounds showed a significant decrease in the paw edema. Analgesic activity was estimated using Eddy’s hot plate method; animals were treated with standard (diclofenac) and test compounds showed a significant increase in the reaction time. Conclusion: A green, one-pot, step-wise and three-component synthesis of 3-amino-1-phenyl-1Hbenzo[ f]chromen-2-yl) (1H-indol-3-yl) methanone was achieved by using water as a solvent, Lproline as catalyst under reflux conditions. The reactions were carried out in eco-friendly conditions with shorter reaction times, easier workup, and high yields. Anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated by carrageenan-induced paw edema model, where significant anti-inflammatory activity is shown by all the test compounds 4(a-l) compared to standard drug. Analgesic activity was studied by Eddy’s Hot plate method and Test compounds 4e, 4f, 4h, 4i, 4j, 4k, 4l showed significant activities compared to the reference drug.

Tea is the most frequently consumed natural beverage across the world produced with the young leaves and shoots of the evergreen perennial plant Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze. The expanding global appeal of tea is partly attributed to its health-promoting benefits such as anti-inflammation, anti-cancer, anti-allergy, anti-hypertension, anti-obesity, and anti- SARS-CoV-2 activity. The many advantages of healthy tea intake are linked to its bioactive substances such as tea polyphenols, flavonoids (catechins), amino acids (theanine), alkaloids (caffeine), anthocyanins, proanthocyanidins, etc. that are produced through secondary metabolic pathways. Phytohormones regulate secondary metabolite biosynthesis in a variety of plants, including tea. There is a strong hormonal response in the biosynthesis of polyphenols, catechins, theanine and caffeine in tea under control and perturbed environmental conditions. In addition to the impact of preharvest plant hormone manipulation on green tea quality, changes in hormones of postharvest tea also regulate quality-related metabolites in tea. In this review, we discuss the health benefits of major tea constituents and the role of various plant hormones in improving the endogenous levels of these compounds for human health benefits. The fact that the ratio of tea polyphenols to amino acids and the concentrations of tea components are changed by environmental conditions, most notably by climate change-associated variables, the selection and usage of optimal hormone combinations may aid in sustaining tea quality, and thus can be beneficial to both consumers and producers.

The phytohormones ethylene (ET) and jasmonate (JA) regulate plant development, growth, and defense responses; however, the molecular basis for their signaling crosstalk is unclear. Here, we show that JA-ZIM-domain (JAZ) proteins, which repress JA signaling, repress trichome initiation/branching and anthocyanin accumulation, and inhibit the transcriptional activity of the basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH)-MYB members (GLABRA3 (GL3)-GL1 and TRANSPARENT TESTA 8 (TT8)-MYB75) of WD-repeat/bHLH/MYB (WBM) complexes. The ET-stabilized transcription factors ETHYLENE-INSENSITIVE3 (EIN3) and EIN3-LIKE1 (EIL1) were found to bind to several members of WBM complexes, including GL3, ENHANCER OF GLABRA3 (EGL3), TT8, GL1, MYB75, and TRANSPARENT TESTA GLABRA1 (TTG1). This binding repressed the transcriptional activity of the bHLH-MYB proteins and inhibited anthocyanin accumulation, trichome formation, and defenses against insect herbivores while promoting root hair formation. Conversely, the JA-activated bHLH members GL3, EGL3, and TT8 of WBM complexes were able to interact with and attenuate the transcriptional activity of EIN3/EIL1 at the HOOKLESS1 promoter, and their overexpression inhibited apical hook formation. Thus, this study demonstrates a molecular framework for signaling crosstalk between JA and ET in plant development, secondary metabolism, and defense responses.

Light is essential to plant survival and elicits a wide range of plant developmental and physiological responses under different light conditions. A low red-to-far red (R/FR) light ratio induces shade-avoidance responses, including decreased anthocyanin accumulation, whereas a high R/FR light ratio promotes anthocyanin biosynthesis. However, the detailed molecular mechanism underpinning how different R/FR light ratios regulate anthocyanin homeostasis remains elusive, especially in non-model species. Here, we demonstrate that a low R/FR light ratio induced the expression of CmMYB4, which suppressed the anthocyanin activator complex CmMYB6-CmbHLH2, leading to the reduction of anthocyanin accumulation in Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum morifolium) petals. Specifically, CmMYB4 recruited the corepressor CmTPL (TOPLESS) to directly bind the CmbHLH2 promoter and suppressed its transcription by impairing histone H3 acetylation. Moreover, the low R/FR light ratio inhibited the PHYTOCHROME INTERACTING FACTOR family transcription factor CmbHLH16, which can competitively bind to CmMYB4 and destabilize the CmMYB4–CmTPL protein complex. Under the high R/FR light ratio, CmbHLH16 was upregulated, which impeded the formation of the CmMYB4-CmTPL complex and released the suppression of CmbHLH2, thus promoting anthocyanin accumulation in Chrysanthemum petals. Our findings reveal a mechanism by which different R/FR light ratios fine-tune anthocyanin homeostasis in flower petals.

'Sangiovese' (Vitis vinifera L.) is a well-known Italian wine grape utilized for producing the prestigious Chianti Classico brand. Here, 'Sangiovese' is generally trained to a vertical training system, with an imposed crop level of around 3-5 kg per vine to preserve grape quality. Tendone comprises a horizontal trellis system, largely diffused in Mediterranean Countries for table grape production, and is adopted to achieve a high yield and to preserve grapes, by means of its canopy architecture, from excessive solar radiation, which in turn affects the organoleptic aspects of grapes and wines. The present study aimed to evaluate, in terms of phenolic and volatile compounds of grape and wines, 'Sangiovese' trained to Tendone, as affected by two crop levels, namely very high and reduced yields.Reduced yield (18.39 kg per vine) by cluster thinning still appeared to provide a considerable yield and quality of grapes and wines. Thinning increased pH, tartaric acid content, flavonoids, anthocyanins, total polyphenols and proanthocyanins, and total free and bound aroma compounds, without affecting soluble solids and titratable acidity of grapes. As regards wines, reduced yield increased pH, tartaric and malic acids and dry reduced extract, flavonoids, anthocyanins, total polyphenols and proanthocyanins, and, finally, the color intensity of wines.The present study highlights that Tendone training systems, combined with 40% of cluster thinning, allows a high yield to be reached, allowing, at the same time, a very interesting quality of grapes, making it possible to produce qualitative wines. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Background: An anthocyanidin, pelargonidin, primarily found in berries, has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and is associated with better cognition and reduced Alzheimer’s dementia risk. Objective: This study investigated if pelargonidin or berry intake is associated with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) neuropathology in human brains. Methods: The study was conducted among 575 deceased participants (age at death = 91.3±6.1 years; 70% females) of the Rush Memory and Aging Project, with dietary data (assessed using a food frequency questionnaire) and neuropathological evaluations. Calorie-adjusted pelargonidin intake was modeled in quartiles and berry intake as continuous (servings/week). Mean amyloid-beta load and phosphorylated tau neuronal neurofibrillary tangle density across multiple cortical regions were assessed using immunohistochemistry. Global AD pathology burden, a quantitative summary score of neurofibrillary tangles, and diffuse and neuritic plaques using Bielschowsky silver stains in multiple brain regions, was also assessed. Results: In a linear regression model adjusted for age at death, sex, education, APOE ɛ4 status, vitamin E, and vitamin C, participants in the highest quartile of pelargonidin intake when compared to those in the lowest quartile, had less amyloid-β load (β (SE) = –0.293 (0.14), p = 0.038), and fewer phosphorylated tau tangles (β (SE) = –0.310, p = 0.051). Among APOE ɛ4 non-carriers, higher strawberry (β (SE) = –0.227 (0.11), p = 0.037) and pelargonidin (Q4 versus Q1: β (SE) = –0.401 (0.16), p = 0.011; p trend = 0.010) intake was associated with less phosphorylated tau tangles, no association was observed in APOE ɛ4 carriers. Berry intake was not associated with AD pathology. However, excluding participants with dementia or mild cognitive impairment at baseline, strawberry (p = 0.004) and pelargonidin (ptrend = 0.007) intake were associated with fewer phosphorylated tau tangles. Conclusion: Higher intake of pelargonidin, a bioactive present in strawberries, is associated with less AD neuropathology, primarily phosphorylated tau tangles.

Because of their high efficiency during chromosome doubling, immature haploid maize (Zea mays L.) embryos are useful for doubled haploid production. The R1-nj marker is commonly used in doubled haploid breeding and has improved the efficiency of haploid identification. However, its effectiveness is limited by genetic background and environmental factors. We addressed this technical challenge by developing an efficient and accurate haploid embryo identification marker through co-expression of two transcription factor genes (ZmC1 and ZmR2) driven by the embryo-aleurone-specific bidirectional promoter P

An efficient Agrobacterium-mediated transient expression method was developed, which contributed to the functional characterization of the transcription factor CqPHR1, and demonstrates the potential application of gene editing in quinoa. Chenopodium quinoa is a crop expected to ensure global food security in future due to its high resistance to multiple abiotic stresses and nutritional value. We cloned one of the paralogous genes of the Arabidopsis homolog PHR1 (PHOSPHATE STARVATION RESPONSE 1) in quinoa-inbred lines by reverse genetic approach. Overexpression of CqPHR1 driven by the constitutive CaMV 35S promoter in Arabidopsis phr1 mutant can complement its phenotypes, including the induction of phosphate starvation-induced (PSI) genes and anthocyanin accumulation in leaves. By Agrobacterium-mediated gene transient expression, we found that CqPHR1 localized in the nucleus of quinoa cells, and overexpression of CqPHR1 in quinoa cells promoted PSI genes expression, which further revealed the function of CqPHR1 as a transcription factor. We have also shown that the transient expression system can be used to express Cas9 protein in various quinoa-inbred lines and perform effective gene editing in quinoa tissue. The method developed in this study will be useful for verifying the effectiveness of gene-editing systems in quinoa cells and has potential application in the generation of gene-edited quinoa with heritable traits.

Fruit and fruit juices are a valuable source of bioactive compounds, which can protect our organisms from oxidative stress. The phenolic compounds and other phytochemicals may affect the antimicrobial properties of juices. The aim of this study has been to evaluate antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of selected berry juices and vitamin C-rich fruit juices. The research material was composed of seven juices, including three from berries (elderberry chokeberry, cranberry), three from vitamin C-rich fruit (sea buckthorn, wild rose, Japanese quince) and one exotic juice from noni fruit. Antioxidant capacity, total polyphenol, total flavonoid and total anthocyanin content were determined. Furthermore, the antimicrobial activity and the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) as well as the minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) were evaluated. The research showed that fruit juices from wild rose, chokeberry and Japanese quince had the highest antioxidant capacity. These juices were characterised by the rich content of polyphenols. Elderberry and chokeberry juices had the highest total anthocyanins. The juices differed in the content of bioactive compounds and specific bactericidal properties against Gram-positive or Gram-negative bacteria. Fruit juices from cranberry, Japanese quince and sea buckthorn had the highest antimicrobial activity. Wild rose, chokeberry and elderberry juices, despite their high antioxidant properties, showed antimicrobial activity only against Gram-positive strains, except Enterococcus faecalis and Clostridium perfringens. Significant differences in the content of bioactive compounds in fruit juices affect the antimicrobial properties juices.

Black rice contains a variety of bioactive substances that contribute to the high nutritional value of black rice wine (BRW). However, the dense bran layer of black rice retards the fermentation rate and reduces the dissolution of active components. Hence, this study aims to investigate the effects of pre-gelatinization (PG) before cooking and cellulase (CE) addition during fermentation on the fermentation performance of BRW and its antioxidant activity.PG combined with CE treatments (PGCE) increases the alcohol content, free amino acid content, volatile flavor content and total antioxidant activity of BRW by 90.81%, 15.36%, 38.05% and 19.56%, respectively, compared with the control group. Scanning electron microscopy, low-field nuclear magnetic resonance and texture properties analysis indicate that PG treatment increases gelatinization degree of starch during cooking, decreases bound water content in cooked black rice and promotes unbound water release. CE destroys the aleurone layer structure, facilitates the release of unbound water and the exposure of rice starch, thus increasing the reaction area and extravasation content significantly, which is beneficial to microbial growth and fermentation. Incomplete aleurone layer also promotes the dissolution of anthocyanins, phenols and other active substances, increasing the antioxidant activities of BRW.PG and CE treatments reduce the fermentation time and improve the quality of BRW by destroying the black rice structure. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.